Corrupted Magic is the second book in the Grimoire Society of Dark Acts series. Episode 31 is up on my Patreon—it’s pay-what-you-like—and it’ll go up three days later on Kindle Vella. Here’s an excerpt from this latest episode.
Knox meets an important member of the Ruin Rats and gets an unexpected offer.
In my Patreon post, you’ll get exclusive content, why the Know Nothing Party was called such a strange name.
What Corrupted Magic is about:
Grimoire Society of Dark Acts’s hard-won defeat of the brutal Harpe brothers should have been a relief… But through a forced double blood-binding, Gertrude disappears right in front of their eyes. The Ruin Rats, a vicious magical street gang, is out for Dark Acts’s blood. Knox calls on the deadly gang from his past for help, but is the physical cost too high to pay? As if that’s not enough, a new corrupt form of magic is throwing the entire magical universe off balance.
Episode 31: Parasitic Magic
KNOX
“About time we met, eh?” the Ruin Rat said, his voice low and scratchy.
Knox kept his face unmoved, hiding his surprise. Grimoire Assassins combining their efforts with the Ruin Rats was deadly. His men were in greater danger than he’d anticipated, everyone was. Or perhaps not—as long as he could control himself and avoid using magic.
Sean, Patrick, and O’Sullivan flanked Knox instead of staying behind him. Good. Regardless of how much Knox had changed over the years, it felt good to have these men with him, men who shared the same instincts and experiences as him.
“But you shouldn’t have brought these people with you,” the magical gang member continued. “This is really about you. Those kinds”—he nodded a head full of thick black hair at Knox’s men—“don’t belong. Perhaps magic can be cultivated in them, but Irishmen aren’t welcome here.”
Starting right out with that stuff, huh? Bad choice. But at least I know where ya stand. Knox pounded his fist into his opposite hand. “Wanna repeat that?”
The Ruin Rat pointed his index finger at Knox. “I’m being generous. I could wither these men in an instant.”
“Ya feebling, show your weapons and fight like a real man,” Sean spewed, whipping a short length of rope from his pocket and slamming its lead-weighted monkey’s fist knot onto his open palm. A slungshot just like Knox’s. “None of this magic stuff. That’s too easy. Weapons…or if ya dare, hand to hand.”
“Cabbage-garden patriot,” O’Sullivan mumbled angrily. Knox didn’t see this gang member as a coward, but hiding behind magic certainly showed he had no confidence in his brawling abilities. Could he be high enough in the ranks to have lost his touch with magicless fighting?
The Ruin Rat gave a condescending laugh, looking down his thin nose, but before he could finish, Patrick lunged forward and slashed his upper arm with the straight razor, pulling back quickly. The Ruin Rat gave an alarmed shout.
This guy was definitely out of practice. Shoulda seen that coming a mile away.
Patrick raised his razor to show the blood coating it. “Your arrogance is showin’,” he said through his thick Irish accent.
Enjoyed this excerpt? Please join my Patreon to continue the story—it’s pay-what-you-like, and Patreon gets all episodes first before any other platform, plus exclusive details no one else will ever know about!
You can also head over to Amazon to read and like this episode. While you’re there, hit +Follow on Corrupted Magic so you’re always notified when there’s a new episode: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7GGRRQ7/
© Christie Stratos 2023