Page 7 of As Darkness Fall
“You’re sure this is what you want?” he asked. “Before I go through with it.”
I nodded. Nothing more needed to be said.
Vir brought the spear up, its razor-sharp edge heading straight for the line. I knew from watching the first time that it would slice right through the Soulbond, turning both ends black as the magic slowly faded into the person. I braced myself for the feeling of emptiness that would come with it.
An emptiness that I craved.
He went to cut it.
Clink.
“What the hell was that?” I asked as the link floated higher in the air. “Did it just bounce off your spear?”
“That’s what it looked like to me,” Vir rumbled, trying again.
Clink.
“It sounds like it’s hitting metal,” I said, staring in disbelief.
Vir turned his head, his eyes wide. “I don’t think I can sever it, Dani,” he said quietly. “It’s not working. Maybe…maybe if you can bring back the other energy? Maybe it’s strong enough.”
“Let me try,” I said, reaching down, placing my hands on the floor, feeling dried blood crust and fall off me.
I closed my eyes, the glow from Vir’s energy winking out as he let me focus.
As before, I reached out, searching for the energy, for the power that had been swirling in the room.
Nothing happened.
From the entrance of the chamber, I heard the shuffling of feet as someone approached.
“Well, well, well,” Aaron, my hired, decidedlynon-human guard and guide, said as he entered the chamber. “Isn’t this cute.”
Chapter Five
“Oh, shut up,” I muttered. “Start stripping.”
“What?”
Vir and Aaron both reacted the same way but with totally different tones. Aaron was curious, somewhat intrigued by my order. Vir, on the other hand, was suspicious and protective. He didn’t like the idea of Aaron getting naked around me.
He was the only one. Aaron was just as gorgeous as Vir, but in a completely different way. Tall, with the lithe firmness of an athlete, he didn’t have the bulkiness of the shifter god, but he was still a sight to behold. His eyes were what captured me, bright and brilliant blue, to the point they were nearly cold. The opposite of Vir’s darker, more mysterious stare.
Short, nearly platinum blond hair, immaculate fitting clothing, and a predatory stalk to his step added to his look until he basically dripped sex with every breath. Even twenty feet away and partially shielded by Vir, I could feel it, my body reacting to him. He was good. Really good.
“Because I’m tired of you guys having a free peepshow,” I snapped, angry at both of them for their reaction to my comment. “I need clothing, and you have some that will fit me. Sort of.”
Aaron grumbled something that might have been “Italian silk” or something along those lines, but I didn’t really care. I watched as he stripped out of his black shirt and pants, leaving himself clad in little more than his underwear.
It was a good sight. I let my eyes linger for more than a few seconds. Beside me, Vir was stiff and cranky, making his displeasure known, but frankly, I didn’t care. We’d been Soulbound for twenty minutes, and I’d known him for two days. He did not get any say whatsoever about whom I chose to look at.
“So much for my payment,” Aaron said in a low tone as he came closer, only stopping when Vir growled at him.
“Enough,” I snapped. “You don’t have a claim on me just because you’re clumsy.”
Aaron’s gaze turned inquisitive as he swung it back and forth between the two of us, but he didn’t ask, and we didn’t elaborate. I really didn’t feel like explaining what had happened to anyone. I was confused and, honestly, more than a little scared. I was Danielle Wetter, a nobody shifter from Seguin, a nowhere little town.
I should not be able to wield power as I had. I didn’twantto wield it, either. Too many temptations, too many people who would want to take it from me.
