Page 27 of Kiss of Magic

Trembling, she met the coven leader’s gaze.

“I’m not brave, like you, Lenore. I don’t want to die.”

“No-one does, child. No-one does.” Lenore sighed. “I am sorry. Truly. If there was any other way… but there is none. The hunter will bring you to the site of the lock.”

“No. You can’t make me. I’m not going anywhere with that neanderthal.”

“You will find you have no choice. Now please hand the crystal to Mr Blake.”

“Lenore, please, I…”

“Mr Blake?”

Blake stood up and stretched. He held out his hand.

“May I?”

With a howl of rage, Dani hurled the crystal at his head. Unperturbed, he caught it one-handed and glanced at the screen.

“It’s going to cost extra to take her to another location.”

“I understand. You will be well recompensed. I trust gold is satisfactory?”

“That’ll do nicely. So where am I taking her?”

“I hope you have your passport, Mr Blake. The lock is in England.”

Thirteen

Dani watched the hunter sullenly. He was cleaning his Glock. One of them, anyway. He’d already stripped and polished the other one.

He worked in silence. As well as his guns, she’d learned he kept a blade in his right boot and a whole row of knives strapped to the inside lining of his long leather coat.

“How did you shield yourself from my magic?” she asked abruptly. “Barrier spells are hard to come by.”

“I know someone who knows someone.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“The same person who gave you the dampener?”

He didn’t answer. Putting the Glock back together again, he left one bullet in the chamber and made sure the safety was on.

“So what now?” Dani asked acidly. “Because I warn you, I’m not coming quietly. I don’t care what Lenore says. I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Blake carefully slid the gun into his shoulder holster. Then he walked to the bed and undid the handcuff. Flinging the door wide open, he returned to his chair and sat down, propping his feet on the end of the bed. Dani watched uncertainly.

“Is this a trick?”

“Nope. You want out? Door’s open.”

“You’re going to shoot me if I run.”

Blake rolled his eyes.

“And risk my bounty? I don’t think so.”

“So I can just go?”

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