Chapter 15 Jasmine #5
He goes rigid. The lights flicker, shadows bloom, the temperature drops.
“I told you to change the fucking subject.” Sai winces, markings bleeding from blue to violet, then almost black. “Kane, what… what the fuck is—”
“Should I not have said that?” Now I see they’re all fighting. Teeth gritted, muscles straining.
“It’s desperate to obey.” Kane’s voice is so strained, so out of character, I’m looking for him before I realise it.
A large plume of darkness surrounds him, thickening as shadows sweep out. He must sense my gaze, because his eyes open, and the void in them reaches for me.
“Ezekial.” He drags his brother’s name past clenched teeth, but never looks away. “Do. Something.”
I tear my gaze from Kane to Ezekial. “I’m… trying…” Eyes still shut, enshrouded by metallic flickers, he grits out, “Julien, you’re slipping.”
Slipping?
But then I see it.
The way Julien’s molten gaze has dimmed, his normally rich irises fractured by black spikes that are locked on me.
Intense heat bubbles in my chest as I watch the vampire lower himself, inch by inch, until our eyes are level. His eyes go wholly black, a boundless night that calls to me, coaxes me, lures the darkness out…
Mine.
“Jasmine.” Kane’s voice is stilted, but soft, and only to me.
My gaze finds him, and I freeze. How can I not admire this powerful demon who commands the shadows like they were made for him, made of him.
“Ground them.” Words taut, eyes locked, he never looks away. “Only you can.”
Me?
My gaze drifts over them, admiring the beauty of their darkened forms. But beneath it, there’s a struggle, a chaos twisting inside, the lack of control.
Bleeding out like thick smoke, my darkness winds towards them, binding their bodies in shadowed vines. Even Kane.
When it settles over their skin, a heavy silence follows, broken only by soft groans.
It takes me a few breaths to anchor them, to pull their chaos back into something steady. But eventually, the light seeps in, and they start to recover. Though their control is far from whole.
“I...” I sink back into my chair, staring at the table. “I didn’t realise I couldn’t ask that. Sorry.”
“Don’t,” Ezekial tries, but something cuts him off. His eyes are still squeezed shut, jaw clenched. I thought I’d grounded them? “Don’t… apologise.”
No one else speaks, and their bodies stay tense. Straining. Like they’re still battling—
“Shit!”
They’re anchored, but my darkness is still all over them, caressing, wandering across their bodies. Exploring...
I claw my fingers into a fist, feeling the sharp resistance as it clings to them like barbed shadows, possessive and wild, refusing to listen, refusing to release what’s ours.
Ours.
My darkness is thriving.
Not only did we calm them, we commanded them, touched their darknesses. And we were welcomed.
My fist shakes. The darkness thrums inside me, hungry not for control but connection, a yearning that sets my spine alight.
I gasp, the pain cutting through the fog and strengthening my hold.
Slowly, reluctantly, the shadows return. As the burning eases, I let out a long breath that joins the men’s quieter ones.
Upon the table, Kane’s fingers twitch. Ezekial remains rigid, jaw tight. Julien is still, watching me. And Sai… he grins. Dishevelled, and eyes aglow. He leans over the arm of his chair to get closer. Clearly, he’s already forgotten the struggle.
They don’t speak, not even mentally, and when I try to feel their emotions… I can’t.
They’ve blocked me out. Completely. Which is how I know what happened was bad—
“Do it… again,” Sai suddenly pants, grin wide and lazy, eyes wild. “Please.”
“Someone... shut him up,” Ezekial murmurs, shaking his head with a wince.
What did I do to them? I thought my control was better, especially now that I’ve slept—
“It is better.” Kane’s voice fills my mind, and a coolness runs along my spine. “You’re stronger.”
And I feel it.
My shadows moved like they knew every crevice of their chaos, every shattered piece begging to be held.
It didn’t feel like a fight, more like… a reunion.
“I grounded you, right?” I wait for someone willing, and able, to answer.
“It was… more than that.” Ezekial’s gaze is brighter now, voice clearer.
When snippets of emotions slip back into the air, they’re… varied. Sharp frustration, heavy shame and burning… oh.
Oh.
I stare at the table hard, and I will keep staring at this red tablecloth, analysing every embroidered pattern until the last trace of that emotion is gone.
“I don’t know how you held it in, Zeek.” I don’t look up, but I just know Sai is smirking. “Foreplay with the wall all night, then this?”
“It’s called restraint, Sai,” he murmurs, voice gruff. “I know you find that word hard to comprehend.”
Sai chuckles. “I’ll tell you what is hard, my co—”
“How was everything?” Martha’s chirpy voice silences him.
I look up, eyes wide, glancing at the men who remain silent.
Martha’s expression crumples, concern taints the room.
“Amazing, wonderful, thank you so much.” I smile wide. Maybe it looks a little forced, but I’m trying my best.
She takes it, her face splitting into a grin. “Oh good, I’m so glad you decided to come!”
Sai flinches, and I know exactly why.
“I’m opening the shop soon, enforcers, Lord.” She glances around at them, and finally, they look at her.
But they don’t speak.
“I don’t think I can flit yet.” Ezekial, the Lord who rebuilds composure in a heartbeat, can’t seem to find it now.
“Flit? Mate, I can’t even stand.” Sai’s voice is strained, but edged with laughter. “Or Martha’s gonna think I really like her pastries.”
Oh my—
“Martha,” I blurt, voice shrill. Her soft smile lands on me. “I am so sorry to ask, but is there any chance we could get that bread you mentioned?”
“Oh, of course! I’ve just finished a batch. I’ll pop into the kitchen and be back in a tick.”
The second she leaves, my head snaps towards them. “You need to get it together, all of you, now.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sai rasps, then winces. “Actually, Red… you talking like that just made it worse.”
He has got to be kidding—
I seek out the only man I hope can salvage this situation.
“Kane.” All I say is his name, and the room dips back into darkness.
I look around, I thought they were grounded? I’m not equipped for this situation, again. But, clearly, neither are they.
And why does that send a thrill through me? Knowing that we’re all a little on edge? Out of control? That I’ve incapacitated these men simply because they’re that turned on?
Kane’s dark gaze is zeroed in on me, I don’t think it ever stopped being. But then I blink, coolness engulfs my body, and a blur of colours flash.
It’s… warmer. Brighter. The sweet smells replaced with something… earthy.
We’ve… flitted?
I recognise the marble floor of the Council building, then my eyes hit Kane’s boots, trailing up his legs in those damn well-fitted combat pants, over his tight long sleeve…
Gone. Without a word.
“Hey J! Was that Kane?” Kacey’s voice calls from behind.
Her footsteps follow, and I turn to face her with Mr Bear in tow. I open my mouth, but can’t quite find the words to explain.
She frowns. “Did something happen?”
Yeah… I just made my four bonds so aroused they couldn’t move. But I decide not to share that.
Instead, I smile. “Just breakfast.”