by T J Nichols
“He didn’t sound thrilled you were still alive.”
Jude nodded. There were other witches who were less than good and honest, but his mistakes had been public and inconvenient, which in the Coven’s eyes was a worse sin. Maybe he’d more than made up for it this time.
Mack lifted his chin. He’d been trying unsuccessfully not to fall asleep. He’d never been so tired or weak in his life, and it was partly Jude’s fault. The witch was using the bond between them to draw energy. He was being drained like a battery, and he was sure he could feel the trickle of magic.
He listened again, wondering what had made him jerk awake. The rumble of engines increased. Several cars were heading this way. Hopefully they weren’t coming to scare away the bear. That he was actually hoping it was the Coven didn’t sit well at all. He forced himself up. Jude tilted as though he was about to fall over.
Mack caught him. “You’re not asleep?”
“No.” But Jude looked and sounded exhausted. His face was pale and drawn, and there was no spark to him at all.
“We’ve got company.”
That made Jude perk up faster than the last cup of coffee. The aufhocker also realized something was up, because she lifted her head and gave a yawn before getting to her feet.
Three cars drove up the main street and parked several yards away. They were not the cars that had belonged to the teens. They were nice cars, expensive cars, and not ones that he recognized from town.
Mack was expecting flowing robes and pointed hats, maybe even a broomstick or two, but the two women and a man who got out of the cars seemed like average, suit-wearing people. None of them appeared threatening, yet there was something about them that made him wary. The way they coolly assessed the situation, or maybe the way magic clung to them.
Their magic smelled different to Jude’s. One was earthy, another’s was bitter and sharp. The hairs on the back of Mack’s neck lifted as something seemed to brush against his thoughts. An oily sensation as though something was trying to get in his ear. He shook his head, and the sensation slid away.
The man with the bitter magic stepped forward. “I never thought I’d see this.” He crossed his arms. “We sent you here to stop the problem and instead you got yourself a familiar.”
“You never said I couldn’t have help.” Jude reached out a hand.
Mack pulled him up without taking his eyes off the other three witches. He didn’t trust them. Jude’s pain radiated through Mack’s body. Jude was in worse shape than he’d said, or Mack had realized, and neither of them was in any condition to be fighting three Coven members if it came to it. He didn’t release Jude’s hand. They would face them together.
“I expected you to run,” the man said.
“I never planned on running. I was always going to go down fighting.” Jude’s grip on Mack’s hand tightened.
The woman with the earthy magic nodded. “You did as asked and stopped the creature problem. The familiar we must consider.”
“The familiar is standing right here and has no plans on going anywhere. So how about you take your aufhockers and leave Jude and me alone?” Mack glared at each witch in turn. “Would you dare to defy what the Fates have created?”
The man glanced at his companions. He’d been thinking about doing just that. “Jude has a history of being reckless. It would be better if he was no longer a witch.”
“You’re far too keen to strip my magic, Landstrom.” Jude spat the words. “I thought at first it was because you hated me…but I wonder if it’s more about my magic.”
Mack glanced at Jude, not sure what he meant. The two women glanced at Landstrom who looked ready to let loose with more bluff and bluster.
Mack got in first. “The words you witches are searching for are ‘Thank you, Jude, for stopping the aufhocker from terrorizing Mercy and revealing the existence of the paranormal to the good folks who live there’.” Mack smiled, but it was as feral as he felt. They were one wrong sentence away from staring down an angry bear. He didn’t care how tired he was, these people didn’t get to make executive decisions about his life, or Jude’s.
“You’re welcome,” Jude said as though the Coven had already thanked him.
“We need to examine how this investigation was run and get statements from you both,” the oily magic woman said.
“Creating a familiar bond is very serious. Not something to be taken or considered lightly,” the dark-haired woman said to Mack.
“This has clearly been taxing, on you both,” the other woman said.
Mack didn’t think for a moment that she cared as much as her slick tone implied.
“If you wait too long, you won’t be able to change your mind. The bond will be too hard to break,” the man said as though he were concerned. Though he was probably more worried about Jude having a familiar and access to more power.
After everything that had happened over the last few days, Mack was sure it had already reached that stage.
Jude swayed. He was still containing Mommy aufhocker.
“Don’t faint. We have an aufhocker at our backs,” he muttered. Then louder for the other witches, “One of you might want to take over the containment before Jude runs out of energy.”
That got their attention. The dark-haired woman walked over and stood on the other side of Jude, helping to support him, leaving the man and the other woman to sort out the net.
“Give us a few minutes to figure out what we’re going to do.” The man seemed to resent helping.
“You may not have a few minutes, Landstrom. I told you we should’ve come straight here,” the dark-haired woman said.
“I didn’t know you cared, Holling,” Jude said with a smile, but there was no light or laughter behind it. His eyes were dull and his skin ashen.
If Jude died, Mack would make sure these witches knew exactly how angry a bear could get before he died.
Mack looked at Holling. “You’d better be able to help him.”
“I’ll do my best, but no hospital will be able to treat that bite.”
“Break the bond. I don’t want Mack to die,” Jude murmured to the woman.
Mack glanced at the woman as they got Jude into the car. Was it that bad? Mack didn’t want to die, but he didn’t want to lose Jude either.
“You’re not going to die.” But Mack wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince.
Mack went to get into the car, but the woman put her hand on him. “You can’t come.”
“Why not?”
“Because there are things we must sort out. You need time to figure out if you want to be bound to a witch. Most shifters don’t. Many would shun you. And once healed, Mr. Sullivan has Coven business to attend.”
“I know that this was a test, and that you offered him a job.” What else was being hidden from him?
“Let me sort this Coven business out, Mack. I’ll call you.” Jude’s words were soft. He was lying on the back seat with his eyes closed.
“You won’t break the bond without me knowing?” Mack glared at the woman. “Or strip his magic?”
The woman hesitated. “No. You will be called to attend if things get that far.” She leaned in closer. “If we’d known it was an aufhocker—”
“Two plus cubs.”
“This wouldn’t have been the test.”
“Why test him at all?”
“Because we needed to know if he could act as an investigator. We need an electro-mage.”
“But you wanted to take his magic.”
She stared at him, and Mack was forced to look away first. There was something about her stare that was just as unnerving as Jude’s. “Witches’ business.”
Not Coven, the Coven included all paranormals.
Mack wasn’t sure he trusted her. They could stand here and argue all day about familiars and what was right, and what might happen, but that wouldn’t help Jude now. He needed to get the bite treated. Then they could worry about the future. Mack took a step back. “Fix hi
m.”
She nodded and got into the car.
He changed his mind as it pulled away, and took three steps after it, but it didn’t stop. And he didn’t know if he’d ever see Jude again.
Chapter Sixteen
Jude paced in the reception area. Once again, he’d been summoned to face the board. They’d given him three days of rest since getting out of hospital—where he hadn’t been left alone for even a second. Did the Coven think he’d fry another hospital? He hadn’t. He’d been a model patient and had acted completely human.
The stitches in his leg itched, but at least the wound no longer bled. He didn’t remember what Holling had told the doctors, but he knew he’d asked for Mack, only to be told that he wasn’t allowed to speak to him until after he’d see the board.
He took that warning seriously and didn’t call him, because he didn’t want another strike against his name.
But the need to see Mack or at least hear his voice grated beneath his skin. He was too far away. The city was closing in around him, but he couldn’t skip town or leave the country even though his passport had finally arrived. He was sure the Coven was watching and waiting to see if he’d do something stupid.
What was more stupid than trying to take on an aufhocker? He’d done his quota of dangerous and dumb for the rest of the year, maybe even the next decade.
He glanced at the receptionist, willing her to look up and summon him into the room. She ignored him. The electrical hum of the city was like bees in his ears that prevented him from sleeping. Where once he craved the static, now all he wanted was the peace of the small town and the woods.
His apartment was packed, and he’d already spoken to an agent about renting it out. It wasn’t home. Maybe it never had been. He’d lived there since his win, but it was cool and sterile. All he needed to do was to finish this with the board.
The receptionist typed, her fingers flying over the clacking keys. He wasn’t even temped to screw with her computer—well, maybe only a tiny bit.
She glanced up. “They’ll see you now.”
He would never get used to that. He walked over and opened the doors to the boardroom. As usual, there was one vacant chair for him. He took a moment before stepping inside and shutting the doors. His heart was beating hard. There was a chance they would still want to strip his magic. But even if they did, he hadn’t lost everything. He didn’t fear that possibility. If they took it, they would have no hold over him at all.
With measured steps that tugged at the stitches in his calf, he made his way to the chair and sat. He didn’t fear losing his magic, but he didn’t want to lose it either. He didn’t want to lose the bond he had with Mack, and it had nothing to do with the extra power a shifter could give a witch. It was the connection. He was sure some of his worry was actually Mack’s. But at least he could feel him.
Landstrom pulled a face like he’d swallowed something unpleasant. Tomlin’s thoughts slithered around his mind as she read what he was thinking, and Holling waited quietly. Jude looked at each of them in turn.
They were elected to the Coven, but that didn’t make them the best at what they did. It made them the most popular. Which didn’t explain how Landstrom had gotten the position. No witch ever had someone with the same magic reviewing their case—conflicts of interest and things like that. Who was the electro-mage in the Coven?
“There has been some debate in the Coven about the events at Mercy South. Despite your efforts, someone was killed.”
While he and Mack had been fighting the male, the female had gone hunting for her cubs. Maybe they should’ve stayed closer to town. “The aufhockers were hunting us. We tried to draw them away from town. I explained that in my statement.”
He’d had to write down everything on the trip back to Seattle. He’d left out some of the more intimate details. They really didn’t know how close he was to his shifter, although Tomlin probably knew everything. Warmth rushed up his neck, and there was nothing he could do about it. The urge to fidget coursed through him, but he forced himself to be still. They wanted him to be anything but comfortable.
Holling tilted her head. “Why didn’t you call for assistance when you knew you were dealing with aufhockers?”
“Because you said I’d lose my magic if I failed.” Was not calling for help also considered failure? Was there no way he could’ve succeeded? Probably not.
“Aufhockers are endangered,” Holling added as though he hadn’t spoken.
“That wasn’t on the Coven database.” Also, who actually cared if aufhockers went extinct? But killing an animal, even though it had been attacking him, didn’t feel good. Mack had hated it. Jude was glad they’d been able to trap Mom and the cubs. His lips twitched into an almost smile.
“Would that have stopped you from killing the male?” Holling asked.
“It was trying to kill us.” And it had nearly been successful.
“Everything you do ends badly. Why not surrender your magic and be done with the trouble?” Landstrom’s words were short, as though he was offended that Jude was still a witch. A witch with a familiar.
They hadn’t mentioned the bond yet.
“Because I’m learning, and I will not surrender a part of myself. I wouldn’t cut off my leg because of a few bites and stitches. Nor will I willingly give my magic.” Hope blossomed. It didn’t seem like they were going to strip his magic. “Why do you want to take it so badly?” As much as he wanted to accuse Landstrom of being a collector of magics, he didn’t, as Landstrom still held power over him, and he had no proof that Landstrom wanted his rare and powerful magic.
“Electro-mages have no use. What do you plan on doing for the rest of your life?” This time the sneer was evident in Landstrom’s voice.
“I’m accepting the job of investigator.”
Landstrom’s mouth hung open. Tomlins tried to suppress a smile, and Holling looked far too pleased with herself. This had been a setup from the start, but not in the way he’d thought. It had been a test, to see if he could be an investigator. Although if he had screwed up, they probably would’ve stripped his magic without blinking.
“I’ll be based out of Mercy. I hope that won’t cause any problems? We can talk remuneration today and get it all settled?”
Holling glanced at Tomlin, and something passed between them.
Landstrom glowered. “I still vote for removing his magic. It’s only a matter of time until he ends up back here because he’s exposed us all. Another witch could use his magic.”
Jude drew in a breath. Landstrom knew that magic could be transferred.
Holling glanced at Landstrom. “I vote against.”
“As do I. His thoughts match his words. His bond to his familiar is strong and grounding. I believe he will make an excellent investigator.” Tomlin’s voice was like the whisper of leaves. Her words were a blessing.
“He’ll become more powerful,” Landstrom snapped. “This is a—”
Holling held up her hand. “Jude Sullivan, welcome to the Coven.”
Jude let the tension he’d been holding tight ease. He got to keep his magic, and his familiar. And now he was an investigator for the Coven. He was one of them—though not on the board.
One thing bothered him. “What happened to the aufhockers?”
“There is a reserve for hellhounds well away from humans where they can be protected.”
That was enough to send a shiver down Jude’s spine. Somewhere out there was a collection of hellhounds roaming around. A pack? A tribe? A terror of aufhockers, that sounded about right.
Landstrom scowled. “I have no doubt you will make a mess of this.”
Jude held his stare and stood. “It’s been a pleasure, as always.”
He walked out without glancing back. It was only when he was out of the building that he allowed himself a smile.
Without Jude around, Mack’s house was empty. The Coven had called him a few days ago to ask if he’d changed his mind and to get his statemen
t about what had happened. He hadn’t changed his mind, and he’d given them a reasonably complete statement. They didn’t need to know every detail. But he took the call as a sign that Jude was alive, even if he wasn’t answering his phone. That had been on Wednesday. It was now Sunday. He was sorely tempted to close the shop tomorrow and go to Seattle himself, except he didn’t know where Jude lived or where the Coven met. He didn’t know much about Jude at all.
But he knew enough.
And he’d know if something had happened, wouldn’t he? He’d feel it if the Coven stripped Jude’s magic? Or if the witches severed the familiar bond on the sly? He didn’t trust Landstrom. That guy was sneaky and had fully expected, or hoped, Jude would fail or die trying. Something had smelled off about his magic, too. The other two had clear scents, but Landstrom’s had been muddled.
It had been a whole week since they had taken Jude. How long did it take to face the board?
Unable to sit at home any longer, he went to the garage to do some work. He hadn’t had the most productive week. That Ned had come in to ask where Jude was hadn’t helped. Mack had lied. Mumbled something about Jude having to go back for work.
Ned hadn’t believed him, and Mack wondered if Jude would be back.
He was a city boy.
An electro-mage.
Jude didn’t belong here anymore than Mack could roam the streets of Seattle as a bear. But he’d thought Jude wanted to be here with him.
The ranger had gone up to North to search for the bear, but nothing had been found. He’d gone back out there to have a look around, but not even an aufhocker paw print remained. The Coven had cleaned up most thoroughly.
By the time he’d finished putting the car back together, it was getting dark. The owner would be happy to get their car back a day early. He thought about dropping into the bar but couldn’t face it. The sidewalk was still stained and he had no desire to flip a coin with Ned again.
So he went home. When his parents had first left, he’d valued having the house to himself. After having Jude stay, it was a reminder of what was missing. He turned down the street and saw a bright-blue car in his driveway. One he didn’t recognize. As he got closer, he realized it was an electric model.
