Читать книгу Bound By Blood - Elizabeth Valentino - Страница 8

Chapter 4

Bryce seems less than pleased with the story of his brother’s demise. He has, however, conceded to travel with me in hopes of also bartering with the deities.

With a snap I settle my goggles tightly over my eyes before buttoning up my jacket. It’ll be a long and draining flight into Venice, especially since I have to haul Bryce’s ass there as well. I just hope we can make it before sunrise.

“Nice fashion statement, princess,” Bryce quips dryly.

“Stop trying to be a jerk. They’re not for fashion, they’re for function. Trust me, you’ll appreciate it when I can actually see where I’m going without flying us into a tree.”

“Are you sure you’re strong enough to carry me all the way to Venice?” Bryce looks me over with an eyebrow arched.

“Is it going to hurt your manly ego to be carried by a girl? I promise I won’t tell anyone.” Not wanting to push our tentative truce, I hold out my arms. “Come here, sweetie.” Unable to resist, I add, “I promise I won’t bite.”

“Liar. I still have fang marks in my neck from the last time you bit me.” Bryce absently rubs his hand over the faint mark I left on his neck.

“Stop your whining, you know you liked it. Now get over here. We have a long way to go, and not much time to make it.”

“If you drop me, Mila, I will not be happy.”

Laughing, I consider dropping him just because he deserves it. “I’m scared of the big wolf man making threats against poor innocent girls.”

“You are no innocent girl, princess, and you should be scared.” Bryce growls low in his throat.

“I’m scared, I assure you. Now be quiet. I need to concentrate.” Closing my eyes, I draw on the power that flows through me in a constant stream. I let it pool deep within me as it gathers momentum. The sparks of energy begin inside at first. As the vortex of power increases my skin starts to send showers of sparks fluttering over us. My long black hair takes on a life of its own as sparks run the lengths of the strands. As the change spreads through my body my magic surges forth in a steady stream, wrapping around my bone structure and forcing the bones composing my shoulder blades to lengthen and grow.

Vampire myths say we can turn into bats. It’s not true in the least; my wings aren’t even leathery like a bat’s. They are covered with shiny black feathers, and are beautiful in an odd way. I have no idea where my ability to grow wings came from. I’m the only vampire I know of with the gift of flight. It’s very useful.

The only thing that sucks is how much it hurts to get the things out of my back, and how long it takes for them to retract. This is why I don’t use my wings unless absolutely necessary. They aren’t particularly discreet either, and would probably garner some strange looks in public. Although probably not any more, since much of the city has been looted and deserted. It’s a strange time. The rich seem largely unaffected, but from the middle class down debilitating poverty has taken hold.

Grinding my teeth practically down to nubs, I try not to cry out as the ripping, searing pain tears through my whole back. It feels as if my skin is peeling off and the flesh beneath is on fire, punctuated with sharp stabs of pain. Bryce looks slightly alarmed at the sharp cracking and popping noises my bones make as their structure continues rearranging itself and expanding.

“Mila, are you okay? You aren’t going to die, are you?” Bryce tugs at his ear as if he can’t decide if he should help.

“It’s okay, Bryce,” I pant. “Sorry I didn’t warn you. I’m used to it. I’ve stopped thinking it’ll kill me. Trust me, in the beginning I wasn’t sure.”

“Well since you’ll survive, can we get going?”

Relief swamps me as the pain begins to subside. My wings flutter softly on the wind, ready to carry us. “Ready?”

“Sure,” he says, hesitation edging his words.

Without giving him time to back out of it, I let my wings stretch and carry us upward, toward the welcoming pull of the moon and the serene beauty of the night sky. “Relax, Bryce. It’s actually pretty cool up here, and I promise I won’t drop you. I wouldn’t want to mess your hair up or anything.” I am rewarded with a slight smile that is devastating in its subtlety. I am slightly uncomfortable with him wrapped around me, his scent–as attractive and wild as he–invading my senses. Arousal curls through me, taunting me with a disturbing desire I can’t act upon. This is unfortunate. Good thing for him I don’t plan on surrendering to lust with any man, lycan or not. It only leads to trouble.

“Fuck,” I whisper as I try to coax more speed from my wings.

“Did you say something, Mila?” His raspy voice scrapes over me sensually, further heightening my unwanted attraction.

“Nothing, now can you be quiet? I need to concentrate. Flying isn’t as easy as it looks.”

“Jesus, woman, no need to bite my head off. Since small talk seems to be out, tell me about what happened with Evan in the end.”

“Your brother fought the disease for six days. He was a trooper right until the end. He was able to function normally until the last day. Then it seized him, suddenly and without mercy.”

“So that’s what happened to Evan. I should have been there with him.” Bryce’s voice becomes even deeper and raspier with emotion.

“Not exactly.” I’m not too keen on revealing the next bit while we’re floating high enough that the houses below look like tiny dots.

“What do you mean, not exactly?” Bryce digs his fingers into my back hard enough to leave bruises.

“Evan could sense you were tracking him and was afraid you’d find him before he died. So the day the disease really took hold, when he was satisfied I was in a safe place and I had his message to you...” A trickle of blood leaks down my cheek at the memory. “...he killed himself. How did you find us, anyway?”

“I received an anonymous phone call about your location. The whole thing reeked of a setup, but I couldn’t abandon my brother. So I masked my scent and presence, and waited until I was sure it was just you in there. I had to act quickly after the crazy lady ratted me out. I knew it was only a matter of time until you figured it out.”

“I did, about the same time you barreled in and tried to maul me to death. Venice is down below. Hold on tight, we’re about to drop.” Silence envelops us as my wings pull us down toward the city–and not a moment too soon. Dawn is already edging in.