Page 16 of The Witch Queen of Halloween (Immortals After Dark 20)

Thenthe rest of her words sank in. “Interrupted?You’restuck on this summoning point.I’dbet no one could summon me from this castle, so let’s hit it right now.”

Sherolled her eyes.Wereher irises glowing again?

Hecouldn’t tell if they glowed from emotion or from the activation of her curse. “Ifyou’re not tempted, then why avoid me?Everytime we’ve spied each other atLoregatherings and neighborhood melees, you’ve portaled away.”

“Getover yourself.MaybeIgot bored seeing the same old faces.”

“Yousaid you want a romantic partner, yet you broke up with that warlock.Aren’twarlocks prime dating material for witches?”Imaginingthose two together madeRökgnash his fangs.

“Youheard about him?”

Rökwas obsessed with intel and withPoppy.Ofcourse he’d heard. “Whathappened?”

“Ixiuswanted to take our relationship to the next level and asked me whatIwould bring to the table.”SlidingRöka take-no-bullshit smirk, she added, “SoItold himI’dbring a hundred other warlocks who didn’t ask stupid fucking questions.”

Thatsmirk drove him nuts.Rökgrowled with desire?—

Rattlerattle rattle . . . sliiice.

Hetensed at the new sound coming from outside the dungeon entrance. “Arethose . . . rattling bones?”Heunsheathed his sword and glanced at her eyes.Definitelyaglow. “Letme guess: skeletons?”

“Wouldn’tbeHalloweenwithout them.They’reblocking the exit?”

“Naturally.Buthow bad can they be?”

Poppy’sgaze took in their tricky position. “Historically, if you strike them, they’ll reassemble.Andthey always come in number and armed with scythes.”

“Fantastic.”Formore than a millennium,Rökhad handled everything theLorehad thrown his way, as valiant as the night was long, but undead creatures creeped him out.Still. . . “Ican defeat them,” he told her, even though he was in close quarters with hungry oubliettes behind him.

Hisfirst instinct was to charge the stairs and bulldoze their way to more advantageous ground, but he had a vulnerable witch with him. “Staybehind me.”

“Why?”Shereached into her bag for another pouch.

“BecauseI’ma warrior with a sword.Spareyour magic.”Close-quarters battles weren’t her strong suit anyway.

Amusement. “Byall means.Amale has the floor!Justdon’t do anything stupider than usual, demon.”

“Greatpep talk,Red.”

Rattlerattle rattle . . . sliiice.

Itwas showtime.Thevisceral anticipation he felt before every battle hit him, the reminder that even his immortal life might be on the line.

Hecast a glance at the witch.He’dbe damned before hers was.Rök’sability to defend her from mystical shit like this had been called into question, but who was here now?Whowas protecting her?

Me.

Justa couple of hours ago, he’d been downing mugs atErol’s.Oneword voiced in that noisy bar had turned him onto a completely different trajectory, one name.

Poppy.

FIVE

Thedemon readied for trouble, shoulders squared, his longsword reflecting the low light.Hiseyes were a brilliant gray, his fangs and horns sharpening.Smokespun a hazy aura around his towering frame.

Magnificentmale.

Shemight’ve expected the smoke to fill the room and choke her breaths, but it was more like shaded air.Overthe years, she’d learned he could turn it thicker, using it for camouflage and even for travel.

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