Page 32 of Soulbound

Malachi looked down sharply. "I have no heart."

"That's what you'd like us all to think," Cleo whispered, "especially Remington. But I saw what will become of her."

She might as well have struck Malachi.

"One member of your party will share my bed," Malachi snarled, meeting Cleo's gaze with glittering eyes, "or I'll keep the fucking Wand and burn it."

"You will hand over the Wand directly, and allow the rest of us to leave without hindrance immediately, if we meet these conditions?" Remington asked.

Both Sebastian and Bishop gaped at him.

"Are you insane?" Sebastian snapped.

Bishop’s face paled, but his eyes grew a little sleepy.

"You’re not seriously considering it?" Sebastian demanded of his brother. Bishop would gut anyone who even looked at Verity sideways, and as for Bishop himself….

"We need the Wand," Bishop replied quietly.

Malachi turned on Remington with a predatory delight. "Safe passage and immediate transferal of the Relic, upon my word."

"And when the sun rises, whoever graces your bed is guaranteed the freedom to leave?" Remington continued.

Malachi flicked languid fingers. "If they wish to."

"So be it," Remington announced, stepping forward. "Give my friends the Wand, and I'll pay the price you demand."

For the second time that night, Malachi looked like he'd bitten into rotten fruit.

"I assume the lovely Odette will be joining us?" Remington said.

Odette stalked to his side, sliding a hand down his waistcoat. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"You bastard," Malachi said, without heat.

"Your rules," Remington challenged. "Fetch the Wand."

Malachi moved to a small cabinet, drawing a thin, dangerous knife from within his waistcoat and slicing his thumb with it. He pressed the welling blood to the cabinet, and a dozen layers of wards suddenly shimmered to life, before vanishing to their gaze.

Remington hadn't been wrong. There was no way any of them could have gotten through such warding. Not even Bishop.

Malachi withdrew an intricately carved box, and held it out. "Here it is."

Bishop took a step toward it, but Malachi shook his head. "No. The lady won the right to it." He held it out to Cleo. "Perhaps we shall see if your advice bears fruit."

She took the box solemnly. "Thank you."

"But before you leave.... a gift for the newlyweds." Malachi's mocking gaze captured Sebastian's, before he turned and took Cleo's face in his hands.

Swooping toward her, he kissed her swiftly. Cleo stiffened, before her body melted into his embrace, and then it was done, and Malachi released her.

Sebastian caught her by the arm as she almost fell to her knees, her eyes glazed, and her lips swollen and pink.

"Enjoy my gift," Malachi said, mocking him. "An unplucked bloom, just for you."

Chapter 8

'Once one is touched by the Shadow Dimensions, they're never quite the same. The shadow lingers in the soul, until it slowly eats away at a person.'