Blood Magic (Blood Books Book 2) Page 10

  “I love you, Avah,” he said as he lay beside me. I turned toward him, draping my leg over his. “I love you so much it hurts. It terrifies me.”

  “It’s terrifying?” I asked, unable to hide how much the word hurt me.

  His head rolled against the pillow, and he was looking into my eyes. “What I wouldn’t do for you, for us… it’s terrifying. I’ve—I’ve never felt this way before. Not with exes, not with family, not for Amicia. I can’t explain it. Every day, I love you more.” He turned back, his gaze lingering on the fan blades above us. “I didn’t think it was possible to love you more.”

  I propped myself up on my elbow and traced my fingertips along the curve of his defined jawline.

  “I loved you the moment I saw you, you know. That’s why I wouldn’t—couldn’t—fight back. You looked at me, and I knew I had to have you. I knew you were meant to be mine.”

  I fought back the tears that threatened to spill.

  “You were so perfect, so brave. You were outnumbered, out-strengthed. You fought with grace, with poise.” He closed his eyes, as if he were replaying our first encounter behind closed lids. “You were deliberate in your actions and your duties to your coven. You risked your life to save your cousins. I knew you needed their help, but you didn’t risk it. Instead, you risked yourself.”

  “Jasik…” I whispered. No one had ever spoken of me so fondly. The love and admiration seeping from his mouth were a blessing to my ears.

  “And I thought, even if it kills me, I’ll protect this girl. I’ll save her from this world of darkness—a world you didn’t belong in. Your light was so bright. The last time I’d seen something so blinding, I was staring at the sun. I knew no one would understand. Even I didn’t understand. But you with your katana, your ruthless attacks, and your witchcraft, you put me under your spell the moment I laid my eyes on you.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. How could I explain what he meant to me? How could I explain that he was just as valuable, that I loved him just as much?

  “And now I have you, and all I can think about are all the things in this world that are going to try to take you from me. And…” He shook his head, a hand aimlessly running through his tussled hair. “Nothing’s ever brought me to my knees, Avah. Not until you.”

  He looked at me as a tear slid down the curve of my cheek. He leaned forward and kissed it away.

  “I’m yours. Forever,” he whispered. He didn’t wait for me to reply. Instead, he took my mouth with his and made love to me until the sun set.

  “TIRED?” JEREMIAH ASKED as I sat down at the table for breakfast. I looked up in time to see him wiggle his eyebrows.

  “Surprisingly, no,” I replied, ignoring his sexual innuendo.

  “Yeah, that’s that vampire strength. We really don’t have to sleep daily. We just do. Habit, I guess. Like breathing.”

  I nodded as I gulped down the mug of blood set before me.

  “So, what’s the plan?” Lillie asked, looking from the other Hunters to me.

  “I actually have an idea…” I said.

  Jasik met my gaze and raised an eyebrow.

  “Sebastian and I are going to try another locater spell.”

  “We already did that. We didn’t get anywhere,” Lillie stated.

  “True, but this time, we have a greater power source,” I said with a grin.

  “Do you think they’ll help?” Malik asked.

  I glanced at him, noticing his disheveled appearance. I guessed I really wasn’t the only one who got lucky last night. I smiled a cheeky grin at him.

  “What?” he asked, as if he didn’t know that I knew.

  I shook my head. “Nothing. Lookin’ good.” I winked, and he blushed. I didn’t think Malik was capable of expressing such an emotion—or, really, any emotion. He’d always been stiff and straight-forward around me. I was happy someone existed who could make him feel deeper emotions than fight or flight.

  He cleared his throat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Sure you don’t.

  I laughed. “Smooth! But yes, I think they will. Honestly, it’s this, or we run from place to place and hope to get lucky. My guess is they want to get home as much as we do. And I think they’re just as uncomfortable around us as we are around them.”

  “This is a good plan,” Jasik said, rubbing my leg with his hand. Shocks electrified my system at his touch, and I bit my lip. His eyes darkened as they watched me closely. I shook my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts. I had to stay focused on the task at hand.

  I knew this plan would work, but I also had ulterior motives. While learning to control my abilities with Sebastian, I was able to see my future—a war that led to our demise. With fifty hybrids lending me their power, I had to have enough strength to see more, to see who was coming for us… before it was too late.

  I STEPPED OUTSIDE, embracing the darkness. I inhaled deeply. Kat’s coven resided deep within the North Cascades National Park in rural northern Washington State. Though our coven was graced with the Pacific Ocean’s salty air, the surrounding woods here reminded me of home. I missed the manor, the vampires. I kicked at the packed snow that crunched beneath my feet as I left the safety of the coven in search of the hybrid army. I knew they were close. I could feel them. When they were near, my skin tingled. It was as if everything within me unconsciously reached out to something familiar—something like me.

  I found Sebastian sitting alone, his breath released in lacy puffs of steam. As a vampire, I never felt cold, and I was beginning to forget that January in Northern Washington State had to be freezing. Sebastian’s back was to me, but I was sure he knew I was there, lingering, staring. I decided to take a seat beside him. I sank against the crunchy ground. We didn’t speak; instead, I dug my hands into the snow, balling it between my fists.

  I wasn’t sure when it happened, but at some point, I released my hatred for Sebastian, and I began to trust him—like him, even. I knew the others still worried about his intentions, but I was sure he wouldn’t intentionally hurt us. He reminded me of Jeremiah at times. Both men hid behind their jokes, their looks, their women, but sometimes, when they thought no one was looking, I’d see it. A flash of longing, of loneliness in their eyes. They both wanted so much more than what they had at their disposal.

  I tossed the ball of snow in the air, catching it again. Sometimes, it seemed like I could sit in silence forever. The witches made me believe I was born to be some chosen vampire hunter, but in reality, I was born to be a vampire: secluded, alone, in darkness. I found peace there. I dropped the snowball and found Sebastian staring at me intently.

  “Hmm?” I asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious under his heavy-lidded gaze.

  He shook his head and looked away. I kept staring at him, reflecting on his chiseled looks. He reminded me so much of Jasik. Both had their brooding down, both were incredibly sexy, and both looked at me with an intensity that made my heart flutter.

  “When this is over, I want you to stay with us.” I spoke barely above a whisper. In fact, I spoke so quietly, I wondered if I had even said it aloud. And then he looked at me.

  “Avah—”

  “No, don’t overthink it.”

  “I don’t belong here. Neither do you…”

  I exhaled sharply. “Not this again.”

  He shook his head but said nothing.

  “Sebastian, I care for you. I want you to stay. We can make this work.” I grabbed his hand, offering a light, reassuring squeeze. He squeezed me back with a ferocity that made me gasp. His fingers linked with mine.

  “This feels right,” he said softly.

  “I know.” I couldn’t deny the connection we had. It left me with so many questions I didn’t think either of us could answer. Did we feel this way because he saved my life that first night we met? Was it because he was my link to learning more about who I was? Or was it more? What I felt for Jasik was different, stronger, but my feelings for both men were undeniable.


  “Please tell me you’ll stay,” I whispered. Ignoring the sparks that shot through my skin as the pad of his thumb rubbed against my hand.

  “Please don’t ask me to lie to you, Avah,” he said without looking at me.

  I swallowed hard. In that moment, I realized just how much Sebastian meant to me. My heart ached at the thought of losing him.

  “Will you think about it?” I asked, my voice breaking.

  There was a long pause before he said, “Yes.”

  I smiled and placed a shaky kiss against his cheek. He turned, his nose brushing against mine as I began to pull away. I froze, my eyes lingering on his lips. He was close, so close. His heart beat rapidly in my mind. The loud thumping was numbing. His breathing became heavy as we shared the air between us. He leaned forward, placing his lips against mine, and I didn’t pull away. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to indulge in his soft lips. Dropping my hand, he placed his fingers at the base of my spine, and I brought mine to run through his hair. Our kiss deepened, and my heart fluttered.

  I fell into a darkness, a void of longing. I missed him. I missed him so much—even though I’d just had him. He tasted differently, smelled differently, felt differently, but I ignored the concern filling my gut as my tongue brushed against his. My teeth dragged against his lower lip, and he moaned in response. My name was on his lips, and his Australian accent ripped me out of my dream and back to reality.

  This wasn’t real. He wasn’t Jasik. I didn’t want Sebastian in that way.

  I pulled away, shuffling ungracefully on my feet. I stood on shaky legs, my fingers grazing the skin of my swollen lips. I shook my head, looking down at him as he remained seated.

  “I can’t… I can’t be with you like this, Sebastian.”

  He groaned and stood. “Why? You feel something for me. I know you do. Just admit it!” His eyes glowed brightly—from anger or arousal, I wasn’t sure.

  “I do. I…” I looked at the ground, as if the words I needed to find were sprawled at my feet. “I—I think I’m starting to love you...”

  He gasped and took a step forward, closing the distance between us.

  “No!” I said, placing my palms against the tight muscles of his chest.

  “Avah, I feel the same way. Stop fighting this. Stop fighting us.”

  “You didn’t let me finish,” I said as I stepped backward. I kept my arms outstretched, a silent reminder to stay back.

  “I do love you. At least, I think I do. But I don’t love you the way I love him.”

  “How do you know it’s not just some sick sire bond with him?” he spat.

  I cringed. “It isn’t. I just know it. I can feel it.”

  He shook his head, running a hand through his hair.

  “I love you like family, Sebastian. You’re like… I don’t know. The brother I never had.” The thought made me squirm. I rubbed at my lips. I could still taste him; my lips were still moist.

  Pain flashed before his eyes as he registered that he and I were never going to happen the way he wanted us to.

  “But I still need you in my life, and I know you need me in yours. Think about it, Sebastian. Think about how you really feel about me. Sure, there’s a physical attraction, but there’s more. I know you feel that, too.”

  His arms fell to his sides. “We should probably talk about the plan for today.”

  “Sebastian,” I said softly, “don’t change the subject.”

  “There’s no point in continuing, Avah. There’s no us. You’ve made that clear. So let’s just move on.”

  “Fine. But this discussion isn’t over.” I gave him my no-nonsense tone and hoped he’d take it seriously.

  His eyes met mine, and I swallowed hard. He was hurt, but underneath that, I saw recognition. I knew he just needed time. I still hadn’t learned about Sebastian’s past, but I was sure it’d been a long time since he’d cared for someone or had someone to care for him. This was new to him. He needed time to understand his feelings.

  “Well, I was thinking we could try another locater spell. We’re closer now. Not sure if that’ll help, but we also have the hybrids. I was thinking we could link, use their power, just enough to make contact. Think they’ll go for that?”

  “Yes,” he said without hesitation.

  “You seem sure.”

  “I am. I spent all night with them. They want this over with just as much as we do. We all want to go home, Avah.”

  His words stung. “Home,” I said. “Where is home?”

  He didn’t answer. Instead, he turned on his heel and began walking away. “I’ll find the others, let them know the plan,” he said over his shoulder.

  I didn’t chase him. I just let him go. He needed time, and I couldn’t risk pushing him away. Eventually, he’d see what I saw. He had to.

  I turned back toward the manor and froze. Jasik sat on the steps that led to the wraparound porch. He looked… defeated. I knew he’d not only witnessed the encounter, but he was close enough to hear everything, too. My heart sank as I thought about the pain I’d just put him through. I couldn’t imagine seeing him with someone else.

  “I’m sorry,” I said as I took the stairs. I wrapped my arms around my chest, as if they could protect me from whatever would happen next.

  “Don’t.”

  “Jasik, please—”

  “I said don’t.” He paused; the seconds passed by excruciatingly slowly as I waited for him to finish. “Don’t be sorry. I… understand. He’s like you, Avah. He can give you… more.”

  My words from last night echoed in my mind. I had practically begged him for more.

  “I need more of you, not him.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “I know he doesn’t really love me. At least, not like how you love me.”

  He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat.

  “For the past few days, I’ve felt like… like you’re not telling me something. Was this it? Was this what you’ve been hiding?”

  “No! I’m not hiding… this. I wasn’t hiding this, because there’s nothing going on between Sebastian and me to hide.”

  He didn’t speak. He didn’t need to. He knew I was keeping secrets, and while I hated doing that, I wasn’t sure now was the time to admit all wrongs. Knowing I could eat real food and go out into sunlight would only back up his claims that he can’t give me what I need. I needed him to see that I was happy, that what we had was perfect. I didn’t need anything more.

  “Jasik… I don’t know what to say.” Tears burned behind my eyes.

  “Avah… I just…” He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his tousled hair. “I don’t want to lose you.” His voice came in a whisper, so soft I wondered if he hadn’t actually said what I begged to hear.

  When I didn’t say anything, he looked up at me. Pain flared behind his icy blue eyes.

  I stepped forward, pushing him back, and straddled his lap. I pulled him close to me, resting my head against the curve of his neck. His pulse was quick, steady. I kissed the throbbing vein, and he gasped as I let my teeth graze the sensitive skin.

  “No one can take me from you, Jasik. No one. Not ever. I’m yours… forever.” I pulled away to look at him.

  His hand ran through the length of my hair as he brushed it from my eyes. I stared into his eyes as I let the tears slowly fall.

  “Do you really think I feel any differently about you than you feel about me?” I asked as he brushed away my tears. “I don’t want to lose you, either. I can’t—I can’t imagine a life without you.”

  He pulled me close, kissing my temple. Our rapid breathing caused our chests to pump in unison. Everything about Jasik was right, perfect. We were made to love each other. The love I felt for Sebastian was different. Familial. The love I felt for Jasik was powerful, effortless, forever.

  “That night, we were destined to meet, to be together. I’ve waited my whole life for you, Jasik.”

  He chuckled. “I’ve waited nearl
y seven hundred years for you.”

  I smiled and inhaled deeply, enjoying being near Jasik. He smelled of mint, vanilla, and his own unique musk.

  “I’m so sorry,” I said.

  I leaned in and placed a weak kiss on his lips. He pulled me closer, deepening our contact, and I relished in being with him in a way I couldn’t bear to lose.

  “Fiends!” Jeremiah said as he stepped onto the porch. “Man, what vitamins are you taking? Seriously. All morning and all night?”

  I barked out a loud laugh and stood on wobbly legs. “You’re such a perv, Jeremiah. Y’know that?”

  He waggled his eyebrows and winked at me. “The ladies love it.”

  “ARE YOU NERVOUS?” Sebastian asked. His cool, confident demeanor showed no signs of our earlier indecency. It was almost as if it had never happened. I could only take that as a good sign. Maybe he was realizing that I meant to him the same thing he meant to me?

  “A little,” I said as we stalked closer to our goal.

  “Don’t be. You’ll do fine.”

  “It’s the first time since—”

  “I know.”

  “Well, not really the first. There was one other time, and it didn’t go so well.” I swallowed the knot forming in my throat.

  “Relax. You’re tense. And put your sunglasses on. We’re close now.”

  I obeyed his command, watching as he removed his sunglasses from his head and put them on.

  “Jeez, Avah. You’re shaking. Calm down.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me close to him. I tensed under his touch, and he dropped his arm back to his side. “Sorry.”