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Adam seethed with anger as he marched up the steps to the front door. In all their years together, Veronika had never used her power against him until now. That he could deal with.

Using it against Sydney, however? That was unforgiveable. She was human. An innocent of all things supernatural.

And a woman Adam cared for more than he could put into words.

Veronika had gone too far.

Whatever her plan, whatever she thought tonight would bring, it would not play out the way she was imagining.

He and Veronika would never get back together, something that for him had already been decided. But if she laid one finger on Sydney, he would unleash the full potential of his true form.

He had to find a way to deescalate this situation and get Sydney to safety.

He pushed the door open. Sugarbelle came running. He shook his head and held up his hand. “No. Go back.”

“Aw, is that your ridiculous little mutt?” Veronika’s sweet tone was as phony as her nails.

Adam spun to face her. She was on the porch behind him, Sydney at her side. Syd looked terrified, but there was a glimmer of defiance in her eyes, too.

That small glimmer gave him hope. Syd would be all right. She might come out of this hating him, but he could live with that so long as she was okay.

He stared at Veronika. “You hurt my dog or my friend and you’ll pay.”

“Is that what she is? Your friend ? So protective of the lesser creatures.” Veronika batted her lashes, head tilted to one side. “I do love that you’re the great and mighty gargoyle now. All threatening and defensive. Where was that attitude when I wanted you to make something of yourself, hmm?”

He refused to take her bait. She was the reason he’d never been able to do anything, and she knew that. “What do you want? Why are you here?”

“No response to my question? No answer for yourself?”

He did not want Veronika in his house, but he also didn’t want to have this conversation on his front porch. “You want to talk, we’ll go inside. But Sydney isn’t part of this. Release her and let her go home.”

Veronika pushed Sydney into the house. “She is very much a part of this, and she’s not going anywhere. Neither are you. Get inside.”

He went in, his hand brushing against Sydney’s. He wished he could tell her everything was going to be all right, but he really had no idea. Veronika was like a woman possessed. He’d never seen her this way.

He turned immediately, keeping his eyes on Veronika. As much as it went against his personal moral code, he might have to hit her. Just enough force to knock her out and get Syd away from her. “Sydney is just my neighbor.”

Veronika shut the door behind her, staying out of Adam’s reach as if anticipating what he might do. “We all know that’s not true.”

“But it is,” Sydney said. “We’re just friends. We’ve only known each other a few days.”

Veronika stalked toward Sydney. “You expect me to believe that when you two just arrived together and you’re dressed like that?

When I saw pictures of you walking his dog by the fountain?

” She pinched a strand of Sydney’s hair near her temple and wound it around her finger, giving it a little tug.

“Very cozy, the two of you, spending so much time together and now all dressed up and out on the town. Very cozy. Especially for neighbors .”

Sugarbelle, who hadn’t gone anywhere, barked.

Veronika whipped around. “Be quiet, you ratty little mongrel.” She stuck her hand out.

Before Adam could act, Sydney lunged, pushing Veronika away and stepping between her and Sugarbelle. “Don’t you dare hurt her.”

Veronika straightened and laughed. “How sweet. The dumb, delicate mortal thinks she can tell me what to do.” She shook her head and approached Sydney again. “You are all looks, aren’t you? Because no creature with a brain would talk to me that way.”

Adam inched closer.

“You think I’m afraid of you?” Sydney glared daggers. “I’m not. I don’t know what or who you think you are, but I’ve dealt with worse than you.”

Veronika grinned, eyes tapering to slits as she wrinkled her nose like a sudden stench had invaded the room.

“I’m your worst nightmare, sweetheart. Adam and I are part of the real world.

The world you humans have no idea even exists.

” She tried to look down her nose at Sydney, even though Syd was a few inches taller.

“Your kind live such sheltered existences.”

“Adam?” Sydney looked at him. “What is she talking about?”

“He’s not going to help you,” Veronika said. “Because if he does, he knows that will only make things worse.”

Adam took a step toward Veronika, but she backtracked, hands up. “Touch me and I will pin you to the ground.”

“Veronika.” He said her name as sweetly as he could, somehow managing not to let the revulsion show on his face. “Why don’t we go out back and talk? It’s a beautiful night, and you can see so many stars.”

She seemed caught off guard for a moment, her face going blank, but she recovered with a shake of her head and a somewhat perturbed look. “Don’t distract me. I need to know the truth of what’s going on between you two.”

When she turned toward Sydney again, he made his move, charging toward her with the intent of taking her down.

But Veronika’s hand shot toward him, the air rippling with magic. “ Conquiesco !”

Adam was pinned in place, unable to move, frozen by the spell she’d cast over him. “Veronika,” he snarled. “Release me, now.”

“I warned you.”

Sydney chewed her lower lip, eyes wide. “What is this? What did you do to him?”

Veronika waved her hand. “Just a harmless little spell, I assure you.”

“A spell?” Sydney’s face screwed up in confusion. “Like a magic spell?”

“Yes,” Veronika said slowly, like she was speaking to a child. “I am a witch, something I apparently need to explain because you don’t seem to be getting that.”

“Look, I know witches are real, but that kind of magic shouldn’t be possible.” Sydney pointed at Adam.

“Oh, but it is.” Veronika hesitated, obviously mulling over a new thought. She clapped her hands together. “This is exciting, isn’t it? All these new things you’re going to get to learn? Tell you what. You answer a few questions for me, and I’ll answer a few for you. How does that sound?”

Sydney shook her head. “I really don’t understand this, but I don’t need to either. Please, just release Adam and let me go home. Whatever you two need to talk about, I promise it has nothing to do with me.”

“Oh, but I believe it has everything to do with you, Sydney .” Veronika’s expression soured, and her fingers twitched like she was eager to cast another spell. “How long have you been sleeping with my fiancé?”

“We are not engaged,” Adam roared. “And Sydney and I are just friends .”

“Silence,” Veronika screamed at Adam, her eyes black with anger and her words filled with power. “ You cannot be trusted.”

“Then why do you want to get back together with him?” Sydney asked. She crossed her arms and arched her brows as if daring Veronika not to answer.

Adam would have laughed at her sass and fearlessness, had his mouth not been sealed shut. He fumed, straining against Veronika’s magic and doing everything he could to test the limits of her power.

Veronika started to speak, then stopped and seemed to change her response. “I will make him loyal to me.”

“Right,” Sydney said with a nod. “That’ll work.

So is magic a permanent thing, or do spells have an expiration date?

How many times will you have to spell him or however you say it?

Once a year? Once a month? Daily? What if the spell wears off before you can”—she wiggled her fingers—“refresh it or whatever? Wouldn’t be easier just to find a man who actually wants to be with you? ”

Veronika seemed dumbstruck by Sydney’s logic, and for a moment, Adam thought Sydney had won in a staggering battle of wits.

But Veronika, who hated to be bested, suddenly narrowed her eyes and directed her ire at Sydney. “You think you’d rather keep him for yourself, is that it? You don’t even know who he really is.” Her lip twitched into a sneer. “But I’m going to take great pleasure in showing you.”