Page 85 of Wicked Enemy

Reaching towards the knife in my thigh holster, I pulled out the blade and drew it across my palm. Shocked gasps rang out from my people again, but I ignored them as I squeezed my hand into a fist. Blood dripped from it.

“I swear by my blood and my power that I am the only person who will walk into that building and that none of my people will be even close to it,” I declared.

Stunned surprise shone on their faces as they stared at me. Swearing a blood oath was a serious act in our world. No one broke a blood oath.

After sheathing my knife again, I met their gazes once more. “So, do you want me to keep killing every battle mage that I can get my hands on until your forces are dangerously depleted, or do we have a deal?”

The three of them exchanged a look. Then they shifted closer together, speaking quietly so that no one could overhear.

My heart pounded in my chest. This had to work. They had to take this deal. It was the only way that I would even stand a chance of winning this war.

From both my left and my right, I could feel my people watching me. Could feel them wanting to say something. To protest. To argue. But thankfully, they all kept their mouths shut. This really was the only way.

At last, the three gang leaders turned to face me again.

Malice gleamed in Connor’s gray eyes as he opened his mouth and called, “We want to hear you say please.”

Fury shot up my spine, and I had to grind my teeth together to keep from saying something completely different. Something that would ruin this deal that I had carefully set up. Flexing my fingers, I worked my jaw for a second.

“Please,” I forced out at last.

Wicked grins spread across their faces, and the mages in their army laughed again. By all hell, I was going to fucking kill them all. Around me, my people stared at me with a mix of horror and heartbreak.

“Good boy,” Connor called as he flashed me a smirk. “We accept the deal.”

It took every ounce of willpower that I possessed to just stand there instead of hurling a shard of metal at him. Clenching and unclenching my hands, I gritted my teeth and instead just watched as the three gang leaders and all of their people withdrew.

Once they had disappeared down the street again, I turned towards my own people. They were all watching me as if they actually cared what happened to me. It made it hard to think, so I blocked out all of my emotions and instead pushed on.

One deal was made, but we weren’t safe yet.

Ralph’s friend had come by this morning to inform us that the white boots would apparently be attacking tomorrow. And Christian White expected his blood payment tomorrow as well.

I swept my gaze over my people.

And then I made a decision.

“Tyler, Shinji, Chris,” I said.

The three of them looked back at me with eyes full of loyalty.

I blew out a long breath, and then finished my sentence.

“Tomorrow, I need the three of you to go to a house.”

Chapter36

Dawn was just breaking over the horizon. Standing by the shore of the River of Souls, I watched the first pale rays of sunlight stretch across the city and gleam in the water before me. Tendrils of mist curled up from the surface, as if the souls of the dead were also stirring now that morning was upon us.

I just kept watching the light playing across the rippling surface and illuminating the wisps of fog for a while, but I needed to leave soon if I was going to make it on time. And I had to make it on time. Not just because I couldn’t afford to be late, again, but also because if I decided to get involved, I needed to do it before the order was given.

Bending down, I picked up a stone from the shore and threw it at the water. It skipped once before sinking into the blue depths. I blew out a sigh and raked both hands through my hair while staring up at the clear sky above.

When had my life gotten this complicated? I used to just go to work and spend my days trying to bring dark mages to justice. And now I had gone and fallen for one of them. And he apparently loved me too.

My heart did a backflip in my chest at just the memory of what Levi had told me in my kitchen two days ago.

It should have made everything so much easier. But it hadn’t. It had just complicated things even more.