Tempting the billionaire

g of Blackthorn Corp was unlike

, where magic was studied like science and wielded like weaponry. Spells glowed inside suspended spheres,

as a floating table, orbi

approached

t," a voice said before s

tu

a mechanical eye smirked at her. Her bad

I'd be babysittin

le. "I was told you were tes

projector. "Fine. Try it out. But if it turns

a crystalline spine, with runes embedded along

rface. Stat

roat w

dn't a

laid her hand

pu

him

nd her twisted

s standing in he

ls were

hrough the br

amed from a room upstai

ove, but her feet st

erged from

ther. Not

rs

e version

. Barefoot. Blood on her p

e," the ima

ised we'd

a's hear

't just a

a rec

released her, she

but didn't offer h

stood, bre

that?" s

otion, subconscious desire. It's not perfe

. "You're developing

dryly. "Public

cou

uld hav

other word. The image of her youn

waiting in

led the p

ly. She paced instead, her

ith something dan

ange. "Everything worth

e my min

said. "I need someone who

"You keep talking li

between them with slow, delibera

eyes l

a tech empire that studies magic instead of j

er chin. "Yo

nt to destroy everything magic stands for. They want to rewrite

eath c

id it aloud.

wait for c

you're going to stay, you'll need to decide where your loya

loser, hear

n't tru

I underst

nothing left. You smile like it's a weapon. And you stare

ips p

same about you,

, slow an

e turn

e p.m. sharp. East wing. And dre

door cloaked by enchantment. She wore black silk,

ened before

ressed in shadows and s

u c

ask

was not a

s a v

ot fo

know

burned

ated in conta

ring etched with blood-g

it?" sh

. "It will protect y

ld I nee

t her

mpany is working for the pe

vanished b

ha

g you," he said. "

e ring in her pa

usion testing," she sa

," he c

embled. "And

ave walked out

. Shallo

oser. Not as CEO.

ething

he refused t

a. I need you angry. But mo

e ring onto

a quiet warmth spread t

at moment

t caught in hi

ecoming p