The Council (Darkness #5)(43)

Andris turned back to the circle where the goat was being chained to the floor in the middle. “They taught me a great deal. And then became redundant.” He smirked. “Well, actually, they became the sacrifice to call a demon. Poetic, I thought.”

“Did you plan to get caught? By us? And taken to the Council?”

The goat bleated as the helpers moved away.

“I did not, no. As I said, you’ve done nothing but get in my way since the beginning of this enterprise. But, I am ever an improviser. Also well-connected.”

Stefan couldn’t argue with that. The male got out of the dungeon, got Trek out of the dungeon, and both of them away from the compound without any problem whatsoever. He was good at what he did— Stefan had to give him that.

Andris gestured for one of his staff to approach, saying to Stefan, “And no, to answer your question. I did not stop to pick up a goat. I stopped to pick up something infinitely more valuable. If you travel too far, the blood link is nothing more than an echo. I like to be apprised of my possessions at all times.”

“Ah.” Stefan glanced around the room for the person of which he spoke. “Does she know she is a possession?”

“She knows that she has landed a handsome, rich, powerful, dominating man that gives her the best sex of her life. She cherishes the ground I walk on.”

“But does she know she’s a possession? Females really hate that.”

Andris scoffed. “You’re too soft. Human women need to be taken in hand. Once they submit, they flow along nicely. Except for that harebrained human you found. Bad luck.”

Stefan smirked. Not at all. The sex was better with the feisty ones. Conversations were more colorful with someone that could match one’s intellect. And his mansion would run ten times more efficiently with someone that was strong enough to steer the ship on her own.

A hard stab of longing pierced his chest. He muffled the link, just in case any of that bled through. Andris was right, all the distance only gave echoes of feeling, but with him and Sasha, it would be enough to make her come running with a sword and a snarl.

Mate.

“Now,” Andris interrupted his thoughts as he moved toward the circle, book in hand. “Let’s give this goat a purpose, shall we?”

“You know, if you gave that goat to a family in an impoverished nation, it would have a longer-lasting purpose.”

Andris swiveled his body to stare at Stefan. “Since when are you so light and carefree? Is that what hanging around humans does to a male? Turns him nonsensical and delirious?”

“Well, now you’re just saying words.”

Hazel eyes stared hard. His head tilted a fraction, calculating. “Maybe I should’ve taken her. Maybe used her while you watched. I think that would’ve gotten the reaction I was looking for.”

Stefan shrugged, unconcerned. But you didn’t. She was safe, and she’d look after everything Stefan spent his life to build. His job as a mate and protector would be upheld.

“I doubt she will live through the siege on the Council, but if she does, maybe I’ll target her when we’re done. Use her for a demon.” Andris continued to stare.

Stefan shrugged again. “If you’re irritated by my always getting in the way, I can’t imagine you’ll find Dominicous and Toa any fun.”

Andris’ look darkened. He nodded to a helper, handed off his book, and stalked over to Stefan in heavy, angry strides. With two hands he ripped Stefan’s shirt open, revealing his chest. The next moment a knife flashed.

Stefan sucked in a breath as the steel bit into his flesh, slicing the skin across his pec. Pain bled across his senses, merging with the throbbing in his skull that hadn’t gone away. He opened his eyes slowly, knowing Andris waited for a reaction of some kind. For anger.

Instead, Stefan smiled. “Jonas would really love you.”

Rage clouded Andris’ gaze. Crimson crawled up his face. Just as quickly, a cold, calm rationale settled down, muffling the loss of control. His lips curled slightly. “I see. Yes, you always had ways of manipulating. Clever. And maybe, were we playing fair, I would have met my match. Unfortunately, playing fair is merely a detour to getting where you need to be.”

“Poetic. Did you find that on a tee-shirt?”

Unblinking hazel eyes revealed the turmoil within. The spoiled kid that wasn’t getting his way. It almost made Stefan chuckle, but not yet. Someone laughing at him would certainly push him into a frenzy, but there wasn’t enough pressure to make the frenzy escalate into carelessness. Not yet. Stefan would save the laughter for a pivotal moment—if one ever came.

After another moment of collecting himself, Andris turned slowly and stuck out his hands for the book. “I hate this old magic. It takes so long.”

Two helpers entered the circle, one carrying a velvety blue pillow in two outstretched hands, and the other with hands folded down his front. They stood at the head of the goat, which pushed forward, seemingly looking for food. Andris walked in as well, stepping between the males with open book in hand. He glanced down at the pages, and then started to speak what Stefan thought might be Latin in a flat, monotone voice.

So he’d been right. Andris would create a lessor demon first. One he could control. Maybe even one that could help control a more powerful demon—who knew? Certainly not Stefan; he’d never seen old magic performed before now. And on first appearance, it seemed archaic and laughable. If he hadn’t fought what this type of magic could produce, he’d dismiss it out of hand.