Page 23 of Grimoire Omens

“I see your mind whirring, seeking a way to foil me, but you will fail, witch.”

“Of course you’d say that.” I wasn’t stupid. I played volleyball in high school. Psyching out the opponent was a time-honored tradition.

“Will it take a lesson, witch?” The soft purr was my only warning before I found myself wrapped not in arms or anything I could see. And yet I could feel myself being squeezed, so tight I couldn’t draw a breath. So painfully I feared for my ribs.

The constriction led to me panicking and thrashing wildly. To no avail.

Gryvak spun my invisibly tethered body to face him. “As you can see, you can’t fight me. And why would you when you could partner with me? A king needs a queen after all. And who better than a witch strong in magic? Help me and together we can rule the world.”

The words had a hypnotic and calming effect that relaxed—and intrigued. He wanted me as his queen? Meaning a royal wedding and a party to rival that of the British monarchs.

Tempting, but… Did I really want to shackle myself to someone who thought he could magically restrain me to prove he was stronger?

“Well, witch? What will it be?” The bands around my chest eased, and I could heave in a breath, but before I could reply, a bolt of pure white energy slammed into Gryvak!

7

Ulseere had returned and damned did he look sexy stalking toward us, a glower on his face, his hand lifting again, energy forming in the palm.

The sight of him led to Gryvak snarling. “You didn’t have to follow me through the doorway.”

“You know the mission the king set me on.”

“A mission that could have been over had you stayed in Infernal.”

“Leaving you free to terrorize Earth?” Ulseere paused a few paces away, the hand with the suspended ball of glowing energy held out to his side.

“The humans are a mess. Fighting amongst each other. Raping this world of resources. Imagine what this place could become with a proper king.”

“You’re delusional if you think you could make it better.” Ulseere snorted. “There’s a reason your coup failed.”

“Because you betrayed my plans rather than support my bid,” spat Gryvak. “However, this time, I know you cannot be trusted.”

Ooh, had this dispute been happening on television I’d have been chowing down the popcorn by the handful.

“Shall we settle our dispute?” Ulseere beckoned. “It’s long overdue.”

“In this place where you have more allies than me? I think not.” Gryvak’s gaze slewed to me, and he offered a panty-dropping smile. “Until we meet again, pretty witch.”

Before I could wonder how he planned to escape, Gryvak jumped. Like straight up. But rather than smack the roof of the tunnel and knock himself out, he kept going.

Literally. He somehow punched through the stone ceiling and disappeared from sight.

“Holy shit, he made himself an exit,” I murmured.

“And in the process ruined the integrity of this place,” Ulseere muttered. “Come, we must go before the tunnel collapses.” He strode in my direction, reaching for me, but I shook my head. “Give me a second. I have to find Flo.” And the book. It wouldn’t do to leave it behind in the rubble where Gryvak could find it.

I darted into the train, but before I could enter the skinny hall, Flo exited our bunkbed room with wide eyes.

“What’s happening? Why’s the floor shaking?”

Not just the floor. Everything rattled.

“Bad showed up, punched a hole in the ceiling, and now the tunnel’s about to cave in. We have to go.”

“What?” she squeaked.

“We have to go like now. Ulseere’s waiting outside the train. Grab your bag and go.”