Page 76 of Halfblood Deceived

“He’s cheating,” Zeydan pointed out. Sebastian was reckless enough to almost crash the obscenely expensive cars if need be to cut Zeydan off.

Kerian shrugged. “He’s a tad competitive. Milla is one hundred times worse, trust me. She’d beat you with her eyes closed, judging how terrible you are at this.”

Zeydan scoffed. “Fine, I’ll do my best, but don’t complain if I scratch your car.”

“I won’t complain. I’ll just bill you for the damages,” Kerian blithely answered.

Zeydan threw him a feral smile. “Fine by me.” He was more than wealthy enough to buy Kerian a new car if necessary. And he had the feeling the haughty buggers were teaming up to needle him, so bring it on.

He could play dirty, too.

Taking a deep breath, Zeydan tasted the humidity in the early night and called for one of the powers he had inherited from his wretched father.

He had learned long ago not to hate his powers. They had saved him, his mother, Gabby, and the others more than once. And knowing he was giving the proverbial finger to his father by using his powers for something so banal instead of say, blinding an enemy clan, was thrilling as fuck.

So Zeydan cast his mist, wrapping a thick layer of white fog around Sebastian’s car and hearing the other vampire curse as he sped past him.

Kerian barked a laugh. “Oh, that was incredibly wicked. I love it!”

Zeydan grinned, pushing the speed of the car as they got closer to the edge of the road and the river beneath it. There was a very real risk of crashing against the cliff instead of jumping clear over the river. A risk that could be easily avoided by taking the much safer alternative road that the security and maintenance staff used to go to the city. But like Kerian had said, where was the fun in that?

A flash of light drew Zeydan’s attention. No, not light but a quick flare of blue fire magic that burned part of the mist. Through the rearview mirror, he saw Sebastian right on his heels, grinning.

Zeydan gawked. Sebastian had fire, a lot of fire. That was not normal among vampires.

Kerian laughed. “Did I forget to mention Sebastian has elemental fey ascendance?”

Zeydan exhaled an incredulous breath. “Yes. Yes, you did.”

“My bad,” Kerian drawled.

Sebastian was right beside Zeydan then. The blond grinned and feinted, almost bumping against him.

“Oh, no you don’t,” Zeydan growled, casting a thicker layer of mist around Sebastian’s car.

Kerian whooped and laughed again. “Oh, this is the most fun I’ve had in weeks. Keep it up, boys!”

“Fuck you, Kerian!” Sebastian screamed, but he was laughing as well.

With only fifty yards to reach the river, Zeydan let up on his mist and pushed the car to maximum speed. Yes, Sebastian would survive if he crashed, but he’d be seriously wounded, and Zeydan didn’t fancy getting his arse kicked by Aylana. Besides, he would win. Whoever jumped the river won, they had agreed, and there was no way Sebastian could get past him now.

The car flew like an arrow over the roaring river. Those seconds in the air stretched, making the adrenaline in Zeydan’s veins reach an invigorating level, creating a void in his stomach.

Then the car landed on the road.

The bump shook both Zeydan and Kerian, but they were screaming and laughing like teenagers. Their cries of sheer joy only got louder as Sebastian also crossed the river with a perfect landing and reached their side on the now wider road.

“You are a tricky little bastard!” Sebastian screamed at Zeydan.

Zeydan grinned. “Look who’s talking, you flaming arse!”

Sebastian laughed and wiggled his eyebrows. “Now you do have to follow me unless you wanna get very lost.”

Zeydan shrugged. “I already won. I don’t care.”

“There will be a rematch!” Sebastian promised, taking the lead.

Kerian chuckled. “Oh, there will be, but not tonight, for we are all getting shitfaced!”

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