Evie shot to her feet, her power flaring through the room warningly.
“Relax,” I said. “He’s just here for the counter spell.” I’d lost track of time, but I’d been expecting him at some point tonight. Was it midnight already?
Keigan had positioned himself next to me, and he eyed the seelie with what looked like interest. It was easy to forget how little interaction most of the mages had with the other factions—until I saw the wonder in Keigan’s eyes.
Cellen merely glanced around my office, then turned back to me dismissively.
“The counter spell,” he said.
Kyla reached into her pocket and handed it to him. His nose wrinkled at her as if he’d smelled something filthy and shoved it in his own pocket.
Then he looked at me, and there was nothing but death in his gaze. Keigan lay his hand on my lower back, a silent support, and I stared back at the seelie.
“What is your problem?”
“Simply wondering what all the fuss is about. Why Lucifer would be so desperate to get hold of you that he would kidnap my sister.”
I froze. The sister that was missing. If Lucifer had her…
Cellen snapped his mouth shut, but I’d already pulled my Nim Cub.
Kyla lunged in front of me, teeth bared.
Evie jumped onto my desk and launched herself at Cellen, her hands raised as she screamed a spell.
But it was too late.
CRACK.
The world disappeared.
27
DANICA
Islowly got to my feet, dread a ball of poison in my stomach. Kyla was crumpled, unconscious on the ground next to me, while Keigan trembled on my other side.
My gaze found polished leather shoes, traveled up tailored black pants, past a white shirt, and locked onto eyes the exact same shade of green as my own.
All of the spit disappeared from my mouth. I didn’t bother attempting to run. Even if I could make it, I’d never leave Keigan and Kyla behind.
The Underking smiled, a vicious, satisfied smile that cut right to the bone, and my heart skipped a beat. There was a hint of my own smile in there, too.
“Hello, granddaughter.”
28
DANICA
Itook a bite of my dessert. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it was rich and sweet.
“More wine, my love?”
I glanced up. Pischiel was watching me with his dark, inscrutable eyes. I smiled at him. “No, thank you.”
He reached out and took my hand, playing with the bone bracelet on my wrist.
“This doesn’t suit you.”
