Page 79 of Magic of the Damned

“We’re locked in here and you’re busy playing with your human?”

“Anand and I are locked in here,” he pointed out, a cruel reminder that without her magic, Helena lost her ability to travel between the underworld and my world. The loss of magic hadn’t removed her depthless cold look that held its own diablerie.

“I don’t need a reminder of your overreaction. If you value your human, you may rethink your stance on that,” she said, approaching us slowly and extending her arms to expose the sigils on them that restricted her magic. Dominic released me and positioned himself between me and Helena.

“Should I remind you that I don’t need magic to get rid of your Luna,” she hissed.

Feeling belittled and also like a coward for letting Dominic be a bastion of safety, I thought about moving around him and presenting a brave front. And then what? Bravely get my ass kicked? Images of watching her destroy several supernaturals with minimal effort allowed me to reluctantly accept the protection.

“Oh Dominic. This is not a good look. You’ve allowed yourself to be brought low by a human. What is it about this creature?” Helena sneered.

Not a fan of that descriptor.

She gave me another appraisal. “I guess she is somewhat acceptable. Cute. Pint-size.”

Nice insult, you giant. I pressed my lips together to keep the response from flying out.

“You’ve had better. Prettier. And sexier. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were bespelled by this human.”

Whether their speed was linked to their magic, or their very being possessed its own, she’d suddenly moved around her brother and locked her hand around my neck. I gasped out the final breath she let me take while I clawed at her hand.

“Let her go, Helena,” Dominic said with the calmness of a person who was able to freaking breathe. “Now.”

Several ticks of time passed as she scrutinized me and her brother. Then she released me with a shove and I gasped for breath, putting distance between us.

“Fuck your creature then do what needs to be done.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stepped out of our pathway. What was she planning to do, watch? Dammit, I needed to get away from this weird family and their violent, voyeuristic nature.

“I need her. We need her. If we plan to ever get out of here.”

“Dominic.” The hostility had drained from her voice. “She is here and we are locked in. A temporalibus was done. She took Peter’s place, but she is also keeping the spell active. He sees a weakness in you and is exploiting it. You have two choices. Play into his hands and let her live—or do your damn job.” The latter was pushed through clenched teeth.

“That has always been the difference between us. You’re impulsive. There’s a reason behind him choosing her, and it is imperative that we find that reason. When we do, it will be used against him. I captured him once. You know it will happen again.”

“Can’t do it while imprisoned. Make no mistake, brother, we are as imprisoned as those in the dungeon. But ignore me if you must. It’s not just you and Anand unable to freely roam between the worlds. It’s Father, too. He will only tolerate captivity for so long. The problem will be fixed. Now you must determine on whose terms.”

The slight clench of his jaw was the only response he granted her. It was enough to lift her mood. A smile spread across her face before she left the room.

The Lord of the Underworld. He’d handle the situation. That wasn’t any comfort. Because I was the situation.

CHAPTER 2

Turning to face me, Dominic’s expression was indecipherable as he devoured the space between us. His finger traced the line of my jaw, down my neck, across my jugular. Silence.

Say something. Explain the situation. Ease the tension.

“Dominic,” I whispered.

He remained withdrawn in his thoughts as his finger returned to the curve of my neck. I was fully aware that the fingers that lingered over the arteries in my neck could become claws in a matter of seconds. I swallowed when he pulled me to him, his hand twining around my hair. He yanked. Kneeling down at the threshold of the door, he laid the strands of hair across it.

“You have to ask before you do that,” I snapped.

His head canted ever so slightly, the blaze of his eyes and his posture showing a raw resistance to my command. Clearly a man not used to letting people know what he’s about to do.

“It’s a simple request for courtesy.”

“Or I could just not place the ward.”

“Really.” I frowned. “At my request for a basic display of manners, you counter with leaving me vulnerable to your sister’s whims?”

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