“Look, I-I was interested in Adira, your mother, because of your magic—the Aurum. I’ve been searching for it my entire life; it would make my hunter group invincible. We could wipe out whole villages, fuck, even towns, and cities. However, I’ve never encountered it, despite my efforts. All I’ve gotten are scams and empty promises. We settled at Valorya because the whispers that follow your family led me here—news about a human family that cannot be touched travels as fast as you can imagine. You, your mother, and your brother are the only ones I’ve heard of being protected by the lost white magic. Then I learned it was a cursedform, but still, it does its work. It was the first solid lead in years…”
“I followed you all into Sadelaer and saw the damage your brother did to that female vampire, confirming everything I had heard.”
The memory makes my stomach churn, especially the way Fynn had insinuated how easily he could do it to me as well. I feel Emrys's fury nudge against me, and I weave my fingers into his, doing my best to soothe him.
It's all in the past, my love. With you next to me, he won’t be able to come near me.
It doesn’t matter. His threat to you is enough for me to want to rip him apart. The next time, I won’t let him get away with it so easily.
“Please continue,” I spur Faas on.
Without even a glance at me, he continues, his snarky confidence nowhere to be found. My monster is on edge, and the tumultuous energy that radiates from him is enough to keep Faas talking.
“I was astounded seeing what he had done; his touch literally burned through her, made her skin melt away. All that was left was a coaled body and blackened bones. That was what I needed, what I wanted for my men. I kept tracking your party until you ended up in Valorya.”
His gaze lands on the floor, and he swallows noticeably, as if he fears speaking the words to come.
“My first idea was to seduce you, Harlot, as you seemed to have a fascination with the darklings, despite your fear. Obviously, I quickly let that idea go when you and the Umbra met! I immediately abandoned it.” He says the last sentence so fast that it almost sounds like a ramble.
I bite my lower lip to stop the laughter I feel bubbling up. The idea of him seducing me is a foreign one, even though he has the same unnatural beauty that all vampires possess. It's fascinating to see Faas squirm like this, his usual uninterested composure crumbling like a mirror hitting a floor and breaking into a thousand pieces.
“That’s when I crossed paths with your brother on purpose—”
I interrupt him. “I’m not interested in hearing another word about my brother. Please get to the part that we’re here for. Why are you mingling with my mother?”
“It’s your brother who led me to your mother; it was he who told me your mother holds the actual Aurum. Somehow, she’s able to transfer its powers to her offspring, and I hoped to learn how that works. Unfortunately, it turns out that your mother is actually a fascinating woman, and I developed a genuine interest in her. That’s why we began seeing each other. Of course, I still hope to learn more, but I enjoy my time spent with her.”
With loathing, I glare at him, and he slightly cowers.
“You are USING my mother! You vile creature!”
My anger simmers just beneath the surface, filling the space with dark energy. Without realizing it, I rip off Emrys’s shadows again and direct them toward Faas, who looks at me with wide, frightened eyes as I take control of my mate’s shadows and wrap them around him like a constrictor. His gaze shifts to Emrys.
“She controlsyourshadows, Umbra?” He gasps in surprise.
“It seems so,” he responds, amused, folding his strong arms, his skin still holding onto the vibrating shadows, their markings latched onto him.
“We are still discovering the silver linings of our bonding,” he continues, nonchalantly.
Emrys smirks, and it’s so sexy, I almost forget about the darkling that’s trying to take advantage of my mother.
“Focus, Tempest,” he whispers, his fanning breath a caress against my skin, and I return my attention to the writhing and struggling dhampir.
“I’m giving you one more chance to speak your truth,” I spit, tightening the shadows.
“Fine!” he snarls. Then, in almost a sarcastic tone, he says: “You’re onto me, I’m using her, alright, I need that damn Aurum so I can eradicate every vampire and witch from this world. Happy?”
I can almost smell the dread coming from him, yet there’s something I can’t put my finger on, as if he’s lying to me right now. I scowl at him, allowing the shadows to return to their master.
“For now,” I say, squinting my eyes at him.
“Quite a pair you two make,” Faas says, his voice tinged with annoyance, as he pats his pants, wiping off the dirt. He coughs a few times. His confidence returns, now that he feels he has fulfilled his duty and satisfied us.
“Anything to delight my Tempest,” Emrys says.
He bids farewell to the dhampir and takes me along, his embrace tight, as we disappear into the dark, murky world of shadow.
The moment we arrive at the fortress, Emrys pulls the cords of my corset loose, and it falls to the floor, the fabric landing with a bare whisper against our soft moans that fill the bedroom. My dress follows next, and it doesn’t take long before I’m completely naked, besides my black lace stockings, adorned with red silk ribbons.
