Page 49 of Accidental Blood Lust
Loch huffs, squeezing my hand.
Roman is still whimpering and half-shifted, and if we weren’t sure they’re fated mates before, we are now. There’s no denying it, but apparently Lochlan doesn’t have a clue. What will he do when he finds out? Will that be the moment I lose them both forever?
“I need to consult my history books,” Rune says. “There could be something there. I’ve only dealt with a mortal oncea long time ago who came to me asking for help after he accidentally accepted a gift from a fae.”
“Maybe whatever you did then would work?” Lochlan asks.
Rune shakes his head. “It didn’t. The mortal died.”
Loch flinches and Roman growls while my stomach twists into knots.
“How does a fae kill a vampire?” I ask.
“Beheading,” Cassius says. “That’s how anyone can kill a vampire.”
“Fuck,” I mutter.
“So, a few hundred years ago, there was a fae coup,” Cassius explains. “They formed a group of several factions and attempted to make themselves the supreme rulers of the supe world. One of their methods was to lure unsuspecting mortals in through trickery and hospitality. It made mortals forcibly compliant, like mindless robots. I don’t know if it could have the same effect on a vampire.”
“Well, shit,” Mac says.
“Exactly.” Cassius nods.
“How was it resolved?” I ask.
Cassius tilts his head, gazing off for a moment before blinking and focusing on me. “It was bloody. The battle lasted for days, but if I remember correctly, the more fae that were slaughtered, the more of them there seemed to be. Almost like they were pouring out of the woods. Then…” He pauses before nodding. “Ah, yes, I remember now. Enchanted fire.”
Rune perks up. “Enchanted fire?”
Cassius continues. “Yes. Many magic users combined forces and created this magical ball of fire that torched anyone with fae blood in their veins, except mortals. It incinerated their forests, their homes, their bodies. Devastated their population. Took centuries to replenish.”
Rune looks at me. “We can work on that.”
“I don’t have your ability, but I’ll do anything I can to help.”
“I’m not sure I do either. Perhaps we’ll need to pull in others too.”
“Will this enchanted fire hurt Lochlan?” Drax asks. “He has fae blood in his veins, right?”
“What? No, the fae blood is out of his system. Look, he’s totally sober,” I point out.
Cassius shakes his head. “He’s processed it, but when we feed, the blood circulates for long periods, part of us until our body fully consumes it. We can fix it though,” he says ominously.
“How?” I ask.
The vampire’s eyes settle on Roman, communicating silently. Roman takes a deep breath as more of his human features start to return, but Lochlan looks terrified all of a sudden. Ah. He can hear Cassius.
“What?” I demand. “Tell me.”
Cassius stares at Loch. “We have to drain Lochlan and bring him back.”
Drain him? Why does that news seem to calm Roman? I would expect the opposite to happen.
“Wouldn’t that just mean thatyouwould end up with the scent of fae blood on you?” Roman asks.
Cas shakes his head. “It shouldn’t since I won’t be drinking it straight from the source, it’ll be more diluted and fade from my system in no time.”
“Is it dangerous?” I ask.
