Page 58 of King’s Kismet

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I could see her brewing over the idea of removing the magical tracker, but all I could say was that I was positive it would work. The spell itself was fool proof… Though I couldn’t say with absolute certainty that I would make it out the other side.

Short of convincing the angel to remove the tracker and free me from my da’s debts, this was the only way to keep her safe.

Violent thoughts rolled over Sloane’s features. She was probably thinking of all the creative ways she wanted to torture him into releasing me.

I didn’t know how to explain that none of those ideas would work.

Our best course of action was to avoid the angel until all of her bonds were sealed and we had each trained against a higher level of dark mage magic.

She wouldn’t believe me, but…

This was how it had to be.

I observed her pace across the edge of the yard, mumbling under her breath, though I couldn’t hear what she was saying. I had confidence in her abilities to complete the spell. Even the symbols and runes I drew with my magic were meant to enhance the mixture of our power.

With my mind made up, I refused to think about what would happen if she couldn’t—No. She could handle her part, and I would do mine… And she would be safe from the angel for a little longer.

As I finished the last rune, I stood and double-checked my accuracy. Everything was in place, except for us.

I ambled to the patio, unbuttoning my shirt. After hanging it on the back of a chair, I unbuckled my belt.

“What are you doing?” Sloane inquired, watching me strip.

“Taking my clothes off.”

“I see that, but why?”

I grinned, my hand frozen on the zipper of my khakis. “The tracker is on my skin, Love, or under my skin. I can’t have anything interfering with the magic, so I need to be naked.”

“This is how I picture demon summoning rituals,” she told me seriously.

“Are ye ready?”

“No.”

“Come on, then. Let’s get it over with.”

She groaned but took my hand, allowing me to pull her from the chair. As I led her to the edge of the circle I’d drawn, she straightened her shoulders in preparation.

I smiled as I recited the first line of Latin from the spell, trying to reassure her that this was the right thing to do. When she joined in, our words bled together, echoing across the darkened yard.

The magic washed over me, nipping and biting as it clung to my skin.

A line of slim flames lit around the circle, an inch between as they swayed with our voices. They melded together with the final phrase of the spell.

One last word.

I studied the features of her face, high cheekbones, plump lips pulled into a concerned expression, as the fire played in the depths of her eyes.

This was the line of no return.

We had to complete the ritual.

I shouldn’t have lied, but still… I nodded my head for her to keep going.

We spoke the last word together.