Chatan stepped back with a smile. “Be careful.”
She nodded, unable to give a real promise. She would do anything to keep him safe, anything at all.
Chapter 36
Mason drove out to Wanatoga and found Chatan near the edge of the reservation, changing a tire on his truck. He parked and walked over with a sneer.
This was too easy. He didn’t even need magic.
Chatan looked up with a glare. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.” He swung the baseball bat against Chatan’s head, watching him bounce into the truck, then onto the cement.
Too fucking easy.
Mason cuffed both Chatan’s wrists and ankles, then hauled him into his own truck. Asshole should wake up with a headache.
He drove back to the ranch, deep into the property, to the barn hidden by magic, making it only visible to those Josephine had pulled into her fold. She chose men she could control, but had chosen him because he may follow, but only because he truly loved her.
He was special to her, and he planned to prove it to her by bringing the one who’d ensure she was fully alive again.
At the destination, he shut off the engine and hauled Chatan into the wheelbarrow. He carted the bastard to the chair and strapped him in.
Mason couldn’t wait to carve into Chatan. Asshole had everything easy. In school, he wanted Jenna, but Chatan got there first. He took pleasure in stealing her away. But then she wanted that baby and Mason convinced her to get rid of it. After that she turned into a whiny needy bitch, and he dropped her.
Mason lost his baseball scholarship, and his family for forcing a girl to give them both a chance to get out of this damned area. Then he was stuck in Saint Morton.
But now, he was happy staying as long as he got to keep Josephine. She made all his trouble melt away. And now, he was the reason she’d become whole.
* * * *
Josephine strolled into the barn with Orlando following close behind. He seemed happier now that his bitch of a wife was dead and gone.
And Mason had proven to be everything and more she wanted. She had just enough of a hold on him to keep him on the path she wanted and plenty of his own mind to seek to please her for himself.
She knew his goal was to leave this damned place, and once she was truly alive again, she could finally take him anywhere he wanted. She missed the world, the travel, new experiences. And Mason was young enough to appreciate all of that.
She walked toward the young man chained to the chair with enchanted metal. He wouldn’t be able to cast, to fight back. He’d have no choice other than to die.
Shame, he was pretty, but as half druid, he’d be immune to her magic anyway. At least that of a psion. However, she could bring his worst nightmares to life, and with the blade, she could glean some of his fears.
“You ready to watch him die?” Josephine asked.
Mason turned with a cruel smile. “He ruined my life. Of course I’m ready.”
Her head tipped. Now she was curious how that was, but that didn’t matter for the moment. Right now, she wanted freedom.
“Will he do?” she asked Orlando.
“Yes, he’s druid enough that his magic should bridge the gap and shaman enough to force the hold. I’ve never seen such a pure combination.”
“You better be right,” she warned.
* * * *
The van collided with the wall, crunching the bumper. She killed the engine and hopped out, trying to take the spell down. It wouldn’t drop, she couldn’t get everyone through. Before the elders could stop her, she slipped past the barrier with another spell.
“Don’t do it,” George warned. “He can’t lose you.”
She turned back, well beyond the reach of the magic. “I can’t lose him. If the mages are in time, maybe they can take the wards down. I’m not sure what they are. It’s different than anything I’ve felt. I can slip past, but not bring them down. I got to go.”
She pulled the shadows around her and turned to run down the grooves in the dirt road. She passed a truck sitting before an old, weathered barn.
Slipping through the gap in the doors, she found Chatan chained in a chair and Mason smiling cruelly at a brunette with a red glowing blade, and Orlando watching with a smirk.
The brunette had to be Josephine, and she smelled of death. The spell on her lips was ancient, and dark. The hair on Jacinda’s arms rose.
Jacinda held out her hand and mouthed the words to enforce her earlier spell on Chatan. There was a knot on his forehead, a nasty one. It took all her will to simply fortify the spell while she decided the best way to deal with everyone present. That blade would leach magic. She didn’t want that thing to touch her. She wasn’t sure there was a way to counter it, or stop it once it got started.
As for Mason, he oozed with magic now. She’d seen something like it once before. The poor bastard had gained a little magic, but couldn’t hold it, and couldn’t survive without it, so they needed to siphon magic to live. Because Mason was human, he was in for an unpleasant death as the new magic leached out with his lifeforce.
Jacinda crept closer as the wards around Chatan became an invisible armor that nothing would penetrate. And when he woke, he’d be pissed, because he’d basically be paralyzed.
Whatever, she could worry about that later, if they got out of this mess. If she lived, she could remove the wards. If she died, they’d fade away and hopefully the elders and Silver Council made their way to him before that happened.
Josephine pushed the blade toward Chatan as her spell grew louder. The dagger stopped moving, no matter how much she shoved. Then she lifted it and thrust down with both hands, only for the blade to ricochet off the magic, sending her back, landing on her ass.
Jacinda almost laughed as Josephine yelled in anger.
“I don’t understand. No one can shield like that,” Josephine sneered.
“I know a girl who could. Jacinda Lavelle. Red hair, fits the description of Wendy. She’s the redhead?”
“That’s what Jenna claimed. At least the first name, but how many Jacindas have you met?”
“No other. Must be her. She protected Chatan well. Unfortunately, I know of no way to strip the spell, but if she managed that, then she’s here, and she’s close.”
“What makes you say that?” Mason asked as he searched the dark corners of the barn.
“I felt magic building. Though, at first, I assumed it was Josephine’s spell, but it wasn’t. It was her. You may need to reconsider who you use.”
Orlando started for the door and she stepped to the side to avoid him. “She’s unlike anything you’ve encountered, Josephine. The girl absorbs magic, and not in a way that harms her or the original caster. She’s a sponge, soaking up the leftover magic from spells. And it’s been years since I encountered her.”
“Not possible,” Josephine answered shrilly.
“I smell her. Like flowers, but never smelled one like her.” Mason turned toward where she stood and moved closer.
She scooted away, trying to outthink three lunatics. Then she made the dumbest move of her life and knocked over an empty paint can.
Orlando blurted out. “All you got to do is touch her, and if she’s hiding, she’s afraid of something. Probably losing Chatan. If you kill her, the spell protecting him fades.”
Mason dove at her, and she managed to slip away as he fell in a pile of garbage. Empty paint cans, discarded wood chunks, nails.
Jacinda made her way around the wall.
Josephine laughed, then turned toward Chatan, creating an image of her on top of him, naked.
Holding back the snort, she waved her hand and the image evaporated.
“Don’t like that idea, do you?” Josephine cooed.
Orlando walked toward her and Jacinda started back the other way. Mason brushed his fingers across her calf as he pulled himself out of the mess. Then he pulled her down with him, climbing over her.
She pushed fir
e at him, until he screamed and rolled away as his shirt burst into flames. At least that’s what he’d believe.
Jacinda shot to her feet, glaring at Orlando. “You didn’t win our battle last time. Your wife couldn’t even help you. And Josephine won’t be able to pull off what she did.”
“What’s that?” Josephine pleaded.
“Her worst nightmare. A demonic creature who hunts her bloodline.”
“Oh?”
He nodded. “Though I have a feeling her biggest fear has shifted to this gentleman. He lifted his hands and sent shadowy images of men toward Chatan.
She knew better and moved toward Orlando, no longer worried about what would happen. If the Council took her in, so what. And maybe they’d see the bigger monsters were right there, trying to go after her like she was some kind of monster.
Orlando closed the distance, his eyes narrowed. “Maxine is no more. She could have done so much more if she’d just embraced the evil inside, like Josephine has.”
“Are you going to rely on another person to save you again?” Jacinda taunted.
He let dark energy roll over his hands as he reached for her.
She lifted a hand as time froze in front of her. Then she touched his forehead and took his consciousness for the next twenty-four hours.
“Jacinda, watch out!” Chatan screamed.
She turned in time to find Josephine charging at her with the blade.
* * * *
Chatan woke up when his whole body hummed with the vibration of a spell colliding with another. He couldn’t move as he watched everything unfold.
Jacinda dealt with Mason with an illusion. The only thing that gave it away, the lack of burning scent as the bastard rolled and flailed, trying to put out the undying flames.
Then she put Orlando deep into sleep, the spell rocking through the building enough, making him want to yawn.
But then, Josephine charged Jacinda with the blade, and he screamed at her. Jacinda turned and smiled as Josephine disappeared and reappeared beside him with her dagger at the ready.
“He’s awake. His fear is tangible. Oh, I love the scent of fear,” Josephine purred. She bent over him, sniffing at him, but then jumped back, her body shaking a moment.
“Was that you?” she asked Chatan. “Or you?” She turned to Jacinda. “Is it true? Do you suck up magic like a sponge?”
“That’s what some say. I don’t know. But I don’t need to steal magic to learn it. You’re not even alive. Do you know what sits in your soul now?”
“What are you talking about?” Josephine demanded.
“That hunger you have. You have your own demon who needs the essence of others to survive. Even if you could bridge the gap between life and death, you’d still need to feed to keep any of your magic. Once you go dark, you can’t tap into your own magic anymore. Hasn’t anyone ever taught you that?”
Josephine advanced on Jacinda, lifting the blade.
Jacinda moved faster than he could track and shoved Josephine in the back. Josephine fell to the ground, the dagger clattering away, then she fell into the shadows and moved far enough to reform and pick it up.
Jacinda searched the dark edges of the barn as Josephine reappeared and struck out with the blade.”
Someone shouted from outside, “Hurry! Take down the damned barrier.”
Chatan looked at Jacinda again. The elders hadn’t gotten through, but she did. Were the mages finally there? And why the fuck couldn’t he move?
Jacinda knocked the blade away again with a kick to Josephine’s hand. Then she tackled Josephine and caught her face, whispering magic to push her deep under.
Josephine roared, flipping her onto her back and grabbing the dagger once more before slipping it up Jacinda’s side, creating a seeping string of blood.
Jacinda screamed something, and the golden energy that started to leak out with her blood wrapped around Jacinda, creating a shield and held her magic in. She cried out in pain as she tried to twist free.
Josephine grabbed Jacinda’s throat and screamed as she tried to choke her.
“Can’t do that through the spell,” Jacinda taunted. “And you can’t have my magic, bitch.”
Josephine shouted the spell, and gold rolled around under the shield, almost like mercury rolling around in a glass.
There was a pop and Chatan blew out a breath of relief when Robert, Preston, and several people he didn’t recognize showed up. They weren’t all mages, and they weren’t all part of the DSF.
Now he really was confused, but as long as they could fix whatever Josephine did, it would be fine.
Jacinda slammed her hand against Josephine’s chest and cried out a spell.
A black essence twisted out of Josephine with a scream. Red flashed through the room, then the shadow burst into flames as Josephine turned to crimson dust that scattered in the breeze from the door.
Jacinda rolled to her hands and knees and moved to Chatan, placing her head on his knees, then whispered a spell before she fell to the side.
He scooped her into his arms as the golden rolling essence started to dissipate and flare out around her.
Hawk and Dove landed on his shoulders as he slid his hand up the thin cut up her side. He healed as he went, pushing her energy back into her body.
Tears fell down his face as he whispered the spell, over and over again.
Chapter 37
Loretta ran into the barn as Chatan scooped Jacinda into his arms and healed something. His magic flowed through the barn, twisted around them all, then wrapped around the two of them until white light filled the room and she couldn’t see anything.
“What the fuck?” the mage who called himself Preston shouted. “I can’t see worth a damn now.”
Loretta fell to her knees, her breathing coming in great gasps. She hadn’t ever seen anyone wield so much power. She didn’t think it was possible.
Then her vision cleared, and she shot to her feet and rushed to Chatan, who held Jacinda in his arms. She hadn’t woken up, but she felt her magic even more so than the day she stepped into the inn. She’d been holding some of it back even then.
“She’ll be okay. She just needs rest,” Loretta promised.
“Unfortunately, I need to know what happened.” Robert crouched beside him. “This is Jacinda Lavelle?”
Chatan nodded, tears running down his face. “Yeah. And she’s terrified the Council will hunt her down.”
Robert shook his head. “Oh no. Not for being whatever she was born. She saved you. Stopped Josephine. And took care of the other two.”
Chatan shook his head. “I don’t know if Mason can survive. Josephine gave him magic.”
Preston lifted a shoulder. “We’ll see what can be done. But he must have had a hand in the ritual to gain magic. If so, that’s on him.”
Chatan nodded.
Preston lifted a brow in Mason’s direction. “What does he think is happening?”
“That he’s burning.” Chatan shrugged. “She put a couple nasty burns on him when he tried to kidnap her.”
“And why the hell did you wait to call the Council?” Preston demanded.
“Ask the elders. I don’t care about anything but Jacinda,” Chatan warned.
* * * *
Chatan’s aggravation pulled Jacinda out of the peaceful slumber. The pain that had erupted up her side as she grappled with Josephine was gone. Her magic was back in her body, not leaking out like a damned sieve.
She sat up slowly, testing her body for pain, then she smiled and turned in Chatan’s lap. “You did it!”
He grinned. “Couldn’t have you hurt. I need you, Jace.”
She kissed him, not worried about anyone else in the room, or the fact she’d killed Josephine for good this time.
Chatan held her tight but ended the kiss, pressing his forehead to hers. “Meet Robert McCallister, the magister of the Silver Council, and Preston Emrys, his lieutenant.”
She turned in his lap. Her head cocked as
she studied them both. Her brows shot up as she realized they weren’t what everyone believed.
Robert was part mage, but more mystic. Preston was more Fae than mage. And the guy hovering near Robert, the one who wasn’t introduced, but she knew form the book store in Edenton was mage and druid, which was like the biggest no-no according to the Dark Templar. Tremaine had helped her learn some of the symbols in the book.
She swallowed hard. “Hi.”
“Is there someplace you’d be more comfortable telling us everything that happened?” Robert asked.
“Chatan’s place?” she squeaked.
Robert smiled at Chatan. “You good with that?”
He nodded.
Robert touched them both while Preston and Tremaine touched him. Then they were in Chatan’s living room.
She stood up and looked down at her shirt that gaped open. She glanced at the part-mages and transmuted it into a shirt without the blood and a similar color.
“You would trust us with that knowledge?” Robert asked.
Tremaine laughed. “She knows I’m not just a mage. She can sense neither of you are either. She probably figures if you’re not even a true mage, you aren’t going to freak when she has the magic of most casters rolled into one.”
“Wouldn’t go that far, but figured transmuting isn’t so bad,” Jacinda muttered.
Tremaine smiled. “You can trust these two. I do.”
She dipped her head. “Josephine is dead. I don’t think she can come back from turning into dust.”
“She can’t,” Tremaine assured.
“What will happen to Orlando and Mason?”
Preston rubbed at his neck. “Not sure. Orlando had a hand in his wife’s murder. He’s definitely going to pay for that. As for Mason, it depends on how much he was brainwashed, and how much he went along with of his own accord.”
Finding Hawk (Branches of Emrys Book 3) Page 23
