Page 34 of Wrongfully Magicked
The silence behind me is telling. My gut clenches with dread, and I wonder how much more fucked-up my life can get. I glance at him over my shoulder, then swallow hard. Apparently, I underestimate his sex appeal, and my eyes drop to his chest.
Too bad I can’t enjoy the view after the bomb he just threw in my face.
I don’t miss the way he rubs the back of his neck. The fact that he looks worried doesn’t bode well for my future. He gazes at the floor, then heaves a sigh before meeting my gaze directly. “Demons often trade in curses. They don’t make deals unless they get something in return.”
It doesn’t surprise me that my family would deal in dark magic. They would kill their own parents to get ahead and have done it plenty of times in the past. I go over the many things they could use to trade with a demon, but only one thing comes to mind.
“Me.” My voice is barely above a whisper, but then my temper gets the better of me, and I throw my arms wide inexasperation. “What the hell could a demon possibly want with me?”
The bleak look in his silver eyes has my throat tightening to the point that it feels like a noose—possibly a premonition of what’s to come.
“You are a rare prize. Very few hellborn reach adulthood. Those who do are incredibly powerful, easily surpassing the magical abilities of a normal mage.” Soren gazes at me with a troubled expression. “If you are indeed the payment, then they will come for you when you turn twenty-five.”
A bitter laugh escapes me, and my hands drop to my hips. “So much of my life finally makes sense, like why my parents want me dead but haven’t outright killed me—they can’t risk voiding their deal or damaging the goods. If I died in an accident, that would be different and out of their control.”
Fear takes hold, and I lick my dry lips.
It’s never a good thing when demons are involved.
It’s worse when they’ve taken an interest in you.
Soren marches forward and grips my shoulders when panic threatens to drown me, his brutal grip the only thing that keeps me from totally losing my shit. “I’m a hellspawn. I won’t let you go without a fight. Understand? How long do we have until you turn twenty-five?”
“Nine days,” I croak out, then swallow hard.
If he’s right, and I very much fear that he is right, then I have nine days before my life becomes hell.
Literally.
CHAPTER TEN
ANITA
I’m not sure why he wants to help me—I’m not sure I even trust it—but I don’t have much of a choice, not if I want to live. “Do you have a plan in mind? Because if memory serves, the war between mages and demons didn’t end well.”
The thought of being dragged to the demon realm, completely at their mercy, chills my blood. Even my flames wither under the thought. “You think you can stop them from claiming me?”
It’s an impossible task, and I’m unable to contain my skepticism.
He is either insane, or he has a death wish.
“Not me, no.” He shakes his head, but something about the intensity of his gaze has the hair on the back of my neck rising.
I’m already shaking my head, backing away, afraid his crazy might be contagious. “No. Nuh-uh. Not just no, but fuck no.”
The corner of his mouth twitches, as if he’s enjoying my freak-out. His attention drops to my arms, and I automaticallyfollow his gaze and my eyes widen. It looks like my arms are lit from within, a golden glow swarming under my skin. Dark lines crackle across the surface, giving the impression of molten lava.
“With training, you might be the only one able to stand up to them,” Soren says, his tone almost gentle.
Feeling exposed, I curl my hands into fists, then shake them out. Usually, I’m able to contain the glow and keep it hidden, but the closer I get to my birthday, the stronger my powers grow and the harder it is to keep my secret.
Something about his nearness seems to draw my flames out.
With a concentrated effort, the glow slowly fades, leaving only tiny wisps of light zipping up and down under my skin like little fireflies before they, too, gradually die out. In the beginning, the burn would hurt, like my powers were forging my body into something different, slowly forcing it to adjust to contain more and more of the deadly fire.
If it continues to grow, I won’t have to worry about my family or demons.
I’ll be dead long before my birthday.
