Page 191 of Vameer

Every detail. Every question I have.

Consuming a third of the bottle by the time I reach the end.

“He smiled.” Anger colors my words. “He saw my mate bleeding, smiled, and walked away.” I drop my head forward. “I let him get away. He nearly killed her, and I…”

I squeeze my eyes closed as the terror of that moment presses against my heart.

“Vameer,” Dread snaps. “Do not harm my trees.”

I blink my eyes open and see the tall trunks bending toward me.

I release my gravito, and they sway back, correcting themselves.

“Lo siento,” I sigh and drop my head back against the trunk. “This is all my fault. I should’ve seen the signs. But we were busy talking. And I wasn’t thinking. Haruto is…”

“Goofy,” Volik supplies.

I huff and nod. “The door unlocked when I approached. The lights were low instead of bright. But I thought it was just him being him. I noticed the truth too late.”

Volik makes a grumbling sound. “Almost too late. You both live.”

I lift my bottle toward him.

He taps his to mine. “To living.”

I bring my bottle to my lips. “I hope Haruto is living.” I tip it back.

Dread’s eyes flash a dark gold. “He lives.”

Volik holds his bottle back toward me. “To friends with magic.”

We drink, and Dread lazily taps his fingertips together, creating tiny golden sparks.

“Iwanna meet the big wolf.” The stars spin above me in the sky.

“You mean the Alpha of Argus Pack?”

“Da.” I smile, mimicking my brother. “I liked his violence.”

Volik hums. “He is a nice wolf.”

I snicker at the word nice. Thinking of the video of that wolf ripping the vampire’s arm off.

“I am speaking the truth.” Volik points at me, then tips to the side.

Laughing, I take another drink of my magic rum, then I remember another detail from that video. “Brother.”

Volik pushes himself upright. “Da?”

My cheeks hurt from smiling, and I press the cool glass against my face. “Was Versailles the first time you went that fast? I keep forgetting to ask you.”

He grins. “Da. Before you fight the druid, I would like to race.”

My eyes widen, and I look at Dread. “I forgot about the fight.”

He rolls his eyes. “I’m not fighting a drunk vampire.”

“Afraid you will lose?” I lift my arm and flex my bicep, forgetting about my booze until rum splashes over my shoulder. “Merde.”