Page 130 of Mage Massacres

“Just tell her already so we can get on with this.” I rubbed my temples. “You’re only going to—”

Nothing.

I narrowed my eyes, attempting to undo the muting spell. Something was different about this one, though. It had the same outcome, but the mechanics of the magic had changed.

Mother. Fucker.

Every time I thought I was outsmarting him, Palmer would change... the most diminutive something. The command for his magic chains, the trigger for the muting spell, the strength of his mental barrier. By the time I figured the new logistics out, they were altered again.

I idly wondered if there were calculations behind his movements. Was this poker or a slot machine? Could I count the cards, or was it a game of chance?

We were constantly challenging each other, but I was starting to feel the slightest bit of mental competition. And I didn’t like losing.

This wasn’t about me, though.

It was about Millie, which pissed me off more. Why mute me when I wasn’t the one he was trying to talk over? I was here to help, godsdammit.

Focus, bitch.

“I’ll give your voice back, but I want to talk to her without you interrupting me. When I’m finished, you can say all the snarky comments that come to mind. Okay?”

If I narrowed my eyes any more, then I’d end up squinting at him. I nodded my head in one quick jerk, even though I wanted to argue. The slight twitching of his cheeks told me he knew that, too.

He took a deep breath as he faced his sister. “Mills. Don’t be mad.”

I snorted, and that had a sound.

“What did you do, Palmer?” Her voice dripped with venom as she stared at them.

He winced. “I asked Farris and his partner to come over. We…” he trailed off to glance at my scowling face, then amended, “I have some business that I need him to consider. While he’s here, he’d like to speak with you. I wanted to let you know, so you weren’t blindsided.”

Thunder stormed over her expression as she stated, “He called you because I’m ignoring him. You thought you’d scratch his back and then have yours scratched in return. Sound about right?”

I tipped my head back, soundlessly laughing at my mate’s wide eyes.

“It’s not entirely wrong,” Palmer cautiously admitted. “I didn’t tell him he could talk to you, just that I would tell you he wanted to.”

He yelped suddenly, and I straightened my shoulders, on alert. When he leaned down to swat at his calf, I clamped my lips together, desperately hiding my smile.

“What the fuck, Millie? A bee?”

“What?” She shrugged, poison oozing from her grin. “I didn’t tell her that she could sting you, just that I would tell you she wanted to.”

Miller was incensed. Not that I blamed her. The Lynch brothers had followed her through the estate as they argued. It had lasted for a good hour before Raguel tapped his knuckles against the living room wall.

“There’s a wraith and a revenant at the front door.”

“Tell them to fuck off,” Millie hissed, then closed her eyes. “I’m sorry, Rig. That was rude of me.”

“It’s okay.” His easy grin spoke of understanding before he spoiled the mood further. “Mates are weird. I get it. I only met Amelia because I was trying to kill Sam. At least those two seem to be friends.”

The blood drained from Millie’s face as Rig’s words sunk in.

“You didn’t tell her?” I snarled at Palmer and Murphy.

“How was I supposed to tell her?” my mate questioned in exasperation. “You heard her yelling. She’s barely let either of us get a word in.”

“Who?” she asked me, her voice disappointed as she directed it at her brothers. “Get out. I’m done talking to you.”