Page 195 of Magic of the Damned

I wasn’t sure how I missed whatever he’d done to the others in the room. But they were now secured against the wall by a luminous band around their necks, fearfully watching the demise of the vampires.

Mouth open in horror, Forest took measured steps backward to the door. I ran to him.

“Don’t run away.”

“What the fuck, Luna?” His eyes widened and he froze mid-step, shocked to the point he didn’t breathe. Following his stare, I saw Dominic engaged in a fight with the werewolves. One that lunged at him was met with powerful kicks that pushed him several feet away. Before he could rebound to stand, Dominic’s claws were piercing his chest and then throat, which ceased all movement. My eyes trailed Forest to the other werewolf, who looked as if he’d received a similar ending, achieved in the short time it had taken me to look at the people pinned against the wall.

I returned my attention to Forest for a moment before looking at Anand and the cadre of guards from the Underworld who waited near the door. Catching Anand’s attention, I made a poor attempt to nonverbal communication. Anand’s brows drew together.

“No one’s going to help?”

“Does he look like he needs it?”

Forest looked lost. Unable to move forward or back, he was floundering for an exit strategy.

I took his hand in mine. “It’s fine. Just look at me,” I coached him in a low, calming voice. There was no sense of pride in my ability to remain calm to the macabre soundtrack of unfettered violence.

He attempted for a second but whether it was morbid curiosity or revulsion he couldn’t tear his eyes away. “Dominic?”

I nodded, following his gaze to Dominic who was standing in front of the supernaturals fastened to the wall. Madeline had put a significant distance between her and an enraged Dominic.

“I attempted to stop it,” she said.

“I know. My anger will not be misdirected to you. You may leave if you wish, or stay so you understand how serious I am about Luna’s safety.”

“As per our agreement, the Conventicle should—” Madeline said.

“No way in hell. I made one request. One fucking request.” The lights pulsed with his anger and stifled the room. “To leave her alone.”

“We just needed to know,” the cruel witch from earlier gasped out in a weak voice.

Dominic moved toward him in measured steps, taking slow breaths, I assumed to calm himself. But the baleful look remained. Standing directly in front of the witch, Dominic flicked his finger, and the witch’s head jerked up to look him directly in the eyes.

“Madeline, tell me what I said during the meeting to all there.”

Relaxing her tightly pressed lips, she said, “The agreement was that you wouldn’t intervene with that of our world unless requested. That you would continue to imprison Celeste until we can undo the curse, protecting her life so that we can live. And you agreed not to intervene without our formal request unless it violated the safety of humans or if Luna was put in danger.” She looked at me. “If she, her friends, or family were ever endangered, it would be handled without discussion or mercy.”

“It was agreed upon, correct?”

She closed her eyes and nodded. Counterarguments and protests withered into a sullen look.

“Your witches should be the most determined to adhere to this agreement. How easy it would be to wipe out the strongest of your line.”

I suspected all the witches who lined the walls were from the same bloodline.

He moved closer to one witch. “You were there.” Quickly moving to the next, he studied him. “You were there.”

He continued until he came to the last person. “Your face isn’t familiar to me. Were you not aware of this agreement?” She had little available movement and turned her eyes toward Madeline. I suspected she knew and was debating whether Madeline would abet her lie.

Madeline took a deep breath. “All the witches were made aware of the agreement. I took it upon myself to impress upon them the gravity of it. The shifters and vampires were made aware as well.”

He nodded and turned to face me.

“Luna, will you leave?”

I wanted to. I should have run away like I was being chased by an axe-wielding monster, but I couldn’t. My feet were rooted in place. Lips parted but the words stuck in my throat. Which words? A jumble of them bounced around in my head. Don’t, but what were their intentions for me? Be the better person. He had and they’d still violated his one request. Okay. Although I knew it was in my best interest to move, I was unable to do so even with the threat of potential violence.

Forest made the choice for me, grabbing my arm and hauling me out of the room. Anand and the guards formed a wall, preventing my return.

---