Hexed (The Gwen Sparks Series Book 4)

by Nelson, Stephanie

  “Stay here,” Dorian said, getting out of bed. His voice caused me to jump, having not realized he was awake. Then again, the banging on the door was loud enough to wake up the hardest sleepers. The entire apartment complex was probably awake.

  Dorian slipped out of the room, and I got to work at finding whatever clothes were littering the floor. If it was the NAWC at the door, I sure as hell didn’t want to be arrested while wearing pajama boxers and a tank top, braless, no less. I stubbed my toe on the foot of my bed and let out a string of curses, hopping up and down on one foot while cradling my abused toe.

  I slipped off my boxers and worked a pair of jeans onto my legs, all the while trying to listen for a fight breaking out in the kitchen. What I heard stopped my attempt at getting dressed.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Dorian said. I recognized his tone as one he uses with people he doesn’t particularly care for. I didn’t think he’d address the NAWC that way so I walked with caution toward my door and peeked my head out. A woman with long blonde hair and a curvy body sauntered up to Dorian and trailed a finger down his chest. I instantly hated her.

  “Aw, you didn’t miss me?” She cooed, her cherry red lips forming a pout.

  I stepped out of my room and headed down the hall, my arms folded across my chest to keep my fisted hands hidden. If this was one of Dorian’s ex-girlfriends I was going to first kick the bimbo out, and then kick Dorian in his lying balls. How did she even know where I lived unless he told her.

  “Who the hell is this?” I sneered. Dorian had this faraway dopey look on his face and the blonde’s hand was still resting against his chest. The sudden rush of jealously made me sympathetic of the Hulk and his condition, because if she didn’t get her hands off him, a bitchy monster was about to surface.

  “I’m really feeling the love,” the woman said. Her hand slid down Dorian’s chest, only falling away after reaching the end of his stomach. “I’ll have to tell your vampire that I deserve a raise for having to work in such a hostile environment.”

  Dorian cleared his throat, blinking out of whatever spell he’d been under. The shift of his eyelashes told me he was looking over at me. I glared at him before aiming it toward the woman.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, and then, because the woman wasn’t responding quickly enough, looked at Dorian said, “What the hell is she talking about? Who is she?”

  “Lauren Hayes,” Dorian answered, taking a couple steps toward me. I was still ticked that he had allowed her to touch him. What else would he have allowed her to do if I wasn’t here? Whoa, jealous much?

  Lauren spun around, her layered hair swinging around her face. “What’s going on here?”

  “That’s what I’ve been asking,” I said in exasperation, throwing my hands out in a what-the-hell gesture.

  “Gwen doesn’t remember you; she’s lost her memories,” Dorian supplied. “What are you doing here, Lauren?”

  Lauren arched a thin eyebrow, her blue eyes studying my face. “What do you mean, she lost her memories? Why wasn’t Aiden notified?”

  Dorian snorted and folded his arms across his chest. “Why the hell would we notify the vampire?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Lauren said, her voice all sass and attitude, “maybe because they’re bonded, and Gwen is under his protection.”

  “What?” I asked in confusion. “I’m under the protection of Aiden, my ex-boyfriend?” I stressed the word ex so she’d understand the absurdity of her words. Worry coursed through my brain for a split second as I wondered if Aiden was some kind of possessive stalker. Even so, what did Lauren have to do with it? In her skin tight jeans, purple bustier, and fuck-me-heels, she looked like she belonged on a street corner, not standing in my kitchen.

  “Was under his protection,” Dorian said between clenched teeth. “He’s not a part of her life anymore. If you haven’t noticed, he fled and Gwen has me.”

  “They’re bonded,” Lauren stated again, “which makes him still very much part of her life. Plus,” she moved across the room and opened the fridge, “once a vampire’s, always a vampire’s. If you thought him leaving meant he was giving up, you thought wrong. That man is crazy about her.” She tipped her chin in my direction, and then bent down and grabbed a bottle of water.

  “Then why are you here and not Aiden?” I asked. “What role do you play in my twisted love triangle?” Dorian frowned at my phrasing, but I ignored him.

  Leaning against the counter, Lauren unscrewed the cap on the bottle and took a drink before answering me. A choker made of gold hugged her throat, a teardrop shaped ruby dangling from the center, pointing down to her cleavage like an arrow. Like she needed to direct people to those puppies; they were barely covered as it were.

  “It’s not safe for him to be around you,” Lauren said. “After you two left me in New Orleans—” she paused to give each of us a pointed look. “—I contacted Aiden, and I was told to keep an eye on you until notified otherwise.” Lauren shrugged. “So here I am.”

  Out of the corner of my eye I could see Dorian shaking his head, his sinewy biceps folded across his chest. Add Aiden to the list of people he didn’t like, I thought. I had to wonder if Dorian liked anyone other than me. That thought only produced more confusion, so I focused on the present topic.

  “Why isn’t it safe?” I asked.

  Lauren’s eyes widened and then rolled. “Because the VC is interested in making you their plaything, and your bond with Aiden could be used to accomplish that.” She let out a huff of annoyed air. “This memory loss thing is already annoying.”

  “You don’t have to be a bitch,” I snapped.

  “I don’t have to…” she quipped, the silent but hanging in the air between us.

  “You can go home and tell Aiden that I have bigger problems to deal with. The VC doesn’t even register on the scale I’m talking about.”

  Lauren shrugged her bony shoulders. “No can do. I’m stationed here until he tells me otherwise. Vampires take the protection of their possessions very seriously.”

  “She’s not his property,” Dorian snarled.

  “I’m not one of his possessions,” I said at the same time. Dorian and I looked at each other, and a grin appeared on his mouth.

  “That’s adorable,” Lauren said in a bored tone. Dorian and I broke eye contact and stared back at the blonde. “It sounds like you’ve found yourself in some shit again,” she continued. “Looks like having an extra pair of eyes on your back wouldn’t hurt.” Her eyes roamed around my apartment. “But we’re not staying here; there’s not enough room.”

  I took in my apartment, a little offended by her dislike of it. “Enough room for what?”

  “For me to stay,” Lauren replied. “You only have two bedrooms, and I noticed that your friend is back in town. I sure as hell am not sleeping on the couch. Aiden said he gave you a manila envelope before he left you in New Orleans.” She looked at me expectantly.

  I shrugged, not remembering even being in New Orleans or Aiden for that matter. Then I recalled seeing a medium-sized manila envelope next to the Encyclopedia of Magick earlier today while going through my dresser.

  “Hold on,” I said as I headed toward my bedroom. Going to my dresser, I pulled open the bottom drawer and smiled at the envelope. I heard footsteps behind me, but I didn’t turn around. Opening the flap, I tipped the envelope upside down and held my hand beneath it. A slip of paper and a set of keys fell into my palm.

  My Gwen,

  It pains me to leave you, but I know if I were to stay, Aaron would use our bond to experiment with the hybrid theory. You are safest without me for now. In my absence, Lauren will stay behind to watch over you. Please don’t argue this. It gives me peace of mind to know you’re safe. I’ve given you a set of keys to my house. Use them. My home is more secure than your apartment. Stay safe, my Gwen. Our story is not complete.

  - Aiden

  I could feel Dorian’s presence just behind me, readi
ng over my shoulder. My eyes stayed on the elegant scroll of Aiden’s handwriting rather than looking up to see his reaction. I didn’t need to look at Dorian to feel the anger rolling off him, and I knew it had to do with the last line in the note. Our story is not complete. Given the fact Dorian had told me he loved me last night, this new development was more than awkward. Last night I’d stared into the darkness, thinking about how vulnerable his face had been when he uttered those three little words. I was sure it was the first time he’d ever spoken them to me. What a waste, I had thought. Why hadn’t he told me when I could remember him, when he was more than a stranger to me. That hadn’t stopped you from sleeping with him. That thought crossed my mind more than once while I lay in bed. The only excuse I could create was that while I didn’t remember Dorian, I still felt an undeniable pull toward him. Somewhere deeply rooted in my subconscious I believed I remembered him. It was evident in the calm I felt whenever he was around, the unquestionable trust I put in him.

  “He said he tried contacting you through dreams,” Lauren said behind me. I half turned to look at her, still avoiding Dorian’s face. I’d had a dream of a man the first night after losing my memories.

  “But he said you’re blocked, almost like you were unaware of him and the bond,” Lauren finished with a smile. “I guess we know why now; you lost your memories. That was one of the reasons why he sent me back here, to figure out what happened to you. He’s not going to be happy.”

  “You’re not going to tell him,” Dorian said tersely. “It’s none of his business.”

  Lauren scoffed, shaking her head. “We’ve been over this, reaper.”

  “Yeah, we have,” Dorian replied with ice in his voice. “That’s why it amazes me that it still hasn’t sunk in yet. All that blonde dye must have fucked with what little brain cells you have left.”

  Lauren’s jaw dropped open, her eyes thinning to slits. “I’m a natural blonde, you asshole.”

  As she spoke I caught sight of two ivory daggers protruding from her gums, fully visible when her upper lip peeled up in a snarl. I took a step back, seeing the bombshell in a new light. She looked ready to shred Dorian with those sharp teeth and the glint in her eyes told me she’d enjoy every second of it.

  “You’re a vampire,” I breathed, surprised and a little embarrassed I hadn’t figured it out sooner. Of course Aiden would hire a vampire as a bodyguard.

  “Well tell your boss that we’ve got it handled,” Dorian snapped. “Besides, it’s not like he’s here, is it? The coward is safely hiding while pretending to care about Gwen’s safety. If he actually gave a fuck, he’d be here.”

  Lauren’s only response was a thin-lipped smile. I don’t know why, but that smile made me nervous. Very, very nervous.

  AFTER A VERY long debate, Lauren, Dorian and I stood outside of Aiden’s house, though calling it a house wasn’t exactly the right term. It’s a three-story, Spanish influenced, mansion. The exterior is a creamy stucco and features three balconies and lots of wrought iron detailing. I stared up at it in awe, surprised that just one person lived there.

  “Are you sure he’s okay with us staying here?” I asked Lauren as we made our way up the stone walkway. The front door is two giant pieces of carved wood, arched and intimidating.

  “He wouldn’t have given you a spare set of keys if he wasn’t okay with it,” Lauren replied, taking the keys out of my hand and unlocking the door. Looking over her shoulder, she said, “Aiden would give you anything you wanted.”

  I risked a glance up at Dorian, looking away quickly when I saw the hard set of his jaw. This was beyond weird, but I figured if the NAWC was coming for me, my apartment would be the first place they would look. Besides, having five people in my tiny apartment would only make it feel tinier.

  Once we stepped inside, Lauren slid her hand along the wall until she found a switch. At the click, the foyer illuminated in a soft glow of light. My eyes drew up to the source to find a hanging chandelier with scroll detailing. The foyer floor was tiled in various shades of burnt oranges, reds and yellows, and spanned into the room to the left. On the right, hardwood took over in the living room. Moving into the doorway, I scanned the area in surprise. The walls were a warm creamy mocha. A large fireplace sat against the far wall, big enough to walk into. Built in bookcases lined another wall, all filled with various books and artifacts.

  “This place is beautiful,” I heard myself saying. “Nothing like I suspected a vampire’s home to look like.”

  Lauren stepped up beside me, her eyes tracing over the spacious living room. “What, you expected dark and Gothic?”

  I looked over and met her eyes. “Actually, yes.”

  She held my gaze for a few long seconds, making me uncomfortable. “It’s so weird you don’t remember anything. To what end is this memory loss?”

  “The only things I don’t remember are things relating to my personal life.”

  The thump of bags and suitcases being lowered onto the tile floor brought Lauren and my attention around. Behind us, Dorian set our luggage near the wall. The scowl on his face hadn’t moved a muscle since we left my apartment.

  “Someone should probably call Fiona to let her know where we are,” I said

  “Oh!” Lauren squealed. “I almost forgot.” Without another word, she disappeared through the front door, blurring like an apparition. I stared wide-eyed at seeing her move at warp speed, unsure if it happened or if my eyes were playing tricks on me. Seconds later, she appeared in the foyer again, a bundle of black cradled in her arms. A little head peaked up and large green eyes met mine.

  “You have a cat?” I asked.

  Lauren walked toward me, shaking her head. “No, you have a cat. You guys left her in New Orleans.” She thrust the animal into my arms. To my surprise, the cat didn’t struggle or try to claw its way away from me.

  “Crap,” Dorian said, “After everything happened, I forgot all about Snowball. We were supposed to pick her up the day after your memories were stolen.”

  I looked down at the pitch black cat and then up at Dorian. “Snowball?”

  The corner of his scowl twitched in the beginnings of a smile. “Her name is actually Aura, but after her spirit left, you felt like you should name her something else. You thought Snowball would be funny because normally that’s a name reserved for animals with white fur.”

  I understood about half of what he said. “What do you mean, her spirit left?” I looked back down at the cat, running my fingers through her long fur. She purred against my hand, climbing up to rest her forepaws against my shoulder.

  “Do you remember the stereotype about witches and cats?” Dorian asked, and I nodded. “Well, it’s partly true. Aura was your familiar, a tool used to help you connect with the dead. You would draw energy from her. After you learned you didn’t need her to connect with spirits, you accidently lifted her soul from her body. Now she’s just a regular cat.”

  “So, let me see if I’m getting this right,” I said. “This cat was possessed by a spirit that I used to help interact with the dead, and then I…removed its soul from its body? How is that even possible?”

  Dorian shrugged. “You’re a spirit walker; it’s actually very simple for you. At least, with souls that do not belong. The spirit that resided in the cat did not belong in the cat, so you were able to remove it.”

  I nodded, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I had literally plucked a soul from a body, even if that body was a cute furry cat. Was it really that easy to do, just reach in and remove a soul from a body? A foreboding tremor snaked its way through me. If the spirit walkers figured out that my soul didn’t belong would they yank it from my body?

  “He wants to talk to you.”

  I spun around to see Lauren holding out a cellphone toward me. “He who?”

  “Aiden,” she replied as though I should have known that.

  Taking the phone from her hand, I pressed it to my ear and sucked in a deep breath. “Hello?” In bet
ween the time it took for him to reply, I found myself wondering if his voice would be the same as the dream version of him.

  “My Gwen.” A smooth baritone flowed over the phone, reminding me of the man I shared a very sensual dream with. His voice was exactly as I remembered it.

  “Lauren informs me that someone has stolen your memories. Have you figured out who and why?”

  “I—” I paused, uncertain if I should give him the details. Realizing that it would be awkward to stay in his house without explaining, I continued, “A witch, hired by someone else. She hasn’t told us the name of her employer. Well, not his or her real name anyway. She told us the name was Hecate, but Dorian thinks that’s an alias. Micah has her locked up at the police station. Your house is beautiful. It was so nice of you to let us stay here.” I snapped my mouth shut when I realized I was rambling. It was beyond bizarre to be talking to yet another man I’d been intimate with and not remember him. Not just that, but staying in a house I was sure I had probably been in before but couldn’t remember. As my eyes scanned around the space, I wondered where I had stood or sat in the past. Did I have a favorite spot? Had Aiden and I curled up on the sofa together?

  “This witch,” Aiden said, ignoring my awkwardness, “what reasons did she give you for taking your memories?”

  I stared down at my feet, allowing a curtain of hair to shield me from Dorian’s eyes. I could feel him staring holes into the side of my face, and I knew he was listening to every syllable that left my lips.

  “All she told me was that I wasn’t right,” I told him, pausing.

  “Is this because of what Dorian did?”

  I looked up at the man in question. Since I couldn’t remember anything I wasn’t sure if what Dorian had done was public knowledge. Fiona hadn’t known.

  “How do you know what Dorian did?” I asked, keeping my voice low.

  “When they brought you into the hospital,” Aiden started, pausing to exhale as though what he was about to say was tough. “You were nearly dead, Gwen. As I waited for you to wake, I wondered how it was that you were still alive. The more I thought about it, I realized that Dorian must have stopped your soul from moving on.”