But she also had every reason to wonder why he'd saved her life, and at the last moment, her mouth snapped shut. In turn, her back straightened as she offered the same unflinching expression he'd given her own inquiry. Two can play the statue game.
Sadly, the response only seemed to amuse Mathias, the corner of his mouth rising ever so slightly—and Isadora decided then and there that she not only hated this vampire, it would be an utter relief to get away from him.
Mathias hadn't known what to expect from Isadora, having so little experience interacting with a fae it was impossible to guess.
But if he'd made a list of possibilities, her fiery attitude would've come in last.
She obviously didn't like his refusal to answer her question, and for as much as he wanted an answer to his own, he found her sassy retort amusing. It seems she likes to give as good as she gets.
Sadly, such behavior was worrisome. Was Isadora truly fearless, or trying to give off an air of bravery out of spite? Hopefully, it was the latter, otherwise he'd have a much harder time keeping her at bay until their tasks were completed.
She'd be a fool not to fear me, anyway. As much as he lamented the thought, he couldn't deny how deeply his desire to taste her blood ran when doing so would put her in even more danger.
Still, the longer they stood waiting, the harder it became to tell whether his desire for her blood was strengthening, or merely being complicated by his physical reaction to her feminine appeal. Last night, he'd admired the fae as she fed from the earth to heal her injury, finding her beauty ethereal. Now, as she stood before him in a blue tank top and denim jeans that hugged her curves, his fangs weren't the only part of his anatomy threatening to pop out.
Mathias couldn't remember the last time he'd felt such stirrings at the mere sight of another. Most vampires lacked a libido unless the situation was just right, and he hadn't been interested in sex for centuries now.
But Isadora's bright gaze, rounded face, and short, curvy frame were a potent reminder of just how good it could be.
There was an innocent quality to her visage he'd always found appealing, and the thought of having her legs wrapped tight around his thrusting hips while taking her neck with his fangs sent his cock against the zipper of his pants like a battering ram.
Looking away from those stunning, ocean blue eyes the moment it happened, he quickly excused himself by relating, “I need to get Maddox. Tell Heliger where I've gone once he returns.”
Without another word, he moved to the door, leaving the fae behind with haste. He had to get his mind off of the matter, and was grateful to find Maddox waiting in the vestibule.
Turning around at the sound of the door shutting, she asked, “Mathias? Is everything okay?”
No, he thought, but answered in contrast, “Things are fine, Sunshine. I just came to get you so we can depart.”
“We?” she asked. “I thought you wanted to remain in Sutrelle to help the realm recover?”
“In this case, leaving means helping. Isadora promised to return and cultivate the land in exchange for my help.”
With that said, he eyed Maddox and added, “I also wonder if that was your reason for bringing her from the start.”
With her lips curving sheepishly, she shrugged. “The thought crossed my mind. I just hope you're not upset with me.”
Though he wasn't entirely happy with the situation, her comment begged the question, “Why would I be upset?”
“You sounded so adamant about returning that I thought it might irritate you. But Stephan and I both know it would help Nightfall's credibility if we rendered assistance to a fae without harming her.”
Mathias pursed his lips. Though true, and Maddox was less of a danger to Isadora because of her bond with Stephan, he had to point out, “As beneficial as that would be, I doubt you'll ever convince all fae to come to Nightfall for assistance regularly.”
“Oh, we're not concerned with earning the full trust of the fae,” Maddox countered. “We're simply trying to get the rest of the Terran Orders to take us seriously.”
That was a good point, and he knew they'd earned the respect of at least two Orders that were biased against vampires—Dragon's Brood and Hunter's Moon. But others still needed convincing, and assisting Isadora would at least give them pause.
So he conceded her point with a nod, though it was questionable whether his presence would ensure their success, or if he'd be a liability.
His blood link to Isadora was no simple matter, after all, making it seem like a good idea to inform his daughter of it so she'd understand the risks. Yet he refrained if only because there was no way of knowing how Maddox would respond.
She may help him resist the draw he felt, but considering her youth and idealism, she was more likely to try pushing him into exploring this connection in some misguided attempt to help her father find happiness.
Not that Mathias believed happiness was completely impossible. He'd witnessed too many unexpected events over his long life to think anything was impossible. But caution was certainly warranted, making Heliger a much better option to tell. Not only would the magician keep his secret, he was also powerful enough to protect a fae from a five thousand year old vampire—and Isadora could use the insurance.
It was a sentiment that proved true the moment it came to mind.
“No! Get off me!”
The fae's scream broke through his thoughts like a rock shattering glass. Looking toward the throne room, Mathias didn't think, reacting instinctively to the panicked sound of her voice by throwing the doors open at lightning speed to find the fae in the clutches of a younger, male vampire he didn't initially recognize.
But their identity wasn't important. All that mattered was the way he'd gripped the hair at Isadora's crown to jerk her head back, his fangs poised above her throat, a mere second away from clamping down.
As the fae fruitlessly struggled to get away, Mathias was suffused with both rage, and an instinctive need to protect. The sensation was undeniable, and he intervened, stopping the attack by darting toward them and grasping the vampire's head in both hands to snap his neck in a single, fluid movement.
Instantly, the vampire went limp, releasing Isadora with a thud against the floor. Freed of his grasp, the fae scrambled away, seeking refuge behind Heliger, who'd just teleported back into the throne room.
“What happened?” the magician asked, gaze locked on the unconscious vampire.
Poking her head out from behind him, Isadora exclaimed, “He sneaked up on me!”
As she spoke, Mathias rolled the brunette over to reveal his face, remarking, “It's Joshua, Marlese's son.”
“That makes sense,” Heliger started. “Joshua is young, and he's never visited Terra, or met a fae.”
That was true—the vampire at his feet was only a year old, and Isadora's scent likely hit him hard.
So Mathias concluded, “He'll recover soon enough, and I'll answer for what's happened when I return.”
At that, he looked up at Heliger with the intentions of suggesting they depart, but the sight of Isadora warily peeking around the tall mage stopped him.
Though humorous, part of him reeled with both envy, and regret.
Of everyone present, she'd wisely sought Heliger's protection because he was the only one who had no interest in draining her dry. But gods, Mathias wished she could trust him enough to feel comfortable seeking his protection instead.
Sadly, he knew such regret would be immense during their impending trip, deciding then and there it would be in his best interest to simply get used to it. At least she's smart enough not to trust a vampire whether they're helping her or not.
With the thought in mind, he listened as Heliger qualified, “It's likely safe at present to use the southern gateway, though we'll need to hurry if we're to beat the Terran sunrise.”
“Let's not bother with that,” Mathias returned. “Maddox and I can wait another hour until the Terran sun sets again while you and Isadora
travel to Cairo ahead of us.”
“Very well,” Heliger agreed, turning to Isadora with a hand raised in offering. “Perhaps we'll be lucky enough to locate Sylva and your sisters before Mathias joins us.”
Nodding, the fae took his hand, and was only stopped from departing by Maddox, who interjected, “Wait. Isadora, would you send a message to Stephan through Nightfall's office to let him know what's going on?”
“Sure,” she agreed, casting a final, wary look at the vampires present before Heliger teleported them to the southern gate.
And Mathias wasn't sure how to feel.
It was good to see the fae was so wary, but deep down, their blood link had him restless. The desire to earn her trust was strong, and his uncertainty over the matter must've shown because Maddox remarked, “Are you having reservations about working with a fae?”
“As any vampire should,” he replied vaguely, turning his gaze to Joshua's unconscious body.
Thankfully, Marlese wouldn't be upset over what happened to him. No one expected to find a fae in Sutrelle, and Joshua had only acted on instinct. In fact, Marlese would've likely stopped her son in the same manner had she known what was at stake.
Still, his attack was a prime example of why earning Isadora's trust was a dangerous thing. Even if Mathias believed it was possible to control himself well enough to have a fae lover without killing her, she'd never be safe remaining in Sutrelle without constant protection.
So no matter what came, there was only one acceptable outcome—and things weren't shaping up to deliver it.
— TEN —
The Cairene Spire
Cairo, Egypt
Isadora couldn't remember the last time she'd admired the moon over the Nile River, but knew her nerves were nowhere near as frazzled then as they were that night.
Yet her worry had little to do with the effort of locating Sylva Abbott. One might think searching for a resurrected witch with a magician who hadn't visited Terra since before cars were invented would be vexing, but things had gone better than expected.
Though Heliger made a few passing comments on the advances in technology, he didn't ask questions over its development. Instead, he got them started by teleporting to two locations at Isadora's behest.
The first was her remote Norwegian cottage to fetch what she called her witch kit—a carrying case of basic magic supplies that could come in handy. Once she had it, Heliger took them to the Cairene Spire where they acquired a temporary suite.
There, the magician announced his intentions to search for Sylva using magic, and his only request was that Isadora keep his presence secret from anyone who didn't already know he'd returned to Terra.
She agreed without qualm, fearing Heliger's reputation would draw unwanted attention, particularly if someone with ties to Sylva learned of his presence. Such news would prompt them to cover their tracks more thoroughly, making an already tedious search even more difficult.
So it was best to keep the matter quiet, and Isadora allowed the magician to adjourn to their quarter's private bedroom while using her free time to contact Stephan for Maddox, then make a few calls of her own.
The first was to Adriana, who sounded relieved to hear things were going well so far, and related her efforts of warning other fae about Sylva. Thankfully, none had run into the witch, and were alerting the fairies as well.
But when Adriana offered to come by and provide assistance, Isadora denied her. Bryant's presence would only cause trouble with the vampires involved, and the Ferine agreed, unwilling to add needless friction to an already precarious situation, and talked his mate out of going.
The next person Isadora called was Victoria, though the draconian didn't answer her phone. But it was likely she'd become preoccupied with some unrelated affair considering she was temporarily managing her entire House in her brother's absence.
So Isadora left a message detailing current events—without dropping Heliger's name—and kept her phone close in wait of a response.
In the meantime, she paid the magician sporadic visits to both check on his progress, and bring him food. The effort of locating Sylva had to be trying, after all, and he was still at it once midnight rolled around.
So she ordered dinner from a restaurant located within the Spire and quietly took it out to the balcony where he'd spent most of his day.
Standing by the railing, Heliger held his golden staff upright and clutched in both hands, eyes shut as if his current engagement required his full concentration. So she settled the container next to a potted plant on a small table nearby, then leaned against the railing to gaze out at the scenery.
The moonlight reflected on the river's surface like shattered glass, a serene vision that contrasted her growing anxiety. The moon's looming presence in the sky was a stark reminder that any minute now, Maddox would return from Sutrelle with a particular ancient vampire.
Isadora frowned at the thought. It seemed strange that, from their perspective, only an hour would've passed while she'd had the entire day to think about her meeting with Mathias. But the more she considered it, the more confused she became, and the more anxious she was about seeing him again.
Something was peculiar about the vampire in a way she couldn't quite name. Though intimidating with a sour disposition, fear wasn't the sensation he evoked, and she couldn't understand why. Sure, it was nice not being overburdened by dire concern for her life with so much already weighing on her mind, but it seemed some fear would've been healthy.
Yet Mathias had only startled her at best, and even after snapping the neck of a young vampire who'd lost control in response to her scent, she hadn't been afraid.
And his actions confused her even more. The vampire saved me again.
That was the second time in two days he'd offered assistance, and it was even more baffling than her lack of fear. He'd initially refused to help her because she was too tempting, but as of yet, he'd shown no sign of losing control in her presence and causing her harm.
Still, the night was young, and there was no telling what might happen as time drew on.
While considering it, a soft groan snagged Isadora's attention, and she glanced right to see Heliger's head drooping forward against the fiery gem at the top of his golden staff.
Turning to face him, she asked, “Are you okay?”
Opening his eyes to look in her direction, he nodded, then paused in noticing the container of food she'd settled on the table between them.
Releasing his staff, which disappeared from sight the moment it was no longer clutched in his hands, he reached for the box and sat on a settee nearby, stating, “I'm fine, I'm simply having no luck.”
Taking a seat to his left, Isadora waved a hand and asked, “How are you searching for her anyway?”
“At present, I'm using a Third Eye,” he answered, opening the container to start his meal without further explanation—and she didn't need one.
A Third Eye was a magician's spell in which they conjured a magical eye that could travel inconspicuously in search of whatever the magician wished to find. Anything it saw, the magician knew, and Isadora found herself curious.
“I didn't think those had a long range,” she mentioned. “How far are you sending it out?”
Chewing a bite of his meal, he swallowed before offering an answer. “Their range of motion is limited by power, and I've augmented my staff with several items to increase it, but so far, I've only covered about two hundred miles around the city.”
That was quite a distance, though there was no way of telling if it was large enough. In fact, it was likely his Third Eye wouldn't locate anything before they found a different lead entirely, prompting Isadora to suggest, “You should take a break then, maybe get a little sleep.”
With a quaint smile, the magician promised, “I thank you for the concern, but I'll be fine, madame. Besides, I won't rest well until we've located Sylva.”
Taking another bite of his food, Heliger grew silent, providing a momen
t to consider the situation and how invested he was in finding his former apprentice. It raised several questions Isadora hadn't wanted to ask in Sutrelle due to the time constraints.
But now seemed like as good a time as any.
“If it's not too personal, can I ask what she did to make you cast her into Limbo? A friend of mine heard you did it because you feared how powerful she became.”
Suddenly, Heliger scoffed, struggling to swallow before casting a curious, if not amused look in her direction. But if he wondered where Aislinn heard the rumor, he didn't ask, only provided a succinct answer.
“I never feared her power, I only feared her choices.”
“Why? Did she like to scheme?”
“That's one way of putting it, I suppose.”
With that said, the magician exhaled low and sat back, gazing out at the scenery in adding, “Whatever else I may say of Sylva, I admired her determination and strength of will. Once she set her mind to a course of action, there was no stopping her, and that's the biggest reason I took her as my apprentice. Sadly, she picked the wrong path, and her methods of spellcasting were dangerous.”
“How so?”
Looking her over, Heliger answered with a question of his own. “You're a fae, so I'm assuming you've practiced the Craft?”
“I've practiced for many years,” she confirmed.
“Then you understand that nature powers a witch's magic using tools and components to evoke and channel energy.”
At her nod, he went on, “In contrast, mages power their spells with spirit energy, and though you'll find spells between witches and mages with similar purposes, the energies used to cast them are incompatible. Charging a witch's spell using spirit energy could cause unexpected, if not devastating results.”
It wasn't difficult to envision how that was possible, the concept being like an electrical grid energizing a city. Using renewable energy to power a grid designed to run on fossil fuels would cause numerous issues. A lack of power could damage the grid and cause blackouts—or even an explosion.
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