Page 196 of Vameer

The shadows retreat when I open my eyes. The full power of my magic rests just under my skin.

I look at the vampire brothers.

One I know. One I just met.

Another heartbeat.

The Warrior knows enough to bury me already.

Peace will only last for so long.

I need to trust my allies.

And my magic deserves to breathe.

I exhale.

And I release my magic.

It rolls out of me in a wave of tiny gold orbs of light. Like a million fireflies.

Like bees.

I smile as my magic spreads across the forest floor, attaching to blades of grass, clinging to branches.

The sparks pulsate as they float through the air. Twinkling. Fanning out like the solar system. Climbing above the trees and out of sight in every direction. With me as the barycenter.

The brothers stare with wide eyes.

Surprised. Curious. Enthralled.

Not scared.

Not in pain.

The Vadas vampires have been around for centuries. But it’s clear they haven’t seen anything like this.

Volik reaches out first.

If a human was caught under this blanket of magic, it would be… excruciating.

And fatal.

For Alts, it’s different. But there’s usually a level of discomfort.

But these two… They’re acting like it feels good.

They might appear a little insane. But they’re incredibly powerful.

Maybe that’s what my magic needs. Power and insanity.

Volik closes his fist around a glowing speck of magic. And he smiles.

Vameer swipes his big palm through the air and catches many.

Then the giant oaf slaps his hand to his chest, above where his mate sleeps, like he’s trying to push the magic into himself.

The gold sizzles against his skin. Shooting off in sparks. Until there’s nothing left under his palm.