Spellbound (Crossbreed Series Book 8)

by Dannika Dark

He hit the first-floor button and then tugged on his Pac-Man shirt. “It’s my lucky tee.”

  When the door closed, Claude looked down at him. “It won’t be so funny in the afterlife if you’re stuck wearing that as a ghost.”

  Christian snickered. “The irony.”

  The elevator dinged for each floor they passed until they reached the lobby.

  Claude noticed the firearm on Viktor’s hip. “You don’t think we’ll look suspicious armed to the teeth while walking through the human district?”

  Raven exited the elevator and glanced back at him. “They probably won’t let us in any clubs unless we conceal them, but the laws are kinda flex. Cops shouldn’t bother us unless they feel like seeing what we’re up to.”

  Wyatt adjusted his grey beanie. “Just so you know, I’m not down with a cavity search.”

  Blue strode ahead of him. “Could have fooled me by the way your pants keep falling down.”

  “I forgot my belt,” he retorted. “Forgive me if I don’t have juicy hips.”

  Raven shot him a look. “Juicy what?”

  “You know.” He used his hands to carve an hourglass in the air. “Juicy.”

  Christian clapped him on the shoulder. “A few more of those donuts and we’ll see if your hips don’t lie.”

  Raven walked backward, looking at Christian. “Oh, baby, when you talk like that.”

  Claude recognized they were speaking words from a song, but he wasn’t feeling playful enough to join in the banter. He still had phantom pains in his chest from the sword, not to mention the flavor of Christian on his tongue.

  They exited through the front doors of the lobby and stepped out into the city. Moths were circling the lampposts, and a worker was locking up the pizza shop across the street. Claude’s nose filled with the many scents of the city. Not just the exhaust fumes from passing cars or the smell of newspapers in the stand, but also the lingering trail of emotions that people left behind when walking. They weren’t staying at the best place in town, evident by the sensory exchanges on both corners. Sensors walked the streets in this neighborhood like prostitutes, promising unforgettable emotional transactions. Claude hated these districts especially because of that. It made his nose burn.

  They headed left, a few of them making small talk. Blue was quiet. She hadn’t been the same since returning from West Virginia. Outwardly, she didn’t let anyone think for a minute that the deep scars across her chest and stomach from the lion attack bothered her. Unless she wore a low-cut shirt, they weren’t even visible. But Claude read the complex layers in her scent that led him to believe otherwise. Viktor had given her extra time to recover, but Blue wanted to get right back in the game. Either she was tougher than she looked, or she didn’t want anyone thinking she was emotionally weak.

  Viktor twirled the van keys around his finger. “The only place I could find to park was a block away.”

  “Parking in this city is a nightmare,” Raven grumbled. “This is why I only drive to places that have a free on-site parking lot.”

  Two men flashed by them and disappeared around the corner.

  Christian fell back a step to walk next to Claude. “You’d think we were in the Bricks the way these eejits are behaving. Look at that one.”

  Claude cast his gaze toward a man in a purple velvet jacket and top hat. He was goosing everyone who passed him, his hand glowing red as he gave them an unwanted sensory exchange. No one turned around to punch his lights out, probably because of whatever emotional experience he forced into them.

  “Scoundrel,” Claude muttered.

  As they passed another alleyway, Claude stopped in his tracks. His nostrils flared when a familiar scent gave him tunnel vision.

  Raven turned on her heel. “What’s up with Claude?”

  Ignoring everyone, Claude raised his nose and turned in a circle before approaching a streetlamp. He pulled in Kallisto’s scent, which was wrapped all around that pole like a ribbon. An individual’s personal scent tended to linger, making them easy to track if there wasn’t a lot of wind. Claude found it easier to pick up a scent when an object had been touched, but on a still night, scent trails were like invisible threads that weaved about the city.

  He paced the sidewalk, hunting the trail. When he reached a consignment store, he leaned against the brick and picked up a stronger dose of Kallisto’s scent.

  “Lookie what I found.” Wyatt held up a blue prison uniform that had been discarded in front of an alley. “Is this what I think it is?”

  “Right under our fecking noses,” Christian said.

  Wyatt dropped the garments. “You think he’s running around naked?”

  “Don’t be daft.”

  Everyone turned and searched the streets. Cyrus’s apartment wasn’t far, which was one reason Viktor had chosen this location. It increased the odds of catching Kallisto.

  “How old is the trail?” Viktor asked.

  Claude’s nostrils flared, and he opened his mouth, allowing the scent to settle on his tongue. “Two hours at most.”

  “Dammit!” Raven kicked the wall.

  Claude strolled past Wyatt and entered the alleyway. Couldn’t hurt to see where Kallisto had been. It might provide clues to where he was going.

  “So where’s the naked guy he robbed?” Wyatt asked.

  Raven leaned against a building and grinned. “Talk about the walk of shame. He should have put on Kallisto’s uniform.”

  “Would you be caught dead in prison apparel? Might as well wear a target on your back for all the Regulators and bounty hunters.”

  When they reached the end of the alley, Christian kicked a can. It wasn’t a regular alley. There weren’t any dumpsters or doors, and it dead-ended at an incredibly high wall made of polished concrete. Instead of the alley being a long rectangle, the back was T-shaped with enough space left and right to park three cars.

  Raven veered right and threw herself over the hood of the black Lamborghini parked there. “I want this one.”

  Christian peered inside the Aston Martin in the center. “Be sure to tell Santa.”

  “I’ve been on his naughty list for years.”

  “Aye. And you’ve been on mine.”

  Claude circled in front of the Porsche to the left and noticed a white sock on the ground. He picked it up and held it to his nose. A deep vibration rumbled in his chest when he drew in Kallisto’s scent. Hunting brought out another side of him, one that operated on instinct and emotion. Even though Viktor had paired him up with a Mage—and Claude adored Gem in every way—he couldn’t deny the primal side of himself that relished hunting his mortal enemy.

  “Something ain’t right,” Wyatt said under his breath.

  Christian frowned. “What are you rabbiting on about?”

  Wyatt pointed his finger at thin air. “Because he’s here.”

  Blue swiveled around. “He who?”

  “Niko’s ugly friend.” Wyatt scowled at nothing in particular. “Yeah, that’s right. I’m talking about you, meathead.”

  A mechanical sound drew their attention to the middle of the alley. A massive gate was rising from the ground between the buildings, and it was going up fast, threatening to lock them inside.

  “Is that a gate?” Raven squinted at it. “What kind of fuckery is this?”

  “It’s a trap!” Wyatt exclaimed as he took off running.

  Raven flashed past him, but the gate was twenty feet tall by the time she reached it. The wide bars were vertical with no crossbars to climb.

  Christian directed his gaze to the rooftops. “Look out!”

  Chapter 14

  After Niko passed along the news about Kallisto’s escape from the apartment, Gem spent hours securing every window in the house. While she couldn’t translate their orders to Kira, Gem led her to the first floor and let her watch. The moment Kira understood they were in danger, she gathered up her blue skirt and dashed upstairs. Once Gem finished securing the main floor, she went upstairs and noticed that Ki
ra had replaced every candle in the darkest hallways. Keystone had countless windows, but not all were latticed and therefore easy to penetrate if someone had the wherewithal and climbing gear. Gem no longer felt safe alone in her own home, not after Cyrus had infiltrated the walls. Viktor once said that a breach was unlikely, but he never said it was impossible.

  Even though Kira had locked the windows, Gem double-checked to be on the safe side. After finishing the top floor, she headed downstairs to see what everyone else was doing. Hunter dashed past the foot of the stairs, wearing his Zorro mask and cape. As she followed him down the hall that led to the courtyard, Gem wondered if his costume made him feel invincible or invisible. When they turned the corner, he gave her a sneaky smile on a backward glance.

  Switch and Niko were reinforcing the courtyard doors with extra locks.

  Switch twisted a screwdriver while looking down at Zorro. “Did you run the whole way?”

  Hunter nodded, his hair sticking to his sweaty forehead. His cheeks were flushed from all the running.

  “Where’s Kira? Did you leave her behind?”

  Hunter gave him a sheepish smile and shrugged.

  Switch sighed and lowered his arm. The screwdriver tapped against his hip. “That’s the last time I let you out of my sight. I made an exception because everyone needs a good cape. But you can’t leave Kira behind. That’s not what a good man does. Do you think you can put this back in the toolbox and lock it for me?”

  Hunter was eager to help and assisted Switch in every way. He even tried carrying the toolbox. Well, he didn’t exactly lift that heavy thing, but he walked alongside Switch and pretended to.

  Once they finished another door, they decided to give Kira a break from cooking dinner and made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Switch slathered peanut butter on several slices of bread while Gem spread jelly on an equal number of slices. After slapping the sandwiches together, she cut each one diagonally and shaped them into butterflies on the plate using celery sticks for antennas. Switch chuckled but said nothing.

  Instead of eating in separate rooms like usual, Gem invited Switch and Kira to sit at the table under the condition that no one would discuss Keystone business. Gem decided it wasn’t worth telling Viktor about their luncheon. He was a man who loved order. Kira looked uncomfortable, as if she knew she was breaking the rules. She ate her meal quickly before filling a basket with candles and heading out.

  During lunch, both Switch and Niko gave Hunter an explanation about where rain comes from. Gem was impressed with Switch’s knowledge about clouds, but he didn’t linger over the complex stuff. He talked about the necessity of rain and what it did for the earth. Niko offered his insight on how to feel and smell a coming storm. How you could tell by wind direction which way it was moving. Not only did Hunter learn the science of it, but he also learned how to use his own body and senses to read the world around him. In some ways, Gem envied the education Hunter was receiving. She knew about life from books, but there was so much she could learn from other people.

  When the topic switched to colors, Gem got a spark of inspiration. Niko had mentioned something earlier that she couldn’t get out of her mind, and it prompted her to leave the table before any mention of dessert.

  An hour later, Gem found Niko in the gathering room and led him upstairs.

  “Your light is shimmering,” he informed her. “What is it you want to show me?”

  She could barely contain her jubilation. “You’ll see.” Gem reached her bedroom door and put her back against it. “Close your eyes.”

  He dipped his chin. “I hardly think that matters.”

  “Oh, come on. Indulge me. This is how you surprise people.”

  “As you wish.” Niko closed his eyes and allowed her to lead him to the center of the room. On top of a green rug were gemstones she had aligned in the shape of a butterfly.

  “Okay. Open them.”

  When Niko opened his eyes, his gaze swung to the floor.

  “Can you see it?” she asked, her fingers clasped in a prayerlike gesture. “Please say you can see it.”

  He tilted his head to the side and looked at the stones. “Whatever I’m seeing, it’s colorful.”

  Her heart soared, and she wanted to dance around the room. “You told me that gemstones hold energy and that you can sometimes see them. So I put energy into them—a different amount for each type—hoping that might make the colors different. With some, I used my energy, and others, I put in the sun.”

  “Yes, but what is it?”

  She looked down at the display of rocks. “It’s a butterfly. It’s the exact shape of a butterfly. I don’t know what colors you see, so they may not be right, but butterflies come in all different sizes and colors.” She paused and looked up at him, searching for his approval. “You said you’d never seen a butterfly before.”

  Niko stood in silence.

  “Do you like it?”

  He knelt on one knee and touched an amethyst. “It’s… beautiful.”

  “Stones have a unique ability to absorb energy. That’s why I like wearing them and having them around me. They feed me positive energy. There are tons of old books that illustrate their powers and how they were used for healing and rituals. Can you see color patterns?”

  Only a few faint dewdrop lights around her bed lit the room, so it wasn’t easy to read his expression, especially with his hair in the way. She squatted beside him, and that was when she noticed a tear rolling down his face. The wet trail led to a tiny droplet that clung to his chin.

  “So this is a butterfly,” he said on a breath. “Now I know. Now I understand.”

  Gem hugged her knees and stared at the stones. They looked unimpressive to her, just a collection of different rocks spread out in the shape of a butterfly. She’d used amethyst to outline the wings and smoky topaz for the body. Though the coloring and spots looked right, she couldn’t imagine what colors Niko saw. Could he see the quartz antenna or the citrine accents?

  “I could make more for you sometime using different stones. Maybe I can replicate an actual species. Maybe—”

  Niko placed his hand on her back in what she interpreted as a hug. Not a squishy one filled with joy the way she liked to give them, but a meaningful touch coming from an ancient who rarely touched anyone. Gem leaned into him. His energy had a calming effect on her.

  “Will you stay with me tonight?” she boldly asked.

  His touch vanished.

  Gem panicked, hoping he didn’t get the wrong idea. “To keep me company. I haven’t been swimming since… well, you know.”

  Niko stood up. “Because of Arcadius?”

  Gem touched one of the stones. “I see him in my dreams. I’m afraid if I go back in the water, he’ll pull me under again. I know he’s dead, but I’ve had nightmares about it.”

  “He took something you loved, something that gave you peace, and turned it into a traumatic experience. For that, I hope his soul is forever banished.”

  When Gem stood up, her sleeves drooped past her hands. “Viktor wants us to stay together.”

  “I don’t think he meant in the same room.”

  She strode to the window and searched the dark courtyard below. “What if Kallisto knows I’m the one who killed his brothers?”

  “It was the wolves that did the final deed, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, but I put everyone under the spell.” She clutched her pendant. “If they climbed over the rooftops into the courtyard, he could get in here. What if I’m asleep, and I never hear him coming? That’s what happened with Arcadius. I didn’t hear him get into the pool, and I’m not strong enough to fight these men. Not without using my light and blowing up the mansion.”

  Niko headed toward the door. “You needn’t be afraid of ghosts. Arcadius is dead. Don’t let those memories steal your joy. If you wish to swim, I’ll accompany you.”

  “I don’t feel like swimming.”

  “As for Kallisto”—the lock on the door slid sh
ut—“I won’t let him come within ten feet of you. If my presence brings you comfort, then staying here is my duty. I am beholden to you for saving my life.”

  “You’ll stay?”

  “On one condition.” He closed the distance between them, the dewdrop lights softly illuminating his warm skin. “No intimate relations.”

  Gem felt herself blush all over. The heat filled her head and spread all the way down to her feet in a wave.

  Niko furrowed his brow. “Apologies. I-I had the wrong impression,” he stammered.

  “I wasn’t offering. But you sure turned me down fast enough. Am I that repulsive?”

  He bowed. “On the contrary, you’re a remarkable woman. I just have no wish to bed you, or any woman for that matter.”

  Her jaw slackened. “Are you… I mean, do you like men?”

  “No.”

  She swallowed hard and studied his stoic expression. If he liked women, was it just about honoring Viktor’s rule? Raven and Christian had already broken that rule and survived. Not that Gem wanted to put her job on the line. “I don’t think I understand.”

  Niko walked around the butterfly and stole another admiring glance. He’d never been in her room, so Gem watched him take slow steps until he bumped into the sofa. He patted the cushion beside him. “Come. Sit.”

  Gem padded across the floor in her socks and took a seat. Instead of being positioned toward the fireplace, which she never lit, the sofa faced the door. She curled her legs beneath her and turned to face him.

  Niko anchored his arm over the back of the couch and shifted toward her. Though he sat taller, his eyes remained low as if he were looking at her breasts. “If I tell you something about my past, will you do the same in kind and be honest with me?”

  When she caught herself nodding, she quickly said, “Yes. I think.”

  “Promise? Think carefully before you answer, because you don’t know what I’ll ask.”

  Gem hesitated, but how could she not agree? While Niko called her his savior, she still felt an immense amount of guilt for putting him in that condition to begin with. She was lucky there had been a good outcome, because Niko had touched the brink of death and almost fallen. Gem wanted desperately to make things right between them.