Double Alchemy: Climax by Susan Mac Nicol

roasting.
    Valensia cried out in pain and disbelief. He stopped his energy flow and released her wrist. She stepped back with a wide-eyed look, holding her singed wrist in her hands. He was surprised when she didn’t respond with any counterattack of her own.
    Well done. I have long wanted to do that . Taliesin’s voice was satisfied.
    “You’re a real bitch,” Quinn took a deep, shuddering breath, aware that his headache had suddenly sprung up from nowhere and that meant the nosebleeds weren’t too far off. “You have no fucking heart. You’re a complete narcissist and there’s no bloody room in your life for anyone else. It’s why you don’t have anybody. It’s why they all leave you in the end.”
    There was a slow tickle under his nose and he raised his hand to wipe away the blood, eyeing out the streak of crimson on his hand with a detached air.
    Valensia watched him, her eyes narrowed.
    “In answer to your question—no, I’d never give Cade up. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me and if I have to make a choice it would be him every time. He’s warm, passionate and he makes me laugh. And he really loves me. He doesn’t simply want to mount me like a trophy on his wall—or just mount me, full stop.”
    Quinn’s voice was deadly quiet. “So you can keep your fucking book.” He laughed nastily. “I was a fool to think we could have a reasonable conversation with both of our kinds’ best interests at heart. You haven’t changed, Valensia. But I have.”
    He turned and strode angrily to the door, opening it and taking the stairs two at a time. The receptionist smiled at him as he left and he ignored her, pulling the wide glass door open with all his strength, feeling very disappointed when it didn’t slam because of the runners on the door that softly closed it.
    Well spoken. We will find another way. His Withinner’s voice was resigned.
    Quinn stood outside in the sunlight, wiping away more blood that dribbled into his mouth. He swore loudly and hunted for a handkerchief in his pocket. Someone came up behind him and he turned swiftly, his sudden aggression draining away when he saw who stood behind him. Valensia silently handed him a tissue and he nodded his thanks as he held it to his nose.
    “Why are you having those nosebleeds?” she asked quietly, and he swore he saw concern in her eyes.
    He shrugged. “It’s a leftover of a Withinner Unity, a witch hex and a Warlock battle. Unfortunately it’s left my brain a little scrambled. What do you want?”
    She held out her hand and handed him a book covered in plastic. His eyes narrowed and he regarded her in suspicion but made no move to take the book. “Is that what I think it is? And if it is, why are you giving it to me? What’s the catch?”
    “It’s the book you fucking wanted, so take it before I change my mind!” She spat fiercely. “Study it then let me have it back. There’s no catch. Just promise to keep me informed of what you find. That’s all I ask.”
    She thrust it into his hand and spun around, marching toward the building.
    Quinn called out after her. “Valensia?”
    She stopped and hesitated, not wanting to turn around. But finally she did so, slowly.
    “I was wrong. You have changed. Thank you.”
    She is more now than the woman we knew, Quinn.
    Taliesin’s voice sounded regretful, even slightly sad. Quinn wondered what his Withinner had gotten into with this woman. Valensia nodded curtly and disappeared back into the building. Quinn stood there for a moment then went down to the car park for the drive home.

Chapter 8
    When he got home, he smiled as he saw the blind at the front window twitch. The front door opened and a lean, tall frame lounged lazily against the door frame watching Quinn walk up the path. Cade laughed as Quinn bowed low.
    “Home safe, my Queen. I promised, didn’t I?”
    Cade smiled at him, eyes amused, then drew closer, his eyes narrowed in anger. “What did that she-devil do to your