Raised in Fire

“We will figure it out.” Darius zipped past the office building. The security guard, who hadn’t moved much since we’d walked past earlier, blinked in our direction. He didn’t even unhook his thumbs from his belt.

“How are you on blood?” I asked, then wanted to knife myself. “I didn’t mean to ask that.”

“I do not need blood, but I long to revel in your body. Stay with me today.”

No was on the tip of my tongue, but it wouldn’t exit my mouth. I’d spent so much time fighting to keep from losing myself to the demon, to that cold power, that I didn’t have any energy left to fight the allure of the vampire. I didn’t even want to.

He set me down next to the car and opened the door before handing me into the seat. He filled the driver’s seat a moment later, and then we were on our way.

“They’ll notice the car rolling through,” I said as I put on my seatbelt.

“By the time they check it out, we’ll be gone.”

It turned out we were both right. The guard started as we drove along the road, moving much faster than the posted speed limit, but no one had shown up by the time we’d loaded up the mages.

“Why’d you put up a more intensive invisibility spell?” I asked in confusion as Darius turned back to the road. We’d forgotten about Penny’s car. Oops.

“Penny’s magical fire wouldn’t have burned much of that place before someone noticed the fire.” Callie massaged her thighs.

“It seemed a lot stronger before I saw Reagan’s fire. I’d love to speak with your cousin, Reagan,” Penny said.

We passed a security truck, and the driver slammed on his brakes when we zoomed by.

“He’s a recluse,” I said, rubbing my eyes. “He lives in a shack in the woods. I only see him once every so often. He just randomly sends me spells to try out.”

“Maybe the next time you get some, you could let me know?” she asked hopefully.

“Yeah, sure. If I do. Who knows, he might be dead.”

A grin curled Darius’s lips as he pulled into the employee parking lot.

We said thanks and goodbye to Penny (and Callie and Dizzy promised they’d call her) before pulling away. She got into her car and pulled out behind us so quickly that one might’ve thought she was a vampire herself. Clearly she didn’t want to get caught by the security guard who was patrolling around, looking for us.

“Give me a moment,” Darius said as the security truck pulled across the road in front of us.

I watched in vague fascination as Darius exited the car, put on the jets, ripped the door of the security truck open, and bit the driver. That hot jab of emotion pierced my chest, and I looked away. This was getting out of hand.

When he entered the car a moment later, his eyes lingered on my face.

“What’s up?” I asked, not meeting his stare.

“I saw your expression just now. You are losing the battle, as I have. You are realizing that forever between us would be the unbreakable bond humans speak of, but could never fully understand.”

“No,” I said, and crossed my arms. Why did he turn me into a juvenile with my responses?

“I don’t like the sound of that, young lady.” Callie leaned toward us.

“I was only wondering why you bit him instead of just knocking him out,” I said, trying to dig myself out of this sudden hole I’d found myself in. Callie and Dizzy would find a way to kill Darius if they thought my mind was lost to him.

“This will be a positive experience he won’t quite believe,” Darius responded. “He will be less likely to share news of it.”

“We should get going before someone else comes,” Dizzy said, peering out his window. “I hope there aren’t any cameras. You didn’t kill him, did you, Darius?”

“I didn’t, no.” Darius’s gaze lingered on mine for a moment longer before he turned back to the wheel.

The ride back to the hotel was quiet as everyone decompressed. Darius parked out front and helped Dizzy and Callie out of the car before holding out his arm for me. He didn’t insist on carrying me, thankfully, even though I leaned heavily on him. When walking through the lobby, a dapper-looking man in a tailored suit glided up to us.

“Mr. Durant.” The man, who was surely a vampire, based on his flawless face, nodded at Darius. “It is a pleasure. I apologize that I haven’t been able to properly greet you until now.”

“Mr. Regent,” Darius said in greeting. “We have been busy. Thank you for accommodating us.”

“My pleasure, as always. I look forward to the critique.” His smile was a whopper—charming, disarming, boyish, and devilishly handsome all at once. He was a panty melter, for sure. “Please, can I interest you in a drink?”

“Not just now, I thank you,” Darius said, starting forward again. “We’ve had a long night. I do wish to speak with you regarding some matters in the area, but that can wait until tomorrow.”

“Of course, sir.” Mr. Regent flashed that mouth-watering smile again. “Can I send something to your room?”

“I’m hungry,” I mumbled with my hand on my stomach.

“Yes, darling. You are always hungry.” Darius nodded at Mr. Regent. “Surprise her. She’ll eat most anything.”

That was true enough.

“Of course. And you?” Mr. Regent glanced at Dizzy and Callie.

Dizzy turned up the wattage of his smile. If he’d hoped to compete with Mr. Regent, though, he had a long way to go. “We’ll place an order in a little while. Thanks so much.”

“Of course,” Mr. Regent bowed with a soft chuckle. “At your convenience.”

Back in my room, I heaved a sigh of relief and collapsed on the bed. The last trembles of fear worked their way out of my system. That had been a helluva fight, and most of the battle was against myself. I had so much to learn. I knew that now. There was a gaping hole in my knowledge about my power that I needed to close up. That I needed to fuse with what I did know. The demon had seemed so certain I was powerful, and being what it was, that it had been sent up to find me, it probably knew. I needed to look into that.

Tomorrow.

Or maybe the next day.

I was too tired to worry about it now. The threat was gone, and that was good enough for the moment.

My stomach rumbled. I heaved myself up off the bed and stripped. I needed a shower and food. Then I needed to really ponder if heading over to the vampire’s room was a good idea.

My stupid heart fluttered again. This time it wasn’t as welcomed. I was in great danger here, and not like I’d originally thought. I wouldn’t lose myself to Darius because of his species, but I might in the way a woman loses herself to a man.

The hot water falling over my skin felt good. The absence of the hollow, cold magic felt good. And when I got out, wrapping myself in a white, fluffy towel felt great.

I stood in the center of my room, looking at the white door leading to Darius. He wouldn’t come in to pressure me, I knew. He wouldn’t open the door and ask if I was coming. He would wait for my decision, and respect it, whatever it was.

I heaved a sigh, tried to resist, and walked to the door.

On the other side, I smiled at the fresh rose petals littering the ground and bed, then cocked my head in confusion at all the unlit candles.

“Afraid of a fire hazard?” I asked as I stepped into the room, officially making my decision.

He was dressed in a robe and had draped a big arm over the back of the chair.

“I thought you could light the candles,” he said. He stayed where he was, waiting for me to come to him.

“You’re not playing those hunter-and-prey games you said you liked, huh?” Heat infused my body. Concise balls of flame sprang to life around us, then drifted toward the candles.

“No.” Darius lifted a hand to stop me. “Light them with a thought, not with that method.”

I snuffed the little balls of flame. My fingers curled into fists as I concentrated, imagining all the different little wicks spread across the room. With a push, they lit as one.

Darius smiled. “Perfect. And I already told you, I hunt until my intended fully succumbs to our joined pleasure. As you did last night. When that happens, I fully succumb as well. We are past games, you and I. We are equals, and both of us are completely invested.”