Heart of Darkness bbm-1

by Lauren Dane

  “That’s not just a feeling. You have some reason to feel it.” Nell ran her fingers through her hair, making it stand on end. Automatically, Meriel reached out to pat it down and the two women paused to grin at each other.

  “If you two ever feel the need to kiss, you know just to get on with the friend thing, you should feel free.” Dominic winked and Meriel laughed. “As for the other? I think Nell’s right. It could be a coincidence. But how many coincidences can there be before we just accept what’s going on? Also, I’m really pissed you didn’t tell me.”

  “I didn’t connect it right away. It wasn’t until about half an hour ago that it clicked. It was bothering me, but I didn’t know why. Sometimes I do that, you know. My brain sort of takes over thinking about stuff in the background and I don’t notice until the lightbulb moment. And I still don’t know. Not for sure.”

  “If that’s her, she’ll call back. Especially if that was her in your building. She’ll have to, just to rub your nose in it. I say we don’t need to mention the Dominic-is-your-son thing unless she already knows. Why should we expose Dom to that if he doesn’t have to be? Also, it might make her worse.”

  Meriel liked that Nell was protective of Dominic, that they’d all made friends. It would have sucked if one of them hadn’t liked the other’s man.

  “Well, you guys go on. I’ve got your building on our watch list. My staff does a drive-by several times a day. Sometimes at random they’ll go in and check things out. Now that we’ve got this new othersight Meriel learned, we’ll add that. It should help a lot. And of course you’ll still be accompanied by a guard when you’re at work and out and about.”

  Meriel hugged Nell before kissing her cheek. “You doing all right?”

  “So far so good. No morning sickness for a week or two. I sleep a lot but that’s okay. When I wake up, William is there with a cup of tea and some snuggles. He takes care of me.” She blushed, shrugging.

  “Of course he does. Why don’t we all go out together? We’ll walk you to your car.”

  Dominic held two elbows out, Meriel took one and Nell the other.

  Chapter 24

  DOMINIC watched the bar. Something wasn’t right and it didn’t set well with him. It was most likely all this business with his mother had put him on edge. Simon prowled around keeping the women entertained. Which was nice as obviously he couldn’t anymore, even if he wanted to. Meriel was not the kind of woman who’d find it cute that he let anyone rub up on him. She’d probably maim him for it.

  He grinned.

  She’d taken to stopping in on the weekend nights and hanging out with him. He knew she wasn’t much for club hopping and she was also an early riser, but it pleased him that she made room in her life for him and what made him happy too. He liked seeing her at his table with her laptop. Yes, she even did work there. Or enjoyed a drink with Simon or their friends.

  He just liked that she wanted to be with him and that she did it in a way that felt natural. He was lucky. Despite all the nonsense with the mages, he was lucky to have this woman in his life.

  Dominic examined the wards again and then opened up his othersight to take the room in. So much magick here. Others packed the place nightly. It was more than a nightclub; it had turned into a sort of general hangout and meeting place. He liked that too. Profits were up and he didn’t have the stress of thinking about what the clan would do when they found him lifting from their font. He was proud. Heart of Darkness felt like his in a way it hadn’t until then.

  He didn’t need the extra help now. Between him and Meriel, the warding was fine-tuned and powerful. He had no need to borrow magick now that he knew how to use his own. Admittedly he got a kick out of that.

  The place continued to fill up as the evening wore on. There were the usual problems. He had to threaten a table of Weres to behave or be barred.

  It was a waste of his time to have to stalk around to keep people in line. He gave them this place and they couldn’t just act like they had some sense?

  “Why is it so hot in here? Fix that,” he barked at one of the servers, who scampered off to take care of it.

  He slugged back a few drinks and then switched to water. His head hurt. He needed more sleep. But he wanted to be with Meriel when he could. There were always others who’d take up her time if he didn’t claim it. Always someone who couldn’t seem to do it themselves so Meriel had to do it. Like she was their mother. Stupid.

  Dominic made a move to go back to his office but Simon hailed him with a wave.

  “There a problem?”

  “It’s hot. The DJ is fucking things up with this crap. I know I told him I didn’t want trance back here. Gets the vampires all worked up. Plus it annoys me. Don’t know why I have to say things a hundred times to get it taken care of.”

  Simon looked at him closely. “Wards holding up?”

  “Far as I can see. I used othersight and everything looks okay there too. We’ve got some pissed-off Weres near the bar, but I already told them they’d be barred if they didn’t keep it together. I can’t have all this fighting here. That’s worse than worrying over this mage bullshit. Last thing I need are bar fights back here.”

  “You’re on edge. I trust that. Something doesn’t feel right.”

  And then she walked in, scanning the room until she found him. Her smile made his head feel a little better. But he didn’t like the way men always looked at her.

  “She’s a pretty woman, you know that? Fresh and lovely. Always smells good. That witchy—”

  “Do you think I want to hear you wax rhapsodic about my woman’s smell?”

  “Whatever. She smells good whether I tell you that or not.”

  “Simon!” She approached and patted Simon’s arm. “I love that suit. You’re looking very handsome.”

  “Me?”

  Meriel turned to him. “You’re handsome too.”

  He pulled her to his body and kissed her. He wanted everyone to see it and know she was spoken for.

  Simon cocked his head. “Hey, I need to talk to you two. Office?”

  Once the door was closed Simon turned, his arms crossed. “Someone is fucking with you.”

  Meriel nodded. “I agree.”

  “What?”

  “You’re on edge. Prowling around like a shifter. You’re hyperaggressive. The magick is pouring off you.”

  Dominic only felt rage. “What the fuck? You saying I’m so weak I’d be manipulated by some spell?”

  Meriel looked him up and down. “I can feel it. Through the bond. It has to be outside the club because I’d feel it if it was happening in here. The wards would sound with that kind of spell.”

  “You too?”

  With an indignant sniff, she turned, kicked her shoes off and her hands began to dance as she spoke under her breath. Magick filled the room, made his own rise in response to join hers. That’s when it felt like she grabbed a string and unraveled him. His stomach went into freefall and he held back a gag.

  And then things got really weird.

  She raised her voice, this time speaking aloud as she wove the spell. She tapped the font and shoved it all into Dominic so that he gagged with it. He held a hand out but she didn’t stop. Instead she took it and squeezed.

  Latin, yes, she was speaking Latin. He realized this as he warred to keep his consciousness and failed several times.

  And then she was on her knees and his ears popped and he could hear clearly again.

  He saw the red. “Blood?” He tried to stand, but dizziness made him stumble. Simon braced him and eased him into a chair.

  “It’s not yours. It’s Meriel’s.”

  His gaze shot to her and he found her pressing one of his handkerchiefs against her arm. “Did I hurt you?” He wanted to vomit.

  Concern filled her eyes then and she came to him, kneeling and taking his hand. “No. Do you think you ever could? Really?”

  “I don’t know. Baby, Christ, what happened?”

  “It was a
possession spell. Someone was riding in your consciousness and trying to affect your behavior.”

  “Something was in me? And cut you?”

  “I needed the blood to cast it out. It was ugly and powerful and not mage magic. It was darker than that.”

  “You cut yourself for me? How could you do that? You are not to put yourself in danger like that.”

  She waved it away. “I’ll do what I need to and you can’t stop me from protecting what’s mine. Anyway, it’s locked out. My blood mixed with the spell. The way is blocked.”

  “How can this have happened? I thought my magick was locked, that you can’t be possessed … like demon possessed? Is that what the Latin was? Meriel, did you fucking exorcise me?” Sickness clawed at his insides.

  “In a manner of speaking, yes. See what I mean about how we can learn from other kinds of practitioners?”

  “Faith as magick?” Simon asked, handing her a bottle of water and then one to Dominic.

  “Negative energy, no matter what you want to call it, can be affected by belief. The words hold power. I gave them intent.”

  “But I can’t be demon possessed. I’ve done a lot of bad shit, but never dark magicks. Ever.”

  Her face washed into a blank mask and he knew it before she even spoke. “If someone is of your blood, they can do it if they’re close enough. Siblings. Parents.”

  “You’re telling me my mother just called a fucking demon into me? Like the guys who watch my front doors here?”

  “No, not a demon. More precisely, I’m saying your mother was the bridge to let a very dark energy ride into you. It’s not like you think. Your head won’t go round three hundred and sixty degrees or anything. No levitating. But this dark chaos she let in can eat away at your foundations. At your boundaries and filters. Over time she could use you to be violent or other such things. She used her flesh-and-blood connection with you to let it in.”

  “Get it out of me. Now. Or take me to the middle of the forest and leave me. I can’t be around you if I can’t trust myself.”

  He felt unclean. What sort of people had he come from?

  “Let’s go home. I’m going to ask Gage’s mother to come over. She’s a healer of sorts and can help you flush the darkness out.”

  “No. Are you listening to me? Simon, take her to her parents’ house right now.”

  “She can’t get in again.” Meriel got in his face, his shirt gripped in her hand. “Listen to me, Dominic. She can’t. Nothing and no one else can. I’m there now. I cut off that bond to her. I cut it off and cauterized it and then I put my own energy there. She can’t get in. You’re not going to go anywhere but home with me.”

  “How do you know?” God, he couldn’t bear it, couldn’t bear to think on hurting her. How could she ever trust him again? Would she be scared of him forever?

  “Because it’s my spell and your mother is a punk-ass bitch in the magick department. Oh, that’s right.” Meriel was pissed off, he realized. Not upset with him, not afraid of him at all. But murderously pissed off at Gloria Ochoa.

  Simon eased back and sat on the corner of the desk as they settled in to watch Meriel.

  “I got her number. She’s a fucking amateur wearing a costume of a powerful witch. She will not get in because you are mine and that is that. She can’t best me. Not ever. I am badass, Dominic. I know most people don’t know it, but you better believe it. I will tear her apart when I find her. You can bet on that. I. Am. Not. Having. This.”

  He exhaled long and hard and took her in.

  Magnificent.

  Glorious.

  Righteous.

  “I am stupid in love with you.” He moved to her, putting his arms around her. Their magick flared and flowed into the room again. It felt good to be back in synch.

  Her rage faded as she smiled sort of crookedly at him. “You love me?”

  “Ah, I should go now.” Simon stood.

  Startled into remembering Simon’s presence, she straightened. “We’re going to go home.” Meriel pulled her phone out and called Gage’s mother about coming over.

  The way she gave orders was ruthlessly precise. She was putting a plan together. She might wear novelty socks and know all the words to Grease, but she did things with a purpose. Gloria had issued a challenge. And Meriel would answer that. But she’d do so only after she had considered every option and mapped out every single factor. His woman would understand and be prepared to beat every possible attack.

  “You all right?” Simon asked.

  “Yeah. I just … she made it okay. It was like I was far away and then she was there pulling me back to shore. Watching her right now, I’m just struck by how truly lucky I am.”

  “She’s right, you know. Gloria can’t get in again. You were out of it for a while when Meriel was doing the spell. I’ve never seen magick like that. She reflected what your mother was putting out to keep the bridge open and then she stole it. Like yanked it out of her. Whipcrack. And it’s over. Epic witchery. I am impressed as hell.”

  “I wish I’d have seen it. Nell’s going to ask me about it, so can I have her call you so you can describe what Meriel did?”

  “Sure.”

  Meriel approached and tucked her hand in his. “Come on. She’s on her way. Nell’s coming here. My mother will most likely also be at our apartment too.” She put her head on his shoulder.

  “You need to go home. She’s right. I’m just fine here on my own. You’ve already been here most of the night.” He turned to Meriel. “Will you call me to check in once he’s settled?”

  “Of course. Thanks for your help tonight.”

  “Anytime, sweetheart. You were indeed badass. Now let’s get you to your car. I’ll feel better if I go with you. Unless you think there’s going to be a problem here?” He looked to Meriel again.

  “The club’ll be fine. She didn’t break the wards; her magick came in another way. I was stupid to not have thought of it. But she can’t get in again. This is her way of testing to see if her hunch was true. If her son was alive, she’d be able to test that. One way or another she’d know. And now she does.”

  “What a vicious bitch.” Simon walked them to the back where her car was waiting.

  “Yes. Watch your back, Simon. Any hit at all on the wards and you go to safe mode.” They had contingencies for all kinds of potential problems. Safe mode would alert the security company. Only it was a special kind of security company made up of Others. Usually witches working with Weres. Nice to have the magick and the muscles.

  Meriel got him up to their apartment. Gage’s mom was waiting, along with her parents and Gage. She nearly lost it when she saw them, but managed to hold it back.

  “Let’s get him cleaned up first.” Gage’s mother got right to work, rolling up her sleeves. “I have some soap in my bag.” She thrust it at Meriel. “Use it on him from head to toe. I’ll get the bedroom ready.”

  Her father smiled and patted Dominic on the back. “You look damned good. My girl protected you.” He kissed Meriel’s cheek. “You did well.”

  “I’m going to go over these wards again,” Edwina called out. “Do you want Gage to take him in, Meriel? He’s got to be heavy. It won’t do if one of you slips and falls.”

  Meriel choked back a sob and nodded quickly, clearing her throat. “I’m fine. He’s steady on his feet. I’ll yell if we need help.”

  She pointed at the toilet where she’d just put the seat down. “Sit.”

  A knock sounded on the door and Gage handed Dominic a mug of something. “Hold your nose and drink it fast. It’ll be over soon and you’ll feel better.”

  “You speak from experience?” Dominic, amused, asked Gage.

  “Enough to know how to keep from gagging on it. This is a system cleanse of sorts. It’s got all kinds of crap she grows and picks and then says spells over. It works, if that helps at all.”

  Meriel had had that crap when she was in high school. They’d been in a car accident and the smoke had b
een horrible. They’d been relatively uninjured but the smoke from the car fire had blown in their faces as they’d waited for the cops and aid cars. That stuff had cleared the gunk out, but she felt every damned minute of it. Blech. But it did really work, she agreed with Gage.

  He drank it and she caught the shudder.

  “He didn’t lie.”

  She laughed. It was brittle. She heard it herself. Quickly, she stripped him down and then herself and took him into the shower. The goop smelled good. Clean and right. She had to stretch to reach him all, but he bent and let her get his hair. She let go for the moment, just reveling in being able to touch him that way. The water pounded on him and she kneaded and caressed, scrubbed and stroked from head to toe. Her magick had softened and warmed. It flowed from her and around him. Healing. Loving. Connecting.

  The block of fear she’d been choking on since she’d left Heart of Darkness and began to really think about how much they could have lost began to melt away. Helpless in the face of the love she felt for this man. She hadn’t told him she loved him back when they’d been at Heart of Darkness; the situation had shifted and it hadn’t felt like the right time with Simon there.

  But here between them she could show him.

  “Wow,” he murmured as he stepped out some minutes later. “That was amazing. I feel so good. Taken care of. But that doesn’t really do it justice. You make me feel like I can come home and be safe. Be loved. Thank you for being my safe place. Tonight it was you, Meriel. You snapped me out of it. You fought some sort of major magickal battle with my mother and a dark spirit and you haven’t broken a sweat.”

  “I love you too.” She leaned in to press her face to his neck. Warm and vibrant. He was alive and he was fine and everything would be all right. Gloria couldn’t have him. She’d see to that.

  “I might have sweated a little bit. But that’ll be our secret.”

  Chapter 25

  HOURS later, she closed the door after the last visitor left. Dominic had been tucked into bed under a very deep sleep spell her mother had cast. He needed the rest so his system could heal.