Encryption of the Heart (Love, Tech, & Magic #1)

Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

“Umpf!”

The air rushed out of Olline’s lungs as the figure slammed her against the wall with their forearm pressed against her throat. Something sharp pricked her bare skin, just under her crop top. The scent of eucalyptus and lavender musk filled her nose.

Olline’s mind spun. Panic threatened to make her scream, if it weren’t for the arm against her throat. It kept her from moving so she could see who had her pinned.

All she could croak out was, “Badge!”

“Badge?” A smoky voice, like satin sheets rustling in the dark, whispered in her ear. “You want my badge? Darling,” the figure said, a chuckle rumbling in their chest that rattled Olline’s ribcage, “ I don’t need a badge.”

“No,” Olline sputtered. “Me. I have . . . a badge.”

The figure—a decidedly very male figure—went still for a moment before abruptly taking a step back. Olline never got a good look at the sharp object he had pressed against her abdomen, but she wasn’t looking for it all that hard once she could see her assailant in full.

He was beautiful .

Which she knew was the wrong thought to have immediately following the encounter, but she couldn’t help it. A breathing work of art had just assaulted her, short-circuiting every synapse in her brain—an otherwise very smart and clever brain, but still. Her magic hadn’t even stirred to warn her about this man’s clearly evil intentions. Just more proof that her magic was completely ineffective in sensing threats and shitty behavior from men.

The entire ordeal had left her too surprised to reach for the natural metals in her piercings and use her magic against the stranger.

She eyed him warily, and rubbed her throat, trying not to get hung up on how tight the shirt and coat pulled against his lean muscles as he crossed his arms over his chest, returning her scrutiny with his own. Olline tried to ignore the perfect line of his nose and definitely did not notice the razor-sharp angle of his jaw. She certainly didn’t make note of his cloud-like curls, or how the silvery tones of those curls perfectly matched the details in his clothes.

He was taller than her by maybe a hair or two at most. He was dressed in black, from his fitted pants to the tailored shirt, and the long coat with its silver detailing. Simple, but refined. It added to the deadly beauty of the man before her.

The pillow that was his lower lip was fuller than his top, accentuating the coyness of his slight smirk into something that sent a shiver down the base of her spine. It was then that Olline realized she still hadn’t spoken. But neither had he, so maybe they were both assessing what the actual fuck was happening?

His eyes trailed over her, languid and penetrating, with just a hint of confusion. That had to be because he was realizing she was a nobody. Or, at least, not a threat.

And those eyes!

His eyes were such a rich mahogany that when the light caught them in full, they shone blood red. No humani, caster or otherwise, had red eyes. The man was clearly a seerani of some kind, like her half-brothers. This felt all the truer as she better observed the linen white quality of his skin and yet he somehow avoided looking sickly. He reminded Olline of a marble statue in twilight; which made no sense and yet fit him perfectly.

He rubbed his chin with his hand, eyes narrowing as he assessed her. She tracked the movement as subtly as she could. For safety, of course. His hands were large, but his fingers moved with grace. He had a painter’s elegance to him that accentuated his devastating beauty, and made the dangerous quality he had unfairly alluring.

He just tried to stab you, stop it!

“Who the fuck are you?” Olline croaked, then winced. Hard to be intimidating now.

The flick of his gaze from her lips to her eyes, as she spoke, had her breath hitching in her chest. He tilted his head, hair shifting to expose long, elegantly pointed ears, as if he heard the hiccup of breath.

His gaze slid from her face to the door she had exited, before slowly gliding down her body again, resting on her hips—where her security badge dangled off a belt loop.

Oh, right. The badge.

She couldn’t quite suppress her shiver as he leaned closer, his fingers brushing the badge to look at it better. “Adorable,” he said, his voice husky in a way that made her feel like she was wearing far less than she actually was.

A tickle in her throat had her coughing again. Focus, Olline, this guy could be a serial killer! Being stunning doesn’t mean they aren’t a murderer!

She swatted his hand away. “Who the fuck are you?” she repeated, doing her best to look threatening. Olline called to her magic, pulling it beneath the surface of her skin, ready to fling it out and grip the natural ores in her earrings and brow piercing and . . . what? Eviscerate him?

Gross. But hadn’t he been about to do that to me? She shook her head, clenching her fist around the magic; she would do what she must.

“Were you working here today? Alone?” he asked instead, jerking his narrow chin at the door next to her.

“Obviously.” She rolled her eyes at him. “You saw me exit when you pinned me to a wall!”

“No need to shout, darling,” he said, glancing around the hall. He hunched his shoulders forward slightly, taking a step closer, as if worried he was somewhere he didn’t belong.

“Oh no? You tried to kill me! I’ll scream if I have to. And use my magic if that doesn’t work,” she said, widening her eyes, so he got a good look at the brilliant emerald color that confirmed her threat. “Now, who are you? And,” she added, deciding that if she was going to make demands, she might as well go all the way, “stop calling me darling. It’s patronizing.”

He took a step back, sucking in a breath. He, unsuccessfully, tried to hide his confusion by looking at his nails, pretending to be bored by the question. Yet she caught how his eyes twitched from her eyes, to her badge, and back to the door again, like he was trying to figure something out. After a mere breath of a moment, he tilted his head again, appraising her once more. He clenched his jaw, the lines of his face hardening in determination.

“My apologies. You can never be too careful this time of night, no matter where you are.” The expression he wore was cool and considering. His easy, casual smile was as disarming as before, but when he licked his lower lip, Olline’s stomach gave a little flip. It really was unfair how gorgeous he was.

“The name is Casimir Everhart and, never fear, I’m not some scoundrel lurking about. Security is too tight for that, now isn’t it?” Olline narrowed her eyes, and this time Casimir cleared his throat. “I work for Etzel Straub, in a manner of speaking.”

Straub . . . that name sounded familiar. Hadn’t Karter mentioned an Under Senator with that last name? It felt so long ago now she couldn’t be sure. She continued to glare at him, her magic bubbling like magma in her veins.

He sighed, shifted his stance, exasperated, and rolled those dark red eyes at her. “Under Senator Etzel Straub? He’s rather famous in Antal, you know. Etzel is the only one who’s held his seat for nearly two centuries. It’s quite impressive.” Casimir said as if reciting from a script.

Olline’s eyes narrowed slightly. Casimir grinned and added quickly, “If we’re actually exchanging pleasantries, this is the part where you’d offer your name, and some explanation why you’re in the evidence archives so late when there’s an entire city teeming with life waiting for you. It couldn’t be,” he said conspiratorial in a way that made it seem like they were old acquaintances, “that you’re so green to Antal that you know nothing of the city and how it functions.”

She noted that none of what he said was a question.

His gaze stayed fixed on her, giving her his full attention, waiting for confirmation. Desperate for it, even. Olline tried to hide the tremble in her legs when his eyes became half lidded, as if they were out enjoying said night life somewhere and not in the middle of a quiet hallway.

An empty hallway.

Olline cleared her throat again. “I was working. First day. I lost track of the time transferring files.” His eyes fluttered, and there was a tick along his jaw when she mentioned “files”. She quickly glanced at the door to make sure it was securely closed. “I’m Olline Tavos. Freelance data analyst and program engineer. Now that those pleasantries are out of the way, I should be going.”

Casimir hesitated, his body going stone still. Just as quickly, his shoulders relaxed and his easy, coy smirk returned in force. “I knew it. Allow me to show you around the city. Please, ” he said, his words rushed, holding the hint of desperation.

It was the “please” that had Olline tensing. It came out heavy, almost like a plea. An entreaty now hidden as he continued, his tone more casual, “It’s the least I can do for, well, pinning you against a wall. At least without your consent.”

Olline’s throat went dry at his words. Was he honestly flirting with her? Now? After what he did? And was it honestly working on her?

Get over yourself, Olline. He’s just apologizing for trying to kill you. Or something . . .

“Um, I’m good. Thanks. I’m just going to go home now.” Sliding away from him, she forced herself to walk calmly back toward the elevators, keeping her magic close to the surface. A second later, she heard his steady footfalls behind her. “Stop following me,” she snapped at him.

“Darling,”—she glared at him—“Olline. These are the only elevators that lead to the entrance. Please, I think we’ve already established that if I truly wanted to harm you, I could and would have. And you would use your pretty magic to deflect me, and things would get very messy. But I don’t want to hurt you.” His voice was steady, and Olline almost believed him.

Almost.

“It was an error on my part. You surprised me, is all. Still, I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. But I’ve already apologized, so I don’t know what else you want me to do. Unless you let me take you out.”

Again, there was that soft plea to his offer.

She narrowed her eyes at him, wishing the elevator would hurry. He chuckled, raising his palms in a placating gesture. “Out on the town. Or out to dinner. Your choice. I promise you, it’s nothing nefarious.” He paused, his smile softening. “Unless you want that.”

“I’m good, really,” Olline answered, scurrying into the elevator as soon as the doors opened so he wouldn’t see her cheeks flaming. Casimir stalked in behind her, a predator out for a casual stroll. He shoved his into his pockets as he leaned against the mirrored wall.

The elevator doors closed, and they began moving. Olline did her best to stare straight ahead and not let her gaze slip to the man in the corner. But he didn’t give her much choice. “You are new to Antal though, aren’t you, Olline?”

“Yes, you already guessed that. So what?” she replied tersely.

“Just confirming an observation.” Casimir said no more, and Olline glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He didn’t seem to notice her looking at him. His expression remained thoughtful, his silvered brows pulled slightly together in thought, his eyes downcast in a way that seemed so natural that it looked like he was permanently sad.

Which made no sense. Olline would not humanize a man who thought pinning people to the wall was a natural response to being startled.

Nope, she refused.

The elevator slowed and the change in inertia had Casimir looking up, his expression clearing back to that arrogant look he wore so well. “Well, Olline Tavos, I do so hope to see you around.” He exited the elevator first, as it took Olline a moment to remember how to move. She had been too unbalanced by the subtle change in his appearance when he didn’t think anyone was looking.

Casimir’s words lingered in Olline’s mind long after she made it back to her apartment. She was unsure why someone who worked for an Under Senator would be in the sub-basements so late at night. Was he a personal assistant? But what personal assistant acted like that? Everything about him had her curious, which made her restless as she tossed and turned in bed hours later.

If there was one thing Olline was powerless to fight against, it was when her curiosity tickled her magic.

And she did love a challenge.