The Invincible Mystic Master

Chapter 005

“Yes,” Summer said immediately.

“I have several cats and dogs. Lately they've been crying and howling in the middle of the night for no reason. A few have gotten seriously sick, and none of the vets we've seen can figure out what's wrong.”

She hesitated.

“And I've been feeling on edge. Sometimes I see things around the house. Figures that look like ghosts. I assumed I was imagining them.”

“You weren't imagining them,” Will said.

Summer went still. “What are you saying?”

“Someone has set up a life-draining curse circle on this property. Your father was chosen as the curse's anchor. It's been feeding on his life force to spread its influence across the entire estate.”

Will's voice grew cold.

“Whoever created it intended to kill him.”

Black magic was practiced in plenty of places, but the Blackwater Isles had an especially ugly reputation for producing dangerous occult practitioners. Will had never had any reason to deal with their kind before. Now one of them appeared to have targeted his future father-in-law.

That made it his problem.

“What are we supposed to do?” Summer asked, visibly shaken.

“Don't panic.”

Will reached into his pocket and produced an obsidian pendant.

“This has been passed down through the Order of the Veil for generations. It's been imbued with protective power for centuries. Wear it, Mr. Morton. It will keep the dark energy from taking hold of you again.”

Matthew accepted it. The moment the pendant settled into his palm, some of the lingering heaviness in his body seemed to ease.

“I can't thank you enough,” he said. “May I ask who trained you? You've saved my life, and I don't forget debts like that. Whatever you want, if it's within my power, it's yours.”

As one of Tearhaven City's richest men, Matthew Morton was accustomed to making promises he could keep.

Will smiled.

“Actually, I'm not looking for money. I'm looking for a wife.”

“A wife?” Matthew repeated.

Will took out half of an old, intricately carved family medallion.

“Mr. Morton, do you recognize this?”

Matthew's expression changed at once.

“That's a Morton family heirloom. Wait... are you connected to Master Crowe?”

“Blind Crowe is my mentor,” Will said. “Years ago, he saved your father's life. Your grandfather gave him this half of the medallion, and the two of them agreed that Summer and I would be married someday.”

He looked at Summer.

“That's why I came to Tearhaven. I'm here to honor our childhood engagement.”

Summer stared at him in disbelief.

“Absolutely not! You can't be serious.”

“Summer...” Matthew began.

“No, Dad. I don't care what Grandpa promised. People don't arrange their children's marriages anymore. I'm not marrying a man I met today!”

Matthew felt much the same. He'd known about the agreement for years and had once argued bitterly with his father over it. Summer was his only daughter, and he wasn't about to hand her over because of an old family promise.

On the other hand, Blind Crowe had saved Matthew's father, and now Crowe's pupil had saved Matthew himself. Refusing outright would make him look ungrateful. Worse, the Order of the Veil possessed abilities the Morton family couldn't begin to understand. He had no desire to make an enemy of it.

He chose his words carefully.

“Will, I have no objection to you getting to know Summer. You're both adults, and if she falls in love with you, that's wonderful. But an engagement arranged years ago is another matter. Surely we should let the two of you make that decision for yourselves.”

“Perhaps we could...”

Summer's phone rang before he could finish.

She glanced at the caller ID and stiffened.

Arthur Lillard.

She hesitated, then answered.

“Summer! There's a party tonight,” Arthur said in a careless, confident drawl. “I'll pick you up. We can have some fun.”

“Sorry, Arthur. I've got things to take care of tonight.”

“Oh, really? Fine. Don't come.” His tone cooled. “But if you're going to disrespect me, maybe the Lillard Group should reconsider its deal with Morton Group.”

Summer's heart sank. The two companies were negotiating an important partnership, and Arthur had more than enough influence to derail it.

“Eight o'clock,” he said. “The Velvet Room. I'd hate for you to make the wrong decision.”

He hung up.

For a long moment Summer stared at her phone.

“What was that about?” Will asked.

“Ever since Dad fell into a coma, Morton Group's stock price has been falling. We've got problems inside the company and competitors coming after us from every direction.” She swallowed. “Arthur has been taking advantage. If he starts buying up our shares at depressed prices or pulls other investors against us, we could lose control of the company.”

“And what does he want in return for leaving you alone?”

Summer looked away.

“He wants me to date him.”

Will frowned.

“Is this Arthur really that powerful? I thought Morton Group was one of the biggest names in Tearhaven. How can he push you around like this?”

Matthew let out a weary sigh.

“Morton Group may be one of Tearhaven's five most powerful families, but the Lillards have been expanding aggressively for years. They'll do almost anything to win a contract or acquire valuable property. Investors love the returns they promise, while established businesses like ours have been losing ground.”

He shook his head.

“Through buyouts and intimidation, the Lillard Group has gained control of nearly a third of the city's businesses. We've focused on building our own company steadily. We can't compete with their reach anymore.”

He looked at his daughter, his expression full of pain.

“Summer, don't go. I'm not sending you into that man's hands. If the Lillards want a fight, they'll get one. Even if they destroy Morton Group, I won't let them take you without a fight.”

“Dad, please.”

Summer lifted her head.

“You spent your life building this company. I can't stand by and watch it all disappear. If Arthur wants me there... then I'll go.”

“Absolutely not!” Matthew began.

“Mr. Morton, let her go,” Will interrupted.

Matthew stared at him with open contempt.

*And this is the man who wants to marry my daughter? He won't even stand up for her?*

“I've taken a look at Summer's fate,” Will said calmly. “This confrontation is something she's going to have to face. Avoiding it won't make the danger disappear.”

He met Matthew's angry gaze.

“If she's going to get through this, she needs to go tonight.”