Grim walked into the library and held out his hand. The book flew to him and he caught it like a fielder would catch a fly ball.
He smiled. It was his first grimoire that he did when he was first learning magic the hard way, when he kept it in secret from the Circle of Thorns and from his brother. He wrote the introductory page in his own blood and bound that book to him.
In that book was, among potions, poisons and brews, the spells for the blood magic that he had first started with in secret. How he first summoned beings to do his bidding. How he used the blood with runes of power – before he realized that the runes themselves were of power.
He opened to a page, in his original handwriting, not the handwriting he used for grimoires later. He had used quill and ink. He filled the entire page with spells before continuing onto the next page. This book was two years of his life.
He did something that he never did with this book before – he left it on the table. It was meant for Mikael to look through it.
Mikael. He smiled again, touching the book.
Grim loved Scott, his heart and soul – he loved him enough so that if he wanted to screw other men, he would let him. And Scott loved him enough with the same reason. What did Mikael mean to him?
A friend with benefits, he thought, but more. He felt like he should protect and keep Mikael, help him along; but did he love him? Not like Scott. Grim cared deeply for Mikael, lusted after him, liked being with him, found him to be wise beyond his years like Scott. He kept telling Mikael that he should see other men, that he couldn’t give Mikael his total devotion – and was afraid to.
No, it’s better to keep it this way, with this distance. Because like Kalius, and Stefan, and Jade, and Kael…he’ll leave. He refused to be that broken-hearted again.