“Nor is my physical well-being.” He snorted. “Not that that’s any news. No, no, don’t apologize.” He flicked his free hand at us, as if that’s what Raphael was going to do. “But there was something curious I didn’t get to address with you before you ran off. I figured I’d wait for you to come back.”
Raphael took a step forward, claiming more of the room. “Say your piece and go, then.”
“I’m sure you’re looking to be alone with your fledgling again. My beds are more comfortable than cold, hard earth.” He raked his gaze over me, my torn dress and messed-up hair, the implication obvious.
“Julian.” There was no mistaking the warning in Raphael’s voice.
“Fine.” The smirk dropped from his lips. “I’d love to hear what possible explanation you could have for making the necromancer you were supposed to kill immortal.”
I froze.
He knew.
“It took me a moment to realize, given everything,” Julian drawled. “At first, I thought perhaps you had just decided to stop attacking your little brother because a female’s touch had somehow softened you. It wouldn’t be the first time, would it? But then you didn’t fight back at all. And still, I thought perhaps you were just eager to chase down your fledgling. Sire’s obligation and all. But there was one thing that cemented it for me. Do you know what it was?”
“I imagine you love the sound of your voice enough to continue on this insulting theory until you’re done.” Raphael was moving closer to Julian. He didn’t sound worried, but down the bond, I felt it. Tension.
Julian took a final sip of his blood and set the goblet down with a thud. “You were so rarely one for wordplay, but I suppose we all learn. I thought about our conversation the other day. How righteous you were, playing offended, when I asked if you’d killed the necromancer. ‘Have I ever failed to before?’ was what you said.” He shook his head. “Which wasn’t a yes. But I let it go. Because I thought I knew my brother. Of all people, surely you would never let one of that bitch’s avatars live.” Julian narrowed his eyes. “How wrong I was.”
If I searched Julian’s face, I could almost convince myself there was something like true hurt behind Julian’s words. But I didn’t know him well enough, and right now the same voice that had screamed inside for me to flee Raphael was telling me Julian was a threat.
“Nothing to say in your defense?” Julian demanded.
“Nothing you’re ready to hear.” Raphael’s words were soft steel. No apology, but no harsher than a whisper.
Julian sighed, as if he hadn’t truly expected any other answer. “It’s not too late to kill her. We can get past this.”
A fresh wave of terror slammed into me at the cold, casual discussion of my death, but Raphael simply rolled his shoulders back. “That won’t be happening.”
“And if I say I’ll kill the scourge anyway?”
“No one will be hurting Samara,” Raphael growled.
Julian surged from the couch, but Raphael was already moving. They collided halfway through the room, fingers locked as they grappled for control.
“You’d betray your own brother for one of Anagenni’s?” Julian snarled.
Raphael pushed Julian back. “She’s not Anagenni’s. She’smine.”
This wasn’t the explosive match of yesterday.
Did I run for Demos? What if Raphael needed me? What if Julian called for reinforcements? I drew my copper blade and made for the door. Demos would be more help than I could be.
“Don’t go,” Raphael called to me, not taking his eyes off Julian.
I hesitated. What was Raphael going to do? Would he really kill his brother? For me? But that would leave us in an even more dangerous situation.
Raphael tackled Julian to the couch, locking his neck against the headrest with his fingers.
“You got stronger,” Julian rasped. “Her blood?”
Raphael bared his fangs and hissed. Then he twisted to look at me. “Samara, listen. You need to use your magic to make Julian forget you’re the necromancer.”
“Traitor.” Julian clawed at Raphael’s hands.
“You can do it,” Raphael told me when I stayed back. “You know how.”
I swallowed. Could I? I’d practiced enough thralling humans.
