Magic Unleashed (Hall of Blood and Mercy, #3)

by K.M. Shea

“I’ll attack.” Leslie shot-putted the butt of her spear at her husband’s gut. Franco wheezed and folded in half when he didn’t raise a shield in time. He coughed. “Couldn’t give me more notice than that, could you?” “Not if you choose to make light of a very serious matter.” “Okay—AHH! Stop jabbing that spear at me, woman! I get it, I’ll take it seriously!”

This is the perfect husband and wife relationship I want one day… 😏😂

“What, did you two finally confess your unending love for each other?” Momoko gagged. “What? No! Ew! Gross.” Felix grimaced as if the idea physically pained him. “I stopped seeing either of you as females years ago.”

Childhood friendship right there… 😂

“We don’t care,” Felix added. “Because we know you ate crayons in elementary school.” “That was an off year for me!”

“I guess now would be as good a time as any to tell you that you are a raging moron.”

“Yeah, and I’d like a pony,” I grumbled.

So THIS is where the pony miscommunication came from! 🤣 (Only those who have read the Court of Midnight and Deception will get this…)

He’ll suddenly turn colder than a prissy mean girl in high school, but we can roll with that.” “Such an admirable depiction of me,” Killian mused

“Forgiveness means giving up my anger at your actions. It doesn’t mean there are no consequences to your actions,” I said.

I glanced over at Momoko and Felix—who were inspecting Felix’s foot. “Does the peanut gallery have anything to say about this?” Momoko batted her long eyelashes. “No. Why would we?”

I love how they actually responded to “the peanut gallery” 🤣

“So, what, you’re moving in?” I asked. Killian perked. “That’s an option?” “No!” He gave me a look of disapproval.

“But the House has a personality of its own, Killian. You really don’t want to tick it off.” “Is that so?” Killian said in a factual tone. He flicked off his handgun’s safety and nonchalantly shot the floor. Slivers of wood sprayed the air, and instantly the ground parted beneath Killian’s feet, sending him plunging into the basement. The wood floor sealed up behind him, repairing the bullet hole, making it look as if nothing had happened. I turned to Celestina. “Please allow me to express my congratulations on becoming the new Drake Family Elder.”

Annnnddddd… Yep, there goes Killian! 🙈🤣

“So I was right!” I brightened. “I think it was when we visited you for the book that I said you two were friends, and you both got disgusted with me and claimed you weren’t.” Killian scoffed. “It’s because we’re not.” The Paragon drew back, as if Killian had slapped him. “How dare you say that?!”

“Maybe I don’t want to talk to you,” the Paragon snidely said. “Maybe I just want to talk to Hazel since she understands me.” Killian narrowed his eyes. “If you are implying—” “For heaven’s sake, no!” The Paragon rolled his eyes. “I am not trying to put the moves on your beloved, so don’t chip your fangs gnashing your teeth. My gosh, as if I’d think of a wizard like that! No offense.” “None taken,” I said.

I had never before seen Killian’s forehead look so wrinkled. “You have the mental capacity of a donut,” he said.

“Partaking in caffeine at this hour will open the mysteries of the universe and allow you to see things as they are,” Josh said. Momoko studied him, then bluntly said, “What?” “I mean to imply if she drinks a caffeinated beverage at this hour, it will likely make her loopy,” Josh said. “Ah.” Momoko nodded. “Truth.”

I looked up at Killian. “Did you follow any of that?” He shrugged. “I generally don’t bother to follow what the Paragon has to say given that he is an idiot. This time, however, I gathered he thinks we’re a couple. Because that suits me, I will approve.”

The Drake vampires were offering each other curt nods and a few smiles and back slaps, until Momoko hugged Celestina and it became a free-for-all hug fest that involved most wizards chasing down slightly panicking vampires. (My favorite, I think, was when June snuck up on Rupert and gave him a hug. He squealed like a pig, but sat through it like an obedient dog.)