Read Cast in Hellfire: An Urban Fantasy Romance (The Mage Craft Series Book 2) for Free Online Page A

Ymir’s age, though significantly shorter, as they were not frost giants. “Hello, Ymir. I’m Cyprian,” said the adult sidhe.
    “Hi,” Ymir said without looking at him. He scuffed the snow with his bare foot, which was only a few shades of blue darker than the surrounding world.
    “Thanks. I’ll owe you for this,” Marion said, clasping Cyprian’s hand in both of hers.
    She started to step away. Fear seized Ymir.
    “You will be back?” he asked.
    Marion took Nori’s hand, offering him a smile as bright as the starlight in the eternal evening of the Winter Court.
    “I promise,” she said.
    Both women vanished.

4
    T he first breath of Vancouver Island’s air was a relief to Marion’s system. It had been only hours since she’d left New York City behind for the Winter Court, but those hours had been enough that she felt like she’d never be warm again. Even the soggy sixteen-degree weather on the island in November was like sinking into a Jacuzzi by comparison.
    The ley line nearest to her home was just offshore, within view of the lagoon upon which her house sat. Marion doubted it was a coincidence that she’d chosen to buy her home there, where Konig could easily visit from the Autumn Court.
    Her house sprawled over the hill, with many wings and buildings and garages tucked in the trees. It was west of Victoria, the largest city on the island, and therefore a short drive to enjoy the urban center and its many delightful shopping options. But her home was vast enough that she hadn’t felt the need to leave it for long over the last week. Familiarizing herself with its many empty bedrooms and cavernous bathrooms could have kept her entertained for weeks.
    It was a veritable castle, and she lived alone in it.
    “Do you want me to go back, or keep packing for you?” Nori asked, waiting outside the gate to the garden when Marion entered.
    “Go back,” Marion said. “Konig could use your help, I’m sure.” And she didn’t need anyone listening in when she talked to Seth.
    Her heart fluttered.
    Seth .
    Marion hadn’t expected to see him again so soon, if at all.
    “He said he’d wait out that way.” Nori jerked her chin toward the orchard.
    “Thank you,” Marion said, and she waited until Nori left to seek Seth out.
    Her garden was as impressive as the rest of the house. That was where she’d spent most of her time during her visits that week.
    Marion hadn’t felt so lonely when she was in her private orchard among the buzzing bees and singing birds. She could easily imagine that there was family in the house, waiting for her to bring back enough apples to bake a pie, or entertaining themselves in her private indoor swimming pool while she got sweaty in the cool fall sunlight.
    Unfortunately, she’d seen too little of the house or garden that week with all the work the summit had provided. And she’d see little of it in the months to come now that she was steward of the Winter Court.
    Marion followed a spiraling path toward the sound of a fountain. Rain began drizzling as she sought Seth out, leaving a cool mist clinging to the leaves of her flowerbeds.
    He was on the opposite side of the fountain, partially shrouded by the wall of rippling water.
    She cleared her throat, swallowed hard. “Hi there.”
    Seth turned. He was wearing a black jacket, black jeans, hiking boots. He was dark-skinned with short hair and expressive lips, which were faintly marked by old scarring.
    At the sight of her, one corner of his mouth lifted in a lopsided smile. “Hey, Marion.”
    “Luke.” She caught herself and bit the inside of her cheek. “Or—I guess I should call you Seth, shouldn’t I?”
    He looked disappointed, as though he’d been hoping that somehow, through some stroke of bizarre luck, Marion wouldn’t have learned the truth about him. “Yeah. I’m going by Seth again, for the moment.”
    The implications of that hung heavier than the humidity in the air.
    He’d come to see her as Seth,