Page 46 of Wrongfully Magicked
Soren kicks rocks out of my way, snaps branches, and crushes thorny weeds that encroach on the makeshift path, even going so far as to light a few of the more persistent vines and underbrush on fire.
The vegetation goes up fast, a bright flash of light like gunpowder igniting, and ash drifts to the ground in a macabre snowfall. I’d swear the forest pulls away at our approach, but that would be foolish…right?
Cassius brings up the rear, watching the forest like he’s waiting for it to attack, which, from the oppressive feeling swamping the area, wouldn’t surprise me.
He stays close, his head swiveling to take in our surroundings, but I don’t miss the way he keeps me in view at all times. Part of me would like to think he’s concerned, but I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m an idiot who might wander off the path and need to be retrieved.
His presence is like an annoying itch under my skin. I don’t like him at my back, not trusting he would protect me if it came to an attack. Every time I glance back at him, swearing I can feel him sneaking up on me, I find him glaring at the back of my head.
The last time I looked back, I reached up to rub my brow…with my middle finger.
A little hiss escapes him, and if I didn’t know better, I would swear that his lips twitched.
Facing forward once again, I’m unable to resist a smile at knowing my very presence irritates the shit out of him. There’s a bounce to my steps, and I’d almost swear I feel his gaze drop to my ass.
Which is totally ridiculous, right?
I don’t look back to confirm my suspicions. I’d rather not know. He confuses me enough with his hot and cold attitude. It’s a struggle to stay alive and one step ahead of the law and my family. I don’t need more complications in my life…not to mention I don’t have time to chase after a man who’s not interested in me.
I’m so lost in thought that I don’t notice the others have stopped until I nearly plow into Darby’s back. The only thing that stops me is Soren, who wraps an arm around me and pulls me back at the last second.
I open my mouth to curse them out, but no sound emerges when I see what has captured their attention.
There is a fucking dead body stretched between two trees in the clearing only a few yards away. A strangled sound escapes me as I take in the rough shape of what remains of the mangled corpse.
The answer is very little.
Before I can process the details, Darby and Porter stiffen, then they each take a step toward each other until their broad backs form a solid wall of muscle, completely blocking my view of the carnage.
Unfortunately, they are too late.
The image has already been burned into my brain.
Without a word, I slip out of Soren’s hold and swerve around the men, not stopping until I’m five feet away from the dangling body.
The man’s hands and legs are tied, his limbs stretched taut, the body hanging limply between the ropes. The head sags forward, but there is no peace on his face. His expression is twisted into a mask of horror, and my gut churns with the knowledge that the poor fellow was alive when he died.
Porter steps in front of me again, blocking my view of the corpse, and I blink at him, not really seeing him. I vaguely hear the others cursing behind me, but before I can turn, Porter cups my face, tips my head back, then leans down until our noses almost touch. “Don’t look. Give us an hour to investigate, then we’ll take you from here. You don’t have to?—”
I reach up and squeeze his hand, cutting him off before he can finish his sentence. “This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a dead body, and I very much doubt it will be my last. Don’t rush your investigation on my account. This person needs to be caught. I won’t be responsible for hindering your investigation.”
The cursing behind me stops suddenly at my words, and the eerie silence of the place rings out once more. I pat his hand, then startle when it feels like a rough tongue laps against my palm. When I look down, I see shadows dancing lightly around my hand, like I stuck it in a murky cloud of black fog. It appears to be petting me, as if I’m a wild critter that needs to be tamed.
Porter scowls down at the shadows, then hastily jerks away and shakes out his hand until they fade into nothing.
I immediately miss the touch, my skin still tingling from the slightly cool texture, and I curl my hand into a fist, not ready to give up the sensation. Porter glares down at me like I mortally offended him by dumping skunky gremlin pee into his hair products or something, and I have to plant my feet to keep from recoiling.
The first lesson I learned as a child is never to show fear, or they will eat you alive, so instead, I meet his gaze without flinching and lift a single brow in challenge.
“You can’t seriously be considering letting her stay,” Cassius argues, edging slightly in front of me to face off against Porter. “She doesn’t need to see this shit. It will give her nightmares.”
Darby looks uncertain, studying my face like I’m some fragile flower that needs to be protected, and I nearly roll my eyes at the absurdity. “You don’t think I can handle the darkness of your world?”
“No,” Cassius responds without hesitation, a mulish expression on his face. “The evil of our world will taint you and suck you down with it until you’re drowning in the darkness. Once you get the stain on your soul, no amount of scrubbing will get it off.”
The guys look at Cassius like they’ve never seen him before, his outburst taking them by surprise. Against my will, I find myself softening toward him, even though I know it will mostlikely come back to bite me on the ass later like a pack of hungry chimera.
“I’ve already seen the darkness. I’ve been swimming in it for most of my life.” I take a step toward him, stopping when he stiffens, and my chest stings at the knowledge that someone hurt him so badly that it scarred him down to his soul. “I haven’t drowned yet. If it’s too much, I’ll stand back. Promise.”
