Page 3 of Madness of Her Mages

After extricating himself from a tangle of limbs, Djall sat up, eyeing me with raised brows, his black, feathered wings draped behind him like twin sails. “Do I know you?”

He more than knew me. Djall was my grandmother’s mage. I’d seen him every day at court since I could walk. I feared that he asked if he knew me because Thorin’s mind spell was wearing off. I had to kill Djall before his memories returned.

I slowly inched closer, flames of rage pulsing through my veins as I passed a blood stain on the carpet. “You do.”

And then I was standing before him, chest heaving, my magic straining to break free. How badly I wanted to strike, but not while he was facing me.

Wrinkling his nose, he arched away. “You smell like a sewer.”

I had to work hard to unclench my teeth. “I know.”

He leaned back on his palms, eyeing me like I was a prized sow at the market as his flaccid member began to rise and expand. “You’ll have to bathe first if you’ve come to pleasure me.”

Holy elements! Bile projected into my throat. “Pleasure you?”

He slowly stood, ruffling his wings while crossing over to the buffet server and pouring himself a goblet of wine. “How old are you?”

I licked my parched lips while watching him take several gulps. “Fifteen.”

He leaned against the server, his member now pointing at my chest like a spear. His wrinkled, shriveled nutsack looked like two petrified acorns. “You’re too thin. Strip down first, and I’ll see if you’re worth the effort.”

“W-what?” I stammered.

His top lip pulled back in a feral snarl, deadly white magic flaring in his eyes. “You heard me, wench.”

I clenched my teeth to control my fear. All the men in his family line had some type of mind magic. Whereas Selig could read minds and his brother Thorin could alter memories, their uncle had an entirely different kind of lethal magic. One cross look, and he could melt his victims’ minds, rendering them dumb and confused, too feeble to walk or feed themselves. If Djall knew the real reason I was here, he’d melt my mind and then slit my throat, eliminating the threat to his stolen throne—just like he’d done to the rest of my family. I couldn’t attack him unless his back was turned, which meant I’d have to play along with his sick seduction until he trusted me.

Removing my sewage-soaked gown was the hardest thing I’d ever done, and not because I had to work hard to peel away the crusted fabric, but because I was sickened by his hungry, greedy gaze devouring my body. It took all my effort not to vomit on mygrandmother’s blood-stained carpet when I finally slipped out of my tattered gown.

“Hmm.” He took another slow sip of wine. “Not great. Not bad, either.” I fought the urge to cover my body when he scowled at my breasts, his eyes boring holes through my thin chemise. “I suppose it’s too much for me to hope you’re a virgin.”

I fought back the magic that burned my fingers. “Iama virgin.”

He set the goblet down and pushed off from the table. “I can tell if you’re lying.”

His rebuke stoked the flames of rage that were already burning bright in my chest.I. Will. Kill. Him.“I’m not lying.”

“Then maybe you’re worth it.” He waved me off with a flick of the wrist. “Take a bath first.” He motioned toward the white porcelain tub with brass clawed feet behind him, the same tub my sister and I had bathed in many evenings while our grandmother refreshed our bubbles. “I can’t stand the smell of you.”

I refused to look at the tub, glaring at him instead. “Where am I supposed to bathe?”

“Are you a simpleton?” he snarled, thumbing behind him. “Do you not see the bath behind me?”

I blinked, playing dumb. “What bath?”

He cursed, turning his back to me. “That bath!”

I seized my chance and struck him hard, black magic exploding out of my fingertips and wrapping around his chest, his throat, dragging him face-first into the water. His arms and legs flailed, his wings flapped, but I refused to let go, throwing every ounce of magical energy into holding his bony frame under the water.

Let me go now, little whore, and I’ll make your death painless.

I gasped, nearly breaking hold of my magic when his voice echoed in my skull.“Never!” I screamed like an injured dragon while tightening my hold on the magical bonds that strangled his neck. “You killed my family!”

He stopped flailing.Princess Malvolia?

“Good,” I seethed, tightening the coils around him. “You remember. Before you die, I want you to know what happens when you cross an Avias.”

I had to do it to prevent the darkness that is coming.

---