Page 59 of Kiss of Magic

“But thereareno angels,” he said, frustrated. “Not anymore.”

Cassia looked at him.

“It doesn’t know that.”

“You’re not suggesting…”

“Elhinn are the closest living relatives to the angels, sire. And you do resemble some of the old pictures of them.”

“But they had real, physical wings and they shone with nobleness. The demon will never believe I’m one of them.”

“Then you had better be convincing.”

There was a scream from inside the Seal Room. When Kam and Cassia ran in, they saw the nightmare had finally happened. The demon was free.

Twenty Six

Washington D.C.

The woman was dressed as though she was on her way to a board meeting. Her dark blue Armani suit emphasized her trim body and her black stilettos showed off her long legs. She looked every inch a corporate ball-breaker except for the strange eyes that gave her away as a witch.

She came into the room followed by a troll whose shoulders barely made it through the door. It stood behind her, its craggy features inscrutable. Blake wondered how the hell it got around town without causing comment.

The woman’s acid-bright stare was fixed on Dani with a penetrating focus Blake didn’t like. He shifted so he was in front of her and saw a flash of annoyance cross the woman’s face.

“Getting a little crowded in here, don’t you think?” he drawled. He eyed the troll. “Wouldn’t that thing be happier back in the rockery?”

The witch ignored him.

“I’m Denara, dear,” she said to Dani. “I’ve come all the way from the Forbidden Zone to meet you.”

“Go fuck yourself.”

“Yes, I’d heard about your temper. Let’s try to be civil, shall we? I have a proposition for you.”

Blake snorted.

“Stow it, lady. We’re not interested in anything you have to say until you let us go.”

Denara glanced at him coldly.

“If you speak again, human, I’ll have Teros here break your arm. You might be shielded from magic but I can still cause you pain.”

“I don’t respond to threats.”

The witch gestured and the troll lumbered forward.

“Wait,” said Dani quickly. “I’ll listen. What’s the proposition?”

Denara regarded her with a half-smile.

“Interesting. You feel attachment to the human? Well, I don’t deny they can be amusing. And a specimen like him must keep you entertained for hours. But how can you possibly defend someone who put a dampener on you?”

“I’m not defending him,” Dani said. “I’m just curious about your offer. And if you break his arm he’s only going to whine about it and he’s annoying enough as it is.”

“It’s true,” agreed Blake amiably. “I am annoying.”

Denara waved the troll back.

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