Page 49 of Taken By the Blood God

“I showed you what you expected to see. As long as I did, you felt safe enough with me.”

“You’re saying I expected you to be an arrogant ass?” she asked, fisting her hands by her sides.

“No,” I answered. “I am an arrogant ass. But that’s not what I’m talking about.”

She waved a hand at me. “Now you’re just trying to confuse and frustrate me, and I’m too tired to deal with it right now.”

I took a step forward. “No, I’m trying to show you more than you want to see.”

Minerva bit her lip. She suddenly looked young and vulnerable. I wanted to gather her into my arms, to comfort her.

“Just…leave me alone for a little while.” She backed away from me, heading toward her bathroom. “I need to shower anyway.”

“Little witch?—”

“No, Tal. I’m not arguing with you about this.”

I could see that she had made up her mind.

“Do you need anything?” I asked.

Minerva’s face was closed off, but I could still see the fast thrum of her pulse in her throat. As much as she wanted to remain unaffected, she couldn’t.

“No, I—” Her voice broke, so she cleared her throat. “I’ll be fine.”

I nodded and walked to the door of her room, putting my hand on the knob.

Before I opened it, I turned back to look at her. “I chose to rest beneath that mountain because there was nothing and no one in this realm that called to me. I knew it was only a matter of time before I became like Davian was before he was imprisoned. But every century I spent alone is worth it if I belong to you.”

I didn’t wait for her to respond. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear it.

I left her bedroom, shutting the door behind me. I walked down the stairs and headed toward the kitchen. I could hear Davian in there.

My brother’s eyes were on me when I walked into the room. He was sprawled at the kitchen table, a plate of bread, cheese, meat, and fruit in front of him.

“You still haven’t told her what she is to you, have you?” he asked.

I shook my head. “She’ll run.”

Davian frowned at me. “You’re doing it again, brother.”

I collapsed in the chair on the opposite end of the table. “Doing what?”

“Making a mistake.”

“What should I do instead?” I asked. “Force her? Take her away from her home until she stops fighting me?”

Davian shook his head, clearly disgusted with me. “You should leave her be. Did you not learn your lesson the first time?” he asked.

“Minerva is not Cassia. She may carry Cassia’s power within her, but she is nothing like her.”

“You say that,” he argued. “But do you truly believe it?”

“Minerva matches my fire, turn for turn, breath for breath,” I stated. “Cassia was gentle in all things, even her arguments. Minerva’s anger can cut like a blade. As can her tongue.”

“She can match your fire, but what of your blood magic?” he asked.

I scrubbed my hands over my face. “She doesn’t fear it the way Cassia did. She considers it a tool. Moreso than the power she inherited from Cassia. Her skill with blood magic manifested far earlier than her Conduit powers.”

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