Page 37 of That Mafioso Magic
“Promise me or leave.” Salino’s gaze was penetrating and intimidating.
It was time I took back some of the power. I held my hand out, palm up. I absorbed the magical elements surrounding me and conjured up my ice power I’d learned. So far, I could make balls and spears. I wondered with enough practice if I could make full sculptures. So far, I watched Salino’s eyes widen ever so slightly as he watched the particles of ice swirl until it formed a solid ball of ice inside my palm.
“Impressive parlor trick,” he commented.
“I know a lot more. If you give me your blood, I’ll owe you a favor, but I’m not going to kill anyone for you,” I said. “Now, you can either have a powerful mage in your pocket, or you don’t. Which will it be?”
“Promise me.”
Well, that was a counter I had been hoping to avoid. Time to go all in. I hated gambling, but I did it every time I took a case. I stood up. “I will get the vampire blood I need. And we’ll just deal with the consequences later, Sage and I. And if you come after us, it won’t just be Sage you take on, but both of us. And you should know… together, we are extremely powerful. You will not win if you challenge him or me.”
Before I knew what had happened, Salino was out of his chair and had me by the neck. He tossed me back into the chair, which toppled over, sending my legs flying up. The vampire’s eyes were now glowing red with gold highlights and his fangs were very present as he snarled and growled at me.
“I will not be threatened, mage!” he warned.
The painful pressure he had around my throat was cutting off my airway. I was starting to feel lightheaded; this wasn’t good. I had to protect myself, because he might just kill me. Once again, I gathered the magic around me and aimed it at him, tossing him back. His body went flying as if a hand had lifted him off me, threw him across his office, and slammed him through his polished desk, breaking it in two. The computer and everything else that had been on top of the desk tumbled on top of Salino and the rubble. The double doors opened and two of his vampires charged into the room, fangs bared, eyes glowing red. Shi ran into the room, standing at my side as I rose from the fallen chair. Nakago sped over to Salino, helping him out of the shambles of his once expensive desk.
“Sir, are you okay?” Nakago asked.
Salino stood up, flipped his hair back into place, then dusted the splinters off his clothing as he looked at me in a mixture of rage, but also respect. “I’m fine,” he snapped with a snarl. “Leave us.”
“The hell I will,” Shi growled, her claws coming out, looking sharp and very lethal.
“I will not repeat myself,” Salino snarled. I was sure the vampire felt some measure of embarrassment. At least, he knew I wasn’t going to be threatened either.
His two vampires took the hint and both walked out of the office. Nakago made sure to give me a scornful warning look as he walked past me. I guessed he didn’t appreciate me planting his boss or whatever the fuck Salino was to him inside that desk. Ask me if a gave a shit. I was feeling more powerful than I had ever felt and ready to take on the vampire if need be. My threats would not be empty.
“Shi, you can leave us. I think I made myself clear to Mr. Laurent,” I said, making sure to keep my gaze on Salino, who smirked. At least my throat wasn’t as sore any more.
Shi looked at Salino, then back to me. “The next time I have to come in here, I won’t be so complacent.”
I nodded, but didn’t say anything else. She got the hint. I was in my killer mage mode, not that I wanted to kill anyone. But if it came down to me or Salino, my choice would be easy if not heartbreaking. I didn’t want anyone’s blood on my hands, but I wasn’t going to allow anyone to kill me. Shi walked out of the office and I reached down, picking the chair back up and righting it before taking a seat. I gestured for Salino to do the same to the chair in front of me.
He tilted his chin upward and adjusted his suit jacket before sitting back down.
“I hope we can be more cordial to each other if we’re going to continue negotiations,” I said. I didn’t know where this level of confidence was coming from. Was it because I knew I was powerful and could back up my threats? Was it because I had resolved myself to do what was necessary to save Sage? Whatever the case, I wasn’t going to take it for granted. Nor was I going to underestimate Salino. He was fast as hell and had his hand around my throat before I knew what had happened. If he had wanted to, I bet he could have ripped my throat out, and that just meant it was time for me to put a protective spell around myself.
“That…” he pointed over his shoulder to his shattered desk, “was remarkable, mage.”
“You attacked me, left me no choice.”
“I can’t remember the last time someone got the jump on me like that. They certainly didn’t live afterward,” Salino stated.
“Again, you attacked me first. That… will never happen again. Best you keep your hands and fangs to yourself,” I warned. If he tried to touch me now, my skin, hair, and clothes would burn him like acid. He didn’t know, but while were we talking, I had cast the spell using my willpower. It was an easy enough spell, page thirty-five of the grimoire. Apparently, Sage’s version of the spell actually would set his attacker on fire if they touched him in malice. The spells in the book that were for him were vicious but extremely powerful and necessary when taking on certain enemies.
Salino’s intense gaze narrowed as he looked at me. I could tell he was trying to judge not only his next move, but mine as well. “So, you will not agree to do me the favor in exchange for my blood unless I tell you what it is. Even if it means saving Sage’s life?”
“Whatever favor you are going to ask me, I’m sure I will need Sage alive to grant it. So, giving me your blood is in your best interest,” I said, making sure I was playing my hand the best way I could.
He arched a chestnut blond eyebrow and sighed. “Very well. Just know, what I say in this room doesn’t leave these four walls. Do I at least have your word on that?”
“As long as it doesn’t put Sage and I in danger.”
“Lot of concern for him. How long have you known each other?”
“None of your business,” I said.
He smirked, a slight upward curve of his lips, making him look extremely sensual and dangerous at the same time. I had to make sure my breathing was controlled, because being around Salino was an experience in and of itself. The vampire Archduke was alluring on a level most vampires wished they could be. And I wasn’t so sure all of that could be attributed to his age. A lot of it was just his personality.
