Page 104 of The Firebrand
Braelyn stuck out her tongue.
Rein pushed off the bed, calling his parents to the room. When they returned, he bounced around his options but settled on getting answers. “We have an interesting development. Braelyn projected vivid images and words into my mind. I can’t block them.”
Alarik jerked his head toward her. “How is this possible? The human mind is weak, incapable of that kind of power.”
Braelyn frowned. “I think that’s an insult.”
“I did not mean it that way, my dear.”
Castia’s eyes narrowed. She popped a hand to her hip, paying closer attention to Braelyn.
Alarik scratched his forehead. “I have a rather far-fetched explanation. The first day you brought Braelyn to my office, we tested her blood to find out why her mind resisted your memory wipe. The test showed mildly interesting results. Her witch markers, being over a millennium old, were weak but stronger than I expected.”
Rein rubbed his jaw. “So, an anomaly. We’ve visited this notion.”
“Be patient. On your subsequent trip to my office, we took another sample to verify the first result. It revealed another mystery. From one day to the next, we saw change. I would have said it was impossible. Do you understand the significance? After a brief time on our realm, her second blood test presented with increased signs of strength. Perhaps she continues to evolve.”
“Why?” Braelyn blinked rapidly.
“Because of Scath? I do not know.” Alarik shook his head.
“Could this change allow me to project thoughts and images into other minds?”
Alarik patted Castia’s fingers resting on his arm. “Obviously, that could be one explanation. We should test your blood again to see if it has once more altered.”
“Hmm.” Braelyn nodded in agreement. “I don’t want to be weird.”
“Too late, Brae.” To Alarik, Rein said, “Have you ever known a human with centuries-old markers to exhibit any Aeternal trait or show similar bloodwork results?”
“Never.” After that succinct answer, Alarik reiterated procedures for Braelyn’s care while Rein escorted his parents out of the condo.
Returning, he hovered above the bed, mulling over the DNA bombshell dropped by his father on the heels of Brae’s impossible feat.
Chewing her lower lip, she tilted her face up to Rein. “Since I’m developing witchy powers, I’ll need a black costume for Halloween. Do you think I can borrow a cauldron, some eye of newt, and hair of a bat from your kitchen?”
“No. It sounds like a new recipe. I’ve tasted your cooking before.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“Hmm. You should submit another blood sample.”
Braelyn patted the mattress beside her. “I will. Lie down. Entertain me. Your dad said I should rest, and I do feel a little woozy.”
He dropped onto the bed, stretching out his legs, propping his back against the headboard, pulling Braelyn against his chest. “Given my father’s warnings, I don’t know how to entertain you. All I think about when you’re around are your mouth, your hands, and your pussy. They’re all in use. Not very restful.”
Braelyn screwed up her face. “Pervert.”
“I hardly think I’m the pervert. I heard what you were thinking.”
“Stop giving me a hard time. I’m hurt. I’m dizzy. I’m growing a wart on my witch nose.” Braelyn’s lids fluttered closed, and her voice trailed off as she fell asleep.
Rein stared at the female in his bed, his female if he was honest. Where was he going with these feelings?
Complications. Impossibilities.
She was short-lived. Fragile. A danger to his hard-won control.
I’m obsessed with the desire for her blood. If I take it, I won’t stop. As a trigger for my bludfrenzy, she’s a gate I can never open.
