Blue Blood (Series of Blood Book 3) by Emma Hamm (books to read this summer .txt) 📕

“We do not drink such plebeian things here. You shall have single malt whiskey, or perhaps hundred year old wine? It’s quite a good vintage.”

He hadn’t thought it possible, but he found himself hating the man even more. “Water.”

“Fine, fine. I see you wish to be difficult.” Malachi released a long drawn out sigh and held out his hand. A wine glass appeared within it, dangling in his loose grip precariously over the expensive carpet.

Malachi offered the glass to Jasper as though it were an offering of peace. Jasper highly doubted it was, but took it nonetheless.

“This isn’t poisoned, is it?” he asked.

“I do not poison people I have use for.”

Jasper didn’t ask again. He drank the cool liquid and let it slide down his throat. The entire glass was emptied in mere seconds, and he sighed in relief. He wasn’t certain that a single glass would ever be enough.

The soft sound of trickling water brushed against his senses, and he looked down at the glass. It had refilled itself. Or perhaps it had been Malachi’s doing.

Jasper now knew what stolen magic Malachi used. “You’re currently using an Illusionist’s magic?”

It was the same power Wren had seen him use. This seemed strange to Jasper, as Malachi was known for swapping his powers as often as he changed his clothing. That was what the Five had been told by informants, at any rate.

“Oh no.” Malachi laughed. “That was yesterday’s face. I’m using a Summoner’s magic now.”

There was very little known about the Summoners. They were a secretive bunch who were cousins of the Illusionists. They were known to steal things, as they could will objects from anywhere in the world to their fingertips. Whatever they wanted, be it human, creature, or object, a Summoner could have.

Jasper began to sweat. Suddenly, angering Malachi had become an entirely different kind of game. An Illusionist’s powers were easily repelled if one knew that it was an illusion. A Summoner was very different.

“Can we get on to the mission? I assume you dragged me out of my cell to send me on my way.”

Malachi looked disappointed. “Come now, Jasper. You have no need to be so serious! Enjoy the small things in life. I’m giving you a chance to relax, and you want to disregard that gift?”

“I want to get this over with, so I can go home.”

Malachi’s expression darkened. “Fine then. Let me tell you how this is going to go. You’re going to sit right there and listen to my every order. You’re going to follow those orders to the exact wording. Then you are going to come back here and hope I am in a good mood when I see you.”

“I don’t think so.” Jasper shook his head. “I’m not your puppet. I’ll do the mission as I see fit. You have a Summoner inside you, not an Oracle.”

“I don’t think you were listening to me, Jasper. When I say jump, you’re going to ask me how high. Then you’re going to jump to the specified height without complaint.”

“And if I don’t?” Jasper growled.

“Then I’m going to go pop your girlfriend’s head off her shoulders. She might be a feisty little thing, but she is very small. And for all her screaming, Sirens aren’t particularly intimidating.” Malachi knew that he had Jasper by the heart strings.

Jasper wasn’t going to do anything that endangered Lyra, whether the other man truly had her captured or not didn’t matter. He couldn’t take that risk.

Though it hurt his ego immensely, Jasper slowly nodded in response.

“Perfect.” Malachi leaned back in his chair and took a sip of the blood red wine suddenly in his hand. “Now, the retrieval process is going to be difficult to say the least. You’re going to have to follow my men’s every order.”

“Where are we going?”

“Classified.”

“What am I retrieving?”

“Even you couldn’t miss it. I won’t spoil the fun.” Malachi toasted him with his wine glass before taking another large gulp.

“Does it have a name?”

“I’m certain it does. Most things have names. But no, before you ask, I do not know what its name is.”

Jasper raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose as a headache blossomed. “Do you know anything about this thing you want?”

“It’s in the center of a maze made out of thorns and other kinds of disgusting plantlife. I’ve never precisely liked nature. I’m a creature who prefers a cement jungle, if you know what I mean.”

“I know what you mean.” Jasper pushed the words through clenched teeth. “I am to go into this blind then? All you’re going to tell me is to follow your men’s orders to the word?”

“It’s more fun that way.”

“Can you at least tell me who you are sending with me?”

Malachi leaned forward with a wide grin. “That I can. I have procured a Dragon, a Hellhound, and a Wisp to accompany you on your adventures. They should be able to provide enough protection to return you to me before nightfall.”

The words were surprising. Jasper couldn’t help but arch a brow. “You’re expending energy to keep me alive?”

“Not you, my boy.” Malachi chuckled. “I couldn’t care less if you died. They are there to protect what I want, not you. If you manage to kill yourself before our deal is up, that’s not my problem.”

He didn’t want anyone he didn’t know watching his back. It was easier to be on edge than it was to trust someone else. That was reserved for Lyra and Burke alone. Even Wren was too green for him to truly trust her instincts in a fight.

“Fine. When are we leaving?” Jasper asked.

“Now, since you are so insistent upon being difficult. You could have enjoyed a few hours of revelry before going out into the dark world. But that was your choice.” Malachi shrugged and waved his hand.

Jasper smelled the armor before he felt it. He recognized this scent. Armor enchanted by an anti-venom potion and reeking with the acrid sting of heated garbage. He hated anti-venom potions.