Page 32 of Wicked Savior
Her words echo in my head. Maybe I should hold off on any new experiments. After all, time is on my side.
Decision made; I realize I need to get upstairs to release the humans from my spell. I move toward the elevator but stop when an auburn-haired man with a massive collection of runes tattooed on his body appears.
“Sorry, I didn’t see you standing there.”
He flashes a sinfully charming smile. “I know. I felt it would be rude to interrupt your conversation with yourself.”
I wonder how much he heard.
I decide to ignore the possible repercussions for now. “I seem to have requested the wrong floor. Can you help me find the one with the bar?”
“Truth, interesting,” he remarks, a rune flaring on his arm. “The floor with the bar is called the Main Floor. I’ll escort you up there.” He offers me his elbow. “Out of curiosity, what floor did you request?”
“Bottom floor. Why?” We get in the steel box, the silver doors close, and it begins to move.
Instead of answering, he leans in and inhales deeply. “You smell of Lucifer and human. Along with an underlying current of magic that is oddly familiar.” His head tilts while he thinks about it. He straightens suddenly. “Cormal. You smell like Cormal.”
The doors open, but my attention is solely focused on the warlock at my side.
I tense. “Who’s Cormal?”
“I’m Cormal,” a clipped voice answers from outside the elevator.
My head swivels toward the front where I find a stunning petite Fae female with platinum silver hair and turquoise eyes and a tall, dark-haired male with bright blue eyes who’s staring at me with a strange look on his face.
“Viridis?” he murmurs in an incredulous tone.
Panic and confusion hit me simultaneously. “Evren,” I reply, desperate to ask if he knows what happened to my mother but unwilling to chance it. “Viridis was my mother.”
The Fae looks swiftly from him to me and back. Her eyes narrow. “Are we getting into the elevator or not?”
A sardonic smile slides across his face. “Jealousy is a beautiful expression, especially on your face.”
She rolls her eyes and gets into the elevator. “You wish. I got over you a long time ago. I’m looking for a Fae Prince Charming, not Mr. Wrong-and-Full-of-Secrets.”
He gets in and stares down at her. “Prince Charming won’t save you. When will you learn to save yourself?” The underlying current between these two is enough to set my teeth on edge. Their words are innocuous, but their tones are full of recrimination, anger, and a whole lot of sexual tension.
Their emotions are affecting my ability to think clearly. Thankfully, the elevators open, and we spill out onto the main floor.
The warlock looks deep in thought but flashes me another killer smile. “I’m Astor, by the way. Let me know if you need anything while you’re here.”
I flash him a dismissive smile. “Thanks.”
He slowly saunters away, and I hold my breath until he’s gone.
“Don’t say a word,” Cormal hisses in my ear. “The walls have ears.” He eyes the silver-haired Fae who is now glaring at him from across the room. “Meet me outside in ten minutes.”
I weigh the consequences of learning more about my mother with the very real threat of Gabriel and his minions. “Angels are breathing down my neck.”
“Not surprised,” he retorts. “Ten minutes.” Without another word, he stalks over to the bar, completely ignoring the beautiful Fae.
Furious, she flicks a glance at me, then sidles up next to a pair of twins on the dance floor.
I can’t help but look back and forth between her and Cormal.
“Have a run in with Cormal and Meri?” Arden murmurs beside me. “Those two are a flashfire waiting to happen. Are you okay?” Her startling green eyes widen. “I just realized we’re about the same height. Do you know how rare it is to find another 5’11” female? Almost impossible.”
A tattooed arm comes around her. “What’s impossible?” Brown eyes lock on me over her shoulder.
