Corrigan Magic (Corrigan: Blood Destiny Book 2) by Helen Harper Read Free Book Online

breaking all the rules.”
    “I’m not breaking the rules.  I’m trying to change them.”
    “And you’re succeeding.  So why do you still doubt yourself?”
    I growled under my breath.  This conversation was running away with me. 
    “You’ve formed a pact with the Arch-Mage,” he continued. “You dispatched the vampire challenge.  God knows those bloodthirsty bastards needed taking down a peg or two.  Not to mention that…”
    “Wait,” I said slowly, interrupting his pep talk.  “Say that again.”
    “Your formed a pact with the Arch-Mage.”
    “No, the bit about the vampires.”
    He stared at me bemusedly.  “You took three of them out.”
    “You said they were bloodthirsty.”
    “They’re vampires, my Lord.  What else are they going to be?”
    I grinned, suddenly full of enthusiasm.  “Staines, you’re a genius.”
    He shook his head.  “I don’t get it.”
    “You will.  All we need is a friendly vampire to help us out.”
     
    *
     
    It didn’t take long for someone to try and take the wind out of my sails.  “It’s not going to be as easy as you think, my Lord.  The vamps aren’t always the most willing to play ball.”
    “It could be worth it.  We have tainted blood samples from Somerset that we need to analyse.  They are experts on blood.  Who do I need to contact?”
    Philippa frowned.  “I don’t know.  There was one guy who we used to speak to.  Felix Saint-Germain.  I heard he got himself into a spot of bother and is no longer around though.”
    “Is that a euphemism for he’s now a corpse?” I asked.
    “Something like that.”  Her eyes were troubled.
    “Look, just get me a list of names of vampires who are older and more experienced and who might be willing to test out some of the Somerset blood.  If the lab comes through then we don’t need to worry about contacting them.  But if the science boffins come up with nothing, then we need a plan B.”
    She bit her lip and nodded, taking her leave.  Staines was watching me carefully.  “You see, my Lord?  No-one else would think of that.”  He clearly wasn’t finished with his attempts to boost my ego.
    “Philippa isn’t particularly taken with the idea.”
    His gaze remained steady.  “But I know you.  If it needs to come to it, you’ll pull it off.”
    “Thank you,” I said quietly.  “In the meantime, I’m going to get some rest.”
    He bowed in a manner that was far deeper and more respectful than was necessary.  Staines could be a contrary beast.  I appreciated the gesture though, even if I knew the reason behind it.  And perhaps he was right about Mack.  Maybe I should leave off visiting Scotland for now.  It wasn’t like I didn’t have other things to worry about.
    I wandered up to my room, shrugging off my jacket and loosening my shirt.  I turned to the window, staring out at the night sky while I fiddled with my cufflinks, finally managing to undo them.  I dropped them onto the nightstand then closed the curtains, turning back round just as the air snapped and a dangerous purple shimmer appeared.  A portal.  And it was opening in my own damned bedroom.
    I prepared myself to shift.  Whatever manner of foul beast had decided they were brave enough to break through our wards and attack me in my own house was going to rue the day they were born.  I’d mount their blasted head on a pike and display it in the garden.  Nobody came into my territory like this and got away with it.  Any second now the barrier wards we had in place would start screaming out their alarms and shifters would come running from all directions.  Whoever this was, they wouldn't have a chance.  I held my breath and waited.
    The emerging figure was smaller than I’d expected.  My usual ability to scent out ethnicity was clearly being hampered by the portal itself.  However, within moments, as the intruder fell forwards and began to make the most astoundingly awful retching sound, the magical