Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
“I hate that he dragged you back,” I whispered.
He stared at me for so long I wondered if time had stopped. When he still didn’t say anything, I motioned to his tattoos. “Can I try the spell my mother taught me? There’s a chance it won’t work, but it can’t hurt to try. And if it does work, you’ll be able to teleport us all out of here.”
At this he reached out and grabbed my hand, shocking me when he placed it flat against the side of his corded neck. My eyes met his and I didn’t know what to say. What was he doing? And why was I so entranced by the feel of his warm skin beneath my palm? Suddenly, my pulse was fluttering, my breaths quickening.
“Do you feel that?” he asked, his voice low and rough.
“Feel what?” I replied, frowning as I searched with my fingertips before discovering a small bump under his skin. “What is that?” I asked, my brows furrowing as I studied it closely.
“It’s a tracking device Red Armand implanted in both me and Sven before he sent us down here. It’s attached to our carotid arteries and infused with demon energies, so if we try to remove the trackers we’ll bleed out.”
“That’s so twisted.” My stomach clenched at the thought of Red Armand keeping tabs on them like this.
“So even if I regain my magic, he’ll be able to track us no matter where we go. The only way to end all this is to kill him.”
“Well, on that point we’re aligned,” I replied, meeting his gaze determinedly.
He didn’t look like he believed me. “You want to help?”
I let my hand drop from his neck and pulled the dagger from the waist of my jeans. “My great-grandfather gave me this. He said it’s made from something called sepial and that it can poison demons.”
Vas’ eyes flashed warily. “I’ll remind you I’m half demon.”
I blanched and withdrew the dagger, shoving it back into my waistband. “Right. Sorry. You can’t even touch it?”
He shook his head. “Neither can Sven. And if we’re to use it to kill Armand, it will have to be you who makes the killing strike. Still interested?” I could tell by his expression that the question was a test of my loyalty. He still wasn’t convinced I’d come to help him.
I swallowed thickly, nervous at the thought of stabbing someone with an intent to end their life. “We’ll figure that out when the time comes. For now you should let me try to remove your tattoos. It can’t hurt for you to have access to your powers, even if we do have to remain here for now.”
A strange emotion flickered behind his eyes but it was gone in an instant. Was that yearning? Did he miss his magic?
“Fine,” he replied. “Do your worst.”
I crawled inside the pod but it was too small to sit up so I had to lay down across from Vas. Unlike earlier, he was thankfully wearing a shirt. His naked, muscled, sweaty torso was a distraction I didn’t need when I was trying to cast a spell.
His eyes followed my every movement as I endeavoured to centre myself and focus. I’d memorised the incantation and hand movements Mum taught me by heart. I was pretty sure I’d never made such an effort to master a spell before, perhaps because being able to cast it would be helping someone I cared about.
Vas didn’t breathe a word and it was slightly intimidating. I wasn’t expecting him to welcome me with open arms, not after how Red Armand revealed my betrayal, but still. I had come all this way to find him and the least he could do was appreciate the risk and danger I’d faced by coming.
I rattled off the incantation just as Mum taught me, then ran my fingers over Vas’ tattoos hoping to erase them. Nothing happened. I chewed my lip in frustration, wondering where I’d gone wrong.
“I’m sorry. This should have worked.”
Vas studied me, barely half a foot between us, our bodies stretched alongside each other but not touching.
“You’re nervous,” he stated, his gaze wandering from my chin to my shoulder, then back to my eyes. “Take a moment and breathe. Relax.”
I swallowed and inhaled deeply, my eyes never leaving his.
He frowned. “Do you recall what happened when we broke the wards at the prison?”
“Yes,” I said quietly. “Our magic merged. I think because of the mark?”
“Can I try something?”
“O-okay.” Why was I so nervous?
Vas brought his hand to my chest, flattening his palm against the thin fabric of my T-shirt. I swallowed, my stomach fluttering at the feel of his hand on me. The mark began to hum, a warm, satisfied pleasure easing through my body. Wow, it really did like when we were connected. My skin beaded, aware of his fingertips against the small patch of skin at my neck. Earlier, he’d touched me with suspicion in his heart. Now, something else simmered between us.