Page 35 of Dark Flame

She better change what she’s announced, because knowing I can drink from Sinclair and not be affected…well, it’s a temptation I’m unsure I’ll be able to avoid. A moment where I can finally solve the hunger that seems to plague me every time she’s around.

She shrugs one shoulder, focused on her pointless task. “You’re too old and powerful. If the cure was at full strength, then yeah, it’d work. But given its weakness, you wouldn’t complete the transition to human, and it certainly wouldn’t kill you.”

My fangs throb at the notion of Sinclair being available for my mealtimes, at least for the time being.

“How do I know you’re not lying, trying to get me to become mortal?”

She glares up at me. “Believe me or don’t; it’s onlyyourhunger affected. Besides, why would I lie now of all times after everything I’ve done to help you? Logically, I would have left the protection barrier up, if that were the case.”

Fair point.

Moving on, I check, “If she got her magick back, then the cure would return too?”

“In theory.” She flips a page, pausing on an island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. “You seriously own an entire island? Hm, I may have to visit one day. I could use a vacation, especially after dealing with your cranky ass.”

Ignoring her, I demand, “How did she lose her magick? Is that common?”

Her eyes flick up from the deed, her expression oddly serious. “It’s unheard of. Before Harlow, no witch or warlock has ever lost their powers. She’s truly one of a kind.” Freya pauses, pursing her lips. “Although, in her case, she gave it up.”

“Gave itup?” This entire fucking time,she’sat fault. All while acting like she’s broken without it.

Freya turns to a house in Russia I once won in a bet from the reigning Romanov family in the nineteenth century. “She didn’t do it on purpose, nor does she realize she’s to blame. Her grief was too much at the time.”

“Grief?”

Unamused, she glances up again. “I take it back. You truly don’t know enough about your enemies. Look into what happened to her parents, Alec, and maybe she’ll give you the story.”

“They died in a house fire.”

“Mhm. But there’s more. A lot more. Ask her, because it’s not my business.”

It’s very much Freya’s business, but I demand the more important information, the shit I actually care about. “How does she get her powers back?”Canshe?

“Well, figure out what happened to her family and you’ll figure that answer out.”

Fucking witch.Slapping a hand on the desk, I reach for the folder, ripping it out from her hold. “No, you don’t get to avoid answering. How does she get it back?” I bare my fangs, letting my threat speak for itself.

Freya lifts her hand, and pressure in my gums has my fangs forcibly retracting. She stands, her demeanor nothing like the tiny witch began as. Her bright hair flares a bit, almost glowing as a sense of death radiates from her. “Do not underestimate me,vampire. Between the two of us, I ammucholder than you and much more powerful. Because I’m rooting for you, I’ll put it like this: grief is the centre of her story. Grief is a heavy emotion. She needs a heavy emotion for it to return.”

Heavy emotion…fuck, what even are emotions anymore? The emotions mortals are plagued with don’t affect vampires the same way. We lust for blood, revenge, and sex, not always in that order. Emotions involving grief and terror, sadness and love, aren’t built into us. We lost those abilities with our transition to an immortal. Something about our kind being descended from a demon—one of the original fallen angels—and demons are soulless creatures.

“More grief then. Or fear.”

Freya shrugs again, her expression smoothing. “Sure. Don’t really know the trigger.”

“You’re unhelpful.”

Scoffing, she stalks around my desk. “I’m very helpful. In fact, you owe me for quite a few things now. I’m keeping a list, Your Highness.”

“Majesty.”

She waves her hand. “Whatever. Majesty. Asshole. Dick. Vampire. It all works. Anyhoo, I’m off.” She stalks towards the door, throwing it open before glancing over her shoulder. “Oh, Alec, you’re playing with fire. She’s more powerful than you assume.”

“Powerful. She’s powerless.Wasn’t that the point of this conversation?”

Freya winks before shutting the door on all my unanswered questions.

“Wait—” I flit across the room, catching the door before it shuts, but the hallway’s empty, the First Witch having disappeared.