Marked by Blood: Book 2 of The Marked Series by Ford, Rinna (top novels of all time txt) 📕

Di lightly laughed and put her fake smile back on her face, but she knew we weren’t buying it completely. The vampire cleared her throat and smoothed her skirt down in front of her. “So, do you want our help or not?”

“That’s all? What are you planning on doing with this rebellion? Overthrow the Council? Make a new government?” I questioned.

“You ask some big questions. Are you sure you want the answers?” Di was getting annoyed. It was obvious by her tone and the fact that her haughty look had returned.

“We want to know what we’re getting involved in, so yes. We’d like answers.”

My mate was practically vibrating with anger beside me. I put my hand on the middle of his back as we waited.

Di turned her nose up and looked away toward a window. “We have no plans to overthrow the Council, I assure you.” Her eyes shifted back to us. “Do you want our help or not?”

No one spoke for almost a minute as Xan and I stared at Di and she back at us. I knew that she was lying, but we were out of options. If worse came to worst, we could always level the house down in our dragon forms and fly away.

“Yes,” I told her. “We’ll stay, for now. Just know, neither one of us are pawns in your little game, whatever your position. The moment we feel used or lied to, we’re out of here. I’m a caster and a dragon, and don’t forget that Dev is my uncle. I have the means and the ability to get us both out of here.”

Di rose from her seat, an annoyed expression crossing her face.

“Understood. But just so you know, you’ll be expected to pull your weight around here. Everyone helps with the cooking and cleaning. Room and board doesn’t come for free, and neither does my help or protection.”

Xan and I both stood in front of the couch. I stuck out both hands and within seconds, both Xan’s and my backpacks appeared in them. I handed my mate his, and he looped one of the straps over his broad shoulder.

Surprise crossed Di’s face. “How? How did you do that?” she asked. “You shouldn’t have been able to do that in this house! It’s protected from magic use inside!”

“We understand your conditions and we accept them,” I replied, not answering her question. I honestly didn’t know the answer because, apparently, a caster had spelled the house against that kind of power, but I loved that I kept knocking her off her game. “Now, is there someplace we can freshen up?”

She nodded her head quickly and began walking toward the door to the hallway.

“Follow me,” she told us, quickly.

I shrugged my shoulders and smiled at my mate before following the vampire out of the office.

Chapter Three

“Irna, please show this couple to a room on the second floor,” Di said to the first person she came in contact with.

A petite blonde woman with bright hazel eyes looked up from her book when Di spoke to her. She had a kind, sweet smile that slowly fell when she got a good look at me. Her smile returned after a second and she stood, walking over to us on bare feet.

“Hi, I’m sure you heard, but I’m Irna,” she said and held out her hand for me to shake.

I took her offered hand. “I’m Emelia, and this is my mate, Xander.”

Xan nodded his head in greeting. It seemed as if he was still on edge, so I let his rudeness go. It looked like Irna did too because her expression never faltered.

“It’s nice to meet you both. I got it, Di,” she said to the vampire and began walking toward the stairs.

I turned to say thank you to our host, after all, it was only polite, but she was already gone. Where she went, I didn’t know. All I knew at that point was we were safe, well as safe as we could be, and there was a hot shower with my name on it.

“Follow me,” Irna grinned. “The house is enormous and I don’t want you to get lost on my watch.”

I looked at Xan and lightly punched his stomach before following after our guide. I didn’t look back, but by the sound of my mate’s heavy footsteps, I knew he was following too.

“This house has twenty-six bedrooms, each having its own ensuite bathroom so you won’t have to share with anyone.” Irna looked behind her to see if we were still with her then turned back around and stepped off of the stairs and onto the second floor landing. She turned left down one of the two hallways and kept walking. “The house also has an indoor/outdoor pool, theatre, and game room for entertainment. There’s other stuff too, but I’ll wait and let Di decide if she wants to tell you about it since she’s the boss and all.” She stopped at a door on the right, turned the knob, and pushed it open. “This is your room. I think you’ll like the view.”

I stepped inside and was immediately greeted with a cloudless blue sky. Two-thirds of the back wall was made up of large windows that allowed a massive amount of light in.

“Wow,” I breathed out.

My dragon nudged my subconscious. She wanted to be out there, flying.

Later. I promise.

She nudged me again because even though Xan and I stopped once on the route to California in a secluded place to stretch our wings, so to speak, it wasn’t enough. I understood her need to get out. I hated being cooped up too.

“Wanna go on a date with me later?” I eyed my mate.

He took his eyes off of the windows to face me and smiled.

“I’ll leave you two alone, then,” Irna said from the doorway. I had forgotten she was there.

“Sorry,” I cringed. “Thank you.”

Irna grabbed the doorknob and began to shut it, but stopped and pushed her head back in.

“Why