Page 10 of Harbinger

It had sparked long before we’d joined Maven Academy together.

Kai Hunter was the son of esteemed magic-wielders Thomas and Louise Hunter who ran the MavenCoven,one of the most respected magical institutions across the realms. Before the advent of all the academies that were much more inclusive to other supernatural species and not just for magic-wielders, the Maven Coven had taught the likes of Pops and Mom. It was a centuries-old institution. And Kai was the heir to that revered legacy. His parents were close friends with my entire family.

But that attraction to Kai wasn’t the only thing tampering down my reactions in this situation. It was also the fact that I was secretly expending energy elsewhere, and a bout of magical violence could screw with the spell I had underway. And that would fuck up everything.

“You can be my plaything and succumb to what you clearly want to anyway, stop your weak denial,orI can reveal what I know about you.”

I jolted at his words. “What are you talking about?”

“I told you that I have the ability to counteract magical interference. With that a factor, did you really think I wouldn’t have been able to detect what you’ve done tonight?”

“I don’t know what—”

“The reality-warping spell you’re employing?”

Son of a bitch.

I swallowed hard. “You don’t understand.”

“Sure I do,” he said in a deceptively sympathetic tone. “You hate this notoriety of the event tonight. Your magical maturity celebration masquerading as your birthday party. So you ensured that your family and everyone else here couldn’t discern your nerves, nor how much you revile all of it—and most of the guests in attendance who are treating you like a freak on a pedestal.”

“I had no choice. I had to—”

“Shh,” he said, slapping his hand over my mouth. “I know. I understand.” His eyes darkened and his tone became nasty as he said, “The problem is, no one else will. Not even your own family. You made a foolish mistake enacting this spell. You’re being watched by the entire supernatural world. Everyone is afraid of you, especially now you’ve reached magical maturity. They’re waiting for any excuse to lock you up inThe Voidand throw away the proverbial key. Any excuse to exile you for good, so they never have to worry again about a being like you living among them.Thiswill be exactly the sort of excuse they’re counting on. Warping everyone’s reality here. Sad, really, isn’t it? I mean, you’re only masking whatyou’refeeling from all of them. However, the way you went about it still impacts their reality directly in the process. So it’s still a mad violation. Tsktsk. So much to learn, Celestial Princess. All because you bury your head in the sand.”

He removed his hand and grinned at me in sadistic triumph.

“What do you want?”

“I already told you. Be my plaything. Give me ten more minutes of your time.” He traced his thumb over my bottom lip. “And quit pretending that you’re not enjoying me giving you my undivided and very much heated attention, like you’ve been dreaming about since we were teens.”

“You’re an arrogant piece of shit.”

“Nuh-uh. Not arrogant. Deservedly confident.” He gestured around us. “Don’t worry about making too much noise. I’ve ensured no one will hear us. Not even your daddies. Nor will they be able to track you—thanks to that spell of yours, actually, because it has the knock-on-effect of screwing with a supernatural being’s intuition, which is how both Lucian and Jaxon track you. I may have also had Nyx head inside to create a distraction so they won’t get the need to search you out magically either.”

“You’re beyond even a puppet master,” I gritted out.

“Compliment accepted.” He gestured at my silver dress. “Now rip the skirt of that extravagant dress down the middle.”

“I’m not going to—”

With a flick of his hand, he did it himself, tearing it open so that my panties were visible, my legs in full view.

He raised an eyebrow at the black lace. “Not what I was expecting. White cotton was more like it. This is much better. Very nice.”

“Shut up with your fucking commentary.”

“Desperate to feel me pleasuring that long-neglected body?”

“That’s not—”

He grasped my jaw. “Stop lying to meandyourself. Admit it before I find out for myself anyway. You’re dripping at the prospect of being touched by me, aren’t you?”

“It could be anyone. It’s been a long time.”

“Hmm. Nice way around it. You’re still lying, but at least you’re giving me something. We’ll work on it.”

“You said ten minutes. After tonight, there’ll be no more—”

---