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Fuck. I could feel my erratic breath lifting my chest with noticeable force. It didn’t escape his notice because he took a sip of his drink, his gaze never leaving mine, the promises in his eyes too much for me to bear. “It’s okay to give yourself permission to enjoy everything I plan on doing to you, my little creature.”
It was at that moment I realized I’d lost the battle. Because he was right, I wanted him, and I knew I wouldn’t say no to the world of pleasure he was promising. And more than anything, I knew I couldn’t say no because we had a twisted connection that was more powerful than anything else. Still, I was too stubborn to give in to this quickly. Teeth grinding, I glared. “Do. Not. Call. Me. That.”
He smirked, devious and brilliant. “Would you prefer I call you a whore, a weak mortal with no chance of escaping her fate?”
The motion was swift, though the world seemed to slow as I watched my palm connect with his cheek. His face snapped to the side with the force, followed by his body, as he flew halfway across the room, landing against his wet bar. The decanters fell off and shattered; an avalanche of amber liquid splattering all over the floor.
What the fuck?
I stared at my hand, wide-eyed and wondrous, shocked by its steadiness, as if I hadn’t displayed the strength of a powerful mystic. Flickers of red, like tiny lightning bolts, covered my palm, traveling up my wrist and forearm.
At this, my heart sped up, and the wonder replaced with terror as the sparks continued to spread. Arm, shoulder, neck, until my entire body was one giant ball of red energy, zapping around me and in my entrails. I was so consumed with what was happening I couldn’t even look for Reaver.
Searing pain like I’d never felt before seized my body, and I dropped to my knees, desperately rubbing at my skin to will away the pain. But it only got stronger, spreading like wildfire over every limb and my back and chest, the agony so severe my screams were trapped in my throat. Power unlike any other lifted me off the floor. It whirled through me, embedding itself in my blood, my bones, my soul.
Back arched and chest heaving, I floated, desperate to rub the pain off my skin, but the power had taken over, forcing my arms wide and my head to tip toward the ceiling.
“Reetah, what the fuck?”
His voice was distant and muffled, even though he was in the same room. “Reetah!”
“Ahhhh.” My scream was dislodged, ripping through my vocal cords with the force of my terror.
My senses were on the highest alert, and I snapped my head down as I felt his approach. He extended a hand, trying to grab my leg, but a surge of power went through me, zapping him with the force of a thousand suns, his body slamming against the opposite wall as a large red bolt held him hovering. The wall behind him cracked, and he strained, eyes bulging and mouth twisting with a grimace, as tendrils of pitch-black smoke poured out of him.
Not smoke. Shadows. He was a demon, which meant he had shadow magic, able to shape into anything and penetrate any surface, including bodies like the guards he killed when he kidnapped us.
The smoke power pushed against my own, making it rise to the occasion, waves of electricity growing in potency, making him flinch as he struggled to gain control of the situation.
“Reetah! Stop this at once!”
“I’m not the one doing it!”
“Yes, you are. Control your power!”
I wanted to argue, tell him he was wrong, that I was a mortal, but the source of this power was undeniable. It came from deep inside me, an ancient place which had been sealed up my whole life and had suddenly opened, unleashing the secrets within.
Humbling. Awe-inspiring. Epic.
Darkness slammed into me, making me jolt. My eyes snapped to Reaver, his shadow magic pouring out of his chest, his fingers, his eyes. It made him look majestic and terrifying.
Despite his extraordinary power, my lightning, or whatever it was, continued to keep him pinned against the wall.
“Reetah! Focus.”
Right. Focus. I needed to focus.
I closed my eyes and breathed, reining in the power . It resisted, but I kept at it, coaxing it like it was a child in need of assuaging.
The vibrations inside me mellowed, and I opened my eyes, watching as the bolt of red electricity retracted from Reaver, shortening until it reached me, where it plunged into the depths of my belly.
My feet hit the ground with a loud thud, knees buckling, a wave of exhaustion following close behind, forcing me to shut my eyes and curl up into the fetal position. Thankfully, Reaver’s rug was more comfortable than most beds.
“Reetah.” His voice came in a whisper, his fingers brushing the hair off my clammy forehead.
Too tired to speak, I cracked an eye open to look at him. He was crouched next to me, a strange look on his face as he stared at my arms, which I’d tucked under my cheek. “What is it?”
Reaver reached for my elbow, and I let him, aware he was my captor and an all-around bad guy, but too tired to give a damn.
