“Can you tell me where she is?” she asks.
“Yes.”
“Well?” She sits forward, the sunflower on her right shoulder dipping toward me.
With my index finger, I tap on the card, which gives me the witch’s location.
“Will finding her this evening give you peace?”
Her eyes meet mine. “Nothing will give me peace. But finding her will give me closure.”
Honest. “Perhaps you should visit the rooftop. I understand there are conversation pits. In one, you shall find your witch. But tread lightly. A witch who has feasted on souls is potent.”
She pushes to her feet and, with her hands, bunches the long tulle at the bottom of her dress.
“Thank you”—she inhales—“for your help.”
I sit back in the chair and tip my chin toward the door, dismissing her.
As she leaves, the dark wizard waiting for me comes into sight.
His aura is nothing like the girl’s.
He carries with him the scent of darkness.
His stormy gray gaze slides around the cube before locking onto mine, causing the air to escape my lungs. Without giving too much away, I study his features, trying to discern his ethnicity. I can’t. His hair is short, longer on the top with sexy messy waves. By the looks of all of his neck and knuckle tattoos, I am guessing that his upper body is probably covered in ink.
He lifts a thumb, rubbing it over his plump bottom lip. As he does, I eye the masculine rings on his index and pinky fingers as well as a few metal bracelets adorning his wrists. The wizard is wearing all black: tailored leather pants, expensive boots, and a slim shirt open at the top with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, hinting at more of the beautiful ink decorating his tan skin.
And his face—it’s full of all things dark and forbidden.
He’s almost too much to look at.
Too breathtaking and ominous.
I’m overwhelmed in his presence. Dragneel Estaban, the infamous fire and ice wizard.
The wizard who embodies darkness.
The wizard who lies, cheats, and steals to get whatever it is that he wants.
Dragneel has a dark and sinister presence around him—he’s charming but cunning. And yet, I can’t stop staring at him. Knowing this, he curls his upper lip, his jaw tight. I wish I weren’t so awed by him. I hadn’t expected to forget myself in his presence or to be so overcome by his appearance—even though he is the very reason I’m here at the Ball. He stands, pushing to his full height. He’s tall. So very tall. Ignoring the line outside, he casually strolls in without a care.
Clearing my throat, I uncross and cross my legs, needing something to do.
He watches the movement with a dark fascination.
I drop my gaze to the cards on the table and remember my purpose.
“Ahnyeonghaseyo,” he greets in Korean, slightly nodding his head as he steps into the cube.
The door closes and disappears behind him, leaving a wall of glowing pink light.
The bubble-gum color gives us privacy from prying eyes and curious ears.
I sit back on the couch and meet his painfully beautiful eyes.
“I speak English,” I state.
Keeping his eyes on me, he steps closer. “I’m Dragn—”
“I know who you are,” I cut him off.
“Then you know why I am here,” he counters, seemingly amused at our banter.
“For a reading?” I ask, keeping my expression impassive. I know he’s not.
Dragneel cocks his head to the side and smirks. “No. Thank you. I already know my fate.”
“Do you?” I challenge, holding his eyes.
His eyes search mine. “I’m here seeking eternal magic.”
“Eternal magic?” I repeat, keeping my tone even.
“I understand you’re one of the mages who protect it.”
“Maybe.” I sigh and tilt my head. “Then again, maybe not.”
He takes a seat next to me on the couch, and all of my senses wake up. It’s like he’s flipped a switch inside of me, and I am no longer in control of my own body or feelings.
I stare at Dragneel, curious as to my own reaction to him. Has he enthralled me? No. There is no magical energy coming from him. Interesting. It’s at this moment I envy the fuck out of him. He’s cool. Controlled. Giving nothing away as he dominates me and all of the energy in the room. I strive to be the way he is.
“Give me the dagger that contains eternal magic, Katya,” he orders.
“Does everyone always do what you want them to, Dragneel?”
The way his intense eyes hold mine after I say his name leaves me breathless and flushed.
“Most,” his tone is unabashed.
It’s cute how he thinks I will bend to his will that easily. I must have been out of my damn mind for agreeing to be an eternal magic guardian. Dragneel is no different than all of the other wizards and witches who seek me out for it. He’s just darker around the edges than they are.
Then again, nice beings usually bore the shit out of me.
“How nice for you.”
“Nice isn’t a word most use with me.” He sits back. “Never mistake me for anything other than what I truly am: darkness. A ruthless thief. A liar. Someone who will stab you in the back.”
Even seated, he’s intimidating as he exudes strength and control.
Weak mages and wizards don’t survive this kind of life for long.
You can either kill or be killed.
“So then, when you find the dagger, will you stab me in the back with it?” I ask.
“That depends on how quickly you hand it over.”
Holding his eyes, I lift my hand, and my cards disappear before I wiggle my empty fingers in front of him, taunting him with their disappearance. He narrows his hostile eyes at me. I like him.
“How about I make you a deal?” I tempt.
“I don’t negotiate with card mages,” he’s quick to say.
“Why not?”
“I find them . . . untrustworthy.”
I laugh at the irony of his statement. He finds me treacherous. “Tell you what, dark wizard, the weapon is hidden in one of my card dimensions. You have until the ball ends to find it. If you do, and the dagger chooses to be released, you may have it,” I explain. “No strings attached.”
“And if I don’t?” He won’t. It’s an impossible task.
“Then it remains hidden in the card, in the pocket dimension. Under my guardianship.”
He continues to watch me, his expression unreadable.
I get the feeling Dragneel isn’t used to anyone making him work for things he wants.
My impression is that everything is handed to him on a silver platter.
“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t make deals with beings I don’t trust.”
I stand, adjusting my dress, making a point to show him it barely covers my ass. “Eternal magic is not a game of trust. What I’m offering you, I never extend. If you want that big commission you’ll acquire from selling the dagger on the black market, you’ll have to earn it.”
“What you’re offering me is a childish game of hide-and-seek.”
True. “We’re at a ball. Who says business transactions can’t be fun while profitable?”
“It’s not fun when it’s a one-sided game, Katya.”