Page 27 of Taken By the Blood God

She all but growled the last few words.

I reached for one of the water bottles and cracked the lid. Once I drained half of it, I placed it on the table and faced her.

“Minerva, I have no idea why you can’t feel your Conduit abilities. They should have manifested right along with your other magic. I can sense the power inside you. I can even feel you draw from it when you cast an incantation or infuse magic into a potion. It’s there, and you’re using it. Just not to its full potential.”

Minerva mimicked my pose, turning in her chair and resting her elbows on the table. “And I told you, Talant, that I can feel the limitations of my power. Once I hit the bottom of that well, there’s nothing else there.”

“I think that’s the problem, little witch. You’ve always expected your power to have limitations because the witches and warlocks around you have them.”

“So, you’re saying that I’m doing this to myself?” she asked.

“In a sense.”

“Why would I do that?” The question was snapped at me.

This was where being completely honest became tricky. She wasn’t going to like what I said next. But I had to say it. It was the only way to break through.

“Because that much magic is frightening. To know that you could level a city, raze an entire forest, or pull the clouds from the sky—it’s terrifying when you realize the full scope of what you could do if you can’t control yourself.”

Her eyes were wide as she stared at me, her anger forgotten.

“Is that how you felt?” she asked. “When you ascended?”

I sighed, shaking my head as I sat back in my chair. “Not when I ascended. Back then I was too arrogant and spoiled to realize the responsibility that came with godhood. It was only later, when I met—” I cut myself off.

I couldn’t mention Cassia’s name yet. Minerva didn’t trust me yet. If I had to explain it all now, she would run away and hide.

Before she could ask, I continued, “I met a female who showed me all the things I was missing. In life and in myself. That was when I realized all I had taken for granted.”

“You must have cared for her a great deal,” she murmured.

“I did. I loved her.”

Minerva said nothing else, only opened her own bottle of water and drank deeply.

When she finished, I expected her to ask me for more information about Cassia, but she surprised me.

“How do I break through this block I’ve created?”

Glad she hadn’t pounced on the information I gave her, I answered her question to the best of my ability.

“I don’t know.”

Minerva scoffed, rolling her eyes.

I reached out and put a hand over hers. She stilled, her gaze coming to me.

“The only person who knows how your mind and your magic truly work is you,” I explained. “I can try to guide you through breaking down the barriers, but I don’t think it would be effective.”

“Why?”

“Because you don’t trust me. If you don’t trust me, you can’t open yourself up to anything I say.”

Her fingers tensed beneath my hand, and she slowly pulled away. “You’re right. I don’t trust you. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to trust you.”

Those words sank into my chest like a dagger. Hearing them from her lips hurt far more than I expected.

My hands curled on the table in an effort to stop myself from reaching for her. “Then, you’re going to have to figure out what’s holding you back and force your way past it.”

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