Page 20 of White Charms and Dark Secrets

“What has got you looking such a mess, little witch?” a distinct voice asks.

I jerk my head up towards the sound and see Solas standing right in front of me. His black eyes run over me, almost clinical in his assessment. He’s again dressed only in snug black trousers, leaving most of his inked skin on display.

Does he walk around half dressed just to show off all the tattoos?

I blink, moving my gaze back up to his face after realising I’ve been staring for too long. I send a silent prayer to the goddess he didn’t notice.

“You came,” I stammer, still in shock.

“Yes, I was curious what would have you calling for my help again so soon. Granted, I knew you wouldeventually, allwitches do, but this quickly? I’m shocked at the sheer amount of trouble you often find yourself in, witch. It’s quite amusing, actually. I might even start taking bets on how long until you find yourself in trouble once again.” He snickers, taking up a position against the wall across from me.

“Do you have to be this much of an asshole?” I snap before common sense can filter it. I regret the words in the next instant; he’s across the room with his hand at my throat in a flash. I feel the harsh, unforgiving rocks from the wall behind me digging into my back.

Yup, great idea to insult the demon, Kayla. It’s not as if he could kill you with a snap of his fingers ifhe really wanted.

“What is this place?” he demands. To my surprise, his grip on my neck loosens. I expected him to tighten his grasp and kill me, but instead he just asks questions. I’ll never understand demons.

“The Tomb,” I answer, wondering if he can feel my rapid pulse from his hold on my neck. His fingers linger with a light brush over the vampire bite on my neck as he releases his hold. I shiver and try to swallow my nerves as I wait to see what he’ll do.

After a long minute, he steps back, glancing around in curiosity. “I’ve often wondered where they hid this place,” he murmurs.

“Well, now you know,” I mutter, rubbing my neck where he’d grabbed it.

Again, he moves faster than I can blink, but this time he places a gentle hand over my chest. I stand frozen, freaked out by the close, though seeminglynon-violent, contact.Unless he’s planning to rip my heart out, that is. That would be pretty damn violent.

“For showing me,” he explains in response to the confusion in my eyes, not that I understand what he’s explaining.

A warmth spreads throughout my body without further warning. I look down at my arm in front of me, watching my bruises fade and my cuts heal. The warmth dies off, and he pulls his hand away.

“You healed me?” I question, uncertainty and confusion colouring my tone at his actions.We didn’t have any formal deal, so why would he help me?

“Don’t go getting any ideas of us becoming friends, little witch. I do not wish to be indebted to you, deal or no. That is all. A little healing took nothing from me other than an insignificant second of my time.”

I snort. “Friends with a demon, as if. I’m not stupid.”

“You could have fooled me.” He gives me a dubious look. “Now, did you summon me to kill whoever put you here, or to get you out of here? I can do either, but one would be far more enjoyable.”

“Why do I think you’re referring to the killing?” I groan. “I’ve told you before, I’m not a murderer, so I’mnot going to send you tokill anyone.”

“And I’ve told you before, you wouldn’t be the one doing the killing.” A mischievous smile graces his face, despite already knowing my answer.

“Can you get me out of here or not? And what do you want in exchange?” I huff.

“Of course I can break you out of here, little witch. I won’t even ask you for your soul as payment,“ he says in a charming tone. He looks a little too happy and amenable. Whatever he wants can’t be good.

“What do you want?” I ask again, and he smiles even wider.

“There’s a vampire-witch hybrid in here that has information that I seek. His name is Elias. He’s tall, sandy blond hair, terrible temper. You can’t miss him.”

“You want me to get the answer from him?” I respond with caution. I really don’t want to be around a vampire right now. Even if it’s a witch cross-breed. I’d only been somewhat comfortable around Kier after the attack because I know him, and I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t sink his teeth into me.

“Fuck no. You would know what he said, and I can’t have that. I want you to find him and bring him here, to me, then I will broker a deal with him for the information I require,” he replies.

“Why not go and search for him yourself?”

“Because I have better things to do than stalk around a bunch of caves and tunnels looking for the man. You will do the grunt work, and after, I’ll drop you off, soul intact, at your lovely London abode. Do we have a deal?” he demands, narrowing his black, depthless eyes at me.

“You are not allowed to damage any part of me. I want all of me taken back to my home intact and unharmed,” I clarify, wanting to be smart about this. For all I know he would kill me and find a dark reaper to bring my dead soul to my house before carting it off to wherever dead souls actually end up.

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