Page 47 of That Mafioso Magic
I raised both eyebrows. “Oh, I need to hear this shit. What happened?”
He smiled and I could tell he was proud of himself. He told me about the meeting he had with Salino and how the vampire had attacked him and how he had countered the attack. I admit, it was badass. “I think the fact that he got a taste of my power, it convinced him to be on our side even more,” Adrian said.
“Oh, I bet. Salino is smart and conniving. He’d want powerful mages in his pocket. That’s why he’s so happy the spell resulted in my link to him,” I said.
“Do you really feel that link?” Adrian asked.
I nodded “As powerful to him as the link I feel to you.”
“I wish this hadn’t happened.”
His hand was already in mine, so I brought it to my lips and kissed the back of it. “Not your fault, so stop blaming yourself. My link to Salino, I don’t know what it means for our relationship going forward. I’m sure the bastard will have his little demands of me in this meeting he wants tomorrow. Nothing I won’t be able to handle.”
“But if he’s your master now, what can you deny him?” Adrian asked.
“We’ll just have to do some serious negotiations. I’m sure he’s going to want a few pieces of my pies. He’s always coveted my territory. With me being linked to him… it’s almost as if he has it. That pisses me the fuck off, but again, I’m not blaming you.”
“Honestly, I don’t see why you aren’t. I did the spell that caused this,” Adrian said.
“Do you want me to be pissed off at you?” I asked.
“No. I just… We barely know each other and… well…”
I couldn’t help myself. I leaned over, taking his face into my hands and kissed him again. I pushed him down on the bed, kissing him more fervently. God, he tasted wonderful and I wanted to lick and kiss every inch of him.
He broke our kiss. “Whoa there, big guy,” he said, pressing both hands to my chest and pushing me off him. “I’m not done telling you what was discussed.”
I huffed in sexual frustration, but nodded. “Fine. What else did the asshole fop want?”
Adrian laughed at that, but continued. “He wants us to use our magic to sever the line between his Emperor and all the vampires in his empire.”
“Holy shit… that fucker is planning a coup,” I said. “Well, can’t ever claim he doesn’t have big aspirations.”
“You think he wants to kill him too? Shi did.”
“Oh yeah. What would be any other reason to request that? When the head of a line dies, all of the vampires linked to them also die.”
“Does that mean when we do this, the sire link between you and Salino will also go away?”
“Salino isn’t going to let me go. If he’s planning on killing his Emperor, then he’ll need to take his place, which means linking all the vampires to him. That’s the only way he would be able to take over the power base. He’s going to need all the magic in the world for that shit.”
“Well, he only asked for us to sever the line,” Adrian pointed out.
I lifted a brow. “Which leaves me some wiggle room for negotiations if he needs anything else. He may have me under his control, but he doesn’t have you.”
Adrian shook his head. “No, he doesn’t. Not past what I’ve already promised him.”
I nodded. “Good. Now, I’m going to wash up. I want to get all of this blood off me. Want to join me in the bathtub?”
“Ummm, first, can you wash off that blood in the shower? Then you can join me in the bathtub. I haven’t taken a bath in I don’t know how many years. My one-bedroom studio only has a shower,” he confessed.
“Well, then, you’re in for a treat. Wait until you see what my bathtub looks like,” I said, smiling as I climbed off the bed.
“If it’s anything like the rest of your home, I bet it’s like a swimming pool,” Adrian damn near correctly guessed.
I winked, then turned to head toward the bathroom.
“Wait… that guy you fed on… was it true?” Adrian asked.
