Page 14 of The Eternal Choice

Cleo smiles at her brother when he turns to her, and they briefly hug.

When they pull back, they murmur in sync, “The blood angel.”

I take a step closer. “The what now?”

All heads turn my way, but it’s Ernestino who says, “There’s a legend concerning dragons.”

Cleo steps around her brother to come closer to me. “I mentioned it earlier. I was going to check the old books in Tino’s office, but with what just happened I have no doubt the legend is about you. How else would you explain decades of infertility between mates and one touch from you felt as if you flipped a switch inside me in a good way.”

I frown and take a step back.

“Move,” Ernestino grunts. “You’re freaking her out.”

Cleo moves around him and is standing in front of me before I can so much as blink. “Seriously, it’s cool. Think about it. The legend mentions a protector, a blood angel who has the healing touch and will play a crucial part in fertility, prosperity, and will create a balance for our breed.”

“The legend is about a winged protector,” Ivano states and pins me with a stare. “As far as I know vampires don’t have wings.”

They are crazy. I’m definitely not an angel. Angels have wings with white feathers and shit. Me? Yeah…no fucking way do I fall in the angel category.

My heart leaps inside my chest and I feel cornered with the overload of weirdness. “Can we stop this bullshit and head over to Nario?” Glaring at Ernestino I grumble, “You’ve been ignoring me for two damn weeks to fight battles with Marshgloom, do paperwork until you fall asleep in your office, and now we’re chitchatting over shit that’s written in books that’s been gathering dust for fuck knows how long? Are we gonna torture a prisoner or what?”

Ivano touches Ernestino’s shoulder. “She’s right, we have business to deal with. I shouldn’t have left Nario on his own.”

He turns to face Ivano. “You had important matters to deal with. Cleo, you’re good to stay here by yourself?”

“More than good.” Cleo is wearing a huge grin. “But could we chat about the legend some more once you’re done?”

“No,” I snap. “We’re not going to mention it again. Don’t blame me for your mate finally being able to knock you up. I’m not a blood angel unless you call all vampires that.”

“Your mother is the one with the angelic touch, it would make sense you inherit some part the angel left behind,” Cleo muses.

I turn and start to walk away; I don’t have to listen to this.

I feel Ernestino’s hand on my elbow. “You’re walking the wrong way, darlin’.”

He instantly lets go when I pull my arm away from his grip. The man is smart enough to keep his jaw shut the rest of the way. A dragon shifter is standing guard in front of the door and he moves to the side when we come to a stop.

Ernestino nods and steps inside. I follow him down the stairs with Ivano right behind me. Tiny lamps light our way down and it feels as if we’re going to a large dungeon where they keep their prisoners. Yeah, not just feel because there are cells to my left when we get to a large space and on the right are separated stalls with rings in the ceiling to hang people from. Dark walls, floor, and ceiling. Nice.

A muffled scream is coming from the far back. The scent of blood hangs heavy in the air. Stepping around the wall, I get sight of Nario and it makes me pause. The sadistic smile on his face while slicing up the prisoner’s skin is totally unhealthy.

By the look of all the blood surrounding them I’d say it’s been going on for hours. Supernatural have healing abilities but if you’re tortured long enough it can drain you and open up a weakness you can’t simply recover from…say, if someone slices your throat deep enough. Which means half a decapitation is enough to stop being immortal. Weirdest thing, though? The prisoner’s mouth is sewn shut.

“At what point in time were you going to let him talk?” Ernestino growls.

Ivano’s voice is a mere whisper. “I’m guessing never.”

The hatred in Nario’s gaze when it hits Ernestino makes me take a step in my mate’s direction. I don’t know what’s more uncomfortable, the prisoner trying to breathe through his busted nose that’s not healing correctly or witnessing two brothers mentally trying to go for each other’s throat.

I can feel the anger and frustration coming from Ernestino, it jumps into my veins making it harder for me to keep a clear head. There’s a slight vibration hovering over Nario’s skin indicating he’s close to shifting. If I hadn’t seen Ernestino’s hands partly shifting during sex I wouldn’t have known the first signs.

Stalking to the prisoner, I take a ninja star from the small leather pouch on my belt and cut his mouth open.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Nario snarls.

Nario’s body hits the wall and Ernestino bends over him. “Don’t ever talk to my woman in that tone.”

“Boss,” Ivano grunts.

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