Page 70 of Corrupt Shadows

My lips purse, then I sigh, breathing out heavily through my nose. I resume untangling the knots in Evie’s mane as the shadows… cuddle?

Could it be that our magic is trying to send me a message? Just then, the shadows grow to twice their size and pulse rapidly. I cover Evie protectively with my chest and growl, but the shadows shrink back to their previous size as a shimmer much like a heat wave threads through Evie’s tattoos. Something within me tugs outward from my navel. The shadow “couple”—I roll my eyes internally—makes room but stays close, twirling through her hair gently. The translucent magic coating my little witch’s skin vibrates softly.

It takes me a moment to understand what it is trying to communicate with me. Evie’s death magic. My eyes widen, and a grin covers my bearded face. “Hello, little death,” I purr in my mind. The vibrations come on faster, and Evie twitches but doesn’t awaken. It has been too long since I’ve felt the presence of death magic outside of its host.

I hold an open palm faceup over her abdomen and unsheathe my claws. Most of the death magic surges to my palm, condensing into a shimmering globe not unlike the type seers use to gaze into time itself. The heavy weight of the small globe settles onto my hand, and I curl my fingers around it, my claws slightly digging into the magic. Her death magic vibrates intensely for a few seconds before settling, as if my claws tickled it.

I raise the magic to eye level and caress the spectacular magic with my thumb, making sure to scrape my claw against it. “Hmm, you and I need to have a chat. You too.” I narrow my eyes at Evie’s shadow, now buried within mine. For fuck’s sake, I am talking to her magic as if it were a baby animal. This witch is making me soft.

I straighten my spine and level a glare on all the magic present, mine included. “This witch is not to be fucked with,” I say, nodding at Evie. I soften my gaze. “I understand that you’re hurt. She has kept you in chains. It is easy to resent someone who holds the keys to your cage. I know all too well how you feel.”

Her magic vibrates slowly, and her shadow separates from mine to curl around my hand and the death magic. My shadows fade to trace the tattoos on my skin, but they don’t recede entirely.

I run my fingers down Evie’s shoulder and onto her arm, caressing her softly. I sigh and shrug my shoulders. “Yes, I’m a fucking hypocrite, but I’m ordering you both to behave. The more you work with our witch, the more you will be released.” I wince when her shadow squeezes my fingers and my hand vibrates so violently, I almost drop the globe of magic. “Be easy, little monsters,” I coo. “Let’s face it. You need to learn how to harness your strength, and so does Evie. I need you to be good.”

One of my shadows floats to my hand and covers it entirely, obscuring the extremity from my tattooed wrist down, before returning to my skin. I’ll take that as a sign of support.

“I dig the claw of my thumb into the globe, then lift my fingers and bring each down from my index to pinky finger rhythmically.” My little witch’s shadow pulses happily, and the death magic emits a steady hum of vibration. “If everything goes according to plan, with my help, you will be free to roam within her.” I bring the magic closer to my face. “But don’t think for a moment that if you lash out and maim or kill someone against her will, she will ever unlock your cage again.”

The death magic ceases vibrating and takes on a gray hue for a moment before it clears into a fog and seeps back into Evie’s skin. Her shadow darts to my tattoos, blending into the shadow ink for a moment before wrapping around my neck loosely. It tugs on my ear, and a loud laugh escapes me as it vanishes into Evie’s body. Playful little shit.

Evie stirs with a moan, and I continue petting her hair. Slowly, her hazel eyes blink open. She peeks at me before her eyes widen, and she scrambles off of my lap to the other end of the couch. My little witch pants as she catches her breath, then pulls her knees to her chest. She curls into herself like a frightened baby bunny.

Evie looks out the window until the train halts at the station. The rain has finally stopped, and few clouds remain in the sky. The sun shines on the gray tree trunks of the forest, igniting them with light.

Tears well in my little witch’s eyes. I scoff, then grab the pack of cigarettes and lighter from the counter over the mini bar. “You should be thanking me,” I state and light the tip of my cigarette, the violet flame eating away at the paper immediately. I inhale the smoke slowly, enjoying the fuck out of the naked hunger on Evie’s face. The feeling is mutual, but for different reasons. A smirk tips the corner of my lips, then I tilt my head back and release the smoke from my lungs toward the ceiling.

My gaze finds her again, and she licks her gorgeous lips. I know the effect I have on her all too well, and I see no reason not to use that to my advantage. The smoke dances seductively as I exhale it from my nostrils.

“Can I have one?”

I snort, then struggle to keep my expression blank. “No,” I reply flatly.

“Why not?”

“You haven’t earned it, witch. Although…” I stretch my arms along the back of the opposing sofa. “I’d love to watch you wrap your pretty lips around something else.”

Every emotion plays across her face.

I raise my brow and lean forward, resting my elbows on my spread thighs. “But if you’re a good girl, I may grant you a smoke as a reward.”

Evie groans and flops flat on her back, her arm dangling off the sofa. I stand and saunter to my little witch. I purse my lips around my cigarette, the tip flaring bright purple. I lean over her and blow smoke directly into her face. Her nose scrunches, and I swear I feel her glare in my balls. I point the cigarette at her. “You’re welcome.”

“Ugh! You’re such an asshole.”

“So I’ve been told,” I call as I snag the blanket and exit the train.

Evie stomps across the platform, her upper lip slightly poking out in a cute pout. I slip the blanket over her shoulders and grind the stub of my cigarette beneath my boot.

“I’d like to get there before nightfall. Keep moving,” I order.

We walk another two or three miles, and I find myself drastically slowing my steps so I don’t leave Evie behind. The gravel drive cuts through the woods a few yards ahead. Fucking finally. I sigh, the tension melting from my shoulders. I place a hand on the small of Evie’s back and lead her down the winding driveway. Dense trees outline the path until we emerge in a small clearing.

“Welcome to the manor.”

“Lorcan, you said no other demons will come here, right? It’s safe?”

“Demons know better than to come here, but it doesn’t mean you’re safe.”

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