Blood Magic (After Dark Book 7) by Sarah Bailey (historical books to read .txt) 📕

“Is that what I am now?”

She raised her head, her ice blue eyes determined.

“Forbidden or not, we’re in a relationship and we have been for quite some time. Are you going to tell me I’m wrong?”

He grinned, tangling his hand in her hair and leaning down.

“No.”

Claiming her mouth, he felt the truth of her words band themselves around his heart. They had been a couple since the day she’d asked him for friends with benefits. Neither of them had been willing to admit it until now.

“You should go,” he said when he released her.

She nodded, pulling away from him. They both had things to accomplish for their respective species. If Dani could solve the fae problems, then perhaps her father would get off their case a little. Even if King Mitah never approved of their relationship, he couldn’t do anything about it now they were bound to each other.

“You’ll know if I’m in trouble,” she said as blue glittering magic washed over her and soon she was clothed. “The bond, it will tell you. I’m not entirely sure how it works, but I know that much.”

“Does it work both ways?”

“Yes. You can feel me and I can feel you.”

He cupped her face.

“I always feel you. Right here.”

He placed his hand over where his heart lay. It was still, but she’d know what he meant. Her eyes lit up, sparking with happiness.

“I love you too.”

He kissed her forehead.

“Be safe.”

She nodded, stepping away from him. Magic poured out of her hand again, creating a portal next to them. She pulled out a blue stone from her bag.

“Ostende mihi viam,” she muttered to it.

It glowed brightly in her hands before a trail of blue smoke appeared and led to the portal.

“Was that from Alistair?”

“Yes, he said it will guide me to the right portal so I can enter Hell.”

She took a step towards the portal, looking back at him with a smile.

“I love you, Dani. Remember that.”

Nodding, she turned and stepped into the portal. A sense of trepidation ran through him as she left. He had no time to dwell on it. Dressing quickly, he melted into the shadows.

It was time to see Neave and put a stop to the shit with Gavin’s business once and for all.

Chapter Nineteen

Dani stepped out of the portal into Hyde Park. The stone glowed in her hand and the smoke trailed along in front of her. She tried not to tremble, but the thought of going to Hell to face Lucifer and Candace terrified her. She’d told Jamie she’d be okay, but in reality, she desperately wished he could’ve come with her. If only to give her the strength to go through with it.

She brushed her fingertips over her heart. That’s where she carried him now and it would just have to see her through.

Taking a deep breath, she followed the trail of smoke into the trees. She had to do this. Saving her people from war was more important than her and Jamie. Even if it meant placing herself at the mercy of the Devil and his queen. She wasn’t entirely sure how she was going to appeal to Candace. The fae had never treated her kindly. Dani didn’t care she was half witch. As far as she was concerned, it made Candace special.

The smoke led her through the foliage until it stopped in the middle of a small clearing. There was nothing particularly remarkable about the spot. Tall trees surrounded it. Dani frowned. Something struck her as odd. There was an air about it which didn’t feel right.

She shoved the stone in her pocket and walked around the clearing. There was nothing here to indicate there was a portal. Alistair said it would bring her to it and she trusted him. He’d given her the right ritual for the blood bond, so this should be no different.

“This is just great,” she muttered to herself.

She put her hand out, speaking in the ancient tongue of her people.

“Show me the hidden path.”

Her magic flared in her palm. She felt the air around her thicken until it was almost suffocating. Peering at the centre of the clearing, she began to see an inactive portal shimmering.

This was it. It had to be.

Now she just had to work out how to activate it. If Alistair was right and this was the portal which would take her straight to Lucifer and Candace, then she wasn’t surprised it was hidden. She walked over to it, placing her hand over where it shimmered. She felt heat pulsating from it. A portal to Hell would have to be hot. She couldn’t imagine Hell was anything other than fiery.

She whispered, “Open,” in fae, but the portal remained closed.

Tapping her finger on her chin, she realised this was going to take something else other than fae magic to open. It was Lucifer’s portal after all. Did it need Divine power? She shook herself. No, that wasn’t right. Candace was half fae. She just had to try something else.

Ten minutes later, she wanted to tear her hair out. She’d tried everything she could think of to activate the portal. Nothing worked. She couldn’t have got this far only to fail at the last hurdle.

Slumping back against a tree, she sighed. It was never going to be easy, she’d known that. What else could it be? Was it really something simple? It could be.

Then she had it. Alistair’s words about activating the stone came back to her. Could it really be that? There was only one way to find out.

She walked towards the portal, but a hand came over her mouth. Immediately, her skin prickled and she