Wicked Deal (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 2)

I heard a few annoyed huffs behind me, but my thoughts were already on Carrow. She’d spent at least ten minutes in the dank cells. I didn’t want her to spend a second longer down there.

Penelope, the shifter guard, followed me as I moved quickly toward the stairs and into the dungeons. This place was archaic, but it did have its uses.

Imprisoning Carrow should not be one of them.

I caught sight of her standing at the bars of her cell, her golden hair gleaming in the dim light. I blinked, unable to believe how beautiful she looked—how bright and luminous. She’d brought my senses back to life, according to the Oracle, and I wanted to know more. I’d long ago heard the prophecy that someone would thaw me, and it seemed that was true.

“You did this.” She glared at me, spitting fire with her eyes.

A raccoon sat at her side, glaring at me.

“I did not.” I clenched my fists, wanting to tear the bars off their hinges and slam them into Ubhan’s smug face. How dare he do this to her?

“Unlock the cell.” My voice gritted with anger, and Penelope hurried to comply.

Carrow looked from the guard to me, confusion on her face. I caught the briefest whiff of her lavender magic and the scent of her skin—something undefinable that made me want to bury my face in her neck and—

I wanted to bite her.

No.

I would not think of that. Not here, no matter how tempting the idea. Now that I’d had a taste of her—my first in centuries directly from another person—I wanted more.

The heavy metal lock snicked as Penelope turned the key. The door swung open, and Carrow and the raccoon darted out. She was close enough to touch, and I almost reached for her.

But no.

I’d done terrible things in my life. I didn’t deserve to touch her. Nor did I have permission. Again, I clenched my fists.

“You orchestrated this somehow,” she said. “Got me locked up because I wouldn’t help you, and now you’re conveniently here to rescue me. That is right up your alley.”

I opened my mouth to deny it, but… “You’re right. It’s something I’m capable of.” The fact that I’d manipulated and threatened the entire Council to get her out of here proved that my morals were nonexistent. “But in this case, I did not. It is coincidence.”

She scoffed and crossed her arms.

Penelope shifted uncomfortably, and I cut her a quick look. “You may go.”

The guard scurried away, almost running up the stairs.

“It’s true,” I said. “This is coincidence. Think of Ubhan. Do you truly think he doesn’t want you here, locked up for his own reasons? He wants to force you to use your magic to help him.”

“Why not hire me?” There was the slightest trace of doubt in her voice. “I’m starting a business selling my services.”

“He could. Unless he wants you to read something. Unless he’s worried you will reveal terrible information about him or his allies. Not to mention your power.”

Her eyes flickered.

“The spell that would assign you to a guild couldn’t work on you. Your magic is too strong, too strange.”

Her jaw tightened. “You’re here now. Why?”

“Because I’m fond of you.” Fond was such a weak word. It felt awkward on my tongue, but I didn’t know what else to say that wouldn’t scare the hell out of her.

“Fond? That’s a ridiculous word.”

We agreed on something, it seemed. “You’re right. Frankly, I don’t know how I feel about you. But I do want you.” I could be honest about that. I had to be honest about that. I wanted her more than I wanted her blood, more than I wanted anything.

“You want my magic.”