by Trina M. Lee
Attractions were bound to form in situations like ours, forced to live, train, and fight together. Of course I couldn’t help but wonder about the strong, quiet werewolf who read all the time and had wings tattooed on his back.
But I already let myself feel for someone in the house. Despite how much I told myself it was just a silly fling, it wasn’t. I genuinely cared for Rayne, and the vulnerability of genuine emotion left me wary.
For now, I was happy just to be Corr’s friend.
Working as a team, we finally reached the cemetery gates without incident. We needed a better entrance. The cemetery spanned several city blocks, large enough to get lost in the heavy foliage. Driving paths allowed for vehicular traffic, but on foot one could slip through the place unseen. A small forest of trees gave the graveyard a serene vibe, allowing mourners to leave the city behind. We selected a nigh-hidden section of wrought iron fence and climbed over.
Once inside the graveyard we stopped behind a tall headstone to assess the situation. Still holding hands, Corr and I stood face to face, speaking in low tones. Rayne and Dalyn were unlikely to get the drop on us, though one could never be sure with witchy magic. Ghost and Tavi though…
“What now?” I asked, feeling antsy, like I needed to keep on the move.
With a calm smile and a quirk of a brow, Corr said, “We wait.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CORR
Try as I might to convince myself otherwise, I desperately wanted to know how Blaze smelled. So I might have dipped my head toward hers to get a sniff. Mostly I detected her hair products. I shouldn’t be so disappointed. Vampires didn’t have their own scent; they created one with whatever aromas they chose.
Maybe humans considered that urge weird. Not a werewolf. Scent was part of imprinting someone on my memory, and such sensory details were vital for survival as a werewolf. We shared a lot of information through scent. With the approaching full moon amping me up, my senses were on overload.
For instance, I could smell Nova on her, his testosterone-heavy musk laden with desire. He wore it like a cologne. Came with the territory I supposed. More often than not lately, Blaze smelled like Rayne. Just one of many reasons why I couldn’t let myself continue to feel this attraction to her, though clutching her skin-to-skin only strengthened my desires.
Was I clutching? Fuck me. Easing my grip on her deceptively delicate-looking hand, I forced a tight smile. Why did I suck so hard at just being around people? Around Blaze I felt like I was in the fifth grade again, dorking out over Lizzie Turner, my first crush. She never knew I existed.
Blaze knew. I’d seen her pupils dilate with excitement when we trained in the gym together. She’d made more of an effort to get to know me than anyone else in the house. And I wasn’t the easiest guy to get to know.
I’d been a lone wolf long before I’d become one. Once my parents died I retreated into myself and into the fictional worlds that held me captive. The stories helped to push the real world aside for a while. But the more I disappeared into them, the harder it was to come back. I didn’t know how to relate to the world around me anymore. Soon it was easier to retreat and avoid.
Then The Circle of the Veil found me. I thought reality sucked before. Well, Mayhem House wasn’t all bad. There was Blaze, a rare light in the darkness. All things considered, my fellow housemates weren’t entirely awful. Our situation, however, certainly was.
“Ask me another question,” I heard myself say. Pressing my back flat against the large headstone we hid behind, I scanned the copse of trees ahead.
“Huh?” Brow furrowed in confusion, Blaze dragged her gaze back to me. We were both on high alert. “Oh, I thought the werewolf didn’t answer the questions.”
The closest of the cemetery’s many streetlights cast its glow on the other side of the headstone, leaving us in shadow. But I didn’t need much light to see the way her blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
She nailed me in the ribs with a finger, making me jerk from the sudden tickle. “All right. Keeping it fair, how long have you been a wolf?”
I sincerely doubted she wanted to know that, but Blaze was too nice to pry. Everyone had a story. Some of us, like Blaze, had been happy to share what landed them at Mayhem House.
I wasn’t quite so candid. Not because I regretted what I’d done to land myself here alongside the others, but because unlike some of them, I deserved this.
“Six years. Since I was nineteen. I was on the streets then, an easy target.” Too easy. I was such an ignorant little dumbass. I still didn’t know how I survived my first turn.
After losing my parents, my will to live grew, even if I didn’t know how to navigate this world. You learn or you die. That’s how it was among those who hunt in the night. Hunting alone for so long had made me numb. Being forced to work with others was changing that, making me feel again. I still hadn’t decided if I was cool with the adjustment.
“Ask me something else,” I whispered as a lump formed in my throat. Why did I insist on doing this to myself?
At the first sign that I might be feeling anything toward anyone around me, I ran. But I couldn’t run now. Not without being hunted and killed by those I served. So I flirted with the idea of getting to know the people forced into this role with me. And the more I thought about getting to know this foxy redhead, the more I was sure it was a mistake.
If Blaze sensed my internal struggle, she didn’t show it. She seemed to understand that this was my way of trying to be something I didn’t know how to be: friends.
“What did The Circle bring you in for?” came Blaze’s throaty whisper, her real question. She watched me in the dark.
I wanted to tell her, or some part of me did. Maybe I would have if the snap of a twig didn’t inform us that we weren’t alone. Lifting my nose to sniff the slight summer breeze, I searched the night air for information.
Unable to catch the scent of whomever was out there, I started to tug my shirt off. Being able to slink through the headstones on four legs would give me an advantage over two. Reluctantly releasing Blaze’s hand, I explained, “Someone’s coming. I’m going to shift.”
Blaze nodded and politely averted her gaze while I quickly disrobed, leaving my clothes in a pile at the base of the headstone. I dropped to all fours. The shift came over me fast and smooth. Unfortunately, it hurt like hell. At least it took only a few seconds.
Blaze’s hand grabbed hold of the tip of my tail as she again blanketed our energy in her protective shield. Our gazes locked, and without the need for words, we agreed. Together we left our shadowed spot behind the headstone and crept toward the sound we’d heard.
As we drew closer I picked up the familiar scent of Dalyn. She and Rayne couldn’t be far. The tips of my ears flicked back and forth as I listened for any noise behind us. It would suck ass to get caught off guard now.
We glided between the trees, pausing to search the graveyard ahead before stepping into view of anyone who might be about. No sign of Dalyn. Nose to the ground, I searched for her. Nothing. Nose to the air, the faintest wisp.
Blaze and I exchanged a nod: The coast was clear, so go ahead.
She shrugged. Just as she was about to take a step into the clearing of headstones before us, I caught the hem of her shirt in my teeth and jerked her to a stop.
Seconds later both Dalyn and Rayne came into view. He’d gone wolf as well. They veered toward the small roadway, headed for the shelter of trees on the other side. They were ours and we’d found them.
With no sign of Ghost or Tavi, were we about to win this thing?
Moving in unison, Blaze and I slunk after them. They never saw us coming. We closed the gap with them none the wiser. Until Ghost and Tavi descended upon the four of us like two snakes in the grass, unseen until it was too late.
Coming up on either side, Ghost swooped in on Blaze while Tavi came at me.
Tavi, still in human form, hit me with a body check that was nothing to laugh at. It bowled me over, taking
my feet out from beneath me. A surprised snarl erupted from my throat.
Ghost hit Blaze with a telekinetic attack. Nothing heavy, just enough to knock her down. It never should have been a problem. Nothing more than a scraped knee at worst.
Except she fell on the jagged pieces of an old, crumbling headstone.
Blaze’s blood on the air was the only warning we got. As she stood up with her cut palm dripping, she shook her head vigorously, eyes wild. The rest of us already scrambled to get out of the line of fire.
A small explosion went off behind me as I dashed through the headstones. Skidding to a stop, I glanced back. Half a dozen headstones had exploded. Chunks of stone lay strewn about. Blaze stood in the center, clenching her bloody hand tight. She appeared unharmed.
Thankfully, so did everyone else. That didn’t stop Blaze from lashing out in anger. She directed the next jolt of power at the shrapnel littered about, blowing it into smaller pieces.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she shouted, shaking her bleeding hand before wiping it on her pants.
When I was certain the worst was over, I eased up beside her, nuzzling her cut hand with my nose. Blaze’s other hand found its way into my fur. Her fingers buried deep in my thick hide, and I leaned into her touch.
Shoulders slumped, she gave a frustrated sigh and motioned to Ghost and Tavi. “Looks like you two win.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Actually, I’d rather not,” I called through the door. “I’m not in the mood.”
Leaning against my closed and locked bedroom door would do nothing to keep Nova out, but the idea of holding him at bay made me feel better. After last night’s little blunder, I was in a shit state of mind. Since we’d gotten back to the house, I’d been holed up in my room alone.
“You know this door means nothing. Don’t you think it might be better if you come out?” The dark lilt to Nova’s sensual tone sent a prickle along my spine. “We’re going to work on symbol magic tonight whether you like it or not. So we can do this the hard way or the harder way. Your choice.”
“Son of a bitch.” My head fell back against the door with a thud. “Just give me a minute.”
“Starting now.”
Nova’s sharp insistence had me spinning to flip both middle fingers at the closed door. Knowing that he’d time that minute down to the second, I enjoyed every single one of them as I splashed some water on my face and dragged a brush through my hair. I hadn’t needed the minute to get physically ready. Just mentally. But a lifetime of minutes would never be enough.
My confidence had never been so shaken. In the past I’d only had myself to worry about, if and when my blood magic boiled over. Now others stood at my side, people I didn’t want to hurt. Too many times I’d come too close. I was a liability and Nova knew it. Why else would he be at my door moments after sunset?
I dragged the door open with a second to spare. Nova stood in the hallway, arms crossed, staring out the open doors of the balcony just off the third floor sitting area, onto the backyard and the pool below. The two smaller balconies that faced the front of the house were in the bedrooms of Ghost and Tavi. Since my room was tucked into the corner facing the backyard, I had no balcony, but I did have a great view, especially when Rayne was in the pool.
“Come on.” Nova snapped into motion, ushering me toward the stairs. “You wanted to work on your magic. Well, that’s what we’re going to do.”
“Do we have to?” I muttered, more to myself than to him. When he drew near enough to touch, my feet started moving me quickly down the stairs. It wasn’t safe to be that close.
In awkward silence we descended three flights of stairs to the basement. Passing Rayne on the main floor as we turned the corner to the basement, our eyes locked. His concern reminded me why I had to do this. Nova paused to utter an order about keeping everyone out of the witches’ library for their own safety.
Not at all reassured by that, I let Nova lead the rest of the way. When the demon closed us in the library, I didn’t feel that same sense of panic as last time. No, I felt determined. I cared about my team, and I vowed to do whatever it took to ensure that, of all the dangers they faced every night, I’d be no longer among them.
Nova snapped his fingers, and the fire in the hearth roared to life. “I understand why you’re upset about last night, but hiding out licking your wounds won’t help you fix the problem. You called me out on my avoidance, but you can’t avoid your weaknesses either. If I’m going to help you—really help you—then you have to be willing. And you have to trust me.”
“I’m here, Nova. That’s as willing as I can get. School me.” Throwing both hands wide, I strode over to the fire, close enough to feel its warmth on my face. “I can’t make any promises on the trust though.”
I glanced over at him in time to see his lips purse and head shake, like he inwardly talked himself out of whatever he wanted to say in return. Instead he held a hand toward the arched doorway that led into the magic circle.
“Shall we?” Without waiting for me, Nova entered the adjoining room.
I watched the flames dance and flicker for a few seconds more before following. Tension gripped me as I stepped into the circle where Nova knelt in the center. Waving a hand over the middle of the pentagram, several items appeared: four iron medallions, like runes with various symbols etched into the metal but nothing that I’d ever seen before; a gold amulet in the shape of a star, a red and orange stone gleaming in the middle; and something that looked like black chalk.
I sank to my knees opposite Nova, listening attentively as he explained each item. Touching the runic stones, he said, “Learn these symbols and they could save you. Draw them anywhere, with anything, then activate them with your blood. They’ll channel your blood magic into form. Specific form.”
“Sounds too good to be true but go on.” I pointed at the black chalk. “Is that what I draw them with?”
“It can be. You can draw them with anything. Your finger in the dirt if necessary. Even your blood itself. But it doesn’t hurt to have something on hand.” Nova flicked each of the runes across the floor toward me, one at a time, naming them all. “Protection. Grounding. Illusion. Strength. Not that you need more strength. You’ve already got enough to throw me on my ass.” Nova caught my eye and winked.
A wave of lust-driven heat rolled through me. Three feet was not enough distance. If I’d known that one intimate encounter, sans sex even, would cause such longing, would I have still done it?
“And the amulet?” I prodded, noticing that he hadn’t addressed it.
He touched a fingertip to the top point of the star, catching it by the strip of leather it hung from and lifting it up. Less than two inches across, the star’s stone seemed to gleam with an inner light. From deep red layers to brilliant orange, the gem embodied fire.
“It’s my talisman,” Nova finally said, short and clipped. “Wear it. Carry it in a pocket. Hell, throw it away if you prefer. But if you ever need someone to have your back, you can use it to summon me.” Swinging the pretty star toward me, Nova’s face was void of all expression in expectation of rejection.
I took it, letting the star lay in my palm. Unable to resist the call of its beauty, I ran my thumb over the stone.
“It’s a fire agate,” Nova said softly, watching me marvel at the talisman. “Rub the stone and I’ll come.”
“It’s beautiful, Nova. Thank you.” Knowing that he’d never have given something so personal and powerful away to just anyone, I tucked the talisman into my bra, enjoying the way his gaze followed. “So what now?”
I had to ask the question a second time before Nova tore his eyes away from my cleavage. “Now we really get started. Once you get to know the symbols, you’ll be able to draw them in a heartbeat. I recommend using your palm.”
Using the chalk, Nova scrawled one of the symbols on his palm: illusion. Since they were all relatively simple, it took no time at all. The atmosphere grew heavy when he pushed forth a bit of his
magic. A small white rabbit hopped through the circle and disappeared into the wall.
“The symbol helps focus the magic into a specific outcome, so it can’t run wild. Now you try.” Nova held out the palm he’d just marked, and a small dagger appeared in his hand. He offered it to me, handle first. “Just a shallow cut. Start small.”
I faltered, unable to take the dagger. “How am I supposed to have even a few seconds to draw a symbol when sometimes the effect is immediate, the second my blood spills?”
Nova’s crimson gaze narrowed. “Sometimes? So it’s not always immediate?”
“No, I guess not.” Upon thinking back, I slowly shook my head. “There’s been several times when I managed to hold it off. But it’s like trying to hold back a fire raging out of control. I can’t hold it long.”
“But you can hold it?” Nova pressed, leaning closer. “How do the circumstances differ at those times?”
“I don’t know.” My mind went back to the night our team had intercepted an FPA prisoner transfer.
Rayne’s claw had cut a gash in my arm, and I’d ran for the road, trying to get closer to the Feds before my magic went off like a bomb. And I’d done it. Just barely. Yet other times, the moment my blood surfaced, the magic exploded.
“The night of the transfer, I was afraid of hurting my own people, so I ran toward the Feds.” Memories continued to turn, bringing forth the night I’d killed Remington. The magic had burst out, driven by panic and desperation. No control. “But when I’m backed into a corner, it just happens, and I can’t control it.”
Tilting his head to one side, Nova studied me while tapping a finger against the illusion rune. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Try a small cut, here in a controlled setting. Keep calm while you draw the rune in your palm. See what happens.”
“And if the magic goes wild?” I asked, nervous as I took the dagger.
“It’s contained inside the circle. Don’t worry about me. I can take it.”
