Page 29 of Heart of Mischief

“Ah, ah, ah.” Elias wiggled a finger. “No reaching for that pesky Valkyrie blade. I don’t make the same mistake twice, darling.”

“Fine,” she gritted out. “I admit it. I was wrong. I don’t know shit about your powers.”And I’m scared out of my mind, because you’re clearly way more dangerous than I ever realized.“Now, can you please let me go?”

All at once, everything returned to how it was: the shadow fog vanished, Elias’s mare form reappeared, and he stepped out into the sunlight. Charlie was free.

He held out his hands. “Was admitting you were wrong trulythathard? You really ought to work on your emotional vulnerability, Charlotte.”

She scowled and turned around, storming in the direction of the Bronco. Hopefully, her clenched fists would hide the shaking of her hands.

“I know what you’re thinking,” said Elias, catching up with her. “The mean old mare must be the one controlling Rattatosk and killing those poor kids.”

“Are you going to deny it?”

“Of course.” He stepped in front of Charlie, stopping her in hertracks, and lifted a darkness-clad arm. “You saw my human form at school. Did I have a sparkly golden leash?”

“No,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean you aren’t possessing someone who does.”

“Very wise, Charlotte. Very wise indeed. You really know how to think like a villain.”

“I didn’t—”

“It’s a compliment, darling. Just accept it. You really are your father’s progeny.”

“Loki isnotmy father,” she snapped.

“No?” Elias tilted his shadowy head. “But you were so ready to believe me at school. What changed?”

“I realized the obvious,” she said, remembering the älvor’s story. “I couldn’t possibly have come from that monster.”

“Of course.” His eyes flashed dangerously. “Because perfect little Charlotte Hudson has never been tempted by the darkness before, has she?”

That voice. It was the same one that had cocooned her in his bed, right after he healed her from the draugar’s attack. The same one that had wrapped his lithe, muscular arms around her as they danced on homecoming night, holding her close, caressing her skin. It set her whole body aflame, an instinctual reaction that she didn’t remember to squash until it was too late. Until the fire at the base of her stomach had burned all the way up to her red-hot face.

“Ahhh.” Elias lifted his hand, brushing shadowy fingers down one flaming cheek.

She started to flinch but held herself steady, keeping her eyes locked on his.

“There’s the girl I remember,” he murmured. “So easily rattled.”

Her hands squeezed into fists. “You don’t scare me.”

“Oh, my sweet Charlotte.” His cool fingertips lingered at the base of her chin. “We both know that isn’t true. I’m a mare, remember? Ican taste your fear.” He leaned in, bringing the shadows of his face right up against her ear as he lowered his voice to an almost inaudible whisper. “It’s like sweet licorice on my tongue.”

Charlie jerked backward, her stomach flip-flopping at his words even as she ordered herself to be repulsed by them.

Remember what he did, she thought.He betrayed you. He kidnapped your best friend. He tried to kill you and everyone you love. He’s not human; he’s a monster.

“Lucky for you,” Elias said, straightening up and taking a generous step away from her, “I’m not here to frighten you. Not this time around. This time, I’m here to protect you.”

“Right.” Keeping her face averted for fear that it was still flushed, Charlie spoke to the fall color on the ground. “Because myfatherasked you to.”

“He did,” said Elias simply. “And it doesn’t matter to me if you believe that he’s your father or not. All that matters is carrying out this assignment successfully and moving onto the next.”

Charlie looked up. “Were you not offended? When your precious Loki revealed he had two human children he never told you about?”

“I might’ve been.” He shrugged. “If I still felt petty human emotions likeoffense.”

“Iknewit,” she said, vindicated. “You have no emotions at all, do you?”