Page 67 of Deadly Alliances

“Take your time and do it right. No rush here.”

I nodded, glancing at the book. I didn’t have to read the spell, since I’d memorized it, but the wizened pages provided a sort of comfort that I needed right now.

I closed my eyes and found that tingle of magic in my chest, then refocused on the book. “Kekeru henertu em sheut greh.”

A gentle breeze lifted my hair as I sank deeper into the magic, letting it wash over me. The office and its atrocities fell away, leaving me in a warm void that glittered with possibilities.

“Kheper sa em ra hena yew en bekah-et.” The words left my lips with a strength I didn’t know I possessed, the warmth filling and then leaving me, so that I felt cold and hollow in its absence.

A golden glow settled on Hadrian’s skin, sinking in until it faded completely. Hadrian smiled, looking at his hands with a wicked glee, then up to me. “I feel good. Shall we test your handiwork?”

I swallowed, the peace that had accompanied the spell tearing away from me like a cockroach in the light. “Sure. Just...be careful.”

Hadrian’s smile cocked to the side. “I always take every precaution.”

He pulled up his wrist, tapping on the watch face. A few moments later, a beanpole of a man came in, his pale skin making his sunken cheeks look somewhat sickly. He held a camera over his shoulder and a small device in his other hand. “Are you ready, sir?”

“Let’s find out,” Hadrian replied.

I watched with curiosity as Hadrian walked around his desk to the gangly vampire. It was night now. How could he possibly test the spell?

Hadrian tugged his sleeve up just a few inches and held his arm out to the side. He gave the vampire a nod, and the vampire pushed a button on the gadget he held. A beam of light flashed onto Hadrian’s hand, which then cast a dark shadow over the wall behind it.

My confusion only grew as Hadrian began laughing somewhat maniacally, turning his hand this way and that in the beam of light.

Then he began to unbutton his shirt, and my heart jumped into my throat. What the hell was he doing? My cheeks burned with a conflicted blush as Hadrian tossed his tailored shirt to the side and stepped fully into the light because, holy shit, his body was a work of perfection! Every muscle in his chest and abs was so well defined, resembling marble carved by the masters. It wasn’t fair for evil creatures to be so beautiful, but despite my best efforts, I couldn’t help but appreciate his immaculate appearance.

Heat radiated from the halo of light that I was just outside of, and I slowly came to understand that it must be an ultraviolet light. That was how he was testing the spell, and from theexpression of wild triumph on Hadrian’s face as he looked at me, the spell had worked. A sense of pride welled up knowing what I’d accomplished, even as terror filled me.

I’d just unleashed the most powerful vampire in the world.

As if my thought had summoned him, Hadrian snapped his fingers at the gangly vampire. “Start rolling, Steadman!”

Steadman, apparently, set the light gingerly on the table and anchored the camera, then pushed a button on the side of it that made a small blue light blink above the glass. He gave Hadrian a quick thumbs-up.

“Vampires, shifters, supernaturals everywhere! I wanted to share the glorious news. Your leader has been liberated from the chains of the night. I can now walk fearlessly through the day. Our greatest dreams are about to be realized, and all thanks to this young witch.”

Steadman aimed the camera at me, and I froze like a deer in headlights. I cracked a sheepish smile as I brought my hand halfway up and curled my fingers in a weak attempt to wave. The butterflies in my stomach turned to frightened bats, beating at my insides in a mad attempt to escape. But therewasno escape.

The camera panned back to Hadrian, and I took a deep, shuddering breath.I buried my face in my hands as Hadrian made his final remarks. I could almost envision the horror on the faces of shifters as they watched. What did I just do? Steadman lowered the device, the blue light winking off.

Hadrian scooped up his shirt and walked toward me, putting a steadying hand on my shoulder. “Excellent work. Soon we’ll have an entire army of daywalkers at our disposal. You’re a great addition to the team. I trust you won’t let me down.”

“Of course,” I croaked, trying desperately not to look at his barechest.Please put your damn shirt back on!

Hadrian ushered me out of his office, and I was surprised to see a sea of faces filling the lobby as we stepped out. Vampires and humans wore pride and hope on their faces, caressing Hadrian as he passed them.Gross. He didn’t seem to mind the attention. But as hands began brushing on my arms and other places, I definitely minded.

“This is a cause for celebration!” Hadrian announced. “Let us have a grand party, with Shea as our Guest of Honor.”

The lobby erupted with cheers, and I shivered at the attention. I wanted nothing to do with any such party. I just wanted to flee to my room and curl up into obscurity. I wanted to beg the powers that be for forgiveness for what I’d just done.

One of the vampires pushed through the melee to Hadrian. “My lord, there’ve been reports of movement in the forest to the south.”

“Ah, the other shifters from the attack, I presume,” Hadrian said. “Send a team to go after them.”

Shit!I had to warn Caesar. But how?

Hadrian dismissed the vampire and encouraged the crowd to follow him down the hall toward the Grand Hall. I pulled back against the flow, letting them pass me like a river over a rock. If I could slip away, I could catch my breath, I could contact Caesar, try to—

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