Hell's Belle

by Marie Castle

  I looked at Luke. He was straining against the magical bonds, muscles bulging under a hunter-green shirt. Like Becca, he was dressed nicely…though he’d missed a few buttons. Had Luke and Becca been on a date? That would compound Becca’s hurt and my own castigation. I bit my lip, holding in an apology. Luke was the wrong person for it. And the right person would probably take a fist to the face before she’d take an apology from me. I released a mental sigh. It was too late for what-ifs. The only thing to do was to go forward. Luke’s struggling hadn’t ceased, but his head tilted back, eyes following the pass of emotions on my face.

  I pulled the padded chair in front of him and sat. Crossing my legs, I folded my hands over my knees and returned his gaze. “I will say this once.” I held up my index finger. “Then never again. We will not speak of this outside this room.” The angry, hungry darkness in me further retreated. I could now sympathize with the hurt and confusion in his eyes. But sympathy didn’t get either of us off the hook for the mess we’d made. I softened my voice, adding a sense of urgency. I could only hope he understood. “It’s important, Luke, that no one else know this.” If possible, he looked a millimeter less angry. However, his confusion increased.

  Sighing, I blew a flying lock of hair from my eyes. “We don’t have time for complicated explanations. You’ll just have to trust me.” His expression was dubious but intent. At least he was listening, if involuntarily, which was the only way we would ever have this talk. The sound wards meant my magical gag wasn’t necessary, but if I knew Lucas Deveroux—and I did—it was the only way I was going to get a word in edgewise. His jaw was already twitching, trying to force out words (most likely of the cursing variety). A thump sounded nearby as someone pounded at the door.

  Interesting. Sound could enter but not leave? No matter. The Weres could sense their Alpha’s agitation, but they couldn’t know exactly what was happening. For the sake of appearances, Becca was probably making a halfhearted effort to break down the door. But the wards were holding strong. They’d have to smash the thing to splinters, and even that probably wouldn’t be enough. I turned back to Luke. My stomach flipped once with worry. Not about Becca. There was plenty of time there. So, why this sudden sense of urgency?

  I felt it then. Luke’s Wolf had been rising gradually since his confrontation with Jacq. His dark blue eyes had a feral glow, confirming that when she’d left he hadn’t stopped the progression. Lovely. Just lovely. I had maybe a minute before I lost his attention. Now I had to put what I couldn’t say in three years into sixty seconds? No pressure there.

  I’d never fully explained to Luke why I’d left our marriage. Maybe that was another of my mistakes. But sometimes to speak of the future was to change it. And the future I’d seen for him needed to happen…for both our sakes. I’d been wrong earlier—I would be sharing secrets tonight. The time had come for me to share one with my ex. We’d simply have to take the risk that the future would still happen as it should. Because I was pretty sure it was going to be real screwy if I didn’t.

  “Luke, Luke?” I waited for his eyes to focus again on my face. He was forcing his Wolf away, and it was costing him. I mentally girded my loins and continued, “I love you. I’ve always loved you.” I didn’t stop at his look of surprise and increased confusion. “But you were always meant for another. I saw it, Wolf.” I ran my fingertips across a cheek bristling with the start of fur, rubbing the smear of lipstick from his lips out of habit. “And I left.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat, taking my hand away to wipe my own tears, watching his change slow. Good, he was listening.

  “I loved you, but I walked away from our marriage. And it hurt. It hurt me deeply to do it, knowing that I’d hurt you…knowing that I might lose you as a friend forever.” His change hadn’t fully stopped, but the feral look had been replaced with one of great sadness. Tears spilled from his beautiful half-man, half-wolf eyes. For me? For him? If he hurt like I did, then they were for us both and what might’ve been. I’d thought Luke was fighting for me to assuage his ego. I’d been wrong…and selfish, thinking I was the only one still hurting. All this time, he’d been hurting, too.

  More silent tears dripped down my cheeks, and I didn’t wipe them away. There would be time for grief later. Luke’s shift was still progressing. He might have gone too far to stop, though his slowing the process had bought us precious time. His jaw elongated, brown hair slowly flowing over his skin. It was now or never. “I loved you, but not the way you needed. I did it so you wouldn’t be stuck in a half-love with me when you have a true love and a true mate waiting for you.” I pointed to the door, which rattled as Becca and the other Were threw themselves against it.

  I placed both feet firmly on the ground, leaned forward, and whispered. Even with the wards to protect against eavesdropping, this was something that should only be said in hushed tones. “The spell I conducted on the day of our wedding was for a vision.” I let out an empty laugh. “But I got more than I bargained for. I lost six days of my life to the magic, but I received what some would consider a great gift in return. I saw our future together when I was in that coma.” I resisted the urge to reach out and comfort him again. This was going to be hard for Luke to hear. It was certainly hard for me to say. But we needed the clean break that we’d both denied ourselves for far too long. “If we had stayed married, we would never have had children, and we both would’ve been miserable.” He shook his head. “Yes, Luke, eventually we would’ve realized that you’d bound yourself irrevocably to the wrong woman.” The mixture of shock, confusion and disbelief on his face said that he didn’t understand. But that was okay. I couldn’t force-feed it to him. Or at least, not any more than I was already doing having him bound and gagged on his knees. It wasn’t like I could drill a hole in his skull and cram the thoughts in, though the idea had crossed my mind.

  I was nearly calm now that I’d said my piece. The fearful, hungry power inside me receded further. It felt as if the Universe had suddenly jumped back on the right track. I laughed, brushing the back of my hand across my face to wipe away the remaining tears before doing the same for Luke. I sniffled. “You’re an ass, Lucas Deveroux, and I’ve half-a-mind to let D really make you into one.” He began to struggle in earnest. We both knew D could make good on my threat…or do much, much worse, if she desired. “But I won’t.” Luke stopped. I couldn’t speak for the wolf-man before me, but I was emotionally exhausted. “You’re a blind fool, though.” Yep, that was all I’d got. Three years to say what I thought, and that was it. Seriously anticlimactic.

  I leaned back and smiled a wide, true smile. “But be sure and use a breath mint before you go after the girl, unless she’s the kind that likes the smell of raw meat.” I could actually smell the steak dinner on his breath. That wasn’t my sort of thing. But if the smell of sex coating his skin was a good indicator, wolfy females dug it.

  I got up and looked down at Luke. He had a good heart, even if he did have a pig’s head. I just hoped he figured out sooner, rather than later, where to put that heart.

  I dropped the sound ward first. “Becca?” I spoke softly, keeping my gaze locked with Luke’s. The fires of hell were still burning in my eyes, and I wanted that sight to be the memory he most kept of me. Even after all the mush I’d just shared, I still hoped that after tonight he wouldn’t remember me so much as an old love or friend but as a formidable opponent he should think twice before challenging.

  “Yes?” The pounding stopped.

  “Come take your Alpha home. He looks tired.” I leaned close to Luke, who’d finally stopped his shift halfway. Impressive. My face beside his half-man, half-wolf one, I spoke quietly into his now pointed ear so that only he and I heard my whispered, “And Lucas, don’t be mistaken. There’ll one day be a Delacy-Deveroux Clan, just not in our generation. So go make beautiful babies. My daughter will someday need a strong mate.”

  I kissed his furry cheek goodbye then dropped his bonds and the door’s wards as I softly uttered a sleepin
g spell.

  I left the room with a much lighter—but slightly chilly around the edges—heart. Maybe I wasn’t the only one. Or maybe Luke wanted to rip out my entrails. The wolfish grin on his face as he drifted into dreams on the cold concrete could’ve gone either way.

  * * *

  Nicodemus hadn’t worried at first when Sarkoph didn’t return. The lesser-demon had been caged in hell for eons. He was wont to satisfy a few carnal pleasures. Nicodemus drummed his long sharp nails on the arm of the small throne he’d erected. But then he’d sent his dogs after that runner, and they too hadn’t returned.

  It wasn’t until his middle brother, Artus, had heard the girl’s name, Cate, that they’d realized. The same girl he’d left the demon to handle was the one they’d sent the hounds after. The sheriff’s new runner wasn’t dead, and his dogs of war were missing. Added to that was the fact that she was a Delacy. That name left a foul taste in his mouth. It didn’t take a smart man to recognize what had happened. He hadn’t been a “man” in centuries, but his brilliance far surpassed human realms of intelligence.

  The girl was more than a nuisance now. She was a liability. Nicodemus and his brothers had come too far to allow anyone to stop them. Their lord would walk the green hills again, and the lord’s loyal servants would sit at his right hand and glory in the destruction that fell upon all who opposed their master. Then they would have the power to achieve their true goal.

  But first, he had to tie up some loose ends.

  Nicodemus looked to his brothers. One of them would just have to take care of the runner, this Delacy. It was a pity. She was such a pretty girl. So full of life. Too bad he was going to suck it right out of her. No matter, it’d been centuries since he’d actually had a heart to care. His fingers continued to drum. The click, click, click amused him and made the humans he had chained to feed his continued thirst jump in fear. Nicodemus smiled in anticipation, revealing long, brown teeth.

  There would be no more interference. He snapped his fingers. Titus, his youngest brother stepped forward. “Yes, Nicodemus.” Titus bowed his head, waiting for his eldest brother’s orders.

  “It is time to retrieve the next vessel. Take the nesreterka,” Nicodemus commanded.

  Titus again bowed before leaving. He was followed by three lumbering beasts that resembled a creature the humans should be thankful had long been extinct on this plane called Earth.

  “Come.” Nicodemus gestured to Artus. They were followed by their servants and more beasts. The former were only empty human shells, kept alive by the mercy of his power. “It is time to…How do the humans say it? Ah, yes…make some sheep’s clothes.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Stun guns make great party favors.”

  —Cate Delacy

  I rushed upstairs. The two-way mirror was once again exposed, but the room was empty. Luckily, there was no video record of my confrontation with Luke. Even with the exposed view into the room below, only Buck, Lady D, Serena or Jacq could’ve seen what had occurred. Few people had access to the upper rooms unless they were in use, and none but ours was booked for the evening. If those four had seen, they wouldn’t say a word. Even Buck. He was human, but life with a Voodoo queen had a way of educating a man.

  But I didn’t think anyone had stuck around to view the fireworks because I had to go through the entire upper level and half of the downstairs to find my friends. Finally, I found Lady D and her lover on the dance floor. D told me to look for “Miss Hot Stuff” by her car, if I wanted to go home. Or I could take one of the young studs dancing around us upstairs and spend the night. There would be no taking myself home. Mynx’s SUV was in the lot, but I didn’t have the keys. And hotwiring a car with magic usually didn’t end well. So it was catch a ride with Jacq, accept Lady D’s hospitality, or possibly turn my business partner’s car into an incendiary device. All three could end with a bang.

  I looked briefly at the muscular, sweaty men grinding away on the floor. The image was superimposed over by the memory of Jacq’s eyes, desperate and blazing with magic. An easy choice. I headed outside. Jacq was waiting with arms crossed, leaning against her silver car’s low hood. She didn’t say a word as I approached, the unlocking car’s beep and the club’s muffled music and faint laughter the only sounds breaking the empty night.

  Jacq’s silence continued on the drive to Gandsai. I didn’t blame her for being angry, didn’t even try to dissuade her as we rolled through pine-bordered empty back roads, stopping once for a group of deer to bound across the blacktop. I simply laid my head back and closed my eyes. It was well past two a.m. when we stopped in front of the wards, which were locked down tight.

  We sat there for a minute, looking at the silent house and starry sky, the Corvette’s engine purring in the dark. Then Jacq turned off the car. I put my hand on the latch then stopped, turning toward the motionless auburn-haired beauty. I could let her walk away. For both our sakes, I should do just that. But something in me wouldn’t allow it.

  My hand fell to my lap.

  “Please,” I placed my hand over Jacq’s where it gripped the gear shift, “stay.” Her muscles leapt, but she only blinked, clenched her jaw, and looked away. I removed my hand but made no effort to leave. Somehow I knew that if I let her go now, when we met again in the morning something would have irrevocably changed. I racked my brain for some argument, some explanation. If the brooding woman sitting across from me had been sulking, this would be easy. She’d get angry then get over it. I’d been around Luke plenty when he was in a sulk and knew the signs. This was different, which both relieved and worried me.

  Jacq was processing, weighing what she knew, making a decision. Such adult behavior was refreshing…and frightening. I knew once her mind was made, hell or high water wouldn’t change it. My heart twisted. Was that panic? I didn’t like how another’s choices could so affect my emotions, but it was too late to change that. At least for now. I could deal with my wonky, calamitous heart later. At this moment I needed Jacq to hear the facts before she set her feet onto a path of no return. If only I could again feel what she was feeling.

  Closing my eyes, I sought the connection we’d had at The Blue Moon. It was weak but there. I tried to bolster it using my own internal magic, unsure if it would work. I felt her hurt, her confusion…her deep longing. I nearly sighed, understanding the last emotion well. Then my mind was catapulted out, tossed over a wall that hadn’t been there moments before. My eyes popped open.

  Jacq sat gazing at the shadowed woods, seemingly unaware of my brief intrusion into her psyche. But I swore I saw her lips twitch. I closed my eyes again, focusing. Yes, this connection was like my magic but different. And like magic, it could be shielded against. I was familiar with the concept, having once trained with Serena, but my skills were beyond rusty. I felt the barrier’s edges. Jacq was blocking me, erecting a wall to protect her mind…and maybe her heart. Well, we’d simply do this the old-fashioned way.

  While Jacq considered whatever it was that had her so deep in thought, I considered her. Her profile was shadowed—the wards’ swirling blues and greens hiding her expression. If I could see her eyes this very moment, what emotions would I see? Anger? Sadness? Despair? Part of me wanted to know. Part of me didn’t.

  We sat there in silence for several minutes. I leaned my seat back, closing my eyes. If need be, I would sleep in the car.

  I’d just settled in for the long haul when she twisted toward me, grabbed my shirt, and pulled me over the console. I squawked. It was a terribly unladylike sound. But, hey, she surprised me. I thought she was leaning in for a kiss, but she pulled me tightly to her chest. I’ll admit to being a wee bit disappointed in receiving only a hug. Still, Jacq’s heat, her scent and the feel of her strong arms around me were intoxicating.

  I’d just started to enjoy myself when she pulled away, releasing me in a flop back into the passenger seat. Dazed, I didn’t even hear Jacq exit the car. I sat there, lost in the pleasant sensation of her body pr
essed to mine. Jacq had never once spoken, but she hadn’t thrown me out. She’d hugged me, and she was coming into the house. It was definitely a step in the right direction.

  Through the windshield I looked at the woman who’d so recently taken a predominant spot in my own thoughts. She stood by the wards, both hands tucked into her trouser pockets, the magic’s light haloing her body and hiding her features. Once again, waiting for me.

  I moved mechanically from the car. Jacq quietly walked beside me toward the dark house. If only I could believe that the hug had solved all our problems, but Jacq’s thoughts were now hidden behind a curtain of seriousness that said otherwise. As I opened a ward door, it hit me.

  I really missed that one dimple.

  Our feet crunched over the gravel drive, and I asked, “Would you like some cocoa?” I needed something to keep me awake or I’d never make it through this. And I could bribe her with mini-marshmallows. I was old-school. Bribery was always a good idea. Unless it involved vampire hookers, a wad of hundreds, and a federal judge. Then bribery was a bad idea. A very, very bad idea. But unless there was a hooker hiding in the pantry, we were safe. At least, for the night.

  “Yes.” Jacq’s whiskey-smooth voice was hesitant.

  We moved into the kitchen. Like the night we’d met, Jacq sat at the table, watching me. Had that been only four days ago? I shook my head in wonder. So much had happened since then. While I warmed the milk, I laid down a set of photos identical to the ones I’d given Fera. They were of Fera and the men who had been following her. They also included the picture of Jacq and Fera kissing. This wasn’t to put Jacq on the defensive (the skeletons in my closet were much larger—and more hairy—than hers). I wanted to clear the air. Even if Mynx was right and they didn’t mean anything, I’d been spying on Jacq. Although unintentional, it made me feel guilty. And I had enough that I deserved to feel guilty about without adding this.