by Meg Anne
She shook her head, her mouth in a firm line. “You aren’t going anywhere near those runes, Lucas.”
He stopped. “Why? What the hell did they say? I thought you couldn’t read Druid.”
She scrunched her nose and pursed her lips at his terminology, but she didn’t bother to correct him. “I can’t read them, but I know what those particular ones are.”
“How?”
“Because my grandmother taught me about them a long time ago.”
“Then tell me what they say.”
She looked around. “Not here.”
“Fine, in the car then.” He pulled her door open and she grudgingly climbed in. Lucas made his way around to the driver side and got inside. “So?”
He forced his eyes to her face and did his best to ignore the rise and fall of her chest as she inhaled a deep breath, but it was damn difficult. Not the time, MacConnell.
“That was a transport spell.”
“So, we’re back to the spells… I thought you said he wasn’t a wizard?”
She gave him a long-suffering look that promised retaliation if he didn’t stop referring to the monster as a wizard. “Yes, spells. One that is specifically aimed to move its target to another place.”
“What place?”
“The Wasteland.”
“What the hell is that?”
She ran her tongue over her bottom lip, distracting him yet again. Fuck, I need to get laid. Even as he had the thought, he knew there was only one woman he was interested in. As it was, keeping himself from devouring her was getting more and more difficult.
“My grandmother explained it to me as a sort of purgatory for Druids. A place where they are trapped and lose their minds trying to escape.”
“Why would the Druid cast a spell to send himself to purgatory? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“He wasn’t trying to send himself.”
“There’s another Druid?”
She nodded.
“What, so you think we’re in the middle of some Druid turf war?”
“In a sense.”
Her back was pressed against the door, her hand near the handle. Lucas scowled. Why was she sitting so far away? “What do you mean ‘in a sense’?”
“You heard buzzing?”
“Yes.”
“Which you also heard at the first crime scene?”
“Yeah... what does that mean?”
Skye pulled the handle and jumped out of the car. Lucas did the same, running to the other side to grab her. “Skye, what the hell?”
She tried to yank her arm from his grasp. “Get away from me!”
“Just hold on a second and tell me what the hell is going on!” he roared, concern and shock warring with his desire for answers.
She stopped struggling and stared up at him. “Don’t you see?” When he didn’t respond, she continued, “You are the one he is targeting. You are who the druid meant to send away.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“You sure about that? Think about your reaction to the runes, Lucas. Why else would he target your family specifically?”
A whirlwind of thoughts nearly knocked his breath right from his chest, but none of them got to him like the fear plastered on Skye’s face did. Her eyes were wild as she stared up at him. Is she seriously afraid of me?
“Why the hell are you running from me?” he asked, afraid to let her go because he knew she would bolt the first chance she got.
If she was going to run, he damn well deserved to know why.
“You’re a Druid, Lucas. Druid’s kill Gypsies.”
Lucas dropped his hands, his limbs feeling leaden as her words took root in his mind. Skye used the opportunity to take a few tentative steps away from him.
He gave her an incredulous look. “I’m sorry… you want to run that by me again, because I thought I just heard you say you think I’m one of those wizard fuckers.”
Skye’s eyes flashed with golden fire. “It’s Druid, not wizard, asshole. Feigning ignorance is not going to make it any less real.”
He crossed his arms as he stared her down. “If I have any powers, don’t you think they would have manifested, or whatever the fuck it’s called, before now?”
Skye shrugged. “Not necessarily, although they may have, and you are just so used to them being ‘normal’ you never stopped to think they could be something more.”
He rolled his eyes. “I think I would know if I could cast spells and shit. And never once have I started scribbling weird symbols on anything.”
Skye looked down. Her hands were on her hips and it still looked like she was ready to bolt, but he could see she was chewing on the inside of her cheek as if she were debating something. When her eyes met his again, they were resigned. “Is there something that you are inexplicably good at? Like something that everyone always comments on, although it has always come naturally to you.”
Her words rang true, but he decided to play dumb. “Like knowing it’s going to rain because an old football injury starts to tingle?”
She stared him down, clearly unimpressed with his joke. “Do you have an old football injury?”
Lucas scowled. “I played hockey, not football, and for the record, I was the one that injured people, not the other way around.”
“Of course you were.”
“What does that mean?”
She held up a hand. “I’m not trying to pick a fight. Not this time, anyway. Be real with me, Lucas. This is no fucking joke. Both of our lives are riding on this.”
Lucas thought back to video games some of his friends played when they were in high school, recalling what he could about the Druid characters. “It’s not like I can talk to animals or anything. And I sure as shit can’t keep anything alive. I’m whatever the opposite of a green thumb is.”
Skye snorted.
“But I mean, there are things I just know.”
She nodded. “It helps you solve your cases, doesn’t it? The knowing?”
Lucas shrugged, wholly uncomfortable with her assessment. “I wouldn’t go that far. It’s just logic and problem solving. You know, being able to put the pieces together in the right order.”
“But you can see patterns where no one else can,” she stated. “You see patterns where others see chaos. There’s a natural order that is instinctive to you.”
Lucas shrugged, at a loss for words.
Skye’s head fell back as she stared up at the sky. “My grandmother would disown me if she could see me now.”
“Lucky for you, she can’t, or do you believe in ghosts, too?”
“Fuck you,” she snapped, her amber eyes finding his.
That was a dick move. “Sorry,” he muttered, instantly chastised.
“Your powers could be latent. Without someone to teach you how to access them, it’s possible all but the most passive of power has lain dormant for years.”
Lucas fought the urge to waggle his fingers at her. “So… you’re saying I can do that spell shit too?”
“Honestly? If that dude is after you, it’s entirely possible that you can do way more than just cast some spells.”
“What do you mean? What else is there?”
She shrugged. “You’re the first Druid I’ve ever actually met, so I can only guess, but with what I’ve been told, we’re talking water to wine epic-level shit.”
Lucas snorted. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a wino.”
“Can you please be serious for more than two fucking seconds? God, you’re worse than dealing with a child.”
His smile dropped. “I’m far from amused, Skye. From where I’m standing, you are saying complete and utter bullshit. Magic and spells and all that crap just do not exist in the real world.”
“Are we really back to that again? You’ve seen for yourself that they do!”
He knew that he was backpedaling, looking for any excuse that would make what she said untrue. So, even though he was probably wrong, he held onto the lie.
“It’s the truth.”
“Says who?” she challenged.
“Literally everyone.”
She cocked a brow, her hands back on her hips. “So, how do you explain all of the stories then?”
“Uh… creative genius?”
She shook her head. “You know, for all your faults, I never pegged you for being small-minded. That might be the worst of them all.”
He was instantly offended. Who the hell was she to call him small-minded? “I am not small-minded. I’m practical. I’ll give you that people truly believe in this woo-woo shit. I’ll even agree that people believe that they are really performing spells. But magic, at the kind of level you’re talking about... It. Doesn’t. Exist.”
“Yes. It. Does,” Skye grit out. “How else do you explain my visions?”
She had him there. He shrugged, at a complete loss for words.
“I wouldn’t lie to you about this, Lucas. Not when my life is on the line.”
“You don’t have anything to fear from me, Skye.”
“You say that now…”
“You don’t really believe that, right?” He held his breath, her answer meaning more to him than he dared admit to himself.
She paused and shook her head, letting out a deep breath. “No, I don’t. It’s the only reason I’m still standing here talking to you.”
“I’m willing to admit that this guy believes that I am the guy he’s looking for, but that’s it.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but he raised his hand.
“I don’t have magical powers, Skye. I’m just a cop with a good track record.”
She shook her head. “There’s nothing to be gained by you denying your heritage.”
Heritage? Jesus. He ran a hand through his hair. “Let’s just take this one step at a time, alright?”
“Alright,” she agreed, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her beat-up hoodie. “So, what now?”
“Same plan as before. We find someone who can tell us more about those runes and why someone would want to use them. It should help us narrow down our candidate pool to zero in on our unsub.”
If the lingo threw her, she didn’t let on. “After you, Detective.”
He went to correct her but noticed the subtle gleam in her eye. Instead, he shook his head and grinned. Better she call him detective and stay, than Lucas and run.
“Just get in the fucking car, Giovanni.”
Chapter 15
Skye
They pulled up to the apartment complex, and Skye stepped from the car quickly, desperate to get out of the enclosed space with his brooding ass. Why the hell was it her fault he couldn’t seem to grasp what was practically banging him on the head?
“Skye.” His deep voice simultaneously lit a fire in her and grated the last of her nerves.
She whirled on him, ready for an argument she imagined was coming. “What?”
His eyes darted away from hers, before focusing back on her face. “We good?”
“You planning on apologizing and admitting I’m right?” She put her hands on her hips and watched as he folded his arms. Stubborn ass.
“I’ll admit that there’s something weird, but I’m not a damn Druid, Skye. Don’t you think I would have known it before now?”
She snorted. “Oh, because you’re so open-minded?”
“I just want to know that we—” he gestured between them, “are good. That you and I are still on the same team. The rest can come later.”
“Why does it matter to you what I think? I can see in your eyes that you don’t believe a damn word I’m saying.”
“That’s not true.”
“Oh? Then tell me, Detective, what do you believe?”
He unfolded his arms and stepped closer to her, until he was only an arms length away. “I believe that you and I both have a part to play in this insane fucking situation we’ve found ourselves in. And I believe, Miss Giovanni, that I will find a way to stop this bastard from killing my sister.”
Skye swallowed hard, the heat of his gaze boring into her. “Then I think we’re on the same page, because I will do whatever I can to keep him from killing her too.” She spun on her heel and walked back up to his apartment.
His steps were heavy behind hers, but he didn’t try to talk anymore. Thank goodness. She was exhausted, disgusted by what she’d witnessed at the crime scene, and frustrated as hell that she wasn’t more irritated with him.
One step at a time. She thought back to his earlier words and inwardly agreed with his logic. But when it comes time to say I told you so, I will absolutely be doing so.
Skye stepped to the side so Lucas could unlock the door. He waited for her to go in first, and then walked in behind her.
James was asleep on the couch, his head back and mouth slightly ajar. His hand was on Lizzie’s shoulder, and she was asleep—her head resting in his lap. All in all, it made up a rather adorable picture.
She turned to tell Lucas just that, but the words died in her throat when she saw his face. His cheeks had reddened, and his jaw had gone rigid as he looked down at them. What the hell was his problem? They’re both grown adults.
“Fucking ass,” he muttered under his breath.
“Lucas, they’re both adults.” Skye rolled her eyes as she voiced her thought from only seconds before. “Clearly neither of them are complaining.”
“He’s my partner, she’s my sister. No fucking way that’s happening.”
Skye thought about mentioning that she was pretty sure he couldn’t do a damn thing to stop them, but decided it was a bad idea and kept it to herself. He’d dealt with enough today.
Lucas made his way over to them and kicked James’ foot. James jolted upright, his sleepy eyes blinking.
“What the hell man?” James grumbled.
“How’d it go?” Lizzie yawned as she sat up.
“Dandy. Your turn to go deal with dead bodies,” Lucas told his partner. “Got a call on a second crime scene, and I’ll text you the address.”
“Was the one you went to the same as the first?”
Lucas nodded. “Keep away from the symbols on the wall until we know what they mean.”
Skye rolled her eyes; James clearly wasn’t a Druid so they weren’t going to affect him. But hey, if it made Lucas feel better to warn him, who was she to stand in his way?
“Sure.” James yawned and looked down at Lizzie. “Night,” he said with a grin.
“See you around,” Lizzie said, getting to her feet. “I’m heading to bed, night Skye.”
“Night Lizzie,” Lucas called after her, but was only greeted with a small wave as she walked away.
“I’ll let you know what I find,” James said as he made for the door.
“Call me in the morning.”
“You got it.”
Lucas closed the door behind him and turned around to face her. Skye stared at him, a grin on her face. “So it’s not just me you’re stubborn and closed-minded with?”
“What the hell does that mean?”
Her grin widened, and she stepped forward. “Your sister is allowed to have a life, Lucas.”
He let out a laugh. “I guess I might have been an ass right there. But still, Matthews and Lizzie? Absolutely not.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s my little sister, and she has had horrible luck with men.”
“So, shouldn’t you be happy she’s interested in someone as kind as James?”
His brow lifted. “Don’t tell me you’re interested in him too.”
She shook her head. “He’s not the one I’m interested in.”
“Oh?”
“Apparently I have a thing for stubborn asses.” She turned and headed toward the bedroom, calling over her shoulder, “Goodnight, you stubborn ass.”
The next morning, Skye tightened her robe and tiptoed out of the guest room. If she didn’t get some caffeine soon, she might actually lose her damn mind. Thoughts of death combined with the nightmare
s she’d suffered through all night had her stomach twisting into knots.
Unlike her visions, last night’s dreams of death were only her fears. The few minutes of shut eye she’d actually gotten were filled with the deaths of herself and her new friends. She’d been forced to watch helplessly as they were slaughtered, victims of the Druid’s quest for power.
Lucas could deny it all he wanted, but Skye knew the truth; she was standing in between a Druid who was trying to kill another Druid.
What a lovely fucking place for a Gypsy Seer to be.
Did she have a death wish? Because, honestly, after sticking around once she’d realized who Lucas truly was, she must.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled her nostrils as she stepped into Lucas’ small kitchen. Two clean mugs sat next to the pot, and she glanced over to see Lucas still asleep on the couch. His arm was propped up behind his head, and the steady rise and fall of his chest was almost hypnotizing. She turned away and walked to the pot.
Lucas’ sister was a magician when it came to brewing coffee. Skye was almost giddy as she poured herself a cup, but that could have also been the lack of quality sleep.
After taking her first sip, she started to head to the balcony, but she stopped next to the couch to study Lucas again. He was still sleeping soundly, a blue T-shirt stretched over his broad chest. He hadn’t shaved in a couple days, so the gruffness of a beard had started on his face. She wanted to reach out and run her fingertips across the roughness of it. Skye bit back a groan and clenched her free hand at her side, using the bite of her nails against her palm to center herself.
A light blanket was tossed over his legs, and with the arm up behind his head, she got a nice look at his impressive biceps. Keep it in your pants, Giovanni, she reminded herself. He’s your natural born enemy. So why didn’t it feel like he was? And why was she so damn sure she was destined to help him? Skye had walked away from men easily enough in the past, but she couldn’t seem to walk away from him. She’d tried, hadn’t she? First that night on the balcony, and then again at the diner… but something was different when it came to Lucas MacConnell, and she’d yet to figure out what it was. Had everything that ever happened in her life led her to this place, to this man? Or did it only seem that way because of her attraction to him? Ugh, that is entirely too many unanswered questions for this early in the morning. Especially without the proper amount of caffeine.
