She steps forward, close to the tray but not touching it.“Can you use it against them?”
Akasha blinks, and Krishka smiles.Slow and dangerous.“Oh, I like her.”
I don’t like any of this.I hate this.I hate every single fucking second of it.I hate that Briana has to think like this.I hate that her fear has been forced into a strategy.I hate that I am proud of her for it.
Akasha looks to Krishka.“Blood calls both ways.”
“Yes,” Krishka says.“If we’re careful.”
“If we’re not?”Briana asks.
Krishka’s smile fades.“Then they know exactly where you are.”
My growl fills the room.
Cruz pushes off the table.“Maybe we don’t do the reckless blood spell, then.”
“For once,” Malichai says, “I agree with the bull.”
Cruz points at him.“Rude, but valid.”
Ari snatches the card from the tray with a napkin before anyone can stop her.
Malichai’s face goes murderous.“Ari.”
“What?”she snaps.“I’m half-fae.If it bites me, I bite back.”
“That’s not how spell work functions,” Krishka says.
“It should be.”
Aldron pinches the bridge of his nose like a vampire on the edge of regret.“Put it down.”
Ari does, but not before glaring at the card as if it had personally offended her.Maybe it did.Ari collects wounded things, lost things, and furious things.She collected Briana the moment she came through our doors.She would kill for her.
That should comfort me.It doesn’t.Nothing comforts me except Briana breathing.
Aldron looks at the group.“We assume the invitation is both threat and bait.They want Briana at The Marrow House tomorrow night.”
“I’m going,” Briana says.
“No,” I say.
The word leaves me before I can stop it, and the room goes silent.
Briana turns her head slowly.
Cruz mutters, “And he was doing so well.”
I ignore him as Briana walks toward me.Every step tightens the leash around my control.She stops close enough that I can see the faint shadows beneath her eyes.Close enough to smell the tea on her breath and the fear under her skin.
“You said you would try,” she says.
“I am.”
“No, you’re reacting.”
“Yes.”My honesty startles her.Maybe if I keep giving her the truth, I can avoid doing more damage.My voice lowers.“They have your blood.They sent your name written in it.They bypassed Aldron’s wards.They want you inside a building designed to trap, feed, and break people.So, yes, Briana, my first reaction is no.”
