Page 69 of Touch Of Fate
“I’ll get you,” he sings. I can’t help tossing a spell at him. He won’t know why he can’t get it up when he touches her. They disappear down another hallway, and I force myself to keep walking.
The room opens up, and I want to leave, take Mara away from here. Twelve men are lounging around the room in various states of undress. Five women are their entertainment. I look away, my jaw clenching. Their faces are a mix of fear and acceptance.
“Are we having a good time?” I look back, and a man enters the room, his arm around a petite blonde. Her eyes are aware, but her body moves without her consent.
“Davis,” a man says. “You throw the best parties.”
“I know,” Davis hums, grinning. “Please, take advantage of every service we have to offer.” He smacks the ass of one of the women dancing close to him. I see her cringe, but it makes the men laugh. “The rooms are free on this floor and downstairs. All the others are off limits. There are two closets full of all kinds of toys to bring the woman of your choice to heel.” He rubs the blonde's waist, licking his lips as he looks at her.
I’ve seen enough. I want to kill them. But I also want them to feel the emotions they inflict on others. I begin to move away but freeze when I sense something different. Two men join the others. They aren’t human. Fuck.
“Room three is open,” one of them says. I barely hold my invisible spell. His friend slaps him on the back, chuckling.
I hate shifters.
There are good ones, but these two aren’t. They complicate things. My magic will work on them, yet they are stronger, and it takes more to spell them. I can sense more women and a handfulof male humans throughout the house. Our job just became harder, but I’m more motivated than ever.
Turning, I jog through the house, retracing my steps, my spell cushioning any sound I would make. I reinforce the room I entered from and slip outside. I shake my arms, hoping to release the stench of the scene. One of the shifters is a bear, the other a coyote. Their species are an unusual pairing for friendship. I know there are evil people of every kind. Warlocks have a bad reputation, and I have met some nasty ones. I can see Mara’s worried face as I get closer to the car, and I know it’s going to get worse.
“What is it?” she asks the second I sit in the car. She is able to read my body language.
“I found an opening at the side of the house,” I start tensely. “I counted fifteen men. I could see six women, but they talked about others. There are other bodies throughout the house. Not many though.” I pause, and Archer leans forward.
“There’s something else,” he says.
“Besides all of them being sick fucks who need to die, there are two shifters. The owner made an appearance. He’s as bad as the reports insinuate. If my gut wasn’t urging me to do this now, I would take you back home and come back by myself. I need to protect you, and I don’t want you to see what happens in that house.” Mara touches my forearm. “There will be no justice for men like that, unless we do it.”
“Then we do,” Mara whispers.
“Should I stay here?” Lace asks.
“Yes.” I glance at her gratefully, and she guessed my thoughts. Her spells are hiding, and she has no way to defend herself. “I need you to stay in the car. I can’t shield you. It will take more power to deal with the shifters. There may be more that I couldn’t sense or see. Call Gavin. He was hanging back, but Ineed him close.” Asking him for help goes against everything I am. “Stay in this car.”
“I will,” she says softly.
“I mean it. These guys are worse than the last place. They won’t hesitate to take you. Wait for Gavin. Don’t let him talk you into going in with him,” I say firmly.
“I understand.” She nods. “Take care of Mara.”
“He won’t have to,” Mara says, squeezing her hand. “I won’t do anything reckless. My spells are gaining power by the minute. What is the plan?”
“I gained entrance through a window. The room isn’t being used, and I spelled it to be our safe space. We start there. We remain invisible until we are in place. The main room is located on the ground floor, down the hall from where I entered. It seems it is the gathering place. Most of the men are in there. It will be easier for me to freeze them there, all at once. The problem is the others in the different rooms. I can’t tell the exact numbers. It will take more concentration and magic for me to hold them all. And even more to take control of the shifters.”
“I will help,” Mara says. “I haven’t tested all my skills, yet they come when I need them.”
“Do what you can. Follow your instincts,” I instruct and turn my head. “I need your power, friend.” He tenses. “You have to use it on the men if we lose control.” Archer hardly puts all his magic to work, and I know the demons he faces every time he does.
“I’m with you,” he says.
“Prepare yourself for everything you will see,” I warn, hating that they have to witness it. “Davis has enough money to throw around; if we don’t end it, he will go on.”
“Rome, we won’t let him.” Mara smiles and glides her hand up my arm. I feel her spell replacing mine, protecting me. I grin and protect Archer. Mara grabs Lace’s wrist. “Only Gavin willbe able to see you.” Magic falls over her sister, giving her extra protection if she is forced to leave the car.
“I love you,” Lace says, her eyes filled with anxiety.
“We’ll be back soon,” Mara responds. “Love you.” She reaches for the door, and we get out at the same time.
Pulling Mara close to my side, we walk quickly toward the house. I wish my magic didn’t have limits. It would be easy if I could keep them frozen the whole time, kill them, and get out. Magic takes massive amounts of energy, and I can’t do it all. I’ve never drained so many at once, and I’m unsure how it is going to affect me. The energy is high, so I should be able to take all of my power from it. Having Mara at my side, concerned about her safety, and keeping track of all the bodies will be a challenge. No one will be safe if something happens to her.
