“I’d like my crystal now.” Voice flat, eyes flatter, Novalight clearly thought he’d get what he wanted now that he’d deigned to show up himself.

“What crystal?” Sophie asked. “Who are you?” She was a surprisingly good actress. Piers doubted anyone but he heard the slight reediness in her voice or noticed how her eyes dilated.

“My crystal.” Novalight held up a hand to keep his guards in place when they started forward. “Don’t play stupid, Ms. Iraklidis. We both know you’re not.”

“Fine.” Sophie’s chin notched up. “How did you find me?”

“I have endless resources, and you’re not exactly the queen of stealth.” Tall and easily in his fourth decade, Novalight looked as if he might put up a decent fight. Thick jowls gave him a heavy-set appearance, but Piers wasn’t fooled. There was at least some muscle beneath that bulk.

Sophie stared Novalight down. A small tremor jumped from her fingers to Piers’s, and he tightened his grip on her hand. “It’s not yours,” she said.

“It is mine. I found it. I own an archeological site on a Mediterranean island that’s coming closer and closer to being declared the lost city of Atlantis.”

Piers scoffed. Atlantis wasn’t lost. It was another world—like this one.

Novalight swung an annoyed look on him. “Do you have something to add?”

“More of a question,” Piers said. “What do you plan to do with it?”

“Study it. Reveal its potential. Use it.” It was impossible to miss the power-hungry gleam in Novalight’s eyes. He obviously knew the shard was important, but Piers doubted the man would know magic if it kicked him in the forehead. He must believe the shard could unlock some other prize.

“For what?” Sophie demanded.

“For whatever I deem necessary.”

“Spoken like a true psychopath,” she muttered.

“I’ve had just about enough of you, young woman.” Novalight’s expression hardened. Piers figured the man had been trying to seem non-threatening up until then, but Novalight dropped the act faster than Icarus fell from the sky. “I thought you’d get scared and give up, but then this guy showed up and put me in a difficult position. I’m not a bad person. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“So don’t.” Sophie hid it well, but Piers felt her shudder.

Rage ignited inside him. How dare this asshole threaten Sophie?

He released her hand, preparing for battle. Novalight might not be the type to get his own hands dirty, but Piers had no problem with bloody knuckles, especially if the blood was Novalight’s.

“Then give me what’s mine.” The scientist was done playing. That was clear to everyone.

“You killed my friend.” Sophie sucked in a breath. Tears gleamed in her eyes.

Piers curled his hands into fists. Did Novalight think several-to-one odds intimidated him? Because they didn’t.