Page 44 of Taken By the Blood God

“I was unconscious then. I’m fine now.”

A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I never took you to be shy.”

I squinted at him. “I’m not. I just prefer not to give you a cheap thrill.”

His amusement fled, and he released the blanket so suddenly that my body jerked. He looked almost…hurt.

“There is nothing thrilling about knowing that you were hurt because of me and my inability to protect you from my magic. I promised Ally I would take care of you and keep you safe. I broke that promise.”

He sounded as if the thought tore him up inside. I stared at his face, wondering if he truly meant those words. Everything about his expression and tone indicated sincerity, but it was so difficult for me to trust my judgement in my current state. My head wasn’t clear, and my entire body felt heavy.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

“I’m trying to decide if I’m of sound mind,” I answered.

“Why?”

“Because I want to believe you mean everything you just said, but my brain also feels like a fried egg, so I’m not sure I can trust my gut at the moment.”

His jaw clenched at my words, and I could practically hear his teeth grinding. “Of course I mean them,” he growled. “I told you that I have changed. I don’t want to go back to my old life. I want to do more with my power than accumulate more magic or wealth.”

I reached out, putting my fingers on the back of his hand. “Okay. Please calm down. I like this bed and my blankets, and I’m not sure I could jump out of bed if you set it on fire.”

He sighed as he closed his eyes and shook his head. “You will always think the worst of me, won’t you?”

“Trust comes with time. Your actions tell me every day what your intentions are. I don’t know you the way Ally does. Even if I did, I don’t trust easily. I can’t afford to.”

“Has someone broken your trust before?” he asked.

I withdrew my hand from his. “Of course. Everyone has had their trust broken at one time or another.”

“Who broke yours?”

I opened my mouth, my mind completely blank. There was an entire list of names and faces that I could count off, but in all honesty, it was Fate that had broken me. By taking my parents. My sister and her husband. Because if I couldn’t trust in the very fabric of the universe, how could I trust him? How could I explain it without sounding as defeated and bitter as I felt? I was saved from trying to stammer an answer by my bedroom door being thrown open.

“I see the witch lives.”

The words were drawled.

I tore my eyes from Talant and stared at his brother lounging in the doorway to my bedroom, his arms crossed over his chest.He wore a pair of shorts I didn’t recognize. Where had his clothing come from?

“You sound disappointed,” I replied, heavy on the sarcasm. “Too bad.”

It surprised me when Davian smirked, obviously amused by my words. With that expression, he looked so much like Talant that my heartbeat stuttered.

“Brother, if you’re going to antagonize the witch, I’m going to make you leave the room,” Talant growled, his head twisting to stare at Davian.

Davian dropped his arms and sauntered deeper into my bedroom, stopping at the foot of my bed. “Are you expecting me to thank you for showing up?”

I recognized the power play for what it was. “Actually, knowing what I do about you, I don’t.”

His smirk became a full-out grin. Strangely, while his smirk made him look like Talant, his smile changed his face completely. There was still a resemblance to his brother, but his features were sharper, more angular.

“Then, I won’t bother.”

I rolled my eyes, which made him chuckle. Then, I looked at Talant.

“His mood is much improved from the last time I saw him.”

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