Page 9 of Blood Magic (Ariel Kimber 3)

“Then there’s the shit that comes out of your mouth.” His body started to shake with laughter. “Fucking crazy.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked snottily. I absolutely did not say crazy things!

“Babe… Come on, be serious right now.”

I glared at him in the mirror. This was not going how I had expected. I didn’t think he’d actually laugh at me, but here we were.

“You told me you were going to super glue my lips shut after you stuck a turd in my mouth.”

I winced. I had said that. And in front of Dash of all people. How embarrassing. I was too upset to blush. Small miracles.

“You called one of our female clients an asshole to her face. Granted, sheisan asshole, but still, this is you we’re talking about. You, Ms. Stick Up Her Ass, Prude herself. Fucking crazy.”

I pursed my lips angrily. I had done that too and the lady had ended up slapping me in the face, proving me right, that she really was an asshole.

Quinton took one look at my pursed lips and burst out laughing.

He looked good laughing. Softer. Relaxed. A lot less hollow.

I hated to ruin it, but I had promised myself I would try not to keep things inside anymore when it came to the guys.

I pointed a finger to my cheek and asked, “Does this make me ugly now? Do you think the rest of them are going to only want me for my magic now, because of this?” Not that I didn’t think that was already a distinct possibility for some of them already.

Quinton immediately stopped laughing and scrunched his eyes closed tightly.

“Fuck no,” he grunted, sounding pained. “Never, Ariel. You could never be ugly.”

He said the words as if he truly believed them, and I instantly relaxed into his stiff body. I couldn’t help but believe him. That didn’t mean the rest of them didn’t find me ugly, just because Quinton didn’t. But for now, I would focus on the fact Quint didn’t and that would be good enough for me. Until he left me alone or I was forced to come face to face with Damien and his Prom King face.

“Julian has something for it that will help with the scarring, if you’d like. It won’t remove everything, and I honestly don’t know how much it will take away, but it’s an option that is open to you. Julian will offer it to Dash as well, even though Dash won’t take it. But I think you should, take it, that is.”

I opened my mouth to protest as he shook me gently to keep my mouth shut.

“And, no, it’s not because I think you are ugly so don’t even fucking think to say it. It’s not for you, it’s for me and the rest of the guys. For me? I’m gonna hold onto this guilt for being the reason you and Dash got hurt until the day I fucking die. But that’s my problem, and I’m not trying to make it yours. I swear, that’s not what I’m trying to do here. I would, however, like to beg you to consider letting Julian work his magic and that is solely for selfish reasons. Every time I see that mark on your face my guilt is going to grow stronger until, eventually, I choke on it. You have the opportunity to make this a little easier on me, and I know it’s selfish to ask but I’m going to ask anyways because I don’t have a problem with being a selfish prick. That’s a part of who I am. So, please, do me the favor of letting Julian take care of you. For him as well.”

There was a lot to take in there, but I focused on the last part. “Why for Julian as well?” I asked quietly. I had a lump lodged in my throat the size of a baseball and it was hard to force the words out around it.

I didn’t want Quinton to feel guilty for what happened. I didn’t want him to feel blame for what Chucky did. Quinton was just as messed up as I was over this. The only difference was I didn’t blame myself for what happened to Dash. I could have, but I didn’t. I could put myself at fault because the only reason Chucky had been there was because I had stayed there. If not for my presence in Dash’s home, Chucky would likely have never met the man and none of those horrible things would have happened to him. But I chose not to think about it in that way. If I went down that road I would go insane. Just like Quinton was going to drive himself insane.

Quinton took in a shuddering breath as he placed his face in the crook of my neck.

“Julian has a way about him with healing. He always has. It’s funny because he can destroy just as easily as he can heal. He’s always been like that, ever since we were kids. Destroy with one hand, heal with the other. Dash has never let him help with the marks on his body, not even when they were new and raw. Julian took it personal and has always seen it as some kind of failure on his part. This will be no different. If you turn him down too, and he has to watch that eat at me, he’s really going to feel like shit. Please, do me a favor, and just think about it.”

I sighed, long and loud. I knew Julian was capable of healing with the things he created because I had allowed him to use some kind of cream he had concocted on my face and neck after a particularly violent interaction with my mother. I knew he was capable of great things first hand.

Tentatively, I raised my hand to my cheek and traced over the mark in a whisper-soft touch, light as a feather.

I met Quint’s dark gaze in the mirror.

He had more demons now, too.

“Alright,” I heard myself whisper. “Whatever you want.”

Anything to make those demons in his eyes retreat from the surface. Anything for Quinton.

I think I loved him. Maybe just a little bit.

I was in so much trouble.

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