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I bit down on my lower lip until the skin split and I tasted the sweet tang of my blood. I felt the brush of heat and the lick of flame as I culled it. Whatever misfortune I’d have to pay as tithe, it couldn’t be much worse than what I already faced.

I breathed in the magic that laced my blood, feeling it slide into my veins; there was precious little of it.

Focusing on the chains that dug into my wrists. I rubbed my arms against them, putting a little of my magic into it. Under my ministrations, the metal began to bend and weaken. Slowly it gave in to the magic until, eventually, one of the links broke apart. Bringing my hands around, I stretched the pliant metal of the cuffs until I was able to squeeze my hands through each. The shackles clattered to the ground.

I pushed myself up, and more chains clinked against my ankles.

For the love of—

I had only vapors of my magic left. I reached for my ankle cuffs, and I began to rub my thumb and index finger against one of the metal links, massaging the last bit of my magic into it. Under my fingers, the metal thinned then finally snapped, allowing me to separate my legs.

Biting my lip again, I culled more blood, using it to free my ankles from the last of the chains. The bruises they left would just have to heal without the aid of magic.

I picked up one of the discarded chains, playing with it as I glanced around. I was free from the bindings, but not free from the metal box I was imprisoned in.

No windows. Two doors. I tried the handle for both. Neither gave.

No windows and twolockeddoors, I amended.

I twisted around, looking at the wall my back rested against. A small, closed slot was embedded into it. I pried at the edges until I managed to slide it back.

I caught a glimpse of the interior of Asher’s car, the section not meant for prisoners. Impeccably clean, save for the weaponry. None of it, unfortunately, was within arm’s reach.

Cruel, wily human.

I still clutched the chains, and as my anger got the better of me, I silently gathered them into my fist then threaded my arm through the slot.

Asher heard the clank of metal.

“What the—?”

Too late.

I threw my chains at him. The metal links whipped against his face, not enough to hurt him, unfortunately. But the bastard was surprised.

The car swerved, and I heard someone honk their horn.

“Clever girl... you’re going to regret doing that,” Asher said.

“I regretnothing.”

The vehicle slowed, pulling off the road.

He killed the engine, and the silence that followed felt ominous.

Asher sat there for a second. Then casually he reached across to the seat next to him and grabbed his gun.

Fear threaded its way through me.

“I’m awfully curious about your healing ability, demon. The scope of it, thelimitations,” he said, unbuckling his seatbelt.

This was where it would begin.

Asher got out of the car only to slide into the back row of seats. He was so close I could almost grab him.

He studied me through the slot, and behind the stoic calculation in his eyes I swear I caught a flicker of anger. Endless, bottomless anger. He shored it up inside him like I did magic.

“We could test the limitations now, or you could settle the fuck down and let me drive.”