by Kym Grosso
Katrina remained silent as she glanced down into the space, empty save for an altar.
“I’m pretty sure Ilsbeth held coven gatherings out in the gardens, but y’all know it rains quite a bit in New Orleans.”
“Sure does. This place looks pristine, though.” Jax led their party down the steps. He held his arm out, keeping both Katrina and Jake behind him. “Not only that. Do you see any other exits or entrances?”
“No way in or out but through the portal,” Jake agreed.
“It’s special,” Katrina told them. As Jax stepped onto the granite floor, she brushed past him and moved into the center, taking in the sight of her surroundings. “It’s a perfectly closed oval.”
Antique velvet-covered sofas and chairs were set around its perimeter. The scarlet-colored walls on the lower level gave a warm contrast to the cool stone beneath her feet. Katrina approached one of the many paintings adorning its walls.
“I can’t believe this. No, these can’t be real.” Her heart pounded with excitement, noting the canvas that had been set into an ornate filigree gold frame.
“Gauguin,” Jax acknowledged.
“Monet,” Jake called from across the room.
“It’s quite the private collection.” Katrina slid a finger across its border, but unlike what had happened in the bedroom, she felt nothing. She turned her attention to the altar that faced the north side of the hall. Her eyes darted to Jax, who gestured with his hand as if reading her mind.
“Look at all the granite.” Jake slid his toe across the floor. “Some religions consider it sacred. It has magnetic properties.”
“I always thought witches preferred limestone,” Katrina said, approaching the wooden structure.
“Ilsbeth never did anything small. She’s been around for hundreds of years.” Jake came up behind Jax and Katrina and sighed.
“Everything in her bedroom was unique. This hall. The furniture. The paintings. It’s all very personal.” Katrina pointed to the altar cloth. Its detailed embroidery depicted naked women; one in particular was a larger size. Her platinum blonde hair fell to her feet.
“She’s one of a kind. And this place? It looks like no one has ever even been in here,” Jax surmised.
“Maybe.” Jake nodded. “We can check with Dimitri and Leo to see if they know anything else, but neither one of them has ever mentioned this place to me. The only times I’ve been to her house, we either met in the yard or her office.”
“I’ve been around plenty of witches over the years,” Jax told them.
“Bet you’re bummed you missed out on Ilsbeth.” The corner of Jake’s mouth curled, but his eyes remained on alert.
“What she did to my sister’s mate is unforgiveable.” Jax picked up a candle, studied it and set it down. “But I suspect like with many people, she’s neither all good nor all evil. Witches, wolves, vampires…they often skate the edge of both.”
“I don’t know how you could say that after what happened to…” Jake began. Katrina shot him a glare and shook her head no.
“What happened to Nick wasn’t Ilsbeth’s fault entirely,” Jax continued.
“They attacked Dimitri, and he was unable to shift. I saw what she did to him,” Jake countered
“True, but he may never have met Gillian otherwise. My sister is formidable.” Jax fingered through a brass incense bowl and sniffed it.
“I didn’t know Ilsbeth, but the feelings I’m getting from being in this house, from touching her things…” Katrina paused and caught the wide-eyed expression of both Jake and Jax. “What? Can we just acknowledge that something is off with me and leave it at that? I’m not saying I’m some kind of psychic, but I’m not going to lie to either one of you. Maybe Ilsbeth has some kind of spell set so she can make contact with us?”
“I don’t like it.” Jake picked up a copper disc and observed its pentagram design.
“A pentacle,” Jax noted.
“How come you’re so willing to give Ilsbeth the benefit of the doubt after what she did to Dimitri? And Quintus for that matter?” Jake tossed the object not so delicately back onto the table. “You don’t seem like the forgiving type.”
“Because, my friend, Alphas learn to be the judge, the jury and executioner. We must be prudent in our interpretation of the facts. Sometimes things aren’t as they appear. Take Quint.” Jax lifted a small bronze statue of a horned woman and inspected it. “We’ve been friends a long time. Long enough for me to know he wasn’t going to kill my mate. But he’s impulsive. He’s not always a nice guy. In fact, he can be a very nasty vampire at times.”
“Are you honestly trying to tell me that he deserved what Ilsbeth did to him?”
“No, what I am saying is that he may have done something equally as atrocious to Ilsbeth and without knowing all the details, I can’t judge. For all I know, his actions may have been even more egregious than hers. So in the absence of facts, an Alpha must rule on the side of caution. You need to evaluate all the evidence and should it be missing, you can decide whether or not you will take action.”
“Well, I’m not the Alpha. All I know is that she fucked with D. Therefore, ipso facto, evil bitch.”
“All I can say is that you’ll learn what it’s like someday.”
“Many witches are benevolent with their spells. But these horns?” Katrina gestured to the large headdress that sat in the center of the altar. A pair of antlers extended from the headband. “It gives me the creeps.”
“She’s the high priestess,” Jax answered. “They belong to her.”
“Not anymore. There’s a new sheriff in town,” Jake said in his best western accent. “Mick Germaine. That should be interesting. Would love to get Logan’s thoughts on that.”
“How’s that?” Jax asked.
“Nothin’,” Jake sighed.
“Doesn’t sound like nothing.” Katrina reached for a small silver bell, but paused as Jax cocked his head and made an observation.
“Now that’s interesting.”
“What?” she asked
“That bell there…”
“Yeah?” Katrina pinched its tip and rang it; the audible chime sounded loudly. She looked inside and ran her finger against the smooth metal before setting it down.
“Well, there’s only supposed to be one of those. I’ve been to a few ceremonies. Granted they weren’t typical, in that it was a special occasion, but the bell? I recall them ringing it at the beginning and end. That there,” Jax pointed to an object. Its oxidized metal finish bubbled in shades of red, “that looks like another bell.”
“Well this one here is just an ordinary bell. And this one…it looks…it’s an antique. Maybe it’s why she has two.” Katrina reached for it, and the second her skin touched its surface, the energy hummed through her hand. “Oh my God…”
“Let go,” she heard Jax order but compelled, she held tight.
Katrina gave a firm shake and although nothing sounded, a small item fell onto the cloth below. The rusty article, smaller than a quarter, rolled toward Jake, who snapped it up with his fingers. As Katrina released the bell, it dropped onto a knife handle, the tip of which tipped upward, slicing her finger.
“Ow.” Katrina snatched her hand away from the altar.
“What the hell?” she heard Jake exclaim.
She turned her attention back to the table. The sickle-shaped instrument glowed where her blood had stained its shiny blade.
“Are you okay?” Jax asked. He tore off a piece of his t-shirt and reached for her hand.
“It’s just a tiny cut.” Katrina bit her lip, the sharp pain resonating up her arm. “What is that thing?”
“It’s a boline,” Jax commented, tending to her wound.
“I thought they used an athame?” Jake lifted the knife into the air, where the color slowly returned to its original state.
“It’s not used for the same purpose. They use it for cutting things other than flesh. You okay?” Jax wrapped the torn cloth tightly around he
r pinkie.
Katrina nodded and brought her bandaged hand to her chest. “What fell out of the bell?”
“It’s a ring.” Jake inspected the rusty metal object. “I’m pretty sure it’s a poison dispenser.”
“What would that be doing on the altar?” Katrina’s heart raced. “Something about these things…we need to figure out what’s going on. I could feel the energy in it.”
“They go back to the medieval times. Pretty clever really.” Jake fingered the ring. “This one? My guess is early fifteenth century.”
“But why would Ilsbeth own one of those? It’s so…human. She’s a powerful witch. She could probably poison someone much more easily with a spell.” Jax pinched the bridge of his nose. “This isn’t making sense.”
“True, and look at this house. Ilsbeth has money. I was in her closet. Designer clothes. Every last shoe in its place. I can’t exactly see her wearing that ring,” Katrina said.
“Maybe she didn’t wear it.” Jake attempted to jar the circular bulb, using his nail to scrape away the dirt. “Like everything else in this damn place, not opening.”
“Maybe she collected it like the paintings, but after what just happened here, my gut’s telling me it’s important. Jake, get the boline and the bell too. We’ve already been in here an hour and we still need to search the rest of the house.” Jax turned to Katrina and gave her a sympathetic smile. “You sure you don’t want to go sit in the car? I’m almost afraid to see what other tricks this witch has going on in here. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“No. After what happened in the foyer, I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to leave you guys alone.” Katrina scanned the room one more time, almost expecting Ilsbeth to materialize before them. “This house. I don’t know why, but I’m meant to be here. It wants me here.”
They exited in silence, and Katrina suspected both of them thought she was losing her mind. Although they’d had the decency not to comment further about how the magick affected her, she grew convinced that she was connected to the witch. Despite what Ilsbeth had done to Dimitri, Katrina didn’t sense malevolence within her home. These objects, the music, even her spilled blood had been an intentional act, one designed to communicate.
As they entered the secret passageway, Katrina gave a parting glance to the special place Ilsbeth had taken great care to create, and she wondered what other secrets lay within the walls of the mansion. The energy she’d felt previously had dissipated, but they were one step closer to finding answers. Through the tunnel, the exit into the bedroom was revealed, the last streams of light from the sun lancing through the darkness. With salvation on the horizon, she breathed in hope that one day she’d awaken in the arms of her mate, free from the evil that plagued them.
Chapter Fifteen
Jax palmed the tarnished piece of jewelry and considered what had transpired at Ilsbeth’s mansion. For over three hours, they had searched. Jake had been correct about the office contents. From everyday herbs and crystals to more rare substances such as a vampire fang, the apothecary contained Ilsbeth’s treasured ingredients. But Katrina hadn’t experienced any other psychic connections after they’d left the bedroom.
On the short ride back to his Burgundy Street home in Quarter, they’d sat in silent contemplation. Jax had bought the recently renovated early nineteenth century mansion sight unseen, but justified the purchase with the intention of spending more time with Gillian. He surveyed the empty living room, admiring the hand-carved cream-colored crown molding. The plaster walls had been painted a distinctive robin’s-egg blue. Matching silk curtains hung perfectly from the twelve-foot-high ceiling. A grand fireplace sat against the wall to the right and Jax set the ring and other items they’d collected on its mantle. He reached for the switch, igniting the gas, and watched as the flames roared to life.
A rattle overhead told him Katrina had turned on the shower. He’d resisted pressing her about what had happened at the house. In the pit of his stomach a nagging thought persisted. What if his mate was changing? What if she changed into something to the point where they’d be unable to bond? Samantha’s shocked expression was all he needed to tell him that something was terribly wrong with Katrina’s magick, more than he’d suspected. While she no longer experienced trouble shifting, her behavior and experiences in Ilsbeth’s mansion had bordered on the inconceivable.
Jax attempted to shake the troubling thoughts from his mind and made his way into the kitchen. With no time to decorate, the only furniture he’d ordered had been for the master bedroom and a kitchen table and chairs. Jax searched through the cabinets, thankful he’d had the forethought to ask his butler to stock the home with food and drinks. Snatching a couple of snifters off the shelf, he set them on the counter. He reached for the bottle of cognac and uncorked it, the classic notes of vanilla and cinnamon wafting into his nostrils. Jax held the tumbler up to the light, swirling the well-aged liquor.
Like its circular motion, his mind spun, strategizing. They needed a witch to help them figure out the significance of the poison ring. He’d texted Luca on the ride home, but the vampire steadfastly refused to let him see Samantha again. Jax didn’t blame Luca for not wanting his pregnant fiancée involved in their business. They’d all seen how the black magick was affecting Katrina. Bringing the mystical objects to Samantha and possibly risking her baby’s safety was not an option.
If you want something done right, take it to the boss. Unfortunately, the boss, Mick Germaine, was an unknown player in the convoluted supernatural world. Unlike his acclaimed counterpart, Ilsbeth, the warlock hadn’t impressed Kade as ally or adversary. Luca told him that Mick had left New Orleans, taking up residence an hour outside of the city toward Bayou Goula in Iberville parish. Jax had convinced the vampire to set up a meeting with the head priest. Tomorrow night they’d go see the warlock.
Tonight, however, Jax would tend to his mate. His wolf had grown anxious, yearning to taste her again. Katrina’s tenacity never ceased to amaze him. He shook his head and gave a small laugh. She fought him at every turn, yet he’d caught her every glance, watching him.
As he put the rim to his lips and let the spicy tonic flow over his tongue, Jax decided to test his little wolf further. There would be no secrets between them, nor any limits he didn’t test. He gathered the glasses and set forth to the bedroom, looking forward to the pleasure he’d find within the arms of his mate.
Stalking his prey, Jax quietly cracked open the bathroom door. In contrast to his ultra-modern New York City penthouse, everything about his new home was ingrained with a classic elegance. Mini brass gas lamp sconces illuminated the walls. The enormous shower sat center, its clear walls in a perfect square. Exposed copper piping emerged from the floor, curving into the oversized circular showerhead.
Jax sipped his cocktail and kicked off his shoes, observing the way her back arched as she ran water through her long hair. With one hand, he yanked his t-shirt over his head and tossed it aside. Katrina pretended not to notice him as he circled the steam-filled enclosure. Her eyes closed, she teased him, running her hands down over her breasts. Ah, how my mate enjoys being watched. Perhaps he’d give her the opportunity to do so for Jake, he mused with a small smile.
He unzipped his jeans and shrugged out of them. The sound of Katrina’s sigh told him she was every bit aware of what he was doing. Her arousal filtered into the air, and he lost patience. Jax set the drinks on the counter and took his dick into his hands. Unable to wait a second longer, he paced toward the door.
Steam swirled around him as he stepped into the glass-encased shower. He came up behind Katrina, the warm mist brushing over his face. His cock brushed the small of her back and he slipped his arms around her. Her head fell back onto his shoulder and he heard a soft moan.
“Hmm…Jax.”
“You were expecting someone else?” He held her close, his hands sliding over her stomach.
“Why is it that, in such a short time, I’m starting to feel like I’ve
never been without you?”
“Because we’ve known each other our whole lives. Our wolves, their minds have always been one. It is us who have to learn to adjust. They simply do what nature has taught them.”
“How is it you know everything?”
“How come you answer questions with a question?”
“Have you ever been in love?” she asked.
Jax’s chest tightened at the question. So many years had passed, but he’d thought he’d been in love only once.
“I thought so,” he replied.
“You have?” she asked, a lilt of surprise in her voice.
Jax detected pain in her response and he knew he shouldn’t have said anything. But given he expected the truth from her, he wouldn’t lie.
“It was a long, long time ago. There was a girl. I was just a teenager. Foolish.”
“We all do things in our youth we regret.”
“Some later in life,” he noted. “But what I did? We mustn’t pretend we can marry humans. It is not our way.”
“You broke her heart?”
“My father insisted.” Jax grew silent. Aside from Gillian and Nick, he hadn’t discussed his family with anyone.
“I see.” Katrina’s arms wrapped over his.
“Have you been in love?” Jax diverted attention away from his own situation. In truth, he sought answers about the vampire.
“I’ve had lovers, but I’ve never been in love.”
“And Luca?”
“Luca? It’s complicated,” she sighed.
“It always is. But, my mate, I want to know what I’m dealing with. Do I have competition?” he half joked, wrapping her wet hair around his hand.
“I told you that Luca rescued me.” Katrina blinked away the moisture. With her head tilted backwards, she met Jax’s gaze. “Sometimes, for whatever reason, you meet someone and there’s just this connection. We’ve been lovers on and off over the years, but was I in love with him? Not really. Not like you mean. We’re just friends.”
“He still cares about you,” Jax observed, selfishly relieved that she hadn’t fallen in love with the vampire.
