Gabriel didn’t respond as he strode toward the door and yanked it open. Zypher stood on the threshold, his anger making him appear much larger than his 7'1" frame. He narrowed his eyes on my vampire mate and sniffed the air.Suddenly, his eyes snapped to me over Gabriel’s head. He took me in slowly, his tense muscles relaxing as he stepped around Gabriel into the room. Gabriel closed the door behind him and turned to face me, crossing his arms over his chest just as Zypher’s anger melted into a pleased smirk.
“It seems you’ve finally come to your senses, vampire,” he chuckled, shooting me a wink. “I’d suggest an orgy to celebrate, but you look thoroughly ravished, Dilectus. You haven’t collected enough of your males for one either.”
I was hit by a sudden and intense bout of insecurity as Zypher prowled toward me. “You’re not mad?” I asked.
Zypher frowned, easing himself onto the edge of the bed. “Why would I be mad, Dilectus? It is your right to choose which mates you claim. Only you can decide who completes our Vinculum.” He paused for a moment, taking in the blood that still painted my shoulders and dipped down my exposed chest behind the cover of the sheet I still clutched tightly. “I admit, I was worried when our bond became dull and muted and went in search of you. I scented your blood and followed it here.” His gaze slid to Gabriel before returning to me. “I feared your vampire had sought to sever his bond with you through force. I am quite pleased to find I was mistaken.”
Gabriel grimaced. “It was Daena and her fucking lackies,” he said. “They trapped her in a magical barrier and very likely spelled her so you wouldn’t feel what they were doing through your bond. I suppose my behavior led them to believe I would revel in the pain they were causing.”
Zypher hummed, his brows dipping down as his expression turned pensive. “I am pleased you saw sense rather than choose to continue denying our Dilectus,” he murmured before returning his attention to me. “Let us get you cleaned up and dressed. I cannot undo the spell muting our bond, but I suspect our mage friends may be able to help.”
“How do you plan to get her to the communal showers without anyone seeing her?” Gabriel asked, folding his arms across his chest. “I don’t have a private bathroom for her to use,and I’m fairly certain that if anyone sees her like this, Daena will find a way to use it to her advantage.”
“I’m healed, though; your blood healed me completely,” I interjected. “Why does it matter if I’m a little bloody on the way to the showers? It’s not like I have wounds for anyone to comment on.”
Zypher reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, gently caressing my cheek before he pulled away. “Gabriel is right, Dilectus. It does not matter that you are not injured. The fae female knows how to twist things to her advantage. But this is Daemonium House, and while the vampires in residence may not bow to me, the demons do. I will ensure they keep the halls clear long enough for Gabriel to escort you to my rooms to bathe and dress.” I opened my mouth to protest, but Zypher cut me off, his attention on my vampire mate. “I will send an illusion to let you know when it is clear.”
Gabriel gave him a stiff nod, and Zypher rose from where he sat on the edge of the bed, strolling from the room. It didn’t take nearly as long as I expected for Zypher’s illusion to appear, letting us know the coast was clear. Gabriel bundled me into his arms, the sheet wrapped around me, and sped from his room, not stopping until we arrived in Zypher’s bathroom.
“As much as I loathe the idea of you washing my scent off you, I’ll leave you to shower in peace,” Gabriel said as he set me on my feet. “I need to contact my brother and hopefully find a way to get ahead of any retaliation from my father for claiming you as my mate.”
He’d mentioned his brother in his rambling just before we’d completed our bond, but he hadn’t really told me anything about him. As much as I wanted to push him to explain, something inside me told me it wasn’t the time. That sensation was only confirmed as the blood drying on my skin started to itch as Gabriel leaned into the shower to turn on the water. He kept his hand under the shower spray until he was satisfied with the temperature. Pulling his hand back, he pressed a gentle kiss to my lips and sighed.
“Clean up and let Zypher sort out the spell interfering with your bond. I will find you later, okay?”
“Okay,” I whispered with a nod. Gabriel hesitated for just a moment before he turned and left the bathroom. The water falling from the showerhead called to me, and I tore my gaze away from the door he’d left open behind him and climbed into the tub.
By the time I was clean and wrapped in a fluffy black towel, Zypher was waiting for me in the open doorway to the bathroom. His eyes heated as he took me in, but he didn’t make a move to act on it. His hand raised in offering, and I noticed the clothing he’d brought for me. I took them with a smile and dressed under his watchful gaze, the muted bond the only thing tempering my desire for my demon. As soon as I was dressed and had shoes on my feet, Zypher pulled me into his arms and strode to the balcony outside his bedroom. His leathery wings burst into existence with a sharp snap, and he launched us into the air.
“Miles is waiting for us in your dorm,” he said over the sound of the rushing wind in my ears. “I’ve already spoken with him about the spell, and he’s certain he can undo it.”
“Good,” I replied, letting relief wash over me as I leaned into Zypher’s hold, letting his nearness comfort me.
We arrived at my dorm without incident. Shadrie and Miles were already waiting for us. There was a cauldron sitting in the center of our coffee table, steam rising from inside of it, tinted with an unusual, but not unpleasant spell. Miles was hunched over it, stirring with a wooden spoon. The sight caused a laugh to burst from my lips.
“All you’re missing is the beak-nose and warts,” I laughed as Zypher gently eased me to my feet.
Miles grinned at me. “Well, humans weren’t exactly going to let us look good when they wanted to use us as cautionary tales,” he replied, before tilting his head toward the cauldron. “This is almost ready.”
I moved toward my friends, eyeing the cauldron withcuriosity. “Why is it bubbling like it’s boiling hot without a heat source?” I asked.
Miles shrugged, pushing his glasses up his nose with his free hand. “It’s spelled to do so.”
“Oh,” I replied lamely. “And you’re sure whatever it is you’ve got cooking up in there will undo what that bitch did to my bond with Zypher?”
“Positive,” he replied. “There’s really only one type of magic that can mute a bond, which means there’s only one way to remove it.”
“I want names, B,” Shadrie hissed, moving to stand beside me. “As soon as Miles is done fixing this, we’re going to start plotting to make their lives a living nightmare.”
I studied my friend for a second, taking in the barely leashed rage that caused her entire body to vibrate with tension. “It was just Daena and her little band of bitches,” I shrugged, hoping to play off what they’d done to me. “They’re all miserable enough already; they aren’t worth the time it would take to plan our retaliation.”
“Fuck that,” Shadrie bit out. “Every one of them is going to fucking pay. You don’t fuck with mate bonds, B. That’s like the one rule that all supernaturals follow. I have half a mind to put aside my distaste for Vallynn and tell him exactly what sort of fae he’s betrothed to.”
“She’s right,” Miles added, using the wooden spoon he’d been stirring the mixture with to ladle it into a glass. “Mate bonds are sacred. Most supernaturals wouldn’t dare interfere with one, but those who do usually end up being killed for it. Daena would have known the risks of meddling with yours. She’d have to know her days were numbered as soon as Zypher found out it was her.”
“That bitch is banking on her status as Vallynn’s fiancé keeping her protected,” Shadrie hissed. Her jaw snapped shut so hard I could hear her teeth click together. “You know what, fuck it. I’m ratting her ass out. Not even Vallynn would stand for what she did to you.”
Shadrie whirled on her heel and stomped toward the exit before I could respond. Miles shoved the glass he’d been filling into my hands at the same time.
