I let out a slow breath and bit my lip, hoping it’d distract me from caging her against the nearest wall. In what way, I wasn’t entirely sure.
“Anyways,” she went on. “I needed to ask you something.”
Carwynn glared at my Luckmen, only now realizing how laughably outnumbered she was.
Trouble indeed.
“Everyone. Out,” I commanded, not breaking eye contact with her.
For a moment she looked gobsmacked, as if she hadn’t expected she’d be worth kicking the entire lot out for. That small flash of insecurity danced on her face, as it so often did.
Aye—she’s worth well more than that.
My men scuffed out, stepping over the door’s tattered remains. Grumbles and mutters spewed under their breath as they passed her.
“You are nothing but a pain in my arse,” I said, settling my elbows on the edge of the table. “If ya care to explain yourself, that’d be grand.” My words were dry, biting.
She strolled over, pulled out a chair, and plopped down.
“Teach me to shoot.” She pointed finger guns at me, firing. “You know . . .pew pew.”
That? That was what breaking my magic was for?
“Luck fucking save me.”My head lolled back as I released an exhausted laugh.
Cigar smoke pillowedin the air. Bubbly flutes and frothy mugs perched on gilded trays carried by elegant, sexy, perky-titted waitresses. It was a beautiful performance really. Anyone with hope in their heart and coin in their pocket would fall prey to alcohol and tits. The two main ingredients to my biggest success:The Golden Oak.
Coins clanked, dice thudded. A grand lullaby to my ears.
My feet knew these carpets like the lines on my own palms. We moved toward the rear of the room.
“This way.” I jerked my head, Carwynn in tow.
At the back wall, I tugged aside a thick, emerald curtain. It blended in so well only a trained eye would see it.
“After you . . .” I gestured with a hand.
Carwynn hesitated, peering under my arm into the darkness ahead.
“Umm, is this the part where you kill me? Or push me down a well and keep me as your pet?”
My brows shot up, a smile already teasing my lips.
“Oh no, love. You’re far too valuable to me alive.” I dipped my head toward the shell of her ear, voice lowering. “And you’d make a wretched pet. I’d have to break you in—and we both know you’re not easily broken.”
An annoyed look, and I dare say a pinch of pink, danced across those pretty rosy cheeks, then vanished as she strode past.
The elegance of the Casino faded fast. Rich, wood-accented walls gave way to a silent, cold, unforgiving tunnel.
I let Carwynn take the lead. Her steps were cautious. But curiosity dragged her forward as faint cheers swelled into a roaring crescendo.
Her eyes went as wide as her hips as she approached the end where a small gray-stoned well sat tucked against the wall. Beside it, a doorway hummed with magic.Mymagic.
“Don’t worry,” I teased, pulling two gold coins from my pocket. “I won’t push ya.”
I held one out to her. She eyed it like I’d gotten down on one knee and offered a fecking ring—except her face said she was three seconds away from sprinting the other way.
I scoffed as she reluctantly snatched it.Trouble.
