Page 52 of White Charms and Dark Secrets

“I’ll talk to her however I like. In fact, if you have such a problem with it, maybe I’ll even talk to her how I like while telling her what your big secret is. What you’re really doing here,” Solas goads smugly.

“Everyone just shut up and listen to me okay!” I shout, feeling heat creep into my cheeks as they all turn to stare at me.

“Well?” Kier prompts when I don’t say anything.

“Sorry,” I mutter, before shaking my head and brushing it off to continue. I turn to Solas. “What do you want for removing the curse?”

“As I know your soul is out of the question, how about you release me from this circle and let me be one of the vessels for the spell? I’m curious to know what your magic tastes like,” he drawls.

“Why would you trade something like freeing me from a curse with just you taking part in it? Are you trying to steal all of my magic somehow? Why would you want it?” I question unrelentingly. Solas, however, doesn’t seem fazed.

“Bound to tell the truth while in the negotiation of our deal, I can tell you that I’m not trying to steal your magic. I simply wish to take part, hold onto your magic, and then, when you’re free of the curse and want it back, I’ll give it to you without hesitation.” He grins at his words, as if laughing inside at a joke we’d all missed.

“And you won’t hurt anyone during the ritual? Including Rhydian?” I demand, wanting to be sure. Demons can’t lie while making deals, but they sure as hell don’t tell the full truth either.

“I swear not to harm anyone here. We’ll do the ritual, then when you ask me to do what’s necessary for the reversal, I’ll give your magic right back. I’ll leave when we’re done without harming anyone, or roaming the earth and causing trouble,” he responds, giving the offer a chance to sink in before adding, “Luckily you have four willing temporary hosts for your magic right here, so we can do it now. I did some reading on it earlier, it’s very simple. Most magic that ancient is.”

“Fine. We have a deal,” I agree after a moment of thought, letting my connection with the circles binding him drop. There wasn’t a lot of thinking to do about it. I probably would have agreed to much worse to get rid of the curse.

The others all immediately step back from the demon, one of them reaching out and grabbing my shoulder to pull me back with them. I glance over my shoulder at Darren, seeing that he’s looming over me protectively.

“It’s okay,” I try to reassure him. He gives me a small smile for my effort.

“Now, the spell is quite simple, but it does require a silly physical ritual for the transfer to work,” Solas explains.

“Silly physical ritual?” I echo in a bewildered tone.

“Yes, well, let’s not worry about it just yet. I can explain it as we go along. Kayla, I’ll need you to stand in the centre of the four of us,” he instructs.

I go to move but Darren doesn’t release his grip on my shoulder. I shrug him off, giving him a firm look. “I have to do this, Darren. You don’t understand… you can’t…” I trail off. My bad luck almost killed me, him, all of us. It caused me to react how I did and kill Elias. It’s destroying my life. Unfortunately, I can’t manage to vocalise any of my thoughts for his benefit.

I stand in the centre of the four of them and turn to Solas expectantly. “How are we going to do this?” I ask.

“Just call forth your magic and repeat after me,‘Magicae meam incolumem custodiat’,” Solas answers.

“Magicae meam incolumem custodiat,”I echo, counting on Kier or Rhydian to point out if the Latin sounds like the spell is to destroy the world and stop me.

“Tutum in fide. Scio erit,”Solas continues.

“Tutum in fide. Scio erit,”I repeat again, feeling a weird tremble rush through my body. Around me everyone but Solas looks concerned, and I wonder if maybe I should have told Kier and Rhydian to listen out for world ending spells.

“Now that your magic is fluid and ready to move, you must transfer it,” Solas explains.

“Okay, so how do I do that?” I ask. In answer, he steps closer.

“So they don’t do anything to disrupt the ritual,” Solas says, as he flicks a hand quickly in the direction of each of the guys around us.

“What did you just do?” Rhydian demands, as his arms and torso launch forward, but his feet remain firmly planted on the ground. He wobbles before finding his balance and straightening up, turning to look at Solas with a murderous expression.

“I think you just answered your own question.” Solas smirks at his words, before turning his attention back to me. He moves closer again, and I try to remain calm as he approaches. He can’t hurt me. Not with our agreement. He’s just trying to remove my magic to kill the curse.

Solas’ hand reaches out, taking me by surprise as it rests on the top of my shoulder by my neck. He holds it there for a second, surprisingly gentle with his touch. I try not to freak out. He leans down a little and I freeze like a deer in headlights.

“Which of them do you think will want to hit me the most?” he whispers to me in question. I puzzle over his words, unsure of his meaning. That is, until he tightens his grip on my shoulder, and slides his other hand to my waist, gripping it just as tight. Before I can even contemplate what’s happening, he’s leaning down further and pressing his lips to my mine.

Shock, horror, and most annoyingly, pleasure rush through my brain.Not that I’d ever admit to the last one.His lips move so expertly against mine, I find myself unconsciously kissing him back.Kissing a demon. Why the hell am I kissing a demon?His lips silently demand for mine to part, his tongue dancing with mine as he kisses me deeply. The kiss is so intense that I feel senseless from the stimulation.Why the hell is the demon so good at kissing?

He pulls away. Leaving me embarrassed at not having been the person to break off from the kiss. I take a deep breath, and attempt to summon some outrage when he gives me a satisfied smirk.

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