Page 16 of Mayhem and Ember

“We will remove the silencing spell if you promise not to try busting our eardrums again. Can you use your big boy words and talk like a grownup?”

“That’s not helpful, Em,” Ash muttered. “Don’t patronize him.”

“He deserves a lot worse.” I arched a brow at him, and he narrowed his deep-purple, soul-penetrating eyes.

“It’s the only way to gain your freedom,” Chaos said.

Mayhem’s gaze bounced from his brother to each of us before he settled on me and spread his hands as if conceding.

“Now we’re getting somewhere.” My sword lay on the table, and I caressed the skull pommel before running my fingers over the rosewood handle. “Ash will undo the silencing spell, but if you try anything at all, I will lob off your head and vanquish you back to your prison for another four hundred years.”

My sister made a disapproving sound with her throat, but I ignored her. I’d dealt with plenty of men like Mayhem at Spellbound Axe. Maybe they weren’t demonic, but eighty percent of our clientele consisted of testosterone-laden Neanderthals who thought drinking beer, throwing sharp objects, and proclaiming themselves alpha males would make them so. In reality, they were just insecure assholes, and the best way to put them in their place was to exert your own dominance.

Mayhem was no different.

Ash looked from me to Chaos, who nodded, and she recited the undoing spell. “What I’ve done is now undone. As I will it, so mote it be.”

The moment the silencing spell lifted, a growl rumbled in Mayhem’s chest, his lips pulling up into a sneer.

“Ah-ah.” I held up a finger. “We’re in control of this situation.”

“We’ll see for how long.” He arched a challenging brow.

I picked up my sword and spun it at my side before clutching it in both hands. “Okay. Back to prison you go.”

“Ember!” Ash scolded, but I lifted it, ready to swing.

“Wait.” Mayhem held up his hands in surrender. “Perhaps we can make a deal.”

“No deals. Demons lie.” I adjusted my grip. “Bind him, Shade.”

“Gladly.” He picked up a freezing spell and popped the cork.

“Brother…” Disbelief widened Mayhem’s eyes.

Chaos crossed his arms. “These witches aren’t to be trifled with. I’ve never met another who possessed such power.”

He backed away from the circle’s edge, his eyes calculating. “I will hear what you have to say.”

“Good choice.” Shade recapped the potion. “I would not want to be on Ember’s bad side. The woman’s got a temper.”

I smirked. “Only because you love to piss me off.”

Mayhem stretched his neck, his vertebrae popping and cracking like industrial-strength bubble wrap. “Tell me, witch. What spell have you used to entrance and enslave my brother?”

I returned my sword to the table and leaned against the edge, crossing my legs at the ankles. “She didn’t use a spell. It’s all L-O-V-E love.”

He let out a scoff of disbelief and shook his head at Chaos. “Is this true?”

“It’s fate.” Chaos rested his hand on Ash’s back.

A growl rumbled in Mayhem’s chest. “Doubtful.”

“She summoned me accidentally, not knowing my mark was demonic.” He pressed his lips to the side of her head. “What else could it be?”

Mayhem scoffed. “Accidents do not mean fate.”

“She summoned me without my skull.”

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