Page 98 of Magic of the Damned

I slipped past him without a word and headed for the bedroom where I grabbed some clothing and retreated to the bathroom, taking that moment of reprieve before I talked to Dominic. After, I was determined to get everything I needed from him: a promise that he’d do everything to ensure I left the underworld alive.

Clean, relaxed from the shower, and dressed in clothes that weren’t a reminder of the previous day, I headed back to the seating area resolute and draped in faux bravado. I was getting answers and an oath of protection from him. But in the sitting area, I found Dominic gone and Anand in his place.

My bodyguard has returned. I probably needed one more than ever.

“Breakfast?” he asked, standing with a smirk, responding to my growling stomach. Worrying had proven to be a calorie-burning activity.

Stopping abruptly at the sight of Areleus seated in the kitchen, a coffee in hand, and a croissant and fruit on a plate, I was shocked— No, I was fucking appalled by the audacity of him greeting me with a brilliant welcoming smile.

“Good morning, Luna.” His voice was a deep purr of malevolence. “Would you like to join me?”

Was he fucking serious? I could see where Helena got her sociopathic gumption from. He was bathed in it.

“No,” I gritted out. “Why would I ever want to have a meal with you?!”

His eerie speed of movement had him standing before me in a breath, looking down at me, darkly amused by whatever he saw.

“I do see the appeal,” he admitted softly. “There’s something quite alluring about you. I’d go as far as to say it is intoxicating. It has certainly left my son addled.”

“You’re exploiting it?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Furtively, I looked around for the guards. I was confident the Lord of the Underworld was about to be kneed in his man berries and I needed to know how close the guards were. Because after the assault on them, I planned to get in as many punches as possible before the guards stopped me. It wasn’t likely they’d side with me, but if they had any idea what was said, they might not handle me as roughly.

He moved closer. “What is it about you, Luna?” Another person with that gift of putting so much into my name. He moved around me. I followed. I would not let a poisonous viper out of my sights. It amused him. Areleus’s eyes dipped to my lips, his leering obvious and gross. Areleus was a sociopath and I couldn’t see past that, no matter how sinfully attractive he was.

“Anand, what is it?” he asked, keeping his eyes on me. I risked a glance in Anand’s direction, but he seemed genuinely confused as well.

“I don’t know,” Anand finally admitted.

“Yes, it is quite the conundrum, isn’t it?” Areleus’s eyes narrowed. “He’s not sharing information with me.”

“What? He’s not providing information after you attempted to murder his friend? The audacity,” I spat out.

Areleus repeated my assertion of being Dominic’s friend with the revulsion of a vile curse.

“Anand is Dominic’s friend. I don’t doubt that when he’s with you, friendly thoughts are the furthest from his mind. You are a siren to him, and he’s answered your call. Is it you, Luna, the peculiar little human, or is there more to you? Will I need to crack you open to see?”

Fear and adrenaline jetting through me, I drew taller and met his challenging eyes. These people were energized and provoked by fear, so I would deprive him of it. The seconds ticked by before he gave me another assessing once-over before departing. His threat lingered.

“I want to go home,” I whispered.

As if saying it would bring it to fruition.

My interaction with Areleus didn’t ruin my appetite. Anand had a scone and coffee while I devoured a lot of food in hope it would hold me for the day and decrease the chance of further encounters with Areleus or Helena.

My plan to head to the library for more research if the magical room allowed, or visit with Jasper, was squashed when Anand directed me to Dominic’s office. It was the midnight-blue room where Dominic had showed me how to use the Trapsen to travel from the underworld. There wasn’t a magical key required for entrance this time. Anand pushed the door open without so much as a knock. Dominic was eying several objects on the desk. Expectant eyes flicked to me and I quickly moved toward Anand.

“You want to practice more later today?” Anand asked.

“Practice what?”

He chuckled. “Your punches and”—his lips quivered from obviously fighting the urge to laugh at the image of me attempting one of his combinations moves and landing on my butt—“kicks. Perhaps we can go over kicks.”

“I’d like that.”

He was headed out the door before I could get a time.

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