walkie talkie, informing the other two bouncers there was a change in plans. “We’ll spread the word. Any official line you want us to use?”
“Say there’s a plumbing problem.” Kane glanced at me. “Do you want to wait out here?”
“Hell no.” What was he thinking? “The illusionist could show back up at any moment. The people in there are in danger.”
“I know. But I also know how that energy affects you. I just wanted to make sure you were all right.” He squeezed my hand. “Come on. Let’s go kick some evil ass.”
Chapter 11
The moment we stepped back into the club, my head started to buzz with that internal warning. “She’s back.”
“Where?” Kane took a step, half-blocking me from the crowd.
I cast him an irritated look. “I’m not sure, but I feel her. And so do they.” I waved toward the crowd once again pressed up against the stage, staring up at nothing. “She’s compelled them, and they’re waiting for her.”
“We have to do something.” Kane’s fists curled as he paced in front of me. His left hand reached for his dagger, finding his belt empty. “Dammit,” he mumbled, yanking his hand back down.
He was clearly missing the magic he’d become accustomed to.
“Call Lucien,” I said. “Tell him to get Rosalee and meet me here ASAP.” I was about to have some sort of magical showdown and I needed backup.
Kane whipped out his phone while I took a step forward, magic already crawling up my wrists. I had to get the crowd to leave, but I couldn’t spell them all into submission…or could I? I didn’t have enough power to compel them all to do anything. But I could give them a suggestion.
My limbs felt like lead as I forced myself across the room toward the crowd. The obsessive adoration for the dancer streaming from them was so intense, it chipped away at my imaginary glass barrier. My stomach rolled and my head started to pound as if I’d been poisoned.
But I pushed through. If she’d spelled them all by herself, she was extremely powerful, and who knew what she’d do to them? The closer I got, the harder it was to control my magic. It turned unwieldy, trying to spark and sputter, searching for something to connect to.
I paused and reached for the source of my magic just below my heart. Focusing, I pulled on the threads, reeling my magic back until it pulsed just beneath my skin. Confidence replaced the out-of-control feeling, and I glided over to the crowd. I raised my gaze, pretending I was one of them as I searched for the dancer. And then, ever so casually, I brushed my magic-tinged fingertips over an arm, leaving just a suggestion.
Go home. Relax.
The woman took a step back and frowned before she backed up toward the door.
Good. My magic was working. I worked my way along the crowd, brushing just enough suggestive magic over hands, arms, and backs. One by one, slowly but surely, people tore themselves from the crowd and migrated toward the exit.
As the crowd thinned, my limbs became lighter and wielding suggestive magic became second nature once more. My headache vanished as my stomach settled. I moved quicker through the crowd, skimming and brushing, barely touching.
But then a hand wrapped around my wrist. Red-hot anger crawled up my arm, boiling the magic that pulsed there. My knees buckled as I let out a cry of anguish. “Release me!” I demanded in vain.
“Drop the magic, witch,” the dancer ordered.
“Let the people go,” I countered, sending a bolt of power back at her. The magic burned and sizzled as it collided with hers. But as soon as my magic engulfed hers, she pulled her hand back and hissed.
“You’ll pay for that, witch.”
“Call me witch one more time and I’ll magically gag you.” It was a lie. That wasn’t something I could do off the top of my head. With a spell or potion, maybe, but I couldn’t just will it to happen like I did other bits of magic.
“Go ahead and try it.” She reached a hand out, and tendrils
“Say there’s a plumbing problem.” Kane glanced at me. “Do you want to wait out here?”
“Hell no.” What was he thinking? “The illusionist could show back up at any moment. The people in there are in danger.”
“I know. But I also know how that energy affects you. I just wanted to make sure you were all right.” He squeezed my hand. “Come on. Let’s go kick some evil ass.”
Chapter 11
The moment we stepped back into the club, my head started to buzz with that internal warning. “She’s back.”
“Where?” Kane took a step, half-blocking me from the crowd.
I cast him an irritated look. “I’m not sure, but I feel her. And so do they.” I waved toward the crowd once again pressed up against the stage, staring up at nothing. “She’s compelled them, and they’re waiting for her.”
“We have to do something.” Kane’s fists curled as he paced in front of me. His left hand reached for his dagger, finding his belt empty. “Dammit,” he mumbled, yanking his hand back down.
He was clearly missing the magic he’d become accustomed to.
“Call Lucien,” I said. “Tell him to get Rosalee and meet me here ASAP.” I was about to have some sort of magical showdown and I needed backup.
Kane whipped out his phone while I took a step forward, magic already crawling up my wrists. I had to get the crowd to leave, but I couldn’t spell them all into submission…or could I? I didn’t have enough power to compel them all to do anything. But I could give them a suggestion.
My limbs felt like lead as I forced myself across the room toward the crowd. The obsessive adoration for the dancer streaming from them was so intense, it chipped away at my imaginary glass barrier. My stomach rolled and my head started to pound as if I’d been poisoned.
But I pushed through. If she’d spelled them all by herself, she was extremely powerful, and who knew what she’d do to them? The closer I got, the harder it was to control my magic. It turned unwieldy, trying to spark and sputter, searching for something to connect to.
I paused and reached for the source of my magic just below my heart. Focusing, I pulled on the threads, reeling my magic back until it pulsed just beneath my skin. Confidence replaced the out-of-control feeling, and I glided over to the crowd. I raised my gaze, pretending I was one of them as I searched for the dancer. And then, ever so casually, I brushed my magic-tinged fingertips over an arm, leaving just a suggestion.
Go home. Relax.
The woman took a step back and frowned before she backed up toward the door.
Good. My magic was working. I worked my way along the crowd, brushing just enough suggestive magic over hands, arms, and backs. One by one, slowly but surely, people tore themselves from the crowd and migrated toward the exit.
As the crowd thinned, my limbs became lighter and wielding suggestive magic became second nature once more. My headache vanished as my stomach settled. I moved quicker through the crowd, skimming and brushing, barely touching.
But then a hand wrapped around my wrist. Red-hot anger crawled up my arm, boiling the magic that pulsed there. My knees buckled as I let out a cry of anguish. “Release me!” I demanded in vain.
“Drop the magic, witch,” the dancer ordered.
“Let the people go,” I countered, sending a bolt of power back at her. The magic burned and sizzled as it collided with hers. But as soon as my magic engulfed hers, she pulled her hand back and hissed.
“You’ll pay for that, witch.”
“Call me witch one more time and I’ll magically gag you.” It was a lie. That wasn’t something I could do off the top of my head. With a spell or potion, maybe, but I couldn’t just will it to happen like I did other bits of magic.
“Go ahead and try it.” She reached a hand out, and tendrils
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