Page 39 of The Witch Queen of Halloween (Immortals After Dark 20)

“Behindme, witch.I’vegot this.”

“Let’sjust get out of here.”Sherubbed her thumb over her final pouch, and magic seeped into her.Rök’sselflessness—I’mall in—called to her own.Despiteher desperation for the cursebreaker, she couldn’t risk him any longer.Sheaimed her portal for home. . . .

Magicsaid,Hardno.

Whichmeant there was no mystical way out of this place.Sheprobed the castle for any kind of power source—maybe they could in fact shut down the battery—and tried to direct her portal there.Theair shifted before her, opening a threshold to a dimly lit room.Lookedlike an attic.

GROOOOOAAN.Thecreature lumbered to stand.Mustbe seven feet tall!

“It’swalking!”Röksaid in horrified wonder. “Youseeing this?”

Poppyyanked on his hand. “Comeon!”

Witha last fascinated look,Rökfollowed her across the threshold.

Shemuttered the incantation to seal it.Asthe portal began to close, the creature roared with fury and limped faster.

Rökturned back and raised his sword to block. “Thinkagain, fiend.”

Uncaring, it clumsily dove, black eyes wide. . . .

Theportal blipped closed right in the creature’s face.Abellow of rage reverberated across the castle.

Oncethe sound tapered away,Poppyexhaled a breath and scanned their surroundings.Atepid lantern lit a pitch-ceilinged room that must stretch over most of the castle.Scatteredtoys, clothes, and broken bits of furniture from a bygone era smelled of cedar and dust.Dollslined a shelf.

Röktensed at the sight of them. “Bloodyhell!Thoseyours?”Heleapt forward and swung his sword, slicing through the dolls.

Ina dry tone, she said, “Innocenttoys were harmed in the filming of this scene.”

“Smart-ass.You’llhave to excuse my caution.”Hisattention turned to a pair of dormer windows, buffeted by the wind in the stormy night.Heattempted to open them, but they were sealed. “Whydid your portal take us here?”

“Itried to aim it toward a power source, butIdon’t sense the battery.”

Hecrossed to a nearby door, which opened easily. “It’sa stairwell.Wecan walk right out.”

Apiece of luck. “Howabout a short rest then?”Theyhadn’t slowed for an instant, and fueling her visitors took a toll.Thiscurse was like a millstone she could never lose, one that grew heavier eachHalloween.

“Soundsgood.Justlet me clear the area.”

Ashe scouted for bogeys, she processed what they’d seen. “Doyou think the creature will find a way out of that lab?”

“Dependson how clever it is.Andhow clever that wizard was.”Rökinvestigated the attic, checking wardrobes and chests.Herelaxed by degrees, his ease calling to her own.

Sittingon a large pile of quilts, she retrieved her thermos. “Youwant some pumpkin spice tea?”

“Sure.”Hesheathed his sword and joined her.

Passingthe thermos back and forth reminded her of tasting wines at their dinner, sharing glasses with him.Forthe first time, she was able to recall that night in a different light.Shehadn’t imagined their affinity—Röktruly had enjoyed bantering with her and getting to know her better.

Oneaspect she hadn’t noted was his reaction to the summoning.Hisbrows had drawn together as he’d uttered her name, and his grip on her hand had tightened.

Beingsummoned wasn’t a power trip forRök; it was a burden.

Hadher anger over his disappearance clouded her memory?Sheset down the thermos, remembering other details about their interactions.

Overthe last few years, she’d had some lucky breaks on jobs, and each had been marked by thescent of smoke.Herlips parted.Atvarying times, the demon had traced and helped her, doing everything from removing an enemy to diverting a rockslide that had narrowly missed her.

Sheeven recalled throwing precious magic his way to assist him as well.Asif she couldn’t stand to see him hurt.

---