Page 36 of The Maestro's Mates
“She was only seventeen at the time?—”
“That’s enough. I understand.” Justin stood and joined Linda at the grimoire. He stared down at the ancient tome. The cover and bindings were more beat up than he first realized, almost like some kind of creature had clawed at it. And was that a scorch mark?
“I have enough information to go back to my coven master,” Justin said. “If you really want this to be a true alliance, then I think he’ll be willing.”
She nodded.
“It’s been an insanely long day,” Sebastian said. “You don’t need to go back to the covenhouse right now. Stay here for the night.”
Justinwastired. He’d always been sleepier than the average vampire, and the exhaustion of the day had seeped into his bones. He didn’t think he wasbadat this whole diplomat thing, but it was more complicated than anything he did on an average day.
“Okay.”
“Hold on,” Linda said, her tone suddenly rough and stern. She took her hands off the grimoire and crossed her arms.
“We haven’t discussed your intentions toward my son.”
Justin rubbed at his eyes with his right hand. Dammit, he thought he’d escaped this conversation. He didn’tknowhis intentions, and their third mate wasn’t even here to speak for himself.
Sebastian bristled. “You don’t have any right?—”
“Sebastian is the oldest child of the Eldest of the Circle.” Linda took on a performatively formal tone now, like a cross between a professor and a judge.
“Wolf is the oldest?—”
“He doesn’t fucking count, and you know it,” Linda said, cutting her son off before continuing. “Sebastian stands to take over the Circle when I am gone.”
“For God’s sake, mother, you have at least another hundred years in you?—”
“Stop.” Justin put up his hands to cut off the conversation. “We have another mate to consider. And regardless, what we decide is none of your concern.”
“Let me be very fucking clear. My son will not mate with anyone who isn’t worthy of him.” Justin’s ears popped with a sudden increase in pressure in the room. There was something building, some kind of energy that might explode if it was given the chance.
“Mother, you will stop this?—”
“Certainly not a listless vampire with no pedigree and no future plans beyond a front desk job. He is worthy ofroyalty.”
The pressure was unbearable now, although nothing on Linda’s face indicated she was concerned about it. A loud bang came from behind them, and Justin jumped, biting his lip to stop from crying out. He turned to see the door of the library had slammed closed.
“Mother!” Sebastian was reaching into his pocket now, digging for something. Justin assumed it had to be some kind of spell thing, something to break whatever the man’s mother was doing, but he wasn’t finding whatever he was searchingfor.
A streak of red flashed across Justin’s eyes, his inner vampire making itself known. The demon was like a mindless creature of rage inside of him, one Justin kept on a tight leash.
“For you to come tomy house?—”
Something clicked inside of Justin, his demon and his mind suddenly in perfect sync. Something tugged at him from the center of his chest. Before he knew it, a huge book flew from a shelf across the room at the speed of a fastball.
And it struck Sebastian’s mother right across the face with a loud smack. For a second, Justin thought she would go down, it had hit her so hard. But at the contact, the pressure instantly dissipated.
Linda’s eyes flashed with anger, but after a moment, it was replaced with a new emotion. Curiosity.
She turned to Sebastian. “How did he do that?”
All Sebastian did was shake his head. “I have no idea.”
What the hell were they talking about? “I’m lost.”
“Justin,” Sebastian said, tentatively resting his hand on the vampire’s shoulder, “youmade the book do that.”
