Page 23 of The Death Dealer (Sentinels of Magic Book 2)

“Guard, stand down.”Brooke Ellis stepped from the shadows.“Mr. Masters, let Councilwoman Vector go and do it now.”

Draven swore long and loud before a mulish expression settled on his rough-hewn face.

“Now, Mr. Masters,”she demanded.

“Can’t do that, cher.”

“I’ve orders to bring Councilwoman Vector and the Death Dealers to the committee. You’re not to stand in my way, Guardian.”

“And you intend to shoot me, mon c?ur?”he asked in a soft, almost tender, voice. The excitement in his whisky-colored gaze was peculiar, considering the situation.

“Knock off the endearments, and I will if I must. Release Councilwoman Vector to my care, and no one has to get hurt.”

Draven’s smile bordered proud as if the Captain of the Red Guard had done an exceptional act by standing up to him. And perhaps she had. Who, in their right mind, would go against a man only a smidgeon lesspowerfulthan the Aether?

“Where is Damian?” Soleil asked Trev, reading his mind.

“Waiting and watching the entire scene play out. Probably eating popcorn because this part just got juicy.”

“What am I missing?”

“I promise to fill you in later, Dalli.”

“Uh, Trevor?”

He glanced in her direction only to see her watching Deni.

“She’s about to make a move.”

He frowned. “She’stied. How can you tell?”

“Her bonds are a glamour, to hide that she’s free, but I can feel the energy shift.”

“Keep an eye on her, Dalli.”

Dismissing the problem of Deni for the moment, Trevor shot Captain Ellis a practiced smile.“You have a problem, Brooke. May I call you Brooke?”At her cold stare, he continued.“My father, you may know him as Benjamin Blane, isn’t likely to be taken alive. He doesn’t play well with others. Also, my brother, Simon, the other person dear Agnes had abducted, is FBI.Thiswon”t end well if he’s not returned home immediately.”

“The FBI knows better than to involve themselves in Authority affairs,”she stated briskly.

“No. I mean, it’s not going to end well when I lose my shit becausehe’snot returned home immediately,”Trev said in a patently false pleasant tone. As she watched him, he let his friendly persona drop and showed her the ruthless Death Dealer people feared.“Simon’s recruitment into the Authority is, and has always been, off the table, Captain Ellis.”

Ben approached her, and Trevor had to credit the woman for not backing down in the face of a man who could explode another’s brain without breaking a sweat.

“If the Authority wants a reminder about why my son is off limits, they need only ask me,”Ben said, raspy and rude.

At least he was sticking up for Simon, whereas he’d never stuck up for Trevor.

Brooke stared the entire room of people down as she cocked her head and listened to whatever her supervisors were feeding through her communications earpiece. She gestured to him.“Trevor Blane, you’ve been recalled. You have exactly one hour to show yourself in committee chambers.”To Ben, she said,“Your presence is requested, sir. As a show of faith, they’ll let Simon go.”

“I’ll be there,”his dad replied with a side look at Trev.“We both will.”

Trevor wanted to rush and check that Simon was all right, but his brother was a grown man, and if hewashurtin the abduction process, he’d have said. MainlyTrevsuspected he wanted to hurry home to check on Evelyn because, despite Fintan’s assurances, Simon wouldn’t have peace of mind without knowing she was doing well and had suffered no side effects from the intrusion.

“You have this under control, Trev?”

“I do,” he lied, praying itturned out to betrue.

With a nod for him, Simon teleported away.

Next, the guards filed out, led by Brooke, who guided Councilwoman Vector toward the exit. Agnes didn’t spare a glance for Deni as they left. What did it say about her parenting skills when she couldn’t be bothered to check on her daughter’s welfare? More telling, Deni didn’t seem to notice.Her gaze was focusedon Trevor, and when she saw him watching her, she flashed a come-hither smile. His mind recoiled, but he didn’t allow his distaste to show. Instead, he smiledtenderlyas if she held the moon and stars.

Walking to her first, he gazed down at her in wonder. How had he ever fallen for her lies? He was a fool for not researching her past and uncovering the connection between Agnes and her. Having heardthe bulkof her conversation with her mother, he felt like a dupe. Seven monthsshe’dplayed him, nurturing his feelings until hewas preparedto propose and then crushing his hopes by disappearing without a word, leaving only the boxed ring as a rejection.

She was a consummate actress, and heneeded to keep that knowledge alive so hewasn’t swayedwhen she tried to worm her way into his good graces.And she would. If only to know she could.

“I see you were able to untie yourself. Clever,”hesaid, givinghera warm smile.“But then you always were.”

Deni preened under his supposed praise and cast a gloating look toward Soleil.Never had Trevorwanted to strike someone weaker than him, but he did now.

“I’ll do it for you,”Soleil offered, causing him to bite his lip to stem a bark of laughter.

“You’ll get your chance, Dalli,”he assured her.

Fintan untied Soleil as Trevor pretended to ignore her. Inside, the desire to kiss away the pain of her chaffed wrists was strong.

“I’m fine, Trevor,”she informed him.

“Even one scratch on your delicate skin bothers me. Let me bask in my anger overtheirtreatment of you a little longer, okay?”

“Bask away.”

Again, he fought another laugh.

Deni rose and placed a palm over his heart.“I’ve missed you, my love.”

“Gag.”Soleil didn’t bother to keep her snark between them.

A wave of dizziness swept him, and Trevor inhaled sharply as the world around him spun.

“Trevor!”Deni cried as he swayed.

An overpowering whiffof floral fragrance wafted Soleil’s way, and she immediately understood why Trevor had reacted strangely.

“She’s wearing a magical perfume,”she told him. “You have to find a way to block the smell.”

“I’m okay,”he said,but then scrubbedhis hands over his face as if he were struggling to stay awake.

Fintan, Draven, and Ben distanced themselves from Deni, and Soleilassumed Trevor relayed the infoabout the enchantment she was weaving.

“Fintan should’ve placed a ring in your hand, Dalli. Put it on.”

She did, and her mindwas floodedwith the rapid-fire telepathy between the men.

“How do you plan to block her magic?” Draven asked.

“I don’t know.”Trevor placed his hand over Deni’s and grinned down at her.

Soleil crossed her arms over her chest and glared. “What the actual fuck? Why are you catering to her? Lock her ass up!”

“Can’t. The Oracle said to choose her.Therehas tobe something big brewing if Ihave topretend to be in love with her.”

Because it would be odd if she didn’t comment on their closeness, Soleil cleared her throat angrily.“What the hell? I’m standing right here.”

“You were always second best, girl,”Deni said smugly. The woman edged closer, pressing her body to his and wrapping her arms around his neck.“It’s me Trevorloves.”

“If you kiss her,we’re done,”Soleil told him, meaning it. She didn’t give two shits what her niece suggested he do. Watching him kiss another woman in front of her would be a memory she’d never get out of her head.

“Don’t be like that, Dalli. We’re on a mission.”

“You might be. But I’ll rip out your entrails and hang them from the London Tower,”she vowed. “See if I don’t.”

“I adore your spirit, cher!”Draven said.

“Oh, shit, she’s going in!” Trevor shot Soleil a panicked glance. “I’m?—”

“Mm,”Deni moaned, covering his mouth with hers.

She acted like the mere contact oflipon lip fired her passions and was the best thing since lemon cake. Granted, not much beat lemon cake—or lemon anything. But Trevor did, and Douche-Drop Deni knew it.

“I think I threw up in my mouth,”Soleil muttered as she turned away.

“I know I did,”Benjamin replied with a desert-dry tone, startling her. She’d forgotten he’d lingered.

“Sure, and didn’t we all?”Fintan added.

“Is this why he isn’t to be trusted,”she asked him in a low voice, purposely concentrating on only Fintan and hoping Trevor didn’t pick up on her thoughts.

His light eyes settled on her, and he nodded.“Among other things.I’m after warnin’yato be prepared, butkenitisn’t him, yeah?”

“I don’t know what any of that means.”

She glanced over her shoulder to see Deni grin and reach for his crotch. At the same time, Trevor dodged her seeking hand and grabbed her wrist.

“Not in front of an audience, my love,”he said, flashing a grin.“There’s time for that when we’re alone.”

“Skank bitch needs a lesson in manners!”Soleil growled.

Draven stopped her forward charge with a hand on her arm. “All isn’t what it seems, cher.”

“How can you say that? They’re mauling each other!”

“Dalli, remember what you do to me with a single kiss? She leaves me flat as a pancake.”

Soleil’s gaze dropped to the front of his jeans, and she registered his lack of erection. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it,” she muttered through their link.

“I’m not asking you to. Just know I don’t either. I’m aware of whatsheis and whatherparticular games are. Trust me.”

She shot a look at Fintan. He’d said not to. What was she to do?

“Trust me, Dalli,” Trevor urged. “I love you.”

Her heart swelled, and happiness bubbled inside, but she didn’t reply, choosing to remain wary and alert.

When Ho Heidi Ho dove back for another kiss, Soleil shut her eyes and allowed her inner Spring Thorne to emerge. Connecting with the soil from a nearby potted plant, she mentally apologized for stealing its nutrients even as she removed the dirt and envisioned stuffing it in Deni’s mouth.

A muffled screech and spitting was Soleil’s reward, and she lifted her lids to see her nemesis turn blotchy and ugly with rage.

Beside her, the men laughed, and it appeared as if Trevor was struggling to hold it together, too. But Deni was incensed. The woman produced the perfume bottle and smashed it at Trevor’s feet. His expression arrested, then went blank as if his thoughts were no longer his own.

“Trevor?”

He didn’t respond or look Soleil’s way.

“Trevor, answer me!”

His gaze remained locked on Deni, who leaned in and whispered in his ear. With a single nod, he turned from her and approached Soleil.

“She’s a nobody, Trevor,” Deni scoffed. “Nothing.”

With a sweet smile, he wrapped a hand around Soleil’s throat and squeezed.

Fintan and Draven shouted his name, jumping on him in their attempt to wrestle him away. But his one-handed grip was superhuman in strength. Unbreakable.

Trevor’s Death Dealer magic swirled around them, and from the corner of her eye, she noticed Fintan swipe a wrist under his nose and gaze at his blood-soaked sleeve in horror.

“Back away!” she shouted at the others. No way would she allow them to die on her behalf. “Trevor! Trevor, stop! Please, stop!” she screamed within the confines of her mind, attempting to pry his fingers away from her neck. “Babe, please!”

Yet it was as if their link were severed, and he couldn’t hear her.

But she heard him.

“Obliterate.”

Spots danced before her eyes, and she frantically struggled against his hold, clawing at his hand in a desperate attempt to escape. It wasn’t the strangulation that would be her undoing. No, the thing she needed to worry about was already wrapping its magic around her soul, breaking it down with the intent tocrush.Obliterating.