Wicked Magic (7 Wicked Tales Featuring Witches, Demons, Vampires, Fae, and More)

by Deanna Chase

  “He’s not the only one.” Talisen gestured toward the door and Phoebe, standing inside the frame.

  “Hey,” I said in a small voice. Her narrowed eyes and thin, tight lips didn’t bode well for the looming conversation.

  She nodded and left without saying a word.

  “Shit.”

  “She’ll get over it.” Talisen scooted closer, his kind eyes reassuring me I hadn’t totally fucked up. “Can you sit up?”

  “Not with Link on my chest.” I tried to smile, but it felt more like a grimace.

  “Down, Link,” he commanded.

  To my astonishment, Link scrambled to his elevator. When it was a few feet from the floor, he jumped down and sat obediently at the foot of my oak tree. Wow. He didn’t even do that when I told him to get off the bed. It was the one place he thought he was truly the alpha in this partnership of ours.

  “How’d you do that?” I sat up, then clutched my pounding head with both hands. “Ugh.”

  “Nearly draining your life energy will do that to you.”

  “I… Where’s David? He’s alive, right? I mean, I saw him alive. Did it work? Did I save him?”

  Talisen gazed at me, his eyebrows pinched. After a moment he nodded. “He’s alive, as much as a vampire can be alive, I guess.”

  I sighed in relief and slumped down.

  “Wil?” His quiet, serious tone radiated with concern.

  Uh oh. I cut my gaze away, avoiding eye contact, and stared at his big hands resting on my bed. A smooth black stone protruded from his fist. A worry stone.

  Alarm bells went off. I sat straight up. “What’s wrong? He’s okay, right? I mean, I’m fine, or will be as soon as I get my strength back. Phoebe’s okay. Is it Clea? Did she get away?”

  “Clea? Who’s that?”

  “Oh. They didn’t tell you about her.” Of course not. It was Void business. “No one. Just a vampire Phoebe dusted.”

  He nodded an acknowledgement, his fingers working against the stone. “I see. And did David get caught in the crossfire, or did Phoebe mean to dust him, too?”

  I frowned. So Phoebe had filled him in on at least that part. Had she meant to kill David? Was that why she was so mad? No, he worked for the Void. She wouldn’t dust an operative, even if he was a vampire. “I’m not sure. I was standing between David and Clea when they started fighting. I’m pretty sure I would’ve died if she hadn’t stepped in.”

  Talisen stilled his fidgeting fingers and reached out, gliding his hand down the side of my face. Time stood still as he peered into my eyes, intense and soulful. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

  “Damn it, Wil. Don’t… ever risk yourself like that again.” He leaned forward and wrapped me in both arms. “You’re okay?” he whispered.

  My breath caught, and I choked down a belated sob. “Yeah. I’m okay.” My hands trembled and a shiver ran over my wings. It hadn’t occurred to me until I’d heard the catch in his voice that I’d been in serious trouble.

  Talisen’s arms tightened. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”

  I pressed closer, warm and safe in his strong embrace. A pit formed in my stomach. What had I done? Nearly killed myself to save a vampire. I started to shake in horror and clutched Tal, my fingers digging into his shoulders, holding on as tight as I could. I shouldn’t have risked myself. Not even for David, but I knew deep down I’d do it again.

  Once I found the strength to pull back, he relaxed his grip and pressed his lips to the top of my head. “Want to tell me about it?”

  “I don’t think I can,” I said into his chest, guilt clutching my heart. What would Tal do if anything happened to me? How would he survive losing me, after what had happened to Beau?

  “You can tell me anything.”

  Was that pain I heard in his voice? “No. I mean it was Void business. I don’t think I’m allowed to disclose the details.”

  His body relaxed, and I almost smiled. “How about the magic and what happened with David, or is that too much as well?”

  “I don’t know. But I have to talk it out with someone, because I don’t understand what happened. Phoebe has magical skills, but they aren’t like faes’. Her knowledge won’t help.”

  Talisen searched my eyes, his gaze serious and intense. What was he looking for? “You can trust me with anything. You know that, right?”

  Ah. He’d been searching for the link. Our common thread of trust. “Of course I do.” I took his hand and squeezed. “Sometimes I think you’re the only one.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Not Phoebs?”

  “Oh sure. But it’s harder. She has strong opinions on everything.”

  He laughed, and the sound helped ease some of my tension.

  I smiled and flung the covers back, preparing to head to the bathroom. The shock of cool air-conditioning on my bare legs startled me, and I gasped, realizing I was wearing nothing but my tank top and black lace underwear. I scrambled to cover up as my face grew hot.

  Talisen pretended mock innocence with wide eyes. “I didn’t see anything.”

  I squinted. “Right. So you kept your eyes closed while you were healing my bruises?” After the scene at David’s house, I should’ve been black and blue. The only way I could be blemish-free was due to Talisen’s skills.

  “Something like that.” He hopped off the bed and headed toward the door. “I’ll be in the kitchen making dinner when you’re ready.”

  I nodded. Just as he was closing my door, I called, “Tal?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Anytime.”

  Link squeezed out the door just before Talisen shut it softly, leaving me alone.

  Or so I thought. Twenty minutes later, I emerged fresh from the shower to find David sitting at my desk, dressed in black pants and a gray silk shirt. Not a hair was out of place. Impeccable as always.

  “What the…?” I faltered and spun to the window. Sunlight seeped around the edges of my closed blinds. “How… I mean…” I shook my head and stared at him in confusion. Even though my room was dark, the sun was still up. He should’ve been dead to the world.

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. Usually it takes centuries to acclimate to daytime hours.”

  I eyed my closet. “Did you just wake up?”

  He turned his head to follow my gaze and hesitated before speaking. “I haven’t slept yet.”

  My wings started to spread, lifting me off the floor as comprehension dawned. I hovered and then forced myself to land with a soft thump. I sank to the floor and gazed up at him. “No vampire your age can stay awake during midday.”

  David nodded in a slow agreement.

  “Then how…?”

  He got up from the chair and settled on the floor in front of me. “You tell me.”

  I straightened my spine. “You think I did this?”

  “Didn’t you?”

  “No!” It was impossible. Wasn’t it? My magic couldn’t change the basic makeup of a vampire. I couldn’t breathe life into death. Isn’t that exactly what you did? I mentally asked myself.

  Tiny hairs rose on the tips of my wings, which fluttered involuntarily.

  “Wil,” David said. Nervous energy shot through my veins at the familiarity of my nickname on his lips. “What happened?”

  Tears burned the back of my eyes again, and before I could blink them back, one silent tear fell. The words caught in my throat, and I mouthed, “You died.”

  “That’s what Phoebe said, but how is that possible? I’m right here.” He lifted one hand and studied it as if to make sure he really did exist.

  I opened my mouth to speak, but a sharp knock at my door cut me off, followed by Phoebe barging in. “The director wants to see us.”

  “When?” David asked.

  “Now.”

  “Okay,” I fluttered my wings and rose gracefully off the floor. “David, we’ll… uh, continue this when I get back.”

  “David’s been summoned as well.”
/>
  My head snapped up. “Wait, how’s he going to go outside with the sun still up? And how does she know he’s awake?”

  Phoebe eyed David. “You haven’t told her yet?”

  “We didn’t get that far.”

  I settled my wings, standing rigidly as a foreboding settled over me. “Tell me what?”

  David’s eyes crinkled, and he visibly tried to dampen a smile threatening to break through.

  “What? Tell me what?” I demanded again.

  Phoebe glanced at David and frowned. “Sunlight doesn’t affect him at all anymore.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “And Maude knows!” I cried. My heart stopped. Actually stopped. Now Maude knew I could alter a vampire. Maude, the one who’d found a way to manipulate me into producing Influence.

  Not to mention all the other harmful pieces of unusual magic she’d somehow discovered and managed to get approved by the Void. How else could Cherry Bombs be allowed as sanctioned weapons? Anything that could melt a mortal from the inside should have been buried the moment it was discovered. Thank the gods I’d stumbled on an antidote. It had taken recreating the awful stuff and studying it for months, but I’d finally done it.

  My blood pressure rose, kick-starting the frozen organ in my chest. I clutched Phoebe’s arm. “Who told her?”

  She shook her head. “Not either of us. At least not at first. She knew when she called to summon us.”

  “She must have a spy or surveillance on the house,” David reasoned. “I was outside for quite a while after we realized what happened. She demanded to talk to me, and I had no choice but to relay the details.”

  “Do you have any idea what this means?” I asked Phoebe in a tight voice, my fingernails digging into my thigh.

  She clutched my hand, eyes full of pity. “Yes, and I’m sorry.”

  ***

  The muddy tang of the Mississippi River wafting in the open window lingered in my nostrils as I fumed.

  “Wait a second,” Phoebe said. “You can’t hold them against their will.”

  Maude leaned back, studying the three of us. Her casual pose smacked of victory. “I can. As you might recall, they both signed contracts. They belong to me.”

  “No one belongs to you, you selfish, power-hungry, two-bit excuse for a faery,” I seethed.

  “My dear niece, that is no way to talk to your auntie. What would your mother say?” Glee lit Maude’s eyes and her black wings twitched in anticipation.

  I took two steps and leaned over the desk. “My mother will be horrified when she learns what you’ve turned into.”

  Maude pursed her lips. “Then we’d best keep you here until you see reason.”

  David, who’d been silent ever since Maude had announced the Arcane’s intention to sequester the pair of us until they’d exhausted a comprehensive set of tests, stood. “I cannot be party to testing from the Arcane. Eadric will not be pleased. You’ll have to excuse me. He’s expecting me.”

  David opened the office door to a pair of guards, each pointing silver spikes at his chest. He turned a steely gaze on Maude. “Call them off.”

  She shifted and crossed one ankle over the other. “We aren’t finished here.”

  David eyed the guards, seemed to make a decision, and then closed the door and retreated to stand next to me. “How long will these tests take?”

  She shrugged. “Until our scientists can replicate what Willow has achieved.”

  I balled my hands into fists and placed them on my hips. “No. I will not consent to these tests. What happened was a freak accident that I have no intention of repeating.”

  “Why do you need me?” David asked, ignoring me. “Seems you’d be better off using any other vampire.”

  Maude nodded her agreement. “True, and that is on the agenda. But you must see testing your new abilities is in both of our interests.”

  David sat, crossing one leg over his knee. To anyone else he would have appeared casual, unconcerned. They wouldn’t notice the tiny squint of his right eye. His one and only tell that he was seconds from losing his patience. Last time I saw that look was right before he’d fired one of the contractors who’d worked on his company’s oil rig. The guy had made one too many inappropriate remarks about tasting my faery bits. Yeah, those bits. The ones reserved for my boyfriend.

  “I understand the Arcane’s interest in my situation, but I’m under no obligation to consent.” David nodded toward the door. “And you must know your guards can’t stop me if I decide to leave.”

  “But you won’t.”

  He smiled with mocking amusement. “What makes you think so?”

  Maude jerked her head in my direction. “You won’t leave your girlfriend here unattended.”

  David didn’t even spare me a glance. “You overestimate my affection, Director. Besides, Agent Rhoswen can take care of herself.”

  The heavy weight of betrayal made bile rise in my throat. What the devil was David up to? He really wasn’t planning on leaving me here, was he?

  Maude opened her mouth, shut it, then said, “You’re under contract. You know the consequences if you breach the agreement.”

  “My contract specifically states my only duty is to protect Agent Rhoswen from any hostile vampires and to gather intel on my sire. Nowhere does it stipulate I would be used in your lab. However, I can’t think of a better place for Willow to be protected from my kind. You are in the business of bringing down rogue vampires, are you not?”

  I gaped at David as he stood and strode to the door. He really did plan to leave me here, and after I’d saved his life. The bastard.

  “I’ll be in touch.” He pulled the door open once again. “Step aside, please,” he said to the guards. “The director and I have reached an understanding.”

  Maude’s face tightened, unable to conceal her growing anger. She gave a curt nod, and the guards retreated.

  David stepped into the hallway, paused, and turned to meet Maude’s furious gaze. “Oh, and don’t damage my girlfriend. I wouldn’t like it.”

  My aunt straightened, her wings spread wide. “Do not threaten me, blood-sucker. You have no idea the connections I have. One phone call and you’ll be just as dead as that vampire whore you were associated with.”

  David gave her a wry smile but said nothing as he strode off.

  I sat, stunned, staring at the now-empty hallway.

  “What are you waiting for? Follow him.” Maude’s tight voice came out terse with fury.

  I jumped to Phoebe’s side and we both headed for the door.

  “Not you, Agent Rhoswen. You’re needed here,” she demanded.

  Determined to give David a piece of my mind, I ignored her, but Phoebe paused. She turned. “Willow’s my partner. I’ll need backup if I’m to investigate a daywalking vampire.”

  “And I told you last week she wasn’t your partner anymore. Her replacement is waiting for you in the conference room. Get going.”

  I stopped in the doorway. Phoebe, halfway between me and Maude, turned and met my intense stare. Keeping eye contact with me, Phoebe said, “I’m sorry, Director, but that is unacceptable. I cannot in good conscience leave a fellow agent here to be studied against her will.”

  “Do not push me, witch.”

  My muscles tensed at Maude’s tone. I’d only witnessed her rage once before, and right then she was dangerously close to her breaking point.

  Phoebe moved to stand in front of me, blocking me from Maude’s view. “I am well aware of the Void’s policies on studying abnormal gifts. Forcing someone to submit is illegal. Maybe if you take some time to formulate the studies you wish to conduct, Willow can look them over and make an informed decision. I’m sure she’s as eager to understand what happened last night as you are.”

  “Phoebe,” I began.

  “Right, Willow?” she said loudly.

  “Yes, but—”

  “She isn’t going anywhere,” Maude bellowed. “Guards!”

  Out of nowher
e, half a dozen Void security guards rushed in. Where had the other four come from? Surely a vampire warranted more muscle than a defenseless witch and faery. The magic neutralizers in the lobby had seen to that.

  “Apprehend them both.” Maude pointed at Link. “And bind the wolf.”

  One of the guards did a double take and started laughing. “That ankle biter is a wolf?”

  “Link, run,” I shouted as I rammed my elbow into the side of one of the guards. He let out a surprised grunt and doubled over in pain. Link, unable to shift, growled a sad little dog growl but grabbed hold of the laughing guard’s leg and didn’t let go.

  “Fuckin’ dog.” He spat and kicked him with his other foot.

  Link yelped as he flew across the room but scrambled back up and launched himself at the back of his attacker. His jaws clamped down and the man roared.

  I started to laugh at the Shih Tzu hanging from the guard’s backside, but another guard grabbed my shoulders and slammed me against the wall. My cheek met the brick, scraping along the rough surface. “Ouch!” I yelped. “That wasn’t necessary.”

  A linen sack came down over my head, muffling my cries. Tiny pinpricks of light penetrated the tight weave, saving me from total blackness. I only heard one last yelp from Link and an agonizing groan I thought for sure came from Phoebe before someone picked me up and carried me off.

  “Let go!” I screamed, writhing in my captor’s grip. “I’m an agent. I work for the Void. You can’t do this.”

  The arms tightened around me, crushing my ribs. A voice I didn’t recognize spoke in my ear. “Sorry, Rhoswen. Director’s orders.”

  “Get your hands off me!” I kicked, ramming my foot into something solid. Pain darted through my ankle and I groaned as it went limp.

  “I don’t want to hurt you. This will be easier for both of us if you calm down.”

  No way was I going to make this easy for anyone. Not everyone in the Arcane was corrupted by power. Someone would step in. They had to. The agents of the Arcane were the good guys. Of course, I had a bag over my head and my wings were crushed against the guard. How could the good guys rescue me if they didn’t know who I was?

  Anyone who heard my screams would likely assume I’d been taken into custody for some wrongdoing. Not for unauthorized scientific testing.