Page 74 of Wicked Magik

My heart was pounding as I took a step back from Benedict. His words sounded so dismissive, as if none of this mattered to him. Yet, he spoke of Veylor as though he was a good guy, and part of me wanted to believe him, even though I knew I shouldn't.

He killed him.

He killed themall.

Veylor killed everyone and now he was trying to just bring everyone back to atone for some sick, fucked up sin.

I stepped back further and I tripped over a rake, my ass landed into a pile of mulch. I gasped when Benedict came closer to me and lent a hand. “Now don’t make such a fuss. He hasn’t killed you now, has he? He could kill you with just a snap of his fingers…” he brought up his hand and snapped his fingers.

My eyes widened. I knew he could kill with his magik, but I had Oryx around and while he was a pretentious asshole I didn’t think he would really do it. But he had Oryx with him now, and he had a history with the male I’ve fallen in love with.

I could be pushed away easily if Veylor twisted his magik around him.

Doubting thoughts twirled in my mind.

“I think I need to go for a walk.” I stood up and shook the scent of the mulch away. Benedict stood beside me and put his hand on my shoulder. “My Lord is generous. I know you haven’t seen his good side, but he does like you.”

I scoffed. “Yes, he’s been most welcoming and his throwing a whole cake in your face just proves how nice he is to you.”

Benedict chuckled and waved his hand. “Oh that? He is sexually frustrated. Two handsome creatures in the house and nowhere to put his…” Benedict pointed to his newly sewn on dick.

I pursed my lips and looked away. “You are positively disgusting.”

“All thanks to you and Lord Veylor,” he purred. “I got some use out of it the last two days. I had to make sure it could handle my minstrations before I used it on someone else.”

My eyebrows furrowed, and I turned my back to him. “For a manager of the house, you are vile.”

“I think it’s part of this brain.” He tapped his head. “The person I acquired this brain from has memories in it. He was quite perverted and horny I’m guessing. He did have a great sense of gardening and the production of ale that has come to use.”

If Oryx was a fae, or another creature before he was in this vessel, that would make sense for him to act more animal than what he was before. Since he had more animal than fae body parts, he would have lost all humanity or fae-anity.

“I am going to take a walk, alone if you don’t mind. I need to process.” I turned away and headed toward the south side of the estate. I hadn’t ventured there and the horses whinny called to me.

Benedict nodded and shoved the hoe deeper into the soil. “Just don’t leave the grounds. Can’t protect you beyond the stone wall. The protection ward doesn’t go that far.”

Of course, the estate would have a ward.

I walked around the mansion, house, whatever you wanted to call it. The back was going to be another big project to take care of and I wouldn’t mind being a part of. It sort of reminded me of the backyard of the funeral home. Big open space and gravestones at every turn. The flowers, vines, and bushes needed to be trimmed, but with a little TLC this place would look stunning, the perfect gothic paradise.

I continued along the path to the stables. The horses whinnied in the back. I picked up my pace to see what these beasts looked like here. Would they be different colors? Bigger? Smaller? Would they be freaking unicorns? All these thoughts raced through my head, trying to keep out the thoughts of Veylor being a mass murderer with a heart trying to bring people back from the dead.

Did not want to bring ethics into that thought. He can do what he wants, that’s between him and the gods he is playing with.

The stable was painted a deep black, with striking crimson red trimmings to perfectly match the grandeur of the mansion—I wouldn’t see anything else.

As I stepped inside, I noticed that some areas of the wooden structure were in need of repair, with patches of raw wood peeking through. Yet, as I walked further in, the flickering glow of candles and torches cast a warm light along the path, illuminating the two majestic horses standing in stalls parallel toeach other. They were gorgeous as the gentle flicker of the flames danced across their glossy coats.

They weren’t anything out of the ordinary. Beautiful black stallions, sharper noses than I would have thought, no horns on their foreheads but they were stunning, beautifully bred beasts. Their hair shined in the light and their eyes glowed as I came toward them.

“Look at you pretty babies,” I cooed and reached my hand out to touch the one on the right. His big nose huffed and came closer to me, rubbing his snout against my face. I laughed and nuzzled him back. “Aww, you want the cuddles don’t you? We can’t let Oryx see I’m cuddling you, though, he might get jealous,” I whispered as I rubbed under his jaw.

Suddenly the door to the front of the bar shut with a slam. I jumped in surprise because it was open and there wasn’t a breeze to be felt earlier. Those doors were large, heavy even.

“Hello?” I stepped away from the horse as both of them trotted nervously in their stalls, they reared their heads and squealed. “Oryx?”

The candles in the barn flickered out, and the few torches remained.

“Oryx, this isn’t funny.” I stepped to the middle of the barn where the hay lay spread around the floor.