Page 86 of Wicked Enemy

If it was just me harboring those forbidden feelings, I could just chalk it up to a brief spell of insanity that I needed to get rid of as soon as possible, and that I needed to ignore in the meantime. But now that I knew that the feeling was mutual, it was even harder to just pretend that it didn’t exist.

But I couldn’t lovea dark mage. I just couldn’t!

Snatching up another stone, I hurled it at the water in frustration. It made a faint plopping sound as it hit the surface. I blew out a forceful breath.

Levi and I could never be together, so why the hell did we have to fall for each other? It made no sense. And it was an incredibly cruel trick of fate.

I sat down on the shore. Drawing my legs up, I rested my forearms on my knees and stared out at the flowing water while taking deep breaths to calm the storm of emotions inside me.

My heart ached.

Every time I let Levi escape or helped him in some way, I was betraying my father. Just like Ulric had told me all those years ago, the best way to both honor my father’s memory and to get revenge on those who had killed him was to become an excellent constable who upheld the law at all times and who brought dark mages to justice. And now, I was doing the exact opposite. I wasbreakingthe law and helping a dark mage.

Could I really do it one more time?

Levi’s request swirled through my mind yet again.If the constable force attacks in the next two days, make sure that they focus on the east side of town.We were attacking today, which was certainly within that time frame. But could I really mislead my entire department, and everyone else in the force, so that Levi could finish his deals without interference?

Logically, the answer should be no. Everyone was ready for this attack to take Levi into custody and start reclaiming the south side. To wipe out all the gangs so that no one had to pay protection money again. To bring law and order back so that the city wasn’t drowning in alcohol and drugs and scantily clad performers.

I buried my face in my hands.Fuck. I shouldn’t have gone down that road, because I actuallylikedthat side of Malgrave. Deep down, my heart craved the lawless and sinful nature of the south side.

Shoving that thought back down into the depths of my soul where it belonged, I instead forced my mind back to the problem at hand. Helping Levi finish his deals or not.

If I helped him, he would probably be even closer to reaching his goal of becoming the sole dark mage ruler of the south side. And as a constable, that should be something that I should wholeheartedly try to prevent.

But when I had asked what kind of deal he was going to make, his answer had been,one that will save my people. And as a constable, saving people should be my top priority. Bymy people, he naturally meant the other dark mages in his Court, but he also had a lot of ordinary people working for him. Could I bend the truth enough to justify my decision?

I drew in another deep breath of chilly air that tasted of mist. Raising my head, I stared out at the river again. The sun was climbing higher over the horizon. I really, really needed to leave now.

But first, I had to make a decision.

Could I put my own selfish feelings for Levi ahead of our mission as constables? We were one of the pillars of Malgrave. The ones who protected people from the likes of him. The ones who would have saved my father if they had been able to get to our tavern faster that day.

Indecision tore through my chest like ferocious wolves.

I shot to my feet. I still hadn’t made a decision, but I really needed to leave now.

Stones clattered under my feet as I spun around and sprinted back up to the road and then set course for our headquarters.

The city was just waking up as I ran through the street. Tired-looking men and women staggered out of their doors to make their way towards their own places of work while birds chirped cheerfully in the eaves above. The scent of baking bread drifted through the air as the bakeries continued getting ready for their first customers.

Cool air filled my lungs as I hurried across the city, but the pale sun had already burned away most of the morning fog.

I reached our headquarters completely out of breath, but one minute before I was supposed to be there. Doubling over, I dragged in deep breaths to calm my thundering heart.

“Glad to see you could join us on time today, Sterling,” Captain Wright said from somewhere close by.

After refilling my lungs, I straightened and met his gaze. My heart was slamming against my ribs. And not just because of the sprint across town. This was it. I had to make a decision right now.

“Captain,” I began, and then gulped down another massive breath. “I was approached by one of our spies from the south side.”

Wright’s stern blue eyes sharpened with interest. “And?”

“There’s a deal going down on the south side today. Levi Arden will be leaving his Court of Metal to make a deal with someone, so he will be out in the open and not protected by his metal walls.”

His eyes widened. All around us, people stopped what they were doing and instead turned to stare at me. This was the opportunity everyone had been waiting for. Attacking Levi’s Court was a suicide mission, but if he was cornered somewhere outside in the city, it would be much easier to take him down.

“Where is the deal happening?” Captain Wright demanded.

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