Page 69 of Magic of the Damned

“For her?”

Dominic’s head barely moved into the nod.

Emmanuel looked at me thoughtfully, trying to suss out something. “I heard she’s responsible for releasing the prisoners from the Perils.” Although his question was directed to Dominic, he kept his eyes on me. I remained expressionless, trying not to give anything away.

“I loan her the magic and that will satisfy my debt,” Emanuel confirmed.

Dominic gave a slight nod.

“Well, I think I need to clear out the place. Don’t want anyone interrupting us.” Emmanuel eased past me. I didn’t need to follow his movement to feel his gaze on me.

Looking around the office, Dominic’s face remained indecipherable. Emanuel’s voice was faint on the other side of the doors.

“Will this hurt?” I asked.

“It shouldn’t.”

“That wasn’t a definitive answer.”

“Because I don’t have one. I’ve never borrowed magic before. I’ve seen magic taken from someone and they didn’t look to be in pain as it was done, just pissed off.”

“Like your sister?”

“I didn’t take her magic, it’s just restricted,” he corrected.

It still pissed her off.

Time ticked by. Dominic moved to the desk and grabbed a pen and piece of paper, scribbled something on it, and handed it to me along with the key fob.

“If I tell you to leave, go to this address. The emergency exit is out this door and to the right, okay?”

I nodded, taking the items. “Dominic, what’s wrong?”

His eyes narrowed at the door. “Nothing yet.”

I shoved the paper in my pocket, palmed the key fob, and continued to wait for Emmanuel. Ten more minutes passed then Dominic scrutinized the door and mouthed for me to go.

I ran.

Halfway to the exit I heard pounding feet and saw seven people flooding through the door, a silver-blue sphere of magic being released into Dominic’s chest. The woman in front stood in frozen disbelief when there was no effect. Swallowing a gasp, I hesitated for one moment before darting for the car. Hauling myself in, I started the car without adjusting the mirror and reversed, guilt and panic washing over me at the sight of newly arrived cars and more people spilling into the bar.

Once on the main road, I could think more clearly and my internal debate persisted. Out of the rearview mirror, I glimpsed another car turning into the bar’s parking lot. I couldn’t leave him.

Chuffing and huffing drew my attention, and I was startled to find Zareb had made himself visible.

I cursed under my breath, one hand going to my chest. “Are you trying to kill me? How did you get in here?” Great, I’m talking to hellhounds now. But if he could travel from the Underworld, answering me wasn’t terribly unrealistic.

Zareb’s response was a low rumble in his chest.

“I can’t leave him,” I repeated aloud.

The hound nudged my shoulder as if to tell me to keep going, but I swung the SUV around and headed back to the bar, parking it facing out so I could make a quick exit if necessary. In the trunk I found an emergency kit. I rummaged through it until I found three flares, and I snatched up the wrench. The only thing I could think to do was throw in the flares, hope they hit something flammable. If nothing else, it would be a distraction. If I had the Trapsen, I could notify Anand. Worst case, Helena.

A bloodied body crashed through the door and landed, his right arm twisted in a manner that wasn’t anatomically possible without a break. A clawed creature stood over him. It had Dominic’s features, clothing, and body, but there wasn’t anything human about him. This wasn’t the refined, coolly subdued man that I reluctantly found sexy as hell. This was an animal. A beast of the Underworld. His eyes blazed like fire, his magic thrashed the air, and blood—I was sure other people’s blood—coated his clothing.

Lips furled, he hissed at me. “Go!”

My feet were planted, eyes wide, horror-stricken, when he used his claws to slash the man’s throat. The spurt of the man’s blood jolted me into action. I ran to the SUV. A hand grabbed my hair and tossed me to the ground. My hand held onto the wrench but the flares dropped. I made a half turn and smashed the wrench into the person’s wrist. They released me with a shriek of pain. I rolled to my feet and swiftly turned and delivered another hit to the head.

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