Rune glances away, tucking a lock of his hair behind his ear. “Oh, you know, maybe a little more than kissing.”
I hope my face doesn’t reveal how excited that sentence just made me. Mess around with the mage to get his magic back? Count me in.
“Whatever you need, Rune.”
He smiles, managing to look shy. “What a surprise you are,” he says, repeating his earlier words.
“Back atcha.”
RUNE
A rompwith the gargoyle wasn’t in my plans, but I’ll take it. He’s not exactly hard on the eyes and based on what I can feel through his clothes, I’m in for a good time. Although, something tells me that if healing from a wolf shifter knot was rough…
Before I can make a move though, his brow furrows and he clutches the center of his chest.
“Atlas? Are you okay?”
His eyelids flutter as he leans back against the wall. His lips part, but no words come out for several seconds until he mumbles, “Try New Orleans. Can you hear me, Drax?”
The demon is reaching out again. Never thought I’d say it but thank the gods for Atlas and his motley crew. Between all of us, maybe we’ll get out of here unharmed.
Atlas gasps, slumping forward into my arms, then he sits up slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Damn. I could really feel that one.”
“What happened? Did they hear you?”
He shakes his head. “I can hear them, faintly, but it doesn’t seem like they can hear me back. The good news is they are looking and they won’t stop until they find us.” He frowns, twisting his lips for a moment. “Trouble is they may have to go to Auri for help.”
“Auri’s the boss, right?” He’s mentioned the name a few times already, and if I remember correctly, that’s who they were trying to steal the cursed amulet for.
He nods. “He won’t like it that I went out on my own mission, but at this point, I’ll just have to deal with his wrath.”
“Is he terrible?”
“Heck yeah. I’ll probably get stuck with a month of Grim clean-up duty. He’s Auri’s hellhound, and let me just tell you, his shit is the stuff of nightmares.”
I cringe. “Yuck.”
“Or he’ll make me do something stupid like bring him tea and cookies every day.”
“He won’t harm you though?”
“Harm me?” Atlas shakes his head. “Nah. His bark is way worse than his bite. Not that he hasn’t banished a few souls in his day, but we’re his family, in a weird little way.” Atlas chews hisbottom lip for a second. “He’ll be disappointed in me. That’s way worse than anything else.”
“It isn’t lost on me that you’re in this situation because you came for me. Why?”
Atlas shrugs. “Because you needed help. I couldn’t just ignore it. You’d do the same, wouldn’t you?”
For someone I hardly know? Can’t say I would, but I keep that to myself. “Maybe we can make some real magic happen. If you’re willing.”
“Like I said, whatever you need.”
I inch a little closer to him, and a ping bounces through my chest, drawing me closer. My magic is so attracted to him that my body physically reacts. I’ve never felt anything like it. Mage magic is very much rooted in the world around us. We pull our power from nature and from other beings, but usually it’s intentional. Rituals are required, symbols drawn, chants recited… even for someone as powerful as I am. I need clear and focused intent, if nothing else. Besides, this, what’s happening here, it isn’t that I’m drawing energyfromAtlasto create magic, it’smymagic somehow inside him.
I wonder what kind of magic I could summon if Atlas had me on my hands and knees, pounding my hole. I should most definitely find out. You know, for research.
Before I can suggest we take things to the next level, Elvira’s heavy footsteps reach me. She’s not alone this time though. There’s a second set of steps. Gasping softly, I turn to Atlas, but he’s already blended into the wall. I mutter a brief incantation to shut off my spell. No need to let my captors know I have even a fraction of my abilities.
The cell door opens and Elvira steps in, along with another cloaked figure whose face is obscured by a veil. Neither of them speak. I sit quietly, waiting for them to initiate dialogue.
