Page 37 of Discovery of the Vampire
Christian flung open the door, but didn't move out of the way so I could enter. Over his shoulder, my sister's turquoise blue eyes silently asking me why I was disturbing their night together.
I ignored him and addressed her directly. "I'm sorry it's so late, but I need to speak with you."
He answered for her before she could respond. "Yeah, itislate. So why don't you come back tomorrow."
It wasn't a question, so I didn't bother to answer it. "It's important, Ryan."
After a moment, she sighed and gave a small nod. "Let him in, Christian."
Only then did I shift my eyes to him. My sister's vampire wasn't happy with this development, but like me, he could deny her nothing. Grudgingly, he stepped back and allowed me to walk past him.
"What's wrong?" she asked as soon as the door shut behind me.
I got straight to the point. "The djinn, our father," I clarified. "He's back in New Orleans. Killian just called Luukas to let us know."
She crossed her arms over her chest in a protective gesture. "And what does that have to do with me?"
I stared at my sister as she twisted her hands nervously in front of her, completely ignoring the heat of her mate's glare on the back of my neck. I had no doubt his fangs would be deep within my artery, draining the life from me, if he thought he could get to me before I would react. Fortunately for Christian, he knew he couldn't, and wasn't stupid enough to try anyway.
"I need you to come with me this time. I don't think I can beat him alone. And even if I could, I don't like the odds. I'd feel better about them if you were there."
Immediately, she shook her head, and for a moment, the vibrant oranges and blondes and reds of her hair held my attention as the strands slid over each other like a fiery waterfall. So beautiful. The color came from our mother, who she resembled greatly. "I don't think that's a good idea."
I reached out and grasped one of Ryan's hands in mine, feeling the tremble of her fingers against my palms. Even after all the time we'd spent together recently, she was still afraid of me. This knowledge made my voice sharper than I'd intended. "You have to trust me, sister. I wouldn't ask this of you if I didn't believe you were strong enough."
Christian growled low in his throat, the sound rumbling through the room before he spoke. "She said no. You need to respect that."
I never took my eyes from Ryan's pale face. "This isn't about whatyouwant, vampire. It's about what needs to be done."
"And putting my mate in danger is the answer?" Christian stepped around me to stand at my sister's side, his muscles coiled tight beneath his copper skin. His voice rose. "She's not ready."
Anger, sudden and hot, erupted within me and my eyes flew to his. "I don't need her to be ready! I can take what I need from her at any time. With or without her permission. I only need her to be close."
He was toe-to-toe with me between one heartbeat and the next, fangs bared and fists clenched at his sides. "You won't be taking anything from her without her permission, warlock. I don't give a fuck who you are."
I was done arguing with this one. With a small tilt of my head, I ordered the spirits to remove him from my sight. His eyes widened and Ryan cried out as he was lifted from the floor and thrown across the room into the floor-to-ceiling windows that lined the far wall. Lucky for him, they were specialty windows, designed to keep the vampires safe from the sun…and from falling to the pavement below.
As soon as he touched the floor again, a loud hiss raised the hair on my arms and he surged forward, his glowing eyes fixed on me.
Hold him, I ordered silently.
Once again, he was thrown back against the windows and held there.
"Stop it!" Ryan shouted.
With effort, I softened my expression as I turned back to my sister, understanding the fear that gripped her. "I know what I'm asking of you is a lot, but you're stronger than you realize. And you won't have to fight, but I’ll need you to be nearby. I just need your power.”
Christian struggled against the invisible hands holding him. "She'ashil, you don't have to do this. He can find another way."
"Thereisno other way," I gritted out, my eyes never leaving her.
"You don't know that," he argued.
My patience was wearing dangerously thin. "Except I do," I snapped at him. "I tried to take him on alone, and I failed." I wasn't ashamed to admit this fact. Maybe if he hadn't had help getting away, I would've had a chance, but I wasn't about to bet my life on it.
Christian's eyes flashed bright amber, that low growl a near constant rumble in his chest. "Marcus isn't our problem. I won't risk Ryan's life on some vendetta you have against your father."
The dark magic I shared with that father crackled beneath my skin, but I held myself in check. It would break my sister if I burned her mate to ash where he stood. She would never forgive me, and I was only just getting to know her after spending a lifetime apart.
