by so he could set another trap for her. She had to somehow find him before others died. And she had to avoid a determined warlock while doing it.
She glanced across the street as she hopped in her car and saw him standing outside Happy Jackâs, his expression dangerous. She shivered at the deadly gleam in his eyes. He didnât look at all like a protector. More like a treacherously handsome destroyer. She sped off into morning traffic, her gut telling her the latter was correct.
Â
That did not go well. You only have a narrow window of time to make her fall in love with you and carry out our plan.
Stephen squinted at the commanding voice that had suddenly boomed telepathically in his head. It bounced through his thoughts like the echoes inside a wide cavern, its essence testing the boundaries of his psyche. His own power was nothing compared to what had violated his gray matter, and he felt completely vulnerable, not to mention irritated at being caught off guard. Telepathy was okay as long as you projected it, but if you were on the receiving end, having it crash through your psyche like a tsunami, it wasnât so much fun.
He blocked his annoyance from the intruder and mentally replied, I know. You need not worry. I can handle her.
Oh, Iâm not a worrier, Stephen. But you should be. Do not forget what will happen if you fail.
How can I? The images of his two younger brothers slashed across his mindâs eye. He could see them frozen and imprisoned within a force field of magic, their faces blank as if they were brain-dead, their eyes floating in an endless void. Pain tore at him, and it was all Stephencould do to open the door for two elderly women walking into the restaurant. They smiled a thank-you at him.
Ahh, how sentimental youâve become.
No, practical.
Have it your way, but youâd better hope she suspects nothing.
She wonât.
Make certain of it.
His tormentor left him.
Stephen felt his frustration and rage brewing. He hated being reminded of being blackmailed. Worse, he hated that heâd lose everything he cared about if he failed. If his superiors ever found out he was being blackmailed, it would be hell to pay. Worse, if they knew what he had in store for Fala Rainwater.
But he had experienced something close to hell before. He could live through anything after the betrayal of his coven and those he had trusted and loved. It had almost killed him. But heâd found a way to escape with his brothers. He had raised Brice and Leland alone. Not an easy feat. Brice had a rebellious streak. Leland was the quiet, bookish one and never gave Stephen any trouble. Leland would one day be a wizardâif he lived.
When Stephen thought of never seeing both his brothers again, he wanted to scream in frustration. He would brave anything to save his brothers. Anything. Even ridding the world of the next Guardian and probably living the rest of his days in hell.
He stared at the spot where heâd last seen Fala drive away, and he knew winning her trust was only the first battle. He was certain heâd discovered the source of the magic protecting her: the talisman around her neck. Ithadnât been there before. Now all he had to do was get it off of her. His brows cocked at the prospect. He knew heâd enjoy that part more than he should. He strode down the street until his physical form melted into the surroundings.
Chapter 5
T wenty minutes later, Fala pulled into the parking deck for Katrina Saneckiâs apartment. Lincoln Towers was a twenty-story building, built over thirty years ago. Respectable, yes, but not as in vogue as the overpriced, glass-fronted newer ones popping up all over town. She paused before the security gate.
A voice over a speaker crackled, âID.â
âDetective Rainwater, investigating Katrina Saneckiâs murder.â She shoved her badge up to the eye of the camera and waited.
She looked at her Sesame Street wristwatch, a
She glanced across the street as she hopped in her car and saw him standing outside Happy Jackâs, his expression dangerous. She shivered at the deadly gleam in his eyes. He didnât look at all like a protector. More like a treacherously handsome destroyer. She sped off into morning traffic, her gut telling her the latter was correct.
Â
That did not go well. You only have a narrow window of time to make her fall in love with you and carry out our plan.
Stephen squinted at the commanding voice that had suddenly boomed telepathically in his head. It bounced through his thoughts like the echoes inside a wide cavern, its essence testing the boundaries of his psyche. His own power was nothing compared to what had violated his gray matter, and he felt completely vulnerable, not to mention irritated at being caught off guard. Telepathy was okay as long as you projected it, but if you were on the receiving end, having it crash through your psyche like a tsunami, it wasnât so much fun.
He blocked his annoyance from the intruder and mentally replied, I know. You need not worry. I can handle her.
Oh, Iâm not a worrier, Stephen. But you should be. Do not forget what will happen if you fail.
How can I? The images of his two younger brothers slashed across his mindâs eye. He could see them frozen and imprisoned within a force field of magic, their faces blank as if they were brain-dead, their eyes floating in an endless void. Pain tore at him, and it was all Stephencould do to open the door for two elderly women walking into the restaurant. They smiled a thank-you at him.
Ahh, how sentimental youâve become.
No, practical.
Have it your way, but youâd better hope she suspects nothing.
She wonât.
Make certain of it.
His tormentor left him.
Stephen felt his frustration and rage brewing. He hated being reminded of being blackmailed. Worse, he hated that heâd lose everything he cared about if he failed. If his superiors ever found out he was being blackmailed, it would be hell to pay. Worse, if they knew what he had in store for Fala Rainwater.
But he had experienced something close to hell before. He could live through anything after the betrayal of his coven and those he had trusted and loved. It had almost killed him. But heâd found a way to escape with his brothers. He had raised Brice and Leland alone. Not an easy feat. Brice had a rebellious streak. Leland was the quiet, bookish one and never gave Stephen any trouble. Leland would one day be a wizardâif he lived.
When Stephen thought of never seeing both his brothers again, he wanted to scream in frustration. He would brave anything to save his brothers. Anything. Even ridding the world of the next Guardian and probably living the rest of his days in hell.
He stared at the spot where heâd last seen Fala drive away, and he knew winning her trust was only the first battle. He was certain heâd discovered the source of the magic protecting her: the talisman around her neck. Ithadnât been there before. Now all he had to do was get it off of her. His brows cocked at the prospect. He knew heâd enjoy that part more than he should. He strode down the street until his physical form melted into the surroundings.
Chapter 5
T wenty minutes later, Fala pulled into the parking deck for Katrina Saneckiâs apartment. Lincoln Towers was a twenty-story building, built over thirty years ago. Respectable, yes, but not as in vogue as the overpriced, glass-fronted newer ones popping up all over town. She paused before the security gate.
A voice over a speaker crackled, âID.â
âDetective Rainwater, investigating Katrina Saneckiâs murder.â She shoved her badge up to the eye of the camera and waited.
She looked at her Sesame Street wristwatch, a
Similar Books
