Her smile was as sad as her eyes. “I know you will,” she assured me. “But right now, I need to protect you.”
I growled when I saw the other vampire behind her. He stood too close to my mate. Then I saw it. As they looked at me, it was clear. Their eyes were the same, indigo and purple. He was a relation, not a potential mate.
I relaxed slightly against my bonds. He would not steal my mate away, but that didn’t mean I would allow them to keep me restricted.
I reached out toward my mate. She took my hand and her small, slim fingers clasped mine. I felt her power then, the magic that thrummed in her very veins, as though it had given birth to her. It was her sustenance in this life, keeping a curse at bay.
With my abilities, I could almost see the shapes and colors of her magic. I could very nearly taste it.
She put me in the magical shackles that currently held me. Once I was familiar with her brand of power, I let my own magic fill me. It began to resonate with my mate’s, echoing it until I was satisfied that I had control.
With a single thought, I broke through the spell holding me in place and sat up, pulling my mate toward me.
She resisted. “You’re hurting me.”
At her low, calm voice, I stopped pulling at her and frowned. Why was she refusing my touch?
“Fuck me,” the vampire muttered. “How did he break through your spell?” he asked my mate.
She stared at me and shook her head. “It can’t be,” she said.
“What?” he prompted.
My mate didn’t look away as she took one of my hands and held it between her two small palms. I sat perfectly still as I felt her magic prod me gently as she sought answers. I allowed her to look as long as she wanted. I liked the warmth of her mind brushing mine and of her hands on my fingers.
“He can borrow magical ability,” she answered softly. “Once he knew what my power felt like, he simply echoed it and broke the spell.”
The other vampire’s eyes grew wide, as did the human woman’s.
“He’s an Echo?” the vampire asked.
My mate nodded, her expression growing hard as she looked at me. “It also explains how Rhiannon got into my house and stole the grimoire.” She took a step closer to me, but released my hands. I felt the prickle of her magic on the back of my neck as she moved, her eyes bright and her hair moving in the faint breeze her power stirred in the air. “If you’re working for Rhiannon, I will end you myself.”
I frowned at her. “Rhiannon? The woman from my village? I told father I would not marry her because I love…” I gazed at her as the end of my thought escaped me. I could not remember whom I loved. Only that it wasn’t Rhiannon.
My mate’s head cocked to the side, her long blond hair falling over one shoulder as she considered me. “She lives in your village?” she prompted.
“Yes.”
“And what year is it?”
I stared at her, my mind a jumble. “I do not know.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Where are we?”
I shrugged, also unable to answer that question.
“What is your name?” she asked, moving another step closer.
“Alaunus.”
Her movement stilled then as she stared at me. “Would you help Rhiannon if she asked you?”
From her expression, I did not think she meant help Rhiannon in her time of desperation. “How would I help Rhiannon?”
“Hurt people,” she responded. “Kidnap someone and drain them of their power and their very life.”
I scowled at her, biting back a growl. “No. Never.”
