Chapter Twenty Four
Bite Me
He wrapped one arm around my waist and used the other to hold my wrists together. My mind raced as I tried to figure out my next move and then I saw Gemma. She was still across the street, but she was awake, standing and watching Daray and I. I had to stall until she came close enough to attack.
"You said you'd help me. How can I trust you after what I saw you do to P.J., your own cousin?" I asked. Daray let go of my waist and cupped my face with his hand, holding me like a prize he'd already won.
"I have helped you. Persephone Jasmine shunned the gifts her warlock blood granted her. I bargained the power that was unwanted and wasted by her to have your sister returned to you because I thought you'd be pleased," he said.
"Well, I…" I dropped my eyes to the pavement as if considering his words and strained to see where Gemma was hiding. She was closer now, but still too far away for me to chance running to her. Daray would have me before I'd gone five feet. "I am pleased. It's just that…everything is coming at me so fast. I mean, finding out I'm a warlock with super-powers and that you guys even exist. Vampires, werewolves, witches. And then, I mean, I haven't even really gone on a date and now you're talking about getting married. It's just too much," I said.
"You've never been on a date?" Daray asked. My face felt hot.
Nice, Ascher tell the psycho warlock all your innermost secrets
"I just want to go home," I said. Daray kissed my forehead.
"But you are home, with me," he said. "We'll be together, forever. I'll be your first date and your last." He whispered. I didn't like the underlying threat. Daray used his right hand to tilt my chin up and leaned down to kiss me, but I pulled away, revolted with the thought of his lips on mine. He seemed to sense my thoughts because his power prickled over my skin.
"I'm, I'm sorry. It's just that, I'm shy," I said. I leaned my body into him, my eyes promising things he'd never have. He released his grip and I smiled. I traced a finger down his throat and over his chest, walking coyly around him until his back was turned to Gemma. When he leaned in for the kiss, I pressed a finger against his lips.
"Could you close your eyes? I wouldn't feel so shy then," I lied. Daray smiled and made a show of closing his eyes. Gemma was almost here. Daray's hand on the back of my neck pulled me forward and I closed my eyes as our lips met. His magic mingled with the kiss, each press of his lips returning some small part of the energy he'd stolen from me.
He struggled to pull away from the kiss and stared at me through heavy-lidded eyes, his breath hot and ragged on my face. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gemma, her body tensed to pounce. I stepped backwards, calling my magic to my palm where it rested, waiting to be released.
Daray frowned and began to turn, but he was too late. As Gemma bit through his ankle and dragged him to the ground, I threw a fireball at his feet to keep him from running. Gemma leapt at his face, her fangs glinting with saliva. She was going to kill him.
"Gemma, no!" I shouted, but her teeth were already at his throat.
I dove forward and covered Daray's neck with my forearm. Gemma growled at me, but backed away, her eyes wary. Daray lifted his hand to my shoulder and I swayed as he shifted energy from me. Grinding my teeth against the pain, I dug my fingernails into his arm and held my right hand up, ready to release another fireball.
"Do that again and I tell my sister to bite," I said. Daray narrowed his eyes.
"Is this really necessary, Ascher? You can't get away from me. You know if you find a way to escape I'll just find another way to find you and to get what I want."
"Not this time, Daray. I saved your life. Gemma would've killed you if I hadn't stopped her. The way I see it, I just saved the life of the Prince of Warlocks and I'm going to cash in on my reward," I said.
"What. Do you want money?" Daray asked. I rolled my eyes.
"No. Fawne told me about how she saved your little sister in exchange for the Warlocks leading a raid on her captor's were pack. I want your word that you won't come after us if we let you go," I said. Daray's blue eyes searched mine.
"You won't let her kill me. I know you. I can see in your eyes that you don't have it in you to kill." Daray said. He tried to sit up and Gemma pounced, knocking him back with the weight of her front paws.
"You're right, Daray. I guess because of how I was raised, I'm too human to kill, but Gemma…she doesn't seem to be very human at all right now." Gemma growled and hissed as if emphasizing my point. "I never want to see you or your people again, or next time, you won't be walking away. Now, do you agree or does my sister have an early breakfast?"
"I know why you're really doing this, Ascher. I can feel your doubt. You can't bring yourself to harm me because you know you're my true mate and I'm yours." Daray said. "I agree to leave you and your sister to yourselves, but you'll be back, Ascher. Your magic is too powerful for you to control. I'm the only one who can help you reign it in and, deep down, you know it." I climbed to my feet and patted Gemma's back.
"Whatever. Since your so tight with the vampires and their Master, Savian, you can forward the message to them. I don't want to have anything to do with any of you or your world," I said.
"You'll come back, Ascher. And when you do, you'll be mine." Daray smiled up at me, his eyes glinting madly.
"Bite me," I said. "Come on, Gem. Let's go home."
Chapter Twenty Five
Birthday Girl
Gemma and I were a block away from where she'd parked the car when I remembered we didn't have the keys and that the only one of us with a license was currently furry. There was a spare key under the floor mat on the driver's side, but the door was locked so I had to break the passenger side window with a piece of broken brick I found near the car.
Driving home was an adventure, to say the least. I managed to avoid getting in an accident, but I've never received the one-fingered salute so many times in my life. Not that I recommend driving without a license, but I really had no choice. I doubt Daray would've been in the mood to give us a lift and I wouldn't have fully trusted him to anyway.
Gemma shifted back to regular when we were almost home which startled me so much, I singed the fuzzy blue steering wheel cover with my magic. We pulled into the garage of our townhouse and Gemma waited in the car while I made sure it was clear for her to make a naked dash to her bedroom. As hard as it would've been to explain her panther form to our Grandma, I thought it would be equally as tough explaining why Gemma wasn't wearing any clothes at 7:39 on a Sunday morning.
Gemma slipped into some sweats, grabbed a freshly baked banana nut muffin from the kitchen and went to bed. Too exhausted to bother changing out of the black ball gown, I crashed on the floor of Gemma's bedroom. Just as I was falling asleep, my cat, Nicky climbed on top of me and kneaded my stomach with his paws.
"Meow. Meo-oww!" Nicky said. I patted his little black and white head and scratched him under his chin.
"Nicky," I said. "Your mama is an all-powerful, fire-shifting Warlock." Nicky purred, closed his eyes and rested his head on my chest. Obviously, he was unimpressed.
* * * *
Someone kissed me on my forehead and I jerked awake, putting my hands up to defend myself. My mother was standing over me, smiling.
"Good morning, birthday girl!" She said. I shoved my hands under my comforter to hide the smoke that was coming from my palms.
"What time is it?" I asked.
"About ten. I caught an early flight in because I missed you guys so much."
"We missed you too, Mommy," Gemma said.
"I still can't believe my baby is fifteen! Do you feel any older, Asch?" Mom asked. I glanced over my shoulder at my sister and smiled.
"A little," I said. Mom nodded.
"So, everything went alright? No problems? Nothing you want to tell me?" Mom asked. Gemma and I exchanged a look.
"Uh, not really, no," Gemma said.
"I think I'm going to go to my room and sleep for a litt
le while," I said. As I stood, I realized my mistake. The smell of smoke filled the room and my mom frowned.
"You girls haven't been lighting candles have you, you know how dangerous that is," she said. I shook my head and gave my mom a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Love you, Mommy. 'Night."
"Ascher?" I turned back.
"Yeah, Mommy?"
"What are you wearing?" I looked down at the black ball gown all burnt, torn and covered in dirt. "You look like something the cat dragged in." I met Gemma's eyes and we burst out laughing.
You have no idea.
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