Gil smiles, shaking his head. “Nope, that’s just Magnus.” Great, if it was a part of the deal, at least I’d have an excuse. What can I do to make Magnuswantto let me go?
You’d think me not wanting anything to do with him would be enough. Magnus doesn’t feel like he could ever be boyfriend material—for me, at least. In any other time or realm, he would be friendzoned no matter how handsome he is.
Gil and I walk outside together, clearly in cahoots, and Magnus groans at the sight of us.
“You’re supposed to be my friend, you know,” Magnus grumbles, stalking back toward us like a drowned rat.
“And I’m having second thoughts on that every minute I have to look at you,” Gil says. I can’t help but laugh.
“Now, are you ready to go?” Magus asks, holding his slimy hand out to me. I stare at it, unwilling to move.
“No.” I shake my head. I’m not moving an inch until he breaks this deal—and from the way Gil steps in front of me, I think he agrees.
“I can’t in good conscience let you take this lady anywhere,” Gil says. The threat, combined with the accent, makes me wonder if he’s going to challenge him to a duel at high noon. Which, honestly, I would be totally here for. A southern gentlemen, why couldn’t I be trying to setthisguy up?
Even with the scales, I think he’d be an easier sell than Magnus. Whoever Marina is, I hope they find each other again.
“So, what? You’ll keep us here until I agree to break our contract? No, I don’t think so,” Magnus replies. He’s standing tall and clearly not going to back down here.
“Do you want me calling the whole family in on this? You think you can outswim us all?”
“No,” Magnus says, and there’s a panic on his face that makes my hair stand on end. “But I can fly.” It all happens so fast: a gust of air, Gil falling backward, Magnus striking him with a rock in his fist. Oh my God!
I’m sorry? Aren’t they supposed to be best friends?
Then I’m in his arms, being launched in the sky with such speed I can’t even scream, the wind knocked out of my chest.
I thought I was safe. I thought he wouldn’t hurt anyone. But now—
“Stop!” I finally manage to get a hold of my voice. I push at him until he releases me, and I plummet downward before I’m able to catch myself with my own wings. Panic pulls at my chest; will I survive if I try to run again?
“Heather—”
“What thefuck?!” I scream, and no—no, he seriously didn’t just knock out his best friend in the name of keeping me his captive. “Say the words. Release me from this pact or whateverright now!”
“He should not have stood in our way,” Magnus says dismissively, his eyes level and angry. Is this who he really is? It’s not at all the pathetic lovestruck snake I’ve painted him as.Thisman is ruthless.
Thisis the vampire king.
As he hangs in the air before me, light shines through his now exposed wings. They’re thin and dragonfly-like, albeit iridescent with the scalloped edges and veins of a bat. He flies well, but they’re almost too small for how broad his shoulders are. They remind me of something you’d buy in a pinch before a renaissance faire without checking the dimensions online.
His pupils grow until his irises are barely visible. I wonder how often he lets himself be seen in this shape, and at the same time, I don’t care at all.
“The swamp creature has taken worse blows than that,” he assures me, tugging at my wrist, but I fly backward, unwilling to let him take me anywhere. “He’ll survive.”
“You can’t make me come with you,” I say with all the defiance I can muster, but I am exhausted, and it shows.
“No, but you will follow.” His voice is pure venom. “Or do you really want to see how far you can get this time?”
“I hate you.” I hope he can tell I mean it.
“Yes.” He nods, a hint of the sadness I normally see in him has returned. “But you’ll come with me all the same.”
12.
Moth
We have reached the Dragonfly Court, the scent of her honeycomb soap lingers in the air, promising she will be just around the corner. I ache to feel the softness of her skin against my own…
