"Come out, witch. Or I'm coming in."
The djinn's voice echoed off the walls of the tomb as though he were standing right beside me. Picking up the dagger from the center of the circle of stones, I backed away from the candles.
"I know you're in there. I can smell the stench of those spells you're trying to cast."
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!How the hell had Marcus found me? I tried to think. Tried to think what to do. Quickly, I put the dagger down the back of my pants beneath my hoodie. With a wave of my hand, the rocks scattered across the floor. Another wave and the flames on the candles extinguished themselves.
The ground rolled, rising and falling beneath my feet. I stumbled into the wall of the tomb as the door flew open.
With a look that would fell a normal man, I steadied myself and blew softly toward the torch on the wall beside my head, magically putting out the flame, then straightened off the wall and strolled out of the tomb, shutting the door behind me. Forcing my heart to calm its frantic beating, I faced the djinn full on.
"What are you doing in there?" he asked me.
"I needed some alone time," I told him flippantly. "What areyoudoing here? And why are you crashing into my private space?"
He stared at me long and hard, and I felt him digging around in my mind, trying to decipher the truth from my thoughts. But I was prepared, and he found nothing he didn't need to know. "I've been trying to call you."
Frowning, I pulled my cell out of my front pocket. There were no missed calls.
"Not that way," he said, his voice laced with disgust.
Oh. With magic. It couldn't get through the spells warding the tomb. "Sorry,” I told him. "I must've been distracted." I slid my phone back into my pocket.
"You're lucky that was the only way I attempted to get your attention."
I knew he was talking about Mike. Anger roared through my blood unchecked before I could stop it. "Leave him out of this."
"But he's an essential part of 'this'." He smiled, his face handsome, like an actor from a classic movie with his dark hair cut into an old-fashioned style. But his good looks didn't hide the evil beneath. "As are you."
My fingers tingled as my magic danced beneath the surface of my skin. I clenched my hands into fists. This wasn't the time. I wasn't ready. But this might be the only chance I got. "I want Mike out of this arrangement between us. You don't need him."
"I disagree," the djinn told me. His eyes narrowed on my face, and my heart plummeted to my stomach. He knew I was up to something.
"Look, Marcus..." Just saying his name made me cringe inside. It was too personal. Too intimate. "I have a new offer for you."
A smile tugged at one side of his mouth. He thought he had me figured out. "Don't you want to hear why I'm here?"
"Not particularly, no." I was pushing my luck. However, terrified as I was, I still wasn't about to bow down to this son of a bitch. "Don't you want to hearmyoffer?"
Sliding his hands into the front pocket of his slacks, he glanced up at the darkening sky. There were no orange and pink streaks as the sun set this time of year. Only clouds and dropping temperatures that made me shiver beneath my layers of clothes. When he looked back at me, I held his gaze with my own. "Oh, why not?" he finally said. His tone was amused and overly patient, like he was dealing with an over-excited child.
"First," I said. "My terms. Remove your clutches from around Mike's heart and forget about him. He doesn't exist to you anymore."
"And what will I get from this? Other than a witch I can no longer control?"
"Oh, you'll still have your control." I took a steadying breath. "Release Mike, and I'll give you what it is you're wanting."
"Which is?"
"Witches willingly on your side. Myself, to be exact. I'll join your cause. Live on your mountain. Guard you, help you, whatever. Just let Mike go."
"And what guarantee will I have that you won't turn on me once I've given you what you want?"
He had a good point. "I would give you my word. Swear my services to you or something. There's a binding spell..."
"And yet, by keeping my...what did you call it?...clutchesaround your boyfriend's heart, I can have all of that with a lot less effort and a much stronger guarantee. Having his life on the line is also a much more effective way to keep you in line." He paused, pretending to think it over as his eyes traveled up and down my body and a look of disgust passed over his face. "I think I'll pass."
My heart dropped into my stomach and tears that I refused to shed filled my eyes. Of course, I should be used to it by now. I've never been anyone special. Not in my relationships. Not in the coven. I'm used as an extra spurt of magic when needed. I'm not someone anyone would fight for.
