Mystic Militia Read Online Free PDF Page B

the envelope and I’ll sit here for exactly five minutes.” She could endure anything for five minutes if it meant Ryan would be out of her life permanently.
    He sighed clearly frustrated by her persistence. “Elements of Illusion.” He quickly began his explanation, though his hand still rested on the envelope. “Water is the new rage up and down the Strip. All of the shows are incorporating some sort of aquatics into their acts. I want to take the concept a step further.”
    “Let him talk,” Jillian said. “I’m intrigued.”
    She shot her friend an annoyed look, but didn’t interrupt Ryan.
    “I want to feature all four elements, water, fire, earth and air. And I want to weave it all around some sort of story.” He moved his hand and she slid the envelope to her side of the table. When she didn’t immediately push back her chair and leave, he went on. “I’ve already started working on the illusions.” He reached inside his jacket and pulled out three stubby candles.
    “Seriously?” She picked up the envelope and moved it to her lap. “Any street corner hack can light a candle.”
    “Can they do this?” He made a dramatic gesture toward the first candle. It sputtered to life with a suspicious sizzle, but he didn’t stop there. He moved his hand closer and snapped his fingers then pointed toward the second candle. The flame jumped to the second candle and the first blinked out.
    “Okay, that was sort of cool,” Tori admitted begrudgingly.
    “Obviously the candles would be huge, the flames massive.” Ryan became more animated as he gained momentum.
    “Make it jump again,” Jillian encouraged, obviously captivated by the illusion.
    Ryan snapped near the second candle and pointed to the third. The flame flickered then extinguished. “Damn it.”
    Tori felt too sorry for him to laugh, but she’d seen enough. “Come on, Jill. We both have better things to do.”
    “Wait,” Ryan cried. “It worked perfectly at home. Just let me set it up again and…”
    The casino hunks chose that moment to walk past their table. Jillian and Tori both turned their heads, following the progress of the men. The blond paused beside them and smiled at Tori. He made a sweeping motion toward the candles and all three flared to life. The candles blinked out just as fast as they’d erupted. Then a single flame jumped from wick to wick, illuminating all three candles in turn before leaping into the air and disappearing in a burst of sizzling sparks.
    “Amateurs.” He looked pointedly at Ryan, chuckled, then followed his dark-haired friend from the lounge.
    “Oh my God. Did you see that?” Jillian cried as applause erupted all over the lounge. Apparently everyone present had seen the impromptu performance.
    The stranger didn’t look back and Tori’s heart sank. Why couldn’t he have been a construction worker or an accountant? There was no way in hell she would open her heart to another magician!
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    “That was incredibly foolish,” Allenton snapped as Lor hurried to keep up with him.
    They rushed across the casino as if they were being pursued. Was Allenton afraid the females would chase them down? Lor was not at all upset by the possibility. He refused to be infected by the Shadow Assassin’s annoyance. The look on the redhead’s face had been worth whatever commotion his actions created. He couldn’t get her image out of his mind.
    He’d felt something odd in the casino and turned to find her staring at him. Then he’d felt a pulse of awareness more powerful than he’d ever experienced before. She had lovely hair, thick and wavy, a rich auburn that only revealed its fire in a certain light. He wanted to tangle his fingers in that silky-looking hair as he kissed her senseless. She’d gasp, then moan as her human resistance gradually surrendered to the inevitable power of their…
    Inevitable? Why did he feel so certain that was true?
    “No harm was done,” Lor insisted.