Page 29 of Taken By the Blood God

I’d never felt anything like it before, except for his brother’s power. Davian’s magic wasn’t hot, but it crackled and sparked like electricity. Or lightning.

The hot air around us gathered, centering over the map. As I watched, a small mark appeared on the page, maybe a mile outside of town.

“Is that where Davian’s prison is?” I asked.

Talant nodded. The expenditure of magic seemed to have no effect on him this time. If anything, he seemed even more vibrant and invigorated at the use of his power.

I walked away from him and started gathering a few snacks and bottles of water from the mini bar.

“What are you doing?” he asked. “We just had lunch, and we need to go see what kinds of wards and guards they have in place.”

I shot him a wry glance. “We are. I’m just making sure that I won’t starve or pass out from dehydration while we’re there.”

“What?”

I sighed. I knew that he wasn’t as ignorant of our time as he pretended. The man slipped up way too often, using modern phrasing and recognizing things he shouldn’t have after over a thousand years underground. But this was getting moronic.

And he wondered why I didn’t trust him.

“Tal, not all of us are immortal gods who have no need of food or water. I need to eat every so often and stay hydrated, or my body becomes weak. If my body is weak, my magic must work overtime to keep me moving, which means I have less reserve to cast spells or fight off an attack.” I lifted the small bag of snacks and water I’d packed. “Which means I need to bring sustenance with me if we’re going to stake out a warlock coven for the next twenty-four hours or more.”

He blinked at me. “But you’re a Conduit.”

I bit back the urge to scream. Was he deliberately being obtuse?

“And I still don’t know how to use that power yet. You’ve barely explained it to me. I’ve let it lie because I wasn’t ready to deal with it, but now I have no choice. So, how about, while we’re watching the warlock coven, you give me a rundown of how being a Conduit works?”

I tried to keep my voice calm as I spoke to him but knew that I was failing.

“Of course. You’re right.”

It was my turn to blink at him as though I’d never seen him before.

“I’m sorry. What did you say?” I asked.

“I said, of course. You’re right.”

“Just like that?”

He frowned in confusion. “Just like what?”

“You just admitted I was right.”

“And?” he drawled, obviously still lost.

“Nothing,” I answered, shaking my head. “Nothing. I just didn’t expect you to concede the point so easily. You rarely do on anything else.”

A smirk tugged at his mouth. “Only because I enjoy the look you get on your face when you argue with me.”

I stared at him, half-angry and half-amused.

“See? That look right there. Like you don’t know if you want to laugh or turn me into a toad. It’s cute.”

Okay, the half-amused part was completely gone. I was just angry.

“Don’t tell me I’m cute when I’m angry,” I snapped. “Or being a toad will be the least of your worries.”

“How’s that?” he asked, still smirking.

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