Page 35 of The Death Dealer (Sentinels of Magic Book 2)

Damian traversed the hallway to Agnes’s living room, taking his time to view the pictures on her walls. Some were of her, Melvin, and their children as a family unit; others were single shots of Deni or Agnes. No one appeared particularly happy the way one assumed they would if they”d had a healthy, loving home life. He almost felt sorry for Denillia. Almost. Perhaps he would’ve had she not attempted to trigger Trevor into attacking him.

Foolish girl.

Soleil’s earth magic, mixed with the enchanted soil from his estate, had given an extra boost to the spell. She’d only meant to stuff dirt in Deni’s mouth to prevent her from speaking, but his added power hadamped upthe charm one thousandfold. It was something she never could’ve foreseen, as he told her time and again when her guilt flared up.

With Beastie’s assistance, he’d been able to see into the past to the day Agnes and Melvin had brainwashed Trevor. Their plan to weaponize him was genius. But deep in his subconscious, he recognized their sinister intent and avoided them whenever possible. As a failsafe, they persuaded Deni to seduce him and used her to activate their Death Dealer assassin whenever needed.

But that plan, too, had faced opposition.

With each passing day, Trevor”s discontentment with her and his life grew,until the dastardly trio was forced to concoct a new plan. Oneto break his heart. The general idea was if he were disillusioned, he’d be uncaring and wouldn’t examine his assignments too closely.And to a degree, it worked well for them.

They erred in sending Trevor after Soleil. While awaiting the kill order, he’d fallen in love. Although it hadn’t quite stopped him from trying to carry out his mission once activated, it had lost Agnes andMelvina valuable tool, their daughter, and soon, their lives.

Damian sensed her presence before she spoke and shifted to face her.

“Ms. Vector.”

“Councilwoman Vector to you, Aether,” she repliedin a haughty voice. “You still report to me.”

Like hell!

He merely smiled at her posturing.

Lifting her chin in the air, she sniffed her displeasure, but he also felt her fear. Rightaboutnow, she’d be wondering why he was here, worrying he intended to retaliate.

“I was surprised when you sent a note to say you’d be coming by.” She cast a telling glance behind him before quickly looking away.

“Mr. Glen,” Damian said smoothly without turning. “Why don’t you come out where I can see you, hmm? I’m not particularly fond of people standing behind me. Especially backstabbers, such as yourself.”

A rapid shuffling of feet announced Melvin’s clumsy charge, and Damian shifted out of the way, implementing a force field. At the same time, he lifted his arm and swept the other man into the wall with a tornadic blast of air. With a death groan, Melvin slunk to the floor.

“Not the greeting I’d hoped for, butdefinitelythe one I expected.” Shifting his ire to Agnes, Damian shook his head. “How did you hope to pull that off?”

Considering his unlimited power and the compassionate man he was raised to be, he found her terrified reaction distasteful. Yet, getting his point across was necessary. If their magical community perceived him as weak, it would invite attacks against his person and, ultimately, his family. He had no desire to have another Morcant situation on his hands.

A crafty expression crossed her face, and she smoothed her hair back toward its bun. The lie forming upon her lips madehisskin itch asheawaited her response.

“It was Mel’s idea,” she finally said. “He never thought things through.”

Like with her daughter, she showed no concern for Melvin’s demise. But then, cold-hearted snakes were only out for themselves, and Agnes Vector was the worst sort of reptile.

“I see.”

And he did.

All of it.

Damian doubted she knew half of what he was capable of. “Why don’t we discuss what I came for?”

“Of course.”

Head held high, she minced toward the open sitting area.

Rather than watch her pathetic attempt at a seductive walk, he studied the layout of her house. The room they entered was an ocean of white, with neutral textured items tossed about. Instead of appearing light and airy, it leaned toward sterile and oppressive.

He despised it.

Not because it wasin direct contrast to the warmth of his home but because it lacked joy. Despite the belief that material objects held no life, they contained trace amounts of an occupant’s energy. If Damian touched a lamp, he would senseimmediatelyif there had been love in this household.

He kept his hands to his sides, preferring not to be subjected to the negative vibes he suspected of coursing through this place on an average day.

Agnes settled on the white velvet sofa and cast him what she assumed was a flirty glance from under her lashes as she patted the seat next to her.

His stomach revolted, and he suppressed a shudder ofrevulsion.

“What did you wish to see me about?” she askedstifflywhen he ignored her overtures to examine the family portrait over the mantle.

If one looked closely, they could see the coldness in their eyes.

“You have a son. Where is he?”

“Away at college.” She waved a hand in dismissal. “He’s worthless. Like his father.”

And the Mother of the Year Award goes to…

“That’s convenient, I suppose,” Damian murmured.

Facing her, he raised a brow. While his back was to her, she’d unfastened the top two buttons of her blouse, exposing a great deal of cleavage.

“To anyone else, you’re not an unattractive woman on the outside, Agnes,” he said witha coolsmile. “But my gifts allow me to see you in a far different light. The darker the soul, the uglier the package. You possess the visage of the devil’s spawn.”

Her jaw dropped in shock, and he tasted sweet satisfaction. But he hadn’t come here to be cruel, merely to get answers.

“Now, enough games.” He held up a hand to stop her from interrupting. “Before you try to convince me otherwise, be aware I already know the answer to whatever I ask. I’m simply testing you.” Cocking his head, he studied her as if she were an alien species. “It’s always interesting when someone tries to lie to me. I like topuzzle outif they truly believe what they’re spouting or seek to convince me they’re blameless.”

“I’m not blameless.”

“No. You’re, not,” Damian said silkily. Closing the distance but maintaining a healthy space between them, he clasped his hands behind his back. “Confess.”

The enchanted word workeditsmagic as she regurgitated the barest facts of all her crimes.One hour later, she ran out of breath, and her energy was depleted.

“Was money so important to you?” He waved a hand to encompass her palatial mansion. “With so many in need, why wasn’t this adequate for your needs? Why wasn’t your family enough to feed the emptiness in your soul?”

“I don’t know.”

Those were the first honest words she’d spoken of herownfree will, and a fluttering sense of sadness rose between them. Hers, for not appreciating what she had, and his, for anyone incapable of understanding there was more to life than the collection of material possessions.

“Many people have suffered and died because you wanted more than your fair share, Agnes. Good people who might have benefited from the medical gifts the earth provides. Benefits no manufactured pill can provide.” He purposefully hardened his features, and the room’s temperaturedropped to freezing. Taking satisfaction in her shiver, he said, “You’ll write the names of those involved. Mortal or magical, I care not. They will face justice.”

“Why do you care about one frumpy earth witch so damned much?” she cried, realizing she wasn’t getting out of this room alive.

“Frumpy?” He laughed, incredulous. “You see an overweight woman who enjoys toiling in the dirt. Those who love her recognize she holds a thousand times more beauty than you and your daughter combined.” Damian gave Agnes a pitying look. “You’ll never understand her worth because you are worthless. Soleil brings love and laughter wherever she goes. Her heart is solid gold.” He rocked back on his heels and shook his head. “And that richness of soul is priceless. Far more valuable than all you hold sacred.”

“Thank you, Damian.”

His watchful gaze remained locked on his prey, but he smiled for Trevor, who stepped up behind Agnes, dropping his cloaking spell.

“I assume Soleil heard through your connection?” Damian asked him.

“She did.”

“Excellent. And now, I’ll leave you to do what you do best, Blane.”

When Trevor’s hand clamped down on Agnes’s shoulder, locking her in place, Damian addressed the other hidden occupants in the room. “I trust Mr. Blane’s loyalty will no longer be in question, Councilwoman Carter?”

“We understand his value to our organization,” she replied as she revealed the group.

“Excellent. Then consider this a promise fulfilled. Thank you for grantinghisfreedom in exchange for this one last mission.”

“Last mission? No one?—”

The Aether came to the forefront and stared the group into submission. “Trevor Blane no longer works for you. Nor will his brother, Simon, take his place.”

“You don’t make the rulesAether,” Councilman Reed stammered.

“He doesn’t, but I do.” Golden lights, like a starburst of fireflies, exploded beside him, and the Goddess Isis appeared, touching Damian’s arm to show her favor. “The entire Blane family will retain their powers and be answerable to the Aether andtome.”

As one, the Council bowed their heads, acknowledging her rule.

“Trevor has another destiny ahead of him. One to help his futurebride,and to write entertaining novels for future generations.”

“Books? Me?” Trevorchoked out a laugh, but the instant he saw her kohl-lined eyes narrow and irritation transform her exotic countenance, he changed his tune. “I—uh, sure. Yeah. I’m good with that if it”s what you want.”

Damian smirked, earning a deadly glare from the Death Dealer. “Oh, if looks could kill,” he murmured.

“I’m working on adding that ability to my repertoire,” Trevor retorted.

Isis laughed.

“Trust me, child, the muse will strike soon enough.” She tapped her chin as if pondering. “Nine months and three years, if I’m not mistaken.”

She was never mistaken.

“Nine—” Trevor shut his eyes and groaned. “Soleil’s pregnant, isn’t she?”

“My understanding was that you had one helluva reunion.” Damian snorted at the horror dawning on his face. “Dalli bragged to her sisters, and Viv tells me everything.”

“I’m going to kill her,” Trevor muttered.

Unable to help himself and prepared to take delight in the other man’s adverse reaction, Damian said, “Welcome to the family, Uncle Trevor.”

He wasn’t disappointed.

Damian grinned. “I hope now you understand why things happened in the order they did.”

* * *

Exactly nine monthsand three hours later, Trevor and Soleil welcomed their first of three sons into the world. The instant Damon Simon Blanewas placedin his arms, Trev felt their father-son connection click into place, and he had a deeper understanding of hisownfather’s love.

Tears stung his eyes as he gazed lovingly down at the squalling, red-faced infant he held. “He has your temper, Dalli.”

“My temper?” Her laugh turned into a groan, and she pressed a hand to her swollen abdomen. “Ouch!”

“Here, hold him, and I’ll heal you,” he offered, settling Damon against her. “I suspect he’s already hungry.”

The second their son touched her, he turned his face up to meet her eyes and latch on to her breast. His color returned to normal as he sighed his contentment.

“I called it.” Trev trailed a finger over one perfect, creamy globe, and sighed. “I’m going to have to fight him for these, aren’t I?”

“You’ve had them all to yourself since you and I hooked up. I think you can share for a bit.”

“You couldbottle feedhim,” he said, not at all serious.

As expected, she grinned. “Get to healing, please.Hisabnormally large head was beyond painful.” She gave him an arch look. “He gets that from you!”

Trev peeled back the swaddling to check Damon’s package.

“Not that head.” She flicked his ear. “The other one.”

“Rude.”

“I get to be. I was in labor for half the day.”

Spreading her robe, Trevor placed his palms flat on her abdomen, tuning into his regenerated Death Dealer magic to knit any tears, calm inflammation, and help her body restore itself to pre-pregnancy health.

“Better?”

She beamed her gratitude. “Much. Thank you.”

Scootingto sitbeside her, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gazed down at their nursing son. “No, Dalli. Thank you. You’ve given me a precious gift. One I never dreamed I could have because of what I am.”

“Yours is an antiquated view.” She scowled. “I mean, I appreciate the sentiment after all that work. But having the little woman provide you with a strapping son then thanking her is?—”

He shut her up with a kiss, quickly forgetting himself as she dug her fingers into his hair and took charge. When they parted, he grinned at the stunned expression on her glowing face. Their passion would always be off the charts, and he was a happier person for it.

“I wasn’t thanking you in the way you assumed,” he said, tenderly stroking her jaw, then tucking a lock of her burnt-chestnut hair behind her ear. “By the way, I don’t think you’ve ever looked more beautiful.”

She blushed.

Her skin color reminded him of a Keira Garden Rose’s center—the perfect shade of pink and one he’d always associated with her.

He touched his nose to hers. “It was for the tough love you gave me at the Authority prison and for making me remember what was important.”

“Oh, Trev.”

“I believed I was cursed, and you helped me see it was only my fear getting in the way of my happiness. Thank you for allowing me to believe in good again.”

Her chocolaty eyes were brimming with tears, seemingly at direct odds with her luminous smile. “I love you.”

He grinned. “I love you, too, Soleil Dalliance Stephens.”

“I have a confession.”

But he already knew what she intended to say.

“I’m not a dalliance sort of girl,” she blurted.

Lifting her left hand, he dropped a kiss on her engagement ring. “I know.”

* * *