Hidden Spark (Dark Magic Enforcer Book 6) by Al K. Line

open passage as I nodded in that direction. Head snapping back around, it roared, impossible to tell if it was saying thanks or was still gonna chew all our bits until only gristle remained.
    "Go on, we can't hold it off for much longer. Now or never, your choice."
    Seemingly having made up its mind, it came for me, but as it stepped close and I readied for destruction, it nodded once on impossibly thick neck muscles, turned, and was gone, lumbering down the hall and disappearing.
    I had no doubt it would fade from the world of dwarves, back into its own layer of existence. Just a little removed from this reality but close enough to break through if it had to, certainly easy to summon by anyone with a good base in magic use.
    Straightening my tie, and putting a hand through my hair, I turned and stepped up to the plain wooden door.
    Time to work the old charm on a dragon.
    "Awesome. This keeps getting better!" said Mithnite, stepping forward to join me, looking done for already. As if on cue, his face became a mask of pain and he collapsed, curling up into a ball and crying out for help, for it to all be over.
    It brought back so many memories, seeing him like that. Such pain you endure when young and first learning how to master the Empty. It's a wonder any of us continue, but that's the draw of such power—you will always come back for more, no matter the cost.
    Mithnite recovered relatively quickly. Face covered in sweat, he clambered to his feet, brushed himself down, and soon enough was standing beside me, resolute. His payback made me aware of how little I hurt, that I could carry on and felt no real comedown. Just as well, given the circumstances.
    "That was pretty scary. That thing was huge!"
    "Just another day in the life. Get used to it. You sure this is going to be your kind of thing?"
    "Too right, man, I can't wait."
    Mithnite's eyes were bright and glassy. He was hyped up on the violence, itching to become more involved. I'd seen the look before, back when I was his age staring in the mirror, just thinking about how much of a badass I'd be in the future. Chasing down the bad guys and doling out my own particular brand of punishment.
    Hell, what had I let myself in for?
    "Just stay behind me," I warned as I reached for the door.

 
     
     
     
    An Undramatic Entrance
    "Hold on!" shouted Mithnite, grabbing my arm.
    "What?" I said, annoyed at the interruption.
    "It might be waiting for us. What if it breathes fire at us the moment we open the door?" He looked freaked, the comedown from the violence replaced with anxiety.
    "There's always something nasty behind the door. You just gotta be prepared." I felt like a damn teacher, him continually interrupting my flow, having to explain why I did things. It wasn't good. He kept making me question my actions when normally I just ride the wave of magic and see where it brings me.
    "Okay," Mithnite replied sulkily, reluctantly moving his slightly shaking hand away.
    "Hell, give me some room, will you?" He was too close, his breath on my face, cramping my style and my ability to react quickly should the need arise.
    "Sorry." He stepped back, and behind me—at least he wasn't stupid.
    "It's okay, my fault." This was going to take some serious getting used to. I was out of line, had to learn how to relax and deal with someone less experienced than myself.
    I felt anxious turning the handle on the door now he'd broken my focus, interrupting the flow of the narrative I realized I pretty much always had running—body primed for whatever would come next, me anticipating the worst, all happening on an instinctive level. Now there at the fore because of his interruption. I would definitely have to have words. I just wasn't sure if it was him or me that needed the telling off.
    The door pushed open a hand's breadth then held fast. We exchanged glances and with a shrug I put my shoulder to it, trying to push past whatever was blocking it. It hardly moved, so Mithnite helped, both of