His urgency is weird as, yes, he would have had a slight sense that something had happened to me, but he shouldn’t be acting like he actually felt it.

I feel Cole stiffen next to me as CK touches me gently. Devon’s response now makes complete sense to me. He was staying away from me to give Cole time to get used to the idea of us being together before he had to see it. I turn around, giving him a loving look which he returns with a small shrug. He knows I know. I unbutton my shirt and pull the right shoulder down to show CK what’s happening.

“Aefre, my sweet, it’s on fire. Are you in much pain?” he asks quietly.

I sigh. I have to wonder why he has suddenly reverted back to calling me Aefre. It’s weird. I haven’t heard that name in so long. “I’m fine,” I say again for the millionth time. “Honestly. I’m more concerned with why it is getting bigger. What did you find out?” I ask as I turn around, flashing a large amount of cleavage to the room.

CK’s eyes drop briefly, but then snap back up to my inquisitive eyes, as he conservatively does up the buttons on my shirt.

“Not much actually. Corinne didn’t give us much to go on. We’re still trying to track her down,” he says with annoyance.

“Then why are all these people here?” I wave at them absently.

“Because this is an unusual situation and you need to be protected,” he says as if I’m dense.

I snort with amusement. “By them?” I say rudely, glaring at Gregor and Eloise, who both return my look with matching snarls.

“By all of us,” CK says sternly. “They know how important you are now. They won't hurt you,” he adds quietly.

“It’s not me that I’m worried about!” I whisper-snap, even though every Vampire in the room can still hear me.

He looks at me intently and leans forward close to my ear. “He’ll be fine. He is important too; this wouldn’t have happened without him. I won’t let anything happen to him. I promise you,” he murmurs so only I can hear.

I smile gratefully.

“Tell us, please. What happened before the mark first started to grow?” Gregor asks, surprising me with a good question.

CK takes my arm and ushers me to the sofa. “Sit, my dear. Nico, a drink, please,” he orders, and a drink appears in front of me.

I hear a collective gasp from everyone in the room as I reach for the glass on the table. Stopping just short of it, my hand wavers slightly. “Where did that come from?” I ask, pointing at it.

Silence. I glance at each of them in turn – blank stares.

“Where did that come from?” I ask again loudly.

“It just appeared out of nowhere,” Gregor finally answers.

I gape at him, assuming he’s joking, but his face is deadly serious. As is everyone else’s in the room.

“Erm, Liv, sweetie,” Devon starts. “I think you did that.”

I stare at him like he’s just lost his marbles. “Excuse me?” I bark at him.

He glances quickly at Cole. “I felt a tug on my energy before it appeared. I think somehow you conjured it,” he says.

 

; Cole nods in agreement. “I felt something too but didn’t know what it was.”

Eloise laughs. “Oh, she does magick now then?” she asks nastily. “This is ridiculous.”

“No, it’s not,” CK says. “The Power of One indicates magick. We just don’t know what or how.” He looks intrigued and proud, like I did something really special.

“Ignore the glass,” Gregor snaps. “Get back to what happened before the marking grew.”

I look at Cole. “Well, Cole and I were talking,” I say.

“About what?” he inquires.

Tags: Eve Newton Fantasy
Source: readsnovelonline.net