Page 3 of Love Spell

Shoulders tense, Julian seemed to make himself look away this time, breaking some of the tension flowing between them.“We weren’t talking about our roleplaying group.”His gaze flickered across Timo’s lips and reached his hand in a flash, noticing the bloody lump in Timo’s grasp.“We’re pagans.I was referring to real spells I use in my day-to-day life.Magick for the real world.That’s all.”

Tattoos had relaxed, prepared to go on with him, making their way to the newlyweds.Julian also looked more resigned than annoyed.

Timo felt his own anger sharpen at receiving the once-over when he wasn’t at his best.Did he still have blood on his face?He should have walked away, let them go.All part of the rich tapestry, after all.People could believe whatever the hell they wanted.

Perhaps it was a feeling of being judged for a weakness he couldn’t help, or the irritation to discover this guy, Julian, was more interested in a married man than in Timo, that Timo was leaving here alone after all, or simply the tone Julian had used on him — a tone Timo wouldn’t even tolerate from goddamn royalty.

Timo didn’t bother to decide.He simply spoke.“You’re shitting me.”

Julian stopped.Tattoos grabbed his arm.

“Are you just messing with me?”Timo asked.“Or delusional?You can’t really believe you’re casting spells on people.”

Julian turned back to him, Tattoos talking to him all the time.“It doesn’t matter, Julian.Come on, no, Julian —”

He pulled his arm from her, facing Timo squarely, two feet away.“You’re right, Manda.I would usually let it go.”He stared into Timo’s eyes, sounding like someone bent on letting nothing go.“The world is full of arseholes and we can’t plug them all.But you’ve caught me on a bad day.”He took another step, nose to nose with Timo, who didn’t back down.“So, instead, I’m going to give you the chance to be the bigger person and apologise.”

“Apologise?For calling a spade a spade?Bullshit.If you honestly think you can do ‘magic’ —” Timo made air quotes, remembering late that one hand was full.“ — then prove it.”

Muscles tightened in Julian’s jaw, and Timo was sure he was about to be punched.“What?”His tone went flat, newly hushed.

Timo leaned in a bit.“I saidprove it.Cast a spell.”

Silence fell between them, drowning out the garden.

Julian nodded once.“Fine.”

Behind Julian’s shoulder, Manda shut her eyes as if in pain.

Julian turned abruptly and walked away.

“That’s it?I blinked and missed it!”Timo called after him.

“Oh, you’ll see it.”Julian didn’t look around.“Give it a few days.You’ll fucking see it.”

They merged into the crowd.

Timo stalked out, tossing his blood-soaked fistful into the bin by the back door on his way.He didn’t have time to go to their damn afterparty anyway.

2

Timo blazed through homework and calls to later time zones, got in a workout on the bike in the downstairs gym before dark while listening to an audiobook on double playback speed, gulped down a protein smoothie, showered, and hit the bars while the night was still young.

It wasn’t as if it was difficult to find someone to bring home.It would be stupid to chafe over that bastard in black when Timo hadn’t even tried.Timo could get anything he wanted when he tried.What he didn’t want was a delusional freak who belonged in a padded cell.Now, tonight, at the club, he would tryandsucceed.Also simple.

He had a drink, then another.Sure, there were options, even good ones tonight.Always options.He could take his pick, not yet too old for the scene, looking younger than he was, fitter than nearly anyone in the place; of course he could take his pick.

So he did: Blond, hazel-eyed, easy laugh, eager to please, not remotely Timo’s type, but more importantly light years away from a tall, dark, and handsome wizard.

He had another drink.All right.Move it along.He’d been in here, what?A couple hours?Back at the bar after mingling, Blondie cozied up close, ready to go at the least word from Timo.So just say the word.

What was the word?

Fuck it, where’d this headache come from?

Probably a Voodoo pin.

Timo laughed aloud.

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