Page 33 of Ancient Magic

“How can I agree if I don’t know what I’m agreeing to?”

“It does appear you’re in between a rock and a hard place.”

Lynx glanced toward the goblin standing behind Clarissa. The male grinned, grasping a chunk of the older woman’s hair to tilt her head at an awkward angle. Then, holding Skye’s horrified gaze, he pressed the knife hard enough to draw a line of blood.

Clarissa’s eyes widened until the whites were showing. “Skye,” she pleaded.

“Stop!” Skye glared toward Lynx. “Fine. I’ll be your stupid escort.”

“You’ll do as I say without argument or attempting to alert anyone that you’re with me against your will,” he insisted. “Your promise.”

“You believe I’d keep a promise that I was forced to agree to?”

His gaze skimmed over her face. “Yes. Now give me your promise.”

He was right, of course. The bastard.

“I...promise.” The words were wrenched from her clenched lips.

“Wise choice,” he murmured, holding out his hand. “Come with me.”

Skye ignored his hand. There was no way she was letting him touch her. Instead she pointed toward Clarissa.

“Let her go.”

Lynx’s smile faded, revealing the ruthless predator beneath the charming façade.

“Once you’ve gotten me where I need to go.” He marched forward, flicking aside the curtain as if annoyed she wasn’t eager to help him. “Until then, she’ll stay here with my servant. Consider her inspiration for you to do as you’re told.”

“You just said you trusted my promise.”

He shrugged. “Better safe than sorry.”

Skye pinched her lips, forcing herself to follow him out of the office and through the empty shop. She was acutely aware of Clarissa’s fear as she was forced to leave her behind, as well as Yugan, who was inches from her back.

Rock and a hard place, indeed.

Stepping into the parking lot, Skye frowned as they headed toward a heavy black SUV with tinted windows that was idling next to the exit. She hadn’t noticed it when she’d first arrived.

With a shrug, Skye climbed into the back of the vehicle, her hands remaining clenched as she was sandwiched between the two demons. There was a brief conversation with the driver, who looked vaguely uneasy, before they took off with squealing tires.

For the next hour, Skye ignored any attempts to draw her into a casual conversation. Did they expect her to pretend this was just another drive across the bridge into Manhattan? It wasn’t until they were turning onto a street a few blocks from Central Park that she realized their destination.

“Valen’s lair?” she rasped. “Are you insane?”

“What’s life without risk?” Lynx asked, leaning to the side to peer out the window at the towering glass-and-steel building.

“Peaceful,” Skye muttered, deeply regretting the fact she was no longer snuggled in her bed, surrounded by the scent of a banana blueberry smoothie.

“Dull. Average,” Lynx countered. “Worse than death.”

“For you perhaps. Not for me.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Lynx shrugged. “All I need is for you to get us through the front door.”

She made a sound of impatience. She wasn’t in the mood for games.

“There’s the door.” She nodded toward the glass entrance as the SUV swerved toward the curb. “Go for it.”

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