Spell Bound - Kelley Armstrong [66]
They both laughed. I thought back to my escape. Who’d tied me up? Severin. Who’d locked the door? Severin. Who’d stopped for gas and not bothered to check on me? Severin.
“They didn’t set me free,” I said. “You did.”
“Yes, we let you go. This is just a little session to negotiate our reward. Well, not really negotiate. Demand, actually. Either you pay up . . .” She lifted her fingers. They frosted over. “Everyone says it’s a party-trick power. What’s it good for, other than chilling beer cans fast? Thing is, they lack imagination. There’s a lot of things you can do with ice. Nasty things. Painful things.”
“What do you want?”
“To join your team. Help you.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. They waited patiently until I was done.
“Seriously?” I said. “If this is Giles’s backup idea for planting a spy in the enemy ranks, then he really isn’t very good at the underhanded stuff. So, what’s your story? Let me guess. You’ve been having doubts. Wondering if exposure is really such a good idea. Now you’ve met me and you’ve seen the light. You want to switch sides.”
“We don’t have doubts,” Sierra said.
“Ever,” Severin added.
“What we do have is ambition. You’re about to be made a very generous offer, Savannah. One that will put you in a position”— Sierra’s lips pursed—“a position we don’t think you’re ready to undertake. Not alone, anyway. You need help. Our help.”
“So you’re threatening me with torture because you want to team up with me?” I sighed. “Okay, look, obviously you guys skipped preschool and missed out on all the lessons about making friends. Let me give you a few pointers—”
Sierra laid a finger on my arm. A shot of icy agony had me howling in shock and pain. “You have no idea what we’re bringing to the table, little girl,” she said. “No fucking idea.”
“Okay.” I struggled to keep my voice calm. “Why don’t you tell me?”
She eased back and peered at me, jaw set in a way that said she didn’t think I deserved a response. Not yet.
She touched my arm again, in the same spot. Pain shot through it, and I choked on a scream. When she withdrew her finger, she’d left a patch of white skin.
“Ice is a nasty thing,” she said. “Much worse than fire if you do it right. Localized freezing. That’s the key.” She stroked the back of my hand. “You have very pretty fingers, Savannah.”
I remembered Walter Alston’s fingers lined up on the desk. I yanked my gaze away before she could see my reaction.
Severin was drawing a chalk circle on the floor.
“What’s that for?” I said, jerking my chin at the circle.
“Did I mention you were about to receive a very generous offer?” Sierra said.
I stared at the circle. “From a demon?”
“You’re a lucky girl.”
Severin stood. “My sister’s given you a little taste of our powers, Savannah. I’d suggest you don’t mention that incident to our employer. He may be powerful, but he won’t be able to protect you all the time. Just remember our offer. We’ll be making it again after you’ve gotten yours. I’d suggest you consider it.”
“Strongly consider it,” Sierra said.
Severin stepped into the circle and began reciting the incantation. I tugged and writhed against my bonds, but I wasn’t going anywhere. Not until this was over.
I didn’t need to wait long. The last words had barely left Severin’s mouth before he teetered, then jerked upright. Then he looked at me and his eyes glowed a green so bright I blinked.
“Savannah.” His voice was pitched low, silky, musical. He seemed to glide across the room toward me. I could feel the heat radiating off him. Sweat trickled down my face as I stared into those piercing green eyes. Not just any demon. A lord demon.
I struggled not to shrink as he came closer. I’m not sure I didn’t anyway. Sierra stepped back fast, her gaze averted, cheeks flushing, lips pursing, as if annoyed by her reaction.
The demon stopped right in front of me, those waves of heat making sweat spring from every pore. Then he lowered himself to a crouch. When he reached to touch my face, I had to grit my teeth to stay still, and even then, I couldn’t maintain eye contact.
He cupped