Blood Magic

by Kira Stone

  “That’s it. Come for me,” Sebastian urged him.

  There was no bitter fear to be found in the life giving substance. Only the taste of joy and sweet release. The human truly accepted him. That knowledge hurled Sebastian into his own orgasmic spasm. Semen burst from his cock into Teake’s ass. They grunted and writhed in unison, each riding wave after wave of pure physical bliss until they collapsed on the pillows in a boneless heap.

  They lay on the rug in front of the fireplace, still locked together. One trying to catch his breath, the other trying to hold onto the last shreds of his honor. The desire to possess a human had never thrummed so strongly in Seb’s veins. It would be so easy to turn him. A mouthful of his own blood, a deep kiss that would cause Teake to gag and automatically swallow… Just the way Kassian had turned him.

  But Seb couldn’t do it. Wouldn’t do it. He wouldn’t take the last irrevocable step to become what Kassian was… an undead beast without morals or conscience.

  Sebastian curled around Teake, wishing more than ever that he could share a lifetime with this magical man. Had his life taken a different road, it would have been possible, even probable. But the way of a witch was not for vampires. Nor could he ask Teake to give up sunlight for an eternity of darkness. He’d hang around long enough to make sure Teake got back what he’d lost. Then they’d part ways, forever.

  Teake stroked Sebastian’s arm. Apparently his mind was running through similar thoughts, for he said, “I suppose you still plan to return to Kassian once Davina releases you from the oath.”

  No. One thing Sebastian had decided for certain was that he could no longer live the lifestyle Kassian preferred. He resented the way Fate had interfered, making the choice for him, but he realized that he couldn’t go back to what he’d been.

  As he opened his mouth to explain that, a knock on the door interrupted him. Steven called out, “Get up, get dressed and get out here. Now. We have company.”

  Chapter 12

  Sebastian’s Choice

  Too soon, too soon. The thought repeated in Teake’s head. He didn’t want to surrender his closeness with the vampire so soon after their lovemaking, but the longer they stayed together, the harder it would be for him to let Sebastian go.

  So instead he concentrated on arguments that would convince his Prima to free Sebastian from his obligation as he followed his Guardian into Lord Allen’s living room. Though he sensed nothing, he knew the air was charged with energy. The main reason for that sat in a high-backed chair near the sandstone fireplace, sipping a cup of steaming liquid.

  Davina.

  She had flawless skin the color of midnight. Her iridescent blue gown molded to her ample curves. A series of gold chains, holding seven semi-precious stones, one for each of the chakras, dangled in the deep valley between her plump breasts. Her ebony hair hung to her waist in hundreds of thin braids.

  He’d seen her naked, in the throes of passion. He’d seen her act as regal as any queen. But Teake had never seen her look as powerful, and as lovely, as she did to him now.

  They stopped in front of her, but Teake was the only one who spoke. “Prima, it is so good to see you.”

  Davina rose to her feet, her height nearly a match for his, while softly scolding in an accent that carried a hint of the tropics. “You’re more stubborn than a two-headed mule, you know that?”

  “I do, although it is not a bit flattering, even coming from you.”

  “You get enough praise from your students. You don’t need to hear it from me.” She held out both her hands. Golden light filled her cupped palms. “Will you receive my blessing?”

  “Gladly.”

  Davina’s love poured over him. Through him. It revived his aching muscles, strengthened his spine and made him feel whole again. Unfortunately, it couldn’t heal the hole Sebastian’s absence would cause in his heart.

  After the light faded, she softly kissed his lips. “Feel better?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Good. Now introduce me to your Guardian.”

  “You can fix him, right?” Sebastian asked as soon as the exchange of names was over. “You can make him a witch again?”

  Davina’s lips curved with amusement. “What makes you think I’d do a crazy thing like that?”

  Sebastian jolted in surprise. “Look, if it’s a matter of price, I’ll pay it. Whatever it takes. Just give him back his mojo, okay?”

  “You do your job well, Guardian, but whether or not Teake joins forces again with Mother Nature is one of many questions we have to answer today.”

  “Well, let’s get on with it then.”

  Rainer and Steven entered from the kitchen. They carried trays laden with food for both vampire and human diets.

  “There is one more yet to join us. Davina insists we wait for him to arrive,” Rainer explained as he set his burden down on the coffee table in the center of the room.

  Dread curled in Teake’s stomach. “Who?”

  “Kassian Grigoriv approaches,” Forrest announced. The disembodied voice conveyed distaste.

  At Davina’s nod, Rainer said, “Let him enter.”

  Seconds later the door swung open with a bang. Looking a bit wild around the eyes, Kassian screened the room. When he found Sebastian, he practically pounced on the blond vampire and wrapped him in an enthusiastic embrace.

  “Thank the Lord, you’re safe,” he said as he clung tightly to his former lover.

  Sebastian returned the embrace half-heartedly and let go long before Kassian did. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “When Marta handed me your tags, I thought I’d lost you for good.”

  Teake only saw a flash of silver as Sebastian tucked the chain away in the pocket of his leather pants.

  “So? You’d already thrown me out of your life.”

  “A temporary situation. You know how it is when I get mad.” As if he couldn’t bear not to touch him, Kassian put his arm around Sebastian’s shoulders. “When there was no sign of you…” He trailed off, realizing he had an audience. A decidedly unfriendly one. “We can discuss this later, once we get to Marta’s.”

  “Marta’s? You mean the whorehouse? Why go there?”

  “She’s agreed to share her rooms with us until I can rebuild.” His focus zeroed in on Teake. Menace burned bright in his nearly black eyes. “I see you still breathe. A situation soon corrected.”

  “Oh?” Davina said, bringing the attention of the room to rest on her. “You possess the gift of foresight?”

  “Who the hell are you?”

  Davina made a deprecating shrug. “Obviously someone of little importance since you don’t know my name. Please answer the question.”

  “This… pig-eater’s grievous insult can only be satisfied by his death. I have Marta’s assurance that the council will vote unanimously in my favor.”

  “Not unanimously, Kassian. I’m on the council too, remember? And I’m afraid I find Teake’s life more valuable than your home.”

  Kassian rolled his eyes. “How about kidnapping? Attempted murder? Surely you value Sebastian more than this filthy human?”

  Ridiculous! Teake had done everything in his power, and then some, to see that Sebastian didn’t come to harm. He sought out Sebastian’s face to see how he reacted to this accusation.

  A smile canted the blond vampire’s pale lips. “You tried to kill me and I missed it? Damn. Must have been while I was busy fucking your brains out.”

  It was nowhere near a declaration of love, but it made Teake feel good to know Seb wasn’t going to revert to his old, submissive ways once he returned to Kassian’s bed. Perhaps their time together had done him some good after all.

  “Well, I give you credit for having the balls of a vampire,” Kassian said, dropping his arm away from Sebastian’s shoulders. “There’s still a thing or two I have to teach you about developing the heart of one though.”

  Davina settled into her chair again. The soft rustle of fabric drew everyone’s attention, b
ut she spoke to no one in particular as she rearranged the folds of fabric around her legs. “Gaia decides the lessons each soul must learn.”

  “That’s witch bullshit,” Kassian replied. “Let me guess. You’re one of them. No wonder I couldn’t place you.”

  Rainer stepped forward. “Davina is the Prima of the Emerald Mountain Sect. She’s here to discuss the recent events and Teake’s role in them.”

  “The life threads woven through this event have been stretched, manipulated by selfish hands,” Davina reported, without waiting for further prompting from Lord Allen. “The future is now uncertain.”

  “Seer gibberish,” Kassian denounced. “It means nothing.”

  Davina turned her golden gaze his way. “Perhaps to you it means nothing, although I would think that one who is about to become a vampire lord would be concerned when someone attempts to change his destiny.”

  “I will be a lord.” Kassian got to his feet. “It’s already been decided by the Vampire Council. None of your lies can change that. Now, if you will excuse us, it’s time that Seb and I leave.”

  “Ah, yes. The young vampire.” Davina tilted her head toward Sebastian. “Your thread I find most interesting of all.”

  Teake knew that look well. It nailed one’s feet to the floor more effectively than a high-powered staple gun.

  Sebastian shifted nervously under her steady stare but didn’t lift so much as a toe to follow the Russian. “Why is that?”

  “You desired to be one of us once, isn’t that so?”

  “He’s a vampire now. He has no interest in your pathetic parlor tricks,” Kassian barked at her.

  Davina’s voice sparkled with amusement. “Could it be you put words in Sebastian’s mouth because you fear the ones he may choose for himself?”

  “I know what’s best for him.”

  “For him, or for yourself? No, don’t answer that.” Davina released a spell with a wave of her hand.

  Teake found this brush with witchcraft was like attending a party by watching it through a one-way mirror. However, the spell seemed to have stolen Kassian’s voice and that was something he could be pleased about. As was the supportive squeeze Sebastian gave his hand.

  “Now, where were we? Oh, yes, the twisted threads.”

  “What do you find so interesting about mine?” Sebastian asked her.

  “Your lifeline has been jerked around so many times it has a permanent kink. Must have been annoying as hell.”

  Sebastian chuckled. “You have no idea.”

  “Actually I have a very good idea.” Her expression said she’d walked in his shoes until the sole had worn through and then some. “Believe it or not, it wasn’t always Gaia’s fault.”

  Teake didn’t like the sound of that. “Then she didn’t choose Sebastian to be my Guardian?”

  Davina selected a few pieces from the bowl of mixed nuts as she replied. “No, that one she takes full responsibility for.”

  Steven crossed the room to stand beside his friend. “Then I’d say she owes Seb a favor. At least one.”

  The Prima witch cocked her head as if listening to some distant sound. She returned her focus to the current setting, ate the nuts she’d been holding and approached Sebastian.

  All teasing left her face, and the powerful Prima was once again in charge. “You want out of this oath deal, you got it. But that freedom comes with a price.”

  Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Great. In case it escaped your notice, I have nothing more to give.”

  “You have your future,” Davina replied quietly.

  Teake lost the thread of Sebastian’s response when he felt a polite mental knock, a request for another to access his thoughts. He hadn’t thought such a thing was possible, not since he disconnected himself from the source of all energy.

  Silly boy, did you really think Gaia would allow you to abandon her?

  Although he was aware of the conversation continuing around him, Teake could only hear Davina’s mental thoughts.

  Just as Sebastian has been given a choice, so have you. Your future path hinges on your decision.

  I will not practice magic as long as Sebastian could be harmed by it.

  Think of all the good you can do with your gift. Think about your old life. Think about what it’s like to feel the power flowing through you, what it’s like without it. Are you willing to sacrifice the rest of your life over one of the blood-drinkers?

  Harm none, Teake replied. That is the oath I took. I will not break it now because I find it… inconvenient.

  A wave of sadness broke over him, and he realized Davina was disappointed in his answer. What else could he have said? That Sebastian’s happiness meant more to him than his own life? That he couldn’t imagine a world without the blond vampire any more than he could imagine a world without magic? Those might be his real motives, but he couldn’t expect her to understand.

  How little faith you have in me, Davina replied.

  Teake flushed with embarrassment. He’d forgotten that Davina could not only project thoughts, but hear them. My deepest apologies, Prima. Sebastian is special among his kind. I did not expect anyone who did not know him to value him as I do.

  A warm feeling embraced him. Good boy. Was that so hard to admit? Leave everything to me.

  What choice did he have really? He had pledged his life in service to Gaia. Only his oath to harm none with his gift took precedence. He certainly couldn’t work out a way to do both, so leaving it in Davina’s hands was the best alternative.

  Sound crashed into him as Davina left his mind. Steven and Rainer continued to argue on behalf of their friend. Kassian looked mad enough to spout steam from his ears. Without a voice, he was reduced to jotting down notes that everyone ignored.

  Davina waved them all to silence. “The past is written and cannot be changed. What we must focus on now is the future. The blending of the opposite natures was never meant to be as it is in you, Sebastian. Whatever agency directed you down this path -- and I will investigate that matter -- has left you with two choices, the existence of a vampire or the life of a witch. Know, however, that the fate of the two men who are bound to you will also be affected by your decision.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Sebastian asked her.

  “The future is shrouded in uncertainty until the choice is made. I only know that the threads of Kassian Grigoriv and Teake of the Emerald Mountain Sect will be shifted as a result of your decision.”

  “Damn it! Can’t you give me something to go on?” Sebastian ran his hand through his long blond hair, nearly ripping it out in frustration.

  “You may ask each one a question to which they may give a short answer.” Davina glared warningly at Kassian as she gave him back his voice. “A short answer.”

  Teake held his breath in anticipation of what Sebastian might ask him, but it was to Kassian that he turned first.

  “If I remain a vampire, would you promise never to see Marta or her associates again?”

  Kassian shook his head impatiently. “Why should I agree to that? I know you don’t like her, but she has her uses. Besides, soon I’ll be a lord. I’ll have more ability to fulfill your every desire. Just say yes.”

  As the young vampire turned to him, Teake tried to store up every detail of Sebastian’s face. He loved the strong lines of his jaw, the way his hair flowed over his shoulders. He wished for another taste of those pale lips, another night surrounded by those strong arms. He had little hope that he’d have that honor. Kassian’s status was a strong lure, and Teake didn’t have anything but himself to offer in return.

  Softly, Sebastian asked, “Which choice do you want me to make?”

  Teake stroked his cheek with the back of his hand. “The one you think will make you the happiest.”

  Sebastian touched his lips to Teake’s briefly. “Thanks.”

  His heart stuttered when Sebastian turned away from him. To come so close and lose…

  Kassian opened his arms in welco
me, a big fat smile across his smug face. “I knew you’d make the right decision.”

  Instead of stepping into his embrace, Sebastian dropped the silver chain he’d taken from his pocket into his ex-lover’s hand. “Marta was right about one thing, Kass. To you, I am lost for good.”

  He spun on his heel to face Davina. “Guess I’m one of you now.”

  Kassian’s exit rattled the very frame of the house.

  Sebastian stepped away from his friends’ hearty congratulations. He wore a shy expression that Teake found absolutely charming. “You’re not saying much. I kinda hoped you’d be happy about this.”

  “I am.” Tears began to blur his vision. “Very, very happy.”

  “Good, because I have no intention of learning witchcraft from anyone else. You can teach me, right?”

  Teake longed to say yes, but his future was still undecided. He looked to his Prima for answers.

  Davina’s golden aura glowed brightly. “You may teach him if you wish. However, his heart lies cold and dead in his chest. He cannot truly be a witch without it beating in time to Nature’s rhythm.”

  “But my magic can give him that, can’t it?”

  “Make your Guardian bond permanent and his heart will echo yours until the end of your days. Renounce the bond and he’ll have all the privileges of a witch but will never know what it is to wield the earth’s forces.”

  Teake couldn’t make that decision alone. “Sebastian?”

  The blond shrugged, his cocky grin back. “Do whatever makes you happy.”

  It only took half a second to make his decision, but he used up several more putting the right words together to announce it. “Sebastian, will you consent to being my life mate, sharing equally in all that I have, in all that I am, until the end of my days?”

  “No.”

  “No?”

  Teake would have fallen to his knees if Sebastian hadn’t jerked him into a tight embrace. “You forgot the monogamy bit. I’m not sharing you with anyone. And while you’re at it, you could add a line about love, honor and cherish, because I plan on doing that too.”

  “So let it be written, so let it be done,” Davina said.