I’d never quite felt anything like that before—I’d nearly lost my mind from the pleasure.
He stepped farther into the store, his movements graceful and smooth. The spell was broken. I snapped my mind away from the memory and focused on hi
m.
The interior of Eve’s store was like her—delicate and whimsical—and he stood out like a sore thumb. All raw power and strength. The glittering faerie lights that sparkled near the ceiling veered away from him.
“What can I do for you?” Eve’s voice was flat. She didn't particularly like the Devil of Darkvale. He was Guild City’s version of the mob, and as the owner of a small shop, she was beholden to him for protection from the overly enthusiastic government—the Council of Guilds. Not to mention the Witches’ Guild. They’d have her head for selling magics like theirs if they could.
“I’m here to ask Carrow’s help.” His smile was small but genuine. Unexpected. “I’d like to hire her.”
It was true that I was trying to set up shop as a clairvoyant—or whatever I was, I still wasn’t sure—but I didn’t have a storefront yet. The plan was to get started by helping Eve on the side.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Mac stepped forward, looking like she was ready to throw down. “You are dangerous to her.”
His gaze snapped to Mac. “Macbeth O’Connell…aren’t you the mother hen.”
His eyes glinted, and I raised a hand. “Don’t even think of trying your mind thing on her.”
I’d already warned him off using it on my friends, and I was immune to it, thank God.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” His words were smooth as he turned to me. “As I said, I’d like to hire you.”
I leaned against Eve’s counter and raised a brow. “Oh?”
Mac shot me a glare.
I shrugged. I couldn’t help it—I was interested. Yes, I knew he was dangerous. But damned if I wasn’t a cat who was willing to risk one of her nine lives on him. “I just want to hear him out.”
Mac stifled a groan.
The Devil’s half smile grew the slightest bit, and he was so damned sexy that I hated it. Worry twisted through me.
I had a nice life here. Back in the human world, my home had sucked monkey balls. Clashing with the Devil of Darkvale could get me kicked out of Guild City.
I shouldn’t risk it.
“I have a man I’d like you to read,” he said.
“For what?” Not that I could control what I saw from people.
“Motivation. He was trying to break in through my personal gate.”
My brows rose, as did Eve’s and Mac’s. Guild City was hidden deep within London, a walled town formed in the medieval period—possibly by the immortal Devil of Darkvale himself—to hide the supernaturals in the city. The wall was punctuated by several gates, one the Devil’s own personal access point, an impressive symbol of his power.
The fact that someone might have tried to break in through it…
Interesting.
I frowned. “Where is this person now?”
“Detained.”
“You kidnapped him,” Mac said.
“He was trying to break into my club from the outside.”
I’d been to his base of operations a few times, but only briefly. It was well guarded. “That is an inefficient way to break into Guild City. Are you sure he wasn’t trying to break into your club or your office?”