Page 47 of Cruel Destinies

I cleared my throat. “So, I found out that the original spell drew from my life force. I’m not keen on the idea of giving up my life for your lady love, or whatever.”

Julian flinched so subtly I thought I imagined it, then a small crease formed in his brow as he looked at me. “Nor would I ask you to do so.”

I nodded, more than a little relieved at his reaction. “Good. Well, I was thinking to myself, you know, Shea? You’ve got a vampire on your team. He’s a creature of limitless life force.”

His brows flared in understanding. “You want to draw from me for the spell? Would that even work? I’m not entirely sure I qualify asalive.”

My shoulders sagged. “I don’t know. It’s all just theory until I try it out. And even then, experimental spells can have...unforeseen consequences.” I pulled my lips inward and clamped down on them as I waited for his response.

“If you’re talking about death, I have nothing to lose.”

I nodded, even though my gut twisted.The undead guy has a death wish. Figures.“Okay. Then you’re ready?”

He nodded.

“I’ll need you to sit beside me.” I patted the spot on the blanket to my right, trying like hell not to blush.

For once, he moved toward me with measured slowness and sat next to me as if being so close was painful. I felt the same way.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I couldn’t think about the consequences. Not now. Despite the obvious and abundant perils of our liaison…I didn’t want anything bad to happen to him.

Focusing once more on the page I’d created, I began intoning the words of the spell. “Di ankh nehep sem.”

The first tingles of magic danced in the tips of my fingers, gathering strength from the blood pumping through my veins. I took a moment to savor the feeling.

Picking up Julian’s hand, I placed it on top of the fabric, then covered it with my own. His frigid skin sent a shiver through me, and I snuck a glance at the vampire that had so consumed my life. Did he know how I felt?

“Fadj her uat netjer wap wadj ka hudjefa,” I said, and the atmosphere in the apartment changed, the light dimming.

“Di ankh nehep sem.” Energy bubbled under my hand, and I focused on moving it downward. Julian sucked in a breath, and I hesitated a moment, but I couldn’t stop it now. A half-cast spell was as bad as a mis-cast one. Besides, it was basically done.

“Tenn!” I ended, letting out a long breath with the final syllable.

I closed my eyes and pressed my hands to my face to cover my eyes.

“So?” I asked Julian after several moments, hoping he was in a good enough condition to answer me. I had a flash of morbidity, envisioning leaning over the vampire’s corpse, reviving him with a magical kiss.Idiot.

Julian let out a whisper of a breath, and a moment later I heard fabric moving.

“Julian?” I asked, sliding a finger aside so I could peek through.

The cat was curled up in Julian’s lap, looking as cozy and happy as could be. And he was alive.

I pulled my hands away, my eyes widening. I blinked a few times, wondering if the scene would change. It didn’t. A smile began to grow on my face.

“We did it.” I turned my smile to Julian, who wore an adorable half-smile of his own, a hand resting on the cat’s back. “We did it!”

“Youdid it,” he corrected, his glassy eyes shimmering with what looked like reverence.

“Yeah, I guess I did.”

But something felt…weird. Maybe it was because it was so surreal, or maybe I just wanted to play it cool in front of the vampire, but the excitement quickly fizzled. It didn’t feel quite the same as when I’d revived the plant.

I stared at the cat, wondering what I was sensing. “Hey, look! He likes you now.” I reached out a hand to pet the cat, but he hissed, swatting at me.

Julian caught the offending paw before it could do any damage and hissed at the cat, who settled back down, though it continued to look at me through narrowed eyes.

I stuck my tongue out at the creature. “Ungrateful mange. Ugh. The thanks I get.”

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