Sabra steps forward, stands beside me. “I’m a powerful mage. Maybe I can fix you.”
Layden laughs—bitter, hard, so different from before. “I’ve been like this for thousands of years. This curse was woven into my being at birth. So forgive me if I don’t think some human barely out of diapers can help.”
Sabra’s eyebrows lift. She cocks a hand on her hip. “I might not be a crusty thousand-year-old, buddy, but I come from a powerful line of witches. You’re a magical being. I move magic.” She tilts her head. “Have you ever eventriedanything for your magical disability?”
Layden pauses, looking a little stunned. “I—Well... no.” He frowns. A disability?” Another long pause, his eyes darting around on the far wall like he’s thinking. “I guess my brothers could walk around without inflicting their curses on everyone they met. Like they could direct theirs. It was just me who couldn’t.” His eyes flick to Sabra. “You really think it’s something like a disability? Something that… could be… fixed?”
But Sabra’s clearly caught on an early point, perking up. “There’s more of you?”
I bump her shoulder. “Focus.”
“Look,” she glances at Layden. “Come back with us. Let us help you.”
Immediately, Layden’s eyes lock with mine. Hope leaps in my chest—stupid, dangerous hope.
“Only if you want me to come,” he says. He’s not asking Sabra. His gray eyes are on me. Only me.
“Of course we want you to come,” Sabra pipes up. “The chance to work with a magical being like you is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Unless you think any of your brothers would volunteer?”
Layden ignores her. Still watching me. Waiting.
My breath catches.
If I say no, will he go back to that forest? To just sit in the dark for another two hundred years? He doesn’t know the world’s changed around him. Cities sprawl now, and roads cut through almost every wild place. There won’tbea forest that much longer. He can’t hide forever.
But if he comes with us, Grandfather will try to use him. Grandfather loves power more than anything. Certainly more than he’s ever loved me.
Then again... Layden was an angel. Maybe he’s the one person Vlad can’t overpower, even with his clever manipulation.
“Yes.” The word pops out before I can stop it. “I want you to come.”
The smile that breaks across Layden’s face is devastating. Gorgeous. Everything I don’t deserve.
“Then let’s go.”
SIX
PHOENIX
Sabra chattersthe whole way back to the city as I sit up front in her little Dacia with Layden stuffed in the back. He barely fits in the little European car. He’s so tall and now that he’s filled out after eating the deer, broad. I sneak a couple looks back at him, and each time, he’s shifting to awkwardly fold his long limbs a different way while also holding onto the ceiling, watching with wide eyes out the front window as Sabra swerves in and out of traffic.
I realize, holy shit, this has got to be his first time in a car. If he had been in the woods for two hundred years, he doesn’t know anything about the modern world. Which is when I also remember where I’m taking him.
I turn around to give him my full attention. “Look, you kept asking where I come from, and I should have told you about everything you’re about to walk into before you decided to come along.”
“It won’t matter.” He sounds absolutely confident.
“Fine, but you still need to know so you aren’t walking in blind. I’m not a vampire, but my grandfather Vlad is. So are the rest of my family, so you’re whole,” I wave a hand, “Faminething shouldn’t be a problem. They don’t get hungry or eat food.”
“But never forget the most important rule.” I wave a finger in his face. “Never let him bite you or accept an offer of a blood oath from him.”
He nods, not looking a bit phased. “Got it. Vampires. Don’t accept blood oaths. Anything else I should know?”
“I’m serious. No blood oaths. Even if he tries to phrase it in friendly terms, like it’s just an easy exchange. He’ll try to trap you so he can enslave you forever.”
He nods again. “No oaths or promises of any kind.”
I breathe out. “Vlad and all of my uncles are serious dicks. Don’t trust any of them or tell them where you come from.”
