Page 6 of Taken By the Blood God

“Brother,” he began, walking toward me, his hands held out in a conciliatory gesture. “We are not men. We are gods. We do as we please.”

I shook my head in response. “No, we don’t. Not anymore.”

He stared at me, his face partially shadowed. I couldn’t see his expression, but the air around him rippled as though his magic flexed and displaced it.

Once again, my hold on this place wavered, causing the walls to shift and blink out of sight before they returned a moment later.

My brother looked around before bringing his eyes back to me. He knew I was barely hanging on, but he seemed determined not to let this go.

With a sigh, I continued, “The world is a very different place. And I’m different as well. We can no longer make demands of the humans the way we once did. Nor can we make them bend to our will. We cannot act with impunity any longer. The humans outnumber us, and our friends are precious few.”

My brother remained silent, staring at me with his hands fisted tightly at his side.

“I want to free you, brother, but not at the expense of what I’ve worked so hard to become. And the trust I’ve earned.”

“I am your brother, not just in power but in blood, and you’re refusing to free me.”

He was no longer yelling. No, his words were cold, piercing the air like icicles.

“I can’t free you. Only Minerva can. And considering how you treated her and her niece, she’s not inclined to do so. I’ve convinced her to do it, but she’s insistent on her terms. That is not my doing, but yours.”

He took a ragged breath before moving closer. Close enough that the fury in his eyes burned away the shadows surrounding his face. Purple fire danced around his irises.

“Talant, if you care for me, you will free me.”

I shook my head. “I cannot.”

This conversation was going nowhere, so I brought up the one thing that I knew would break through his hard head. I was growing too weak to continue holding his consciousness here.

“She’s a Conduit,” I stated. “That is why she’s the only one who can free you.”

“You mean?—”

I nodded, and he stopped speaking. His jaw tensed as he stared me down.

Finally, he said, “Very well. Give the witch my true name, and tell her I will submit to her other…” He waved a hand, “demand.”

“Thank you, brother.” I held my hand out to him.

He stared down at my palm, his face tight, before he finally grasped my wrist with his hand. I curled my fingers around his wrist, holding tight.

“Don’t wait too long, brother,” he stated. “I don’t know how much time I have left.”

“I’m coming, Davian. You will be free soon.”

The walls around us shimmered before they vanished into darkness. My brother’s arm became nothing but a tingle against my hand.

As he faded from view, my magic no longer able to hold him here with me, he said, “See you soon.”

“You will, Davian.”

Chapter

Four

Minerva

The sun was risingas I stepped out of the house, my feet bare and a cup of tea or coffee in my hand. The early summer air was warm, but a breeze wafted through the trees surrounding my yard, still cool.

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