Page 37 of A Trial By Blood

Relic was a flirt, but he was a good guy. It was a kind offer, but talking about it felt way too intimate. Still, even as my face heated, my gaze darted to the thick vein at his throat before I could stop it. I quickly looked away. Nope.

Yes, Relic was hot, without a doubt, but I didn’t want anyone else but Ronan.

“That won’t be necessary,” Luna said from the kitchen door.

I hadn’t heard her arrive, but it looked as if Art had let her in.

She held up her bag containing the flask. “Special delivery.”

I smiled. “Hey, Luna.”

She smiled back.

I stood, but Relic grabbed my wrist. “The offer’s still on the table, babe, yeah? Both.”

I inclined my head. “Thanks. I have no idea what my task will be, but I do know I’ll need help. I might take you up on that.”

“Cool.” His gaze cut to Warrick and he winked. “Getting closer every day to having a feisty witch of my own, brother.”

Warrick shook his head. “I wouldn’t bet on that.” Something moved between the males, a knowing look I couldn’t read.

Relic chuckled, then turned to my baby sister. “There’s still hope,” he said, and the flirt gave Mags a look that could melt every pair of panties in a twelve-mile radius.

Mags rolled her eyes, then blushed, because she was a female, and not blushing right then would go against the laws of nature. Bram, who was standing behind her, didn’t move, didn’t flinch. He did, however, bare his teeth, looking utterly feral, and slowly shook his head. Relic didn’t miss this, but instead of concern, he grinned wider. “Or maybe not.”

Mags frowned at Relic and turned to look up at her familiar, but Bram’s expression was back to stoic, like the exchange hadn’t happened.

I tried to act casual and not too desperate as I walked over to Luna and she handed me Ronan’s blood, but I was pretty sure I failed. “How is he?”

She looked over my shoulder at the massive hound sitting there, still flirting with my entire family, then back to me. “He’s uh…getting there.”

She didn’t sound overly confident.

I looked at my feet, not wanting her to see my disappointment.

She took my hand and led me into the hallway and away from the others. “Is everything okay?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Please, Roe, you can talk to me.”

I chewed my lip and met her lavender stare, which was so much like Ronan’s. “I’m pretty sure I had the call, you know, for my task last night. I was just…I was hoping that I’d have Ronan with me. Things can get dangerous, but it’s fine. I know he’s not ready, and Relic’s happy to help.”

Luna’s expression was unreadable. “The main thing is you staying safe. Whatever you need to make sure of that, you do it.” Her gaze slid to the kitchen doorway, then back. “Even if that means you have to rely on that flirty hound.”

“He really is a terrible flirt.”

Luna chuckled. “I’ve honestly never seen anything like it.” She sobered. “When will you start?”

“Tonight. And I haven’t told my family yet. Because as much as they want to protect me from this, I have to do it. And I can’t delay any longer.”

She pressed the thermos into my hand.

Goddess, I missed Ronan.

“Hey,” Luna said and looked a little uneasy. “Can I ask you a favor? It’s a big one, and if you say no, I’ll totally understand.”

After what Luna and Ronan had done for me, no favor was too big. “Whatever it is, it’s yours.”