Page 71 of Blood

“Death and pain?” Alex drawls in an indolent voice, reclining back in his chair.

“Torture?” Cal queries.

“Ohh! I know this one!” Barret bounces up and down in his seat, like an over-excited puppy. “Castration!”

“All of the above.” I glare at both of my mates, allowing them to see the threat brimming in my eyes. I won’t hesitate to cut off their perfect dicks and feed them to a pig farm if they decide to die on me. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal.” Dimitri absently picks at his nail with his blade.

“I’ll see if I’m even needed,” Frankie adds.

“We should also consider adding a training regimen for you, Violet,” Memphis interrupts.

“For me?” Gunfire rips through my chest at his words.

“You’re not a vampire, so all the training Dracula put you through is obsolete,” Memphis points out. “You need to learn how to embrace your goddess and demon side. You should be able to compel the Fomorians easily. The fact that you’re incapable of it shows how far behind in your training you truly are.” Memphis once again begins to “type” something into his laptop, his huge claws banging against the keys as he works. “Your father—your biological father—created some videos that should, hopefully, help train you to utilize your demon side.” His beady, red eyes swivel to me momentarily. “I’ve heard that your inner monster came out to play when those vampire hunters attacked and captured you?”

Worry for the future, now compounded by fear of the unknown beast roiling within me, beats through my bloodstream. My hands are suddenly slick with sweat.

“I don’t know what happened. One second, I was fine, and the next—”

Memphis nods and continues pounding away. “That’s, more than likely, your demoness side. You have no control over it, which is why you need to train.”

“He’s right, Violet,” Jack says gently, fiddling with the strands of black hair that have fallen across his cheek, hiding his scar from view. “You need to learn how to control that part of yourself. Hopefully, when we free Hera and Lucifer, they can teach you more, but until then...”

“You need to do what you can,” Alex finishes with a scowl. I honestly don’t even know who that ire is directed at. I half wonder if his face is just stuck that way.

My sexy, scowly, angry mate.

I don’t dare look too closely at the gamut of emotions swirling inside of me. The guys and Memphis are right. I need to learn how to control my powers. They came when I least expected them to and refused to make an appearance when I desperately needed them to. Managing my gifts could be the difference between life and death for me and my mates. It could just be the weight that tips the scale in our favor.

“You guys are right.” Terror fizzes through my blood like poison, but I don’t allow that fear to show on my face. “I’ll do what I can to figure out how to use these...gifts of mine, or whatever they are.” I begin to laugh, the noise slightly hysterical. “I mean, what’s the worst that can happen? I blow up Hell or something?” My laughter turns louder.

Famous last words, Violet.

Famous. Last. Words.

CHAPTER 24

VIOLET

I don’t blow up all of Hell.

I do, however, blow up a teeny, tiny portion of it. Honestly, I’m not sure Lucifer will even notice it’s gone. Who needs a stream of lost souls and despair? It doesn’t add anything to the decor of Lucifer’s back garden.

Sweat drips down my face as I focus on the video of my father yet again as he attempts to walk me through how to summon Hellfire. It’s supposed to be a skill I possess, and he’s right. I can conjure Hellfire.

I just can’t control it.

“This is the easiest thing a demon can do,” the Lucifer on the screen says. “So, of course, my baby girl is an expert at it. I wouldn’t expect anything less from the future queen.” Pride brims in his eyes. “I probably don’t need to even teach you this, do I? You’re so amazing. I’m proud—”

With a snarl, I press pause on the video.

I glower at the now-dried-up stream and then throw myself onto the ground with a huff. “That’s it. I quit. I’m officially going to retire from queen-ly-ness and become an alcoholic,” I lament.

“Don’t be so dramatic.” Vanessa Van Helsing doesn’t even bother to look up from her cards. She sits at the outside table with Cynthia and Memphis, playing a game of poker. My designated best friend looks amazing, considering the fact she was spelled to try to kill me, tied up for days, and then forced to undergo hours of excruciating torture as Balor walked me through how to eliminate the magic in the rune. Her light brown hair, the same shade as Vin’s, is pulled back in a tight French braid that accentuates her sharp cheekbones and full lips. My bestie is an absolute knockout, and any guy or girl she decides to date will be damn lucky to have her. Of course, they’re going to have to go through me first...

“You’re doing great,” Cynthia agrees as she drops her cards onto the table with a satisfied yelp. “Full house! Read it and weep, losers.”

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