Page 16 of A Fury Of Shadows

“By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask,” Violet interrupted. “Why is Hellreaver panting like that?”

Everyone looked to where the weapon hovered close to Vlad and Tarang. His blades shivered as he focused on the sparks erupting where the incubus’s sword met the tiger’s nails.

Erik squinted. “It’s almost as if he’s watching…porn.”

Vlad’s hand froze on the handle of his sword.

Hellreaver startled guiltily.It’s not!

“He says it’s not,” Mae said leadenly.

“Do you believe him?”

“Would you?”

“No.”

“There you go then.”

I object to that vile assertion, my witch, Hellreaver protested.

“How about you wipe the drool from your blade before you assert anything?”

Vlad climbed stiffly to his feet and directed Tarang to a spot on the other side of the warehouse. Ilya and Milo cast perturbed looks at Hellreaver before following.

The weapon drooped and bobbed over to Mae.

Brimstone stamped his paws restlessly while Regina and Isabelle took up positions around her and Cortes.

I really want to help you this time, my witch.

“You can’t,” Mae said firmly. She looked over at Vlad’s bodyguards and Erik. “It might be better if the three of you stepped outside for this. You are bound to fall for the illusion. I don’t want to have to hurt you.”

“It’s okay,” Anya reassured her. “I can control whom my magic affects. They’ll be safe in here.”

Regina looked begrudgingly impressed at that.

“Be careful,” Vlad murmured.

Mae met the incubus’s troubled gaze and dipped her head. She pressed a hand to Cortes’s back. His magic warmed her palm.

“Whenever you’re ready,” she told Anya.

The witch licked her lips. Her eyes and those of her familiar flashed with blue fire. Their power made Mae’s scalp prickle as the Illusion Sorcery took effect.

Regina and Isabelle’s expressions changed instantly.

“Witch Queen!” Isabelle hissed, her face dark with loathing.

Regina’s furious gaze flitted to Cortes. “Let go of him, you demon hag!”

“Oh boy,” Violet muttered on the other side of the warehouse.

How dare she call you a hag?Hellreaver growled.You’re far too young for that title yet, my witch!

Mae gave him a jaundiced look.

Her pulse quickened. Magic was building up inside Regina and Isabelle as they prepared to attack. Heat surged through her veins.

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