“That,” Darius said, hauling me to my feet, “was a lesson in the power of influence.”
“That… That wasyou?” I glared at him, my mouth dropping open. He’d actually made me hallucinate—made me believe—that one of the men I loved had just brutally murdered another.
How could he have been so cruel?
“I’m sorry for springing that on you,” Darius said, softer now. He took my face into his hands, swiping my tears with his thumbs. “It was the only way to make you truly see.”
“See what?” I asked. “You made me think Emilio… That he…. I watched him tear out Liam’s throat!”
“Dude, seriously?” Asher turned a fiery gaze on Darius. “That’s a little fucked up, even for you.”
“What you call ‘a little fucked up’, hellspawn, I call making a very important point.” Turning his attention back to me, Darius said, “It was the first thing that came to mind—something I knew would blind you to all personal risk and send you charging in without a second thought. And you took the bait without question. You bolted straight for them, didn’t you?”
“I thought he wasdead, asshole!” I shoved him in the chest, expecting to meet a solid wall of muscle, but sending him sprawling on his ass instead.
Right. Vampire strength.
The realization offered little consolation.
Darius got to his feet and brushed the snow off his backside, unfazed.
“You are physically stronger now, Gray,” he said. “Your speed and agility are almost limitless, your raw power like nothing I’ve ever encountered in a newborn, and your instincts—once you learned to start trusting them—are spot on. Your magic enhances all of those qualities, and we’ve only just begun to tap into that potential.”
“So what’s the problem?” I snapped, turning away from him. I wanted to keep my eyes on Liam and Emilio, to make sure they were still here. Really here.
“Despite all of that,” Darius continued, “you’re still not immune to the powers of a sadistic vampire bent on getting inside your head. If we run into rogues in the Bay—which we almost certainly will—they’re going to exploit you the first chance they get.”
“Then you’re basically saying we don’t stand a chance,” I said. “If anyone can make me hallucinate images like that, I’m toast.” I bent down and put my hands on my knees, still trying to catch my—well, breath wasn’t the right word anymore. More like my equilibrium.
That little mind trip had left me absolutely reeling.
“They cantryto make you,” he said. “But they won’t succeed. Not if you learn to shield your mind.”
“That takes a lot of concentration, Darius. Not to mention energy. Not the most reliable tactic in a full-on combat situation, when I might have five other assailants coming at me, not to mention trying to keep track of the witches and you guys and everything else going on.”
“For a witch, yes, it would be a lot of energy,” he said. “But for a fellow vampire? It’s just a matter of learning the right technique. Then it becomes second nature.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “That simple, huh?”
“I never said anything about simple, love. Just possible.” He folded his arms across his chest and glared at me, driving home the point. “You’re the one ready to call it a night, so sure you’ve learned all you can. Perhaps next time you won’t be so hasty to dismiss the idea of additional training time.”
I stepped into his space, glaring at him right back. “Perhaps next time,bloodsucker, you won’t break into my head with a vision guaranteed to scar me for the rest of my damn life.”
Darius exploded, fisting the front of my jacket and hauling me close, nose to nose. Through gritted teeth, he said, “And how long do you expect that life to last if you refuse to learn even the most rudimentary—”
“Darius.” Ronan stepped in, a firm grip around Darius’s arm. “Can I have a word, please?”
His eyes had gone completely black.
Darius finally released me, and I turned my back on him, grateful as Ronan practically dragged him to the other side of the meadow. When I turned back to look at them, I saw Darius standing firm, arms crossed over his chest while Ronan paced in front of him, arms gesturing wildly.
Good. I hope he’s tearing you a new one.
“You okay?” Asher asked, offering a warm smile. It felt like the first I’d seen in a year, and when he opened his arms for a hug, I gladly accepted the offer, waving for Liam to join in.
A few minutes later, Ronan and Darius returned, Ronan sparing me a sympathetic glance before marching ahead, back toward the woods.
His eyes had returned to normal.
