Page 84 of Fated In Ruin
We burstout onto the front lawn into a melee of armed guards and testosterone, all that masculine energy focused on the imagined threat outside.
If Malachi and Virgil did manage to break through Fiona’s ward, they’d be dead in seconds.
“Wait.” I waved my hands, racing down the front steps toward the group. “That’s not who you think it is.”
“Silver, get back inside.” Riordan swung his head in my direction. “If Ravok is here, Blake and I will deal with him.”
Together, they were a sight, Riordan’s brilliantly white magic forming a host of ghostly, snapping creatures, their gaping mouths tipped with red, while Blake’s deathly shadows swarmed like wraiths, poised to attack.
The mix of their white and black power took my breath away.
I slid to a stop beside Blake, reached through the hazy shadows whirling around him and gripped his wrist. “That’s not Ravok. It’s Malachi. And for some reason, he has Virgil with him.”
Blake did that unsettling, slow swivel of his head to peer down at me, and I dropped his wrist, then slowly stepped back. His eyes were wholly black, edge to edge, not a hint of white. He looked fucking…possessed.
“Well, that’s not scary at all,” Eldric muttered, hand gripping my arm, dragging me to a safe distance while Blake snarled like some feral beast, fangs bared.
“Blake, this is not an attack,” I explained carefully, moving so Eldric was squarely behind me. “This is just Malachi, and he’s probably injured. We have to let him through.”
“The traitor stays outside, he’s a threat to you.” Blake’s deep voice was layered in power, and something equally dark hummed down the mating bond, sending dread shuddering straight through me. “Who is this Virgil?”
“My cousin. Dante’s eldest son, he’s…okay.” In fact, I had no idea if Virgil was okay, but he’d been my only friend growing up and if he was here with Malachi…there had to be good reason.
A low, feral growl scraped up out of my mate’s throat, the kind I’d never heard before, but I stood my ground, praying I could get through to him. His shadows had almost swallowed us, and while I wasn’t afraid, their immense power skated over my skin, filled with pent up rage.
“Blake, Fiona’s dropping the wards,” I said, although she didn’t look too sure about this, either, “and I need you to promise not to hurt Malachi. Or Virgil.”
Another one of those growls was my only answer, so I let a tendril of my magic unfurl and Blake’s eyes flared, broad chest heaving as he began to pant, my dark flames weaving through his shadows, like dusk turning to darkest night, my magic was even blacker than his, not something I found comforting right now.
My mate’s deadly, menacing growl turned to a rough, silken purr, then I was crushed against his muscled body as he lifted me up and banded his arms around me, pressing my core against his hard cock—exactly where he wanted me, as that purr deepened.
Except…right place…definitely the wrong time, as twenty sets of eyes turned to us.
“Blake, what in the fuck are you doing?” Riordan hissed. “We’re under attack.”
“We’re not under attack,” I reminded him breathlessly, trying to wiggle away. “It’s only Malachi, Fiona needs to let him inside.”
“Fucking hell, Blake, keep your shit together. Fiona, drop the wards, but only enough to see what’s out there.” Riordan’s face shone with apology as he added, “Just to be safe. Evie, this could be a trick.”
Blake’s face was buried in my throat now, his lips nibbling and tasting, my core soaking wet, even in front of an audience. Fiona’s eyes were wide, Eldric had a big, shit eating grin on his face, while Nash and his men studiously looked anywhere except at the two of us.
“Blake, put me down.” I shoved against his chest and his arms just tightened, our magic now dancing around us like a dark fire storm. “We have anaudience,” I hissed, and he purred louder, grinding himself against me.
“Do it.” I dimly heard Riordan say, then electric charged power rippled over us, like lightning was about to strike.
I was still in that compromised position when a beat-to-shit Malachi stumbled through the opening in the ward, supported by a shell-shocked Virgil. Then my mate dropped me on my ass and launched himself across the open space like some apex predator on the hunt.
36
EVANGELINE
Oh God, he was going to…
“Blake,no.”
I threw out a hand, sending tendrils of shadow wrapping around my mate like thick, fiery ropes, stopping his charge, a few feet before he reached Malachi. Poor Virgil nearly collapsed from fear; Malachi’s narrowed expression told me he was not impressed by his welcome home party.
I was as surprised as anyone that my magic had not only obeyed me, but was doing what I wanted.Blake, stop. I need you to listen to me. He glared over his shoulder, eyes narrowing, and I dragged him back toward me, his boots digging furrows through the dirt.
