by Cat Devon
“The curse has other ramifications,” she said.
“Like what? I’ve still been able to seek out and destroy demons.”
“Of course you have. I would never interfere with that,” she said.
“Only with my ability to have sex.”
“I was trying to teach you a lesson.”
“You were trying to punish me,” he said.
“That’s not true. I could have done something much worse.”
“Like what?”
“Like give you an erection lasting an entire year. That would have been more painful. I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”
“Liar.”
She ignored his drawled accusation. “I was trying to teach you a lesson,” she repeated.
“I’ve been around over a thousand years. I don’t need a witch like you teaching me anything. I’ll tell you what I believe. I believe I can kill demons. What more is there?”
“A lot more.”
“Right. How could I forget? I believe I’m a vampire and you’re a witch.”
“Those are all facts.”
“What’s wrong with facts?” he demanded.
“Nothing as long as you believe there’s more.”
“More what?”
“Things you can’t see, only feel.”
“Do not give me that shit,” he growled. “Magic is your world, not mine.”
“You were turned by Merlin, so magic is part of your sire’s world.”
“I’m not my sire.”
“No, but you like to be just as mysterious. As for magic, you have the ability to fly. Some would call that magical.”
“Humans, you mean. Humans would call that magical.”
“And vampires. They can’t all fly. Only vampire Demon Hunters. Your line is responsible for the legends that vampires turn into bats and fly, you know.”
“That goes back to the Middle Ages, when people’s eyesight sucked,” he said.
“Your dagger is magical. It has the ability to destroy demons. I’ve heard that a lot of Demon Hunters use a curved sword. A katana.”
“I don’t like curves unless they’re on a woman … or a witch.” He gave her one of those head-to-toe-I-know-how-to-trigger-your-orgasm looks, which she could have totally ignored had he not in fact known exactly how to trigger her orgasms.
If he said anything about preferring the thrust of a sword or made any other sexual references, she’d have shut him down. Instead he simply initiated eye contact with her. She couldn’t look away.
He knew it. His trademark half smile indicated his confidence and gave her the strength to break off their visual connection.
“You were turned by Merlin,” she said. “I’m a witch in Morgan Le Fay’s line. Merlin and Morgan were hardly BFFs.”
“Some say they were. That she was his protégé.”
“You were there,” she retorted. “What do you say?”
“I say that maybe Merlin and Morgan are pulling the strings,” Damon suggested as he entered the room. “Did you ever consider the possibility they’re matchmaking?”
“Never!” Simon went on to mutter a string of foreign words she suspected were all curses.
“Yeah, what he said.” Pru impatiently shoved her hair away from her face. “Why would they want the two of us to be together?”
“Because the two of them couldn’t be together. I touched base with a vampire friend of mine here in Vamptown, Pat Heller. That’s why I was delayed. He has an impressive collection of ancient books. He’s helped me before. He found a reference in a medieval manuscript indicating that while powerful forces kept Merlin and Morgan from being together, at some point in the future their bloodline would be united.”
All this talk about Merlin only served to infuriate Simon. He’d failed on his first mission, and although he hadn’t failed since, it still haunted him that he hadn’t been able to save his liege, King Arthur. He should have been faster, tried harder, done better.
“Leave us, Damon,” he growled.
Damon hesitated.
“You may go,” Pru said.
Her approval increased Simon’s anger but did allow Damon to withdraw. Simon unclenched his fists. He’d gone about this all wrong. As soon as he found Excalibur, all his powers would expand. If the rumors were true, he only had forty-eight hours after his arrival to find it. He’d thought to have Damon help him in his quest, but now he knew he needed this witch.
“Who else is after Excalibur?” she asked.
“Who wouldn’t be?” he said. He had no intention of giving her unnecessary information. She was merely a means to an end.
Right. Like that turned out so well that last time you used her as a means to an end.
“All you have to do is cast a locator spell,” Simon said.
“It’s not that easy.”
“Are you saying you don’t know how to do a locator spell?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“You are.”
“Meaning what? That you won’t help me?”
“Meaning locator spells work best on finding a person. If it’s an item then you can’t cast a locator spell for something you don’t own.”
“Why not?”
“Because it goes against the laws of nature.”
“Bollocks. Don’t give me that.”
“I don’t make the rules.”
“But you can break them. I’m sure it wouldn’t be the first time.”
“If you once owned and then lost Excalibur then I might be able to help. Emphasis on the ‘might.’ Did you lose it?”
He had in a manner of speaking. If he’d gotten to Mordred sooner, then he could have saved Arthur, and Excalibur wouldn’t have been thrown to the Lady of the Lake, aka Morgan. “Yes,” he said.
All her attempts at using a locator spell failed except for the last one, which had minimal success. “It’s definitely in Chicago,” she said.
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
“Not the North Side, not the South Side. Downtown Chicago. We need to look for a large collection of ice.” She appeared pale and swayed on her feet. “I’m feeling light-headed after all the magic I’ve performed. I’m done for tonight.”
Simon scooped her up and carried her to the huge bed at the opposite end of the loft. “Get some rest. We’ll start again tomorrow.”
* * *
Pru and Simon spent most of the next day checking various venues with no success. She’d tried several locator spells but again, no success. She did sense they were getting closer as they systematically made their way east, toward Lake Michigan, until they eventually reached the Millennium Park Ice Rink, which was closed and deserted. It was nearly eleven at night.
Pru stood still for a moment, struck by the illuminated beauty of Chicago’s world-famous skyline. The night air left a chill on her cheeks and the tip of her nose, but her goose bumps weren’t caused by the cold. “Talk about an outdoor rink with a view.”
“Stop sightseeing and start locating,” Simon ordered. “Stay focused.”
“I’m focusing,” she said.
Despite the fact that they were focused, or perhaps because of it, one second they were alone in the deserted ice rink and the next they were surrounded by vampires. They all wore black, no surprise there.
“I’m Lawrence, leader of the Gold Coast vamps. You’re trespassing,” the tallest one growled, flashing his fangs at them. He oozed wealth, power, and entitlement. His expressionless face reminded her of someone who had had Botox gone wrong. His eyes were entirely black, which was entirely creepy. “This is Gold Coast territory. You have no right to be here.”
“And you have no right hiring mercenary demons,” Simon said. “That’s why they turned to demon dust last night. Because they were hired help.”
“It was an experiment gone awry,” Lawrence said. “But that’s our business, not yours.” His look turned even more menacing. “You and your pet witch aren’t
welcome here.”
“I have a license that says otherwise.” Simon’s voice was calm, but Pru knew him well enough to realize that beneath that unflappable surface, he was ready to strike out.
She wasn’t sure what she could do to help. She knew that Simon was a legendary fighter, but he was outnumbered twelve to one. Glancing down at her hand, she saw her amulet ring. Lifting the top, she revealed a tiny mirror and whispered the spell.
“Mirror, mirror, get us out of here.”
An instant later, she was back where she began much earlier that day. At Damon’s loft. But she was alone.
“What’s going on?” Damon demanded.
“Simon needs help. I left him surrounded by angry Gold Coast vamps.”
“Where?”
“The ice rink at Millennium Park.”
She’d barely spoken the last word when Damon was gone. Damn, vampires move freaky fast. The spell she’d recited only worked if the witch doing it was in immediate danger. Since she was back safe at the loft, she couldn’t use it.
She’d have to risk flying again. Witches were never intended to fly unlimited miles. At least modern witches weren’t. That’s why airplanes were invented.
She arrived at the ice rink in one piece, but it was close. She’d almost gotten beaned by the Bean, the famous sculpture in the park.
She expected to find Simon and Damon battling angry vampires with perhaps a few hired demons thrown into the mix. Instead she saw Simon and Damon high-fiving each other and the dozen vampires from the Gold Coast clan. She’d never seen vampires do that before, but she supposed it was better than ripping each other apart or tearing each other’s heads off.
Their laughter stopped the moment they saw her.
“What’s going on?” She tried to sound calm even though she wasn’t.
“Witches aren’t welcome,” the tall one said. What was his name again? Lawrence. Yeah, Lawrence the self-proclaimed leader and obvious witch hater. The snot.
“She’s with me,” Simon said.
“She was casting a locator spell. Do I need to remind you that any supernatural items in Gold Coast territory belong to our clan?” Lawrence said.
“In most cases, that’s true,” Simon agreed.
“But not in your case?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.”
“Perhaps if you told me what you’re looking for, we could help you find it,” Lawrence said.
“That’s very thoughtful of you, but not necessary,” Simon said. “I don’t need your help.”
“Yet you need the help of a witch?”
“I enjoy her company.”
“What about you, witch? Do you enjoy his company, too?” Lawrence said.
They were leering at her as if she was a camp follower. Or in their case, a vamp camp follower.
Simon reached out and pulled her close to him, shifting his hand to the back of her neck. “Of course she does.”
“Yet she deserted you at the first sign of trouble,” Lawrence pointed out.
Simon shrugged. “What can I say? You intimidated her.”
He gently squeezed his fingers on her nape, warning her to stay silent.
“So the poor little witch is afraid of the big bad vampire?”
They all laughed. Even Damon, who had been standing nearby but stayed out of the conversation.
Perhaps sensing that Pru was nearing the end of her rope, Simon said, “Are we done here?”
“For now,” Lawrence said. “It’s been informative meeting you, Simon. Safe travels.”
“Right back at ya,” Pru muttered under her breath.
The group of vampires disappeared as quickly as they’d appeared.
Pulling away from Simon, she turned to face him. “How dare you—”
He silenced her by putting his finger over her lips. “Not here.” Turning his attention to Damon, he said, “Shall we head on out?”
Damon nodded.
“Allow me.” Simon put his arms around Pru so that her body rested against his. He wrapped his trench coat around her as he went airborne. Since her face was buried in his neck she couldn’t see where they were going, and she didn’t like it. She sensed that he was able to move much faster than she could and that he could control the speed with which he moved. She also sensed that she wanted him. Wanted him bad. But couldn’t have him because she’d cursed him.
“Back in one piece,” he announced as he set her on her feet.
She breathed in the scent of him. He really shouldn’t still have this kind of sexual power over her. She shouldn’t still love him.
“Pru?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you okay?”
She stepped back and glared at him. “No, I’m not okay. I do not appreciate being laughed at by a gang of vampires.”
He glared right back at her. “And I don’t appreciate being cursed by a witch.”
She wasn’t sure how it happened, but somehow his mouth was on hers in a kiss that was as fierce as it was raw. He moved so fast he stole her breath, but it was his passion that stole her heart. He slid his tongue past her parted lips to tickle the roof of her mouth before tangling with her tongue in an erotic thrust and parry that made her want more. But she could tell he wasn’t ready to break the curse himself, and she couldn’t do it for him.
As difficult as it was for her, she pulled away.
“I can’t make you believe if you don’t,” she said before walking out.
CHAPTER FOUR
“Navy Pier is a neutral zone. Sort of the vampire version of Switzerland,” Simon told Pru the next morning as he escorted her toward the Holiday Ice Sculpture Festival taking place on the Chicago tourist spot. “It actually juts out into the lake and the lake is also a neutral zone.”
“Fascinating, I’m sure,” Pru said. She wasn’t feeling real cheerful today. Memories of his kiss had kept her awake half the night.
“Time is running out,” Simon reminded her.
Thinking about running made her glance down at her footwear. She was wearing her magic kick-ass boots today. Contrary to popular fashion, they were not four-inch-high stilettos. Hers were more along the line of blinged-out red leather cowboy boots. Looks were nice, but the main thing was that she could run in them. Run really fast. And kick really hard.
Because when one was dealing with vampires and demons, the ability to move quickly was important. Yes, she could do a disappearing spell, but there were occasions when there was no time to speak one word. And she could hardly go airborne when she was surrounded by humans in the middle of the day. Witches were supposed to stay under the radar.
Had she stayed back in Boston, she would have been working at the Spirit Wellness Center today, seeing patients and working on ways to help them heal.
Instead here she was in Chicago with the vampire Demon Hunter who had seduced her and deserted her. The vampire Demon Hunter she’d cursed. The vampire Demon Hunter she was now helping in his quest to find Excalibur before someone else did.
They’d driven into the city, using a car for a change. Pru had tried to press Simon for more answers. He’d evaded answering just as he’d evaded the crazy drivers skimming through on red lights. He had told her about the forty-eight-hour deadline and reminded her that a powerful and indestructible weapon like Excalibur could not fall into the wrong hands. As in demon hands. Or even in Gold Coast vampire hands.
Then he’d gone on to grumble over the fact that they’d had to borrow Zoe’s red Mini instead of Damon’s top-of-the-line black Porsche. Apparently Damon didn’t let anyone borrow his car, not even his sire. She couldn’t blame him. Simon drove like he did everything else, fast. He’d slowed down when he had sex with her. Then he’d taken all night, working her body for hours of bliss.
She’d already had a restless night dreaming of Simon. She didn’t need to be thinking about having sex with him when she was awake.
The ice festival opened today at noon and they’d arrived right on time. The cheerful sou
nd of “Jingle Bells” sung by a children’s chorus filled the frigid air.
Looking around at the crowd gathered for the Holiday Ice Sculpture Festival, Pru didn’t detect any supernaturals, unless you counted the mom of five who was able to keep all her kids well behaved. If that wasn’t magical, Pru didn’t know what was.
Then she saw them. Lawrence, the tall Botox vampire who had confronted them at the Millennium Park Ice Rink the night before, and two of his sidekicks.
“Out enjoying the sights?” he asked her.
“Yes. I’ve never been to Navy Pier before.”
Simon put his arm around her, staking his claim. He did so with such emphasis that he might as well have had her wear a T-shirt that said “SHE’S MINE.”
Instead she was wearing a holiday red down jacket over layers of cashmere and denim to stay warm. The jaunty red Santa hat on her head had been put there by one of the young workers at the entrance. They hadn’t even attempted to put one on Simon. One look from his glacier-cold eyes and they’d quickly stepped away.
“Navy Pier is neutral territory,” Simon curtly reminded the other vampire.
“I’m here to make sure it stays that way,” Lawrence said.
“So am I,” Damon said as he and Zoe joined them.
Pru was not expecting them, but she could tell by the pissed-off look Simon shot her that he thought she was responsible for their appearance. Simon preferred working alone. He’d done so for over a millennium. The closer they got to the deadline, the more you would think he would welcome help. But no, Simon was the opposite.
He’d forbidden her from telling anyone about their quest. The more who knew, the greater the risk. So she’d sworn on her family’s Book of Spells not to say anything about the sword.
But she had let it slip to Zoe that she and Simon would be visiting Navy Pier today. She hadn’t seen the harm in that. After all, she was borrowing her friend’s car.
“Calling in reinforcements?” Lawrence taunted Simon.
“They’re not here on my account,” Simon said.
“Maybe they’re looking for the same thing you are?” Lawrence said.
