Page 52 of A Deal in Darkness
A tendril of something twisted curls up from the ground, working to ensnare my waist. It’s trailing thick, dark magic around me and there’s a hint of venom in it. It’s potent, it’s difficult to hold back, and it’s determined to grab hold of me. Whatever this is, it’s made to bind me and I cannot let that happen. Not if I want to survive this, and not if I want Adriana to survive this.
Whoever’s behind this is attacking me, but that’s small mercy when my girl is so nearby. She’s too close for comfort and I sweat, working harder than I have had to in a long time as I reach for something to undo the witchcraft wreaking havoc.
I’m powerful enough to use arcane magic, and while its effects are unpleasant, they are neither fatal nor too detrimental to me. I summon it, letting it build within me as the magic bindtightens, biding my time until I’m sure I’ve got sufficient power to break free.
The burst I release devastates the enchantment holding me in its grasp and it shatters, freeing me from my chains. The pavement shakes as the world shudders and the warlock refuses to yield. He’s summoning power from somewhere, using magic that doesn’t belong to him—and it’s going to get him killed. He shouldn’t be able to withstand the depth of my power and I hurl fire and hate at him, twisting it so it claws at all his nightmares.
I’m weaponizing his fears against him and the poor man has more than a few. His soul shudders and I push harder, torturing him as I turn the tide and start winning this fight.
His magic falters and something shifts, as more arcane magic spills from me and the warlock’s power retreats. I push hard and fast, sweeping aside the protection spells woven into the fabric of reality, stripping back the layers of defense the bastard laid down.
“Please,” he mumbles. “I had no choice.”
I glance into the florist and see Adriana paying at the till. It won’t be long before she finishes chatting to the man behind the counter and gathers up the two large bunches of roses she’s decided she’s going to taunt me with. There’s no time to enjoy this now, only time to finish it.
“Who sent you?” I seethe.
The warlock meets my vicious stare and the color pales from his face.
“Hedid, Lord.”
His head jerks back as something consumes him, subjecting him to the infernos of Hell. The warlock’s being burned from within, set alight as he’s tortured by magic aspotent as mine. I recognize the evil behind whoever is at work as coming from the same depraved, desecrated halls as mine—and I hope the warlock’s death is agony.
The clouds may be lifting on London, but this warlock is a warning of what is coming. I’m facing a capable and cunning enemy, and they possess a power that may match mine. The danger is greater than I knew and I’d underestimated the forces at play when I spoke to Eva—and it may take considerable effort to combat it.
Time and effort I’d rather spend on someone else.
Adriana leaves the shop with a huge smile on her face. She’s going to have to learn to obey me at a much faster rate, if only to keep her safe. I might have to be firmer with her, be tougher and less forgiving, maybe even harsh. She won’t like it, but she’ll be alive, and that is better than the alternative.
“Roses,” I laugh. “Did you buy one for me?”
“No,” she snaps. “You bought them for me. To show me just how much you care. About me, and not what a good little slut I am.”
My girl has a wicked sense of humor and I can’t wait to explore it. She needs taming, but I enjoy a challenge, and it would be a shame for that defiant spark to extinguish.
“Of course,” I grin. “Drinks?”
She hands me both bunches of flowers and walks down the road, leaving me standing like a complete idiot. I watch her round, spectacular ass bounce down the street that was so dangerous moments ago, noting she’s heading for a spanking if she doesn’t change her behavior soon.
“Are you taking me for drinks or not?” she yells back.
I grin and nod.
A spanking it is.
14
PARTICULARLY GIFTED
ADRIANA
“Drink,” Enzo growls, thrusting a mug of something hot toward my hands. “It’ll help the hangover.”
I roll away and crinkle my nose up, disgusted by the smell of anything right now. Nausea rises from the pit of my stomach as a wave of something vile washes over me. I’m clammy, my head is about to explode and the room is spinning.
Moving makes it worse.
Enzo slides closer, boxing me in against the headboard, staring at me like I’m despicable. His deep brown eyes show no kindness and he brings the mug of whatever the hell it is to my lips, demanding I drink it.
