"Only this one, the others are undetectable unless you allow them to be seen. I'm going to take a gander that it was intended to be that way deliberately."
I turned over until I was lying on my back and looking up into his eyes. He didn’t push the answer out. Instead he waited for me to decide how much I wanted to tell him about it. I inhaled his scent and let it rush through me relaxing the tension the day had caused on my nerves. "The brands with the exception of the one on my neck were placed on me with ink designed by Alden. It's enchanted to react with our powers. It's supposed to keep us grounded from the lure of the Dark Arts. Since we only just started messing with them a few years ago he decided to use us."
I watched his mind run through the implications, the knowledge sinking in that I hadn't been branded by normal ink ever. He lifted his eyes and scanned my face before saying anything. "You didn’t have ink before thirteen? I thought all the Witches receive ink before then…So you had nothing but the stars?"
I flinched remembering why I had them. They were for my parents, one for each with traditional black ink defining the burns into the true stars on the front of my shoulders. "Correct, I didn’t need any ink at first and then we received the white ink."
"Can I try something without you freaking out Synthia?" He asked watching my face.
"Do I have to be naked for it?" I countered narrowing my eyes watching his mouth turn up into a beautiful mischievous smile.
"No, but I have to touch you. I want to see if the brands protect you from me when activated. Or if it affects me at all."
I swallowed past the uneasiness that flared to life inside my stomach with his words. "You want me to invoke my powers while you try to use yours on me. What if we end up forgetting who we are like we did last time?"
"I didn’t forget who I was Syn. I knew exactly who I was and who I was with when I lost control."
My body responded to his words, even as my breathing grew labored. "I can't be with you Ryder, it's not allowed while I work for the Guild."
"To have sex?" He asked narrowing his eyes again.
"No, I can have sex. Lots of sex, with lots of people. Just not of the Fae variety. I'm not sure I could ever be with any Fae. Besides, what if something happened and I got pregnant? I mean, the Guild has us on mandatory contraceptives designed for us, but something could always happen and none of the Fae accepts Changelings not to mention—I wouldn’t wish me as a mother for any child." I was rambling so I stopped when he noticed.
He smiled forlornly, "The Horde does," he answered flashing his smile back to full force.
"Yeah but their King is missing and unless I'm mistaken the Vampires are changing sides already. Your side to be precise, which means he's either gone or he's in play."
I watched his face shut down going completely emotionless. "You watch too many conspiracy movies Synthia."
"Be that as it may, Vlad called you Sire tonight Ryder."
"I’m a Prince, besides, I'm higher on the food chain than he is and I’ve earned their respect."
I tilted my head and considered it. It could have been, or it could have been that Vlad was leaderless and seeking out a new alliance and Ryder being Dark Fae would be the closest to the Horde. Unlike the Light Fae, the Dark Fae got along with the Horde. "Could have been, yes."
"I have no plans of making any new alliances."
I nodded and then shrank back as his hand came out to rub against my palm sending a tremble through my entire body. His thumb traced over the small scar on the palm of my hand softly.
"How easily can you summon your powers Synthia?" He inquired never taking his eyes from mine. I should be running from him instead of indulging him.
I didn’t answer him, instead I invoked them and watched the white glow light up in his eyes. His smile faltered as he moved closer, lying down lengthwise beside me until our faces were inches apart. He was the most sexual male I had ever encountered in my life. He oozed power from his pores. I shouldn’t trust him. And yet I trusted him more than I thought I did.
"Your eyes don't match when they light up," he whispered resting his head in his hand while his elbow sat on the bed.
"So I've been told," I whispered fighting to keep my voice from trembling. His close proximity was playing hell on my hormones. My hand shook where his thumb still played over the sensitive flesh, which was weakening my willpower with every slow stroke.
"You ready Pet?" He inquired looking a little too eager.
"For your little science project?" I asked making sure we were on the same page.
He grinned wolfishly before he leaned over close enough that I could smell the mint on his breath, as if he had come here planning on kissing me. "Something like that, I need to see how this thing works. I know it doesn’t work against me completely, but we need to test it."