Ritual Magic Read Free Page A

future.
    "Oh," she dusted off her hands as if she had
just magicked them away, "Dad actually had them made especially for
me and my size. They are absolute perfection to hold, and their
construction is just as precise. Being forged with silver, they are
deadly to vampires and demons when you strike them through the
heart or decapitate them." She smiled slyly. "Like those jerks
today on the beach."
    I paused for a second, thinking about the
disgusting trio that we had met earlier on the beach. My mind
recalled every single detail about the experience, including the
distinctive desire that I had to scream like a little girl and
throw myself into the sea to drown myself. Well, maybe it hadn't
been that bad.
    "Hmmm, interesting." I honestly appreciated
knowing that my daughter could kick a demon's butt. I liked it very
much. "Demons..." I thought about it for a minute, playing with the
word on my lips before my body took over and I found myself jumping
to my feet, my body rigid with a flash of fierce anger.
    "LEO!" My ears rang with the name of the
demon, "Get the HELL in here! I want you here now! I have to TALK to you!"
    There was a brief moment of silence as my
eyes flicked from left to right to look for Leo as he entered the
room. But there was nothing...only silence.
    "Mom, geesh! You know that Babbo is not
allowed to come into the beach house—demon blood, remember?"
    I shook with anger for a few seconds and it
slowly dawned on me that I had been acting foolishly. "Oh
yeah."
    Taking a cleansing breath, I lowered my
voice and made my tone as welcoming as I could...considering,
"Leonzio Emilio Castillion, I invite you to come to the beach house tonight only. " I paused to take a swift breath before
continuing. "You'd better damned well come to speak to me—I have an URGENT question!" Okay, I wasn't very nice at the end but
hey, I was angry!
    There was a soft rustle of fabric near the
far corner where the shadows were gathered and Leo, gorgeous, dark
and sleek, stepped out in a perfectly fitted Armani suit as if he
were entering a photo shoot for an elite men's magazine.
    His eyes sparkled with a bright, rich red as
he strode towards me and didn't break step before sweeping me into
a warm embrace, lifting me slightly off of the ground as he purred.
"I knew that you would miss me before too long, my love. You can't
stay away, no?"
    His smell permeated the air around me—rich,
aromatic, sensual and all man, beating me senseless with the sheer
maleness of it all. My hands gathered on the lapels of his jacket
as my hands fisted and began to push his intimidating body away
from me. This was where being a determined female was going to come
in handy.
    A sharp, short cough came from the direction
of the couch and we both stopped where we stood. Leo's eyes darted
over to Cora and he slowly began to release me, even though it was
obvious he was only doing so because of her. He was reluctant to
let me go and his body twitched as if he was afraid something was
going to attack. Eyeing Cora up and down, he tilted his head to the
side and narrowed his eyes, looking more dangerous than he ever had
in the past.
    "Do I know you? You seem oddly
familiar." A deep frown creased his forehead and it occurred to me
that he appeared uneasy.
    "Yes, Babbo, it's me, Cora."
    Leo stood rigid, his body adding to the
sharp lines of his suit as he glared at Cora and immediately
hissed.
    Uh, oh! We were going to have a come to
Jesus meeting, and soon!

2
    Cora smiled sweetly at Leo as she slowly
inched over to the shadowed end of the living room couch, clearly
preparing herself for what was to come. Her actions looked as if
she was simply making room for him as she scooted more and more to
the far end, but I figured that she intended something else. The
reassuring smile she offered Leo never left her face, but a bright
twinkle began to dance in her eyes as she eyed him thoughtfully.
Her smile twitched and I could see Leo's eyes narrow even