Page 66 of Magic in the Moonlight

They’re about to be very bothered.

I open a vortex, and Rymus’ eyes narrow as he studies the motion of the air behind me. “Is that supposed to scare me?”

Confused by his unsurprised reaction, I lift an eyebrow.

Funny, he almost sounds… bored. Most people just about shit their pants when they see a vortex for the first time.

Instead of responding with words, I don’t hesitate to let the force grow stronger. Much stronger. That drop of Glow I ingested earlier is still lingering in my system, and my suction has more kick than usual.

Rymus feels the pull. Bending his knees, he lowers his center of gravity, digging his boots into the dirt while trying to stand his ground.

Good.

I need him to stay right there for just a little longer…

The hive feels the disturbance in the air, and the bees start to buzz around, alert and ready to take on any danger.

Focusing on the oval-shape, I increase the spinning. The hive rocks a few times before detaching from the branch.

Unbeknownst to Rymus, it flies straight for him. When it hits him in the back of the head, it explodes with a swarm of very angry bees.

He screams as the first stings pierce the skin on his face and neck.

Immediately, I fall backward into the vortex, letting it shut behind me as I picture the front yard of the house.

I get spit out onto the weed-infested lawn, and I can hear Rymus’ agony echoing from the forest. It’s so loud, it’s scaring off all the birds. They take to the sky, scattering with panic over the gut-wrenching sounds.

Standing, I brush myself off.

I don’t feel as bad as I thought I would. In fact, I don’t regret my actions at all.

The stings will keep Rymus quiet for the next few days. Maybe even a week.

If I use my experience with the bees to gauge his… I received a little more than a dozen stings, and that put me out of commission for two days. Rymus is probably getting hundreds.

It won’t kill him. Eventually, the pain and paralysis will wear off, and he’ll be able to go on with his life.

By that time, Hannah and I will have disappeared, and no long-term harm will have been done.

His screams begin breaking up as his vocal cords lose function.

The front door of the house swings open, and Hannah sticks her head out.

Her fearful expression turns to relief when she sees I’m not the one making the awful sounds, but she frowns disapprovingly. “What’s happening, Ellister?”

“You’re supposed to be taking a nap.”

“I was, but I woke up with all that noise.” She puts a hand on her hip. “What did you do?”

“What was necessary,” I reply.

Stalking toward her, I pause on the threshold, take her face in my hands, and place a gentle kiss on her lips.

Manipulation at its finest.

When she melts at my touch, I keep going. I sweep my tongue past her lips and taste her. So fucking sweet.

Her body arches, her nipples rubbing against my front.

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