Page 136 of Dark Flame

“Having you weak is best. Like this, you’re no threat. You’re too drained for your magick.”

My weakened limbs would sadly agree with him, but I counter with, “I’ve been holding off to get through this riveting conversation before attacking.”

His gaze suddenly darts toward the right before his lips curl in a grin. “He’s arrived. Time for us all to have some fun.”

And then he’s across the room to stand beside me and Alec appears in the crumbling doorway.

Fifty-Seven

ALEC

The scents trackto the abandoned cottage he once lived in with Cora. It’s a disintegrating mess after centuries of lack of care, but the one place he always returns to, trying to keep her memory alive.

I’m not surprised this is where he brought Harlow.

I enter the cracked doorway slowly, catching their quiet hum of conversation. Of him announcing I’ve arrived, taking away any element of surprise—not that I didn’t believe I’d get one with him. Centuries of friendship allows him to know how I move, act, and think.

Harlow resting against one wall knocks against my empty chest cavity, just the sight of her filling what hasn’t been alive in a very long time. But the feeling quickly dissipates when I take inhowshe looks. Her skin is pale beneath the smudges of dirt, her normally vibrant hair lies limp around her shoulders. The wall seems to be keeping her upright. Her eyes flash between her witch purple and vampire red, confirming she’s in transition.

You’re alive,I throw down the connection, praying it’s fused together enough she can hear. It’s packed with desperation she never leave again, and relief at finding her alive.

Not without difficulty.

My witch tries to stand, determined to be strong even now, but she doesn’t have to prove shit. The fact she’s made it this far speaks volumes. In her attempt to get her feet beneath her, her hair shifts to the side and I catch the faint imprint of five fingers around her throat.

Murder runs through my veins, but it’s centuries of self-control that keep it tapered while I take in the other person here. My oldest friend. My brother in every sense of the word.

“Alec,” he greets in a friendly tone. “Took you long enough.”

“Cedric. Thank you for unburying Harlow. I saw the destruction left behind.” I go for cordial, hoping, fuckinghoping, this isn’t what it seems like.

“I was on my way there anyway.” He clamps his hand on her shoulder, fingers digging in until she flinches, but I hold my ground until a prime opportunity. “Had business with the witches.”

I tried,her voice comes through.I tried to fight, but my body is weak. The magick I used, dying, it’s too much.

I got you, Hellion. Just hold on a bit longer.

“Hope it got completed,” I say to him. “I’ll be taking Harlow now.”

He smiles, but it’s nothing like the ones I’ve gotten from him over the years. It’s the one he gives his prey right before devouring them, when he’s always chasing the freshest blood, no matter who he destroys to get it.

“Oh, but she’s part of my business, old friend. It’s simple, really. You murdered the woman I love, so I’ll be taking your Bride.”

Of course, it’s about Cora. It’salwaysbeen about Cora.

My eyes flash to Harlow again as I step deeper into the room, keeping my distance. I know Cedric. The way he hunts, tortures, and plays these kinds of games. I know how he fights, what his weaknesses are.

But he also knows mine. And he’s presently holding onto my newest and biggest one yet.

You’ll be okay,I tell her.

“You’re punishing me because you blame me for Cora’s death, but you think I haven’t been paying for it every second of eternity? She was mysister, Ced. My baby sister, who I dideverythingto protect.”

“You protected her until you didn’t,” he says cryptically, his grip on Harlow making her flinch. Her transitioning strength is meager compared to a vampire with centuries of power within him, and if wasn’t bad enough, he makes it worse by dragging her in front of him, placing her on her knees facing me.

It hurts. Everything hurts. My throat is like a desert. My gums sting.

“Let her go, Cedric. You know what’ll happen if you don’t.”