“Done.” He spoke the words so quickly that it surprised me.
“Good.” Mac appeared pleased.
The Devil looked at me. “I will train you.”
A shiver of heat ran through me, an icy-hot sensation that made my nerve endings light up. The idea of being trained by the Devil of Darkvale made my heartrate skyrocket.
I nodded. “Good. And I’ll help you with the guy who broke in through your gate.”
“It’s a deal.”
A wicked deal.
“Let’s get it over with, then.” I looked at Mac. “I’ll see you at home.”
She nodded, then glared at the Devil. “You be careful. I’m watching you.”
“Of course.”
I hugged Mac quickly. “Thanks again for coming to get me.”
“Yeah. ’Course.”
I said goodbye and followed the Devil through the streets, every cell of me aware of him. We were at odds, yet somehow, that made the attraction more intense.
“You really don’t know why this guy tried to break into your club?” I asked.
“No idea.”
“And he’s waiting there for us.”
“Yes. Waiting.”
His tone on the last word was weird. “Oh crap, he’s dead, isn’t he? That’s why you can’t question him, and you need me.”
He shot me a look that I could almost describe as apologetic. “He died upon passing through the gate. It’s a spell that takes out anyone who uses it that shouldn’t.”
“That’s terrible!”
“He was warned. You can feel the magic as you pass though.”
“He must have been desperate.”
“He had a charm breaker on him that he thought would work. He was too cocky. He entered my club for a reason, and I want to know what it is.”
“Fine. I’ll touch the body.” I shivered at the idea of it. I disliked touching dead things, full stop, but there was something deeper and darker at work here. I could feel it. “I’ll help you with this, and then you’ll help me practice my magic. I’m going to get good, and I’m going to do it quickly.”
“I believe it.”
We’d arrived at the tall stone tower that contained his club. The façade was dark and intimidating, and I knew the interior to be no better. It suited him perfectly.
The two shifter bouncers inclined their heads and opened the doors.
I nodded at them, then muttered. “They’re much better than Penelope and Garreth.”
“My guards will never lock you up.”
“Hmm. Not sure if I believe that.”