Page 16 of Right Hand Of The Reaper
“It can be quite temperamental.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him about my Hell Hound’s interference. Something about the defeated look in his eyes made me warm to him a little.
I watched him sip at his coffee for a moment. He was quite fascinating to look at. I’d never met a Metus demon before. I’d seen one from a distance once, a giant, scary motherfucker that oozed evil, but I’d never been this close, let alone had an opportunity to speak to one. They were rarer than the Gods and kept to themselves. I imagined being able to slip into people’s minds all the time made for some socially awkward situations. I couldn’t feel Atticus’ presence brushing against my mind so that either meant he was very weak and didn’t have enough power to broadcast, or he was so powerful that he could mask it. My money was on the latter one. There was just something about the way he held himself, even now when he was tired. There was an air of authority and superiority that had me thinking he was definitely more powerful than he looked. And how did someone like him end up working for the Guild?
The Guild was a governing body formed of humans and all types of mythical creatures. It was designed to keep everyone in line since the moment the veil between the human world and everything else fell. To me, they were glorified pencil pushers, but they did keep the peace. Mostly. We still had the odd factions that liked to rise up against something ‘other’ but for the most part, the Guild worked to keep everyone safe.
“I can feel you watching me,” he said with his eyes closed, the mug of coffee cradled in his hands while he breathed in the aroma.
“I find you fascinating.”
That had his eyes blinking open. “Why?”
“I can’t feel your power.”
“Ah. Would you like to?” A feral grin spread across his handsome face, showcasing some sharp looking canines behind his full lips.
An unbidden shiver ran down my spine. I kind of did want to feel it. To know what it felt like to be truly terrified. “It’s tempting.”
His smile turned curious. “Really?”
“Hmm,” I said with a nod. “I don’t fear a lot, being a Reaper, and also, you know, being dead. Having nothing left to lose puts a lot of things in perspective.”
“We all have something to lose, Roux,” he said with a grim set to his jaw.
“What did you lose?”
His eyes turned cold. “Enough.”
I held his gaze as long as I could, trying to decipher all the emotions swirling in the vortex of his eyes, but I didn’t know him well enough to figure them out. Well, this conversation got a little dark. I needed to lighten the mood. I waggled my eyebrows. “Wanna try and scare me?”
He laughed and then looked surprised, like he couldn’t believe he’d just made that sound. He narrowed his eyes at me, trying to decide if I was being reckless or not.
I was totally being reckless. But that was the fun of it.
“Fine,” he finally said. “But you asked for this.”
“I know. Want me to sign a disclaimer or something?”
He chuckled again as he walked around the table. “No, but you will need to stand.”
I did as he asked and watched as his eyes brightened and his skin took on this star-like quality. Almost like diamond dust glimmered beneath it.
“Wow,” I breathed.
A faint blush rose to his cheeks, and it shimmered like rubies. “Forgive me, but I have to stand close.”
I nodded, a little too nervous to find words. I licked my lips in anticipation as he stepped further into my personal space. He rested his thumbs against my temples and took a deep breath.
“I don’t normally need to stand this close to use my power, but this helps control it so I can use a small amount.”
I nodded and swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. “Okay.”
“I’ll be watching you closely and I will pull back if I think it’s too much. Ready?”
I nodded again. Oh, shitballs. Maybe this wasn’t such a good—
Darkness slammed against my mind, sending me deep into a vast swirl of shadow. Laughter surrounded me, a deep cackle that skated along my skin. Coldness seeped into my veins, freezing my limbs before a tingling sensation spread through me. But it wasn’t unpleasant. It was… pleasurable.
Whatever this was, it felt the opposite of scary. I wasenjoyingthis.
