Wicked Deal (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 2)

He stood and went to the window, then gestured for me to approach. “Come here.”

I joined him, stopping a few inches away.

“Press your hand to my chest,” he said. “I’m going to release my magical signature, and you’ll feel it. When I draw it back into myself, try to focus on what that feels like. Use it as a guide for yourself.”

More touching? I wasn’t sure I could handle it.

I wasn’t going to jump h

im or anything, but it certainly wasn’t going to help me keep my distance from him.

He looked at me expectantly. There was no way I could say that in front of him, and so I raised my hand and pressed it to his chest, feeling the firmness of his muscles.

He drew in a quiet, unsteady breath.

His magic flared fiercely, and my knees nearly buckled. The firelight and whiskey scent of it swept through the room, followed by the sound of thunder. It was so loud it nearly deafened me, and I stumbled back.

“I’m sorry.” He winced.

“I don’t mind thunder.”

“Thunder?” He looked outside.

The night was clear and bright.

“Your magic. It sounds like thunder.”

“No. It sounds like the screams of the dying.”

My eyes widened. “The screams of the what now?”

“The dying. And it feels like the icy grip of death.”

“No, it feels like a warm…caress.” I could feel it even now, stroking over me. This was one signature of his that I hadn’t felt yet, and I wanted to lean into it. “And it smells like fire and whiskey.”

“That’s impossible. I know what my signature is. Everyone knows what it is.”

I shrugged. “I know what I smell and hear, and it’s not what you’re describing. But if everyone thinks you feel like death, then I can see why you aren’t the most popular guy in town.”

A surprised laugh huffed out of him, and he met my gaze. “My magic really feels like that? Sounds like that?”

I nodded. “I like it.”

“Strange. Signatures shouldn’t be perceived differently by different people. They are what they are.”

We were different. Our bond was different.

But I didn’t say it.

I could see that he knew it—the way the knowledge flickered in his eyes and his jaw clenched.

Neither of us knew what to do with the bits of information we had. It didn’t matter. The Cursed Mates thing had to wait. We had bigger problems, and I needed to practice controlling my signature. I also needed a long, hard nap if I wanted to survive and save Guild City.

“Let’s get back to work,” I said.

He nodded.

I pressed my hand firmly against his chest and focused on his magic. Again, he released it, and this time, I was ready. I still swayed slightly but didn’t jump.