Page 61 of Kiss of Magic

Blake didn’t know why he was surprised. From Dani’s point of view, it was a no-brainer. But her words sent a tremor of shock through his body.

“Blue, don’t do this. Don’t…”

“I warned you not to speak, did I not?” Denara clicked her fingers. “Teros, break his arm.”

The troll lurched forward and seized Blake by one wrist. He kicked out but with his hands tied, there was nothing he could do. There was an audible crack.

Dani kept her expression dispassionate as she saw the damage that had been done to him. The hunter’s forearm was bent at an unnatural angle, a shard of bone pushing through the skin like a grotesque magic trick. Blake didn’t make a sound but Dani could see his face was white as he sank to the ground, trying to support the shattered limb.

Blake fought not to pass out or throw up. Either was unacceptable. And he wouldn’t scream. He wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. But Christ, the pain was appalling. He clenched his jaw.Breathe through it.You’ve had worse.

“Now, where were we?” Denara gave Dani a satisfied smile. “I knew you would make the right choice. Let us leave Teros to finish the human, and you and I will discuss your future.”

“Wait.” Dani held up her wrist. “The dampener. Even if he’s dead it’ll continue to mute my powers.”

Denara shrugged.

“We have powerful sorcerers, my dear. They will be able to remove it.”

“But it’s also linked to a binding spell. Look.”

She held out the bangle for inspection. Denara saw the engraved runes and her face darkened.

“You are bound tohim?Like a dog?”

“I know, it’s humiliating. Any more than twenty metres apart and I’m in severe pain.” Dani took aim and spat deliberately at Blake, the gob of saliva landing on his shoulder. “He kept me like a slave.”

“Let us rectify that now.” Denara glared at Blake. “Say the release words, hunter, and I’ll end your suffering.”

“You think I’m suffering?” Blake spoke through gritted teeth. “This is nothing. A flesh wound.”

“I promise you a quick and painless demise.”

“Fuck you.”

“I tire of your incessant machismo. Teros.”

The troll seized Blake’s broken arm and squeezed. Blake couldn’t stop the scream that bubbled from his lips. Denara nodded and the troll let go.

“Now. Let’s try again, or I’ll have Teros break all your other limbs for good measure. The release words. Now.”

“Okay, okay, you win,” Blake grunted. “Here they are. You ready?”

“I am on tenterhooks.”

“Eat. My. Dick.”

Dani had thought the older witch was calm personified but in that instant she saw her patience snap. Denara stormed over to where Blake was huddled and seized his face, digging her fingernails into his skin until blood ran down his cheeks.

“You’re helpless and at my mercy, human. I’m going to have Teros rip your eyes out. Then he’ll tear your balls off one at a time and stuff them into the empty sockets unless you release the dampenernow.”

“Wow. And I thought Blue had anger management issues.” He gave her a ghost of his cocksure grin. “But you’re in a different league.”

Denara released him and wiped her hand on her skirt, as though touching him was repugnant. She looked at him thoughtfully.

“It strikes me that you are quite fond of our blue-haired witch,” she said. “Perhaps I shouldn’t be threatening you. Perhaps I should be threateningher.”

“Um, sorry, what was that?” said Dani.

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