I gripped his fingers. “Elijah, please tell me you’re not going to go looking for these vampires.”
He’d been my anchor for almost a year as I navigated the outskirts of the witch world and tried to keep my distance from what I was. He’d been the soothing voice on the other end of the line no matter what time, day or night. He’d been my counsel and my friend and now…now he was about to go looking for danger to protect me.
Panic was a hot coal in my belly. Panic and fear. Fear that he’d be hurt or killed. That I’d never see him again. I couldn’t bear that. I couldn’t lose him.
He studied me with a frown, gaze tracking across my features, and then he blinked, the corner of his mouth lifting in a teasing smile. “Why, Cora Dawn, are you worried about me?”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course I’m worried. These are original vampires. Like uber powerful blood-sucking ancients. They’re unique.”
“So am I, Cora. So am I.” He dipped his head, pressed a quick kiss to my forehead. “I’ll be back before you know it.” He strode out the door before I could protest.
It hit me that I had no idea who Elijah was, or why he worked for the coven, or how powerful he was, but he couldn’t be that powerful if Charlotte had managed to lock him in a room for hours, right? Fuck. I hated that my stomach was now churning.
“He’ll be fine,” Jasper said.
“Yeah? And how can you be so sure?”
He smiled thinly. “The spell on the room to keep us pinned was Order-made, a level-ten enchantment.” He arched a brow. “Do you know what one of those is?”
“You know I don’t.”
“It’s one of the most powerful binding spells out there, and it takes blood and chaos magic to weave. Elijah broke it.” He looked at the door Elijah had just exited through. “I have a feeling our resident warlock is more powerful then he allows any of us to believe.”
I glanced up at him. “You sound almost impressed.”
Jasper looked at me, his emerald eyes bright in the gloom. “Oh, I am, Cora. I am.”
A shiver ran up my spine at his words, because up until I’d put the amulet on, Jasper had been one of the most powerful entities I knew. And if he was impressed with Elijah, then what the fuck did that make the warlock?
Elijah had a story, and my gut told me it was one I needed to learn.
Chapter Three
Torsten hammered the last nail into my windowpane to keep it from opening as I climbed into bed. ’Cause that would totally keep out an ancient original vampire who could turn into a bat at will. But whatever helped the wolves feel better. I was just too tired to give a shit right now.
It was almost two in the morning and my eyelids were heavy with sleep. A yawn ripped my jaw wide. I needed to pass out now.
I’ll stay with her tonight. Rune padded into the room. We can take shifts during the week.
God yes, his voice was a lullaby that I craved.
“It’s a good plan.” Leif stood in the doorway.
Tor nodded. “I’ll do tomorrow.”
“And I’ll take the next day,” Leif said.
“Or,” Jasper said, materializing by the bed, “you can all fuck off and I can keep her safe.” He smirked. “All she needs to do is take the amulet off and she’ll have all the protection she needs.”
Tor was across the room in a flash, his hand whipping up to grasp Jasper’s throat, but my malevolent tag-along was no longer there. He’d misted and was standing by the window that Tor had just nailed shut.
Jasper crossed his arms. “You all know it makes sense. I can keep her safe.” His gaze dropped to me and the smirk fell, his expression softening slightly. “You know I can keep you safe.”
There was sincerity in his tone that tugged at the heart of me. I closed my eyes, staunching the emotions. “I can’t give myself to you, Jasper.” And yes, I was discussing this in front of my mates. Fuck it. Cards on the table and all that. “I can’t give you what you want.”
“Can’t, or don’t want to?” He sounded…hopeful.
Fuck, I wanted him. I always wanted him, but I didn’t want to want him, and now, with the seal at stake, wanting him was dangerous. He was even more dangerous than my mates because he and I already had a connection that went deeper than sex. Yeah, time to admit that shit. Time to accept that I had…gag… feelings for the malevolent fucker, and those kinds of feelings needed to be off the table.
I lifted my chin and lied. “I don’t want to, Jasper. The amulet stays on.”
I didn’t trust myself to take it off. Ever.
Jasper’s expression hardened and then his mouth twisted cruelly. “In that case, have fun staying alive.”
He vanished and I sagged back against the pillows.
Leif climbed onto the bed beside me, his eyes warm with compassion. “You still feel it, don’t you?”
He was referring to Jasper’s influence, and my feelings for him that were supposed to be muted by the bond I’d formed with the three wolves.
I closed my eyes and nodded. “Yeah.”
“I’m fucking sorry.”
“What the fuck is this about?” Tor’s face was contorted in confusion. “And how do we get rid of him for good?”
We don’t, Rune said softly.
“I’ll fill you in, Tor.” Leif sighed. “Cora, get some rest.” He kissed my cheek, his lips warm and lingering on my skin, and I allowed myself to breathe him in before he slipped away, taking Tor with him.
Rune settled on the floor by my bed, but for some reason I was suddenly cold and bereft, like a chasm had opened in my chest.
Cora? The mattress dipped with Rune’s weight. You’re sad.
Urgh. I’d be okay after some sleep. His hazel eyes bore into mine for a long beat, gold flecks swirling almost hypnotically. Then he
