Page 61 of A Touch of Brimstone

Dominic’s jaw was set, awaiting new questions, but I had none. Money for ten years in the Underworld. Five years to return to our world with the job of your dreams, home, and spouse.

I only had one question, but before I could answer he said, “We never offer immortality. We respect the limits of life.”

I hadn’t hidden my look of apprehension and disgust.

“Anand was born here?”

He nodded, his focus intensifying. It wasn’t as if I was ever surreptitious about gathering information.

“His mother was a witch?”

He shook his head. “A wolf shifter—a dangerous one. I suspected a hybrid with a witch. Her bite was dangerous to both vampires and wolves.”

It was like pulling teeth. “His father?”

“Not a shifter or a vamp,” he offered. His voice held a hint of finality, trying to end the discussion.

“Then what?” I asked.

He leaned forward and studied me. “Will knowing his background affect your life in any meaningful way?” he asked, his words acerbic, his tone curt.

“No, I’m just curious about him,” I explained. I’d provoked a protective response he had for Anand. That was interesting. “He just vanishes into the background, or maybe he’s camouflaging himself. Is that shifter magic? Vampire magic? Some type of illusion magic they can perform?”

“Except for Vadim, changing into an animal is the only magic shifters can perform. Vampires can zone and compel. But I’ve already told you that.” Coolness drifted into his expression and made its way to his eyes. “Perhaps, if you want to know more about Anand, ask him.”

The long draw he took from his glass punctuated the end of the topic. He relaxed back in his chair. “Tomorrow you’ll have magic.” A flutter of excitement moved through me. “We’ll come here to do the spells. It’ll be best to see the response to it,” he told me. “I’ll need the Trapsen back.”

“Of course, it’s not like after this is over, I’m going to traipse back to the Underworld.” I still couldn’t believe how casually I said that. As if it was just another destination on the map. Underworld.

Was that disappointment in his expression?

“This might be our last night together,” he whispered, seduction and invitation heavy in his voice.

“It doesn’t have to be.” Um, it damn well better be, screamed killjoy Luna. And I really needed to listen to her.

When he leaned forward on the table, I felt the pull of his presence, the dark sensuality that marked his presence, and the invitation. He exuded raw sexuality, and whatever he was doing beckoned me. Naughty thoughts crept through my mind, and I had to work hard at squashing them.

Dominic was luring me into his web of seduction, and I was willing to fall prey to it in a manner I was sure many others had before me.

“Unless it fails.” Helena wore her cruel smile proudly as she approached the table. Ignominy wafted off her like a fragrance. “Then you’ll have no other choice, Dominic, but to go to extremes. Not only is the Conventicle losing patience, but there are others involved. You’ll be forced to be practical, which is what you do best.” Her eyes were merciless as she bored into him and then turned to me. Was there any love between them? “Allow yourself the pleasures of his seduction. Let him have you tonight. If the sounds of passion I’ve heard from others are any indicator, it will be enjoyable for you.”

Gross thing to acknowledge about your brother, but do go on.

I swallowed. My eyes flicked to Dominic, who, immune to her cruelty and antics, watched his sister with a casual indifference.

“You can fuck him tonight. Take your pleasure from it. But know that he’d roll from atop you and slit your throat in the process.” She provided a vivid portrait of Dominic’s ease of violence and indifference. And the images that resurfaced about earlier only reinforced it.

With a great deal of effort, I kept disappointment or shock from showing. I wished I could’ve found the audacity to look her in the face and say something like “If I’m going to die, it might as well be under a hot guy.” It would have shocked the smirk off her face. But I couldn’t be that cavalier about dying. I wanted to live.

The expressionless look Dominic directed at his sister was a reminder of the casualness with which he approached murder and violence. He was a person who honored his promises, but he’d never promised to not kill me.

Backing away, I kept a careful eye on them both. Before I could turn and leave, I glimpsed Helena’s look of victory and Dominic’s indecipherable expression that made her air of triumph fade. For a long time, they held each other’s gaze. The taunting defiance that she’d reveled in dwindled into apprehension. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes briefly. Had she managed to finally cross the line?

He dragged his eyes from her and let them follow me as I walked away. He didn’t stop me from leaving, nor did he deny her statement.

Sleep didn’t come easily. Helena’s incendiary words stayed with me. Holding on to the optimism I shared with the prince was becoming increasingly difficult. My tossing and turning stopped when someone knocked at the door. I didn’t answer.

“I know you are awake. I heard you.” Had he been standing at the door, ruminating on the acceptable way to say “I know murdering you is my last-ditch strategy, but can we push that aside and be friends?”

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