Page 57 of His Eternal Temptation

Onyx jumped to attention. “What’s happening?”

“The Hillmans are enemies. They hurt Lane.”

Luckily, it was all Rowan needed to say. Onyx’s eyes flashed with blue fire. “I’ll follow your lead.”

Rowan stormed from the room, Lane right behind him. The yelling man was surrounded by security, with everyone in the room staring.

“What’s happening?” Rowan demanded.

“We’re throwing this nuisance out,” one of the bouncers—a human—said. Not everyone working in the casino was a coven member, but unlike the strip club, they were all aware of the magic world.

“I’d like to see you try,” the Hillman witch yelled. He was belligerent, but seemed to be causing nothing worse than a disruption. This didn’t seem like an attack or part of the plot Lane had uncovered.

Rowan stepped forward to grab the man. “You’re coming with me.”

He swung around to see who was speaking, a snarl twisting his lips. His gaze darted past Rowan, and all color drained from his face. He turned and ran.

Onyx moved in a blur and tackled the Hillman witch to the ground. “Gotcha!” He settled on the man’s back and trapped his hands. “I’m stronger than I look.”

The man struggled, muttering something unintelligible.

Lane stepped forward. “Did you recognize me? Surprised I’m not dead?”

“Shit! Get off me!” the man yelled, straining against Onyx’s hold.

“Bring him to the fifth floor,” Rowan ordered, acutely aware of every eye in the room on them.

Luckily, Onyx didn’t object to being told what to do and climbed off the man, dragging him to his feet. Rowan grabbed the man’s other side, and together they marched him from the casino. He pulled against Rowan’s and Onyx’s holds to no avail.

As they entered the hall, Jack fell into step beside them, leaving Eric, another coven member, on the door alone. “Who’s this?”

“One of the witches who cursed Lane and threatened our coven.”

Jack hissed. “What the hell is he doing causing a scene?”

“Nothing good. Put everyone on alert.” To Lane, he said, “How many were with him the night they cursed you?”

“Two others. Do you think they’re all here?”

“I doubt their plot against me was merely to berate my employees.”

Jack hurried off, his phone already at his ear, and Rowan continued up the stairs, dragging the prisoner. He struggled harder against him and Onyx, but as a witch, he was no match for immortal strength.

Rowan took him to the judgment room, a large empty space on the top floor. He let go, allowing Onyx to hold him in place. “What are you doing here?”

“Fuck off,” the man spat.

“I know who you are,” Rowan growled. “Your attempt to murder Lane will not go unpunished, so tell me what you’re doing, and I might be lenient and not kill you.” His blood boiled, hunger rearing its ugly head and setting his insides screaming. Rowan couldn’t care less. He leaned into the out-of-control feeling, filling the growing pit inside him with rage. Attempting to murder one of his own earned you a death sentence, and Lane was his. “Speak, or I’ll make you!”

He didn’t abstain from using hypnosis completely. Rowan would never abuse it, but in situations like this, he’d make use of every trick in his arsenal.

The man’s eyes bulged. “You can’t make me.”

“No?” Rowan’s eyes flared with vampire magic. “Tell me the truth. Why are you here?”

The full weight of his hypnosis hit the man, but instead of a confession spilling from his lips, he choked, spluttering and gasping until his lips turned blue.

“What the Devil?” Rowan glanced at Lane, who seemed just as bewildered.