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Vanth grinned. "Sorry I wasn't what you expected, princess. If you must know, the dancing is a way for me to burn off magical excess."
"What do you mean?" she pressed.
"I get a build-up sometimes. That night I had accidently taken the magic still stored in the reaper at the morgue. It was driving me crazy because it had nowhere to go," Vanth explained. "When stuff like that happens, I get the ghosts together, and we have a dance party. They siphon off the excess power that's making me crazy." He nudged her with his shoulder. "And it's fun. You know, fun? Some ghosts barely remember who they are, but they hear the music, and it triggers something. They can't help but get involved. Even the super grumpy ones."
Elektra stopped washing and stared through the window and out at the night-blooming garden. "I honestly don't know if I'm impressed or horrified right now. One of the first things you learn at the temple is to never let a shade feed off you. Ever. And you just do it for fun?"
"I suppose at the temple, you're constantly using your power, so it probably makes it so you don't get the magical build-up in the same way," Vanth replied. "I live in a big city. I didn't want my magic to explode because it built up too much. It seemed like the most benign way to get rid of it."
Elektra started washing the dishes again. "I suppose when you put it that way, it makes sense. The shades seemed to be really enjoying it. I still think they need to be moved on."
"They will when they are ready. Once they remember why they are lingering to begin with, I try to help them with their unfinished business. They move on after that, or I help them. I don't have a fancy sickle blade to do it. I just use my magic to help." Vanth grinned. "I'm actually terrified to find out why Cecelia is hanging about."
Elektra smiled, the first one of the night. "As long as it's not to try and kill you to become alive again, I'm sure you'll be okay."
Vanth shook his head."Knowing her, she'll try and make me kill someone."
"Would you do it?"
"I suppose it depends on the person. Cecilia died a long time ago. Everyone she could want revenge on would be dead anyway," Vanth replied. He didn't mention that he had killed people for ghosts before.
Some of them, like the serial killer, deserved to die. He always made sure that they were guilty first, but he had done it. Elektra didn't ask him further questions. She already knew that about him. She also wasn't trying to lecture him about it or run in the opposite direction. That acceptance turned him the fuck on more than her gorgeous body or her wicked mouth.
Vanth knew something had changed between them since the training room. It hung like an ax between them. It was driving him crazy, but magic had taught him how to be patient. He would let Elektra work out whatever was going through her head. And then, when they were alone again, he would just have to tie her down and not let her go until she told him.
20
The following morning, Vanth woke to find that Flynt and the others had set up breakfast in the garden. The sun was shining, strange birds were singing, and if he didn't know better, Vanth would have thought it was a beautiful, calm day in Faerie.
"He finally wakes. I was about to come and dump a bucket of water on you," Flynt said cheerfully.
"I didn't sleep much," Vanth admitted. He had been awake, thinking about his father, the Veil, where Lazarus could be hiding, kissing Elektra... The list went on. He had a shit enough time trying to sleep when life was normal.
"Never mind. I have some strong coffee to help wake you up," Flynt said, passing him a steaming cup.
Vanth took a sip, and the caffeine hit his brain almost instantly. "That's so good. I'm kind of surprised you have coffee here at all."
"The Fae Lords might be tyrants, but they do let trade through."
Eiline kissed her father's cheek. "You are lucky they still let you trade at all."
Elektra offered Vanth a warm bread roll, and he gave her a grateful wink.
Vanth asked, "And why do the Fae Lords not like you, grandfather?"
Flynt scratched his cheek. "May have slept with a few of them. Then they went to war against each other and wanted me to pick a side. I said no."
Elektra laughed from the other side of the table. "You're lucky they haven't tried to kill you."
"They have. They just haven't succeeded," Flynt replied with a grin.
"You sound like your grandson," Eiline said, and they fell into conversation about the citadel of mages and their not-so-subtle way of encouraging students to try and take him down. Vanth was starting to think it was a part of their advanced curriculum.
A large raven swooped down and landed at the end of the table, interrupting them.
"Vanth, get your ass back to Inferno. They came back with more bodies," it cawed.
"What?" Flynt asked, and the raven repeated itself.
