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I rasped violently, unable to catch a breath, shaking with Lycaon wrapping his arms tighter around me and whispering, “I’ve got you.”
Realising we were somewhere else, the air smelled different, sweet and musky. Spots dotted before my eyes. I took an unsteady step back, holding onto Lycaon’s arms as I did so.
Luke cleared his throat. “Yeah, sorry about that. Probably all my fault actually. Still, you’re alright and I’ve got us all back to my home. See?”
I tried to swallow, my mouth filled with dust as Lycaon snapped at the dragon. “What do you mean, your fault? What the hell happened back there?”
I looked at Luke whose face was burning up.
He shook his head as he bent over Grace, Hakon, Austin and Marrock who were laid on the floor beside him, still in a torpor.
Luke scrambled up, rolled his lips, his chest rising. “I um, well, I was otherwise engaged when Austin contacted me. With a woman. A vampire woman. We were in bed. I drank her blood. As you do, when you have sex with a vampire.”
My lips twisted. “With a what now? You drank a vampire’s blood and added that, that tainted blood to the ritual? Are you insane?”
Shrugging he said, “Sorry. I was in a hurry. Austin said it was urgent. I’d already drunk it. I should’ve thought that through, my bad.”
Lycaon’s fingers flexed, his muscles tensed. His voice cut through us, “And you didn’t think to tell us this? You mixed vampire blood into a witch's spell? You’ve probably made everything worse, foolish shifter. And why the hell would a dragon shifter drink the blood of a leech? An undead thing? For god’s sake, you’re a dragon.” Tilting his head, Lycaon growled, “I suppose you let her drink yours?”
Luke’s eyes narrowed, he sucked in his cheeks. His shoulders tensed as he grabbed a book next to him, and slammed it against the wall. “How would you know? You’ve been celibate for centuries, huh? Vampire blood is a potent aphrodisiac. It heightens the experience. Especially for a dragon shifter. And no, I didn’t let her drink my blood. It was just sex, Lycaon. If you weren’t so uptight, you’d know that. Hell, you’ve tasted Elsa’s blood, there’s no difference. Except you’re too repressed to shag her.”
Leaping on Luke, Lycaon had his hands on Luke’s shoulders and slammed him back until he pinned him against the wall.
Luke laughed, “Hit a nerve did I? It’s too late now. Look, I know I should’ve said something about it, about the vamp blood. Hit me if you want, I won’t fight you. We’re on the same side.”
Rushing over to them, I tried to squeeze between them. “It’s done now. It is bad, worse even. But it’s done. We’re all back, safe. But what of Marrock’s men and others? We don’t have time for this. Mattie said she had to make a case to some council, and then I found an invite to something called Adara. It’s tonight at Ellsworth Hall. There may be a clue there. And then there was the poppet found at Savernake. Who left that there? Mattie won’t give me any answers and after her reaction, or lack of it, with Lisa, there’s no point asking her. Or anyone from the coven. They’re all under her orders. This whole situation makes me sick.”
Also very afraid, but I wasn’t about to admit to that.
We were all silent, the whole horror just seemed to go from bad to worse.
Clearing his throat, Luke muttered, “Well, at least the sex was good? So there’s that.” He shot a lopsided smile, Lycaon sneered and dropped his grip on Luke, but shoved the shifter one last time. Clenching his jaw, his pale blue eyes now flamed red, whilst Luke’s pupils, however relaxed he looked, had changed shape like a dragon’s.
Both panted, piercing the other with a hardened stare.
“I’ll go with Elsa, see if there’s someone in this council who can help. Can you at least help them?” Lycaon gestured to our friends.
Luke’s voice was rough as he answered, “Of course I can.” Luke implored me with his eyes, his face softening. “I’m so sorry, Elsa. I hope you can forgive me?”
“Luke, it’s done.” My gaze fell from him to Hakon, who looked surprisingly peaceful in his sleeping state. Would I drink Hakon’s blood in a fit of passion? Not likely. I tried to ease the tension.
“I’ve heard sex with vampires can be quite… intense. Me, I would kill for a coffee though.”
Luke’s smile returned. “You’ve got it. Ellsworth Hall, do you want me to take you there?”
A nervous laugh escaped me. “What, on your back, as a dragon?”
“No. Through a portal.”
“Well, that would save time. A map, I need to look it up. I’m not keen to just walk through the front door.”
His voice seemed deeper now, Luke nodded towards the door.
“You two freshen up. I’ll make you a drink and you can plan your next move. Healing our friends will take a little time.”
“Aside from the darts in their arms, there were markings of the Svefnthorn carved on a tree.”
“Thanks Lycaon. I am familiar with Norse magic, so I'll look into it. Now, Elsa, Lycaon, let’s swap numbers. I’ll do a clearing spell, cleanse the vamp blood from my system.”
