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Pausing, her lashes flick up, cheeks flushing when she notices me watching her. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were waiting on me.”
“I’m not,” I say, a smirk coming to my lips when that flush deepens.
No. No, no, no…I look away.This is for the best.Maybe, this spell is a blessing. It’ll rob me of my shadow temporarily, which is the part of the soul that allows one to feel emotions. Maybe being emotionless for a bit, will let my head clear and whatever need for companionship that Alice seeded into my mind to die.
“Um, I am. I’m tired and it’s been a long day for me, being saved from the blood witches and all. So, if we can get on with it before I grow old, I’d be grateful for at least two minutes.” Griffin’s angelic, yet self-absorbed voice seems to slice right through me.
He’s said things far worse, and it’s likely due to the pent-up animosity that I shoved away earlier for him bringing up my mother, but before I can stop myself, my eyes become demonic, leveling him in an instant. “You will have patience.”
“Patience hasn’t ever been my thing. So chop chop, death lord.” He claps twice.
“I have over two dozen graves dug, all of which are ready to put your body into. I’d planned to save them for the Elf Lord and whatever men he’s with, but I’m happy to spare one.” Clenching my hands into fists, I try to force back my demon half, put it away, but the smirk he gives me is making that hard.
He bows sarcastically. “Please forgive me,Your Grace. I did not realize I was in the company of the Prince of Death tonight. I merely thought I was helping my uncle bring back his people.”
“Prince…” Valeria whispers, and I swallow hard before glancing at her from the corner of my eye. She’s so pale. I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t faint.
“Yes, Valeria, Darling. He’s been tip-toeing around the title all day. AsmodeusMorningstaris the Prince of the Seven Realms, the Harbinger of Death, the Master of Necromancy. He’s the Devil’s first-born who was banished to the Realm of Monsters, but has since regained his title and his throne. And, most importantly, he’s also my uncle, and if Alice knew you were threatening to put me in a shallow grave, she’d take our beloved Asmo’s balls and he’d earn another title as the royal eunuch.”
Well, so much for suppressing it. My demon side has been fully unleashed. The magic coursing through the air around me streams like their threads of fate. Griffin himself almost glows, thanks to his fae blood, and I snarl, so deep, it rattles my chest when he steps closer. My incisors, along with the teeth surrounding them have formed points, and talons now rest against my knees.
With a clench of my fist, Griffin is on his knees.
Valeria’s voice slams into me like power itself. “Let him go!”
My nostrils flare as ragged air invades my lungs. Griffin gasps, tapping the ground in a silent surrender. I don’t notice the twig soaring through the air until it’s too late. It slaps into my arm, bouncing off onto the ground. My magic dissipates in an instant.
“What is wrong with you?” Valeria snaps. “So he said something you didn’t like. It doesn’t give you the right to attack him like… like some savage beast.” Her narrowed eyes pin me in place, rage burning in those emerald rings that I didn’t even know she was capable of.
“You threw a stick at me, like some dog.” I gesture to the evidence on the ground.
“Stop acting like an animal and I won’t treat you like one.” She crosses her arms and I rub at the place it hit.
“Enough!” Griffin’s chest heaves. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“You can make it up to me by filling this,” I say, summoning a chalice into my hand and holding it out to him. To my surprise, it’s not talons wrapped around the sturdy stem, but my fingers.
“You want me to fetch you wine now?” Griffin’s eyes go wide as he leans back on his hands, his mouth dropping open a smidge as his brows furrow.
“With your blood, Griffin.” I shove it out again. “I have to consume it so it’ll regenerate my shadow. Or would you prefer me to live without that half of my soul?”
He shakes his head. “Gods no. You’re already a murder muffin with it. I’d hate to seesoulless Asmo. He sounds like a real bastard.”
“Then come on. Fork it over, pup. As you so graciously said, we don’t have all night.” The scowl has set in, and I fear it might become my permanent face as he clutches his wrists to his chest.
“Excuse me? No. My mom told me to never let someone have my blood, let alonedrink it,like some sort ofanimal.”He snarls a lip in disgust.
“I’m family. And you’ve already broken that rule, considering how much of your blood the witches were stashing.” I push the chalice out again in his direction.
“You’re notactinglike family, asshole.” Griffin groans, shaking his head as he rolls up his sleeve.
“Maybe if you learned to keep your mouth shut, I would.”
He takes the chalice. “First the bloody witches and now you.” He frowns, shaking his head again before gripping the dagger sheathed on his hip. With precision grace, he slices the blade over his wrist, holding it over the chalice and letting the crimson liquid flow off his wrist until it’s two-thirds of the way full. “Here. Apparently that’s all I’m good for.”
I take it, recoiling in an arc to keep his blood from sloshing over the rim.
“Well, go on.Drink.”He waves at me, the line he sliced already healing.
