Friends always made for the most dangerous enemies.
He rubbed his back. The scythe would be gone now. He knew how that shit worked. Cass had that freaking magical tattoo on his back, and it let him call up the weapon whenever he wanted it. The weapon was his alone to command—another gift from Luke.
Talk about being the teacher’s pet.
Gregory rolled his shoulders. His back hurt. He’d need even more blood now, but at least that blade hadn’t severed his spine.
This time.
Once the scythe found its target, it vanished after impact. Very powerful magic. Magic that Cass shouldn’t possess. He’d done a few favors for Luke and been rewarded too well.
I’ll have those rewards. I’ll be the one who sits at the devil’s right hand.
Then…he’d be the one to take out the devil.
He could still hear the growl of the motorcycle, but he could barely stand, so chasing Cass and the mysterious Amber wasn’t an option. Not then.
But I know how you think, Cass. You’ll want the fastest mode of transportation. You’ll want to fly away with your prize. Cass was heading back to Key West. Back to Luke.
I just have to stop you before you get there.
“Hey…buddy…you okay?”
A human male had just appeared to his right, clutching a garbage bag.
Gregory smiled at him. “Not yet, but I will be…” After I take a bite.
***
Cass drove fast and he drove hard and he took them away from the city and down a long stretch of dirt road that seemed to shoot into the middle of absolutely nowhere.
When Cass braked the bike, Amber knew her reckoning had come. She’d been trying to think of lies to tell him.
She’d just come up with jack.
As soon as the engine died, she jumped from the motorcycle. His hand flew out and locked around her wrist. “Going somewhere?”
“I wish,” she mumbled, but then she notched up her chin. “I can’t, remember? ‘Cause you used some kind of mumbo jumbo magic on me, and now I’m practically chained to your side. Not cool, by the way. So incredibly not cool.”
He stared at her. His blue eyes gleamed. “I want to know everything.”
Trust me, you don’t.
He shoved down the kickstand. “You aren’t going to tell me, are you?”
“Tell you what?” She yanked her wrist free of his hold. “My life story? Sorry I don’t feel like sharing with the man who has basically kidnapped me.”
He rose and faced her. His arms crossed over his chest. “I would think you’d want to spin me some sympathetic story, maybe try to get me on your side so I won’t hand you over to Luke.”
Like she hadn’t already considered that idea a dozen or so times. She glanced around the woods—they were dead silent. Almost eerily so. Amber swallowed. “Would that work? Would you really want the big, bad Lord of the Dark as your enemy because of me?”
He didn’t answer.
She gave a bitter laugh. “I thought so. I mean—he’d destroy you. I get that you have to look out for your own life. Besides, if you made a deal with him, then you’re bound to Luke. There isn’t a choice for you.”
A muscle jerked in his jaw. He hadn’t liked her answer. Sometimes, the truth hurt. In this case, the truth had hurt them both.
“So you’re just going to surrender to me now? Return to Luke like a good bounty?”
Her teeth ground together. “I’m not good. You shouldn’t forget that. And, no, I’m not going back. I’ll get away from you.”
“No, you won’t.” Cass took a step toward her and he seemed to surround her. He was big and strong and his scent was oddly seductive. It was that danger-bad boy attraction again—her weakness. She was literally flirting with Death, and it made her feel alive.
Had Luke known? Had he realized she’d be drawn to her captor? Luke was such a schemer, always planning his moves so far in advance.
“Tell me what you took from him,” Cass said.
“Are we back to this?” Her gaze dipped to his mouth.
“Tell me…or I’ll find out on my own.”
Doubtful.
The silence stretched between them. Too long.
“Fine,” he gritted out, then he whirled and was grabbing for the saddle bags. He started yanking out the items—tossing her shirts, her underwear, her jeans.
“Stop it!” Frantic, she grabbed the clothes.
He didn’t stop. A scarf was thrown next. Her favorite scarf. Then he was reaching for the black bag she’d actually hidden inside one of her shirts. He’d found that too easily. He opened the bag and pulled out a knife sheath.
Oh, hell.
He withdrew the knife from the sheath, and the bracelet she’d taken from him at the bar—that bracelet fell to the ground. For once, Amber didn’t worry about her bracelet. Her gaze was on the knife. A real beauty of a knife. One with a gleaming blade and a big, thick emerald in the handle.
Cass gave a low whistle. “What were you going to do with this?”