Magick Marked (The DarqRealm Series) (20 page)

“Uh, well.” Rho pulled a fallen strand of hair behind her ear. “You could be soul struck.”

Eldon’s dark brow furrowed. His look of confusion would have been cute if the words that had just escaped his lips hadn’t been so terrifying.

Rho shook her head. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“What does that mean?”

A gust of wind tore through the alleyway, dancing across her skin and sending a shiver down her spine, more from the conversation than the temperature. “It’s a vampire thing. You’re not a vampire. Don’t worry about it.”

“And if I do?”

“Then you’re wasting your time.” It was bad enough that he’d seen her feed. But to know that he’d reacted to her?

Maybe she was reading too much into this.

She’d said herself that he wasn’t of her kind. As far as she knew, only vampires could experience a bond like that. No way could he be soul struck.

“Earth to Rho,” he said from behind her, his tone bored.

She glanced over her shoulder. “Huh?”

“Are you listening to me?”

Not at all. “Uh—”

“What does that term mean?”

“What term?”

Eldon jogged to her side. “You know what I’m talking about.”

“I plead the fifth.”

“You must be the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met.” He strode forward before turning around to stare at her, taking long strides backwards and keeping pace. “But lucky for me, I have two little sisters. My persistence is legendary.”

“More like annoying.”

“I prefer to think of it as an endurance exercise.” He shrugged a shoulder. “I can do this all day. Or you could just tell me now.”

Rho snuck a peek at him, wishing he’d trip over his own feet. “Why do I always feel like I’m on trial when I’m around you?”

He smirked. “Why do you always dodge my questions?”

“Because you’re nosy.”

“And you’re evasive.”

Such a pain in the ass. “What do you want from me?”

“Answers.”

She stopped in the middle of the quiet sidewalk, and he came to a stop by her side. The warehouse they called home was only a block away.

She wanted to believe what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him, but she couldn’t know that for certain. What if it did? What if their freaky mental connection could harm them both? She’d already said too much.

Folding her arms across her chest, she shook her head. “I shouldn’t be telling you this.”

“Tell me anyway.”

She blew out a deep breath. “In my race, there are soul mates.”

“I know.”

“Frederick once told me that when vampires find their mate, they have an… experience. He hadn’t had one himself, but he used the term ‘gravity’ to describe it.”

“Really.”

“He said it’s as if the people are two stars, caught in each other’s orbit.”

His eyes narrowed. “Being pulled into one another.”

“It’s called being soul struck.” She nodded slowly. “One soul calling out to the other. Like an invitation.”

He glanced at the ground for a moment before meeting her eyes again. “Can you turn down the invite?”

She nodded again. “Mating is a choice for us. We can take it or refuse it.”

“And if you refuse?”

Her heart dropped a little at the thought of Eldon’s refusal. Clearing her throat, she tried to shrug off the sinking sensation she had no right to feel. “You don’t perform the ceremony. Nothing is official until you bind yourself in blood.”

“And if you do?”

“That’s your mate. You only feed off of each other. Forever. One dies, then the other dies.”

“They fall over dead?”

“They go insane. The prince asks me to offer a mercy killing.” Like it was optional.

“
You
kill them?”

“It’s my job. I don’t have a choice.”

“There’s always a choice.”

Rho stifled a laugh. “Oh? Does the Collective give
you
a choice?”

He shook his head slightly. His gaze traced over her face, as if he were seeking something. “That’s different.”

“I hardly think so.”

Rho cast a glance around the dark street. Noise rumbled through the air from the bars now several blocks away and light danced along the sidewalk, bouncing off the wet pavement and illuminating the street.

“It’s not like I want to do it,” she muttered.

Eldon frowned. “If you refused, what would the king do?”

“Have me eliminated.” There was no doubt in her mind that Costel would take her out if she ever repudiated her duties. The king only took care of those who served him, and she wasn’t old enough to survive without a coven to protect her. Well, that and the fact that no one ever told Costel no. Ever.

His brow creased even deeper as his eyes searched her face. Several seconds passed before he responded. “Then I guess you didn’t have a choice.”

Tears sprang in her eyes. The absolution in his voice was greater than she’d ever expected, and far more important to her than she’d realized. Maybe he wouldn’t hate her for what she was after all. Not that she cared or anything.

She blinked furiously, begging the tears to stay where they were. He would never see her cry. Never, ever.

She cleared her throat and drew in a deep breath, hoping to shut out the thoughts swirling in her head. “That’s why I got the tats.” She lifted an arm toward the streetlight. “Well, not all of them. I started them as a human.”

His eyes fell to her body, searching for the evidence. “Really?”

“The ones I’ve had done after my turning are reminders.”

“Of what?”

“Where I’ve come from. Where I’ve been.”

He stared at the markings on her skin for a moment before speaking. “That’s a lot of art work.” He extended a hand but didn’t touch her. “They’re beautiful.”

“Thanks.” She gave him a small smile. It was nice to have someone appreciate the designs for a change. “You should see the wings between my shoulder blades. They took four months to finish.”

“Do they mean anything?”

She nodded. “Those were for my parents. I still miss them.”

They stood quietly under the streetlamps for what seemed like forever.

Eldon let out a soft chuckle. “Interesting.”

“What?”

He raised a brow. “You’re a different person than I thought you were, vampire girl.”

“And what kind of person was that?”

“Blond and bitchy.”

His tone lightened the mood instantly, and she threw a light punch to his arm. “You’re an ass.”

Mocking pain, he grabbed his shoulder. “Ouch! You’re strong for a girl.”

“I’m strong for a vampire, too.” She narrowed her eyes and gave him a level stare. “Ass.”

“I’ll give you that.” He rubbed his arm and jerked his head toward the opposite end of the street. “You may be done with dinner, but I still need to pick something up for everyone else. Preshea will kill me if I show up empty-handed.”

She couldn’t help but laugh as she followed him to the Burger Barn on the corner.

Eldon pushed the door to the kitchen open with his hip, greasy bags in his arms as he held the door open with his toe. Rho entered right behind him.

Tim and Preshea didn’t bother to look up from the small table scattered with playing cards. Both opponents were clearly deep in thought.

He set the bags onto the countertop in the tiny kitchen. “I thought you were supposed to be doing real work while we were gone.”

“We were,” Preshea answered, eyes focused. “We just think better when we’re playing rummy.”

Eldon rolled his eyes. “My grandma played rummy.”

“Clearly a very intelligent woman,” Tim mumbled, reviewing the card in his hands.

“I see you brought sustenance.” Preshea laid two sixes on the table. “Did our little princess get a chance to suck the life out of some unsuspecting schmuk? Fucking leech.” She mumbled the last part just loud enough for everyone to hear.

Eldon slammed his fist onto the countertop. “Watch it, Preshea.”

The room fell silent.

He lifted his hand from the flat surface and met Preshea’s eyes. She was staring at him in disbelief, and he could practically feel Tim and Rho doing the same.

Where had that come from? One second they were talking and the next, he’d snapped. Anger simmered beneath the surface of his emotions, and he fought to get it under control.

Something inside him had shifted, leaving behind an impression he couldn’t quite understand. Earlier today he’d experienced unexplainable jealousy, and now he had the irrational need to defend and protect. Who was he becoming? Was this part of their skin binding?

“Eldon, calm down,” Rho whispered. Her breath tickled his ear. “She was only kidding.” The nearness and sound of her voice calmed him, instantly taking the edge off his anger.

Weird.

“No shit. Who peed in your Wheaties?” Preshea laughed nervously. “It was only a joke.”

“Hey, genius,” Rho snapped, glaring at Preshea. “How about you wait until I get his glowing hand thing under control before you start playing with fire?”

Glowing hand thing? Wait, he’d tapped a line?

Eldon glanced down to see the blue tinge of ley line fire dancing at his fingertips. What the hell? He hadn’t been focused enough to know where the line was, let alone call it into action.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The thundering knock on the warehouse door jerked their attention toward the doorway.

Tim raised a brow. “Any of you expecting guests?”

Eldon shook his head. Rho and Preshea did the same. His sisters weren’t sure where he’d gone, and they wouldn’t be stupid enough to get involved. Hopefully.

Tim grabbed Preshea’s wrist and pulled her out of her chair. “We’ll go check it out. You two stay here.” He glanced at Rho. “Get him together, would you?”

Rho nodded as they both took off down the hall.

Eldon stood there for a minute, trying to gather his thoughts. “What’s going on?”

She sidestepped the small countertop and approached him slowly. “Honestly, I’m not sure.”

“First I hear you in my head. Then I feel this gravity thing, and now I can’t even handle people joking with you?” He met her eyes. “What is this?”

“It’s not like I did this on purpose.” She waved a hand through the air. “And we don’t know that it’s me. Are you sure your magick didn’t whack out on you or something?”

Magick didn’t just whack out. At least, his never did. “Not likely.”

A bloodcurdling scream tore through the air. The sound was definitely female and definitely coming from the warehouse.
Preshea.

Eldon accidentally slammed his knee against an open cabinet as he took off toward the source. Pain shot through his leg but he ignored it. He threw the door open and sprinted down the hallway. Rho’s footsteps fell behind him.

Whatever could make Preshea scream like that was bad. Really bad. He felt along his belt for the gun. Luckily he hadn’t had a chance to disarm after their dinner mission. The grip of the Glock was cool and familiar against his palm. Thank God it was still loaded.

He slowed down as they approached the warehouse door.

“I’ll go first,” Rho whispered, her voice barely audible.

Eldon shook his head. He swiveled around to face her and held up his gun. Men of honor didn’t send women into battle. They were to protect the females, not cower behind them.

She shook her head right back at him. “You may be armed, but I’m immortal.” With a swift movement, she loaded her gun. “I go first.”

He growled. “No.”

“Why not?”

“You’re a…” He couldn’t finish the sentence. Rho wasn’t weak, but still.

“I’m a what? A girl?” She lowered her gun to the side and stepped forward until they nearly touched. Her angry gray eyes glared up at him. “Don’t treat me like an invalid just because I’m built with different parts.”

Frustration built in his brain, the antiquated roots of his upbringing arguing with his progressive side. Maybe he could reason with her. “But—”

“Don’t you dare,” she cut him off. “I’m an executioner, not a fucking flower. I’m trained for this. And whatever’s on the other side of that door is more likely to kill you than me.”

Staring down into her intense eyes, he clenched his jaw. She wasn’t going to let this go. Even worse, she was right. He hated the idea, but it was the smartest option they had.