Blurb:
Stealing his heart.
As a thief and a warlock, Noah survives by using his wit and charm to prey on the privileged. His dangerous criminal boss wants an enchanted dagger belonging to a family of wealthy mages, including their pampered—but handsome—son, Ben. Failing to complete the job will be hazardous to Noah’s survival.
Noah bumps into Ben at a lavish party, and as soon as they meet, the connection’s undeniable, and it goes much further than ordinary attraction. Their bond reaches into their souls, entwining and changing their magic.
Which Noah thinks he can use to get to the dagger. After all, he isn’t sure this soul bond Ben seems so obsessed with is even real.
He also doesn’t count on being caught red-handed…. Or falling in love.
“Noah, wait!” Ben hissed as he pushed Uncle David away.
The slight blond man was already threading his way through the partiers, disappearing faster than booze in Uncle David’s possession. People moved out of Ben’s way, but not fast enough for him to catch up. In a mere half minute, he lost Noah. All he had left was a newly minted memory.
What a one it was. Ben had spotted Noah while he wore a waiter’s jacket. With his narrow frame and messy brown hair, Noah became an early contender in Ben’s usual hunt for a partner. The only hurdle was he was a member of staff. When he emerged from the bathrooms with blond hair, changed from staff to party crasher, Ben was certain he’d found someone interesting.
He never would have guessed Noah might be the one he had spent so long searching for. After so many hookups and bad dates, Ben had been afraid he’d never feel that rush of magic compatibility again. Years had passed since anyone’s magic caused more than a flicker in Ben’s. Every time he touched Noah, a blaze roared through him. The logistics of dating someone outside the Circle would be a nightmare discussion with his father, but Ben would worry about that later. He had to find Noah.
Casting a tracer spell in a crowd would push past the limits of Elias’s tolerance. Ben loved getting under his father’s skin, but a prince-chasing-Cinderevan moment in full view of the Enduring and their guests would be a step too far. On top of that, Elias would burst several veins if he discovered his son had knowingly entertained a warlock.
No doubt Noah was an unlicensed practitioner. The House Warren colors had been a dead giveaway more than the party crashing. Chicago warlocks tended to take on the identity of their master’s former house whenever they interrupted the mages’ gatherings. Security usually scrutinized a Warren long enough that Ben needed to soothe more than a few egos at each Coldwell party.
Come to think of it, Ben should turn Noah over to security. But warlocks discovered breaking the Circle’s rules didn’t last long. Noah was bold on top of handsome— all the lightweight hotness Ben wanted to seduce.
He had to be somewhere in this mess of people.
The bathrooms. Noah had changed there before. Maybe he sought shelter in them again. Hope waltzed through Ben as he hurried. A private moment would work out in his favor. He pushed open the door.
The strong smell of burnt ozone greeted him, but otherwise the bathroom was empty. Ben checked the stalls. Still no one. He slapped his hand against the marble counter and glowered at his reflection. Anger charged his stare, and he counted backward before he accidentally broke something. Merciful fates, he hadn’t been that impulsively strong since puberty.
Thrice damn Uncle David and his drunken mouth. A party crasher wanted to avoid the attention of the host’s son. And he had been so close. The almost-kiss teased at Ben’s lips. Touching had been exciting. Full contact with someone who could raise his magic with a soulful look would be a bliss he didn’t know. Ben clenched his fists. Thrice times thrice damn his uncle.
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JS Harker loves stories. She was one of those kids who always had a book in her hands and spent many hours adventuring with her siblings. These days she wanders into her imaginary worlds and conjures up tales of magic, passion, and happily-ever-afters. She currently lives in the part of the Midwest that makes Tatooine look interesting by comparison (not that she’s ever obsessively thought about becoming a Jedi or anything).
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