Page 6 of Let Sleeping Vampires Lie

It made me sound like a bomb waiting to go off.

“I’m fine,” I said sharply—too sharply.

Con angled his body ever so slightly, blocking Edward’s view of my hands as another spark snapped across my fingertips.

He covered the motion smoothly, arms folding across his chest as he shifted into a protective stance. It looked like posturing, like a warrior ready to challenge Siris or any other idiot in the room.

But it was for me.

He was shielding my tell.

My pulse hammered once, hard enough I felt it behind my teeth.

The warmth in my chest clashed with the rising magic, but I shoved both down. Hard.

Edward’s brows furrowed. “Cassara… controlling magic that doesn’t belong to you doesn’t make you weak. It makes you⁠—”

“Don’t,” I cut in quietly.

He inclined his head, understanding the warning.

I wasn’t fragile.

I wasn’t unstable.

I wasn’t… compromised.

And I would not let anyone think that.

“It won’t happen again,” I said. Another lie wrapped in authority.

Edward didn’t press. Smart man.

Instead, he lowered his voice. “Siris will use anything as ammunition. He’ll say Rene is failing. He’ll say the clan is in chaos. He’ll say the overseer’s closest advisors can’t control their… own power.”

My jaw tightened.

That last one was aimed at me.

Intentionally.

And whether he meant to or not, the words landed like an exposed nerve.

Con felt the spike in my magic instantly. His gaze snapped to me—pointed, gold, concerned.

“Cass—”

“I’m fine,” I repeated, quieter, but steadier.

I forced the magic back down. Clamping it behind mental walls I wasn’t sure were actually strong enough.

The sparks dimmed.

The heat cooled from molten to simmer.

The air stopped humming around me.

But inside?