Page 47 of Mage Massacres

“Yes, we can,” I murmured to her. “He’s going to try to scare you. Just remember that you’re only playing the part of the pawn.”

“There are five other supes—strong supes—waiting to jump in to assist us, Millie. I can drop all these guys in seconds, and so can Lo. So can you. Don’t let him control you.” Hyde’s expression was bored as she pep-talked Miller.

“Maybe I’m tired of playing it safe,” Miller suggested.

“Should I teach the three of you a lesson, then?” Felix stood, motioning for us to rise too.

I had a brief moment where I was happy that he hadn’t recognized me, but I’d only met him once. I’d hated him as soon as the first word fell from his mouth, trying to make me seem like less to the Vampyre council.

Millie shivered, but her thoughts were firm. I added a layer of my own protection over her mind and Hyde’s, noticing the insistent knocking of him trying to invade her privacy.

“Let’s step outside, shall we? The patio is empty tonight.” He held his hand out, pointing to the door like we were fucking stupid.

We stood from our table as one, trudging between Felix and his men to the outdoor patio. The chill of the breeze didn’t bother me as adrenaline coursed my system, seeking out the promised bloodshed.

“No bloodshed,” Hyde reminded me harshly.

Godsdamnit.

She was being a killjoy. Why end my fun when we should be ending this asshole? I rolled my eyes at myself.

Felix chose a table in the middle, making sure he had the best view of the outside while we were able to see inside. We tugged out our chairs, perching on their iron edges. I sipped on my tequila as he eyed each one of us, sizing us up and making sure we see that we fell short in his mind.

He reminded me so much of Gideon that it made me sick to my stomach. I kept my hand firmly wrapped around my glass. I wouldn’t set it down in his presence.

“So,” I began, spinning my straw with my left hand. “Empty patio? Check. Lessons to be taught? Debatable. But I’m willing to hear you out.”

“I haven’t heard anything super convincing yet. Have you?” Hyde inquired, her honey eyes sparkling as she pulled her power to the surface.

“Who exactly have you brought for me to play with tonight, Millie?” Felix questioned, his voice somehow sounding coy and condescending at the same time.

Hyde and I grinned at him, charming and thirsty for his death. We both wanted the night to go different ways… But I suppose I was okay leaving a clean scene for the very human owners to find.

I eased into Miller’s mind, telling her to lie to him.

“They’re just two new friends I’ve made.”

That wasn’t a lie, but maybe she hadn’t figured that out yet. It was enough to pique his interest, though.

“Oh?” Felix inquired. “Since when do you keep many friends? Other than those two boys and your brothers?”

The grin on my face widened until my cheeks started to ache, more a bearing of teeth than anything welcoming. But, fuck, did it feel good to be a feral bitch and not care who saw it.

“Did you need something, Felix?” Hyde’s sultry tone brought his attention to her.

“Other than threatening us, you haven’t said very much to allude to the meaning of this meeting,” I complained. “Time is money, you know? We’re busy women.”

He was getting on my nerves, and the demon I shared my soul with was growing antsy.

His eye twitched as he spoke to the night witch. My night witch. “This interruption is going to cost you, Miller.”

“No, it’s not.” She scrunched her face up as she smiled, finally having some fun with Hyde and me.

One of the men standing behind him made eye contact with Hyde. We both observed in sick fascination as his legs crumpled beneath him. Miller never took her eyes off Felix, studying his every minuscule movement, waiting for the board to be in her favor.

“He must’ve passed out from all the drinking,” I said conversationally to the girls.

“What did you do?” Felix asked Millie, fighting to keep his voice level.