Legacy of the Succubus

by Kim Schubert

  I led him down the hallway, uneasy about leaving Bob, but trusting Logan could handle it.

  I ushered him into Ali and Grant’s office, currently unoccupied. I closed the door, waiting for him to speak.

  He fidgeted silently.

  “What?” I asked.

  “You saved my life,” was his response.

  “Yep.” Pretty sure this conversation didn’t need a closed door.

  Amin crossed his arms over his chest. “You do not use me. You just saved me. Do you not know how this relationship is supposed to work?”

  “Amin, you are a person. I don’t want to use you. I will, as recently evidenced, need your help, but I’d like to think it’s because we are friends, not because I’m your master.” I hated saying that word.

  His dark eyes regarded me silently for long moments.

  “I’m not known for my patience, Amin.”

  “It’s a dangerous path you walk,” he warned gravely.

  “Not new information,” I groaned. “I’m currently working with a Fae, trying to unlock some hidden power in myself and Anna, all the while hoping that our powers will allow us to kill an exceptionally powerful Fae and my mother.”

  Amin shook his head. I wasn’t understanding what he was trying to convey.

  “If you don’t need me, I have affairs to attend to,” he finally supplied.

  I nodded. “I appreciate the help.”

  With that he was gone. I stared at the space he had occupied for a long moment. I didn’t understand the djinn at all. How was a being that powerful trapped into serving me? Or really, serving at all?

  I groaned, whatever. I had enough shit to worry about without adding how and why the djinn got where they were.

  Where are you? I sent to Logan.

  Kitchen, he answered. My favorite spot.

  I did a double take at Bob sitting at the farm style table, swinging his short legs. His dirty rags hung loose around his body, which made no sense for a being with more power in his pinky finger than I had ever seen.

  Again, not my issue. He wasn’t a friend, he wasn’t an ally, he was a means to an end and I never, ever wanted to see him again after I finished this job.

  I should use my favor to learn how to ward against the Fae, I mused.

  “You didn’t tell me you killed Baqer,” Bob said, not turning at my entrance.

  I shot Anna a warning glare. “Well, we did.”

  “How interesting,” he muttered.

  I was tempted to ask why that was interesting, but I refrained. I wasn’t giving Bob any additional information, nor was I tipping my hand on just how dumb I was in relation to the Fae.

  I sighed. It was going to be a trial-and-error process regarding how to kill the fuckers, which didn’t appeal to me at all.

  Bob tilted his head, and I paid close attention to the movement, watching his eye staring unfocused at a random spot of floor tile.

  “I am needed elsewhere,” Bob relayed.

  I nodded, my gaze cutting to my father.

  “We will begin preparations for unlocking their power.” My father’s gaze pinned Bob, who shifted in his seat.

  “I suppose you will be needing this,” Bob muttered before winking out.

  My head snapped around, checking the room for him, not believing for a second he had actually left.

  My father sighed, sitting down heavily in front of me, picking up the small brown pouch tied with twine and pocketing it.

  “He is gone, daughter,” my father reassured, turning his attention to his breakfast, shoveling a bite.

  “How can you be so certain?” I questioned him, narrowing my eyes.

  “Only a few, rare Fae can speak without words. Whoever called him, he listened.”

  I grunted, slouching down, drumming my fingers against the wood table.

  “We need a dragon,” Doyle grunted. I turned to see him eating, standing at the breakfast bar. We needed a bigger table for him.

  Anna laughed, “A dragon?”

  I chewed on my thumbnail, turning to my father.

  He cleared his throat, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. “Yes,” he confirmed, his gaze piercing mine. “Dragons were rare when we belonged to this world before, but they could be found.”

  I grunted. “Pure-blooded dragon?”

  My father nodded.

  I looked to Logan. “I need to call Garrick.”

  Chapter 8

  Garrick had demanded to meet me in person for my request.

  Logan put my SUV into park in front of the hotel and spa in Aspen Colorado.

  “You actually stayed here?” he asked as we exited the vehicle.

  I looked over the perfectly sculpted marble fountain and spiral-trimmed trees. Definitely not my usual choice in accommodations.

  I shrugged, meeting him at the back. “It was within walking distance of one of the hot spots I was investigating.”

  “When were you here, again?” Logan asked.

  “When Ginny was born,” I answered, looking over at him.

  Logan paused in gathering our bags.

  “This was the sex ring?” he asked.

  “Yeah, one of the women the assholes took is a quarter dragon, her father is half dragon. I’m hoping grandma or grandpa is still around.”

  My father and Doyle got out of the backseat, Doyle properly disguised, the news conference announcing his presence delayed. I didn’t relish the idea of drawing undue attention to us. So much so, I had forgone my dual swords.

  I had decided to leave Anna at home. This process was unknown and undoubtedly dangerous. I didn’t need both of us kicking the bucket in an attempt to unlock our power. If this worked, I’d bring her back with me … if we found the dragon … if my father told me what Bob had left … if we defeated the Fae.

  I just didn’t trust anyone. My gaze shifted to the lion shifter at my side. Actually, I suppose that wasn’t true anymore, or it shouldn’t have been. I trusted Logan, I think I did.

  I didn’t want to dwell on it. I’d just end up feeling guiltier, if that was possible, for him being stuck with me.

  The glass doors to the hotel and spa opened. I looked around the deserted lobby for Garrick.

  Logan branched off, heading toward the young woman behind the counter, who greeted him with an overly friendly smile. I watched her eyes slide over his bulging biceps and chest as he easily carried our bags.

  My feet were moving before I could register the blinding jealously shooting through my body.

  “Olivia.” A hand on my forearm had me turning to the rich timbre of Garrick. I raised an eyebrow at him.

  “Where have you been lurking?” I questioned him.

  He smirked at my ire, linking our arms together. “Come now, dear girl, lurking is such a distasteful word.”

  “But accurate.” Garrick tried to pull me along away from Logan, but I wasn’t moving until Logan was done checking us in.

  “Jealous much, love?” Garrick asked.

  I huffed a noncommittal response, staring daggers. The hotel clerk gave a playful laugh. My eyes narrowed and Garrick laughed at my side.

  Feeling my jealousy, Logan turned, raising a questioning eyebrow.

  I huffed, turning to Garrick, who was staring behind me. “You didn’t mention you had guests.”

  I glanced back at my father and Doyle before returning my attention to Garrick with a shrug. “We have guests.” I didn’t mean for it to sound like either a question or an apology.

  Garrick moved to Doyle with that damn vamp speed. “I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Garrick, Olivia’s counterpart on the Supernatural Council of the West.”

  “Doyle,” the minotaur rumbled. Garrick nodded before casting me a suspicious and annoyed glance.

  I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring back at him. My father broke our staring contest, coming to stand between us, his back blocking out Garrick. “I am The Magician, Olivia’s father.”

  Garrick jerked, peering around m
y father. “Father?” he asked me incredulously.

  I nodded and shrugged.

  Garrick shook hands with him, his clever mind working overtime. He adjusted his shirt sleeves down under his jacket in a rare moment of uncertainty.

  “Why Olivia, aren’t you just full of surprises?” Garrick asked me in amused wonder.

  I continued to scowl as Logan finished with the flirt and took my hand. He found my jealously amusing. Asshole.

  Garrick turned his attention back to my father. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. And here we had thought Olivia was created in a lab.”

  At least that explanation had made sense and didn’t leave me wondering why my father had abandoned me. Logan squeezed my hand.

  “Your name is Magician?” Garrick asked, turning so my father’s back wasn’t to me.

  “Not originally,” my father answered, “but it is what I am called now.”

  Garrick nodded, seeming to understand. I suppose when you’ve lived as many lifetimes as he had, reinventing yourself was necessary.

  I wondered briefly what my father’s name might have been before, but decided I didn’t care. A name didn’t change who he was and what he had done.

  Garrick escorted us to the rooms, leaving Doyle and the Magician at theirs and dropping down into a navy sofa in ours. The room looked out onto the wilderness.

  “I took the liberty of renting the rest of the rooms out,” he admitted, unbuttoning his jacket, leaning an arm over the armrest.

  “Why?” I asked, spreading my weapons collection over the small kitchen table.

  He shrugged before meeting my gaze. “Tell me this isn’t Fae related.”

  I groaned, dropping into a chair to face him. “I suppose I owe you an explanation.”

  I felt Logan’s shock through the bond. It was warranted—anyone else I would have told to fuck off and mind their own business. But Garrick and I fought for the same things—more importantly, against the same things.

  “We’ve had a few issues,” I admitted.

  “The giant tree?”

  “Yes, the giant tree was the start. Anna and I went back to our home world and encountered another Fae we killed, but not before he told us our mother had joined with the Fae. I believe the tree was either a distraction or an unforeseen consequence of them coming to Earth.”

  Garrick looked at me, dumbfounded.

  “Right, so I also have a mother, who is the Queen of the succubi and a roaring bitch. Anna is my half-sister, same mother.”

  He just kept blinking at me.

  “How was she able to contact the Fae?” he finally asked, that wicked smart brain piecing together my current dilemma.

  I shook my head. “I don’t know, but given that Anna’s father is Luharposn, she probably had a way.”

  “Anna’s half Fae?!” Garrick sat back, quickly absorbing that information, his gaze out of focus for a brief moment before it snapped back to me. “And you’re half magician.”

  I nodded. “Anna’s powers and mine are bound, which is why they only lend themselves to us in life or death situations.”

  Logan answered the knock on the door, admitting my father and Doyle.

  “What are you hoping to achieve here in my territory?” Garrick asked. I didn’t need the reminder we were on his turf.

  “A dragon. When I was here last, I encountered a half-dragon being and his quarter-dragon daughter. I’m hoping I can track them down again and find the full-blooded kind.” I gave thought to reminding him that I was the only reason his executioners had been released unharmed, but I’d be irritated at such a reminder myself. Plus, he wasn’t actually fighting me on anything, just bitching.

  Garrick nodded, his eyes solemn. “Nothing good can come of the Fae being here.”

  I sighed, “I know. I suppose this isn’t the best time to admit I agreed to work with Bob.”

  Garrick slammed his hand down on the armrest, his eyes darkening in rage, fangs peeking out. Oh fuck, he was pissed.

  As quickly as the white incisors appeared, they vanished. “I’d inform you how foolish that decision is, but—“

  “But I already know,” I agreed. “Luharposn took the Fae Queen. He’s acting rogue. At least that is what Bob tells me.”

  Garrick sighed, rubbing his forehead. “I highly doubt you have the entire story.”

  I said nothing; I had already thought the same thing.

  Finally, I offered, “That doesn’t change the end goal: kill the Fae or drive them out.”

  Nothing good could come of the Fae, duh.

  Chapter 9

  Unlike Logan and Garrick, I was dressed for the frigid weather. My father had adapted to his updated clothing as well. Doyle was cloaked, and looking mighty disagreeable about the whole situation.

  I should have cared, but I had bigger issues than his dislike of being dishonest.

  I exhaled a breath at the mouth of the cave, running a hand over the rough stone. “Nila?” I called out. If this was their home, then knocking is the polite thing to do, right?

  “Are you going in there?” Garrick asked with a laugh, standing behind me on the railroad tracks.

  I grunted affirmative, moving forward.

  “Nila?” I tried again. I didn’t really expect her to be there. While her dad had been holed up in the cave with two of Garrick’s executioners, I couldn’t see this being an ideal spot to call home. But I had zero other leads on where to find a basically extinct species. Nila hadn’t left me a forwarding address.

  “Nila, it’s Olivia.” Hopefully, she remembered me. I felt like being kidnapped by a human sex ring and then the two of us killing together should have left a lasting impression.

  It should, Logan agreed.

  I huffed, casting him a look, not realizing I was broadcasting my thoughts. He shrugged with a smile. He had easily adjusted to being in my head and accessing not only my emotional state, which any sexual partner of mine would have access to, but also very specific thoughts.

  When we’d first had mated, I could easily read the thoughts of all the individual pack members, but since getting shot and visiting the red world of doom as a spirit being, I didn’t have the same potency. On one hand, I appreciated it—having to block all of those voices had been intense. But having the ability to hear them had also helped me save Logan.

  I sighed, linking my hand with his roughly calloused one. The movement caused him to pause, examining me.

  “What?” I asked, clicking on my flashlight.

  “We will wait for you here!” Garrick yelled after us. I swear that damn man was laughing at me, the whole thing was such a long shot.

  I huffed an answer under my breath, knowing full well that with his superior vampire hearing, it would be heard.

  I swept the vast cavern, which reminded me of the inside of a bread bowl, turned upside down.

  Abandoned rail cars had been tossed about, pick axes were rusting over, and broken track littered the floor along with caving-in plastic hard hats.

  “There are two tunnels in the back,” Logan informed me, pulling me in that direction.

  “You know which one to take.” It wasn’t a question.

  “There is something down here,” he agreed.

  “Any ideas on what?” Asking “who” seemed pointless, as he had said something.

  I cast a glance at him, the flashlight’s glow not dissipating the darkness much as he tilted his head. He really was handsome, deliciously so. Strong brows, gorgeously chiseled cheekbones, and a sinfully talented mouth.

  “Stop it,” he grunted, giving my hand a squeeze.

  I smiled at him, my absolute worry about the Fae, tempered by hope. Even though we had lost Grams, and it hurt, deeply and wholly, I had him. This alliance, this powerful love that I never dreamed possible.

  He stopped walking, following my thoughts and emotions with his own.

  “You are mine, Olivia, from now until the end of time.” His voice was soft, full of the unspoken need, desire that went far
beyond sexual appetite. Our souls had become intertwined, and I … I was becoming a damn softie.

  “I need to kill something,” I huffed, looking past Logan, who laughed.

  “Holy fuck,” I whispered. I pulled Logan toward me, stepping back. Not one to be led anywhere, he turned. We both looked into one purple, cat-slanted iris, taller than our combined heights.

  “Nila?” I tried, my voice a squeak.

  It blinked. Where the fuck was the other eye?

  With a huff of smoke, the dragon lifted its head, towering over us, and conveniently answering my unspoken question. Apparently, we’d had a side view, and I was now questioning just how its eyes turned if that was a side view.

  The dragon lumbered up, and the damn cave shook.

  “So, thoughts on running outside?” I asked.

  A large, purple-scaled tail slammed next to us.

  “Olie, are you scared?” Logan teased. Seriously, in a time like this, the asshole was teasing.

  “No.” I was lying. There was a giant, winged, well I think winged, DRAGON heading toward us. Yeah, I was a little freaked out.

  “We require your assistance,” Logan said to the dragon. Well, at least one of us was keeping the goal in mind. Right, and what exactly did I need from said dragon? Things I should have asked my father about previously…

  The dragon growled and it wasn’t the usual shifter growl I was used to ignoring. The timbre was all wrong, deeper, with an extra nasty snarl just for fun.

  “No need to be an asshole,” I whispered. Whatever, I wasn’t scared. The dragon slammed its clawed foot down, shaking loose rocks and debris from above us.

  Great idea, call the hulking reptile an asshole, Logan scolded.

  Fire spewed at us next. We split up, dodging the blast. My flashlight was smashed, thrown from my hand, and I cursed again. Now I was blind, well except for the reflective dragon eyes following me.

  “Do you think it’s playing dumb?” I yelled at Logan, pulling a sword once I regained my footing.

  “I don’t think it’s playing at anything,” he responded calmly.

  Yeah, I got that. Couldn’t disagree with that logic.

  Heavy, lumbering footsteps rocked the ground under our feet, making obtaining a fighting stance difficult. Not that an effective fighting stance was going to make a difference against a massive, hulking, fire-breathing DRAGON!