Page 65 of Silverproof Damsel

I held his lethal stare as the curving smile played over his full mouth, slowly turning smug. The air thickened and crackled with the threat of violence he promised, as if he were disrupting the particles in the air. Sweat trickled down my back and neck as Cole inched closer, standing behind me.

Mikel was a lot like Rhys. They both had stony demeanors but also held a softer side, which was reserved for family. I wasn’t sure how I knew that fact about Mikel, but I was one hundred percent positive it was a fact. Both men had a sharper edge, one that could easily end life without hesitation. In short, they both had an increasingly high potential of becoming bona fide serial killers.

My fingers curled into my palms. Lifting my chin, I held my ground. Mikel expected me to cower. It would be a cold day in hell before he got what he wanted from me. I was done cowering before men—or anyone, for that matter.

As I watched, the corners of his mouth twitched with the hint of a smile before it vanished altogether. Instead of posturing, Mikel seemed to relax in the face of my aggressive stance. His midnight gaze slipped down to my abdomen, rolling back to rove over my pale, damp face.

“I don’t understand his obsession with you . . . you’re feverish—”

I lifted my hand, bringing it down in a slashing motion for him to stop talking. “Shut up and listen for a moment before you say something that changes how I feel about you for all of fucking eternity!” I retorted, ignoring his astute observation of my rising temperature.

“I’m gaining an inkling of why he’s obsessed with you, Malishka.” The wolfish smile he aimed at me was all teeth, but there was something soft in his eyes.

“I said shut up and listen,” I hissed, knowing I’d lose my bravado if I didn’t get the words out now. “As much as you wish to think otherwise, Nyota’s my friend. I don’t have many friends. So, know this: I cherish each friend I have. I’d never harm her, ever. She was the only Van Helsing to remain at my side after Rhys disavowed me and any claim he had on me in front of the gathered immortals during Beltane. I get that you’re the big baddie or bully—or whatever role it is you play here. You can be the boogeyman, or whatever, but you don’t scare me. I’m done being bullied here or anywhere else for that matter. I don’t need a babysitter, Mikel,” I hissed irritably. Dismissing him outright, I stepped around him and strode toward the kitchen.

“Brave words for someone so . . . tiny, Malishka.”

Ignoring his provoking tone, I continued toward the kitchen. “If you’re following me, stop,” I growled without looking back to see that they were both on my heels.

“She’s got a pair on her,” Mikel purred, but it wasn’t pride filling his tone. It was worry for Nyota that flooded theundertone of each word he spoke. “Rhys isn’t going to like you coming in here, brother.”

“Rhys can get the fuck over it. He’s blind where she’s concerned. Someone who isn’t blinded by her beauty and fire is needed to determine what her true intentions are. One of us must keep our heads about us, Nikolas. That isn’t you.”

“She’s carrying his heir.”

“She can hear you talking about her, barbarians,” I snapped, whirling around to scowl at them. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to eat. I have a hard enough time keeping food down without you two assholes discussing me like some feral fucking pet you think might bite someone or piss on the expensive carpets. So, either be civil and join me, or leave. Decide before either of you take another step.” Turning on my heel, I marched toward the kitchen.

“She’s got more than balls, brother,” Mikel rumbled. “Too bad she’s a Silversmith. She’d have made a fiery mate for our alpha.”

My anger resonated, issuing magic to shoot to my fingertips. Directing it to the candles, every single one scattered throughout the entrance and front of the house ignited, and flames leaped high into the air. Both men paused, tensing at the show of power I’d exhibited without even trying to do so.

A smile curved over my mouth until I stepped into the kitchen, coming face to face with a furious Rhys. His eyes narrowed on me, then slowly slid to the candles that were lit before bringing them back to rest on me. A dangerous slant slid over his mouth, forcing my stomach to plummet to the ground at my feet.

“How the fuck did you manage that feat, Love?” he enquired in an icy tone. His stance was defensive, as if he expected me to fight him.

“My bad, Van Helsing. It must’ve been something Iatelast night.”

Tension flooded the living room until it was pressing down on my chest. Rhys reached for me, but I jerked my shoulder back away from his grasp. It forced a pain filled cry from my lips, causing worry to pinch over his handsome face. His azure eyes darkened as concern glittered in their inky depths.

“Don’t touch me,” I seethed through breathing past the pain engulfing my mind.

“I didn’t touch you, Remington.”

An annoyed snort burst from my lungs as I retorted. “I was shot, asshole. Then nearly blown the fuck up hours later. It’s been one hell of a week.”

“You were shot,” he repeated mellifluously. As he silently examined me, I watched as the color drained from his face. “I fed from you.” Pushing his fingers through his inky tresses, concern turned to anger.

“Obviously,” I uttered. The other two in the room with us made a worried sound, forcing me to turn, eyeing the pair with curiosity. “What’s the issue? You don’t hear me complaining about what occurred last night.”

“It’s forbidden for an incubus to feed from an injured female. You’re not only wounded, but you also carry my child, Love,” he stated barely above a whispered breath. The somberness in his voice caused my stomach to twist with worry.

“I don’t understand the issue. I’m fine,” I stated, even though I felt clammy and the ache in my shoulder was getting worse than before. It apparently wasn’t going to continue allowing me to ignore it anymore.

“That’s why it’s dangerous. I feed from your strength, which is precisely why you’re weakening. Even weakened, you managed to bring forth flames. I’ll ask you one more time. How did you conjure it in an apartment built to suppress your powers, Silversmith?”

The fact that he’d admitted to building the Onyx Wing of the house to mute my abilities was disheartening. It ruined what little progress we’d made during my being here.

“Silversmith magic wasn’t used here, Van Helsing. It’s my magic and mine alone. You may be able to remove my ability to control silver, but you can’t burn out my flame. To achieve that, you’d have to murder me. I believe that goes against your vow of protection, now, doesn’t it?”

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