A bang from the hallway made me shove my head around the living area door. I was about to throw my dagger when I paused.
“You would be an Essex witch if you were a full witch.”
Okay. Why was Theresa, my former leader, in the house of our prisoner? Waving Gerard away when he went to storm forward, I stepped into the hallway.
“Your mother was an Essex witch, that’s why she was treated with such respect. Her ancestors would’ve been furious that she married a warlock.” The older woman’s sigh made me clench my hands into fists.
“What are you doing here?” Gerard demanded as he came out of the living area. “This is private property.”
His hand hovered by his side, his gun within easy reach. We hadn’t come face to face with Theresa since Gerard had killed her best friend. A war was surely about to explode.
“I…” Theresa held up a hand and flicked it in a circle.
Gerard clutched his head as he fell to his knees. Only a coven leader would have the power to bring him to his knees. I wouldn’t be able to down him with my magic, which meant I couldn’t touch her.
“Leave him alone, or I’ll use my warlock magic on you.”
Swirling my fingers, I formed a ball of blue streams in my palm. Gerard rubbed his hand furiously as I raised my eyebrows at the coven leader.
“I’m not afraid of you. Your mother would’ve inherited the coven one day, but you’re not her equal… yet.”
“Yet?”
Theresa let go of the spell that was crippling Gerard. He shoved to his feet, glaring hard at our newest enemy. Our list was getting longer by the day. And, yet, I wouldn’t give up the fight.
“You need to check that letter, Devon.” Theresa put up a hand as I went to reply. “No, just read it.”
My stomach churned. How the hell did she know about the letter in my pocket? She… she wasn’t psychic. Unless…
“Did you write it?”
The handwriting was familiar to me. It was all over my mother’s journals. The ones I had kept under lock and key since the day we packed them away. I couldn’t bear to read about her life. But, my mother was dead. Theresa must have perfectly copied the way my mother wrote.
“What letter is she talking about?” Gerard asked as he shook himself from the effects of her spell.
My hand itched to reach into my pocket, but I couldn’t read the letter with everyone staring at me. It was way too personal. And, none of their business either.
“You need to leave,” I told Theresa.
The beat of my heart was slow and heavy. If she pushed me any further, there was a risk I would break. First I had received a letter from my dead father, and now, someone was playing a cruel trick on me.
“I can’t.”
Theresa stepped back when I rushed forward.
My boots thumped on the wooden flooring, pounding towards her. She raised her hands in surrender, her eyes widening as I drew closer. Before I reached her, I stalled, my hands clasped into fists at my side.
“Why are you here?” The words were bitten through my teeth. “Just to torment me?”
We had come to Harry’s home to find the spell and any other clues leading to the witch slave trade. So far, we’d found the spell, but the interruption from Theresa was costing us valuable time.
“Not everything is about you,” she said, reaching into her pocket.
Grabbing my dagger out, I extended it towards her. It burst into blue flames, the magic I had emptied into it igniting the blade.
“What…?” Theresa’s eyes stared as she brought her phone out of her pocket.
“Devon, put it away.”
Gerard’s fingers took my free hand, shocking me back to reality. I shook the dagger, clearing the blade of the magic. Shoving it into my jacket, I stared at the coven leader as she held out her phone.
Squeezing my fingers, Gerard let go and took it from her. His eyebrows furrowed as he read whatever was on it. “This is a report. Ten of your witches have been kidnapped in the last week?”
We both stared at Theresa when she nodded. “Yes, that’s why I’m here. I know you’re investigating the case. Devon, if you want to return to the coven, you can. I forgive you.”
My teeth gritted together as I fought hard to control my temper. Gerard put his arm around my waist, bumping hips in the process. “She’ll take it under consideration, won’t you, Dev?”
“No I bloody well won’t!”
If Gerard wasn’t gripping my waist, my shaking body would be slamming into Theresa’s. He was right to hold me back. I didn’t want to hurt her. My actions would hurt me too. The fact that she could even dare to invite me back to the coven when she needed my help, after she had left me out on my own. It was just rude.
“You can hate me as much as you want. I don’t exactly love you either considering how much stress your family has put me under. But, I got a letter from your mother, demanding that I request your help. I… I thought she was dead, too.” The hitch in her voice was real.
Rolling my eyes, I took a deep breath and shrugged Gerard off. I could hold on to my temper… as long as she didn’t push my buttons any further. I wouldn’t be held accountable for my actions if she dared to insult me or my family.
Theresa wrung her fingers together. “I missed her for so long. Resented her, too. For leaving me. For leaving you.”
“Are you here because of my mother, or because you need help?” Her coven was probably always hit with the witch slave trade. And yet, she’d never reported it before.
“Both. Jeremy was holding back a lot of information from me. I found reports in his desk and on his computer. I didn’t realise how many of our witches were going missing. I can’t just allow it to happen. I’m prepared to do anything to help the agency.”
Her sudden change of heart towards us was positive. It meant one less enemy to worry about. It also meant I could get close to those in her coven. Maybe one of them would know something.
“We’re investigating the kidnappings. Do you know of a witch called Lucia Camos?”
Gerard glanced at me when I glared in his direction. Why was he giving her information? I hadn’t told her that I’d help. I was just about to, but that didn’t mean Good-looking Mac-butthead had to take the lead.
Theresa frowned, her gaze going distant. “No, I don’t think so. I once knew a lady called Beatrice Camos. An Italian who approached me when she first arrived in London. She asked if she could join the coven, but as you know, we’re pretty exclusive.”
Yeah, so exclusive they wouldn’t let me stay. Nasty people. But, then again, maybe I hadn’t given them much reason to want to keep me.
“Well, thanks for the name,” Gerard said, ushering Theresa out of the house. “We’ll be in contact.”
“You’re dismissing me?” Her scoff of disbelief made me bite my lip.
Putting a hand on Gerard’s arm, I almost jolted back when heat singed my fingers. His tattooed skin had given me an electric shock. I knew he was hot, but not that hot.
“Theresa,” I said when he paused, “if you co-operate with the agency, including me, we’ll help as much as we can. We’re trying to save all witches.”
Her gaze softened as she stared at me. Our history was wrought with disagreements, but she had been my mother’s best friend.
“Read the letter, Devon.”
Her last words repeated in my head as she allowed Gerard to escort her outside. She had obviously followed us somehow. Which meant we had been lax in our tracks.
Patting my pocket, I left the letter where it was and went to search Harry’s house. There was no point in being in the bastard’s home if we weren’t going to check everything.
“She’s…” Gerard stopped talking when he came into the office. “Devon… stay very still.”
I had been reaching over to pick up the little bin beside the desk. My back froze, my arm still in mid-air. My breath rushed in as I tried to steady myself.
“What is it?” I could
n’t exactly glance around to see what Gerard was looking at. “I know you’re getting a good look at my behind right now, but if you don’t speak up soon, I’ll-”
“Be quiet! There’s a spelled canvas right next to you.”
A what? My head cocked to the side ever so slightly. My gaze was able to trace up the wall to see what Gerard was talking about.
Ah, yeah… that could be a danger. A painting of a wolf was attached to the terracotta coloured wall. Harmless enough. Until I spotted the wolf’s eyes watching me like a bird of prey would its dinner. His tongue was hanging out, his breath huffing quietly. It was a guard dog, sort of.
“He’s not ready to pounce yet, but it won’t be long.” Gerard’s voice was calm, almost whispered.
The muscles supporting my spine screeched as I held my frame. Anyone who saw the painting would be wrong in thinking that the wolf in it was harmless. In fact, if he was triggered into believing that we were a threat, he would jump out of the picture, forming into his full size as he did. I had only seen it once before, when a group of teens, including me, broke into a well-known witch’s house. It hadn’t been a pretty ending.
“So… what do I do?” There was no time to be sarcastic.
Gerard’s foot moved forward slightly, the wolf growled.
“He doesn’t like you,” I said, cringing as I held my calf muscles as tightly as I could.
If I wasn’t careful, my super weak muscles would fail me, and I would fall on my face, probably evoking the wolf to attack.
Gerard’s retreat made the wolf’s face look a little less angry, if that could be possible. His growling stopped, and his tongue flicked to lick his nose. Or, maybe he was just getting ready to eat me.
Maybe, just maybe, the wolf hadn’t pounced on me the whole time I’d been searching the office because he was alright with me.
“I’m going to try and move. I think he might like me.”
A scoff came from the hallway. I ignored it as I slowly straightened my back, pausing every couple of seconds to check to see if the wolf had moved. Nope. Although he was staring at me, he wasn’t panting or looking annoyed.
“See, buddy, I’m no threat. You’re a handsome boy.”
My teeth clenched when Gerard stepped into the room, and the wolf started to growl again.
“Get out,” I said through my teeth.
He backtracked quickly. “Sorry, thought he had calmed down.”
As the muscles in the wolf’s hairy white face relaxed, I smiled to myself. “He didn’t like you the first time, what made you think he would the second?”
A laugh rumbled from the hallway. I moved slowly as I rose to my full height. Something about the wolf was bugging me. Why wasn’t he worried about me? I was an intruder. He should have jumped out and attacked me already.
Opening his mouth, the wolf panted as I took a slow step towards him. He was calm, watching me with those beady brown eyes. His head was 3D, as if it was sticking out of the painting now.
“What’s going on?” Gerard’s voice was strained, worried.
I stayed silent as I extended my hand towards the painting. Yes, I was crazy. But something about him made me feel safe.
“Devon?”
If Gerard didn’t shut his mouth, I would be tempted to call him into the room, just to see his face when the wolf jumped out at him.
“Hello, there,” I whispered when the wolf bowed his head.
My fingers brushed against the soft fur behind his ear. He rubbed against me, enjoying my touch. I had always loved animals, but this was…
“Are you crazy?!” Gerard exclaimed from the doorway.
My hand whipped back as the wolf’s lip lifted and a deep sound came from him. I backtracked when its body pushed forward, its shoulders coming out of the painting.
“Devon, run!”
Finally listening to Gerard, I turned away from the now emerging wolf, ready to run. As I went to go through the door, I spotted something on the ground. An address book, lying on the wooden floor. Bending, I scooped it into my hand.
The thump of paws landing behind me made me squeak. No matter how much affection the wolf had shown me, I couldn’t trust him not to hurt me.
A hand grabbed my arm as I ran through the doorway and into the hall. My heart leapt into my throat, pounding violently.
“This way!”
Propelling me before him, Gerard stayed behind me. Guarding me.
“Why did you do that?” I huffed as we ran through the kitchen.
The sound of nails on wood followed us. The quick movement of the wolf made my stomach flip. If he got Gerard, he would probably rip him to shreds. And, because he was a spelled picture, not a real wolf, Gerard couldn’t use his magic on him.
“A door,” I said, rushing towards it.
Trying to wrench it open, I swore when it didn’t budge. Crap, it was locked.
A growl behind us made me freeze.
“Unlock it.” Gerard’s words were forced, tense.
Taking a deep breath, I focused on the earth beneath me and pulled on my witch magic. Muttering an unlocking spell, I almost celebrated when the lock clicked open.
“Hurry!”
I glanced behind me as I opened the door. The wolf threw its head back and howled before it looked forward. In a split second, it crouched on its haunches and pounced.
Shoving Gerard through the door in front of me, I spun just as the wolf was about to land. On me. Holding my arms up to cover my head, I screamed as my whole body shook. The wolf was going to kill me.
“Devon!” Gerard’s scream mixed with mine.
And, yet… the pain didn’t come.
A wind rushed around me, sending my hair spinning and covering my face. When I had shoved the dark strands out of my eyes, I froze. The wolf had come to a stop right in front of me. He was staring, his body shaking from the effort not to attack.
Fortunately for me, my partner had learnt his lesson. He stayed silent from wherever he was outside the house. He could probably see the wolf, watching me with his dark brown eyes. I had no idea what was happening, but for some reason, the magical creature didn’t want to hurt me.
Taking a step back, I felt for the door. My hand brushed the wood as the wolf stayed where he was. I stumbled backwards, my heart thumping inside my chest so hard, I couldn’t breathe.
“Thank you,” I whispered as my feet somehow moved me out of the kitchen and onto the concrete patio.
The wolf stared, his eyes connected to mine. I released my breath when the door swung shut, blocking my view of something that I was sure to never forget.
“Are you okay?” Gerard was right there, his hands grabbing the top of my arms. “I thought he was going to kill you.”
He looked down, his gaze checking me over for injuries. I shuddered as I broke out of the trance I had been in.
“I’m fine,” I whispered.
Nodding once, Gerard let me go. Turning, he rushed away from the house. “We’d better get out of here in case it tries to come after us.”
I stood still, my gaze following him as he went. He paused as he was about to round the corner of the house. There must have been something in the way I looked because he froze solid. Or, maybe the wolf was standing behind me, who knew. I was too dazed to focus much.
And, yet, we stood there, staring at each other. My heartbeat slowed, and my palms dried from the sweat that had lined them.
“See, everyone likes me,” I quipped when I’d finally calmed enough to think normally.
One corner of his lips sunk into his cheek. “You keep telling yourself that.”
“I will.” Shaking myself, I went to him, a bounce in my step.
He didn’t move when I came close to him, thinking he was going to start walking. My body almost collided with his as he watched me, his eyebrows drawn low.
“What is it?” I asked as I went to step back.
His hands grasped my wrists before I could move away. His intense stare made me shiver. T
hat wasn’t a look of lust, it was… penetrating. And, not in the feel good kind of way.
Air rushed out of his mouth and over my face as he heaved a sigh. I tried not to close my eyes as desire pulsed through me. It must have been the thrill of survival that made me feel that way. Serious Mac-intense was not the reason goose bumps popped up on every surface of my skin.
“Devon,” he breathed, still frowning. “That wolf wouldn’t harm you, which means only one thing.”
It was my turn to screw my face up in confusion. “What?”
“Usually, the only reason any spell would be in alignment with you is because of DNA. The person who created the spelled picture, and namely the wolf, is probably related to you.”
Related…? But, that was impossible… I…
Pulling my wrists out of his grip, I dug out the letter in my jacket pocket. Theresa had said that my mother had written to her. I had been in denial. My father’s letter, now this one. It was impossible. They were dead.
“Read it.” Gerard’s strong but whispered words gave me the courage to rip open the envelope.
My breath sucked in as I saw my mother’s handwriting sprawled across the page. It had always been a tad messy. She’d written me short stories as a child, telling me to keep my imagination alive. I still had them somewhere in my apartment.
“What does it say?”
The strength of his presence made me take a deep breath and read the letter out loud.
“Devon, I know it’s been a long time, and for that, I’m deeply sorry. I cannot explain everything now, but I know you need our help. For too long witches have been kidnapped, and I can no longer stay in hiding. Your father and I wanted to protect you, so we left. It’s a decision I will always regret. You see, we were in danger. We knew all about the witch slave trade, and we were working to bring the leader down. However, we could never quite catch up to them. When word got out about our extracurricular activities, we were targeted. I can’t go into too much detail, but we wanted to protect you, so we gave up our investigation and fled.
It’s ironic that my contacts have told me that you’re now working the same case. I’m proud of you, Devon. I never imaged my sensitive little girl would become an agent. We have much to discuss. I will be in contact again soon. Just know that you’re not alone. You never were. I love you, Mum.”
Magically Bonded: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Hunted Witch Agency Book 2) Page 9
