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magic can be used. Quite simple, yes? And now, as the author of all you … characters … who wish to destroy my kingdom, I choose to end your purpose, since you seem to be interested in perverting it.”
    With a small, subtle swish of his wrist, Gérard pushed Gabe, Gavin and Arianna backward, until their backs slid against and pinned to the hallway walls, carving a path straight up the stairway to Audrey and me. He snapped his fingers and the cigar disappeared, his arms dropping smoothly to his sides. The heat over my heart flared, coiling up into a beating drum while Gérard waltzed up the stairs toward us, eyes holding mine, then spread south, just below my hips, leaving me weak-kneed. Audrey tightened her grip on my arm to help keep me vertical. My fingers dug harder into my chest as I gripped the pulsing spot, the edges of Gavin’s mother’s necklace grazing the tips of my fingers.
    “So, my friends. I declare a new act. You tell everyone in this movement of yours to report to the bayou portal when it opens tomorrow night, and I will kindly escort you all to exile where you’ll spend the remainder of your eternity—your human friends included—” he glanced over his shoulder to peer down at Gabe, “or I personally hunt you all down and rip out your hearts, one by one, until there’s nothing left but remnants of the desperation in your glossed-over eyes as you beg for mercy in those final seconds of your life.”
    His smile turned cold when he reached me, and his gold rings flashed again as they flitted in the air, his eyes lighting up as if he’d had a great epiphany. “Better yet, there are so many wonderful games we can play before we make it to that main event. Vivienne and I had such fun before I tore her throat open.”
    Cupping his chin thoughtfully, he pouted, and any remaining composure I maintained dropped from my shoulders and plummeted into my gut. The mere thought of Vivienne suffering before such a gruesome death sent a wave of nausea rolling through my stomach.
    “Mind-compulsion magic is a beautiful thing!” he said. “Committing unspeakable acts against your own flesh, against your will … well, there are worse things than death, yes?”
    Before anyone could respond to his command and sickening admission, his thoughts penetrated mine when he stepped closer to meet my face, his hot breath warm on my lips, eyes once again lowering to my necklace as he sent me his thoughts.
    Do I have your attention, Camille? He trailed a finger over my chest, strengthening the fireball as it fluttered inside of me. The searing pain vibrated through my ribcage and I cringed, unable to buckle over since his power held me upright. His finger trailed lightly down my torso, lower and lower, until his hand slipped between my legs and possessively gripped the inside of my thigh. Every muscle south of my waistline clenched and I whimpered at the overwhelming sensation of arousal he created; a repulsive blend of pleasure and pain wracked my body. I tried to extinguish my desire for him, but my effort met futility. He grinned down at me, the heel of his hand rubbing slow circles into my thigh, the sensation a volcanic bubble on the verge of eruption.
    Compulsion is a beautiful thing , he said, teasing me to the height of climax, the need for release excruciating , and there are some things worse than death .
    Gavin and Arianna’s yelling was muffled in the distance, but all I could focus on was Gérard’s seductive speech in my head and the unbearable torture he was inflicting on my body. Just as I was about to fall apart in ecstasy beneath his touch, he removed his hand from my legs and denied me the release, forcing me to cry out in humiliating protest. He ignored my cry and continued to send me his thoughts. Gavin might be the leader in this mission to destroy me, but you are the firestarter. Think twice about what knowledge you choose to divulge in your efforts to save everyone. It just might be the very