Page 94 of Magic of the Damned

The knocking persisted and we attempted to ignore it until the commanding booming voice said, “Dominic, play with your…Luna, later.”

The pause I assumed was him deciding whether he’d give me a name or refer to me as ‘his human.’ We quickly redressed. I was smoothing out my hair when the lord entered. He gave me a sweeping dismissive glance before bringing it to his son. Even with a tight, polite smile, there was something adversarial in it.

“Dinner is in an hour. I’m expecting your and Luna’s attendance,” he said, turning on his heels. “Let’s not have a repeat of the defiance you’ve shown with Helena, son.” With that he left.

Dominic had given in to that insolence full throttle. He clearly had no intention of going. His kiss was hard and ravenous. When he attempted to return to where we’d left off, I stepped away.

“Dinner?” I reminded him.

He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. He expended a great deal of effort averting his attention from my lips.

“Fine, I need to get you appropriate clothing,” he said before leaving. Did they seriously dress for dinner? What’s wrong with my jeans and button-down shirt? If this wasn’t acceptable, they’d be downright offended by my home dinner wear of an oversized shirt, occasionally some pants, and fluffy socks.

Well, I’d play by their rules and dress for dinner despite knowing the dinner was a facade for something more. I was just as curious about the Lord of the Underworld as he was about me.

CHAPTER 7

When Dominic returned, I took the dress bag he handed me. Unzipping it, I stared at the beautiful blush-taupe midi sheath dress with the dramatic draped neck. Dressy but not formal.

“It was Helena’s suggestion,” he admitted with a tight smile. I hope my face didn’t reveal how off-putting I found the dynamics between him and his sister. It wasn’t just their interaction I found complicated; it was her. One moment she was cheerfully insisting on my murder, the next she was selecting beautiful dresses for me. That suspicion had me eyeing the dress and forcing my imagination to resist going into hyperdrive determining the many ways she could use the dress to end me. Nothing feasible that didn’t require a multimillion-dollar production budget came to mind, but in the world of magic, I was sure there were things possible beyond my imagination.

“She’ll use this one act to prove she’s changed.” Dominic shrugged with a knowing frown. Even with my limited knowledge of the antics, I understood his frustration. I couldn’t imagine years, probably decades, of dealing with it.

Dominic kept on his slim-cut steel-gray slacks and black shirt that complemented his honed physique. He directed me to a different dining area with a beautiful spiral chandelier that added a modern touch to a formal dining room which held an ornate wood table that could seat twelve. Dark blue wainscoting made the vast and intimidating room more inviting. A section on the opposite side of the room had a lounging area complete with a bar. Like the dining room, it didn’t appear to get much use.

Areleus looked at ease seated at the head of the table with his daughter to his right. He directed Dominic to take the one to his left. I sat next to him. Anand entered, dressed similarly to Dominic but in dark green pants and an alabaster shirt, his hair slightly mussed from him idly running his fingers through it, which he was doing from the moment he entered the room. Him taking a seat at the far end of the table drew the lord’s attention.

“Anand, I appreciate you joining us. By joining, I’d hoped you would truly join us.”

So, it wasn’t just me he didn’t want to be around. Anand wasn’t a people person. With a heavy sigh, Anand stood and took the seat next to Helena and across from me. His interlocked fingers seemed to be more interesting than the people in the room.

With a personal invitation for dinner, I expected more than mundane chatter about the meal and the occasional request to pass the condiments. Once the plates were nearly empty, I became the recipient of Areleus’s undivided attention as he interviewed me, asking about my childhood, where I attended school, my interests and hobbies. He didn’t seem interested that I sketched and wrote poetry when I wasn’t reading. He seemed unimpressed that some of it was used in songs written by my best friend, Emoni. The notebooks filled with my musings were shared only with her. She’d always been a safe space for that. Thinking about the way her face brightened when I finally built up the courage to show her sent a pang through me. Remembering her appreciation and how I felt when she asked for permission to add stanzas of them to her songs, I felt a real longing for her. I missed talking to her, our banter, her urging me to live by her mantra of being my authentic self, and even her wild plots to get revenge on Jackson after our breakup. My heart ached knowing that when I returned for good, I would have to lie to her.

“I’ve upset you?” Areleus asked. The deep-seated confusion in his tone snapped me from my drift into Emoni.

Offering a tight smile, I said, “Not at all. I was just wondering how I’ll explain my absence to the people in my life once I return.” I gave Dominic a look. “Without using magic against them.”

The lord took a slow drink from his wine glass, his considering eyes turned in Dominic’s direction. His stony countenance turned pleased. As if he’d solved a puzzle. “I see the fascination,” he said. “Her optimism is contagious. How she’ll ‘explain’ her absence,” he repeated with a chuckle of dark amusement.

“Yes,” Helena cooed with the venom of a viper and a flourish of movement drawing attention to her magic-restricting marks. “Of all the toys he’s had and broken, she seems to be his favorite.” Her voice was cloying in contrast to the dagger-sharp glare and cutting remark.

“Toy?” Dominic challenged.

“Your human,” she scoffed. “She’s your favorite little human—until she’s not.”

I could see Dominic’s crude rebuttal brewing, but before he could comment I said, “I’m neither a toy nor ‘his’ human. I’m Luna. You can start by calling me that.”

She smirked. “Your Luna seems to be your favorite of all the humans you’ve had over the years.” Treating me to a critical once-over, she grimaced. “I struggle to see the root of it. Your intrigue has me intrigued.”

It had been said so often, I was wondering the same. I was not one for self-deprecating thinking, but Helena’s harping on it had me wondering what drew Dominic to me. It seemed more than just carnal lust.

Areleus looked from his daughter to his son. “Helena, how have you missed it? There’s plenty to pique his interest. The human Luna”—Did he think that was better?—“restored our position of rule with the supernaturals. Reclaimed her power by refusing to be a pawn in the Tenebras game, and undid his wrong. And she is quite determined to undo his misdeeds again.” He raised his glass to me. “Although Helena has missed how truly lovely you are, I appreciate it fully.”

Reluctantly, I admitted that Lord Areleus’s smile was enthralling. He gave it out so infrequently, it was otherworldly and enchanting. As I held his gaze, there was a hum, an allure, not the necessary fight or flight instinct. Jerking my eyes from him, I remembered that looking a vampire in the eyes was dangerous; it gave them the opportunity to compel. These people’s magic had something similar. I wouldn’t be lured into complacency, especially by him. Returning to my food, I put all my interest in finishing the last of it.

“Have you made any progress?” Areleus asked, pushing his plate away and refilling his wine glass. Once his attention was off me, I did the same and took a long appreciative drink of the full-bodied expensive wine that I wasn’t likely to experience after I left.

“Not yet. I will need access to the Book of Umbra.”

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