Chapter 4
Luke had been on the receiving end of plenty of death threats. Pissing people off tended to bring the worst out in them—and being gay in a world that occasionally forgot how natural that was didn’t lead to the most peaceful of lives either.
The sudden murderous intent in the mage’s brown eyes and flare of harmful desire radiating from his psyche was an artic blast on an otherwise lovely flirtatious dance.
If Luke couldn’t get the tiara, he’d been hoping to convince the mage to help him out.
He’d rolled dice on worse odds before. But the thin rope bridge of trust he’d begun constructing between them collapsed when the red lights came on.
The mage tightened his grip on Luke’s collar once more and ground his knee downward.
The man didn’t need magic to break Luke in half—he was muscular, broad-shouldered, and had thick thighs.
He could probably bench-press twice Luke’s weight without breaking a sweat.
He was white, almost pasty, which made Luke think he didn’t get out much, and he had the sort of scruffy beard that usually signaled a single guy who wasn’t hung up on his physical appearance.
Or he doesn’t own a mirror. Some mages don’t.
Luke had been delighted that the mage was only wearing a pair of older, low-slung sweatpants, but now that meant all of his impressive muscle was intimidating.
He was a living, breathing threat in multiple ways.
“I have nothing to do with that!” Luke pointed at the red light. I’ve still got one knife, though I doubt I can grab it before he sets me on fire. “I’m not working with anyone.”
“You expect me to believe that?” the mage said gruffly.
“I can see why you wouldn’t,” Luke replied. “After all, I’m a thief. But I’m not a liar.”
The mage only glared more.
Shouldn’t be so freaking hot when he does that.
Luke stilled his body and softened his tone.
“I took a job from a broker who said that something about the client seemed off. I’m not in a position to turn down work, so I took the job anyway.
But I modified the plan that was given to me and got a lot farther than most would have.
Maybe the client meant for you to catch whoever took the job so a second team could hit.
Which means you are wasting time on me when the real threat is looting some other place in your tower. ”
“I know where they are,” the mage growled.
“Great. Go get ’em.”
“Leaving you free to rob this gallery while I do?” The mage extended his right hand, and the golden ball began to roll toward him.
“Wait, wait! You don’t have to tie me up!” Luke attempted to wriggle free, but the mage had a good hold on him. “You want assurances? I can give you those.”
“You’ve broken into my home—”
Gambling had gotten Luke into his situation, and yet he couldn’t help rolling the dice. “My name is Luke Gauthier, and I swear on the blood in my veins that I do not intend you or any you love harm.”
Vows were a tricky thing. With a regular human, Luke could break them without any backlash, but he could feel magic snap into place as he uttered his promise to the mage.
He wasn’t sure what the consequences of going back on his word with the mage would be, and he had no intention of finding out.
If he’s this powerful, maybe he can get me out of trouble with the fey.
The mage’s eyes widened just a fraction.
Mages could curse someone if they knew exactly how to say someone’s name—and the stronger the mage, the greater the distance they could manage such magic.
Luke was certain this particular mage could accomplish the feat from across the globe. “A freely given vow and a name.”
“You’re not going to get better assurances. Now, let me up,” Luke replied.
“Why side with me?”
“Do you really want to waste time interrogating me, or do you want to see if whoever else broke into your tower is still here?”
The mage narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip.
His heart had picked up tempo; a vein in his neck thrummed ever so slightly.
Though he had a steel trap of a mind, an overflow of want trickled out.
He wanted to extend trust. But he had an icy fear underneath, one that quickly outweighed his desire.
Gently, Luke put his hands on top of the mage’s.
He’d never made a reflex out of using his vampiric abilities like some did.
Influencing others that way just felt icky.
The right smile took him plenty far, and he gave the mage the ghost of one now.
Too much will push him away. I need him to like me.
“You’ll have all the time in the world to pin me down and ask me anything you want after we check out what’s happening. I promise.”
“If I even think you’re going to stab me in the back—”
“You’ll light me on fire?” Luke finished.
The mage snorted. “You’ll wish that’s what I do.”
But he released Luke, grabbed his staff, and headed for the door he’d come through.
Nearly all of Luke’s equipment was scattered off to the side where the mage had tossed it during his pat down. When Luke started to reach for his blades, the mage flicked his wrist and sent them clattering across the floor with a spell. “You know this means you have to do all the fighting.”
“I’m fine with that,” the mage replied.
“I bet you are,” Luke muttered under his breath. He sprang to his feet and followed the mage out of the room.