Maybe it’s the heat of fresh blood coursing through my body, but everything feels lighter. The damn link restricts my powers to a fraction of my true abilities, but not right now. Right now, everything feels different.Better.
Instead of restricting me, it’s like I’ve been set free.
It must be her blood.
Her blood gives me power.
No wonder that big blue bastard Vincentius wanted her. She may be a weak little human, but her blood is strong.
The stairwell blurs around us as I let my powers free, gliding us down so fast, anyone we pass would only feel a slight breeze and maybe catch a blur out of the corner of their eye.
We arrive at her apartment in no time at all.
It isn’t until I set her down outside that she looks at the doorknob and her face falls.
“Uh, oh.” She glances up at me with worry in her eyes as she says, “Um, Z? I don’t have my key.”
That’s when I realize my mistake.
She’s always carrying a bag with her—a purse. That’s where she keeps her phone and keys and whatever else.
It’s all back at the party.
I mutter a curse.
And to make matters worse, footsteps echo up the hall toward us.
I’m shirtless. She’s wearingonlymy shirt. That and her tiny little bottoms—and though the shirt is a lot drier now, I don’t want anyone else to see her like this.
Yeah, so I’m selfish. Fine. I’ll admit it.
I want her all to myself.
She’s damn hot, and I don’t like to share.
And based on her panicked look, I get the feeling dressing like this when not standing beside a pool is frowned upon in today’s society.
“Someone’s coming,” she hisses, eyes darting down the hall. “What do we do?”
I frown, glancing at the locked door again.
I could break it down, but that’d just cause a mess. And even more of a scene.
But her magic is still flowing through my body. Maybe I can use that to my advantage.
“Relax,” I say, sounding way more confident than I feel. “Watch this.”
I set one hand on the doorknob, letting her magic flow back through my palm and out through the keyhole.
She could probably do this herself if she knew the first thing about her own powers.
Instead, she gasps in awe as golden light flashes through my hand and into the lock, clicking it open just in time. I smirk. “Easy,” I say, like I had been confident in my ability the whole time.
Then I scoop her back into my arms and carry her through the door just before the footsteps reach us.
As soon as the door shuts, I throw the deadbolt with one hand, still holding her in my arms with the other.
“Now,” I say, setting her down on the edge of the bed with a smirk as I take her jaw in one hand again. “Where were we?”
