Page 35 of Untraced Magic
My fist clenched tighter. “And what if she doesn’t? What if this whole vibe you’re getting is all wrong?” I challenged.
Colt’s drink landed on the table with a dull thud, earning our attention.
“Everyone’s high on magic right now.” His ice-blue gaze swept between us. “Ride it with caution.” He circled his glass in his hand again. “Either way, it needs to be handled delicately. If she doesn’t know, we can’t make a scene. If she does…” His voice trailed off, and I knew what he was getting at.
It was none of our business.
I didn’t know what to believe, but I couldn’t ignore the overwhelming need to protect her. If I was going to do this, I would look like the guy who didn’t want her but wanted no one else to have her either.
It was a lose-lose situation. And she’d probably hate me.
Colt straightened in his seat. “Remember, Ty, subtle.”
I nodded before downing the rest of my glass and lifting from the booth.
Approaching the bar through the swarm of people, a wash of unease nestled in my stomach. Morgan had her back toward me, and as I got closer, I eyed those same black jeans that no matter how much jerking off I did, still tortured my mind every evening.
I extended to my full height as I stepped toward the guy, stopping short of him a few paces. The vampire turned, sensing my presence, rising from his bar stool.
The weighted stares of Wes and Colt hit hard on my back as the stranger turned to me.
We stood face to face glaring at each other. All Morgan was to this vamp was prey. If he got his way, she’d end up beside a dumpster with two neat holes in her neck and lifeless eyes staring blankly into the distance.
I couldn’t let it happen.
I shoved my hands in my pockets. “Fuck off if you know what’s good for you,” I warned. He held my gaze, motionless save for the deadly narrowing of his eyes.
I was oblivious to the crowd, wild for the grungy beat resounding through the bar as they danced under the dull light flicking over the dance floor.
The ground beneath us tremored as if a train was passing close by, but I knew better. His glare broke from mine, shifting over to where the guys sat back in the booth. Colt’s magic vibrated off him, enough to serve as a warning but still remain discreet, the two of them locked in a standoff from afar.
Eventually the guy returned his attention back to me, taking a step closer in my direction until we stood chest to chest. I held myground, and his head tilted to the side with a smirk. He grabbed his drink from the bar before disappearing into the crowd. I had a sinking feeling that he’d be back.
Seconds later, Morgan turned around, confusion blanketing her features. No doubt wondering where the leech had gone.
Leave it to me to burst her bubble.
“You need to stay away from that guy. He’s bad news.”
She grabbed at the edge of the bar, her arms spread wide. “Excuse me?” she scoffed in disbelief. A bitterness drenched her tone, as if she knew I was the reason the parasite had fucked off.
“You need to stay clear of him,” I repeated.
She folded her arms across her chest. “And why is that, exactly?” Morgan demanded.
I wished I could give her an explanation, but what could I say? The guy’s a vampire and wants to drain your body of blood? Good luck withthatone.
My lips thinned. “I can’t explain. I just need you to trust me.”
“So you keep saying.” She rolled her eyes.
“Please, Morgan,” I pleaded over the thumping music of the bar, needing her to listen. Begging her.
“Are you serious right now?” She took my silence as confirmation, shaking her head. “You are, aren’t you?”
I hated how every second of this was playing out, but there was no alternative. I couldn’t just tell her about ourkinds. Reid chose that moment to appear from the kitchen, and he stopped short under the door frame, spotting our hostility.
Morgan continued. “How dare you have the audacity to demand who I can and cannot talk to. I can’t believe you!”
