Bound by Faerie: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Stolen Magic Book 1) by WB McKay Page A

sprawling. After how quickly he grabbed me the last time, I knew speed wouldn't be enough to get me through the portal before he recovered and decided it would be easier to light me on fire. I pulled all the fear coursing through my body into a tight ball and expanded it in one push, willing it to distract him long enough for me to get away.
    Unfortunately, all I do is spread an infection of fear. I don't choose what their mind decides they are in danger of, and I don't decide how they react. If I could have asked for a magical power upgrade, that's what I would pick.
    Halfway to the portal a scorching ball of flame flew by my head. The wall ignited. His fight-or-flight response had come down hard on the side of fight.
    Dragons.
    I spun around fast enough to give myself whiplash. I didn't dare continue running when I couldn't see the next burning ball of death headed my way. And it was a good thing I hadn't tried. The second fireball was aimed square at my middle. I barely avoided it by throwing myself to the floor. Without a thought, one of those unassuming, shiny white balls of death appeared in my palm. It took all the willpower I could muster to quash it. I wasn't about to murder someone who was defending his home after I tried to rob him, dragon or not. It was too fitting that the death light struggled so hard to stay lit when I was on a mission to learn how to control it once and for all. My palm safely dark, and hopefully remaining that way, I rolled to one side, anticipating the next strike. It never came.
    "No, no, no." Owen paced back and forth, fire wreathing both his hands. "Not again. I won't do it again." He looked at me, abject terror turning his features boyish once more. "Run!"
    He didn't have to tell me twice. I darted through the portal and out of his office without so much as a backward glance. It wasn't until screams erupted in the club that I realized I hadn't stopped projecting fear. I swallowed the magic down, though I still felt the dread. Who knew how far behind Owen was? The screaming stopped and the club returned to normal, though I garnered a few stares as I crossed the building and ducked out the exit. I gave myself a moment to check my body over for obvious wounds and didn't find any. Relief washed through me. I took a deep breath and scented the magic filling the city, crisp night air, and burnt hair. Again? My hair had started the evening tightly secured to my head. It should have been safe. I couldn't be too upset about it though; it wasn't flesh. Another few inches and I would have been toast. Burnt toast.
    Life of the Phantom Queen had fared well in the top of my dress, even if the corners had jabbed me a few times during the fight. I felt a twinge of longing for all the other books I'd lost, but it was silly greed, and I let it go. I had acquired the target. It was a win, there was no doubt about it. So why didn't I feel inclined to celebrate? No one was behind me. I'd gotten away safely. Still, something felt off. My hand drifted to my neck and I felt the curious sensation of cool metal, then it was gone. I shook my head. No, I wouldn't let some vague feeling kill the buzz. I unlocked my phone and called a cab while I walked back to the entrance to the mortal realm. Volarus was technically part of Faerie, but some fae young enough to care had performed magic way above my pay grade that allowed phones to work; a fact I was continually grateful for. Best not to hang around with a crazed dragon on my tail. That was becoming a pattern: me fleeing from dragonfire. Fucking dragons.
     

 
     
     
    CHAPTER EIGHT
     
     
    I stepped off the elevator at The Arbor, already dreading what Phoebe had done in my absence. Now that the adrenaline had burned away I was feeling the full extent of my injuries from the brief battle. That was the polite way of saying that my body ached like I'd been hit by a troll fart. Talk about concussive force. I wanted to climb into a hot bath and relax while I leafed