Page 126 of Seared Fates

Vidar slings an arm around my shoulders. “Back to my old self.”

Sen grins, sharing a look with Vidar made up of nine hundred years of wounds and broken promises, laughter and love.

“Not your old self.” Sen opens the door, sliding inside with a deadly grace. “I like this version much better, Maker.”

Vidar’s gaze flickers to mine, eyes softening and the corners of his mouth tilting up. “So do I, offspring.”

“Take care of your man, Vidar, or I might just steal him from you.” Sen slams the door shut, the engine purring to life like a big cat fattened on cream.

“I’d like to see you try,” Vidar growls, but the impact is lost in the way he grins at Sen.

The wrought-iron gates creak open as the car reverses towards them.

“Excited for the future?” I ask, gazing up at Vidar.

“Excited for anything with you, little prince.” Vidar tips my head back, our lips meeting.

THUMP!

I jump back as Sen’s car jolts to a stop. Frowning, I look to see what Sen hit. Maybe the gate? It didn’t sound like metal.

When a head of curls appears with a groan of pain, my heart lurches.

“Teagan!” I yell, horrified and tripping over my feet to get to my little brother. “Fucking hell, are you okay?”

He shrugs, looking more upset about the crack in his toxic-green skateboard than the bump forming on his forehead.

Vidar is already next to me, looking Teagan over. “I don’t smell any bleeding.”

“How would you even know that?” Teagan mumbles under his breath, examining his skateboard for any other damage.

“We should get him to the hospital!” I cry.

Teagan dusts off his ripped jeans with a far too casual air. “Big bro, I’m fine.”

I turn to Sen, glaring. “Sen, you fucking idiot, you could’ve killed him!”

Sen stands half out of the car, chest heaving. Staring at Teagan like he’s in front of a vast ocean, and the meaning of life just rose from the depths to pull the vampire under. From the shocked acceptance filling his eyes, Sen drowns willingly.

Frowning, I look over at Teagan, finding his large, expressive gaze honing in on the vampire.

“Have we…” Teagan’s head tilts to the side, his curls cascading down his shoulder like the darkest seafoam against a shore. “Have we met before?”

Vidar might’ve said something, but the blood rushing through my ears is too loud.

“I know you,” Teagan whispers, breathless. Edging closer to Sen.

“Soulmate…” A great, desperate longing fills Sen’s quiet words.

Fear propels me forward, and I’m grabbing hold of Sen’s forearm with both hands—nails digging into his flesh.

“It’s too dangerous!” I rush out on a hissed whisper, begging. Pleading. I’ll get on my knees if I have to. “Not now, not my little brother.”

Guilt churns in my stomach, but I can’t let my brother be dragged into this dangerous world. Not while Summer’s on the loose with a grudge and a spellbook capable of creating a whole blood mage army. Along with Emma, and who knows what her next step is.

Sen isn’t looking at me. I doubt he’s registered me. Teagan is his sole focus. His world.

Vidar moves to Sen’s other side and says something in his ear that I don’t catch.