Page 57 of Magic of Sins

This can’t be happening! Ava’s life depends on me getting a car.

I do the only thing I can think of. I rip my dressing gown off my shoulders and start unbuttoning my nightgown. One button at a time. It worked for Caden, after all.

It doesn’t matter if I’m his type. The sight of naked skin is something so rare that it will for sure upset him.

The guard’s cheeks turn pale. He shakes his head in confusion.

“Miss, what are you doing?”

“I’m so warm.”

My face burns with shame, but I keep going. The tops of my breasts are already showing. The guard is breathing heavily.

“Miss,” he groans.

He peeks around furtively, then settles his gaze on my hand, which pauses over the next button.

I feel his growing desire and reach for it. I’ve neverconsciously fed on a human before. So far, Caden and I have only trained how tostopthat from happening. But now I pounce on the man’s desire like it’s my last meal.

His eyelids flutter, and he lets out a guttural moan. I want to stop as he starts toward me, to let go of the thread, but I can’t. Not yet.

The guard’s hand moves to my hip, carefully inching its way up. I sense his desire for my bare skin. I felt it when Caden used his powers on me, so I know how this man must be feeling right now. Still, I want to slap his hand away and run as fast as I can. The taste of his lust is heavy and sweet on my tongue. I suppress a gag.

Not yet.

He moves his hand over my chest toward the opening of my nightgown. Panic rises in me. What if I don’t manage to let go of the thread in time? What if—

But then it all happens at once. The guard touches my skin. A soft sigh escapes his lips. At the same time, I let go of the thread. My hand goes to his face, and I slap him hard before backing away.

“Wretched sinner!” I shout, and I don’t even have to pretend to be outraged.

The guard blinks in confusion, then turns bright red.

“Miss, please, I don’t know what happened. I…”

He bends down, picks up my dressing gown, and holds it out to me.

“Please!”

I know what he’s concerned about. If I tell on him, he’ll lose more than just his employment. We share a secret now. And that secret gives me power over him. That’s exactly what I’ve been counting on.

With a scowl, I snatch the robe from him and cover my exposed skin.

“Get me a car. Right. Now,” I hiss. “And you’re driving.”

A chauffeur would only ask questions, and I have no desire to put on a show again. My heart is still pounding.

“But miss,” protests the guard, “I shouldn’t. I’m not allowed to leave my post.”

“There are other things you also shouldn’t do but still did. I wonder what the king would have to say about that.”

“Please, miss. Please don’t.”

I feel horrible threatening the young man like this, but I’m running out of time. Helplessly, he looks around us, as if expecting help from something or someone.

“Get on with it!”

He flinches violently when I yell at him, but at least he’s moving now. The guardhouse is where they keep the keys to the royal vehicles. He takes one of them from the key rack and hesitates briefly before joining me outside again.

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