Page 68 of Spies without a Face
I had to keep him talking. “Where’s the vamp you worked with?” Diego’s ex had taken off when confronted, and we haven’t been able to find her since.
“It doesn’t matter.” He rolled his shoulder. “She owes me a favor, but she’s not of much value. Vampires rarely are.” He wrinkled his nose. “Even shifters are more useful as they aren’t restricted to the dark.” He scowled. “Don’t worry. I’ll erase all memories of that bear shifter out of your mind. You won’t even recognize him.”
Ending things with Austin was a mistake. I hated how I’d hurt him. How much worse would it be for him to think I was so cold that I didn’t even know him? That was if I was even here long enough to see him again. I groaned and closed my eyes. My heart ached with the severity of my mistakes. I’d let fear dictate my actions.
I reached in to sense the magic binding me with the rope. The intricate weavings with dark magic were indicative of Marius’s style. It was how I’d suspected him behind what happened to Diego. If I had time and could focus, I might be able to unravel the invisible web that reinforced the rope. But what I didn’t have was time—or a way to untie the rope even if I was successful with undoing his spell.
What about Gianna? She’d aged rapidly through a spell that the sirens had used on her. I’d also sensed his signature style behind it.
Opening my eyes, I accused, “You were behind the age spell as well.”
He bowed halfway. “That was enjoyable.”
“Why did you do it?”
“Sirens can access areas I can’t with the underwater world. It’s always good to have beings with different capabilities in your debt.”
A sour taste coated my tongue. “It won’t do you much good with them locked up.” They were currently held in a magical prison for their involvement in the illegal magic that could have killed Gianna. She’d aged so quickly that she thought for sure she’d soon reach her grave.
Marius’s eyes flickered with excitement. “That’s one of the ways you can help me.” He stroked his finger along my cheek and down my neck.
I turned from him in disgust. “How?” And how could I ever have loved this man?
“You’ll help me get them released.” He strolled before me. “After all, you have much persuasion with magical networks. Your connections are one of the reasons you’ll be valuable.”
“As an object,” I accused. “A possession. A means to get what you want.”
He cocked his head. “You’re mine, Pandora. You always have been. Why do you think I’ve been working so hard to get you back?”
I frowned. “With whatever minions you have spying on me?”
He gestured in a semi-circle. “You made it difficult with all those magical barriers on your property.”
And I’d made the mistake by letting Marius bypass them by inviting him inside my house—more than once.
“But I found a way. They’re so small and their magic was easy to mask. Only you sensed them, though.” He pointed at me. “I’m impressed.”
I didn’t need his validation. “What are they?” The image of those eyes returned, a visual confirmation of the creepy sensation that had followed me around for weeks.
“A type of imp I found in the forests of Eastern Europe. They’re very handy scouts—or spies, as you call them.”
“Let me guess—you’ve used dark magic to coerce them to help you?”
“They’ll helpus, Pandora. Once we’re together, they’ll serve you as well.”
“There is no ‘us.’ If you steal my free will, it isn’t me. I’d be a shell of myself, another one of your puppets you control.”
“I’ll still love you, Pandora. Just as I always have.” He lifted my hair and let it fall through his fingers.
“Forcing me to be with you isn’t love,” I spat. “It’s a crime.”
Was there any way I could find a way out of this mess before I lost my free will and my memories? Before I was forced to live and love a lie?
CHAPTER24
AUSTIN
Meowing outside grew louder. More like a chorus of screeches and howls.
