Page 20 of Vervain

The woman from the theatre stands by the doorway. She wears a long-sleeved, slip-fit short black dress with a grey hooded jumper over the top. Her long, thigh-high black heeled boots click as she makes her way around the dining table behind Reyes. The woman’s hand rests on his shoulder, her body jerking and lip curling, revealing pointed fangs when his hand rests over hers.

“Sleepwear?” Reyes drawls with a disappointed look. “A new human trend I have not heard of?”

Serun runs his hand through his hair as I step out from behind him. “Kamai, let me properly introduce my family. This is Reyes and his wife, Avianna. Once we gather items with Cole’s scent, they are the ones who will search for him.”

I nod firmly, but my thoughts darken. If any of them touch Cole, I will put a stake through their hearts while they sleep.

A soft sigh escapes Serun, and he says, “Your malice is divine.”

After a slow, confused blink, I notice Lucifer and Reyes are on their feet, hiding in the darkest part of the dining room. Avianna hides behind them, looking at me as if I were the enemy.

Serun gestures at me, and I startle when I see the sword in my hand. Sparks of light burst from it, creating an aurora.

I take a deep breath, and as I relax my hand, the sword shimmers out of existence.

I didn’t speak the words this time. My will was enough for my body to react before my mind caught up.

“It seems you need to train this dove of yours,” Lucifer says as he returns to the warmth of the natural lighting. He throws a severe look at me as if I were a friend who had betrayed him.

Reyes and Avianna step forward with friendly smiles on their faces. Reyes waves his hands in front of him as he says, “I suppose it is something we all must get used to. Your anger is like a flame on dry grass. Quick to grow.”

“It is amusing, is it not?” Serun says.

What the fuck is happening?

CHAPTER EIGHT

CANIS LUPUS

Saya Claymore

I’m distracted.

Hatred became embarrassment as though a switch had been flipped.

I take a step away from Serun. To breathe, I tell myself. But I know all too well that the tension in my stomach isn’t disgust.

It’s excitement. The thrill of anticipating what he will say next. I loathe how easily he can twist my emotions with his words. It’s never happened to me before.

Not like this.

The persistent memory of his touch doesn’t help, either. Recalling his mouth on mine causes the magik and wrath to fade as though I’m suddenly drinking in the scent of passionflowers.

“Ha!” Reyes appears in his seat. He tips his head back and barks a laugh as if nothing happened at all. Tension and fear dissolve like a tendril of weak smoke in a cool breeze. “Your aura alone can scare a nightwalker! Amazing!”

“Amazing, or a threat?” Lucifer mutters as he heads for the door. “Entertain yourselves, then be on your way.”

“Enjoy your night, brother,” Serun says.

Lucifer mutters his response.

Once he is out of sight, I turn to Reyes. “When you find my brother, remember you are only to report what you see back to me. Understood?”

His cold eyes flash to Serun before settling on me. With a shrug, he says, “I won’t lay a finger on this brother of yours. But tell me, Serun’s consort, where do you believe the slayers have taken him?”

Memories of Jax resurface, bringing back all the moments we’ve shared beneath the sheets. The times his hands grabbed at my flesh, and what I now know to be the taint of lies and poison on his lips.

Forcing myself through the mess in my mind, for a moment I’m back with him and my friends and Cole. Emily flirts with Dan, Cole is eating the food I offered them, and Manni watches from a distance. Jax’s hands cup my cheeks. He forces my gaze to his and tells me about the Prayer Sanctuary and the settlement nearby.