I’m still trying to hold off, because Imaybe about to wreck the mood.
My phone buzzes just as there’s a knock at the metal door. The entire room reverberates with the sound, and we both wince.
“Want me to tell whoever it is to fuck off?”
“Ah, no, I know who it is.” I pause. “I asked Dante to come too.”
Any warmth and cheeky joy in Zeph’s expression drops and he leans back, creating distance between us.
Not telling him I’d invited Dante is a dick move, I know that. But Dante’s a good guy and I like them both a lot. Zeph might not trust him, but Ido.And if this thing between me and the mages and Dante is going to be anything real, then they can’t avoid each other forever.
“I slept with him,” I blurt out. “With Dante, I mean.”
Yeah, I should have told him that earlier too, and let Zeph chew on it for a while.
Pretty sure I’ve fucked this whole day. He’s going to storm off and I’ll try to do my plan by myself, or maybe with Dante at my side, as long as he’s not pissed with me too.
“Dammit,” Zeph mutters, running a hand through his curls and blowing out a long breath.
“I should have talked to you first. Roscoe too.”
“Ro bet you’d sleep with him before you sorted your shit with Fabian. I said the opposite. That’s ten bucks in his pocket.”
I stare down at him, trying to read his mood. “You’re... not mad? Upset? Betrayed?”
Maybe I shouldn’t be putting words and feelings into his mouth right now, but I want to get my head around this.
“I’m not blind, Silver. You've been dancing around each other for months now and making googly eyes for just as long. Am I happy he’s a vamp? No. Do I want to invite him for a sleepover? Also no. But I guess I’ll put up with him and try not to punch him in the throat if it means I get to spend the day with you.”
I blink. Blink again, just in case this is a dream and Z’s about to strip off and slather himself in chocolate, which I help to lick off before—
Another knock at the door interrupts the beginning of my fantasy, but I don’t mind too much. My mind has melted.
For someone who I used to think couldn’t string two sentences together without insulting me, Zeph sure can express some nice sentiments. He’s like rock candy—you have to break your teeth to find it, but his center is surprisingly gooey and sweet.
“All right.” He grunts and gets to his feet, hoiking me up and placing me down on the bench. “Any more revelations before I let him in?”
I shake my head as relief courses through me. I didn’t realize quite how much this was stressing me out until all the worry oozes right out of me.
“Other than your plan, right? I’m excited to hear it,” Zeph deadpans as he heads to answer the door to a bemused-looking Dante.
“This is certainly cryptic,” Dante says, gazing around as he closes the door behind him. “I half wondered if I was going to be lured here and murdered.”
Zeph snorts but somehow tamps down whatever snarky comment he has floating around in his head right now.
“Good to see you again, Silver. I’m assuming we’re here for a reason?”
“Silver has a plan she’s refused to share until we were all safely hidden away from prying telepathic ears,” Zeph replies.
“Ah.” Dante pauses. “And what happens if we think about whatever you’re about to tell us as soon as we leave this place? I assume the nulling effects of the room wear off instantly?”
“Good question,” I reply. “I’m pretty sure there’s no easy way around having Ember potentially spying on us at any time, but I figured maybe I could absorb the nulling magic from this place. If it works how I’m hoping it will, I should be able to recreate a kind of shield around us once we’re outside of it.”
I jump to my feet, popping the door open and feeling my magic filling my gut. I then focus on relaxing the tensed muscles inside of me that are usually pushing down my magic’s absorbency and I let it go free. Sucking in a breath as the force of this place’s power hits me, I cling onto the door and steady my breathing.
“Holy shit.”
The magic here packs a fair punch.
