“Calm down,” he whispers.
“Screw you,” I spit back.
That damn smile again. Gods, I want to hex it off his face, but I'm stuck. His body's like granite underneath me, radiating heat that crawls up my thighs and settles somewhere I absolutely refuse to acknowledge.
There—that red spark in his eyes again.
“You're warded,” I blurt.
“Can't murder me today, Salem.” He yanks me down till our noses bump. “But nice party trick with the ghost.”
His breath fans across my mouth, minty and way too close. “What kind of protection spell is that? The red thing in your eyes,” I ask.
“My cologne?”
“Don't play dumb, Chad. The ward. I saw it flash.”
He blinks rapidly, like someone hit his reset button. “None of your business. So... second base?”
“Gross!” I scramble off him like he's contagious, but it's too late. My skin remembers exactly how he felt against me, all that stupid strength and heat. Meanwhile, I feel Uncle Angus fading. “Thanks for the assist, old man,” I mutter. “Next time we'll kick his ass properly.”
Chad stands, brushing himself off. “Anyone else know about your ghost brigade?”
“Nope. And I'd like to keep it that way.”
“Why?”
“Duh. So I can watch the look on people's faces when I pull it out of nowhere.”
He chuckles. “Fair enough. You caught me with my pants down, I admit that.”
I tug my shirt down, trying to look less like I just got my ass handed to me. “Does this mean we're done for tonight? Because I'm totally calling a rain check.”
Before Chad can answer, the doors bang open and Corvin storms in, face like he just bit into a lemon. Chad and I snap to attention so fast I nearly pull something.
“Well, don't you two look cozy,” Corvin growls. “Playtime's over. We've got uninvited guests.”
Chad's whole body tenses. “Sir?”
“Heathborne delegation. White flag, full regalia, the whole diplomatic dog and pony show.”
My stomach drops to my toes. “Wait. Clearbloods? Here? AtDarkbirch?” The words tumble out before I can stop them. “That's like vampires showing up at a blood bank asking to use the bathroom.”
“Yes,” Corvin says, not even cracking a smile at my joke. “And I need you both. Now.”
13
BRYNN
Ifollow Corvin and Chad out of the training hall, feeling like I'm walking a tightrope over a pit of hungry demons. My skin's still buzzing from those spells. Uncle Angus left me with the magical equivalent of a hangover, and the Gaudian Pulse drained me like a vampire. I'd need to hibernate for ten hours minimum and demolish at least three loaded breakfasts to bounce back. Yeah, like that's happening anytime soon.
“How many clearbloods?” I ask, trying not to sound as wiped as I feel.
Corvin tosses a look over his shoulder. “Five. All decked out in Heathborne's finest.”
“And waving the white flag, you said?”
“According to our intel, they're clueless about where the dragon flew off to,” Chad butts in, all know-it-all. “They're probably here to see if we've got him stashed somewhere.”
