Page 31 of Bite of Passage
None of that bothered him when it happened.He had no second thoughts.He sought more commissions, new schemes, and more ways to get out the unrelenting, cursed need to battle.
This ache in his chest was new.Regret.
He’d never smothered his desire and denied himself when he wanted something, especially not when his wanting was this acute.If given a redo, he would’ve done it differently—yes to sex, yes to turning her vampire, and hell yes to fighting the Directorate and Cade.
His fear lost her.
Fear of a prophecy.Fear of a group of uptight, merciless vampires.Fear of all she made him feel.Fear of doing what he’d never allowed himself.
“Maybe it’d pep you up if you went out and brought home a woman for the night?Maybe a fae?”Serish set a cup on the table next to him.The red liquid in the delicate porcelain cup wafted the smell of a fruity concoction.
“Did you give Gemma something to make her fall asleep?”
“I gave her tea.”
Skarde pinned the mage with a frosty glare.
“There might’ve been a relaxation component to it.”He held up his hands.“What?She seemed stressed.She almost got murdered and ended up deserted in your bedroom.I figured she could use some relaxation.Sex would’ve hit the spot, but I presumed you wouldn’t tickle that itch, not after your meeting with Cade to remind you of everything regulating your life.At least you two didn’t kill each other.”
He pointed a knife at Serish.“Stop fucking around with my life.”
Instead of showing respect or even the slightest indication of fear, the little man clapped his hands together as if so happy he might explode.“Is that a no on you seeking out another woman tonight?I should have the cook prepare dinner, then?”
Something glittered on the inside of Gemma’s small ring.He stood and angled it to get better light.There was something stamped on the inside.He squinted and made out two stylized swirls that came together like a tree.
A Vorche mark?
Impossible.
The Vorche mountain dwarves designed priceless jewelry that was often bespelled.Their pieces were as prized as they were rare.“Tell me if you think that’s a Vorche stamp.”
Serish took the ring and angled it in the light.His eyes widened for a fraction of a second, which was his answer.Then his face clammed up.“Couldn’t say for sure.”
Skarde grabbed the ring back, shoved it in a pocket, and twisted the mage’s shirt to pull him off the floor until his feet dangled.“You lie.What are you wrapped up in that involves her?Are you playing me?”
The mage wouldn’t make direct eye contact.
“Our relationship is built on trust, Serish.I laid my life down for you and gave you shelter when your people hunted you.I appreciate what you do around here, but if you’re going to lie to me, you’re no longer welcome here.”He pulled him even closer.“If I find out you betrayed me, I’ll rip out your heart and burn it.”
Color drained from Serish’s face.Yet, the mage still fidgeted.
With a twist of his shirt, he held the mage still.“Tell me how it’s possible there’s a Vorche mark on her ring when I’m willing to bet they don’t exist on her side of the glass.”
“Put me down,” Serish snarled.
He deposited the mage into a chair.
“You’re a distrusting bastard who thinks everyone’s out to screw you.”Serish smoothed out his clothes.
“I can’t think of a single person in my life who hasn’t tried to fuck me over eventually other than the dog and…”
A memory flicked through his mind of his sister when dying.“Fight the evils I couldn’t, Skarde.”
He crossed his arms.My father tried to kill me twice.My mother kicked me out of the house with instructions to never return.Even Cade hates me.Although, he still wasn’t sure what he had done to earn Cade’s wrath.There hadn’t been an obvious incident other than their lives taking different directions.
“I’m on your side.I might’ve tricked you into the juice cleanse last month.That was a small white lie.”Serish held his thumb and index finger an inch apart.
“I was shitting every twenty minutes for a day.Thatwas a major omission.”
