Page 102 of Our Sins in Silver (Coven of Sin 3)

It was a mistake even going near him.

Distracted by my proximity, the younger vampire reached for me, shaken from his weird trance. That darkness behind his eyes spasmed, and my stomach flipped. “R–Ruby. I don’t know what’s happening to me. I–I saw what he did to you, and I just—”

Vincent released a booming roar as he lumbered forward and made a swipe for the male who’d touched me. Corry whipped around, and instantly he flung out his arm.

The dark fae—who at this rate had several heads on his younger brother—came to a standstill.

It took me a moment to parse what was happening. Vincent was frozen in place like he’d been mesmerized or something. But Corry didn’t have that skill, and vampires—even hybrids—weren’t affected by that kind of magic.

My breath came out in short bursts, my focus panning to Corry, hoping I’d find some explanation for what was going on written on his face.

“Holy shit…Cor. Your eyes…” His blue irises had turned to that crimson shade that vampires often had, only now they were glowing.

Corry didn’t respond. His gaze was focused like a vise on Vincent, his fingers shaking as they flexed shut. As if he was crushing something.

Vincent’s veins writhed like he was the recipient of some dark curse.

Bloody hell.

Corry Cross was casting magic. By the rift in the air surrounding him, the energy he siphoned to power the spell was dark and oily. Something foreign yet familiar all at once.

There were vampires capable of harnessing magical energy. I remembered the guys telling me it was rare. Usually, if a vampire could wield magic, it was because they were ancient like Thomas Knight, had been a witch or mage in their human life like Isa, or had inherited it like Dagon and me.

Corry wasn’t even a year into his vampire life. Just how fucking powerful could this magic be if he was coming to grips with itnow?

Then it dawned on me.

This was that…glint.That dark shadow. A power that Thomas Knight had witnessed a glimmer of and decided that Corry would make for a fine addition to his arsenal of tools. A weapon fit for a vampire ruler who wished to keep his kingdom forever, and even a mate fit enough for his daughter.

Whatever this power was, only Thomas Knight had detected it while it was still dormant. Though, maybe Sterling—at least on some level—had been aware of it too. Why else would he have maintained tabs on the youngblood and kept him on the short leash he had? It was why Corry hadn’t been allowed to feed on the coven blood whores and why Vincent, the strongest vampire in the coven—second to Sterling—had been made to babysit him.

As Corry’s finger’s slowly clenched into a fist, a deeply harrowing gurgling sound came from Vin. Blood dribbled from his lips, out his nose, and from his ears. All while his veins danced to the younger prince’s whim.

Christ.So much blood.

At the rate he was losing blood, he’d be dead in minutes.

Corry was crushing his guts from the insides… No, that was crazy. Yet, that’s exactly what it looked like.

If I had to venture a guess, I’d say Corry had control over the older vampire’s blood.

Vincent staggered forward, muscles bulging as he exerted every fiber of his brawn in resisting Corry’s influence. “B–blood mage,” my fae sputtered, the words pinched and full of ache.

As a vampire, Vincent didn’t need to breathe, yet he appeared to be drowning in his own blood.

A future drenched in blood.

Suddenly, the dots connected between Isa’s vision and my father’s. Corry was a blood mage, whatever that was. Our coven’s oracle and the vampire king had both seen fragments of this chilling power.

The rain was falling again. I was so cold, it crept into my bones and froze my marrow. Violent tremors wracked my frame, but my shaking had nothing to do with the elements.

Corry was slowly but surely killing Vincent right before my eyes.

“Corry, stop! Please, I’m begging you! You’re hurting him. Please stop!” I reached down to the bottom of my being, searching for my monster so that she could help. She was fast asleep, sated, happy and totally unaware of what was happening.

What else could I do? I wouldn’t stand here and watch my mates kill each other. There was no time to run for help. I didn’t have my phone on me to call Sterling or Eros.

So, I did the first thing my gut told me.

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