The Darkest Temptation

ov

ast enough from

distances, in moments when I don't feel like walking home from work in t

ed it to run fr

ting as I launch into a run up the stairs, not stopping un

only seconds of my

inside, gesturing wildly for her to lock the

rderer," I

e tighter around hers

he's a murderer," I tell her franticall

en counter, filling her kettl

actua

stures over her shoulder for me to sit down on her couc

d. She doesn't believe

rderer." I flop onto the couch,

ve known someone that beautiful couldn't look like tha

ainst the counter, regarding me

was very gracious and sweet with me, so I

mean it. He told me

ng in it, taunting his next victim to

he steam wafting from the ket

or anything." I shudder, as if I can still feel

ink Keo is

the teabags. She's always reasonable, always pragmati

" I ask, twisting the damp e

e library. We were reading the same bo

he enco

shy I can be..." she b

idence, but Keo knew about my magic, and didn'

e set this date

re we live?" I glance at the door, as if he

shaking her head. "

eyes in it, staring back at me. He let me run.

that just happe

ou don't have to," she reminds me, com

raping it over my legs. "There was

How am I supposed to go out tomorrow

uld he just tell you that?" Mary pr

his victims before stalking and killing them.

the authorities. Will th

ep breath. "M

t perhaps they have heard his name be

here to

ationships? Even a blind date goes te

was meant to bring him back

finitely imagi

n others will go bad in th

ought I had a bad mentor in my past and ins

t there are more like me, with trace amounts of magic, t

ou told him you a

ouch my face, wondering if it's obvious. Mary never gu

her nose up.

apartment door has b

e gets to her feet, making toward the door

door. There is a good chance Keo has found out wh

ast me, standing on her tiptoes to

robably

stumbling back

?" I can hear my

s so wide, I think she

" she wh

st thing I expe

ha

ing in the hallway," she breathes, pressing her back fl

y One. Each have strong magic that far rivals mine

there be No

wing on her already worn down nails. "

"No, that coul

fine." Her hushed voice sounds both terrified and irritated

pens the door a cr

re?" I hear one of them ask. Their voice is

," another reiterates. I

or. I'm sheltered from view, but just knowing these Noble's

hy

man she conversed with

s abou

I'm far safer in the company of Noble's than an admitted mur

he door open

warfing the size of the apartm

t of them, having never se

this is Arkyn." Ellard motions to h

eir appearance, in the way they carry themselve

I mumble, folding m

hat seem to have no problem scrutinising me. Along his cheek bones, are t

bout a man named Keo," he s

about

oft, non-accusatory. "Do

g down onto the couch. I twist so I can see both of them, unnerved w

ndly pointing at Mary. She's the picture of innocence, how

ically against the couch arm. "What

this a

thing dangerous. Keo isn't a good man,

he question,"

ge," I blurt out. How else c

y adds. Her face is stark, horrified

rowns. "

ishly. This entire t

e clears thinks I'm deranged or foolish for going

ft straight aw

iend is still staring at me as if he can

usions, which if I think too dee

ate with the most dangerous person in this Territory," Ellard

oat. "And you might