Read Online Charmed & Deadly by Candace Havens - Free Book Online Page B

it would bring me nothing but joy to kill you both where you sit.” I sighed. “But I’m going to try the diplomatic approach first. If that doesn’t work…well, we’ll see.”
    Constantine had been oddly quiet. He studied the situation, looking for exits around the room. There were none. It was a concrete box surrounded by my magic, but I wasn’t about to tell him that. Let him discover it for himself.
    “For now, until I’m sure you two will play nice, I’m leaving your hands tied. Kiss and make up, and you two can go home. Or I can kill you for harming my friend Garnout.” I shrugged. “I’m good either way.”
    When I mentioned Garnout, they both let out gasps. “Can the surprise, you guys. One of you conjured something that has drained a good bit of my favorite wizard’s powers, and now you are both going to pay.” I didn’t bother keeping the hatred from my voice. If they were afraid, maybe they’d move faster toward a solution.
    They both looked to opposite corners of the room.
    “Have it your way.” I walked out and the investigators followed. Cole had set up a monitor in Garnout’s room for my viewing pleasure.
    Cole and the other officers were stationed around the house in case someone did find us or if one of our guests downstairs managed to escape the basement.
    Nothing happened for a long time. They didn’t talk or move. Didn’t even shift in their seats.
    I spoke to Garnout. I didn’t know if he could hear me or understand even if he did. “This might be better than going to the movies. Maybe I should microwave some popcorn. Yes, and eat some Junior Mints. Now that sounds like a plan.”
    Garnout’s condition remained the same, and I could only hope he was on the road to recovery. Perhaps the confusion spell would eventually wear off, or if I could find the source and destroy it, it would be broken.
    I watched the witch and the warlock downstairs. Lilyana’s posture and beauty reminded me more of a supermodel than the CEO of a company. Finally, she stretched her arms up behind her, her wrists still in the handcuffs.
    Gazing at the ceiling she cocked her head. Then she set her eyes on Constantine. “Why did you lie to me?”
    The shock on his face told me he hadn’t expected this. “We will not discuss this here.” He said the words through gritted teeth.
    She raised an eyebrow. “We aren’t discussing it anywhere else, so why not here?”
    He stuck his jaw out. “You know they’re watching us. I will not discuss our personal business in front of them.”
    ‘Personal business’? So they weren’t strangers after all. Huh .
    They went on in silence for several minutes. She pretended to be intensely interested in the wood grain of the tabletop, but I noticed her stealing a look now and then when she was sure he wasn’t looking.
    I thought about probing their minds for more information, but realized I’d soon have the answers.
    “And I didn’t lie. I’ve always used an assumed name. It’s easier to avoid your family that way. You may remember that you didn’t use your real name, either.”
    What the heck? This was fun .
    She sighed. “For the same reason. Had we been honest from the beginning, we would have had to kill each other on sight.”
    He grunted. “Nothing has changed.”
    “True. You’re still an idiot.” She bit her lip, and I could see the tears well. Taking a calming breath, she stuffed the emotions back down. “Are you the one who called the demon to drain the wizard?”
    Anger fell over his face. He shoved his chair back. “I am an honorable man. I would not use a demon from hell to do my bidding, and I happened to like the meddling wizard. Can you say the same?”
    She didn’t say anything.
    Hmmmm. I didn’t know of any demons that could hurt a wizard. I’d have to check with Simone to see if she knew of any who had the intelligence and power to do such a thing.
    “Did you call the demon?” Constantine paced back and forth in front of the