Unbelievable.
The crowd exploded. Cheers erupted in a wave around me as people jostled to see the motionless man.
I watched as two scantily dressed women orbited the energized crowd, distributing winnings. The gambling was not surprising, but what was—the lack of drugs. Unlike the clubs, eyes looked to be inebriated with alcohol, not red and glazed over.Interesting.
A bitch-slapping competition. And someone’s cute little Grammy just knocked a man out cold. This was completely insane. Butdamn,color me impressed. I wondered if I’d just found Aine’s dream job.
I clapped a hand over my mouth, stifling the incredulous laugh that began to bubble out.
“She slapped him into another dimension!” I was beyond stupefied.
An agreeing grunt stole my regard.
A stout, filthy man shifted nearby, staring me down. His eyeballs trailed over me like slugs. Slow, sticky, and disgusting, leaving a mucus-like residue I wanted to scrape off my skin.
“I’d fancy slapping you around,” he sneered, flashing a malicious smile. A tongue dragged over his bottom lip.
“No thanks. You smell like a rotting fish.” I scrunchedmy nose, dramatically sniffing. “Bet I could gut you like one too.” My glare narrowed.
His thick leg stomped closer, suddenly invading my space. Putrid breath reeked of whiskey and decay.
“Say, aren’t ya that depraved witch’s daughter?” he hissed, tone scathing. “They say she had a bewitching cunt. One that could lure any Lord or lowly into sin.”
Rage bubbled under my skin, the familiar needle prick of my ability beginning to rise.
“You repulsive piece of?—”
My words broke off as an arm shot out.
A strong hand clamped around the drunk man’s throat. Lochlainn dragged him forward.
He gasped for air as his fingers pathetically clawed for life.
Light began to illuminate through Lochlainn’s fingers as his power surged with deadly purpose.
The man’s eyes became bloodshot, bulging with panic.
“Big fucking mistake, mate,” Lochlainn growled through a clamped jaw. “Disrespect her, ya disrespectme.”
Unnatural gurgles sounded as golden light flared on the man’s throat.
He wasn’t going to kill him—right? I hadn’t even known his ability could do that. Figured Lockbinding was justlockingthings. Guess that could include sealing someone’s esophagus shut.
The magic brightened. The man grew paler.
Maybe he reallywasgoing to kill him. My palms started to sweat.
“Lochlainn, don’t!” I held up a pleading hand. “Don’t kill him. He may be a nasty douchebag, but he doesn’t deserve an execution.”
Lochlainn speared me a look, as ifIwere the one being dramatic. Then, he lowered his arm.
The man slumped to the floor, coughing and wheezing.
As quickly as it had started, Lochlainn’s hand was at my back again, casually guiding me toward a nearby doorway.
“For the record—” he whispered, hot breath caressing the shell of my ear. “I wasn’t gonna kill him. Only have a little . . .fun.” A wicked smirk appeared.
45
