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users.
    “Let me help,” he said. “I can lead a group in and take out the leader—”
    “Stop right there.” Zeebi held up a hand. “First of all, it’s too late to play hero. And second, you have no idea what you’re up against. There’s a reason those dark ley lines are a secret. Vespera is insanely powerful now that they can access them. I don’t think even a Watcher army can take them down.”
    Then you’ve never seen a Watcher army in action. But Scorpio held his tongue, knowing that his boss would never agree to get involved in a witch-on-witch conflict. Not unless it spilled over and upset the balance of peace in the realm, affecting other creatures negatively.
    Shit. He needed to fix the injustices done to his mate’s people. Too bad they seemed bent on killing him.
    But he was more than a killer. There was a time when he didn’t believe that, but that was long past. Scorpio knew he had value as a brother, a friend, and a loyal soldier. And as long as he knew, he could work to convince others. Somehow, some way, he’d prove his use to the coven long enough to make amends.
     
     

C HAPTER 4
     
     
    T ESSA STALKED THROUGH THE BUILDINGS , skin prickling with irritation. What the hell was up with that demon saying she belonged to him? No goddamn male was going to claim her. She might be about to give up her body, but never her heart and mind.
    She’d only let Damien think he owned her.
    Vespera’s soulless leader had dark, cold obsidian eyes, just like his heart. Black and emotionless. Tessa knew that many of his witches thought he was handsome but to her, he only radiated evil.
    And Scorpio…she finally allowed his name to enter her mind. Might as well. Acting like he bothered her would only give him power over her, whether he knew it or not. Did he radiate evil? He was a killer, a monster, an uncaring machine. Right?
    But no, that’s not what his aura exuded. And that unnerved the shit out of her.
    She wasn’t prepared for the sense of honor and duty that danced in the air around him like fireflies. And she certainly wasn’t prepared for the mesmerizing golden hue of his eyes. Lit from deep within, they were warm and curious. Intelligent and observant.
    Not hard, cold, or self-serving.
    But he killed Pennar. He’s a mercenary. She clung to that mantra, those facts from the past, because the present and the future unsettled her.
    Taking a deep breath, she opened Hallon’s door without knocking. There was no need.
    “There’s my girl.” The chief mage turned from his table scattered with papers.
    “Hi, Dad.” Tessa smiled at her father, who looked like he’d aged a hundred years since taking over for Pennar. Supernatural creatures didn’t show age until they were thousands of years old, but Hallon had definite streaks of silver at his temples that were relatively new additions to his dark hair.
    “You saw the prisoner’s new location?”
    “Yeah.” Tessa hadn’t minded missing Scorpio’s move from his original cell. She had no desire to be around him or have anything to do with him, other than her duty of maintaining the integrity of the bars that caged him. Too bad her damn cat seemed to have fallen tail over paws for the guy. What was up with that? Jinx turned her nose up at everyone except Tessa.
    “I checked the bars just now. Figured I’d get it over with,” she went on.
    Hallon nodded. “Good, can’t take any chances with that one. The people got pretty worked up last night. Boulder spells and all.”
    “I’m not surprised. But he didn’t look any worse for wear today.” Though she had tried to focus only on the bars, she hadn’t missed the rugged glow of health that tinged his square jaw and full lower lip. “Those guys heal so freaking fast.” She paced the room, restless. “So…what’s next for him?”
    Her father grunted and stared out the window, frustration etched across his face in fine lines. “I was thinking to use him to test the newest torture spells.