“Hmm…” Roberta picked up the small, red glasses that hung from a beaded chain around her neck and settled them on her nose. She narrowed a long and intense gaze at Macey. Then, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, absently nodding her head. The uncomfortable moment lasted no more than half a minute, but Macey’s palms starting sweating.
“Interesting,” Roberta muttered as she opened her eyes.
What had that been about? The woman seemed to have almost slipped into a trance. Desperate to change the subject, Macey shifted in her seat and asked, “How do you know my mom?”
Roberta’s demeanor shifted back to cheerfulness. “I teach a meditation class at the civic center. Jenny joined a few weeks ago.”
“That’s cool.” She had no idea her mother was into meditation. Maybe she needed to visit more often.
“It’s been such an eye opening experience.” The sound of her mother’s voice startled her, and she jumped.
“God, Mom. I need to put a bell on you. You scared me!”
“Sorry, sweetheart.” Jenny set the table with plates, silverware, and full glasses of sweet tea. Then she scurried to the kitchen and brought out the food. “Soup’s on,” she called over her shoulder to William.
With dinner on the table, they loaded their plates and began eating. The potatoes melted in Macey’s mouth, and she had to remind herself to slow down. She didn’t get home-cooking like this very often, and it was so good, she wanted to shovel it all in.
“Macey.” Roberta dabbed the napkin at the corners of her mouth. “Your mother asked me to come over to talk to you about the trouble you had with a spirit. It seems you have an undeveloped gift you may need help with.”
“Mom!” Macey glared at her mother. Her ability had always been their secret—she didn’t want anyone to think she was a freak.
Jenny shrugged. “I was worried about you. Roberta is a psychic medium, so I thought she could help.”
That explained the strange behavior. Macey’s ears burned with embarrassment or anger—she didn’t know which. Her mother had no right to share her secret. If Macey wanted to tell people, that was her business. But to go around telling complete strangers? What would the guys at work think of her if they found out?
She turned to Roberta and spoke through clenched teeth. “I don’t know what my mother told you about my ability, but I’m handling it fine. And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t talk about it to anyone else. My job depends on my sanity…or people perceiving me as sane.”
Dropping her napkin on her plate, Macey rose to her feet and stormed out of the dining room. She wanted to slam the door behind her as she left the house, but she refrained from the childish action. Instead, she carefully clicked it shut, dropped down on the front steps, and sat with her head in her hands.
She’d overreacted, but embarrassment stopped her from going back inside. Her mother should’ve warned her. If she would have let her know why she’d invited Roberta, Macey would’ve had time to process. To avoid acting like she did. What a fool she’d made of herself. She needed to apologize to Roberta, at least.
She was about to do just that when the door opened and Roberta stepped onto the porch. Macey stood and leaned against the hand rail. “I’m sorry, Roberta. It’s not something I tell many people, and you caught me off guard.”
Roberta held up a finger. “No need to apologize. It can be hard accepting a gift you don’t understand.” She folded Macey’s hand into her arm. “Let’s walk.”
They strolled up the driveway, and Macey led her to a walking trail through a wooded area behind the neighborhood. Massive oak trees created a canopy over the gravel path, their leaves dappling the sunlight on the ground. A gentle breeze rustled the branches, stirring the scent of earth and arbor in the air. Roberta’s jolly demeanor slipped away, turning serious as she began to speak.
“There are things in this world that aren’t as they seem. Some of us are gifted enough to see things as they are. Most of us are not. How long have you had the ability to read objects, Macey?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. As long as I can remember.”
They paused at a bridge that crossed a narrow stream. “And you haven’t sought help in developing it. Why?”
“My dad doesn’t believe in it, so he won’t talk about it. And, Mom…she taught me to keep it to myself. That’s why it threw me off when she told you.”
Roberta’s musical laugh danced on the breeze. “Jenny is opening her mind to many things. I’m sorry it came so late. It must have been very hard keeping it to yourself.”
“Not really. I’ve told a few people…People I trust. Some believe me, some don’t.”
“Luke believes you.”
She pulled her hand from Roberta’s grip. She’d trusted Luke, and to think he’d discussed her ability behind her back caused a sharp pain in her chest. How stupid of her to talk about herself with a man she barely knew. “How do you… Did you talk to him? How do you know him?”
“We run in similar circles, so to speak.” She smiled knowingly. “He didn’t share your secret with me, but I know him and I know he believes you.”
Macey let out her breath as relief loosened the tightness in her chest.
Roberta stepped onto the bridge and turned to her. “Running water increases a spirit’s ability to manifest. Were you near a stream when it happened?”
“It’s possible, but I didn’t see one. I was out in the woods…kinda like this.” She spun in a circle, her senses suddenly heightened at the similarity of the scene. A warm breeze caressed her skin, and birds chirped in the trees above. Nothing out of the ordinary. No ghosts dancing in the wind. She turned to find Roberta staring at her.
“That’s good. You should always pay attention to your surroundings.”
Macey laughed. “As a cop, I always do. But now I have to pay attention to things I can’t see?” She sat on the edge of the bridge. “It really happened, didn’t it? I think I convinced myself it didn’t.”
Roberta eased down next to her. “It did, indeed. I sensed the remnants of its essence in you when we hugged. And I sense it is near now, though I can’t tell where. Somehow, it’s blocking me.”
Macey swallowed. “It’s here?”
“It’s following you. And it’s powerful.”
“Well, crap.” Just what she needed. As if her ability wasn’t freaky enough, now she had a real ghost haunting her.
“Do you know what it wants?” Roberta asked.
She sighed and rubbed her temples. “It could only be after one thing. It wants to stop me. Have you heard about the case I’m working in the Quarter?”
Roberta raised her eyebrows. “I have.”
“It’s the ghost of one of the perpetrators. The one whose body we found.” She rubbed her arms, suddenly chilled by the reality. “I saw his face when he got…inside me.”
Her eyes tightened briefly before she forced a half-smile. “Try not to worry. You’re strong, Macey. If you fought it out once, you can do it again.”
She threw up her arms. “Well, that’s great. I have to spend the rest of my life on the lookout for an evil spirit who wants to possess me? Do you think it’ll leave me alone once I solve the case? If I solve the case?”
“If?”
“Well, so far, nothing in this case makes sense.”
“That’s because you’re looking at it from a strictly human perspective. You need to open your mind to other possibilities.”
“What kind of possibilities?” Werewolves? No, thanks. She’d already heard that one.
Roberta sighed and brushed a stray strand of hair from Macey’s face, a motherly gesture that put her fears at ease. She could trust this woman. She felt it in her bones.
“There’s only so much I can tell you. But if you’ll allow me to help you develop your gift, the secrets will reveal themselves to you.”
“But if you know something that will help solve the case, you have to—”
“I know what I know. This ca
se is bigger than you, child. Truly solving it will change your life forever. I can help you if you are open to it. Are you ready?”
Macey chewed the inside of her cheek. Did she want her life changed? Did she have choice? “I guess so. Can you help me get rid of this spirit that’s stalking me too?”
“I’m afraid only you can get rid of it for good.”
An icy entity snaked around Macy’s legs, spiraling up to her ear. “You’ll never get rid of me.” She jumped to her feet, spinning around, trying to locate the spirit.
“Roberta?” Her voice came out as a breathy whisper.
“It’s here, isn’t it?” Roberta said. “It’s still blocking me. Don’t let it in.” She rose to her feet and stepped to Macey’s side.
“Now, where did we leave off? Oh, yeah. I was trying to get inside you.”
Her body trembled as the familiar prickling sensation covered her skin. “How do I keep it out?” Panic tipped in her voice.
“Same way you did last time, child. Use your mind to put up a shield.”
Macey imagined a bubble of white light surrounding her body. She tensed her muscles, pushing back as the spirit tried to enter her. The sensation of a million needles lodged in her skin, the spirit pressing them in, her will pushing them out.
“Don’t listen to that damn witch. I’m going to get inside you, so you might as well stop fighting.”
“I won’t let you in.” She pushed back with all her might, gritting her teeth as sweat beaded on her forehead. A metal curtain slammed down in her mind, shutting the spirit out. Her body trembled, fatigue setting in and threatening to crumble the wall she’d so forcefully built. Then, the pricking stopped. The darkness that had closed in around her dissipated, lifting a weight off her chest.
“I’ll get you another way, then.” The spirit swirled around her in frantic circles before shooting up into the air.
Dizzy and drained, she leaned her hand against a tree trunk, trying to catch her ragged breath. “Did you hear what he said?”
Roberta put a hand on her shoulder. “I couldn’t hear a thing. He was only talking to you.”
In his wolf form, Luke crouched in the brush a few yards away from Macey. Initially, he’d berated himself for following her, but now he was glad he did. Something was tormenting her, though he couldn’t wrap his mind around what it was. A regular spirit didn’t have that kind of power, and once a demon was vanquished, it went straight to hell. It couldn’t hang around in spirit form. Unless…
It had to be the half-demon James had killed a few days ago. But why wouldn’t it have reincarnated its own body? Was it more powerful this way? A low growl rumbled in his chest. That explained why her eyes had turned red. The bastard had already gotten inside her.
Lying on his stomach, he inched forward on his haunches to get a better view of the scene. Macey leaned against a thick oak, her head tipped back so it rested against the tree. Long, golden hair flowed over her bare shoulders, cascading down to the center of her lavender tank top. Luke’s chest tightened. So beautiful. Delicate. The fragility of human life made his heart ache.
The witch stood next to her, stroking her arm in comfort.
“He said he’d get to me another way.” Macey’s voice trembled as she spoke.
“You’ll have to keep your guard up, then,” Roberta said.
Macey shivered and whipped her head around. “He’s here. I can feel him.”
Luke rose onto his paws. He sensed the demon too. Scanning the scene, his gaze fixed on a branch, as thick as his thigh, swaying above the women. The air was stagnant; no breeze could’ve caused the movement. The branch pressed down, then snapped up as if it were pushed. He growled a warning.
Still out of sight, he crept closer, his gaze shifting from Macey to the tree. What the hell was the demon doing? Spirits weren’t strong enough to move—
Before he could finish the thought, instinct took over. He leapt from his hiding place and bounded toward the women. Macey let out a yelp as he plowed into them, knocking them out of the line of the falling branch.
The bough crashed to the ground, splitting in half with a thundering crack. With the women safe, Luke prowled the area, howling a warning to the fiend. No one messed with his woman.
He lifted his muzzle, inhaling the coppery tinge of fresh blood. Macey was hurt. His stomach dropped, and he turned slowly to the pair. Roberta sat where she’d landed, dusting dirt and leaves from her skirt. Macey sat frozen, her gaze locked on his wolf form. Had she even noticed the gash on her thigh? Blood ran in ribbons over her knee, turning black as the ground absorbed it.
Luke cautiously took another step forward to examine her. Other than the cut on her leg, she seemed to be okay. He lowered his head and whimpered, trying his best to show Macey he wouldn’t hurt her. It didn’t work.
She grasped Roberta’s shirt, never taking her gaze off him. “Roberta…I think we’re about to get eaten.”
“Oh, nonsense. It’s just a wolf, and it saved our lives. Sit still until it goes away.” Roberta looked into his eyes and raised an eyebrow as she spoke to Macey. “Do you sense the spirit, dear?”
Macey shook her head. “N-n…no. I think it’s gone.”
“Okay, then. We’re safe.” She looked at the cut on Macey’s leg. “You’ve got a little scratch from your fall.” She turned to Luke. “Nothing a salve and a bandage won’t fix. I’m sure the wolf will leave now.” She emphasized the last two words as if making sure he got the point.
He couldn’t do anything else, so he blew a hard breath through his nose, turned, and ran into the woods. He’d have to trust Macey’s intuition that the fiend had left. He didn’t sense it there, but that didn’t mean anything. It was only half demon, and it didn’t have a goddamn body.
What the hell were they doing out in the woods again? Roberta, of all people, should’ve realized the danger Macey was in. That’s if she knew it was a demon spirit.
When he first saw Macey with the witch, he’d thought he had it all figured out. That Macey was a witch as well, and she’d been holding back when they talked at the restaurant. But given the nature of the women’s conversation, he wasn’t sure now.
Could she really possess so much power and not even realize it? Growing up in the magical community, Luke couldn’t fathom having no one to talk to about his abilities. Of course, the breadth of his abilities consisted of turning into a wolf on command and changing back into a human. Macey could read energy. And apparently be possessed by it.
He broke into a sprint, bounding through the forest with long strides, leaves crunching and twigs snapping under his massive paws. He needed to watch her more closely. To protect her. The thought of that fiend hurting her was enough to drive him mad. He’d already failed one woman. It wouldn’t happen again.
At least she’d have Roberta coaching her now. Roberta was the most powerful witch he knew. She was a member of the local coven, but she didn’t get involved in their politics. If anyone could train Macey to use her gifts, she could. The idea relaxed him a little, but he had to be extra vigilant to make sure his woman stayed safe.
His woman. He already thought of her that way, but she wasn’t his yet. He still didn’t know if it was possible for an alpha to mate with a non-were. He’d have to find out soon.
Chapter Thirteen
Two days passed with no word from Luke. Macey’s elation after their dates deflated into a feeling of emptiness. And, they had been dates. Though they didn’t start out that way, by the end of each evening, they were definitely in date mode. He’d even kissed her, for goodness sake! Then she’d invited him back to her house…
But he’d turned her down.
She gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white as she drove up Chartres Avenue. In the passenger seat, Bryce sat oblivious to the inner torment storming inside her.
“You trying to choke it to death?” Her partner nodded toward Macey’s hands. Maybe he wasn’t completely oblivious. “What’s up, boss?�
�
She relaxed her death grip and let out a long sigh. “When two people have a…date…and they have a really good time…and the guy says he’ll call, how long should it take?”
Bryce shook his head and mumbled, “Sorry I asked.” He took a deep breath and peered thoughtfully out the window. “You’re asking me for dating advice? The perpetual bachelor?” His goofy grin helped lighten the mood.
The tension in Macey’s chest eased its grip. “You’re the only guy I trust. The only person I can talk to.”
He sighed. “Okay. How long has it been?”
“Two days.” When she said it out loud, it didn’t sound nearly as long as it felt.
Bryce laughed. “That’s nothing, Mace. Give the boy time. He’s probably trying to figure out what to say when he calls. Patience, grasshopper.”
“It’s hard to be patient after…” Heat flushed her cheeks at the memory of the kiss. Did she want to share all the juicy details with her partner?
“After?”
She huffed and fiddled with the AC controls. She had goose bumps thinking about the way she fit so perfectly into Luke’s arms. At the personal information she’d shared so willingly with him. “He was easy to talk to. I told him a lot of things I don’t normally tell people. He probably thinks I’m a freak now. That’s why he hasn’t called.”
Bryce shifted in his seat to face her. “He doesn’t think you’re a freak.” He tapped his finger against his chin, his eyes growing wide. “You’re falling for this guy, aren’t you?”
“What? Don’t be ridiculous.” She tried to laugh off the accusation. “I just…like him a little.”
“Your confidence is slipping. I’ve never heard you question what a man thinks about you.”
That’s because I’ve never cared. “Okay, I like him a lot. Happy? He’s different…” Cool relief flooded her system as a call came over the radio. At least she didn’t have to talk about Luke anymore. Unfortunately, the call confirmed another murder.
Macey floored it, and five minutes later they arrived at the scene. As they approached the historic mansion-turned-apartment-building, the sharp, coppery scent of blood crept to her senses. In her line of work, she should’ve been used to the aromas of death. But the smell singed her nostrils. She paused in front of the structure, leaning her hand against the beige wood. Flipping open her notebook, she pretended to read as the images and energy stored in the building flowed through her fingertips and into her mind. She shuffled through the pictures, but found nothing of use. Maybe she’d get something inside the victim’s apartment.
Werewolves Only Page 9
