Page 26 of Stolen Magic
“And how did you come to that conclusion?” My reply was not fast enough, so he continued. “What motivation would I have to, as you say, ‘set you up?’”
“Are you kidding me right now?” Gawking at him, I waved one of the daggers between us, but he didn’t blink an eye at the sharp blade pointed in his direction. “You just got accepted in the MPO. What better way to show how powerful Dimitri Bell is but to bring a witch to their doorstep. Like a cat leaving birds’ carcasses as an offering to its owner.” The last part was a purposeful jab that made me preen inside when a feral growl rumbled deep in his chest.
It appeared the Alpha didn’t appreciate being reminded that he had a leash.
“I can see how this will appear to you as a set up.” Dimitri surprised me. With a weary sigh, he rounded the desk, coming to stand in front of it before he leaned back, crossing one ankle over the other when he stretched out his long legs. “I assure you that the connection to you, at least on my part, was coincidental.”
“Because your father is the one who did all this and threatened my life.” Incredulity clear in the tone of my voice, I made sure my expression told him how ridiculous he sounded.
“I believe, Miss McCullough, his intentions with all this are a threat to my life, not yours.”
The sound of a pin dropping could’ve been heard in the silent office.
“A lot of successful families bicker about inheriting money, estates, or in your case, empires. We are not in the middle ages anymore, so killing your father for a leather chair and an oak desk just wouldn’t be right, Mr. Bell. There are many ways to settle disputes, and I’m sorry, but your father didn’t look like a psycho killer to me.” But doubt had already sprouted in the pit of my stomach, and his next words turned it into a full grown tree, branches and all.
“How many of those families have an Alpha leading them, one whose son is taking over everything and has witch blood in him?”
It was my turn to pull back on my anger and look at everything in a new light. No matter how I turned it around, I couldn’t deny the merit of what he’d shared.
“But why me?” I tucked the daggers in their sheaths. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m really good at what I do, but I can think of at least a couple of others that could’ve done the job. For much cheaper, I might add, although I don’t think money was an issue to begin with.”
“The others might be good, but I am better.” Some of his arrogance returned. “Had I known more about you before you walked inside my warded room, I would’ve prevented the theft and we wouldn’t be in this mess now.”
“Really?” Arching an eyebrow, I rolled my gaze over him. “You think you can stop me if I want to take something?”
“I know I can.” It was stated as a fact, with all posturing lacking from the baritone rumbling in his chest. “The problem we have right now is much bigger than which one of us is better when it comes to magic.”
“Actually, I don’t see a problem that involves me here. This is between you and your father.” Perking up at that, I even smiled at him. “I’m just the hired thief.” Life seemed beautiful all of a sudden, but the shifter had to ruin it.
“Correct. You are just the thief who stole the magic from the two mages he sent to kill us and made them human.” Folding his arms across his chest, he narrowed his impressive gaze on me. “I’d say you are free to live your life without consequence.”
“It’s your fault I had to do that,” I spat at his reminder of what I’d done. “If you didn’t just stand there like a lump, I wouldn’t have to resort to spells I’ve never used to save my life. Yours too.” Rethinking the reason, I tucked the daggers away and pulled them right back out.
Dimitri cocked an eyebrow at me.
It happened so fast. One moment he was perched on the desk, and in the next, one of his hands was cradling the back of my head, the other wrapping around my waist and effectively pinning my arms until I was plastered to his chest. My breath caught from his nearness, and his wild scent, which was all male, when my nose filled with it.
“I saved your life, too.” Goosebumps prickled my skin when his warm breath puffed over my cheeks. If I stretched just a little, our lips would’ve locked in a kiss. “The elementals knew how to block me from using my magic, but they were not prepared for you. I think we work well as a team, no?”
I was going to kiss him. Crazy or not, it was the only thought left in my head, and it was circling like a vulture. My soft curves molded to all the hard planes of his body, and I sagged in his hold. Eyes locked on his mouth, I parted my lips, and Dimitri tightened his grip on me. Swallowing thickly, I dragged my gaze excruciatingly slow to meet his, and that left me even more breathless than before. My heart rattled wildly in my chest, and his thumped in sync with it.
“Alaska.” His deep voice, much lower than before, vibrated between us when he murmured my name in that thick accent of his.
My legs were like noodles, barely holding any of my weight.
I tilted my face up, bringing our lips closer.
The door burst open, and Char stormed in, her tote swinging from her shoulder and two round bottles full of a deadly potion clutched in her hands.
“Step away from her or I’ll melt the skin off your handsome face,” my friend snarled viciously at Dimitri.
We were still pressed together in an embrace, and all I could do was stare at her. The shifter had no intention of releasing his hold on me, it seemed. To her credit, Char didn’t throw her potions without thinking. Her scowl flicked between us and turned into confusion.
“Oh …” she mumbled and dropped her arms to her sides. “Oh! You were not trying to strangle her.” With a sheepish, forced smile, she turned her back on us. “Don’t mind me then. I’ll just go wait outside until you kids are done. No rush, take your time. I’ll stand guard in the hallway.”
She was already pulling the door closed behind her when I snapped out of my stunned state. “Char.” After I wiggled out of the stunned Dimitri’s arms like an eel, I rushed after her, grabbing the door handle before it clicked shut. “It’s not what you think.”
“Mhm,” was the reply from the other side of the slightly open, padded door we used as a tug-of-war.
