Marcus blasted him even harder.The energy that surged through Lucian was painful and briefly stopped his train of thought.His chest burned, but his hands went for the Mage’s throat again.
The next thing he knew, he blacked out.
As soon asI arrived at the jailhouse, I spotted Peter smoking marijuana on the roof, his bare legs dangling over the edge.
I glared up at him.“You’re not supposed to be doing that.”
He waved his hand-rolled joint.“It’s nighttime, love.Nobody pops in at this hour.I can do what I like, and sometimes I like to kill the boredom.”
Human drugs were weak, especially marijuana, so they were usually laced with sensory magic.
I slammed the car door.
Peter shadow walked down in a blur of movement.As he emerged from the shadows, he swaggered toward me with a cheesy grin.His disheveled black hair, which reached his shoulders, implied he didn’t care about his appearance, yet he always kept his pencil-thin mustache neatly trimmed.
“We have a new one,” he said, opening the door for me.“That was the most excitement I’ve had in months.”
I cut through the kitchen toward the pantry.“What do you mean?”
Peter jumped into the faux pantry to operate the elevator.“Remember those films where angry mobs show up with flaming torches and spewing vile threats?It wasexactlylike that.They want revenge.”He dipped his chin.“They want blood.”
My stomach sank.“Don’t exaggerate.It makes you less believable.”
“Why do you think I’m on the roof?”He tapped a fake can of corn.“I’m the first line of defense.Who do you think dies first inthismovie when the villagers show up again?”
“You’re a guard.We don’t pay you to hide on the roof.”
He scoffed.“That’s to keep anyone from creeping up behind me.”The door closed, and the elevator moved down when he pushed the button.“I have to stay sharp.”
“Then maybe you should stop smoking weed.”
“It’s dulling the pain of my inevitable demise.”When he leaned his hand against the moving wall, his arm flew upward.Peter tried to play it cool and act like he was just stretching.
I thought back to when Lucian had left my house earlier.After checking on my father, I went to bed and was startled awake when Connor called to inform me that we had a new prisoner.We didn’t usually call each other after hours, but this was a small town, and it didn’t get more serious than a murder charge.When Connor mentioned that Marcus Seaborn was the victim, I dropped everything and flew out the door in my grey sweatpants and tank top.
As the elevator descended, the jail lobby came into view.Once we reached the bottom, I stepped out and sent Connor a message that I was questioning the prisoner.When I turned around, Peter was lying on his side as the elevator moved up.
“Farewell, tigress.If this is the last time we should meet, bury me proper.Don’t put me in the crematory.”
Knowing our second guard would be on high alert and have the additional locks in place, I sent him a quick message to let him know it was me in the lobby.When the door opened, he smiled.
“Has he given you any trouble?”I asked.
“No, ma’am.Do you want me to come with you?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
He opened the second door that led to the cells.After it closed, I walked to the left and found Lucian on a cell floor facing me, his head hung low and knees bent.
I shook my head, infuriated by the sudden turn of events.“What were you thinking?How many times did I warn you to leave it alone?Now look where you are!”
“I’m innocent.”
I crossed my arms.“That’s what everyone says.”
When he lifted his feral gaze to meet mine, dried blood was smeared across his jaw.“I didn’t do it.”
A surge of anger ripped through me, and I lowered my arms.“You flipped your switch.Did you know there’s blood on your face?”
