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At my response, Magnus nods, but I can’t tell if he accepts my words as truth. “Fair enough mortal, but still not the information I have asked for.” He inclines his head, looking me up and down again. “Perhaps we can shift our trade then. I will tell you what I know for a taste of you.”
Again, Leon growls behind me, his hand once again going for his sword. I reach a hand behind me to squeeze his arm reassuringly.
The man needs to take a chill pill.
Turning my attention back to Magnus, I arch an eyebrow, trying to give him my best unimpressed expression. “I’m in no mood to be devoured, Magnus. I happen to be quite fond of all my body parts.”
Magnus laughs at my answer. “I assure you, Vivian? Was it? My methods are not nearly as brash. Just a taste of your skin will do just fine. Even a bead of sweat can tell me more about your energies than what I can discern from the air around you.”
His eyes are glowing a brighter green now, and I can clearly see they’re no longer human eyes. The pupils have grown to narrow vertical slits, just like a snake. I chew my bottom lip for a moment before answering. I’m curious about what he might find from my energies. I’ve wanted to know more about what I am for years now. I’m just not entirely sure I want that information broadcasted to strangers. Or to anyone at this point.
“And you’re certain the information you have on Morgana is accurate and will lead us to her whereabouts?” I ask, looking at him suspiciously. I am not about to make my first supernatural deal only to be duped.
“I swear it.” The shifter answers earnestly. “I will certainly make this worth your while.”
His tone holds a slightly provocative undertone, and Leon moves to pull me back as his voice comes clipped and angry. “You will not let him touch you, Vivian. There are other ways to extract information from people.”
Pulling myself from Leon’s grip, I stand in front of Magnus. Leon must be fuming. I can sense the bond pulling tight, and my body is starting to flush. “You have a deal,” I answer Magnus before the bond tries to force me back into submission.
Quick as a coiled snake strikes its prey, Magnus’s arm darts towards me, pulling my neck to his mouth as he licks at my pulse. Before he releases me, he pauses, shuddering, as he remarks softly into my ear. “I’ve never tasted anything quite so exquisite.” He sounds in awe. “I wonder what it is you could be, Vivian.”
This is Leon’s breaking point. His hand comes over me as he grabs the shifter by the neck, lifting him off me. Magnus hangs in the air as Leon holds him, squeezing his throat harder. His tone is menacing. “If you ever touch what is mine again, I will hunt down and kill every snake shifter to have ever slithered their miserable existence through the realms.”
I’m shocked at Leon’s actions, and my voice comes out louder than I expected. “Leon, put him down.”
Leon ignores me, the shifter now turning a shade of blue. I want to yell again, but I need to talk him down, not make him angrier. I try to change my tone.
“Leon?” I keep my voice small and soft. Leon’s eyes shift towards me, but he doesn’t let go of Magnus. His eyes glow the same blue they do when he gets furious.
“I consented to the trade. He did nothing wrong.” I remind him, my hand gently coming down on Leon’s arm to try and get him to lower Magnus.
Leon’s eyes take on the same feral gleam. Evidently, my words are having the opposite of their intended effect. “Hetouchedyou.” Again, his voice is murderous.
I stand in front of him, demanding his full attention as my other hand rests on his face. “Yes,” I answer softly. “And if you don’t let him go, he will die, and then we will have no lead to our true enemy.”
At my words, Leon pauses, not responding as if at war with himself. “Please, Leon,” I add. “He did nothing wrong. I let him touch me. Be angry with me.” I try not to show the slight waver in my tone.
The words finally have their desired effect. Leon’s eyes are locked on mine, his murderous intent well and shifted. He drops Magnus, who crumples into a heap onthe ground. Magnus shakes himself as he gets back up, and I don’t dare go to him to help him up, lest it piss off Leon even more.
Magnus’ voice comes low and fast. Evidently, he’s now in a hurry to be rid of us. “Morgana freed the Destroyer millennia ago. They’ve been mostly silent until recently when they started looking for someone. I don’t know who they’re searching for, though.”
Leon answers, his voice still dripping with malice. “Location shifter. You promised a location.”
“I’m getting to that.” Magnus snaps.
“Whoever they’ve been looking for, they’ve been looking for them in the mortal realm the most often, so if you’re looking for Morgana, that would be a good place to start.”
Chapter 24
LEON DOESN’T SAY ANOTHER WORD TO MAGNUS AND INSTEADgrabs my arm with a grip that is sure to leave bruises as he drags me down another alleyway.
“Where are we going?” I breathe, running to keep up with him. Adrenaline floods my system. I'm still very much aware that I’m now the focus of Leon’s rage.
“We’re finishing this.” Leon huffs, stopping at the dead end.
There are a few boarded-up doors on either side of us, and I can smell what I’m pretty sure are human feces.
Classy.
