Page 40 of Magic of the Damned

The silk-patterned chaise lounge and a chic flared-arm sofa did nothing to minimize the size of the room. One side of the room was a window, bathing the room in warm light from the garden and providing a spectacular overhead view of crimson and black flowers and a pergola with drawn curtains and delicate warm lighting giving it a comforting ambiance.

The bathroom was a relaxing oasis, the light a pale hue, making it seemed candlelit. In a world of perpetual dusk, these people seemed to appreciate light.

Aware of Dominic watching me, I gave the room just a sweeping look, underappreciating the shower stall with the stacked stone walls and overhead shower that gave the impression of bathing under a waterfall. The free-standing stone tub, I could imagine emerging from and wrapping my body in towels from the warmer, letting all the drama of the day spill from me. That was the point. This wasn’t just a place to lay my head for the night, but a more subtle manipulation. Luring me into complacency.

Turning, I eyed him with suspicion. He seemed to bask in me being enamored by the room. It had its intended effect. Everything about this room was in diametric opposition to him and the situation. Soothing, warm lights, luxe and inviting furniture, the prospect of a warm shower, and even the picturesque view of the softly lit garden and pergola. Even the faint scent of lavender and chamomile made it difficult to stay enraged, and I desperately wanted to cling to my anger like a toddler gripping their favorite stuffed animal. It would serve me well not to underestimate or become too comfortable with the Prince of the Underworld.

But his words from earlier kept nagging at me. Had I made things worse, ensured that I wouldn’t survive? I wanted Nailah to tell me my fate hadn’t changed.

As people emerged from the shadows, placing food on the table in the pergola, I tightened my hold on my bag as if bolting out of the Underworld with it in hand was remotely an option.

“I thought it would be nice to have dinner in the garden.”

Really, dinner surrounded by flowers that were a staunch reminder of where I was and who I was with? Well, okay. At least he wasn’t trying to woo me.

“That would be nice.”

My easy response drew his attention. His brows lifted and his depthless eyes bored even harder into me. Placing my bag on the dresser, I gave him an affable smile. Make nice with the prince.

“Things between us do not have to be contentious,” I said.

“And yet you make it so.”

You’re making being nice really hard. Slow breaths. Don’t knee the prince.

“I’m here to help.”

He scoffed. “You’re here because it’s the pathway to your safety. Let’s not pretend otherwise. It diminishes us both.” His amber eyes danced with fire, and pulling my eyes from them seemed impossible. Was it my imagination or had the room grown hot? It felt sweltering.

“I want my prisoners returned, I want to stop a war, and I want to counter an insurrection. You play an important role in that. Make no mistake, you are a tool. It’s up to you whether you will be one of use.”

So that was his less than subtle way of pointing out my role in determining whether I lived or died. I started to point that out, when he swallowed the space between us and pressed his fingers to my lips. “Don’t answer yet. Think about it, Luna, because your actions will determine your fate. It is in your hands.”

The only thing I could think about was snapping at his finger like a rabid animal. He silenced me. Who does that? My face gave me away every time, and it hadn’t failed this time. The prince removed his finger and turned away and headed for the door.

“Dinner should be ready in an hour. I trust you won’t have any problem finding your way.”

He wasn’t wrong. I paid careful attention to everything, mapping out the house and observing the rooms that were kept closed and the ones where the doors were slightly ajar and anything I could glean from my vantage point. If me slowly following Dominic and stopping to get my bearings bothered him, he didn’t voice it.

One hour to dinner. I took advantage of it and put on paper the Venn diagram that had formed in my head of Dominic’s and his sister’s magical abilities after seeing her grow claws. Any information I had to help make sense of this world and better navigate it was important. At this point, no information was too miniscule, especially discovering the magic of the Prince and Princess of the Underworld and how it intersected or aligned with other supernaturals.

Amoral and possibly sociopathic tendencies seemed to be common to all. Helena and Dominic appeared to possess forms of magic from all groups, so they were inclined toward those behaviors even more. I didn’t care if my bachelor’s in library science didn’t qualify me to make a clinical diagnosis; this was about self-preservation. And as far as I was concerned, I was dealing with people who were even more dangerous because they shared qualities with witches, shifters, and vampires. Off to the side was Nailah, clearly an exception to the rule. Or was she?

There were holes in my information about Dominic and Helena because I didn’t know the extent of their magical ability compared to other supernaturals. How much could they shift? Could they shift into any animal or were they limited to one animal or species? Did they have magical abilities like the Mors? What were their limitations in zoning or whatever they called their form of teleportation? Hopefully over dinner, I’d get some questions answered. The two most pressing things I needed from Dominic were a promise that my family and friends would be safe and the ability to navigate between this world and mine without an escort, if possible. I had a strong feeling it was possible, and he had led people to believe he’d destroyed all the Trapsens.

Dominic was waiting in the kitchen. Surprise flashed briefly on his face. He smiled, a genuine smile. That was as dangerous as his magic. Shifting my attention quickly, I looked past him at the garden, letting some of the potency ease away.

“I’m glad you decided to join me,” he said. The disarming smile had settled nicely on his face and remained as he filled two glasses of wine from the bottle on the counter.

Would you have left me alone if I hadn’t? Play nice. I simply smiled, took the proffered glass, and walked out of the house toward the garden. Dominic headed down a trail leading away from the food on the table on the patio. My stomach wasn’t thrilled about that. Dinner wasn’t just an information-seeking endeavor but also to mend my tattered relationship with Dominic, negotiate the safety of my family and friends, and lay the groundwork to enter the Underworld unaccompanied. And eat.

Him steering me through the garden pricked at the defiance in me, but I knew it was just me grappling for some vestige of control.

His steps slowed to leisurely movements. He was taking in the garden as if appreciating it for the first time. A faint floral fragrance scented the air. The slight breeze that seemed strangely oceanic had me looking around for a pond. There wasn’t one. I gave a side-eye to the man who could create fire. Did he have the same ability with wind and water?

“Is there ever light here?” I asked, increasing my speed to walk next to him.

He shook his head, looked around the artificially lit area, and returned his attention to me, canting his head and giving me an evaluating look. “But that’s not where your curiosity lies, is it, Luna? Ask your real questions.” He stopped our stroll to continue looking at me. I had to work on keeping my thoughts from my face. It’s the very reason I refuse to play poker. Bad hand, you will definitely know about it. Great hand and my beam is a sunburst.

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