by SF Benson
I shook my head, dismissing the idea.
Ace was a forthright man. His issue would have been more direct. He was tired of dealing with Mercier shit. Killing Tavi and Cade created the messy situation we had in the Quarter. Thanks to me, clusters of demons were trolling the streets. Thanks to me, my entire family along with the BGS was in the Mercier crosshairs. If I were Ace, I’d be pissed at me too.
The sounds of Jon B.’s Only You blasted through the apartment door. I half-expected to find my husband sipping from a bottle of Devil’s Mark, but I was wrong. He was singing along in that rich, soulful voice of his.
I walked down the hall toward the bedroom and noticed the bathroom door was open. Instead of an overhead light, candles, placed around the room, burned. The tub practically overflowed with lavender-scented bubbles.
What the hell?
Warm, strong arms wrapped around my waist. Ace nuzzled my neck as he pulled me against his nakedness. “What took ya so long?”
“I thought you needed time.” Turning in his embrace, I glanced up into his lustful eyes. “I figured you were mad at me.”
“Never, dawlin’. Confused? Yes. Maybe a little annoyed? Definitely. But never at you. Can we talk about the situation later? I just want to love on my wife for a while.”
“I can get with that.”
“You’re overdressed.”
I stepped back and slipped out of my jacket. “Then we’d better do something about that situation.”
“Ya have less than a minute, or I’ll do it myself.”
“Promise?” I giggled and took off running toward the bedroom with Ace hot on my heels.
He caught me, and we fell onto the bed.
Cupping his scruffy face, I kissed his full lips. “I love you, Ace.”
“Je t’aime, ma chérie.”
* * *
Much later, facing each other in the tub, we discussed Colby and Bishop. Ace ran a hand over my calf, lifted it, and kissed the inside of my ankle.
“Dawlin’, I don’t blame ya for what happened.”
“How could you not? If it hadn’t been—”
“Don’t do that. The Moirai determined Colby’s destiny. It’s the only reason why he survived. To blame ya self is to question fate—never a good thing.”
As usual, he was right. Nobody questioned The Fates. Those weavers of destiny decided what was best for all of us.
“Honestly, Morgan, ya misread my reaction. My anger is with Bishop. How could he use his son like a damn weapon?” Ace closed his eyes and leaned his head back.
“Great-gran warned me there would be retribution. I just didn’t think it would be from Bishop.”
“Agreed. With Elsbeth in town, I would have thought every member of the family—dead or alive—would be too involved to mess with ya.”
I shifted my position until I straddled Ace’s hips. “We might have a problem with Tabitha too.”
As my husband’s dick stiffened, he glanced up at me. In one quick move, my ass was in the air. In the next, his throbbing cock impaled me. “Can we handle my problem first?”
“Yeah,” I whispered.
Grinding my hips, I lost myself completely in the moment. He was my rock, my salvation, my alpha. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him.
Without warning, Ace cupped my ass and stood. Water sloshed over the sides of the tub. Instead of carrying me to the bedroom, we stopped in front of the door. I wrapped my legs around his waist as my back hit the wood. He pressed harder into me. Each thrust pushed me closer to the edge.
Ace’s body tensed. “Damn, Morgan!”
Seconds later, my toes curled and my body arched. Overlapping waves of delight washed over me.
He leaned back, breathing hard. “Are ya okay?”
I smiled. “Yeah, baby.”
Slowly, he lowered me to my feet and then looked at the floor. “I guess we should clean this up. I’m—”
Caressing his cheek, I said, “Don’t you dare apologize. We’re a week out from a full moon. I get it.”
He grabbed a towel, dropped it on top of the puddle, and then sat on the edge of the tub. “I know ya understand. My fear is that one day I’m going to push too hard. What if I hurt ya?”
I grabbed another towel and started mopping up the spilled water. “It will never happen. Stop worrying.”
Sadly, our time together ended right after that conversation. A group of changelings were on Bourbon Street pranking tourists. Honestly, the juvenile demons weren’t a major threat. Problem was with their leader—a malevolent fairy. Usually, the Hungarian fae stayed close to home, but nothing behaved correctly after Tavi’s death. The szépasszony, also known as a fair lady, had tasked the changelings to steal for her.
She was practically holding court at the corner of Bourbon and Dumaine. The beautiful blonde stood in the street. Her long white dress was so sheer I could see her nipples from a distance. Fortunately, tourists thought she was a street performer and simply gathered around to watch the show. The changelings, in the form of children, worked the crowd, stealing wallets and other trinkets. The fair lady sang and danced to music while men—and some women—drooled over her.
“This is ridiculous,” Ace said to me. “How the fuck are we supposed to stop it?”
“I’m not sure.” Usually, fair ladies avoided crowds. “Maybe we could lure her away.” I held out my palm and materialized two pairs of earplugs. When it came to szépasszony, their song was dangerous. The melody trapped a person in her spell, and she could do whatever she wanted with him or her. Handing one set to Ace, I said, “Put these in, and then do your best to snag her attention. I’ll block you from the crowd, and you can restrain her.”
“How the hell am I supposed to do that?”
I winked. “Shake your money maker, baby.”
He rolled his eyes and tucked the plugs into his ears. Before he walked away, I manifested a pair of titanium cuffs—power dampeners. Ace took the restraints and headed to the fairy.
I inserted the earpieces, moved closer to the szépasszony, and conjured a wall of thick white smoke around us. Her cat-like green eyes took in Ace as he shook his ass like he was auditioning for a Vegas act. The fair lady completely forgot about the crowd and focused on my husband. I took a moment to watch. The way he swiveled his hips and rocked his pelvis impressed the hell out of me.
When she reached out to touch his chest, he slapped on the cuffs. Time to act. Before she could act, I chanted, “Regresa a la tierra de donde vienes. Y llévate a estos ladrones contigo.”
The szépasszony struggled against the restraints as Ace took a step backward. When she lunged for him, I quickly uttered a protection spell. Thankfully, the spirit world snatched her up along with the changelings.
When I lowered the wall, the crowd clapped.
Stupid humans. If they only knew…
“Thanks, dawlin’. That was close.” Ace removed the earplugs, and we headed south on Bourbon Street. “Where did ya send her?”
“Back to the forest she came from.”
He looked over his shoulder. “Do ya want to make a sweep of the area before we head home?”
“No. Let the other agents handle it. I want dinner.” I smirked. “For some reason, I’m starving.”
“Really. I must not have done my job right. If I did, ya would be passed out.”
“Trust me, you handled your business. I know exactly what I want to eat.”
We were in walking distance of Saints & Sinners. Lucky for us it wasn’t nine o’clock yet.
Ace, reading my thoughts, lifted an eyebrow. “Ya think we can get in?”
Normally, the restaurant slash nightclub required a reservation, but it didn’t hurt that a shifter working the door knew my father. Unfortunately, there was a witch on duty, and mentioning Julien Vladislav to the female meant nothing. We ended up at the main bar while we waited for a table. I ordered the Pops’ Bangin’ Shrimp, and Ace got the fried alligator tail. Rather than house specialties, we b
oth ordered a couple of bottled beers.
When a black-shirted server with bouncy blonde hair and super-sized breasts walked by, Ace flagged her down. She beamed at him like she was going to get lucky. “What can I do for you?”
Ace glanced at her chest and then said, “Emily, do ya think ya can get us a table on the patio?”
Emily narrowed her eyes when she noticed me. “We’re rather full tonight.”
He flashed her a toothy grin. “Come on, Em. Tell ya what. Do ya like MMA?”
“Sometimes. Why?”
“How ‘bout I make sure ya get a front row seat at my next fight?”
Her eyes sparkled as her attitude brightened. “I guess I have something. Y’all grab ya drinks.”
I shook my head. My husband could be shameless when he wanted something badly enough.
Emily led us to a rear table near the wrought-iron fence surrounding the building. Ace and I sat so our backs were to the wall.
The server licked her lips, but her dark-red lipstick didn’t budge. “Anything else, sir?”
“Call me Ace. We have appetizers coming. The Bangin’ Shrimp and fried alligator tail.”
“I can grab that…Ace.” Her voice became raspy. “Did y’all want to order dinner too?”
“Dawlin’?”
“Since I’m eating for two…” Ace smiled. “I’ll have the shrimp and tasso pasta. For dessert, I’d like the Bordello bread pudding.”
Emily’s face turned as red as the decor in Saints & Sinners. “Ace, what would ya like?”
“The jambalaya. Bring out a slice of the red velvet cheesecake too.”
“With dinner?”
“Is there any other way to eat it?”
The server scribbled down our order and stalked off.
Once she was out of ear shot, Ace roared with laughter. “Really? Eating for two?”
“Hey, it’s not my fault she didn’t notice the drinks.” Reaching for my glass, I added, “Besides, she had it coming. Damn girl was drooling over you like you were a steak dinner.”
He kept laughing. “I love it when ya jealous, dawlin’.”
“And you better not leave her a ticket.” The drawbacks of being in love with the hottest shifter in town. “When we get back, we should check in with Tabitha. See if she found Alexander.”
“Naw. I say we contact Edwina. She has nothing to hide when it comes to St. John. We’ll fill her in on what’s happening too. Let her be Tabitha’s babysitter.”
“Sounds good.”
I hated to admit the vampiress might need someone watching over her. Since I didn’t trust her, it was probably a good idea to surround her with bodies. That way I could deal with Bishop.
24
Plans Change
Morgan
* * *
I was a little shocked when Edwina suggested I meet her at Cafe Du Monde. Last time I checked, the coffee stand didn’t sell bottled crimson. Just one sniff of the fried squares of dough made my mouth water. I found an empty table and then placed an order for beignets and a large cafe au lait.
Minutes later, I heard the familiar drawl. “Did ya order anything?”
Glancing up, I saw Edwina carrying my snack. “New job?”
“Funny.” She placed a paper sack and a to-go cup in front of me. “Let’s bounce.”
“Gee, I was really looking forward to discussing business here,” I said sarcastically.
“Someone has jokes today.”
A little gentle mockery between us was a good thing. Much better than our usual manner of behaving.
I followed the vamp slash witch out of the coffeeshop. We crossed Decatur Street and then entered Jackson Square. The area was fairly crowded with tourists checking out the artists scattered around the green space. Slowly, we made our way toward St. Louis Cathedral. When we stopped near the statue of Andrew Jackson, I asked Edwina to hold my cup so I could dig into my bag.
“Ever since I killed Tavi, it seems like something keeps pulling me back to this spot.” I bit into a beignet, powdered sugar spilling everywhere.
“What are ya talking about?”
Wiping my mouth with a napkin, I said, “Killing Tavi.”
Edwina shook her head and passed me my cup. “Ya need to get over it. She made her own fate. If ya hadn’t done it, imagine how much else would go wrong.”
“Or would have remained status quo.” Namely, we wouldn’t be hunting down numerous rogues every night. “Ace and I haven’t had a night off since her demise.”
“Is that what ya called me out here for?” She swatted at a vexing fly.
“No. We have big problems brewing.” I sipped my coffee and suddenly wished I had something stronger.
Edwina’s eyebrows went up. “Ya thoughts are truly jumbled, but I heard ya request for something more powerful.” She wiggled her fingers. “Try it now.”
I took a sip and tasted the subtle notes of caramel and vanilla. There was nothing like a little bourbon in coffee. Although I could have done it myself, I said, “Thank you.” I took another sip and appreciated the addition. “Bishop’s back.”
“Mercier? So he didn’t die?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Edwina turned and leaned her back against the wrought-iron fence surrounding the statue. “How do ya know?”
“Colby told us.”
“This was the meeting I missed at your parents’ house?”
“Yeah. According to him, everything has been a ruse. Bishop planned the whole thing, starting with the events at the portal. Colby said it was his father’s backup plan.”
Honestly, I should have figured it out myself. Although the Merciers gave us a battle, it wasn’t the epic struggle I was prepared for. When it happened, I was a little too mesmerized by my son’s abilities. If I hadn’t been so transfixed, I would have realized his powers were a little too refined. I would have also noticed Colby never said what happened to Bishop. We all assumed he died or was incapacitated.
“It actually makes sense, Morgan. Ya didn’t kill the fool, and ya had no confirmation he was dead. So what does he want?”
“Revenge for Tavi’s death.” Naturally, the Merciers never stopped at simple vengeance. “Plus, a power play. Bishop wants what Tavi started.”
“A seat on Council?”
“Yup.” I side-glanced at the hybrid. “My parents think it’s a good idea to play this out and let Bishop think he’s won.”
Edwina pursed her lips. “What do ya need from me?”
“Nothing really, but I’d appreciate it if you kept an eye on Tabitha. I don’t trust her.”
“Neither do I.” Edwina folded her arms over her chest. “As much as I’d like to see St. John’s head on a spike, we can’t do it. Something tells me Tabitha won’t hesitate to cut off the fool’s head. Doing so would cause Council to come down hard on the BlackGuard.”
“It’s how Bishop plans on getting the coveted position. So that’s why I want her watched. You’re the best person to do it.”
“I’ll head over there. Feel her out. Plus, there are things she has yet to learn about being a vampire.”
“Like?”
“Protecting her thoughts. The girl is like a damn library overflowing with books. It wouldn’t hurt to teach her a little mind control too.”
“Do you think that’s smart?” The last thing we needed was a newbie attempting to control an older vampire.
Edwina chuckled. “Stop worrying. Here’s a little vamp 101 for ya. Newbies can’t control their sires. No one gets the jump on me. I employ a little witchery when I compel.”
“I didn’t know.”
“How would ya? It’s not like I advertise my abilities.” She patted my arm. “I got this. Ya take care of ya business.”
I felt my eyebrows squish together. “My business?”
“Ya son. Ya need to discover all that Colby knows. As long as Bishop remains free, he’ll always hold an influence over his son. It’s time ya nip this shit.”
Bef
ore I could say thank you, Edwina blurred out of Jackson Square. She was right about the situation with Colby, and I would speak with him. First, I had to check in with Ace. We hadn’t spoken since last night since he had an early morning training session at the Paranormal Fight Club facility. I could either go by the gym or call him.
I thought about the smelly bodies, the lurid glances, and that creepy Damien Duchamp—the promoter—lurking around. Tucking the bag of beignets under my chin, I pulled out my phone and called Ace.
On the fifth ring, he picked up. “Hey, dawlin’. What’s up?”
“Down in Jackson Square. Want to meet?”
Static hit my ear as he exhaled. “Give me fifteen. Twenty if ya want me clean.”
“Thirty, and I’ll meet you at home. I’m going to stop and see Father first.”
“Feeling brave?”
“Something like that.”
Actually, I wasn’t that far from the Bloody Bastard. Although Father didn’t make daytime appearances, with the trouble brewing in town he made an exception. Most likely, he stayed overnight because Father wouldn’t be caught possessing a daytimer trinket. I found him in his office.
Before I could knock, he called out, “Come in, Morgan.”
“Is it all right that I—”
“If I told you to enter, it’s all right.”
I shut the door behind me and took a seat in front of his desk. “Given the circumstances, you have to understand my wariness.”
Father looked up from his record book. “First off, you created the circumstance. Second, only you can rectify it. I’m only here to listen.”
“Why must you make this difficult? You’re punishing me for falling in love. For following my heart. You and Mother don’t exactly have a perfect marriage.”
His expression pinched. “True, but I didn’t go against my parents’ wishes.”
How could he? According to the story, they were already dead.
My father’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”
“I need to discuss Colby with a neutral source. I thought you might help.”
