Page 142 of Vameer

“I’m willing.” He turns to look at Volik. “I will take venom as payment. For this and for what you owe me.”

“Fine.” Volik agrees. “But you need to provide the vessel. I do not know what it will burn through.”

Dread dips his chin. “Deal.”

“What venom?” I ask, and both men turn toward me.

An obnoxiously smug look covers Volik’s face. “Did you not gain venom with your mating? What a shame.”

I sigh. “Fine. Don’t tell me. Have fun spitting into a cup by yourself.”

The druid leans toward me, sniffing.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” He straightens.

I narrow my eyes at him. “I think I’d like to fight you.”

“Vameer!” Rune whispers at me.

But Dread grins. “I think I’d like that too.”

“For fun or for a wager?” I clearly don’t have a lack of enemies to fight, but I’m excited about the prospect of dueling with a strong druid.

I haven’t encountered many druids who land on the side of evil, but the ones I have were hard opponents.

Dread feels like he would also be a hard opponent. His magic clearly comes from a strong line.

Which makes me wonder… “How old are you?”

The druid watches me, like he’s looking for the reason for my question.

Apparently he finds it. “I was born long after you fell asleep.”

“Good.” That means there is no chance I killed his parents. “We are ready for our first stop if you are.”

Dread nods.

“I texted you both addresses,” Nix tells the druid. “And Rune, I’ll send you Dread’s number so you can text him after you’re done with May and let him know your location.”

Dread pulls a phone out of his pocket, taps it a few times, then turns to my mate. “It doesn’t hurt. You just walk straight through. Step straight through. Jump straight through. Fall straight through. Whatever you fucking do, do it straight through. And do not touch the sides.”

“Okay.” Rune’s reply is an exhale.

Then Dread flicks his wrist, and in the same split second that his eyes start to glow, a portal blinks into existence. “Wait for me.”

Chapter 83

Rune

Itug on Vameer’s sleeve as Dread walks through the portal.

It’s like the one from a moment ago, shaped like a door, tall and wide enough that Vameer will be able to walk through without ducking. It’s outlined in a band of glowing gold magic, which matches Dread’s eyes. But it’s the flat part, the part you walk through, that freaks me out.

It’s solid black. Total darkness.

Vameer pulls me into his side. “You will be fine, Mon Amour.” He bends and presses a kiss to my hair. “Do you want to go before or after me?”