Page 36 of That Mafioso Magic
“His pride is pretty tough,” I bragged. I mean, I wasn’t so sure. I’d never really seen them in action, but they looked and acted tough. I didn’t doubt they could back it up.
“Oh, I’m sure they would kill some of my vampires, but we’re talking over a thousand vampires and what… no more than fifty, maybe sixty lion shifters?” Salino said. “I think we can handle them once Sage is out of the way.”
“If you’re so confident you can take out Sage and his pride, why haven’t you already?” I asked.
“I do remember saying once Sage is dead.”
“So, it’s Sage that keeps you at bay?”
“That and a treaty. He’s not all that old for a shifter. Less than two centuries, I think. However, a shifter that is also a mage… well, that gives a vampire cause for concern.”
“And what a good concern to have,” I said. “Because Sage is powerful, even more so now than he ever was before.”
“If that is true, then why are you here asking for my blood to save him?”
“Because he was attacked by someone using magic. They caught us off guard and he took a bullet that was filled with a poison that is so rare and powerful, I know of only one spell that I hope will reverse its effects.”
“Well, I don’t see the benefit to me by helping you save him,” Salino said.
“Then, what would be a benefit?” I asked.
Again, he stared at me for several agonizing seconds in silence.
“Well?” I asked, prodding him to spill the beans.
“It all depends on just how powerful you are,” Salino said.
“Meaning?”
“I may…” he held up a finger, “may be so generous with my blood if you can do a favor for me.”
“What’s the favor?” I asked.
“Before I tell you, I want you to promise me that you will do it, no matter what I ask.”
“Umm,” I frowned because I wasn’t so sure that I was ready to make such a guarantee. “I don’t know about that.”
“Then leave and give Sage my regards or condolences, whichever,” Salino said with a little wave of his hand.
“There are other vampires I could ask,” I stated.
He scoffed. “If you thought you could have gotten blood from any of them—willingly—you wouldn’t be here asking for my permission.”
“Maybe we might get lucky.”
He sighed and shrugged, then steepled his hands. “Well, if you have time to find a vampire willing to give a mage their blood and betray my edict, then by all means. Go look for them and when you do, please tell them that I will find out and they will suffer my wrath.”
Okay, so he was good at calling my bluff. Lord knew I didn’t have time to look for a willing vampire, and if attacking one would start a war, it might be even worse for Sage. And that was if I could save him. The blood had to be potent enough to work. I’d doubt the blood of a newborn would do the trick. This spell was volatile and I was still learning. But I had enough confidence to do this spell. I had to, or Sage would surely die.
I sat back in the leather chair, allowing myself to get comfortable. Salino needed to see that I was ready to negotiate since he knew the ball was in his court. Shi wasn’t lying about him being a manipulative bastard. “What is this favor you’re asking?”
“Ah, ah, ah, I want your word that you will grant it.”
“I don’t even know what it is you’re going to ask of me. If it’s to kill someone, you can go fuck yourself,” I said, standing my ground.
“And what if it is?”
“Is it?”
