Page 4 of Blood that Burns

I groan. “Your seer never actuallyseesa damn thing.”

Every time he consults the witch who supposedly sees visions of the future, it’s the same thing. Multiple paths. Fluid future.

Bullshit that simply proves that she’s no more a seer than I am.

Marcellus sucks his teeth, considering me. “The Council is going to the party with the intent to capture your sister.”

I sit up straight, eyes wide in fear. “What?”

“They plan to experiment on her. To uncover why my father was so interested in her.”

“No.” The word comes out in a whisper. Dread pools in my chest and threatens to pull me under.

Marcellus slumps down onto the bed, grabbing my shoulders and forcing me to look at him.

“I won’t allow it, Maggie. I’m going to stop it.”

“But they’ll know you’re against them.” My teeth chatter at the cold seeping into my bones. “They’ll kill you, Marc.”

His head shakes. “My death won’t occur tonight.”

“Your seer tell you that?” I scoff. “Sorry if I sound unconvinced, Marc, but whoever she is, she’s a nut.”

He cracks a smile, chest rising and falling with his laughter. “She’s a lot of things, but a nut?” His head tilts to the side in challenge.

I blow out a breath. “I don’t like this.”

“I don’t either.”

We sit in silence for several moments, each lost in thoughts of what this dreaded night will bring.

Fear creeps and crawls into every part of me as I consider what danger Marina will be in.

“I know you have no faith in Julian, but he won’t allow Marina to be hurt either. Something tells me he has also been apprised of the fact that she’s special.”

I bark a dark and humorless laugh. “Forgive me if I don’t trust a damn thing about your crowned asshole.”

“He’s not bad, Maggie. If I had to guess, I’d say he only took her to keep her safe.”

“Bullshit,” I snap, not wanting to think about all the ways he’s kept my sister safe in his compound of vampires.

He sighs, looking fatigued.

“You’ll have free rein to roam for a bit tonight,” he says, standing and making his way to the door. “The entire Council will be on guard around Law’s, or they’ll be safely tucked in their own manors to fake innocence.”

“Why the charade?”

“Julian’s still the Crown. Until he’s overthrown, they’ll play the game.” He taps his fingers on his thigh, a nervous tic I’ve witnessed over the months I’ve spent with him. “Make sure you’re back in this room and locked inside by midnight.”

“Will I turn into a pumpkin?” I grin, trying to lighten the mood.

Marc snorts, but his features quickly turn dark. Menacing. “No pumpkins, but depending on what occurs tonight, you could end up at the end of a vampire’s fangs, Maggie. Don’t take chances.”

That sobering thought has me silent and no longer smiling.

The danger of staying here at Marcellus’s has always been that Council members come and go. Vampires in league to overthrow Julian make this place their personal boys’ club, and it’s dangerous for a human like me.

Marcellus has taken precautions with the help of the witch, placing protection spells on this room and me, but outside of these four walls, I’m at the mercy of monsters.

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