Page 83 of Secrets of Ruin

Fabian’s face twisted in fury. When the fingers of another warlock started to move to cast a spell, shadows raced out from around Cole and encompassed his hands. They pinned the appendages to the table.

The warlock yelped and tried to rip his hands free, but the shadows wouldn’t relent. The others looked around, but none tried to bolt… yet.

Brokk moved swiftly to stand behind Fabian; cinching his arm around Fabian’s neck, he yanked back the head of her ex-fiancé to expose his throat.

The grunts and struggles of the warlocks drew the attention of the other patrons. When the shadows melted away to reveal the four brothers, her, Lexi, and Sahira, they all gawked at them.

“She’s here!” one of the other warlocks yelled.

Kaylia thought that was odd to shout, but it was all unraveling so fast, that she didn’t have time to contemplate it. When two of the other warlocks went to rise, Varo stopped one and Cole the other.

Some slipped out the front door while the others leaned back to sip their drinks while enjoying the show. When Fabian’s eyes landed on her, he didn’t look surprised as he smirked at her.

Her skin crawled. Something isn’t right here.

“Kaylia, my love, I⁠—”

“Don’t!” she snapped. “Don’t.”

There was so much she wanted to say, but no words came out as she stared at the man she’d once believed herself to be in love with. Without the potion to bind her to him, she recalled why she’d never desired anything from him.

He was smarmy, he always had been, and the centuries hadn’t changed that. A glance at his hands told her they remained immaculate as ever. If he’d had someone to fight this battle for him, he would have had them do so.

“We’re leaving,” Brokk stated, “and we’re taking him with us. Cole, hold him.”

Cole didn’t move, but the shadows slipped up to encase Fabian in a tomb of black that denied him movement. Brokk set his pack on the ground to remove a metal glove and pouch. Once they were free, he pulled on the glove and dipped his hand into the pouch.

“Where did you get those?” Kaylia demanded.

“Doomed Valley,” Brokk replied.

“You went back?”

“Just to retrieve these.”

Brokk returned to stand behind Fabian. The shadows retreated when Brokk clasped Fabian’s wrists in both his hands. From somewhere down the hallway, a door crashed open. Boots thudded against the wood as dozens of footfalls ran toward the barroom.

“Watch out!” the bartender shouted.

CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO

A second later, a dozen more warlocks, five lycans, and two dark fae entered the main bar area. They skidded to a halt at the end of the hallway, but when their gazes fell on the seven of them, they didn’t seem shocked.

They looked more than prepared to face all of them. They’ve been waiting for us.

Brokk glanced at Cole before his gaze settled on Kaylia. When her troubled eyes met his, he saw the same understanding in their gray depths that had come over him.

We’ve walked into a trap.

And there are no dragons to help.

Brokk realized that’s why they chose the human realm for this trap. They must have suspected that, if Lexi came, she would leave the dragons behind to spare the humans some trauma.

The look on the bartender’s face told Brokk he hadn’t been in on this as his eyes darted from the newcomers to Brokk and his family again. The immortals who had settled back in their seats when the confrontation with Fabian started, looked interested again as they sat up in their booths.

Some glanced at the door as they debated making a run for it, but they didn’t move. They probably feared movement would draw an attack, and they were probably right.

The dwarf at the bar rested her hand on the battle-ax as she eyed the immortals who had just entered. The bartender set down a bottle of whiskey with a small thud.