Page 40 of Magical Mischief

Gideon laughed. “Do you notice a pattern? The Bellemores want to side with victory, with Shadowick?”

Dad took a shaky step forward, opening his mouth as though to speak, but Gideon lifted a hand, cutting him off.

My father froze, helplessness etched in the lines of his face.

Fear battled with rage in my chest, and I clenched my fists at my sides.

The runes beneath the snow glowed again, demanding I let the spells free.

This wasn’t part of the plan.

If my father wasn’t in his bulldog form, my plan was as good as nothing.

Everything hinged on my dad being a bulldog.

“If this is real, then let him say something. Let him—”

Gideon snapped his fingers.

A painful jolt of magic crackled around my dad’s form. I winced at the sight, powerless to stop it just yet.

My dad clenched his jaw. His eyes flicked to Gideon’s with the fury of someone trapped inside a cage, forced to remain silent.

“You see?” Gideon purred. “He’s alive, but he remains in my control. Will you bargain now, or must I snap my fingers again?”

I braced my shoulders.

“I’ll bargain,” I whispered. “Take me. Let him go. We already spoke of the deal we made. There’s no need for this.”

Tension fell over the square, broken only by the faint hum of magic weaving through the lampposts, hanging in the air with a spark.

And then Gideon smiled. “I knew you’d come around.”

He lifted his hand toward me, palm open, beckoning.

My father stiffened behind him with clenched fists. The gargoyles shifted overhead, their wings scraping against the old boutique hotel’s roof.

I knew Keegan watched from the second floor, heart no doubt pounding as hard as mine.

Moving forward until I was just out of Gideon’s reach, my eyes flicked to my dad.

That wink had to be real. Gideon’s magic typically wouldn’t give me such a comforting clue.

Could Dad be partly free of the curse?

But what benefit would that be to Gideon?

Or was it all an illusion of possibility?

Gideon arched a brow. “Well?”

My heart hammered. I closed my eyes briefly, recalling every line of the spell I’d prepared. The synergy of protection I’d placed into this circle for precisely a moment like this.

But he had to be in his bulldog form.

“Let my father go first. That was the deal.”

Gideon chuckled, low and predatory.