On a Razor's Edge (Darkness #3)(14)

“Let’s move back into the house, shall we?” Dominicous suggested, hauling himself up slowly. “As men, we love an explosion, but maybe just disengage it, if you can.”

I got to work unraveling, something I could do easily with black. If I wasn’t terrified of what would happen when the spells went wrong, I’d use black way more often.

Chapter 4

The procession entered the same room we’d been in earlier, but this time Charles was allowed to sit in the corner. I think Stefan and Dominicous had had enough with pain, monsters, and workouts. Not that they would admit it. The way they went about it, Charles was there for moral support.

“We now need to test your human vulnerabilities,” Dominicous started, sitting gratefully. “If you are to be mage, like Stefan hopes, you have to withstand our influences. Our pheromones.”

Stefan tensed slightly but said nothing. I just nodded. I’d been through this with Luke, the clan’s best at mental manipulation. I’d gotten turned on for a second, I’d gotten a quick dose of fear, and I’d gotten pissed when he touched my boob. He hadn’t been expecting the slap.

Toa drifted in front of me, his appearance like one fresh out of the powder room. If I hadn’t just seen him electrocuted, thrown around the dirt, chased in a clearing, and shocked, I would’ve suspected he’d just arrived at the mansion. Amazing.

“You can close your eyes or keep them open, as it befits you.” Toa waited for me to nod.

He knew humans.

A tingling erupted at the bottom of my sternum. The flight reflex. He was trying fear first.

My limbs got jittery and my breath shallow. My body tensed.

My first impulse was to reach for my dagger. A huge smile erupted on my face and I stared at Toa manically, daring him to try anything. I even had my rape whistle handy—he didn’t know what he was messing with!

Then I took a big breath and forced it all away. Stefan could do that with just a look, usually when he wasn’t even trying. Something would irritate him, or I would put myself in danger somehow, and his face would contort into a severe mask that had my heart beating and my butt tingling. He didn’t need the pheromones. Through stubborn practice, I’d gotten used to ignoring it.

Toa blinked twice, straightening up. If I looked really hard, I swear I could see a faint flush. Swear I could.

“Next,” Dominicous prompted.

A haze swept over me, clouding my awareness and almost my vision. I hated it. It made me feel lost and dizzy, and I hated both of those sensations. It’s why I never took up smoking.

I drew in a blast of power and wiped the thought away, finding a lingering presence at the outside of my skull where Toa lurked. I soaked into it, and then applied fire, blasting it open.

Toa staggered back, his eyes wide.

“I gave him an expression!” I giggled. It was the small things.

“What happened?” Dominicous said, appearing on the edge of his seat without his body actually moving. Eyes like the gleaming edge of a blade, he was ready to fight, but still seemingly lounging in the chair. Neat.

Also, awful. And scary. He didn’t need the pheromones to manipulate fear, either.

“She broke my attempt. Like shattering the overlay on her mind. Full of surprises, this one. She shouldn’t have been allowed to exist so long without training. But then, she has developed some truly spectacular defenses. I’d like to see her in a foreign place. I have a feeling she could develop many lost treasures.”

“Try to cut off my magic,” I blurted. I wanted to see if the little ditty I’d just done would work on that.

“All in due time,” Toa replied noncommittally.

My body erupted in goose bumps, shivers of delight working up from my groin. My face flushed and my skin started to tingle. Wow, it felt good. Like I wanted to reach out and touch the smooth sex trap in front of me. It reminded me of when I’d first met Charles and my brain went on complete hiatus despite the setting. That level of coercion I’d long since been able to block. But Mr. Toa-man had some tricks up his sleeve. He gave it to me much harder, breaking through my already practiced blocks.

It wasn’t him I wanted, though.

My gaze slid across his almost too perfect face and sought those deep, dark eyes of the man I loved. I wanted to rip his clothes off and take him right now, these people be damned. He sat across the room, a twinkle in his eyes, his bulge pronounced and ready. Fire shot through our link, fizzling up my body and nearly overtaking me. I focused on that earth-shattering face, rugged and handsome, an appearance to give any fabled vampire a run for their money.

I heard a throat clear.

“I think she has gotten off track,” Dominicous said lightly. “What an unusual smell. Like…fallen leaves on the lush forest floor. Vibrant and alive.”

Stefan winked, pride welling up in our link. I’d still chosen him even though the pheromones were supposed to direct me toward Toa.

Silly man. Of course I’d choose him! Who wouldn’t?

“I’d like to see this overflow you two speak of,” Dominicous said as I pulled my gaze away from Stefan.

“Until I pass out, or just enough to stay conscious?” I clarified. “I’m no stranger to magic shock, but I’m also no stranger to nearly dying from it. So…”

“Conscious would be best, if at all possible.” Dominicous hid a smirk.