door to my room and bolted it. I doubted that would even hold if J.C. or one of his men wanted in. Their magic held this place together, after all.
“Is it safe here?” I asked.
“No,” he snapped. “Find something to put on. We have maybe an hour.”
I was still practically naked in a silver bikini. I grabbed a coat off the hook by the door. Archer barely waited for me to slip my arms through it before taking my hand and leading me to the slider door at the back of my room and out onto the balcony. The night before last, I’d shimmied down the side of the thing, afraid I’d break my neck.
Archer had no need to shimmy down anything. He slipped an arm around my waist. Before I could protest, he jumped from the balcony with me in his arms. We were on the second story.
Archer gracefully landed, though my teeth rattled. He didn’t put me down. Instead, he ran for the woods at top speed. I’d flown on a dragon’s wings before, but Archer’s power took my breath from me.
We went to the densest part of the woods, hidden from the lights of the Golden Taurus. Only then did Archer put me down. He rounded on me, eyes flashing silver.
“You have to leave,” he said. “Tonight.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“J.C. isn’t stupid. I told you. If I figured out what you are, so will he.”
I pulled the coat tighter around me. I hadn’t had time to tie it. “But you didn’t figure it out,” I said. “You…”
I couldn’t finish the sentence. The truth I held still shocked me. The other night, I’d let Archer see my magic. I could rationalize all I wanted, but deep down I knew the truth.
“No,” he said. “You got careless. I’ll admit, whatever concealment spell you’re using, it’s a good one. Best I’ve ever been around. And I’ve been around a lot.”
“A lot of witches,” I said.
“You know what I am,” he said. “That gives you as much power over me as I have over you because of your secret.”
“You’re not a witch though,” I said. I dropped the ends of the coat and went to him. He stood stock still as I played my fingers along his naked arms. He wore nothing but the tight-fitting jeans that were part of his uniform at the club. The bouncers were just as much a draw as the dancers.
“You just have a few spells,” I said. “Beyond that, you’re all wolf.”
As if to prove my point, he curled his lips, showing a hint of fangs. I brought his wolf out of him. That was clear.
“Listen to me,” he said. “I got word last night. J.C.’s on the hunt for a new fire source. Whatever he’s been selling…”
“Is weak,” I said. “It’s mostly sugar water with a fancy red glamor. There’s just a hint of the mage he harvested. If I had to guess, it’s a very old sample. Years.”
“Yeah,” he said. “Phaedra, I’ve been working for J.C. for almost two years. He’s never had a fire mage in all that time. And you...you’re…”
“Different,” I said.
“Yeah.”
I took a step back. Archer’s gaze raked over me. I saw the raw hunger in his eyes. It burned through me as well.
I wanted him. Plain and simple. Had he made a move, I would have let him. Right there. Right then. I would have gone to my knees for him.
A spot at the base of my neck turned to aching fire. Oh, God.
Mark me!
I blinked. Stunned by the urge within me. Archer’s eyes were pure silver. I think he felt the same need. Neither of us could put it to words.
“Why?” I asked.
“Why what?”
“Why are you here? Your mother was a witch. You have to know most of the magic the Ring has stolen wasn’t given with consent. You know exactly what happened to Rose Kilgore. She was…”
“She was from your coven,” he said. “So what, you’re here to avenge her?”
“I was here to find her,” I said.
“Then there’s no reason for you to stay,” he said. “She’s gone. I’m sorry about it. I swear, I wasn’t around when...there was nothing I could have done for her. But there’s something I can do for you. J.C.’s gone for a day, maybe. But when he comes back, you’ll be in more danger than ever.”
“Why? What do you know?”
He let out a breath. “Phaedra, you don’t belong here.”
“What’s about to happen? You know something. I can feel