Blood Magic (Blood Books Book 2) Read online

  Malik stepped forward, as if he had concluded to correct this situation immediately. I placed my hand on his arm, and he tensed beneath it. His eyes met mine, and I silently begged him to let me handle this. He released a long breath and stepped back.

  “You have a connection to me, Sebastian, and I am asking you—no, begging you—to stop this, to help us, to help me.” I pleaded with my eyes.

  He shook his head. “Fine, but when this is done, I’m gone. I’m a bit tired of this lacking hospitality.”

  Seriously? Have you not heard that ‘you get what you give’ saying?

  He rolled his eyes, and I smiled. I knew he could hear my thoughts.

  “So what now?” Lillie asked. I had almost forgotten about her. She hadn’t spoken since I confided my vision in them.

  “How many hybrids are there?” I asked. Hopefully enough to take down the Rogues awaiting us.

  “Not enough to stop this army, but enough to make a difference.”

  “Good,” I said, nodding. “Let’s go, then.”

  Sebastian gave me his killer smile and turned on his heel.

  “Keep up. Time to chase the night,” he said with a wink.

  The sun! How could I have forgotten the sun? I looked east, where the sun was already beginning to slowly rise. My blood boiled at the thought.

  My feet pounded against the ground as I attempted to keep up with Sebastian’s long, strong strides. To an onlooker, we were but a blur. I was sure humans had seen vampires before. In that moment when they thought they’d seen something and had to blink twice or did a double take, they probably spotted one. But in a split second, we were gone, and their minds’ rationalization sunk in. They never knew they were but feet away from what stood at the top of the food chain.

  We were quickly over the eastern mountains of the state and entered the flatland zone. Flatlands weren’t friends to creatures of the night, and I quickly glanced at the Hunters beside me. Sweat beaded on their foreheads as they strained to keep up, to keep alive. I returned my gaze to Sebastian, who seemed humored by the occasion.

  “Keep up,” he yelled. “We’re going to Daniels County.”

  “Let me guess,” I yelled back. “That’s the farthest county in the state?”

  “Pretty much,” he chuckled.

  I groaned. Of course.

  I gasped as I slowly watched the sun’s rays shine brightly against the ground. A line separated what remained of the night and what was becoming the day. The sun quickly dominated, eliminating any trace of our safety. I swallowed. This was it. I whipped my head from side to side. There was no escape. The trees that surrounded us would provide little shelter for the Hunters.

  “Here!” Sebastian yelled, breaking my thoughts, and he leaped forward before falling back to the ground. He slid into the shallow hole of a hidden cave’s entrance. I hadn’t even noticed it. It was small and low to the ground, clearly hidden from passersby. I was sure Lillie and I could fit through easily, but the others? The hole was probably half the size of their width. I imagined them attempting to squeeze through as the sun’s rays hit their exposed skin.

  I sent up a silent prayer to whatever god or goddess was listening, and I mimicked his move, slipping into the cave. The ground disappeared as I entered, and I was free-falling. I threw my hands up, trying to grab onto something, anything to break my fall. There was nothing. Nothing but darkness and the stench of death. I wondered how many thought exploring the cave would be a fun adventure and then died here after the initial leap.

  Whoosh!

  I closed my eyes as I was enveloped by a foreign substance. It embraced me completely, and I was tightly bound. I inhaled quickly, the substance stealing my breath away. I choked it out, unable to breathe, to see, to concentrate.

  Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

  I vaguely heard the others join the abyss beside me.

  Focus! Breathing was an unbreakable habit of a mortal lifetime. My immortal existence didn’t require breath the way my mortal one did. I spit the substance out and stopped myself from involuntarily sucking it back in. My heaving chest burned. The substance tingled against my un-working lungs.

  I shrieked as I smacked against rock, and my legs snapped.

  I reached down aimlessly, but I could already feel the bones reforming. I pushed my arms around, searching for safety, for a way to be released. A hand clenched mine and pulled me to safety. I opened my eyes and found I was held in Sebastian’s arms, the substance still dripping down my face. Closing my eyes again, I sucked in air and choked out the remaining bits that threatened to suffocate me.

  “Shhh,” he soothed. “You’re fine.”

  “What was that?” I choked out, my fingers digging into his shoulders.

  He smiled. “Water.” I opened my eyes, blinking. Water?

  I gaped at him and looked around. We sat in an iridescent pool of murky water. I unhinged from Sebastian. The water was deep; my legs swished back and forth as I struggled to stay upright.

  “First time swimming since you’ve changed?” Sebastian asked.

  I nodded. “It’s wasn’t exactly the experience I remembered.” I blushed, embarrassed. I had completely overreacted.

  “Not quite.” He smiled at me, tucking loose strands of my hair behind my ear.

  Suddenly, I was acutely aware of his proximity. He was close to me as I swayed in the water. His body was firm, arousing. I pushed myself away and swam to the edge.

  Jasik offered his hand, and I grasped it. He pulled me up, rubbing his hand against my back.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  I nodded.

  He smiled and placed a kiss on my forehead.

  “It was different, wasn’t it?”

  “Very. I thought I was going to die.” I laughed. Only I could make vampirism this dramatic.

  “Very few things will end your life, Avah. Water isn’t anywhere on that list.” He winked and released me.

  Stepping back, I took in our surroundings.

  The entrance to the cave was fifty or so feet above us and provided enough light for my heightened senses to explore. The air was dank and held a formidable staleness. I found myself frowning at the scent as I chomped my jaws open and closed. The scent lingered, coating my tongue. I ran my tongue against my teeth and spat. The walls were covered in slick dew, and I couldn’t help but scrunch my nose at the sight.

  “This way,” Sebastian said as he lifted himself from the dark water. He pointed toward a small tunnel.

  “Where does that lead?” I asked.

  “Headquarters.”

  I gaped at him. Headquarters? Just how advanced were these people?

  He barked out a hard laugh. “I’m kidding. You should see your face.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I should see a shower.” I ran a hand across my skin and shivered. I could still feel the murky, dirty water on me. It clung lifelessly to my pores as it pried, attempting to seep into every part of my being. I was fairly sure I’d never go swimming again. Ever.

  “The tunnel leads us out of here. Seems to be our only option.”

  We took to foot, squeezing down the narrow hallways. I glanced back at the Hunters. They crouched as they maneuvered through. Lillie and I were the only ones short enough to semi-comfortably walk without scraping against the walls. The tunnel seemed endless, and I silently thanked the gods and goddesses that I wasn’t claustrophobic.

  The tunnel opened to a wide room that nearly mirrored the previous room, sans the exits and waterhole. It was a large, circular, candle-lit dungeon of no escape. And in its center, several dozen sets of violet irises stared back at me.

  I SWALLOWED HARD as their eyes lingered on my frame. I was sure my newborness was obvious to the new onlookers.

  “Hello, Sebastian,” a voice said. The woman was sitting, sharpening her knife between two rocks. She focused solely on her work, never gracing us with a glance. “I find myself wondering what you’re doing here, but more importantly, I find myself wondering how s
tupid you’d have to be to bring them here.”

  I knew she spoke of the Hunters, who tensed beside me as if her words lashed them.

  “Hello, Sibyl.”

  I gazed at the breathtaking woman before me, trying my hardest to ignore the fact that we were seriously outnumbered here. I couldn’t place her accent, but power radiated from her in waves. She was clearly the leader—and the oldest vampire I had ever encountered. I had to fight the urge to bow before her. I wasn’t sure where the inclination originated, but it was there, and it was nearly impossible to ignore.

  Her dark hair hung wildly from her shoulders in uncontrollable tight curls. She shifted. Her eyes were a bright neon violet, and her tanned skin was sun kissed and beautiful. I swallowed hard and glanced to Jasik.

  “Don’t make me ask again, Sebastian.” She had yet to glance up at us.

  I watched her carefully. Her violet eyes were tense as she focused on her blade.

  “Sibyl, love,” Sebastian said.

  In a movement too quick for even my heightened eyes, she was beside him, her freshly sharpened blade teasing the vein in his throat. She slashed her arm to the right, and he began to bleed.

  Without thinking, I grabbed her arm, twisting it around so her blade slid into her back. I felt her tense as blade met bone. I pushed her away, my foot meeting the back of her knees, and she fell to the ground, tumbling forward. I stepped back and drew my seax from its sheath, the Hunters mimicking my daring move.

  Sibyl was before me, sliding her weapon from her back. “I’m impressed. I have yet to meet a newborn with such foolish courage.”

  I twisted my wrist and sliced my seax forward, but my arm was caught midair. Sebastian twisted it back, sheathing my weapon in the process. I stood shocked, without my weapon in hand.

  “Don’t be an idiot,” he whispered, though I was sure they could hear him anyway. “Look around you. These vampires are trained killers. You have no chance.”

  I swallowed the knot in my throat and shook off my tense muscles. I met their hard gazes.

  “Very good,” Sibyl said, still watching me.

  I refused to turn my gaze from her. She stepped forward, her challenging stare deepening. My legs quivered, and my pulse quickened. I unsuccessfully fought to control them both.

  Don’t back down, I told myself. Hold her stare. You’re powerful, too. Never forget that.

  She chuckled and blinked. “Very, very good. You will make one hell of a fighter, Avah Taylor.”

  I frowned.

  “You didn’t think you could come into my home, challenge me, and maintain anonymity, did you?”

  “How do you know who I am?”

  “The world will know of you, Avah. You are always welcome here.” She turned on her heel and faced Sebastian, who stood unwavering beside me. “Sebastian, do not bring another into my home without consulting me first, do you understand?”

  “Yes, Sibyl. My apologies, Milady.”

  I arched an eyebrow. He was changing tactics.

  “We have a problem,” he added.

  Vaguely, I heard the other Hunters re-sheath their weapons.

  “Yes, these pathetic excuses for protectors lost their priestess, and now there’s a Rogue army awaiting your arrival.” Tsk! Tsk! Her lips curled into a smile when she faced me again.

  “You read my mind,” I said defiantly.

  “I did. As did the others.” She gestured to the other hybrids in the room. The watched me closely. Aside from their violet eyes, they looked so… normal. Why would I think differently? Sebastian and I were pretty normal, too. “You should really learn to shield your thoughts, Miss Taylor.”

  Shield my thoughts? I looked up at Sebastian. We begin training. Tonight. He nodded once.

  “My dear, Sebastian is a fine specimen, but he’s no teacher. Join us. I shall train you.”

  I gawked. “You don’t even know me.”

  “I know more than you realize.”

  “Of course. You’re a seer.” I cursed my inexperience.

  She nodded.

  “Are my friends welcome?” I asked.

  “No.”

  “Then I won’t be staying.”

  “You may leave the way you came,” she said simply, turning on her heel.

  “They can’t go outside. You know this.”

  Though I couldn’t see her face as she retreated from us, I was sure she was smirking.

  “Sibyl, please,” I begged. The words felt odd on my tongue.

  She stopped and faced me again.

  “You’re quite defiant, aren’t you?”

  “I am.” I spoke honestly. My mother used to tell me I was too strong-willed. I didn’t think there was such a thing.

  She exhaled quickly. “Because your problem will become an even bigger issue if we let this progress, we will assist you in eliminating this army. But that is all. Understand, Sebastian?”

  He nodded.

  “Very well. They can stay the day, but this evening, we leave.”

  “That’s it? What’s the plan? There were hundreds. We can’t just go in. They’ll be expecting that.”

  “Quiet your tongue, child.”

  Her words were direct. Sibyl had this amazing ability to make me feel as though I was an inexperienced witch, being chastised by my mother yet again.

  “Leave it be, Avah. Sibyl is an expert warrior. She knows what she’s doing,” Sebastian said as he turned to face the Hunters. “Stay quiet, leave them be, stay out of the way, and you just might make it to dusk.”

  I glanced over my shoulder. The other hybrids watched me carefully. Glancing at each other, they laughed, shaking their heads and looking away, as if they had conversations only a reader could understand. For a second time today, I cursed my inexperience. What were they thinking?

  “We’re seriously outnumbered, Sebastian.”

  Jeremiah nodded, looking from hybrid to hybrid.

  “I meant against the Rogues. I think we’re safe here… for now.”

  Sebastian shook his head. “There are more. They’re just not here right now.” He eyed me cautiously.

  They were up there. In the sunlight. I swallowed. When should I tell them that we could be exposed to sunlight without concern? When was a good time to break depressing news to someone? And how exactly could I explain it and not have it sound like I was rubbing it in their faces?

  “You should rest. Avah and I will train,” Sebastian said to Jasik.

  He glanced at me, and I nodded. I needed time with Sebastian, and I knew they were safe even with Sebastian and I gone.

  Jasik exhaled quickly. “Fine, but you need to rest, too.” He extended his arm, and I grabbed his hand, giving it a slight, reassuring squeeze.

  “She’s stronger. She doesn’t need what you need. She doesn’t need as much rest. She doesn’t need as much sustenance. She’s self-reliant. Remember that.” Sebastian looked down, meeting my eyes. “Don’t fall weak to your mind’s lies, Avah. The habits instilled after decades of human existence no longer ring true. You’re a creature of the night and day now.”

  Jasik arched an eyebrow at Sebastian’s words, but I ignored him and nodded, my mouth drying at the thought of the power within me. I had so much potential, and I was annoyed that it was always just out of reach.

  “Shall we, sugar lips?” Sebastian gave me his wicked sexy grin and stalked down the tunnel that led to our only escape. Apparently, the lady killer had reared its ugly head again.

  “I’ll be fine,” I said to Jasik, pulling him into a long, hard kiss. Breathlessly, I gazed up at him; his eyes burned in hunger… for me.

  “What did he mean by that?”

  “Who knows?” I shook my head and winked.

  Concern still etched his eyes, but he smiled. There’d come a time I’d need to explain myself, but I didn’t think that time would be when there were eavesdropping vampires nearby.

  “Stay safe, my love.” He planted a kiss on my forehead and pulled away, retreating to his place
beside the Hunters.

  Reluctantly, I followed Sebastian to the tunnel, throwing a quick glance over my shoulder at the other hybrids. They watched me with wonder. I was sure it was strange for them to see such affection between a hybrid and a Hunter. After all, Sibyl didn’t seem too fond of vampires with only one special power and not all four.

  I emerged from the tunnel, and Sebastian was there to greet me. He placed a finger to his lips. He pointed toward the cave’s entrance—about fifty or so feet above us. Smiling, he pressed his legs against the ground and sprung up. In a flash, he was through the entrance and out of sight. Biting my lip, I mimicked his actions. I was quickly embracing the sunlight. A feeling of warmth washed over me. I exhaled as I stretched my arms out to my sides. Rolling onto my tip toes, I tilted my head back. If I could, I’d hug the sun.

  A small chuckle brought me back to reality. I dropped my arms, placed my feet firmly on the ground, and opened my eyes. I gave Sebastian a stern look.

  “You look beautiful, Avah. Content. You weren’t meant to spend your life in the shadows.”

  That familiar feeling of lust bubbled within me, and I pushed it down, tearing my eyes from his gorgeous gaze.

  “Let’s train. We don’t have much time,” I said.

  “Always business. Never pleasure,” he teased.

  “Which lesson are we on? Five hundred and forty-seven?” Sebastian wasn’t the only one who could tease.

  “Lesson number two. Let’s get that shield up. Sit.”

  He dropped to his bottom, crisscrossing his legs. I followed suit.

  “Good. I’ve had my shield up, protecting those tantalizing insides of yours.”

  I groaned and rolled my eyes, though I was secretly thankful he gave me some privacy—especially from Lillie.

  “Though, I removed it when we got here. I needed Sibyl to see what you saw. It was the only way she’d agree to assist us and not rip our throats out for arriving without an invitation.”

  My jaw dropped. That was even an option?

  “Yes. It was.”

  Ugh. “Creepy much? Can you stop answering my thoughts, you perv?”

  “Baby cakes, I hate to break it to you, but there is nothing creepy about your thoughts. Thus, there is nothing perv-tastic about me.”