“I have never lied to you, my love.”
“Lying and purposely withholding the truth are two sides of the same coin.”
“And you do not have secrets? Things about your family and your coven you keep to yourself,” he questioned back, and the tone of his voice threw me off for a moment.
“But it is not as if my family is talking about you. They do not even know you exist. None of our conversations—”
“When you all speak about the vampires, you speak about me and my family, Druella. Whatever your coven plans for vampires is about me.”
My shoulders dropped, and my arms unfolded. That wasn’t fair, but it wasn’t wrong. My gaze began to drop, but he gently lifted my chin and made me look at him. “I did not tell my family of you, neither of finding you or being with you. My father’s gift—we call it the touch of God—is that the moment he touches you, from then on, he always has access to
your mind. I’m sure my mother had him checking on me throughout the years. I suppose, a week ago, he did so again and realized we were together. The old vampire can keep secrets from everyone but my mother for some reason.”
“And so she called for us to meet her and you refused?”
He nodded. “Apparently, she has denied my refusal, and since Jabari is here, that means my father did not wish to stop her, so he must also wish to meet you.”
“And I am guessing they will not ask politely again?”
He shook his head no. “Forgive me. If I knew they would do this on your birthday, I would have gone to them earlier.”
“Okay. But I can’t just leave for days. I have to be back before sunrise.”
“That can be done,” Jabari said, gaining our attention. He smiled at me, and I wondered just how anyone in the world could see him and not know he was not mortal. “I can take you both there instantly and bring you back with time to spare.”
“How?”
He stepped forward. However, Theseus held his hand out and blocked him. Jabari snickered but said nothing.
“Get your bag and whatever else you wish to bring with you. The protection magic you have here weakens when you are away, correct?”
I nodded, going back to get my bag. I glanced at the painting he’d made for me before grabbing hold of it, too. I didn’t want to leave it anywhere. I held the artwork above my laptop bag and allowed the magic to make the opening wide for me to put the canvas carefully inside.
“She truly does not need to say a spell?” Jabari muttered in shock when the whole large canvas disappeared into my little bag, and I zipped it closed.
“No, I don’t. My magic knows what I want it to do,” I said as I turned back to him. “So, how do we go?”
“Interesting. My gift works a bit in the same way. I know where I wish to go and wish to go there. Then I am there. So if you wanted to go to Ankeiros, you could have simply appeared there as I do?” Jabari asked.
I thought about it. “Maybe? I’ve never used my magic to travel before. I don’t think I want to try either because my magic sometimes doesn’t get my desires exactly. I could wish to go to Paris, France, and end up in Paris, Texas, in a massive crowd.”
“That is why I must know the exact room or door I wish to be in,” he said, offering his right hand to his brother and then his other to me. When I took it, Theseus frowned. “Do not mind him. The newly mated never wish for theirs to be touched by another vampire.”
“Mated?”
“Jabari,” Theseus warned.
“Close your eyes, Ms. Omeron. This may make you dizzy.”
I shut my eyes tightly and tried not to squeeze their hands. Please let this not be a bad idea.
* * *
It felt like being at the very top of a roller coaster, then being dropped down with so much force that it sent your stomach flying into your throat.
Oh, God.
“I have you,” Theseus said. He held my arms as I nearly fell over. I tried to open my eyes, but the world was spinning. “It takes some getting used to.”