Free Blood Forever by Mari Mancusi Page B

at this point.
    “Your blood mate?” Jareth snorts. “Wow. They must really be scraping the bottom of the barrel these days.” He gives me a scornful look, as if I’m gum he found on the bottom of his shoe.
Nice one, jerk. Way to go judging me ’cause you don’t like my twin.
    Luckily I have my own personal knight in shining armor by my side, ready to defend me. “Jareth!” Magnus cries in a shocked and angry voice. “This girl has done nothing to deserve your disrespect. You will apologize to her and—”
    “Guys, guys!” I interrupt. “We don’t have time for this!” Though, to be honest, I wish we did, as it’s more than a little nice to watch Magnus stick up for me, not even knowing who I really am. “I have to gain an audience with Lucifent and inform him about the threat on his life. That’s all that matters right now.”
    Jareth narrows his eyes. “And where, might I ask, is this so-called threat coming from?”
    “Slayer Inc.”
    “I see.” The vampire general purses his lips. “And your proof?”
    Er…Oh crap. I should have known he’d ask for that.
    “I, um, don’t really have any?” I stammer. “But you should take me seriously. I know what I’m talking about.”
    Jareth shakes his head. “Do you know how many false threats we get on the Master’s life every day? I have no time to follow up on each and every one of them. And the last thing the Master needs is to be bothered by some crazy, ranting mortal with an even crazier sister who has no proof to back up her claim. He’s got a very busy schedule, you know.”
    “Well, I can assure you his calendar will be completely clear next month, after he’s been staked through the heart,” I dare to say. “But, sadly, then it’ll be too late to warn him.”
    Jareth rolls his eyes. “Come back with proof,” he says. “And maybe I will see about granting you an audience. Until then, please go away. And tell your sister to go away, too. Magnus, here, may be blinded by your beauty, but I know your kind all too well. You’re trouble with a capital T, and I want nothing to do with either of you.”
    And with that, he storms into the back room, slamming the door shut behind him. “Whatever,” I mutter, annoyed by the whole thing at this point. Lucifent doesn’t want to be saved? Fine by me. We should have just left things well enough alone, I guess, and not tried to go out of our way to save the future.I turn and stomp down the hall, heading back to the dance floor to find my sister.
    But before I can open the door, I feel a hand on my shoulder, turning me around. Magnus has followed me down the corridor, an apologetic look on his face. “I’m sorry,” he says. “Jareth means well. And he’s very loyal. But he can be kind of…rough around the edges at times.”
    “I know,” I say with a sigh. “I mean, I’ve heard,” I correct quickly, catching Magnus’s look. “I mean, he seems that way. To be honest, I’m not sure what my sister sees in him.” I shrug. “But whatever. I’ve done my best. If your coven refuses to take me seriously, then there’s really nothing I can do.” I start for the door again, but Magnus stops me.
    “Tell me,” he says in a low voice. “Is Lucifent truly in danger?”
    “God, do you think I would be bothering with all of this if he wasn’t?” I demand. “I mean, no offense, but I have better things to do than get humiliated by arrogant, self-serving vampires. For example, I haven’t even begun to study for my chem test tomorrow.”
    “Then I believe you,” Magnus says simply.
    “You do?”
    He gives me a rueful smile. “You’re my blood mate. Why would you lie?”
    I can think of a million reasons, actually. But I’m not going to mention any of them right now. Instead, I’m just going to enjoy the fact that he’s willing to take me at face value, without demanding any proof.
    “Except we’re going to need some proof,” he adds gently. “I mean, if you want the others to