I spit in his face. With the back of his hand, he wiped away my saliva before picking up a dagger. It gleamed in the low blue light and I knew it wasn’t a normal dagger. Magic surged through it, but it wasn’t like any I’d ever seen, and I sensed it would kill me. In that moment, I thought of our parents. Those unknown creatures we saw deep in the ocean. Had they provided the means to kill me? It seemed the only logical answer.
“This is going to hurt,” he said, sounding anything but mournful, and began hacking off my wings.
The cry that burst from my throat was a sound unlike any I’ve ever heard. There was pain, of course, but it was more than that. It was the knowledge that my life would end, the last of my kind, and there was nothing I could do about it.
“Take me away from here,” I shouted.
Snow complied at once, her mind pervading mine.
… “Hey, girl. It’s me, Sebastian. Gosh, this is embarrassing. I’ve had a crush on you for the longest time. When Gabe said he was in love with you and that you two were going out, for the first time ever I wanted to fight one of my brothers—for real. Like literally kick his too-skinny ass. But then I saw the way you looked at him and I realized my feelings didn’t matter. You cared about Gabe, and I couldn’t stand in the way of you two.
“Not anymore. That jerk-face-no-good-wannabe-chayot-leader can shove it where the sun don’t shine. Besides, now that he’s dating Cindy, he can’t say a word about how I feel toward you.” He paused and Silindra and I waited. “I love you, Snow. You hear me? And I know a few of the guys have tried to kiss you, so I figure, what the heck? I’m going to try it too.” His warm mouth enfolded mine. I sighed, but knew he wasn’t the one either.
“Snow, did you feel that? All the love I poured into my kiss? I guess not. I’m such an idiot.”
Silindra clung desperately to my mind and my time, but we were being pulled back.
Chapter 45
Silindra, are you awake? I’m still here, inside. Silindra! It’s me, Snow White. Can you hear me?
I could hear her but, for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what she was talking about. Who was she? “I don’t get it,” I said. My mouth felt like it was stuffed with cloth and I knew I was back in the cellar with Gabriel.
“There’s nothing to get, Silindra. You still refuse to do the right thing and take on a better body, so I have no choice but to kill you now. Is there anything you wish to say before I end your life?” His face was next to mine, but my eyes were blurry. It looked like there were four of him, then two, then six.
Tell him he needs to promise you something. Tell him he needs to place one of your tears in the gem, and then take it to Ryden. You hear me, Silindra? Tell him! The strange voice was shouting inside my head, but I heard myself whisper the request.
Gabriel’s face softened. “Of course, Silindra. I may be a lot of things, but I will honor this request if for no other reason than to prove to you that I could’ve loved you had you chosen to leave your revolting body behind and take on a human one.” He yanked the gem from my neck and pressed it against my cheek. “Alright, you hairy leech. Cry.”
I tried, I did, but the tears wouldn’t come. Until suddenly I heard the girl in my head sobbing.
I’m so sorry, Silindra. I’m so sorry this had to happen to you. I’m sorry Gabriel didn’t truly love you. I’m sorry you were betrayed. But know this. Gabriel gets what he deserves. It’s his blood that seals the magics in the gem. It’s okay to cry. I promise, it’ll be okay.
Her tears reached my eyes, and I felt them pool. One dropped and landed on the gem.
“There. There, Silindra. I’ll put you out of your misery.” He grabbed hold of my body and flipped me onto my back. I flinched as an agony like nothing I ever experienced tore through me. He raised a long blade above my chest and pressed slightly. A smile formed on his wicked lips. “The last of the ugly originals—gone forever.”
From inside I felt the girl wrap her arms around me, as though she were trying to give me a hug.
I’ll make everything right. Somehow, I will. I promise, she cried.
Her words brought a smile to my lips. I believed her. She would make everything all right. “Thank you,” I said aloud.
Gabriel flinched, but only for a second before he jammed the glowing dagger into my body.
Chapter 46
“I, Snow White, do solemnly swear to right the wrongs.” My eyes opened, and I stared into the surprised eyes of Dorian. The edges were crinkled with gladness, and he had a huge grin on his face.
“I, Dorian, swear to help you right those wrongs in any way I can,” he said, his voice overflowing with emotion as tears filled his eyes. His face hovered above mine, and I wondered if he’d kissed me. At the thought, I blushed and tried to sit up, conking my forehead into his.
“Sorry,” I said, my throat scratchy. It was seconds ago I witnessed everything happening to Silindra, feeling her pain, suffering through her anguish. So many emotions dashed through my body. But I was beyond glad to be back in my time and looking into the face of one of my favorite people in the whole world. I was also sick inside at Silindra’s death, the lies and deceptions Sharra had spewed, and I was determined, resolved, to accept my destiny. With Silindra’s death came the knowledge that I was responsible for the fate of not just vampires, but all magical creatures. Kenmei was exactly right when he said the Seal of Gabriel was created for me. Did he know I actually assisted in its creation? I felt bad now for laughing in his face when he told me.
“Hey, you okay?” Dorian asked, rubbing his forehead, his face etched with concern.
“Better than okay. I’m back.” I smiled, patting his cheek with my hand. His warmth reminded me it was a long time since I had any blood. My fangs pressed against the inside of my mouth.
“I’m so glad you’re awake. I can’t wait to tell everyone.”
Dorian turned to leave, but I grabbed his arm with one hand and felt for the gem with the other. It wasn’t around my neck. “Wait,” I said, and he turned back.
“Yeah? Did you need me to stick around?”
“D-Did you kiss me just now? Right before I woke?”
He smiled, showing off all his straight teeth and the dimple in one cheek. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” He brushed a thumb along my jaw, and I swallowed. My throat was parched. I needed blood.
As though reading my mind, Dorian tilted his neck toward me. “Go ahead.”
“It’s been a long time since I had any blood, are you sure you want me to drink from you now?” It was hard to talk because my fangs were in the way.
“It looks to me like you could use some. Take mine.” His neck touched my lips.
“Holy crow, don’t make me fish-slap you,” I said, shoving a hand against his chest. I really, really wanted his blood. He smelled so good, like manly body wash and sandalwood, but I didn’t want to hurt him.
He laughed. “Fish-slap. That’s a good one. I like it better than the original.”
I smirked. My fingers curled into a fist in his gray polo shirt. “Why are you always offering me your blood? What’s the deal?”
A dark smile curved his lips. His mouth was so close; his Scope and Mountain Dew breath made my eyelashes flutter. “I want your mouth against my neck. I want to feel my skin part when your fangs press into me.” His heart raced like a pack of wild horses.
I shook my head. “You’re twisted, Dorian.” But I wound his shirt further around my fist. I needed blood. My throat burned and I licked my lips. “I’ll be careful, if you’re sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all.”
“Then come closer,” I said, my throat screaming.
He complied, pressing his neck against my mouth again. I licked his vein and he shuddered. Parting my lips, I extended my fangs and bit down. His head rested on a pillow next to mine and his clean, slightly wet hair tickled my cheek. When I began sucking, his breath caught. “Snow, it feels… better than I imagined.” He wrapped his arms around me in a
tight hug.
In response I sucked harder. His blood tasted sweet and sexy, like sugared oranges and milk chocolate. My mind automatically started counting while I drank. I hit twenty before I finally stopped and that was difficult. The vampire part of me wanted to drain him dry. But this was Dorian, and I refused to give into my vampire desires fully. Withdrawing, I pushed him away. “Are you alive?”
His eyes were glazed over, and his skin looked pale. “I’m awesome,” he whispered, but turned so that he was lying on his back beside me. “I’m just going to rest my eyes a minute before I tell everyone.”
“Sure. Go ahead.” I had to smile. He was adorable.
“Hey, Snow,” he muttered, his voice soft and sensual.
“Yeah?”
“I’ve missed you.”
With his words, comprehension flooded my heart. I had been gone a long time. While my mind was with Silindra, my body stayed here. My dad, Professor Pops, Cindy, the guys—they all suffered because of what the Seal of Gabriel had done. But I was back! It had been hard on me, experiencing Silindra’s life, watching events unfold that ended with her death. But how much harder had it been on my family, the people who loved me? My body lying here, unmoving for so long.
“I missed you…” Dorian let out a snuffling-snort. He rolled onto his stomach, one hand resting near his chin. He was sound asleep.
“And I missed you,” I said, brushing wayward hair from his clean-shaven jaw.
Satisfied he was okay; I took in my surroundings. The bed rested against a long wall, situated in the center between two bay windows. Large, comfortable-looking pillows in reds, blacks, grays, and whites were propped against each other along the window seat. A red chandelier hung from the center of the vaulted ceiling. The walls were a deep shade of red and pinstriped black. The curtains were billowy and white, as was the carpet and my bedding. Distressed black furniture and a white couch with thick black stripes complimented the room. It was lovely.
The nightgown I wore was white. Three pearl-shaped buttons held the gown closed at my neck. Next to one of the buttons was a drop of Dorian’s blood, perfectly round and red like the walls. I tried not to think about who took care of my body while my mind was away. Taking in a deep breath, I glanced at Dorian. My blood haze was already wearing off and I felt a little guilty for drinking from him. Since the beginning, he seemed more than willing to offer himself, but something or someone always stepped in the way. Not this time. And I had to admit his blood hummed through my veins in a way no one else’s had—including Gabe’s and Christopher’s. “What’s your deal, Dorian?” I asked him quietly, moving my hands through his hair.
“Please tell me you didn’t kill him.”
Seven sets of eyes gawked at me from the doorway.
“He’s sleeping,” I said, hoping I didn’t appear too guilty.
“Thank goodness,” Professor Pops said, walking toward the bed. That’s when I noticed the cake in his hands. Candles glowed in the white frosting.
“Dorian, wake your lazy ass up. Snow’s back,” Bart said, smiling. The other guys jumped, high-fived, and hooted around the room.
Dorian groaned. “I know, and it’s perfect because today’s her birthday.”
“No duh, doofus. We’re going to sing,” Daniel said.
“Care to join us?” Professor Pops asked. His gaze fell to the blood on my nightgown. I tried to cover it up, and he sighed.
Dorian started singing, his voice muffled by the pillow his head rested on. The guys joined in.
I couldn’t help but laugh. Then it hit me. I had been asleep two years. I had no doubt a lot changed, but one thing hadn’t. My love for these eight amazing men.
When they finished singing, I blew out eighteen candles. Smoke twirled upward, writhing and winding like slow-moving dancers. Dorian rubbed at his face and moved to sit on the bed next to me. Professor Pops placed the cake on my lap and several of the guys sat on the bed.
As I studied these amazing men, my eyes caught hold of a flash at the door. I glanced up and into the brilliant hazel eyes of my hunter.
“Christopher!”
Be sure to pick up book three in the Seven Magics Academy, Queen of the Vampires.
Also by RaShelle Workman
DEMONLAND SERIES
Alice in Demonland
Alice Fights Demonland
Alice Takes Demonland
Alice Ignites Demonland (7/2020)
BEASTLY SERIES
A Beauty so Beastly
A Beauty so Deadly (8/2020)
WOLF BLOOD ACADEMY
Initiation (10/2019)
Inheritance (11/2019)
Induction (12/2019)
SEVEN MAGICS ACADEMY
Blood and Snow
Fate and Magic
Queen of the Vampires
Deadly Witch (coming 8/2019)
Royal Witch (9/2019)
Vampire Lies (1/2020)
Vampire Secrets (2/2020)
Vampires and Dragons (3/2020)
Vampires and Gargoyles (4/2020)
Vampire Magics (5/2020)
IMMORTALS
Venus Falling
Venus Rising (11/2020)
GODS AND PARANORMALS
Goddess Curse
Mystical Gift (coming 9/2019)
DEAD ROSES
Sleeping Roses
Kissed by a Rose
CARLY MORGAN ~ Sizzling Sweet Romance
Most Eligible Cowboy
Happily Ever Summer
Rockstar Billionaire
Billionaire Best Man
Second Chance Billionaire
Faking it With the Billionaire
Dating the Billionaire
The Risky Groom
The Ever After Groom
The Nanny’s Billionaire
About the Author
RaShelle Workman is an international bestselling author of reimagined fairy tales, science fiction, time travel, and romantic suspense. All of her novels have been listed on multiple bestseller lists, including her Blood and Snow series (now Seven Magics Academy), which has sold more than a million copies worldwide.
When RaShelle isn't writing, she enjoys baking, creating new taco recipes and watching Supernatural. She lives in Utah with her husband, three children, and their dogs. Find her online by visiting her website at: www.rashelleworkman.org.
Fate and Magic: Snow White Reimagined with Vampires and Werewolves (Seven Magics Academy Book 2) Page 17
