Corrigan Fire Bloodfire - Helen Harper Page 0,61

to suggest that she was welcome to check out my pants whenever she wanted. Instead, however, she interrupted in a considerably calmer tone of voice.

‘My Lord, perhaps you could help to open the drawer?’

She wasn’t afraid of a fight. She was, however, afraid of flirting. Unless it was just flirting with me that terrified her. Regardless, I acceded to her desire to change the subject. ‘As my Lady wishes.’

Mack stepped out from behind John’s desk. The space was tight and, as I moved to take her place, our bodies brushed together. A jolt of electricity ran through me. Mack flinched so I knew she’d felt something similar. Rather than enjoying the sensation, however, she quickly manoeuvred herself round to the door as if she was afraid I was about to pounce. I had no need or desire to force myself on anyone, let alone the feisty werehamster, but I had to admit that our close proximity was providing considerable temptation. She’d run a mile if I tried anything though. With regret, I bent down to look at the drawer.

To attempt to put her at ease, I acted ignorant. ‘Huh, this is a pretty powerful ward. Did John have magic skills?’

‘A few parlour tricks,’ she shrugged, ‘nothing like this. Not that I knew of, anyway.’

I made a show of reaching down to open it. The buzz of magic caused me to wince and jerk back. Mack seemed amused. She’d clearly been hoping I’d fail. An odd determination to show off rose up. There may have been a reason I’d left the magic well alone until now, but something about her presence was making me reckless. ‘Stand back,’ I told her.

I focused on the plain wood, trying to decide where the weakest spot would be. If Staines knew what I was doing, he’d have an absolute fit. Mack, however, was watching me with a mixture of horror and fascination. I rather liked being the object of her attention so I wasn’t going to back down now. It was about time she realised she wasn’t the only one around here with a bit of strength and power to boast about. Bunching my fingers together into a fist, I pulled back and prepared. Unless I wanted to end up dismembered, I was going to have to be fast. The little voice inside my head told me to forget this idiocy and get Floride to open the damn thing. I ignored the thought and instead slammed forward a hard punch, yanking my hand back as swiftly as I was able to avoid damaging myself too much. The wood splintered and there was a brief flash of blue magic signalling I’d actually managed to break through the ward, although even without the crackle of light, the agonising pain that was shooting up my arm would have told me that. Tiny dots danced in front of my eyes and I only just managed to avoid howling aloud. My hand was already starting to swell. Mack’s jaw dropped open.

Despite the effort it took, I laughed. I even managed to make it sound vaguely natural. ‘Impressed much, Kitten?’

‘Big deal,’ she said with studied insouciance before reaching over the desk to rummage around inside. I watched her carefully. She might not want to admit it, but she’d been awestruck. I’d seen it in her eyes and in the way her soft lips had fallen open. It made the pain almost worthwhile. When she was looking down, however, I took the moment to grimace and shake my fingers.

Mack pulled out an unmarked folder just as the outer door burst open and a red-faced Staines strode through, followed by the mage.

‘What in God’s name was that?’ he shouted.

‘Jeez,’ added Floride, ‘I think the whole keep felt that tremor. What did you do? Break through a…’ He stopped and stared at the desk. ‘You destroyed a level-five ward?’ He obviously thought that Mack had been the one to break it open because his glance flitted immediately to her. That was probably because it was far too foolish a thing for the Brethren Lord to have attempted.

‘My Lord Alpha, your hand,’ Staines said in alarmed concern.

‘It’s fine.’ I wasn’t entirely sure it was but I’d seen this stupid bravado through to this point – I may as well continue.

‘I’ll call the doctor.’

‘No. He has better things to be doing right now. Besides, I confess to a sudden curiosity at what the Cornish alpha was so keen to hide.’ I pointed down at the folder