Page 50 of Mage Massacres

“Prideful. Wouldn’t you say?”

“Godsdamnit, Stone,” York cursed. “Is that what we’re missing?”

“Maybe? But I don’t think Lilith’s sins have anything to do with our current issues,” I mused. “I keep thinking over what the Fates said to Sloane. And I’m starting to consider that we listened too closely to their exact words instead of reading between the lines.”

“I’ve been told that their advice is never to be taken at face value,” Arwen muttered, his focus turning to an approaching male.

The man was beelining for the girls as I was getting ready to head to the bar. I stopped before I was completely out of my chair so that I could study the interaction. Miller’s shoulders tensed. Sloane caught me watching her, winking as a stranger stood in front of their table.

York chuckled. “Here we go.”

“Who the fuck is that?” Arwen hissed, making like he was going to stand up.

I put my hand on his chest, forcefully keeping him in his chair.

“Not yet. They’ll let us know if they need help.”

“How do you know? How is it that you’re so confident in my mate?”

The stranger didn’t stick around for long, though. Hyde sent him running back to the bartender with a kicked puppy expression that made me want to cackle.

“Jealousy isn’t a good look on you, Arwen,” I reminded him gently, knowing Hyde had dismissed the stranger with less than a dozen words spoken.

“I’m confident in Hyde’s abilities because I’ve felt them in action. She made me act against my will with her powers. She’s stronger than you think. I don’t know how many times you’ll need to hear that before you start believing it.”

The druid grunted. “Hyde could have this whole bar following her command if she wanted. There’s no shortage of power between her and Lo. I’d bet Miller is just as powerful in her own magic.”

I couldn’t agree more with York. I knew Miller had grown in power since he’d last seen her, but I didn’t know how much.

As the druid and Arwen continued to murmur about legends and power, I let my eyes wander around the bar. It wasn’t anything special, but it had this homey quality that I was fond of. Some areas were better lit than others, and in the dim corner, I spotted a familiar face.

“I’ll be right back,” I told the guys, easing away from the table with my empty glass.

Sloane’s mental essence brushed against mine, feeling like a physical touch that I never wanted to end. The thought took my breath away. I was such a private person. I didn’t like communicating telepathically with anyone until it was her rasping voice in my mind.

“Hyde would like you to ask Arwen to stop staring at her like a creep. And collectively, we’d like to stir some shit up.”

York’s chuckle bounced around our connection. “Whatever you want, Sweetheart.”

She hummed, her emotions finally settling for the first time in thirty-some-odd hours. Relief coursed through me, chased by a sliver of panic at a sudden realization.

I’d fallen, and I wasn’t going to fight it.

“The guy that just left our table?” she questioned, her gaze following me.

“I wasn’t watching you that closely,” I teased, knowing she could hear the grin on my face.

Her eyes left a trail of fire against my back, and I struggled to wipe the smirk off my face. The list of people who could handle my kitten was short, but the list of people she stalked with those fuck me eyes was even smaller.

I fell for her too fast, but I didn’t regret a single second of it. She was fucking perfect, and I loved every inch of her darkness, every damaged piece of her that she refused to acknowledge. The Devil cradled my heart in her hand, her black nails searing as her grip tightened further every day.

“He works for Felix, and he’s standing at the bar. Would you be a dear and order us some fresh drinks, please?” Her sarcasm was thick, but fuck no.

“I’ll do whatever you want as long as you never call me dear. Ever. Again.”

“Agreed,” York chimed in. “My grandma called me dear.”

I ambled over to the dim corner at the end of the bar, stopping beside an old friend of mine. Zephyr Cross squinted at me, shaking his head like the revenant couldn’t believe I was in the flesh.