Page 98 of Rafe

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“What have you done?” Rafe exploded, anger coursing through his veins.

“Greyson’s done what’s best,” Ilsbeth shot back at him. Wearing a dark purple leather jacket and pants, her white hair had been braided down her back. She shoved a spellbook into her backpack.

“Don’t you have that thing memorized?” The vampire asked her, wearing an annoyed expression.

“I can’t take any chances. My sister is absolutely diabolical. Even I do not face these types of things. With my recovery…it was difficult. I must be prepared.”

“How do you know Sebastian won’t bite her?” Rafe asked, his mind still on Skylar. “I don’t like the way he looked at her.”

“Kinda like the way I do, wolf?” Dominique shot him a wry smile.

“Yeah, exactly like that. I don’t like it.” When Rafe returned from running, he’d found Greyson had flashed Skylar back to her parents’ home in Port Townsend. He’d known it would be difficult, breaking the vampire meant breaking their bond. Though he hadn’t craved blood, the hunger for Skylar simmered deep in his soul.

“She’s your human…” Ilsbeth shrugged. “Was your human. She’ll be fine. Safe and sound with her very lovely parents. Don’t worry about it.”

“Ilsbeth’s right,” Greyson agreed. “He’s not gonna bite her. Sebastian is an asshole but he’s every bit as strong as me, and he’ll keep them safe. Zyaire is coming for you, not her.”

“She saw you today. She broke my wards. I’ll give her that. But that thing she sent. That apparition? Ha! Child’s play for even a novice witch.”

“I’m ready for this to be over. I’ve got my life back.” Rafe patted his chest, grateful to be in his own skin, to be free of the vampire.

“Pop your fangs,” Greyson demanded, confronting him.

Rafe closed his eyes and concentrated, calling on his magick. His wolf howled in response, claiming his rightful place. “Yeah, no. Nothing. It’s gone.”

“You sure? No blood cravings?” Greyson waved a glass of blood in front of his face.

“Nothing. I’m good.” Rafe waved him away and looked to Ilsbeth. “I’ll admit. That moment you set my ass on fire? I did have my doubts. I’ll give it to you. You’re a good witch.”

“Blasphemy! Hold your tongue, dog! I have a reputation to uphold.” Ilsbeth remained focused on her task, zipping her bag closed.

“I feel amazing. I feel like…me.” Rafe sighed and looked in a tall rectangular mirror in the parlor. “Thank the Goddess.”

In truth he’d never felt better in his life. He’d done hard time the past couple of years, but the bitter pill, living through the fire spell, shifting into his beast…it had been nearly the best day of his life.

But the yearning for Skylar lingered in his heart. It had only been hours since he’d last seen her, yet he craved her smile, to feel her in his arms again. Though no vampire magick remained in his body, the bond for the human woman still simmered.

“So, about this bond that the vampire had with the human? There wouldn’t happen to be any, I don’t know what you’d call it, um, side effects,” Rafe asked.

“What do you mean?” Ilsbeth slid off her reading glasses and glared at him, her words slow and deliberate. “You said you don’t have fangs. You don’t thirst for her blood anymore, do you?”

“No, no, it’s just, I’m worried about her. I, uh, I want to see her.” I love her. “I’m just feeling sort of…I don’t know if I really feel any different with respects to you know…wanting her. Not for blood.” Rafe grimaced. Awkward. “You know what I’m talking about?”

“Well, I don’t know about feelings. I mean you tell me?” Ilsbeth stared at him deadpan. “Come on now. You’ve bedded a human or two. She’s not the first.”

“What? No. Maybe. Look, I just thought once I came out of the spell…” He shrugged. “You know. I thought the bond would be broken. That it would feel broken.”

“The bond is broken. You’re a mongrel again. Happy?” Greyson rolled his eyes.

“Fuck off,” Rafe shot back at him.

“The bond is broken. It is done.” Ilsbeth sighed. “Any remnant feelings are meaningless.”

“Feelings aren’t meaningless,” Rafe countered.

“You know what a feeling is, right? A feeling is something you have when you actually care about someone. Surely the High Priestess is capable of feelings?” Greyson asked, wearing an amused expression.