by Sarah Bailey
Her father turned on her again. Silence hung in the air for a long moment. He moved, striding towards her and grabbing her arm. He tugged her along through the house and up the stairs despite her protests.
“Let me go.”
“No. You have disobeyed me and I will not stand for it. You will go to your room and remain there until morning. Then we are returning to the royal estate, permanently. You will not see this vampire again and when I find out who he is, I will take this before the Vampire Council. He will be dealt with.”
“No, no, you can’t do that to him. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”
Her father dragged her up the next flight of stairs. She wanted to use her magic to stop him, but this was her father. How could she even think such a thing? He paused on the second landing, staring down at her. His eyes narrowed and he sniffed the air.
“Not done anything wrong? He has defiled you. You have allowed him to do things you should never have permitted. Don’t think I don’t smell him all over you. It sickens me.”
Tears fell down her cheeks. How could her father be so judgemental and prejudice towards vampires? She’d had the most perfect evening with Jamie and now it was ruined. Her entire world was falling apart before her eyes.
Her father dragged her up the last flight of stairs and threw her into her bedroom. He stood in the doorway, his eyes dark with anger.
“You will not leave this room. I forbid you to ever see that vampire again. If you have any love for me, you will cease in this reckless behaviour.”
“You’re doing this because of her, aren’t you? You think you’re protecting me, but you’re not. I’m not my mother.”
Dani trembled, wrapping her arms around her chest. She could barely stand up straight any longer. Knowing how angry her father was destroyed her.
“Your mother was murdered, Dandelion. Murdered. Do you think she did that to herself? She was forced to breathe that human and steal all of his energy. Why do you think I kept your condition a secret all this time?”
Her heart broke further. She’d suspected it for so long but hearing the truth of the words from her father brought it all home.
“I have enemies. Ones who will stop at nothing to destroy me. It is worse now I am king of our people. Do you think I want my daughter murdered? They will take you from me if they know the truth. I couldn’t save your mother, but I can save you.”
“This isn’t saving me, Father. This is destroying me. If you stop me seeing him, you’ll break me. I need him.”
He put a hand on the doorframe, his fingers curling around the wood.
“I do not want to hear about your feelings for him. What did you think was going to happen? You know it’s forbidden. You are a princess of the fae. You cannot have a relationship with a vampire.”
The truth of his words was the worst part. He was right. She had known all along.
“Don’t you care that you’re breaking my heart?”
Her father’s expression didn’t soften, but he looked like he was breaking inside too.
“I’m doing this because I love you, Dandelion.”
Green glittering magic shot out from his hands, curling around the room and sealing it as he stepped back from the door.
“Please, Father, don’t do this to me. Don’t take him away from me.”
He said nothing as he finished the spell. Then he closed the door and she heard his retreating footsteps. Dani couldn’t leave even if she wanted to. He’d sealed her inside. She dropped to her knees and sobbed into her hands. She couldn’t undo the spell. She couldn’t get to Jamie and warn him.
Her heart snapped in two. Her love for her people, her father and her family at complete odds with the way she felt about Jamie. Was it really so terrible that she’d gotten involved with him? Shaking her head, she knew it wasn’t. There were just stupid rules, traditions and divides in the supernatural community. All of it was ridiculous. And she was done with them all.
Pulling her phone out of her bag, she tried to call Jamie, but her father’s magic was blocking all the signal. How could she let him know what was happening? She got off the floor and tried the balcony door. Tried pushing her magic into it, but it wouldn’t open.
Panic rose in her chest. She was trapped with no way of letting her vampire know. Banging her fists on the glass, she screamed, tears streaming down her face. How could her father do this to her? How could he be so cruel? He said he loved her, but this wasn’t love. If he truly did, he’d let her go to Jamie. He’d allow her to be with the person she cared for. The person she loved.
That thought broke something so fundamental inside her. The truth had been glaringly obvious for so long, but she’d ignored it. Keeping it locked away. She couldn’t ignore it any longer.
Falling to her knees again, she slammed her fists on the glass.
“No, no, no, no.”
The door to her bedroom opened. She hadn’t heard anyone coming up the stairs. Novus strode into the room, his eyes wide as he stared at Dani.
“Novus,” she sobbed. “He’s trapped me here. I can’t leave. You have to help me. Please. I have to warn Jamie.”
“You know I can’t disobey our father.”
“Please, I’m begging you. It’s not his fault.”
He walked over and crouched down next to her, putting his hand on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry.”
She shrugged him off, crying harder.
“Sorry isn’t good enough. I love him. I love Jamie.”
“I know you do. He’s your best friend.”
She shook her head, more tears spilling down her face.
“No, you don’t understand. I’m in love with him. I love him so much I can’t breathe without him.”
Novus’ eyes widened. She grasped his shirt, pulling him closer.
“Please, please help me. I can’t let him get in trouble with the Vampire Council. They’ll banish him. I have to go to him. I have to fix it. I have to fix everything.”
“Dani…”
He put his hands on her arms, trying to dislodge them from his t-shirt, but she held on tighter.
“Novy, please. It’s not just about Jamie. I have to stop the war before it starts. I have to. I can’t do that if Father locks me up on the royal estate.”
Her brother’s brow furrowed.
“What are you saying?”
“I know how to get to Candace. That’s why I needed to come back here. To stop the war from destroying us all.”
He stared at her for the longest time. She released his t-shirt, her hands dropping to her sides. Novus was her only hope. If he didn’t help her, all would be lost. She’d never see Jamie again. And the destruction of her people would ruin everything else.
The same glittering blue magic she possessed shot out of Novus’ hand and next to them, a portal appeared.
“Go, it’ll take you just outside and from there you can get to Jamie. You need to hurry. Dawn is approaching.”
She cupped her brother’s face with one hand.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“You should always follow your heart.”
She nodded at him before standing. She wiped her face with her coat sleeve. Hurrying over to where her bag was, she picked it up and paused. There was something else she needed. On her bedside table lay the book Alistair had given her. She scooped it up and stuffed it into her bag before she stepped into the portal, not looking back. Her brother had thrown his hat in with her in defiance of their father. She could only hope he’d forgive them when the dust settled.
She looked up at the sky when she stepped out of the portal. It was beginning to lighten. She had to be quick. Summoning her own magic, she created another portal. One which would take her directly to Jamie. Stepping through, she landed just outside his flat. Dani hurried down the steps and banged on the door.
“Jamie, please open up.”
There was only silence beyond. Had she been too late? She banged again, harder this time.
“Jamie, it’s me. Please, you have to let me in. I know it’s almost dawn, but this is an emergency. Please.”
Chapter Seventeen
Dani stood outside Jamie’s flat for what felt like a lifetime. Her heart sank. She was too late. How could she have thought her father wouldn’t have moved against them and informed the Vampire Council?
She tried one more time, banging against the door with all her might.
“Please, Jamie, please.”
The next moment, it was wrenched open. Jamie looked like he’d practically staggered from his bedroom to the door. He kept back in the shadows. The sun was coming up. She flew in immediately and slammed the door shut behind her. Throwing herself into his chest, she couldn’t help the tears falling all over again. His arms came around her.
“Dani,” he said, his voice groggy. “I can’t… I have to sleep.”
She let him lean on her, wrapping her arm around his waist and helped him back into the bedroom. Tucking him up under the covers, she breathed a sigh of relief. She had got here in time. Nothing would happen to him until the sun went down.
“What happened?” he whispered.
She could see he could barely keep his eyes open. She stroked his hair back from his face.
“I’ll tell you when you wake up.”
He reached out, taking her hand and kissing her palm.
“Tell me now.”
Shaking her head, she slipped off the bed. Undressing as quickly as she could, she crawled in next to him in just her underwear. Jamie wrapped her up in his arms.
“Tell me,” he whispered against her hair.
“My father happened. He tried to keep me in the house, but Novy helped me get to you. He doesn’t know who you are yet, so we’re safe… for now.”
His arms around her tightened.
“It’s okay, Jamie. We’ll deal with it when you wake up.”
“Okay, I trust you.”
The next moment, she felt him go utterly still and she knew he was dead to the world. She never knew how helpless vampires were when it came to the dawn. They couldn’t go out in the sun, but she hadn’t expected Jamie to be so unable to resist the urge to sleep.
She’d keep watch over him and hope that no one would find out she was here. Her father would likely go mental when he discovered Novus had helped her escape. There was nothing else they could’ve done. She had to protect the man she loved.
It had taken her so long to admit it, but she knew she’d been in love with him for weeks. Her affection for him had grown and grown. Every moment they spent together cemented her feelings.
Looking up into his face, her heart fractured. Did Jamie feel the same way? He told her he’d go against his own kind for her. And she’d just done that for him. It was a question she couldn’t have answered until he woke up. Cupping his face with her hand, she ran a thumb over his lips.
“I’m never letting you go. Not now. Not ever.”
She watched over him for the longest time before her own eyes drooped. She hadn’t slept all night. If they were going to survive the next twenty four hours, then she needed to.
Jolting awake, Dani had no idea where she was for the longest moment. Then she felt a cold chest pressed into her face. That could mean only one thing. She was with Jamie. Pulling away from him, his arms dropped limply on the bed. He was still asleep. Dani shuffled out of his bed and pulled one of his t-shirts out of his chest of drawers, shrugging it on. It smelt like him and that comforted her.
Wandering into the kitchen, she opened his fridge and found he’d left food in there. He’d started doing it not long after they’d first slept together. She’d been around his flat a few times and had got hungry on more than one occasion after their sexcapades.
She made herself something to eat and sat at the breakfast bar of his kitchen. Looking up at the clock on the wall, she found it was only late afternoon. She’d slept most of the day away. The emotional toll had gotten to her. She’d have to wait until Jamie rose, although she wasn’t quite sure what time that would be.
After she washed up, she went back into the bedroom and sat with her sleeping vampire. When she pulled out the book Alistair had given her, she flipped to the page which contained the instructions on how to perform the blood bond. Reading it over, she realised several ingredients were required. Mostly herbs, although some of them were rarer than others. How on earth would she get hold of these at such short notice?
Then she remembered. She grabbed her phone and dialled Alistair’s number. They’d exchanged them yesterday before she’d left his house.
“Hello, Dani,” he answered on the second ring.
“Hi… I need your help.”
She heard him chuckle.
“With the bond?”
“Yes, the ingredients aren’t common and I need them… it’s sort of urgent.”
“Give me a list and I’ll see if we have them in stock.”
She rattled off ten items including bloodroot, deerstongue and honeysuckle. She heard Alistair murmuring them to himself as she told him.
“It’s your lucky day. I have all of those things. Would you like to come pick them up?”
“I… can’t. I have to stay with Jamie, he’s still asleep. My father found out about us.”
There was silence for a long moment.
“Tell me where you are and I’ll bring everything with me. Are you sure you can perform this yourself?”
“Yes. It has to be fae magic. That’s what the book says.”
She told him the street Jamie lived on, but not the exact number of the house. She wasn’t sure her vampire would appreciate her revealing his address to the witch.
“I’ll be five minutes.”
He hung up. She jumped off the bed and put her hand out. Blue glittering magic poured out of her hand and surrounded her. After it cleared, she was left dressed in jeans, an oversized jumper and low ankle boots. This was one perk of having fully regained her magic for the time being.
She snagged Jamie’s flat key from his bedside table where he’d left it before slipping on her coat. Flying out the door, she found Alistair waiting for her halfway down the street. He had a bag in his hands.
“Here you go,” he said, handing it to her.
“You have no idea how much I appreciate this.”
“Oh, I think I do. Let me know how it goes. I’ve always been fascinated with fae magic. It’s a shame Candace never showed me much of her own, but it was tricky with her witch heritage.”
She smiled at him. Even though she’d only met Alistair yesterday, she decided she liked the witch very much. Especially now he’d helped her without question.
“Perhaps when things have settled down, we can teach each other.”
“I would like that. You know, you’re not what I expected from a princess of the fae.”
“Some of us are less pretentious than others.”
He laughed, shaking his head.
“But seriously, you’re different. I like it. I hope you’re not the only one of your kind.”
“My brother is similar to me. There are others. I hope one day we can forget the factions between our different kinds.”
He nodded, tipped an imaginary hat at her and created a portal next to them.
“I’ll see you around, Dani.”
“Thank you again.”
He walked into the portal and she hurried back to Jamie’s. The sun had almost set. Letting herself in, she found him wide awake and pacing the living room. As soon as he saw her, he was in front of her, his hands wrapped around her arms.
“Where did you go? I woke up and you weren’t here. I thought someone had gotten to you.”
She held up the bag in her hand.
“Alistair brought me some stuff I need. Well, we need.”
“What’s going on, Dani? What happened last night? Explain everything.”
Sighing, she reached up and took one of his hands, leading him over to the sofa. They both sat down as
she placed the bag on the coffee table. She told him exactly what had gone on when she got home. His expression darkened with each word she spoke.
“It was awful. I felt so helpless. All I could think was I needed to warn you,” she finished.
He cupped her face.
“I’m so sorry. You should never have gone through that alone.”
“I’m okay. I’m here with you. We can work this out together, can’t we?”
He nodded, running his thumb over her bottom lip. She opened her mouth, wanting desperately to admit how she really felt. Jamie’s lips landed on hers before she had a chance to take a breath. His kiss was raw, almost savage. He pressed her back against the sofa cushions, pressing kisses to her jaw.
“Can I?” he whispered against her neck.
“Are you hungry?”
“For you? Always.”
His fingers brushed over her neck, tracing the lines of her veins. She wanted to let Jamie bite her, but there were things they needed to discuss. Things they needed to do.
“We need to talk.”
His fangs grazed over her skin.
“I crave you.”
Her heart slammed against her ribcage. Swallowing, she nodded once. She gasped when his fangs slid into her neck. He cradled her in his arms as if she was the most precious thing in the world to him as he took his fill.
“Dani,” he growled. “You make me so fucking hard. Being with you is the sweetest fucking torture.”
His hands brushed down her sides and he hauled her over into his lap. He cupped her behind.
“I want you. Are you ready for me to take you there?”
He licked her neck, the blood still flowing sluggishly. She put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him back. Looking down into his darkened silver eyes, her pulse spiked again. They had no time for sex right now even though she was wet and wanting already.
“Jamie, I said we need to talk.”
His eyes flickered, not with irritation, but with desire.
“Then talk.”
“You claiming me isn’t enough to stop them tearing us apart. Not now my father knows. It won’t be long before he goes to Gavin or the Vampire Council.”