Page 151 of Magical Melee

Something wasn’t right.

Skye wouldn’t ignore me, especially not after everything that had happened.

I pushed forward, my boots crunching in the snow as I followed her into the alley.

The space was tight. The walls loomed high and cast deep shadows.

The falling snow muffled the sound of my footsteps, and for a moment, I lost sight of her.

“Skye?” I called again. My voice hushed as uncertainty crept in.

Then I saw her—or at least, I thought I did.

She stood at the far end of the alley. Her back was to me, and her silhouette was blurred by the swirling snow.

I approached cautiously, my pulse racing.

“Skye, what’s going on? Why did you—”

The figure turned slowly, and my breath caught in my throat.

It wasn’t Skye.

Standing before me was Gideon.

His piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, and a slow, predatory smile spread across his face. He looked the same as he had in my dream—tall, dark, and undeniably handsome, with an unsettling edge that made my skin crawl.

And beckoned me at the same time...

I pushed the sickening thought away and glared at him.

“Ah, Maeve,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. “What a pleasant surprise.”

Every muscle in my body tensed, and a chill ran down my spine, colder than the winter air around me.

“What do you want?”

He tilted his head, his smile never wavering.

“Want? Such a crude question. Can’t a man simply enjoy the company of a beautiful woman?”

“Cut the crap,” I said, taking a step back. “You’ve been attacking my friends, my home. If you think I’m just going to stand here and let you—”

He raised a hand, and though he didn’t move toward me, the air grew heavier, pressing against my chest.

“Now, now,” he said, his tone mockingly gentle. “Let’s not ruin the moment with accusations.”

My grip tightened on my wand, hidden in my coat pocket. “What moment?”

He chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

“The moment where we finally get to speak properly. You’ve been quite the enigma, Maeve. Stronger than I expected and more resourceful. I must admit, I’m impressed.”

I clenched my jaw, refusing to let his flattery sway me. “I don’t need your compliments.”

“Perhaps not,” he said, taking a deliberate step closer. “But they’re well-earned. You’ve faced challenges that would break most people, yet here you are, standing tall.”

“Because I have people who stand with me,” I shot back. “Something you wouldn’t understand.”