Page 19 of The Slayer Seduction

“Do you think the cost is my life?”

She sits there for a long minute before shaking her head. “Our coven might have a dark history, but we always stuck together. Even during the witch hunts, or when we were hiding, we always protected our sisters. I can not imagine a witch ever making a deal that sacrifices another coven member’s life. It would be against everything this coven went through to become a true sisterhood after our rocky foundation.”

“Then what could it possibly be?” I complain. My anxiety is on level ten and I just want answers: if I at least knew what was coming I could prepare myself.

“I don’t know, my dear Iris, but I will be here whenever you need me. Take this,” she says, unclasping the thick golden cuff bracelet off her wrist and handing it to me.

There hasn’t been a day of my life that I remember her ever taking it off as she slides it across the table.

“My mother handed this down to me, just like her mother did to her. It’s time for me to give it to you.”

I glance down at the cuff. It’s old, the tone of the gold more worn and it’s not as smooth as jewelry made today is.

“Wear this at all times and it will protect you no matter where you are.”

“What does it do?” I question, still in disbelief that she gave it to me.

“It’s charmed with old magic. A type of power that’s been diluted over the years since we started procreating with humans. If anyone tries to harm you, and you have this bracelet on, it will incapacitate them for thirty seconds. Enough time to portal away or use your own offensive magic.”

“But what about you?” I ask, not sure if I can take this away from her. She’s a powerful witch, but she’s also not as young as she used to be.

“I’m not worried about me. Now, if you have another issue, you come to see me,” she snaps at me, and I give her a quick nod of agreement. “Alright, goodnight baby.”

I give her a kiss on the cheek and like the magic is effortless, she portals out of the apothecary.

With a deep sigh, I look around and hope that the wards are enough to keep me protected.

Chapter 10

The Slayer

Ishould have made more stakes before hunting this vampire tonight, but I was too eager to kill him and seduce my mate.

The vampire heard me before I intended and now we’re in a game of cat and mouse. He’s stronger than I assumed and for the first time since being a slayer, there’s a fear that he might actually kill me.

What if he does and I’m not brought back to this time and I miss out on my mate entirely?

But it’s too late. We’re in this fight. I’ve already wasted one stake, thinking that he wouldn’t be quick enough and it was a major fuck-up.

“Show your face, Slayer,” he says. Ah, he is old, as I presumed.

I haven’t come across another slayer since I’ve been in this body and with how long it took me to cycle; I assume that something had to happen with the mortals for the magic to be lost.

“You’re braver than most,” I say, trying to distract him and hoping that he gets confused about my location. “You’ll need to be taken care of so I can take what I want.”

I won’t let him kill me, not this time. I’ve possessed a variety of bodies, and this one is a good form. A few human women have given me glances, not even caring that I’m clearly not one of them.

My mate deserves a good quality male form, and I can’t be sent into another cycle.

“I’m going to rip your fucking heart out,” he bellows

I laugh deep and heartily. I have a mate to win and this vampire thinks I will let him easily defeat me?

“It will be hard for you to do that when you’re dead. I’m rather fond of this meat suit. So will she,” I muse, goading him.

I need him to make the next move, get him close enough to push the stake right into his dead, nasty heart.

He goes for the bait, tackling me from the side, his frigid hand wrapping around my neck. Shit, he’s stronger than I thought.