86. Vameer
Vameer
Irelease Rune’s mother and swallow as I step back beside my mate.
Her mother lets out a little gasp and points to my left hand.
I lift it and adjust my sleeves so she can fully see the brightly colored heart bracelet I’m still wearing.
“I got her that one.” Her father straightens his shoulders.
“It’s one of my favorites.” Rune slips her hand beneath my robe and presses it against my back.
“Mine too,” her mother adds. “And it works with the whole”—she waves her hand—“getup. Red is your color, Sweetie.”
I lock down my energy as it tries to purr again.
Humans aren’t equipped to be around a vampire’s purr. Especially a strong vampire. Even shifters can be lured with it, lulled into dropping their defenses. So I must be careful.
So instead of showing my gratitude through vibrations, I smile. “Muchas gracias.”
“You’re like a prince.” Rune’s mother turns to her husband. “Isn’t he like a prince?”
Rune snorts, but her father nods.
“Perfect for my Princess.” He hugs his wife to his side. “I knew there was a reason I called her that.”
“I will treat her as one, but the Vadas line is not of royalty.”
Rune’s father waves off my comment. “Looking it is the best part. Besides I imagine you’re something better.”
I lift a brow. “And what is that?”
“A fighter.” He glances at Rune, then back to me. “I don’t know how this mating thing works, but I know a fighter will be more useful to my daughter than a set of jewels.”
“Yes, exactly.” Her mother agrees. “Riches bring you ease, but not happiness.”
“This is true. I know how to fight,” I tell them with a grin. “But I have plenty of riches too.”
Turns out my brother tucked my half of the wealth away when I disappeared. And that wealth has increased significantly during the century I was gone.
I pull Rune into my side, knowing we’ve run out of time. “If you need anything, call Rune. I do not have a phone yet, but we will visit again soon.”
“You have to go?” Rune’s mother twists her hands in front of her.
“Sí.”
I feel the faint shift in the air, and a cloud of gravito bursts around us as the crackle of magic indicates the portal forming behind us.
The cloud was supposed to be gray. But my obnoxious gravito turned itself red, apparently taking the compliment to heart.
Rune’s parents make sounds of surprise as Rune snickers.
“Bye! I love you!” she calls through the dense cloud.
Her parents call out their own goodbyes as I turn her to the portal.
It wasn’t entirely necessary to hide the portal from them, but the less humans see, the fewer questions they can ask.
Rune steps through.
I follow.
And as soon as we’re back in the parking lot, the portal behind me disappears, and Dread flicks a new one into existence.
“Pick her up.” Dread glances over his shoulder, eyes glowing gold. Then he walks through.
Scooping Rune into my arms, I take the two strides to the portal.
And as I step through, I release my gravito. Pushing it down. Creating that balance between Earth’s gravity and my own. So when we pass through, we hover.
Rune tightens her hold around my neck when she sees we’re in the sky, two thousand feet up.
Surrounded by nothing but bright blue.
I glance down.
Below us, Dread falls.
Without gravito, the wind flaps his robe wildly around him.
Rune gasps. But I just watch.
This druid would not have portaled into the sky without a plan.
He rotates, aiming himself straight down, headfirst.
A portal blinks open below him. Circular and small looking.
I feel another portal glow to life a few feet in front of us, but I keep my eyes on Dread.
He drops through the black circle that’s just big enough to fit his shoulders. Disappearing.
I lift my gaze to the portal in front of me.
It’s an upright rectangle. Door shaped like they usually are.
And it’s empty.
I narrow my eyes.
He should be coming through this one the same moment he’s moving through the other. The portals should also be the same shape and size.
I glance down.
At the empty sky below.
No druid.
No portal.
I look back up.
And see Dread in the portal. One bare foot is on the gold band that outlines the bottom of the portal. The other is crossed at the ankle. And he’s leaning his shoulder against the edge.
The solid black surface is still there, hiding the back half of his body. And everywhere he touches the edge, sparks of gold spit and sizzle.
It’s… not something I have witnessed before.
I shift Rune to one arm and tuck her against my side. “I thought you weren’t supposed to touch the sides of a portal.” I’ve heard it said since I was a child. And I heard this very druid say it to Rune today.
“You shouldn’t,” Dread answers. “Unless you’re me.”
I watch him for a moment, then tell him exactly what I’m thinking. “I really want to fight you.”
The man smirks. “Figure out that venom and we will.”
I hum, wondering what other tricks this druid has.
“The building straight below us is your target. Jump somewhere secluded when you’re done and send me the location.” Dread furrows his brows as he lifts a hand to rub at his chest.
“What?”
He stands up straight, planting both feet on the bottom edge. Then he curls his hands around the gold bands at the sides of the portal, causing more gold magic to sizzle at his touch.
Then he leans forward and looks down.
This should not be possible.
I direct my gravito closer.
Dread straightens, then scowls at my nearness.
“How are you doing this?” I narrow my eyes.
“Magic.” His tone is flat. “I will return for you tonight.”
Dread lets go of the edges and steps back. Disappearing into the wall of black.
Then the portal disappears.