The Invincible Mystic Master

Chapter 007

Will reached into his pocket and brought out a small, bright-red creature covered in fine bristles. It resembled a caterpillar, except that something about its twisted body was profoundly unnatural.

Arthur recoiled at the sight of it.

“Open your mouth,” Will ordered.

Arthur shook his head frantically.

“Oh, for God's sake.”

Will caught him by the jaw with one hand and forced his mouth open. Before Arthur could struggle free, Will pushed the writhing creature between his lips.

Arthur gagged and coughed so hard tears streamed down his cheeks. He bent over, trying desperately to throw it up, but nothing came out.

It was gone.

No. It hadn't disappeared.

A searing heat was spreading through his chest and stomach, as if someone had taken his insides and held them over an open flame. The pain grew worse with every breath.

“What... what did you do to me?” he managed.

Will took a seat and poured himself a drink.

“Nothing complicated. Just a hex-bred parasite. The Hellfire Worm, to be precise.”

He swirled the liquor in his glass.

“I raised it myself, using a venomous centipede and a fire toad. It responds to me no matter how far away I am. I could be a thousand miles from here and still command it to burn you alive from the inside out.”

Arthur shuddered and tried to retch again. In his panic, he grabbed a handful of grapes from the table and swallowed them almost without chewing, hoping something might settle his stomach. It did nothing.

The thing in his stomach was a living bomb, and the man sitting across from him held the detonator.

“Don't bother,” Will said. “Once the Hellfire Worm takes root, I'm the only one who can remove it. You could tear your own stomach open and it wouldn't help. The Hellfire it creates burns through anything, even things ordinary flames can't touch. Water won't put it out.”

Arthur knew nothing about occult arts, but he knew pain. And he knew that the man who had effortlessly dealt with his guards had just made him swallow something monstrous.

Whatever confidence he had left deserted him.

“I was wrong, Mr. Hartnett! Please, forgive me!”

He slapped himself hard across the face, once, then again.

“Please don't kill me. I'll do anything you want. I swear I'll never bother Summer again!”

The arrogant heir who had been threatening to destroy Will's life minutes earlier was now trembling and sobbing like a frightened child.

“See?” Will said. “Was that so difficult?”

He leaned forward.

“I hear you've been threatening my fiancée with the business deal between Morton Group and the Lillard Group. Is that right?”

Arthur fumbled for the agreement.

“I'll sign it! Right now!”

He scribbled his name across the document and handed it over with both hands.

Will checked the signature and put the contract away.

“C-can I go now?” Arthur asked.

“Not yet. You still owe Summer compensation.”

Arthur's face went white again.

“Transfer half the Lillard Group's shares to her, no strings attached. Consider it the price of your life.”

“Half?”

Arthur hesitated just long enough to meet Will's eyes.

“O-of course. I'll do it.”

“Good.”

“But transferring that much stock takes time. There are documents and approvals. As soon as I get home, I'll start the process. I promise.”

Arthur had no room to bargain. His life was in Will's hands.

“You have until this time tomorrow,” Will said. “If those shares aren't in Summer's name, you'll find out exactly what the Hellfire Worm can do. Don't test me.”

Arthur nodded so quickly his head seemed ready to come off. Then he stumbled out of the suite and fled the Velvet Room.

“That takes care of that,” Will said with a satisfied smile.

He went to lift Summer from the couch.

A soft, strained sound escaped her, and she twisted restlessly in his arms.

Will frowned. Her skin was burning hot.

*Arthur drugged her drink.*

“Son of a bitch.”

Summer squirmed as the heat continued to build. Two buttons popped free from her blouse as she tugged at the fabric, exposing more skin than she normally would have allowed anyone to see.

Will's expression darkened.

Whatever Arthur had given her was extraordinarily strong. It had already spread through her bloodstream, and if Will didn't intervene quickly, the effects could cause serious damage.

He laid her back on the couch, loosened her collar, and touched several vital pressure points along her chest and shoulders. A controlled flow of arcane energy stabilized her breathing and protected her from the worst immediate effects.

But that would only buy him time.

He needed somewhere quiet to remove the drug from her system.

Will scooped her up and carried her out of the nightclub, finding a small motel a short distance away.

“I need a room,” he told the woman at the front desk. “Now, please. It's urgent.”

The woman looked at Summer in his arms, then gave him a knowing smile.

“Sure, honey. I get it.”

She slid a key card across the counter.

“Enjoy yourselves.”

Will didn't have time to correct her. He took Summer upstairs and laid her on the bed.

Without his arms holding her steady, she began tugging at her blouse again. She pulled it open, revealing the lace beneath, then reached toward him with unfocused eyes.

“Please...” she murmured.

Will felt sweat gather at his temples.

*Just how much did Arthur put in that drink?*

The drug was pushing her body beyond its limits. He couldn't allow that to continue.

“All right. Enough.”

He drew a spell charm from inside his jacket. The paper ignited between his fingers without leaving a trace of ash.

“Sleepbinding.”

Summer's gaze lost its focus. Within seconds, her body relaxed and she sank into a deep, enchanted sleep.

Will looked at her for a moment, then deliberately turned his eyes away.

“Right,” he muttered. “Focus on getting her better.”