Page 43 of Mage Massacres

He gasped, clutching his chest as if she’d stabbed him. “It would be a slow, terrifying death, little succubus. What would I do with my hands then? They'd be useless.”

Hyde glared at him, her honey eyes failing to mask her amusement. “I still don’t understand why you haven't at least attempted his murder yet.”

“He would bounce right back,” I mumbled, tilting my head in consideration. “But making him keep his hands to himself is more fun for me.”

“That’s a lie,” Novak shot back. “Putting my hands on you would be fun, and you know it.”

My cheeks rounded as I bit my lip. I didn’t need to tell him that I’d rather be naked and in bed. I wasn’t going to leave Miller hanging when I knew I could find my vampire once we got back, though.

“When did you get here?” I asked Hyde and Arwen.

Her mate raised his brow at me, wordlessly saying the answer should be obvious.

“About two minutes before you walked around the corner,” Hyde informed me. “This place is creepy as fuck, Lo. Please tell me you have someone coming to clean the cobwebs up?”

“I hadn’t noticed them.” I laughed lightly, pretending to scan for webs. “I missed your snark.”

She scoffed. “You haven’t seen me in like two days. That must be awful.”

“You were mad the other day. I wouldn’t exactly call that visit enjoyable.”

“Do you want to come with Sloane and me?” Miller’s gaze was hopeful before she frowned. “We may need an extra hand.”

“That’s why I’m here.” Hyland held her hands out, presenting herself to the dark mage. “For a clean kill. We don’t need Lo’s blood and gore with the humans around.”

“You three,” Arwen pointed at us, “Are not going by yourselves.”

Hyde’s smile was like broken glass covered in poison, but her voice was soft and concerned. “I don’t recall seeing any children around.”

“York and Stone are going with them,” Novak told the necromancer, trying to defuse the five-two bomb beside me.

If Hyde and Arwen fought, I’d put my money on the succubus-basilisk hybrid. She was fucking dangerous, and I adored her.

“I’m going too,” the necromancer informed us, his gray and red eyes narrowing on Hyde when she ground her teeth together.

Miller glanced between them, sensing the same mounting tension that Novak and I could feel. She took two steps, linking her arms through mine and Hyde’s. Then she called over her shoulder, “We’ll be at The Midnight Orchid. Come find us.”

I’d grown sick of traveling through the Void, but I was thankful for Millie pulling us away. Hyde looked like she was ready to strangle Arwen, so the dark mage’s timing was perfect. We popped out in a shadowed parking lot, hidden by unfamiliar cars.

I turned to Miller. “You’re a nightwitch, aren’t you?”

“Uhm, yeah. Why do you ask?”

“Your magic feels… similar to mine, but it’s stronger. Trained. Amelia—my mother,” I corrected myself, but couldn't finish the thought.

She nodded. “Amelia was—is—a powerful nightwitch. There are stories of her that they tell the young, dark magic users. The morals are always the same. Dark doesn’t mean evil.”

“It’s breezy out here. I’m not dressed for this kind of weather,” Hyde remarked, changing the subject. “Let’s go inside and talk.”

The bouncer nodded his head in acknowledgment of Miller when we reached the door. She frequented this bar for one reason or another, so Hyde was right. I couldn’t leave it covered in blood when we left.

We passed rows of spaced-out tables as we headed for the bartender. Stools lined the wooden counter, and a cheerful, bald man stood behind the wide mahogany bar top.

I tracked his movements as I watched him mix cocktails. The glasses were clean, but he overpoured the liquor slightly with each drink. I ordered tequila with a splash of pineapple juice, while Hyde asked for a frilly, sugar-infested cocktail. Miller only thanked the man as he handed her an orange mixed drink.

Hyde scanned the half-filled bar for a table that allowed us to see anyone who approached. When she found the perfect table occupied, she kindly persuaded the group to move to the other side of the room. I opened my senses, listening for any ill-willed thoughts that were floating around.

I saw Stone, York, and Arwen take a seat a few tables away from us and turned as if I didn’t know them. Hyde motioned us to the corner she’d picked, careful to place Miller in between the two of us so she would be protected.