“My magic is inside you.” His gaze assaulted her, but the pervert hadn’t stabbed a flag in her torso in the name of God and country.
“If it’s inside me, then it’s mine now, not yours.” Every stutter-step the Charmer took toward her cranked her internal flight response another notch higher, and dialed back her confidence level with equal measure.
“Is that what I should tell the police officer who was here this morning?”
Her hand collided with the counter as her balance faltered. “What?” she choked out.
“Someone—a petite woman—broke into a police substation, and she burned a crime technician. Horrible business, really. The police came to me for help, as the perpetrator’s fingerprints were illegible.” His nearly toothless grin turned Callie’s stomach.
Her hands began to heat as he moved within a few feet from her. The flight response was on lockdown. Her feet had melded to the grimy floor under the Charmer’s threat.
Prison. Felon. Criminal. The words blazed her mind. She had saved her brother, but the cost? She turned into exactly what her mother told her she would: a failure.
The Charmer watched closely as tears welled in Callie’s eyes. He continued speaking as though they meant nothing to him. “At the time I couldn’t remember providing my services to any women. I don’t keep written records, you know. But after the officer left, something jogged my memory. Do you think I should I call them back, tell them I’ve suddenly remembered something?”
“No.” At least she didn’t sputter. Callie hauled in a behemoth breath and quelled the impending tears. Regaining control of her life was too important to let fear get in the way. “I think you need to hear my revision to our arrangement.”
“You do, do you?” He was practically laughing in her face.
Her earlier bravado might be squished beneath her soles, but she had enough pride to push her goal: “Make me your apprentice.”
That got him. The Soul Charmer’s jaw dropped enough to give Callie a too-long look at the man’s silver teeth.
His silence allowed her strength to grow. “Will you teach me how to use this magic in exchange for my continued services in finding your competition?”
“Apprentice.” The grin was back. Fuck. He stared past her breasts, clearly seeing the soul beneath her sternum. He seemed lost in thought for a long time. “Yes,” he finally answered. “While you obtain the information I need, I will help you understand that which you wield.”
“Okay.” Such a mild word for the roaring conflict in her belly.
She’d entered his store in the name of regaining control and power. She’d gotten what she’d asked for, but didn’t quite feel like she’d won. Magic offered strength, but the taint wouldn’t wash off when she was done. Callie refocused on what was important: Her brother was safe and she’d found someone outside her family who earned and respected her loyalty. She could survive this.
If it took learning his craft and finding his enemies, she would find a way to escape the Soul Charmer.
She’d play his apprentice.
For now.
—— ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ——
Writing is a solitary endeavor, but getting it done is a whole lot easier with a great support system. I can’t say how much Amanda Bonilla and Megan Frampton helped me make this book happen, but I can tell you they are the best cheerleaders and probably love Callie and Derek as much as I do—maybe more. Thanks to Jo Hoskinson for her beta skills, and generally being the other half of my brain for VBC. To Marcia Koehler, Stacia Kane, Jeff Farrell, Windy Aphayrath, Bree Bridges, the VBC girls, and so many others for your enthusiasm and excitement.
Also, big thanks to my agent Cheryl Pientka and my Talos editor Cory Allyn for helping make this book happen.
Finally, the biggest thank you goes to my husband Matt for understanding deadlines means we order pizza or other food “they will bring to us,” and being the biggest champion for my writing. Matt, you’re amazing and I love you.
Chelsea Mueller writes gritty contemporary fantasy. She founded the speculative fiction website Vampire Book Club, blogs about TV and romance novels for Heroes & Heartbreakers, and is co-chair of SF/F charity Geeky Giving. She loves bad cover songs, dramatic movies, and TV vampires. Mueller lives in Texas, and has been known to say y’all.
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