by J. L. Weil
“You be the lookout,” he said, not vetoing my poor excuse for a plan.
Good idea. I tiptoed to the door for no apparent reason, other than this situation seem to call for stealth mode. Cracking the door, I glanced down the hallway to see if we were alone. The party was mostly contained downstairs, but that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be a few stragglers like Anthony. “The coast is clear,” I whispered over my shoulder.
Devyn had his hands underneath Anthony’s armpits, and at my word he started to drag him over to the door. I opened it all the way, letting Devyn pass. He crouched down, propping Anthony up in the corner—none too gently. His head thumped against the wall, blood beginning to crust on his face. He was going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow. And I didn’t feel the teensiest bit sorry for him.
I waved Devyn back into the room. “Quick, you need to leave before anyone sees you.” I closed the door quietly behind him.
In the dark room, he arched a brow. “I just saved your virtue, and you’re kicking me out the window.”
“Yes!” I pushed at his back, guiding him across the room. “It was good enough for you to sneak into.”
He turned in front of the window, hooking a finger under my chin and lifted my face upward to meet his eyes. “You owe me.”
I didn’t really want him to leave. Heat fused my cheeks. “Add it to my running tab. Now go.”
“As you wish.” He slipped through the window and disappeared into the darkness, and I was left with an aching heart.
I stood by the window for another minute, inhaling the lingering scent that was all Devyn, mysterious and earthy. Knowing I’d been gone too long, and it was only a matter of minutes before my friends went searching for me, I left Hannah’s room to go back to the party. I forwent the urge to kick Anthony as I passed by.
Jesse and Hannah were at the bottom of the stairs, about to head up. “Where were you? Did you get lost?” Hannah asked, flipping a blonde ringlet off her shoulder.
“No, of course not. How many times have I been to your house?” I countered, trying to play it as if I hadn’t been attacked in her room, and there wasn’t an unconscious guy in her hallway.
“Jesse was about to send out a search party,” Hannah informed.
“I was not,” he argued, but he did have his worry face on.
I stepped down off the last stair, making myself level with them and shrugged. “I’m having girl issues.” That usually shut people up.
Except if you were Hannah. “Weird. It isn’t for another two weeks.”
Our monthly cycles had been in sync for years. I had completely forgotten. “I’ve been under a lot of stress. I’m sure it messed everything up.”
Jesse groaned. “Can we please talk about something else? I don’t want to hear about how many times you shave your legs or the strange bump you found on your ass.”
Hannah and I looked at each other. “Did you find a bump?” we asked in unison and then laughed. Poor Jesse. I don’t know how he put up with Hannah and me all these years.
We hooked our arms through Jesse’s on either side. “I think we should get you another drink,” I said, resting my head on his shoulder.
“Make it a double,” he mumbled.
My phone buzzed against the inside of my bra. Where the hell else did you keep something as important as your life in a party dress? I fumbled inside the top half of my dress with my fingers, seeking the vibrating box and getting quite a few funny looks, but all I could think was, what if it was my dad? What if Mom had taken another turn for the worse?
I sighed in relief, recognizing the number. It was the café. “Hello,” I answered.
“Karina, thank God you picked up.”
“Corrine?” She sounded frazzled, out of character for my calm and sheepish co-worker. I tried to remember if Corrine had ever called me outside of work before. “Are you okay?” I asked, because she definitely didn’t sound it.
“Yes. No. I don’t know,” she said with a quiver in her voice. Was she crying? “My sister just called. There was a car accident, and they’ve taken my little brother to the hospital. I-I think he has to have surgery.”
“Enough said. I’m on my way.”
“Thank you. I couldn’t get a hold of anyone.”
“Give me ten minutes.” I hung up the phone, keeping it in my hand.
“What’s wrong?” Jesse asked, seeing my sober expression.
I hated to cut the party short, but I couldn’t let Corrine down, not with something this important. “I’ve got to go. It was Corrine from the café. There was an accident. She needs to get to the hospital.”
“I’ll drive,” Jesse said without hesitation, always there when I needed him. No questions asked.
Hannah put a hand on my arm. “Do you want me to come with?”
I shook my head. “And miss your party? No way. We’ll come back right after the shop closes. It will be less than an hour.”
Barefoot, my feet hurried through the house as we wove our way toward the front door. It took less than ten minutes to get to the café. Corinne was pacing behind the counter, biting her nails as the door chimed at my arrival. Her hazel eyes were puffy and red, as if she’d been crying. I gave her a hug. “Go. Don’t worry about anything here. I got this. And I brought help.”
Jesse smiled at her sympathetically.
“You sure?” she asked, already untying her apron.
“Of course,” I insisted, not taking no for an answer. “And be safe. Don’t drive too fast.”
“Thanks, Karina. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Call me if you need to talk. And send me a text, letting me know everything is okay.”
She dug out her keys, her hands shaking just slightly. “God, I’ve never been so scared before.”
“They’ll be okay,” I assured, trying to give her a dose of hope.
And with that, Jesse and I were alone in the café. I was glad he’d come with me. It wasn’t often I closed up the coffee shop, and being here by myself didn’t sit right in my stomach, not after what happened with Anthony today. It mirrored too closely to being attacked in the alley the night of my first shift.
“What are you doing?” I asked Jesse as he stretched out into on of the cushioned chairs Naomi had near the front window.
His gaze casually drifted to me after sweeping the room. “Am I supposed to be doing something? The place is empty.”
I snorted. “That doesn’t mean you get to sit around on your gluteus maximus.”
“Do I get to wear one of these?” he asked, unfolding his legs to pick up Corrine’s discarded apron.
“Knock your socks off.” I tossed him a wet towel. “You can start by wiping down the tables.”
He caught the rag before it whacked him in the face. “I came to tag along, not be your slave. And what are you going to do?”
I lifted my brow. “I’m going to clean the bathrooms. Want to switch?”
He made an icky face. “Yeah, I’m good with tables.”
We worked for a few minutes in silence, and my mind wandered to Devyn, as it so often did. I’d been dragging my feet the last week, knowing I needed to leave town, but having a hard time actually going through with it. Days like today made it seem as if maybe I didn’t have to leave, maybe it wasn’t as bad as I had thought. Sura hadn’t shown her face since the day of graduation, and things had been quiet.
I lifted my head, watching Jesse dust off the chairs and scoot them under the table. My friends deserved to be happy. “You know, you should try asking Hannah out,” I said, breaking the quietness.
Jesse scratched his head, staring at me as if I’d grown horns. “Hannah? You mean like on a date?”
The bathrooms were finished, and I’d moved onto inventory. I put a fresh filter back into the coffee pot for tomorrow morning. “Duh. You like her. She likes you. What’s the big deal?”
“We’re friends. I don’t want to ruin that, besides I always thought—” His brows furrowed.
&
nbsp; “You thought that maybe you and I might date?” I filled in for him. That’s what he’d been about to say.
He gave a careless one-shoulder shrug. “It crossed my mind.”
Shit. I’d started this conversation, so I was going to have to finish it, even though I didn’t want to ruin a perfect evening. I moved from behind the counter to help replenish the condiments. “You know I love you, Jesse. I can’t imagine my life without you, and I hope I never have to. There might be something between us, I don’t know, but what I do know is I could never hurt Hannah like that. She has had a crush on you for as long as I can remember.” There, it’s been said. Now they could figure out what to do about it.
Skepticism and hints of disappointment drew his lips into a thin line. “I don’t know. We’re both going off to college. What’s the point?”
They were hopeless. I wasn’t going to push. The seed had been planted. “If I have to tell you the point of having a relationship, this is going to turn into a much longer conversation.”
“What about you? Are you dating that brooding douchebag?”
I should have known Devyn would come up. I moved to the cash register. “Maybe. I like him.”
Jesse’s crestfallen face sent a stream of remorse washing through me, making me wish I hadn’t admitted my feelings for Devyn.
“Jesse, I’m—”
The bell on the front door jingled, and at a minute past closing I should have already locked the door, but had forgotten. I figured it was Corrine, and lifted my head. “Is your brother—?”
Fuck.
It was definitely not Corrine, not unless she had grown a foot, dyed her hair pink, and turned into an evil bitch.
Sura.
Chapter Thirteen
My eyes whipped to Jesse, who was eyeing Sura with a light of interest. It wasn’t her pink hair that caught his attention. She was pretty. Jesse would have to be dead not to notice.
Oh, my God. My worst fear. Jesse coming face to face with the giant secret I’d worked so hard to keep from him and Hannah, and in strolled a fae, bringing those fears right smack in front of my nose.
Frozen, I didn’t know what to do. Behind the counter, my eyes watched her every movement like a hawk. If she made a single gesture toward Jesse, I was going to light her hair on fire. Maybe she wouldn’t out me, and this was another friendly visit.
Her black leather pants were tight and hit low on her hips, flashing a flat belly. She wore a white knitted cropped top that fell off one shoulder. The bracelets on her wrists clanged together in time with her boots as she walked into the center of the café. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t the Kitsune and her little boy toy.”
Shitballs.
So much for not being outed.
Jesse’s eyes narrowed. “Do you know her?” he asked. “And what the hell is a Kitsune? Is it a new drink you guys are serving here?”
I clenched my hands. “Sura, you need to leave. This isn’t the place.”
Her boots clunked on the floor in slow, rhythmic steps. “That’s the thing, little fox, I think this is the perfect spot. Besides, we got off on the wrong foot. I’m really only here to help you.”
“You keep saying that, but I don’t see how you’re helping.” If setting me on fire was her idea of help, I’d pass.
“K, what is going on?” Jesse asked, his eyes volleying between us, looking lost, with the first inklings of concern wrinkling at the corners of his month.
Dammit. I needed to get Jesse out of here before he got hurt, but how was I supposed to make him leave? “Jesse, you should probably check on Hannah. I can have my dad pick me up.”
“I’m not leaving you,” he gritted out.
I didn’t have time to argue and give Sura the opportunity to get close to Jesse or me.
“Isn’t he just the cutest?” Sura said, her haunting eyes turning to my best friend.
My blood ran cold.
She wound between the tables, trailing a finger over the wooden tops. “Humans are so susceptible to persuasion. Would you like a demonstration, love?” she asked, looking at Jesse.
“No!” I bolted around the corner, putting myself in between Jesse and the Camirra. “Leave him alone.”
“K, this is getting weird. Maybe we should call the police.” He reached for his back pocket, and I knew it was a mistake.
“Jesse, don’t!” I barked, but it was too late.
Sura tsked her tongue. “Jesse, is it? That is a bad idea.”
I blinked, and the Camirra was no longer in front of me. Cursing under my breath, I spun around.
A flicker of surprise scuttled over Jesse’s features at Sura magically appearing beside him. “What the hell?”
Sura’s hand snatched the phone from Jesse and dropped it on the ground. She stomped on the device, crushing it under the heel of her boot. “There. Problem fixed,” she announced, smiling sweetly in a way that made her appear insane.
“Hey, that was my phone,” Jesse scowled.
Sura chuckled, a low husky sound. “You humans and your little devices. Useless. Just like you.”
The three of us stood in a triangle formation. “If I’m so useless, why haven’t you killed me all ready?” I snapped.
“Kill?” Jesse choked.
“Jesse,” I hissed. “Not another word. Let me handle this.”
There must have been something in my face that stopped him, because he closed his open mouth, his gaze growing wide. “Karina, what is wrong with your eyes?”
Crap. I had tapped into my fox abilities without realizing it. “I’ll explain later. Once she leaves. It’s time for you to go,” I hissed to Sura.
“Now? The party is just getting started, and we can’t waste such a pretty dress.” Her glance raked over my appearance.
“What do you want from me?” A crazy thought occurred to me. What if Sura had waltzed into the café and puffed her power of control in Corrine, making her believe there was an emergency, so Sura could get me alone? Except I had shown up with Jesse, throwing a wrench in her plan.
“Oh, we’re getting to it, but what’s a show without a bit of suspense and a dose of action?” Her hands danced in the air, and I flinched.
I had to be quick and not give her the chance to use any of her special abilities, but it wasn’t going to be easy. I’d been a Kitsune for only a few months. Sura had her entire life to hone her skills. My disadvantage was real. “I’d rather just get straight to the point and skip the drama.”
She pouted her cupcake-pink lips. “If you insist.” Her hand shot out, securing around Jesse’s throat. “It’s simple, really. I want your star soul in exchange for his life.”
A roar of fire licked in my veins. Why had I ever thought she was different? Of course she wanted my power, but at the moment, my only concern was Jesse. “Get your hands off him!” I didn’t expect her to listen, but it was worth a shot.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way, but I promise either to be fun.” Sura moved her lips close to Jesse, who was doing everything he could to get out of her grip and get air back into his lungs. It was tortuous, watching him suffer.
I couldn’t take it anymore, and I had two choices I could see.
Call Devyn.
Or shift.
Sura smiled. “I can see the wheels turning in those animalistic eyes. No boyfriends allowed, or Jesse here gets the blow of his life.”
My pulse sped into unchartered regions. “Don’t hurt him,” I pleaded, holding up my hands.
“Now you’re speaking my language. Shift so I can see if my charms worked,” she ordered.
I wiped my sweaty palms on the sides of my dress. “You mean when you glitched me.”
“Obviously,” she said with a bored note in her voice. “Maybe you need a little motivation.”
“No!” I screamed, lunging forward, prepared to shift as she demanded, but I was too late.
She blew in Jesse’s face, and no matter how much I begged God to let her misfire, the sparkly
pink mist drifted from her lips just as she dropped her hold on his throat, giving Jesse no other choice but to inhale deeply.
“JESSE!” My voice echoed over the café.
Chapter Fourteen
Sura released him, and the air in my lungs came out in short, choppy breaths. I think I’m hyperventilating. A panic attack?
It didn’t matter. I had a new set of problems.
Jesse was advancing on me. His violet eyes had gone blank, and if I didn’t watch myself, I would be cornered, not a good position for a fox. “Jesse! What are you doing? This isn’t you. Don’t you see what she did to you?” I tried to reason with him.
He kept progressing.
Shit.
I held up my hands. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
He laughed, a haunting sound so unlike the lighthearted boy I had grown up with. “You couldn’t hurt an ant, K. We both know you don’t have it in you.”
I tilted my head. “That’s what you think,” I muttered under my breath, taking a step backward. “I know you must be confused, but you have to trust me. I’m your friend. Your best friend.”
“Why don’t you call, Devyn,” he sneered. “You run to him for everything. Let’s see if he can save you now.”
What a grand suggestion. Don’t mind if I do. I dug out my phone to call for back up, aka, Devyn, but Jesse knocked it at my hand before I could hit the button with Devyn’s name highlighted. My phone went flying across the room, clattering to the floor. Pieces broke off, scattering under tables.
Son of a bitch.
Sura laughed, pleased with her callous control over my friend.
I ignored the heartless Camirra, keeping my focus on Jesse. “You broke my phone. Dammit, Jesse, I’m trying to help you.”
He didn’t seem to care and only kept stalking toward me. I didn’t want to hurt him, but the darkness gleaming in his eyes said he had no qualms about causing me pain.
“Jesse, you need to fight her. She’s controlling you. Fight.” I needed to get him away from Sura, then maybe I’d be able to break the hold she had on him. With my heart in my throat, I raced for the door, knowing Jesse would give chase.
