by K E O'Connor
This relationship had been going on for a while, and all I could see was devotion on Aurora’s face. Could she really have fallen for this smooth-talking warlock? Maybe he was a father substitute. Our dad had been great, but he’d been missing for years. Aurora might have daddy issues we needed to discuss.
So far, I was undecided if I wanted Toby to become a part of the family. There was also the not insignificant issue of him being under scrutiny from Angel Force for illicit magic behavior. That would need sorting out before he came anywhere near the Crypt family.
Frank was still unhappy about Toby, and my stomach churned in the effort to control him. It was time to go. “It’s good to meet you, Toby. Sorry, I have to cut this short, but I’m meeting somebody.”
Aurora tore her gaze from Toby. “You’re leaving so soon?”
“I have no choice. I’m helping the angels with this whole Serath problem,” I said. “Rhett might be involved.”
“That’s not good,” Aurora said. “You don’t want to become a prison wife.”
“A what now?”
“You know, visiting Rhett twice a month for a short conjugal visit. That can’t be romantic.”
“Hold on, Little Miss Marriage. First off, I’m not married to Rhett. We aren’t even dating. Second, I’m not certain he did anything.”
“Why are you suspicious about him?”
I sighed. “Rhett was in the forest when we were looking for Serath, and he found the body. I’m only talking to him so I can discount him.”
“I am not fond of Rhett Blackthorn.” Toby stroked his goatee. “Trouble follows wherever he goes. You would be wise to stay away from him.”
“Thanks for the dating advice.” I shuffled my behind out of the booth and stood. “I can handle Rhett and anyone else who comes into my life causing trouble.”
Toby’s smile was a picture of innocence. “I have no doubt about that. Aurora said you have a fire in your belly, as well as a demon.”
There was something about this guy that set my teeth on edge. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.” I hurried out of the bar with Wiggles before I said something rude to my potential future brother-in-law.
“What a sleaze,” Wiggles said as he trotted along beside me. “Why is Aurora dating that idiot?”
“It’s a good question,” I said. “On the surface, he seems okay, but I don’t know.”
“He’s okay if you like sleazy old dudes with terrible facial hair, who dress like they have a portal back to Victorian England they use to buy their clothes. What’s with the frock coat?”
I laughed. “His fashion sense is questionable.”
“And who sports a goatee? It’s either a full beard or nothing if he wants to be on-trend.”
I nodded. “There’s a weird intensity between them.”
“Toby stank of magic,” Wiggles said. “I only had to sniff that ridiculous pointed boot to know it leaks out of his pores like last night’s curry.”
“He’s got power. Some of it will seep out.” I blew out a breath. “Frank hated him, as well.”
“I agree with Frank on this one. Toby is not a cool guy for your sister to hang around with.”
“Aurora seems genuinely in love. No guy has ever hung in there for more than a couple of months with her. She sees the next cute smile and moves on. Not this time. Maybe this is the real thing.”
“Then the real thing sucks.” Wiggles belched out a waft of brimstone fumes. “You need to have a word with Aurora and get her to see sense.”
“Maybe I do.” The trouble was, when Aurora talked about Toby, she got a glazed look in her eyes and started smiling like a moron. “I don’t want to cause problems between us by telling her she’s made a terrible dating decision.”
“I’ll do it,” Wiggles said. “Anyone who doesn’t like animals because they have allergies has no place in my life.”
“You keep your dating advice to yourself. With a bit of luck, this relationship will burn out and Aurora will find somebody else.”
“Someone younger with better dress sense and less goatee.”
“Exactly.” We entered the forest, and I hurried along an increasingly narrow path in my search for Rhett.
Rhett and his gang used the forest as natural cover, so they could do whatever dubious things biker gangs liked to do.
“There’s someone up ahead,” Wiggles said.
“Is it Rhett?”
Wiggles raised his nose and sniffed the air. “It doesn’t smell like him. I’m getting a whiff of bike grease. Maybe it’s another gang member.”
“Let’s see if he leads us to Rhett.” I let Wiggles lead as he followed the scent trail. I soon caught a glimpse of a tall, broad-shouldered guy moving fast.
“I recognize him,” I whispered to Wiggles. “That’s Josh, one of Rhett’s gang members.” Josh was a huge, tattooed guy who knew how to work a beard.
We followed him deep into the forest for another fifteen minutes, the light almost disappearing as the trees overhead grew so thick.
Josh slowed, looked around, and ducked behind a large tree.
“What’s he playing at?” I slowed and waited with Wiggles to see what Josh would do next.
After a minute, he emerged from behind the tree and walked away.
We hurried to the tree. It was an enormous ancient oak tree, its gnarled branches reaching up high into the sky. I ran my hand over the crumbling bark. “There’s no magic attached to this tree. Have you got anything?” I asked Wiggles.
“Nothing down here, but there’s a strange smell farther up above your head.”
I lifted my hands over my head and felt around the tree. A piece of trunk gave way under my hand and pushed inward. I shoved my hand inside and found a wrapped package. I eased it out, placed it on the ground, and opened it.
“You have got to be kidding me.” Inside the package was a selection of the dried mushrooms I specialized in at Cloven Hoof. No one else in the village had a license to sell these, so this stash was illegal.
Wiggles stepped back. “Phew, they are strong. I’m getting high from the fumes.”
“I’ve warned Rhett’s gang about selling this produce. He promised me it had stopped.”
“You need to have another word with the gang,” Wiggles said. “They didn’t hear you the first time.”
I blasted the mushrooms with a fireball, sending them up in a puff of smoke. Anger pulsed through me. Rhett had assured me his gang wasn’t selling anymore, and I’d been dumb enough to believe him. I kicked the charred mushrooms across the forest floor.
I wasn’t just angry. I was hurt. I trusted Rhett, and he’d lied to me. “Let’s confront Josh about this. Maybe he’s got more mushrooms stashed away that need a little fire magic applied to them.”
Wiggles bounded ahead, and I was about to follow him when arms wrapped around me from behind and pulled me tight against a hard chest.
Chapter 8
“What the hell?” I kicked back against whoever was dumb enough to grab me from behind. My anger and panic excited Frank. His power burst up my spine and tickled the back of my neck, eager to get out and challenge this threat.
Whoever had hold of me grunted as my foot made contact with a shin, but they held on tight. “What are you doing here?”
I recognized that low, sexy voice, but Frank was desperate to get free. There was little I could do as his energy pulsed through me, sliding to the top of my head and bursting out.
The world took on its usual red tint as I saw everything through Frank’s eyes. I was always stronger when Frank was in control and grabbed the arms wrapped around my chest and flipped my attacker over my head.
I knew it. It was Rhett. He landed on his back with a grunt, and his eyes widened as I pressed my foot into his groin. I say I did, but Frank was in control, and I could do nothing but sit back and watch, hoping he didn’t annihilate Rhett.
“How dare you attack me,” Frank purred.
“Tempest, get control of your demon,�
�� Rhett said.
“She does not need to control me. I have perfect control of myself. And I know exactly what I intend to do to you.”
“Don’t kill him,” I said to Frank, the words sounding like an echo inside my head.
“Tempest wants me to save you,” Frank said. “My little witch desires your pathetic form to remain alive. Is that what you’d like?”
“I’m not ready to die just yet,” Rhett said. His eyes blazed with anger, but he was wise not to fight back against Frank.
“Yet you decided it was a sensible move to attack us?”
“You’re in our part of the forest.” Rhett grunted as my foot squashed harder into his groin.
“I didn’t realize you owned some of our forest.”
“Boss, we’ve heard back from Pete about the shipment.” Two of Rhett’s gang, Ian and Josh, appeared through the trees.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Josh asked.
“Get out of here,” Rhett yelled. “I’ve got a handle on this.”
Frank chuckled. “Have you, now? This should be amusing.”
“Tempest, what are you doing to Rhett?” Ian Blaine, a mean-spirited member of Rhett’s gang, edged nearer, his eyes narrowed. Josh joined him.
“Oh please, make my day and jump me,” Frank said.
Ian was not the brightest guy in the world, but even he must see I wasn’t in control.
“I’m telling you to leave,” Rhett said. “There’s nothing going on here.”
“There is.” Frank hauled Rhett up by the collar of his jacket. “I want to play.”
“No way. Josh, let’s get her.” Ian charged and threw himself at me.
Frank danced me backward, keeping me away from Ian’s fists, but keeping hold of Rhett so he was dragged along the ground.
Josh dodged behind me and tried to grab me, but he was too slow.
Frank dropped me to the ground, so Rhett landed on top of me. He suckered my lips to Rhett and held on tight.
Rhett’s eyes bulged, and he shoved against me.
I tried to scream a warning, but Frank was in command. He was trying to suck Rhett’s energy out of him.
Josh grabbed Rhett by the back of his jacket and rolled him away. He held a large splintered tree branch, which he slammed toward my head.
Frank laughed as he flipped me away and launched me upright.
“Don’t you dare!” I felt him snaking his power through my arm, conjuring fire.
“You should never dare a demon.” Fire flew out of my hand and ignited the tree branch.
“Don’t fight Tempest,” Rhett gasped. “She’s not in control.”
Josh and Ian glared at me but made no more moves to attack.
Frank beckoned them closer. “Show me what you’ve got. I’m just warming up.”
Ian crouched, but Rhett’s barked order to stop kept him in place.
I fought to get back control. Frank should not be loose in Willow Tree Falls. Everyone I loved lived here, and he was dangerous.
Frank sighed inside my head. “I thought these biker guys were supposed to be tough. Where’s the magic? Where’s the anger? All I’m seeing is attitude.”
“Rhett didn’t mean to surprise me,” I said as we carried on a conversation inside my head. “We don’t need you.”
“You make a demon feel unloved. I’m not done yet.” Frank’s hot power seeped into my arms. I was propelled toward Ian and struck him on the side of his head. A fireball appeared in my palm, and it smashed down by Josh’s feet.
Josh retaliated with a flare of lightning.
The air crackled, and the smell of burning hair filled my nose.
Rhett threw himself on top of me and rolled me in the dirt. “You’re on fire!”
“Enough!” I gasped and wiped my hands down my face as I came to a stop by the base of a tree.
Frank’s energy finally faded. He was either bored with the fight or didn’t want me too badly injured. I favored the former option. My body shook, and I could taste dirt.
“How are you doing, Tempest?” Rhett remained crouched by me, blood seeping from a wound on his head.
Frank pulsed at the back of my neck. “Give me a minute. Nobody make any sudden movements.”
Wiggles trotted over. “That was fun.”
“Fun! Where were you when I needed your help?”
“You had things under control. You did a great job. Or should I say Frank did an awesome butt-kicking job?”
“You could have warned me about Rhett being around,” I said. “I could have kept Frank under control if I’d have known he was about to grab me.”
“You have nothing to worry about when it comes to Rhett. He’s in love with you. He’ll never hurt you.”
Rhett looked over, surprise in his eyes, but he didn’t challenge Wiggles on that statement.
I groaned and hid my face in my hands for a second.
“Is everything okay now, Tempest?” Rhett’s tone was cautious.
“My idiot demon will not attack anymore if that’s what you’re asking.” I pulled myself to my feet. “But everything isn’t okay. Your gang is selling off-limits supplies. I’ve warned you about this.”
Surprise registered on Rhett’s face. “They’re not.”
“I just destroyed a bundle of dried mushrooms I found stashed in the tree by one of your guys.”
Rhett turned to look at his wounded gang members. “Is this true? Has anyone been selling produce?”
Ian shuffled his feet and looked around.
Josh cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Boss, there’s been a misunderstanding. We have been selling produce, but it’s not what you think.”
“It looked exactly like the dried produce I sell at Cloven Hoof,” I said.
“Sure, and that’s what it’s supposed to look like,” Josh said. “Boss, I wouldn’t break my word.”
Rhett stood and brushed down his black jeans. “What have you been selling?”
“It’s not legitimate stuff. You don’t get the same buzz off it as you do Tempest’s goodies.”
“You’re selling fake mushrooms?” Rhett asked.
Josh nodded. “That’s right. And not to locals, just visitors. They get a short buzz but nothing else. I make it good and stinky, so they think they’re getting something strong. They don’t know the difference.”
Rhett shrugged and glanced at me. “Technically, Josh isn’t breaking any rules.”
I glowered at Josh. “That’s not the point. We had an agreement. You don’t sell dried mushrooms, even if they aren’t the real deal.”
Josh tipped his head back, a guilty look on his face. “It was a good way to make extra cash. I didn’t mean any harm. And if any of the locals came to me, I’d send them to your bar. I know not to tangle with you or your family.”
I guess that was something. “Who have you sold to recently?”
Josh looked at the toes of his boots.
“Answer her,” Rhett said.
Josh sighed. “That guy who was found dead and his friends. They came into the forest and were making such a racket as if they wanted to be found.”
“All they wanted was dried mushrooms off you?” I asked.
“Not to begin with.” Josh smirked. “What they wanted was to join the gang. Well, actually only Dewey was interested in that. He was bragging about what a big man he was and how we should welcome him. He kept on about his contacts and ideas he had for making money. He was a joke.”
Ian chuckled and nodded.
“There’s no way we’d have Dewey Lavern join us,” Rhett said. “He’s not gang material.”
I arched an eyebrow. “What happened after you rejected his application to join your special gang?”
“Nothing, they bought mushrooms and left the forest. I guess they headed to Cloven Hoof,” Josh said.
I squinted at Josh, not totally convinced. Maybe the deal had gone bad and Serath came back to get a refund. Josh would not have been happy. Would he have been mean enough t
o kill? I could imagine him kicking Serath’s butt, but murder, I wasn’t certain.
“I trust Josh,” Rhett said. “He’s honest.”
“There’s nothing honest about Josh,” I said. “He’s been selling mushrooms behind my back.”
“Not anymore,” Rhett said. “That was a mistake.”
“Boss, it’s a great sideline,” Josh said.
“Mushrooms are Tempest’s territory. Is everyone agreed on that?”
Ian and Josh nodded.
I was still not satisfied. “What about Dewey’s friends, Serath and Bart? What did you think of them?”
Josh shrugged. “They’re not memorable. Serath was a jerk with a big mouth, like Dewey.”
“And Bart?”
“He was trying to be the nice guy, being super friendly and patting everyone on the back. Then he got weird.”
“Weird how?”
“He asked about getting a specific spell. He wouldn’t say what he wanted at first. It turns out, he was after a seduction spell.”
Ian and Josh both laughed again.
“A seduction spell! That’s seriously sleazy magic.”
“He wasn’t the most charismatic guy,” Ian said. “Maybe it’s the only way he can get a girl.”
“And I suppose you all have super-hot love lives?” I tilted my head and ran my gaze over Ian and Josh. “I don’t see you fighting off gorgeous women with a stick.”
The guys looked at the ground and shuffled their feet.
“No? Don’t tell me. You’re both single.”
Rhett smirked. “Don’t be mean, Tempest. The guys work hard. We don’t all have time for romance.”
“And you do any better?” I said. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen a girl on your arm.”
His gaze darkened. “I’m waiting for the right girl to make up her mind.”
My cheeks heated, and I looked away. I’d walked into that one and deserved it.
“Tempest, I promise you, no more mushrooms,” Josh said. “And we didn’t do anything to Serath or his weird friends.”
“One final question. On the night of Serath’s murder, where were you?” I asked Josh.
