Page 129 of Amethyst and Iron
“Obsessive describes him to a T. It’s no surprise to me,” Sylas rebutted.
I didn’t know how the fuck he was managing not to react to his father being brought up. But he was. He was that disciplinedand controlled, especially in situations like this, where that mattered a hell of a lot. He was smart instead of reactive.
And, honestly, it really turned me on.
Not something I should be thinking about right now, but given that we’d been apart for so long, that I’d been apart from all three of my loves, I was kind of on overdrive when it came to all of that.
Or maybe I was also veering into that sexual territory because of Victor. Because of what he’d done to me. Latching onto something that was positive in a sexual way and my choice, rather than what he’d… subjected me to. Like some kind of mental barrier I was just automatically erecting.
“Several times Ryker Morgan has breached Celestial-level wards and protections with his defensive magic. But he’s the only one on earth who possesses that type of magic. However, being able to breach such a thing can be done in other ways, something Morien discovered Ryker had passed down to Lucian. Something I actually witnessed him employing once.” His eyes flamed. “Using the foundational aspect of blood magic to transcend perceived indomitable magical might.”
Sylas tensed against me.
Victor’s grin widened as he tapped the exterior wall of the house. “This ward that the Immortal, Cassius, erected gave you the ability to allow somebody through with an uttered invitation, much like a vampire being allowed into a private dwelling when such words are spoken. However, it was also fashioned to allow passage to a specific few. You. Velra Nox.” His gaze landed on me again. “Andyou.”
“What are you getting at?” I demanded, done with this shit, done with having to steel myself with him being here far too close.
“Your blood. That is what allowed you passage without Sylas inviting you with a magically-programmed command.”
“And?” I bit back.
“And,impetuous one, you bled a great deal during our last interaction. I had a friend of mine gather up every little drop. And the thing with magic and blood, especially when you have access to a highly-accomplished magic-wielder, is that they fuse very nicely. In exhilarating ways.” He pushed off the door frame and swept his hand down the length of himself with a dramatic flourish. “As such, my scent currently reads as yours. I’m fused with your blood.”
He pushed against the shimmering white ward and his fingers went through it, sending a jolt of adrenaline tearing through me, and Sylas uttering a curse. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that the key to this lovely little lock here?”
My fangs dropped, my senses going into overdrive, my blood heating as I drew on the heart of the vampire, like my dad had been teaching me to do lately.
I felt his pulse thumping—steady but definitely… excited.
Prepping to react, to do something fucked, to come for us.
I heard him suck in a breath, the crack of his knuckles, the very slight shift of his stance.
I tried to scent him, but there was nothing there.
Victor made his move.
Unlike last time, I was able to register his movements, his speed no longer eclipsing my sensory abilities.
This time, I saw it fucking coming.
And as he burst toward Sylas, I spun into him, bodychecking him, and sending him flying across the room back toward the open front door.
He snarled at me in fury—and embarrassment, no doubt.
My lips quirked.
That had been oddly satisfying.
“Go,” I hissed to Sylas. “Call Cassius and Velra. Your phone’s in the kitchen.” I rolled my eyes. “For some reason.” Bedroomwould be way easier seeing as though we were right fucking there. But it was what it was. If I had to guess, it was him trying to avoid contact and sink deeper into solitude through his pain of being without his magic, and so he could conduct his obsessive research without.
“You’ve learned a thing or two, I see,” Victor commented.
Like a never-ending infuriating soundtrack.
Infuriating?I was having an emotional reaction.
That was dangerous with him.
