Page 43 of That Mafioso Magic
If the spell to reverse something like this was on Sage’s pages, then I wouldn’t know until he had a chance to look through the book. The minutes felt like hours as they ticked by, but Shi had let the pride know about Salino’s arrival. I made my way into the living room to give Xavier an update.
“Shit… this just gets better and better,” he said sarcastically.
“Tell me about it,” I agreed.
“So, the vampire is coming here?” Xavier asked.
I nodded. “Don’t do anything or say anything to him. The less interaction we all have, the better.”
“I know, I know… I won’t engage him. I’m just… I don’t know… kind of excited to meet an Archduke,” Xavier said. “I don’t even like vampires, but I’m just curious.”
“His presence alone being in Sage’s home will be hostile enough,” I said.
“I get it. I’ll keep quiet,” Xavier said.
I leaned over and patted his knee. “Good. Man, thanks for being such a trooper during all of this. I can’t imagine what you’ve been through.”
He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “It’s been crazy, I’m not going to pretend like it wasn’t. It was intense as fuck back at the office with his entire pride there on guard. I swear, you could have cut the tension with a chainsaw. That’s how thick it was. Being here is actually better, and after that meal and a nap… I’m good.”
I nodded and turned toward the elevator when I heard it chime. “Game time.” I stood up and walked toward the elevator as the doors opened. Nadia had escorted Salino and Nakago along with a human into the penthouse. The human was blindfolded and his legs and arms were bound with rope. Nakago had a good grip on the human’s arm and pulled him along as they stepped off the elevator, the human struggling as he shuffled to keep up with their pace.
“What’s this?” I asked, gesturing to the human.
Salino smiled at me, looking every bit as stunning as he could. The man’s fashion sense was unmatched. He was wearing a blue velvet suit with silver embroidery along the lapels. His vest was black and also embroidered with sparkling beads. His shoes were patent leather and so shiny, I bet I could see my reflection in them. He was also a fan of jewelry as both ears held gleaming diamond studs. He had three rings on each hand, a bracelet, and watch. All sparking with glamour.
Nakago seemed to have a less extravagant style. Black jeans, t-shirt, and leather jacket and boots. What was stunning about him was his gorgeous features, and his own fashion sense made him look sexy and badass at the same time. I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of vampires they were, and by that, what kind of feeder. Pleasure, pain, or fear?
Salino gestured to the human. “My child will need to feed once the transformation is complete.”
“We don’t even know if what you’re talking about is true,” Nadia said.
“A vampire always knows. I don’t need you to believe me. I need you to take me to Sage,” Salino commanded. “That is… unless you want him to die?”
“Meaning?” I asked.
Salino gave me a crooked smile as he turned to look at me. “When we decide to give a human the gift of the vampire, we take their blood into ourselves. We then give it back to them, either through feeding them directly from us, or by injecting our blood into their bloodstream when they are on the brink. They begin their transformation then by going into a sort of stasis. During that time, their bodies began to teeter on that edge of life and death. They can never cross back into life as a human again, but they can die if the transformation isn’t complete. Once they awaken, they have to feed from their sire to bring them over. If that doesn’t happen within an hour after they’ve awakened, then… death will take them. It’s not pretty either.”
Nadia, Shi, and I all gave each other looks. “How will we know Sage even needs to do this with you?” I asked.
“If he wakes and he craves my blood, then you know I’m right, even though I already know that I am. I can feel our connection. I knew it the moment he crossed over into the In-between. I felt it pull on my heart, linking us. That’s how I knew it was him,” Salino stated. “Now, take me to him.” His green-golden eyes looked at us and there was no more room for negotiation in his gaze.
“Follow me,” Shi said and she led Salino toward the double doors. She turned around, facing us, because I had followed them. “Just you… that one can wait out here.” She nodded at Nakago.
Salino looked over his shoulder at Nakago and nodded. “Fine.”
“Ahhhh,” came a scream from the other side of the door. Sage was in pain.
Shi threw both double doors open and ran in and Salino and I followed along with Nadia. Sage was thrashing on the bed, screaming, and Shi went over to him, putting her hand on his chest, attempting to cease his movements.
“Still think I’m lying about him being my child?” Salino asked as he walked very smoothly over to the bed. “This is the reaction vampires get upon waking. The pain is intense until they feed from their sire and complete the transition.” He began to remove his suit jacket, folding it neatly as he laid it on the footboard. Then he unbuttoned his sleeve and began to roll it up, revealing his wrist. “Move, he needs to feed.”
Shi turned to Salino, a snarl playing on her lips, but she did move back. Nadia stood beside me, monitoring everything just as I was. This was about to be some legendary shit if Salino was right. Sage would be a shifter, mage, and vampire… I didn’t even know anything like that could happen. Hell, it wasn’t supposed to happen. It was impossible for a vampire to turn a shifter into a vampire, but somehow the spell I used broke all the rules. Salino sat down beside Sage and bit his wrist, drawing blood. He then lowered it to Sage’s mouth and Sage latched on, drinking greedily.
Well, damn, that couldn’t be good.
CHAPTER TEN
Iwoke up to nothing but pain and thirst. It was blinding and all consuming. Blood. It was all I could think about. I needed it like I needed air. Finally, someone was giving it to me. A fragrant wrist was pressed against my mouth and the elixir of life was flowing down my throat. I moaned in pleasure as the pain and thirst began to fade away. I could hear voices near me, but was too far gone to distinguish who was talking. The person holding me now felt so familiar. I felt a connection to this person and it grew with every swallow I took.
