Page 70 of Kiss of Magic

She walked away, feeling his eyes burning into her back.

Blake watched her go. His face was impassive but inside he was in turmoil. Not because she was escaping, though that was bad enough. But because of the realisation that hewantedher to escape.

It was the first time in his long career that he had ever sided with the bounty. He saw her leave the diner and remained motionless, at war with himself.

Hunters were solitary creatures. They had to be – they never stayed in one place for long. Their success depended on being able to move at the drop of a hat and entanglements were a hindrance. But Dani... she had got under his skin. There were no two ways about it.

The problem was, his feelings were irrelevant. The contract was the contract. And this thing was bigger than both of them.

Tala’s voice came back to him.

She’s the only one who can stop what’s coming. Demons. An invasion of demons who want to destroy Nush’aldaam and everyone in it.

If he let her go, millions would perish.

The door swung closed behind her and finally Blake roused himself.

“Don’t be a fucking moron,” he growled to himself. Dani might think she had the upper hand now she had her magic back, but she underestimated his skill.

His eyes fell on the dud fifty dollar note. Typical. Never considering the consequences for the waitress when the transformation spell wore off and the till was short. Just like shewasn’t thinking about the consequences for Nush’aldaam if she didn’t do her job.

Irritably he snatch up the note and left a real fifty in its place. Then he strode out of the diner.

He would have to knock her out, he knew. Unconscious, she wouldn’t be able to use her magic. It would be difficult to get the drop on her but she had to let her guard down sometime. He’d just have to follow her until she…

There was a crowd in the street. People were gathered anxiously around a figure which was curled up on the ground, crying and clutching its head. Blake recognised the blue hair immediately.

“Dani? Dani, what the fuck? Here, let me through.”

“She can’t move,” said a man holding a phone. “I’ve called 911. I think she’s having a stroke.”

Blake lifted Dani’s chin. Her eyes were glazed and there was froth at the corners of her mouth. She focused on him with difficulty.

“Make it stop, Ethan. Please, make it stop!”

“Make what stop? What’s going on?”

“They’re in my head. All of them. So loud… I can’t shut them out.”

“Who? Who’s in your head, Blue?”

Her body shuddered and she folded into his arms, sobbing helplessly.

“The demons. I can hear the demons.”

Thirty Two

Arjhan

The witches conjured up an energy shield. When the first few demons crawled from the pit, they met an invisible wall. They threw themselves at it, snarling and spitting, shimmering along the barrier as they desperately tried to reach their prey. Raya stared at them, shocked rigid by their fury and hatred.

Kam saw in an instant she wasn’t going to be able to fight them. He grabbed her arm.

“We need to get airborne. Now.”

“But the witches…”

“They’re buying us time. But they can’t hold them off forever.”

---