Page 52 of Dark Reckoning
Sage and I both looked at Aldéric and the cheeky curd blew us a kiss. “What will you tell them once they find out?”
“The truth, it's not like this doesn't need to be done. And they already know... it's not in my nature to do favors without getting something in return,” Kakashi said.
“I'll take your word for it,” I said.
“I've got another question. Can we use our magic on each other?” Sage asked.
“Don't get any ideas,” Aldéric warned.
Sage turned to him. “Don't give me any reason to.”
“To kill or to heal?” Kakashi asked, breaking the tension growing between my child and his lover.
Sage looked at him. “Both.”
“No one mage on the council can use their magic against or for another. It takes three. It's a failsafe to prevent betrayal among members. Say you decided to attack Aldéric, or vice-versa, you would not be able to harm each other. However, if two members of the Council join you or Aldéric, then the magic will be effective,” Kakashi explained.
Sage growled. “Another thing I would have liked to have known before agreeing to join.”
“Again, would it have mattered? For one thing, I wasn't going to give you a choice. For another, we can't save this world without you,” Kakashi said.
Sage huffed and looked away and I knew what his body language meant. He had his answer and it wouldn't have mattered.
Kakashi smirked. “If there are no more questions, let us begin. Everyone, undress as this will get bloody.”
Good thing I picked the feeding room. I begin to strip along with everyone else. I paused when Kakashi removed his shirt and saw the numerous tattoos and brands on his body. Sigils, all of them, and I wondered what they meant.
“I see you've been busy casting spells on yourself,” Sage said, his beautiful gray/golden eyes scanning the bodies of both dark mages.
Kakashi pointed at the tattoo on Sage's chest. “You as well.”
“Any of those the reason why you've lived as long as you have?” Sage asked.
Kakashi nodded. “The magic is wearing off, though. I'm starting to age more. This one here.” He pointed to a large one his pec. “Protects me from light offensive magic.”
Sage cocked an eyebrow. “So, none of Adrian's attack spells will affect you?”
Kakashi smiled and winked. “It's only wise to make yourself as invulnerable as you can. I've paid Magic's Price many times. And I don't regret it.”
I looked at Aldéric and he had some of the same sigils on his body. He also had a handprint that looked like it was burned on his right ass cheek. I pointed at it. “What's the story behind that one?”
Aldéric looked in the direction of my finger and laughed. “This one staking his claim,” he said, nodding at Kakashi.
“It means I will always know where he's at. Always sense his emotions. I can call him to me if he's in danger and vice-versa. He's mine and I won't let anyone hurt him,” Kakashi said, and his tone was almost like a warning.
“I was about to criticize you for keeping a magical leash around your lover, but I get it,” Sage said.
I looked at my child and felt a desire for him again. His body was beautiful, a treat that I enjoyed every inch of the night I got to indulge. God, so much had happened in the last few days. There was no time to let any of it settle. I knew I was emperor, but I didn't feel like it yet. I'd only been emperor for a little over twenty-four hours.
“It's time. Come,” Kakashi said, and motioned for us to gather around the sigil. “Sage, Aldéric, each of you stand at the upper points, and I need you to stand in the middle.”
Each point had a circle around it and that was where he wanted them, almost like the point was directed at the dark mages. I stood inside of the three-point star and watched as he poured the blood from three vials onto each point of the triangle except the one that was at the top where he finally stood. He looked at me expectantly, and I held my hand out because I didn't need him to tell me he was ready for my blood. I winced as he cut my palm with a nasty little dagger that had a jagged and serrated blade unlike any knife I'd ever seen, and I sensed the dark magic that flowed through it. The cut stung, too, and was taking a long time to heal. My blood dripped on the sigil and a red line glowed that connected all of the six points together.
“Kneel,” Kakashi told me and I did.
He grabbed the holy man and put him inside of the star where I stood and began to chant. Once he did, I felt something grab me, anchoring me to the sigil. It felt like a heavy weight was inside of my body, pinning me in place. I couldn't move. I looked to see that Kakashi's eyes were closed, as were Aldéric's and Sage's, and they began to chant with him. Through my link with Sage, I could tell he was drawing power from them. The human was crying, but that was all he could do. He couldn't scream, couldn't beg for his life, and he sure as hell couldn't run. I felt power flowing inside of me that burned and throbbed. I felt hot and cold at the same time. I swayed as the room faded in and out of my vision. A wooziness came over me, but I couldn't fall over. My fangs extended all on their own and my mouth opened. I was no longer in control of my own body. I was surrounded by darkness as if everything around me had faded, leaving me in an abyss. All of a sudden, I tasted blood. Delicious blood, enhanced with the flavor of fear, gushed all over my face and body. I drank it in as it poured into my mouth and down my throat. Innocent blood and along with it, the human's memories. A life spent doing good and helping others find their way. His blood was rich and thick, a treat. I didn't make a habit of killing innocent people, but this blood... I would allow myself to enjoy.
The blood stopped flowing and I came to my senses and regained some control of my body. I looked up to see that Sage, Aldéric, and Kakashi all had blood splattered on them and their mouths. Had they drunk too?
