Bloodrage - Helen Harper Page 0,77

kill wraiths, they’re already dead. And what do you know about it anyway, little girl?” His eyes fixed on the Arch-Mage. “All contracts are meant to be confidential.”

I started in surprise. Oops. I hadn’t known that.

The Arch-Mage coughed, still feeling the effects of the fight. “Not all mages work alone, Aubrey, you know that.”

“Yes, but since when did the wizards work with the beasts?”

Both the Arch-Mage and Corrigan visibly stiffened. I rolled my eyes. These guys really had to get over themselves.

Aubrey’s gaze switched back to me and he jabbed a finger in my direction. “There’s more to you than meets the eye, and I’m going to find out what it is.”

He twisted round again and continued for the safety of his lair.

“Yeah,” I shouted back. “And what about the Palladium? Obviously there’s more to that than meets the eye too!”

The door slammed shut in response. I exhaled a cloud of disgusted air and then pulled my dress back down over my thighs, feeling the sudden brush of the cold. I wondered what had happened to Solus and whether he’d run off at the first sign of action. Untrustworthy Fae. Irritated, I turned back to where the wraith had been hovering. There was something there, lingering. I took a few steps forward and realised with a sinking feeling what it actually was.

Corrigan joined me and knelt down, touching it, then raising his fingers to his nose and recoiling away in disgust.

“Fucking hell!” he swore. “What is that?”

I didn’t know what it was, but I knew where I’d seen it before. It was the inky dark gloop that I’d found on the wall of the academy. The wraith must have sensed the Palladium was there and had gone to find it. The wash of relief that flooded through me that we’d gotten the statue out of there before Tryyl had decided to attack was overwhelming.

I just shook my head slightly. “It doesn’t matter. It’s the vamps’ problem now. They created this situation in the first place anyway.”

Corrigan’s eyes narrowed. “How?”

I looked at the Arch-Mage for permission and he nodded so I filled Corrigan in on the details, leaving out, of course, that until about half an hour ago I’d been the one with the Palladium in my possession.

Once I’d finished, I checked with the Arch-Mage that I’d gotten the details right.

“Yes. Although Aubrey is right that all contracts are confidential. I assume that it was Mage Florides that told you about it.” His eyes were hard. “I will have words with him.”

I pursed my lips. If that was the worst thing that came out of all this – well, that and one dead vampire anyway – then things were not that bad. Alex was a big boy, I was pretty sure he could deal with one telling-off.

An engine started up nearby. The Arch-Mage glanced at me. “I can give you a lift back to the Ministry so you can transport back to the academy. Don’t you have shoes?”

I looked down at my bare feet. “Not any more.”

The mage shrugged and turned towards the car. I glanced over at the still disturbingly naked Lord Alpha. Didn’t he even feel the bloody cold?

“Is that okay with you?” I inquired, attempting to maintain a dignified front.

He growled. “What, you’re asking me for permission now?”

I shrugged. “We were on a date. It seems appropriate.”

“I thought you said that it wasn’t a date. And the bloodsucker is right. There is more to you than meets the eye, and somehow I can’t help thinking that you had more to do with the events of this evening and that thing than you are letting on.”

I blinked innocently up at him. “You always think the worst of me.”

“Perhaps I’m just copying your lead. You don’t tend think much of me either.”

I gave him a sad half-smile and turned to go. Corrigan’s hand snapped out and latched onto my arm, pulling me towards him. I let out a little squeak. His skin burned its way through the fabric of my dress as he pressed my body against his.

“You really did look lovely tonight, kitten,” he breathed. “And after all you put me through this evening, I think the least I deserve is a good night kiss.”

And he inclined his head towards mine. I squeaked again, but this time the sound was muffled as Corrigan’s lips hit mine. A squiggle of hot heat zipped through me all the way down to my toes. His hands cupped my face as the kiss