Black Magic Shadows Read Online Free

and headed for the door.
    "Where are you going?"
    "Home. You're obviously busy." I gave myself a point for not sounding huffy.
    "My apologies. Please come back."
    I turned and he set the papers down, a faint smile on his face. Recalling the time I'd kicked him in the family jewels, I smiled back, probably showing too many teeth, and returned to my seat.
    "Before we delve into the matter that brought you here, I must inform you that your debt is due."
    "What debt?" What the... "Oh, that. The dinner date for turning me back to normal."
    "Yes, I'm hosting a dinner ball on New Year's Eve, and require your presence as my companion for it."
    "A dinner ball."
    He gave a nod. "Formal dress."
    I seriously considered protesting, but I had agreed to the deal, and getting it over with sounded good. "Fine. What time?"
    "I'll pick you up at seven."
    Ugh, that made it more date than I liked, but hey, I could always teleport home the second we finished eating. "No magic tricks. That was part of the deal."
    "No magic tricks," Thorandryll agreed, and changed the subject. "I've been informed you're not seeing anyone."
    Instant suspicion. "My dating habits aren't any of your business."
    "They are if I plan to request the pleasure of your company in the future.
    I shook my head. "Nope. This is a one-time-only deal. You're not my type."
    "And why is that, Miss Jones?"
    Well, looked like the time for the "Come to Jesus" meeting had arrived, ready or not. "How about a little plain talk? Like the fact I'm twenty-three, which is basically a fetus compared to you."
    Thorandryll waved that away with a languid gesture. "Age matters little to my people."
    "It matters to me. I have rules about dating: No guys more than two years younger or ten years older. You're a lot more than ten years older."
    "What if it would prove highly advantageous for you?"
    "I'm not a gold digger, dude. I date somebody because I like him, not because it's 'highly advantageous' to."
    He sighed. "I wasn't talking about financial interest, Miss Jones. It would be politically advantageous."
    The sound that erupted from me wasn't remotely lady-like, being a snorting laugh. "I have all the politics I can handle right now, so no thanks."
    "I don't think you comprehend the state our community's currently in." Thorandryll leaned forward, resting his forearms on his desk. "Things are unsettled."
    "Uh-huh, and us dating would make them settle? I find that really hard to believe, but thanks for confirming my suspicion."
    Up went his eyebrows. "What suspicion?"
    "See, I may be young, but I'm not as dense as you think I am." I smiled. "I knew there wasn't any way you were actually interested in me. Not romantically."
    "I do find you attractive. You're a lovely woman."
    "Pretty sure you'd be just as interested if I had a face full of hairy moles, because I'm a psychic. Come on." I scowled. "You're an elf prince with loads of gorgeous elf women around."
    "And you don't believe I would choose you over any of them?" He tilted his head. "The lack of self-confidence that implies flies into the face of all I know about you."
    "I'm self-confident, not stupid. I'm human, I'll age. You won't."
    "Debatable," he muttered.
    Had I heard him right? "What?"
    "Fine, if you don't wish to believe my interest in you is anything beyond," he paused. "I'm not certain how to finish that."
    "Greed for power?" I suggested.
    He actually rolled his icy blue eyes. “That, I suppose. You don't think very highly of me."
    "Gee, wonder why? There's been lies, trouble, oh and you totally took advantage of me while I was having a vision that time, in your library." I hadn't forgotten him macking on me. "I owe you a slap for that, but we'll call it even because I got to kick you."
    "Normally, when a woman has the look that you did, she wants to be kissed."
    "Vision, jerk. Seriously, who makes with the sexing in a library?" I waved my hand before he could answer. "Doesn't matter. Unless I say 'kiss me', you don't."
    Thorandryll