Page 171 of Magic of the Damned

Despite having Dominic as a barrier and being enclosed in a ward that I wasn’t sure Areleus could break, I took as many steps back from him as I could while remaining in the circle.

Areleus’s eyes jumped to the infinity knot in Dominic’s hand.

“Keep it intact. It may be of some use,” he urged.

“Why are you here?” Dominic asked.

“I figured you’d be here. Without the use of location spells, how can we find Helena? Why isn’t she putting effort into helping us? Helena is tenacious, so how is she being held so easily?” Areleus said the last part in a whisper, posing the question to himself.

“Her magic has been compromised. She attempted to escape to the Vita, but it was unsuccessful,” I reminded him. Something that Ileana had told him, but anger had made him distracted.

Areleus’s eyes darkened. After exhaling a ragged breath, he said, “They can’t restrict her magic. No one can.”

“It has happened. We are dealing with a Caster who’s managed to elude being caught and has learned how to steal magic from other Casters without the assistance of a magical object. Simply using a spell. She shouldn’t be underestimated.”

Areleus’s covetous thirst for more power sparked in his eyes. His loyalty couldn’t be trusted, and I wouldn’t put it past him to cozy up to the Dark Caster as a way to grab it.

Dominic fixed his father with an assessing look. I suspected he thought the same. The exchange of hostility was undeniable with the knowledge that at the end, one of them probably wouldn’t survive. Observing the tension, Emoni gave my hand a squeeze.

“How do we remove the mark from Luna?” Her intentions were obvious in the sharp look she shot them. She wanted the mark removed and us as far away from this situation as possible.

Areleus relaxed his stance but kept an attentive eye on Dominic, who remained a wall between me and Areleus.

Ignoring Emoni’s question, Areleus directed his response to Dominic. “Use Luna to find Helena. They want her.” He glanced at the spelled infinity knot. He side-stepped Dominic to get closer to me, triggering an immediate reaction from Dominic who pushed him back several feet. A reaction that seemed to be out of instinct, not malice. Areleus’s exposed claws were a declaration of violence.

“Do you believe for one moment she will be safe? They want her and will have her. Should we fall and our realms be destroyed for her? You’ve lost sight of your responsibility. You’ve listed all Ophelia’s abilities and yet you don’t see a need to impede any further acquisition of power? With her having the use of Helena, you will be at a severe disadvantage. Are you willing to accept that for a woman?”

“A woman I love.”

My mouth parted at the confession that came from him so freely and the raw vulnerability on his face. Areleus’s claws retracted and the anger washed from his face. The atmosphere was charged with unspoken emotions. Dominic positioned himself defensively, ready to shield and safeguard me from any harm from Areleus.

Dominic’s father’s face grew mild as he adopted the persona of a person who valued love, but his emotions were clouded by his desperate need for his daughter to be returned. The act was convincing, but I knew what lurked behind the amiable expression.

“Then creating a situation where she’s not in danger should be important to you. They want her and won’t stop until they have her. You’ve always been pragmatic, but that ability seems to have escaped you. Allow Luna’s connection to be a way to obtain proximity to them and end this. You have the means. I know you do.”

I wasn’t wholly convinced that Peter was with Ophelia, because I recalled the venom in her words when she spoke of him. I couldn’t imagine a willingness to return his magic and work with him. But neither could I imagine wanting to destroy the race of vampires, subjugate witches, and make shifters vulnerable to magic to garner power over them. I didn’t have great insight into people who were willing to do such things. Peter was skilled and with the same aligned interest and a mutual hate for the royals. That would be advantageous to her.

I was out of my league. I wanted out of this situation as well. Dominic’s confession stayed in the forefront of my mind. He loved me and he was part of this situation. With all the surging feelings and the turbulent situation, Dominic was a surety and constant. I wanted him. I was still sorting out whether it was love.

“Areleus is right,” I admitted. Ugh, that didn’t feel good at all. Agreeing with him left a bitter taste. “If I can be used to locate them, then I’ll agree to it.”

The heat of Emoni’s shocked gaze bored into me. Ignoring it led to her nails piercing the hand she’d kept a hold on.

Turning to face me with an expression that settled between awe and confusion, Dominic offered me a grim smile. “Your bravery always exceeds my expectations.”

At face value it looked like bravery. Bad actions and decisions often disguised themselves that way. I was making the best decision that would allow Helena to be found, stop the Dark Casters, maintain the integrity of the Underworld, and continue my relationship with Dominic without the chaos of the supernatural world.

Am I asking too much? Probably.

Dominic handed the bespelled infinity knot to Anand. “Will you take this far from us, please?” In the small apartment, Anand moved away and into a room that I suspected was the bedroom.

Dominic disengaged the ward. “How do you feel?” he asked.

“Fine.”

He positioned himself directly in front of me. “Release her hand,” he instructed Emoni. Several seconds later, she released it.

Everyone kept a keen eye on me like they were expecting me to bolt toward the object. I was half expecting it, too. But I didn’t feel that enigmatic pull or any tendrils of magic pricking at my skin. Nothing.

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