Free Blood Legacy: Adult Urban Fantasy (The V V Inn Book 5) by C.J. Ellisson Page A

can naturally work magic, a wizard forces it, conjuring the magic himself with ingredients, chants, and whatnot, but doesn’t have the ability to call magic up spontaneously like a witch can.”
    “Don’t witches use focuses and ingredients too? I know I’ve heard spells being spoken—so what’s the real difference?”
    I speak up on this one. “It’s more like the witch has the magic in her blood, it’s a part of her. Whereas the wizard is a normal human who learns, through years of study and practice, how to master magic. But forcing the use of magic instead of channeling it naturally means there can be an imbalance in the world left behind from wizard magic.”
    “Do you know how they stabilize or fix the imbalance?” Jon asks. “Diane was unsure.”
    “No, I don’t. I’ve never heard of a witch—and they’re the only ones I have experience with—casting a spell that resulted in an imbalance. Or the need to fix it.”
    “What about the phrase ‘never turn a witch’?”
    Rafe jumps in, his mind filling with apprehension and pushing it toward me through our bond. “Where did you hear that? It applies to a vampire code, one not spoken of often.”
    Jon looks to me, not bothering to answer Rafe, as if he’s waiting for me to expand on the phrase. “I know it’s hard to believe, but the rule came into effect way before I became a vampire. I was told to never turn a witch, with no real details given. I assumed it was because the witch wouldn’t survive the transition.”
    “Okay, it might turn out to be a dead end anyway,” he says.
    “What made you ask about it?” I ask.
    Jon shrugs. “I’m not sure really. Just a feeling I had. It triggered something inside me when I read it.”
    “Where did you read it?” Rafe inquires.
    “Uhh… I… umm…” He looks to me and quickly away.
    I raise an eyebrow at his odd behavior. “Now you’ve made me curious. Spit it out, Jon.”
    A harsh breath wheezes out of his chest and he slumps. “I know I should have asked…”
    “Yes?” Apprehension coils in my middle. Has he violated my privacy more than I bargained for?
    “I read the term in one of your journals.”
    Shock hits me in the gut. “What? Why would you read those?”
    Rafe breaks in, sensing my rising tension. “Liebling, the leather-bound books are stored on the shelves in our office. And he has been staying off and on in our apartment while we’re gone. If you really didn’t want anyone to see them you should have locked them up.”
    I wave off his response, knowing full well where the books are kept. “That’s not the issue. I’m just surprised he didn’t ask—and why he’d want to read them anyway.”
    Jon finally looks up, meeting my unflinching gaze. “It was too much of a temptation. I know I should have asked. And honestly, I only read the first one.”
    “Okay, but again—why?”
    “I wanted to get to know you better, Vivian. What experiences made you who you are today. How you became a vampire.”
    I’m not sure how to respond. Why didn’t he just ask me? Am I that unapproachable?  
    “Are you angry?” he asks, his face a mix of emotion, guilt being the most prominent.  
    “No, I’m not. I’m more curious—why didn’t you ask me if you wanted to know?”
    Rafe chuckles and pats Jon on the back. “It’s okay, man. I get it. You didn’t think she’d tell you the truth, right?”
    “Honestly, he’s right. I wasn’t sure how you’d react. Especially after I read all you went through.”
    I raise one shoulder, refusing to dwell on my past. “Whatever. It was a long time ago.”
    “ Whatever ? You were raped weekly for years. You were forced into blood servitude. And after six years, a shell of yourself, you were changed into a vampire against your will and used as a pawn in vampire politics.”
    His words don’t affect me as they probably should. When I think back upon those dark years, it seems like what I’m remembering happened to another person.