trying to determine if we deserve to unlock its secrets—”
“Or are weak enough to be seduced by them.”
Nyssa looked at Artan as if he had slapped her. The passion in her voice had disturbed him, recalling on some level his brother’s fervor toward the dark arts. Was she a spellcaster?
“For someone who hunts warlocks, you seem a little too enamored of magic,”Artan pointed out.
“Magic can be a force of evil or a force of good,” Nyssa said, a defensive note in her voice. “Isn’t the sword strapped around your back a perfect example of that duality?”
“Steel can’t be corrupted. Men can.”
“Maybe that’s why women should be the ones casting the spells,” Nyssa said, and he had the sense she was only half joking.
Touche.
Artan smiled and decided it would be wise to change the subject. They’d have to find a way to make this new alliance work. Better not to butt heads right out of the gate.
“What do you make of the message scrawled on the floor? What was Rhianna trying to tell us?”
“It has to be related to whatever vision she experienced when she touched the book. I believe she was trying to let us know us where Necron might be headed next.”
“Sounds like it’s our turn to solve a riddle.”
A cocky grin cracked Nyssa’s face. “The good news is that this group,” she pointed at the eager intelligence analysts gathered around the bank of monitors in the truck, “are among the best puzzle solvers on the planet.”
Artan saw two of the techs blush at the comment and knew that every pimple-faced, hoodie-wearing, caffeine–chugging male computer analyst in this bus had a crush on her. And who could blame them? Nyssa was impressive in more ways than one. Even he couldn’t deny feeling a certain level of attraction for her, but it was fleeting. His heart belonged to Rhianna. He would do anything to get her back from Necron. She would be safe as long as the wizard needed her, but what would happen to her once Necron got what he was he looking for?
One thing was for certain: Time was running out.
All Artan could do was pray they’d find the third grimoire before Necron did.
C HAPTER E LEVEN
RHIANNA INHALED A pleasantly musky scent and gazed up at the man carrying her in his muscular arms. Artan smiled back at her with a twinkle in his eyes, his long hair perfectly framing his square face. She smiled as she realized her lover was whisking her into their waiting bedroom. Way too much time had passed since they last made love.As Artan gently lowered her onto the bed, Rhianna shivered in anticipation. She was ready for his touch. Nevertheless, she couldn’t fully relax. A strange sense of foreboding, an irrational feeling that something wasn’t quite right, kept tugging at her awareness. Why couldn’t she let go and be in the moment?
Artan’s strong body leaned into her, and Rhianna pushed all her misgivings aside. Why ruin a perfect moment with silly thoughts? She needed this. For a moment there was only the sensation of his lips, the feeling of stubble brushing against her cheeks, the promise of what was to come. She closed her eyes and surrendered herself to the experience.
When she opened them again, her body stiffened in shock. There was someone else in the room.
The mage in the black suit was lurking at the foot of the bed. His reptilian gaze was chilling in its intensity, a predator ready to strike.
Seeing the sinister figure broke the power of the moment, and the memories of the magical attack at the museum flooded her mind. She recalled the mage touching her shoulder, the world turning black….
Rhianna shifted her gaze toward Artan, hoping he might offer an explanation. She recoiled in animal terror as a monstrous mask peered back her. Her lover was gone, replaced by the gargoyle. She scrambled away from the salivating beast, arms and legs flailing madly. In the process, she slipped off the mattress and fell onto a rough-hewn stone floor. Before
“Or are weak enough to be seduced by them.”
Nyssa looked at Artan as if he had slapped her. The passion in her voice had disturbed him, recalling on some level his brother’s fervor toward the dark arts. Was she a spellcaster?
“For someone who hunts warlocks, you seem a little too enamored of magic,”Artan pointed out.
“Magic can be a force of evil or a force of good,” Nyssa said, a defensive note in her voice. “Isn’t the sword strapped around your back a perfect example of that duality?”
“Steel can’t be corrupted. Men can.”
“Maybe that’s why women should be the ones casting the spells,” Nyssa said, and he had the sense she was only half joking.
Touche.
Artan smiled and decided it would be wise to change the subject. They’d have to find a way to make this new alliance work. Better not to butt heads right out of the gate.
“What do you make of the message scrawled on the floor? What was Rhianna trying to tell us?”
“It has to be related to whatever vision she experienced when she touched the book. I believe she was trying to let us know us where Necron might be headed next.”
“Sounds like it’s our turn to solve a riddle.”
A cocky grin cracked Nyssa’s face. “The good news is that this group,” she pointed at the eager intelligence analysts gathered around the bank of monitors in the truck, “are among the best puzzle solvers on the planet.”
Artan saw two of the techs blush at the comment and knew that every pimple-faced, hoodie-wearing, caffeine–chugging male computer analyst in this bus had a crush on her. And who could blame them? Nyssa was impressive in more ways than one. Even he couldn’t deny feeling a certain level of attraction for her, but it was fleeting. His heart belonged to Rhianna. He would do anything to get her back from Necron. She would be safe as long as the wizard needed her, but what would happen to her once Necron got what he was he looking for?
One thing was for certain: Time was running out.
All Artan could do was pray they’d find the third grimoire before Necron did.
C HAPTER E LEVEN
RHIANNA INHALED A pleasantly musky scent and gazed up at the man carrying her in his muscular arms. Artan smiled back at her with a twinkle in his eyes, his long hair perfectly framing his square face. She smiled as she realized her lover was whisking her into their waiting bedroom. Way too much time had passed since they last made love.As Artan gently lowered her onto the bed, Rhianna shivered in anticipation. She was ready for his touch. Nevertheless, she couldn’t fully relax. A strange sense of foreboding, an irrational feeling that something wasn’t quite right, kept tugging at her awareness. Why couldn’t she let go and be in the moment?
Artan’s strong body leaned into her, and Rhianna pushed all her misgivings aside. Why ruin a perfect moment with silly thoughts? She needed this. For a moment there was only the sensation of his lips, the feeling of stubble brushing against her cheeks, the promise of what was to come. She closed her eyes and surrendered herself to the experience.
When she opened them again, her body stiffened in shock. There was someone else in the room.
The mage in the black suit was lurking at the foot of the bed. His reptilian gaze was chilling in its intensity, a predator ready to strike.
Seeing the sinister figure broke the power of the moment, and the memories of the magical attack at the museum flooded her mind. She recalled the mage touching her shoulder, the world turning black….
Rhianna shifted her gaze toward Artan, hoping he might offer an explanation. She recoiled in animal terror as a monstrous mask peered back her. Her lover was gone, replaced by the gargoyle. She scrambled away from the salivating beast, arms and legs flailing madly. In the process, she slipped off the mattress and fell onto a rough-hewn stone floor. Before
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