Striking Souls

by Erin R Flynn

  “Boss, we can sleep when we’re dead,” one of the other guys chuckled. “Saving others and helping our people are more important.”

  “Glad you feel that way because we’re hosting an elder tribunal it seems,” I sighed, pushing to my feet since I didn’t need to sit on Colin to keep him there. “Let’s get him locked up and back to where he was because I have a feeling all the evidence we need will disappear shortly.”

  “As it always seems to,” Tommy agreed.

  We popped down to the hidden cells the building had that only a few of us could even find the door for. They weren’t in the building plans or even really in the building. No, they were extra rooms made by my magic that technically were on another plane. Maybe? I wasn’t sure about the physics of it, but there was no escaping it.

  I opened the door to one and changed the spell of it to hold a shifter, as that would keep him from shifting. I also upped the power to hold an elder. Colin’s body went slack the moment I transferred him into the room, the magic practically dosing him with a sedative. No one even needed to go in there once I adjusted the spell, as there was a toilet and a table that food would appear on.

  Besides, it wasn’t as if I held onto people for all that long.

  I spent the next few hours with Tommy and some of his team cleaning out Colin’s mansion of anything needed. His hawks had just started trying to destroy evidence when we arrived, not catching on fast enough that their leader wouldn’t be coming right back.

  They were a bit trickier to handle, as they were acting under orders, and while they all seemed on board, it wasn’t my call or mess. So after we had everything, I locked them down in the mansion, killing all technology and everything they could use to call for help. Plus, the doors and windows would only lead to another part of the house. It was sort of like locking them in a black hole until I knew what to do with them.

  Hey, they had food and running water. They could amuse themselves for a few days.

  By the time that was over, I caught a late dinner and ate my weight in plate after plate of high calorie dishes. All while trying not to get too angry, as there was one more thing I needed to handle that I had put off too long. I didn’t want to, I really didn’t, but I always did still no matter how hard or that it was personal because people deserved that of me.

  Even if it hurt to give it.

  4

  I popped over to Theo’s once he was in his room so we had the privacy that was needed. “Please hold off on the sex.”

  He and the cheetah he planned to mate with jumped apart, and luckily they still had clothes on. “Soraya, I can—”

  “You were never mine, darling, and you owe me no explanation,” I forgave, knowing what he was probably about to say. I nodded to the woman in acknowledgement, but this conversation didn’t really include her.

  I simply knew how shifter women were, and her not being there wasn’t an option.

  I smiled at Theo as he jumped off the bed and came closer. “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. There was much going on, and I didn’t want my other problems to affect how this conversation would go.”

  “You knew,” he breathed, shock filling his eyes.

  I threw back my head and laughed. “Yes, darling, as you’re about as subtle as a damn freight train. You would ask how I was when we talked but kept saying you were here for me if I wanted to talk. Or to come see you during the day for a meal, to your office, or even to see a farm. But clearly leaving out the one spot we normally met.”

  “And yet you came here still,” the female muttered as she rolled off of the bed as well.

  I smirked at her. “Would you have allowed us to speak privately? No, but at least now the conversation is private from others who do not need to be a part of it.” I waited until she nodded before looking at Theo again, swallowing down my feelings and smiling. “You are not the first this has happened to, darling. Your cheetah found his mate, and even if you don’t have fated mates, animals have their instincts and you just knew.”

  “That doesn’t negate how I feel for you,” he whispered, sounding young instead of the confident Alpha he normally was.

  “No, but that will end with time,” I promised him. “Just like any other relationship, what you feel for me now will fade.”

  He saw more than most would, always paying attention. “How many times have you had this happen to you, Soraya?”

  I chuckled darkly, not able to hide it. “I think I was not even your age the first time. I fell head over heels for a lion even after I swore never to give my heart to anyone ever again, and days after telling him I loved him, after he asked me to mate him and I agreed, did he find his lioness.” I flipped my hair over my shoulder and shrugged. “I told you there are many reasons I never keep anyone. This is why I never keep a shifter.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  I shrugged again. “There is no reason for you to be sorry.”

  “I still am,” he whispered, scrubbing his hand over his head. “This wasn’t how I pictured telling you or having you find out as you did.”

  “Darling, there is no good way to tell someone it’s over and you’re falling for another woman. All you need to do is be happy and that’s enough for me.” I waited until he nodded before moving towards the woman. I rudely read her mind and frowned at what I found. “You need to get a handle on your jealousy and fast or I won’t be so understanding of what’s happened.”

  She flinched, not even pretending she didn’t understand. “I’m working on it. I wasn’t expecting any of this to happen either.”

  “As is life,” I drawled, gesturing around the room like yeah, I get that. I made a card appear and handed it to her. “You are not the only one who’s had this issue. My coven has a few therapists who work with other shifters. Call the number and get help before it’s a problem. And tell him. He deserves to know and will understand.” I growled when she didn’t take it. “Or do you want me to fight you for him?”

  Her eyes filled with fear. “No, Enchantress, I don’t. Thank you for the advice, and I will call.”

  “Good because he deserves no less than your absolute best.”

  “I know that,” she agreed.

  “I’m going to kiss him goodbye, as I deserve that, and you will allow it.”

  “I can’t watch it though,” she admitted, bobbing her head. “I’ll step outside.”

  “I understand.”

  “What was that?” Theo asked once she left.

  “It’s for her to tell you.” I shrugged when he gave me a look that he wanted to push. “I’ll check in and make sure she does. I still would want to visit Dominic now and again if I’m allowed.”

  He nodded as he moved closer. “Of course. You’re invited to the mating as well.”

  “Oh, darling, no woman would come to your mating.”

  His gaze filled with something conflicted and he hugged me as if trying to hide it. “You cared more than you let on.”

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” I lied. Of course I cared. I wasn’t heartless.

  I was simply damaged and hurt too many times. Shifter lovers of mine finding their mates had a good hand in that after all.

  I kissed him goodbye, not keeping it all that polite as I still had pride too and I wanted to leave him with something he couldn’t forget. “Be happy, Theo.”

  “Thank you, Soraya. I’ll miss you,” he rasped, burying his face in my neck.

  He would. I knew it without listening to his thoughts. I would miss him too.

  Moving on was part of life though.

  I popped away before he could look at me again, not able to see the look I knew he would have in his eyes since I’d been through it all before. The conversation and goodbye would set him free and able to move on.

  While I was left in the dust as they headed towards their happiness. No, that was a look I could skip.

  I popped over to an ice cream shop in Chicago I loved that had amazing gelato and proceeded to order my feeling
s, snacking on a few brownies while I waited for them to bag it all up for me. Once it was ready, I brought it all to my apartment and put most of it in my freezer besides one quart of banana fosters. That I brought with me, grabbing a spoon and sitting down in my comfy chair.

  Staring out at the city I adored, I tried to control my feelings, eat them even, but there was a lot of dark pain inside of me that had accumulated over the years. Ending things with Theo was one thing, as I’d known it would happen one day, but how it had was a sensitive issue for me. Plus, I was tired of accepting things like every relationship had to end while others found happiness.

  I felt no better when the quart of ice cream was gone. There was no chance of me popping over to Andrew, and that was normally how I handled things when the darkness tried to eat me. It was too turbulent to try and squash it with sweet by going to the hawks.

  Or like I used to with Theo.

  And then it hit me. No, this darkness needed to be handled with hate.

  I popped down to Hunt’s apartment, surprised when I found him doing pushups at a rate faster than any human or even most shifters could. He didn’t see me at first, and I had a moment to really appreciate his body even if he was moving so fast.

  Waving away my clothes and changing into something fun, I moved in front of him, clearing my throat so he snapped out of it. He flinched, sitting back on his feet and reaching for something. I realized his gun was on the chair, but he comprehended it was me before he got close.

  “Want to use that energy on me instead?” I asked as I let my fingers trail down a blue teddy that matched his intense eyes.

  He rolled to his feet as he stared at me closely, something in his eyes as he approached me. “You ended things with Theo. Officially. Didn’t you?”

  I saw no reason to deny it, but I didn’t like that he could see that much when others couldn’t ever get a read on me. He’d guessed something was up with Theo weeks ago when I’d mentioned being fresh out of sweet when we’d made out. As much as I couldn’t stand Hunt, the way he paid attention to me also floored me.

  “His loss as there’s no woman he could find better than you,” he growled when I didn’t reply. He kissed me as his muscular arms enveloped me, lifting me up to his height. I gasped and wrapped my legs around him, moving my hands to his back and digging my nails into his skin.

  “Don’t be gentle,” I seethed when he carried me to his bed and laid me down.

  He ignored me, his hands moving over me tenderly. “No, I won’t be angry sex for you. If I only get one shot with you before you come to your senses or work out whatever is going on with you, I want to be with you for real.”

  “What about what I want?” I snapped, rolling us so I was on top. I slapped him across the face when he opened his mouth to argue with me. I gasped, my heart racing. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I’m not,” he murmured, sitting up and grabbing my hips so I couldn’t move away. “I told you to use me as you wanted. Hit me, Soraya. Slap me again if you want. Slap me a million times if it helps. I’m fine with it.” He brushed his lips over mine. “I know the darkness inside of you. It’s in me too.”

  “No, that’s your hate of magics,” I growled, waving away what we were wearing. I shoved him so he laid down and lowered myself onto him. I gasped at the size of him, knowing he was a big boy in the right areas.

  And also at what I felt from him the moment we were connected instead of just touching. Horror filled his eyes as I looked at his left shoulder, right at the end of his collarbone.

  “Let me explain,” he begged as he tried to sit up again.

  I used my magic to freeze him to the bed and make a minor cut in his skin. I pulled out the small electronic device that looked no bigger than a little pill. I shook with rage as I studied it, wanting to smash it into a million pieces, but I knew I needed to keep it intact for Tommy or Helen to look at. I popped it up to my workroom before I broke it and focused back on Hunt.

  His eyes were so full of regret and pain for a second I almost felt bad for him.

  But only for a second.

  I moved my hands to his face and looked into his mind, so many pieces falling into place to give me a complete picture of what was truly going on.

  Like why Hunt had been so interested in my ability to speak with spirits and asking about calling on a soul.

  Like his horror at seeing Dorian in the other dimension and flinching when I spoke of the government doing testing on paranormals.

  Like his soul sucking hate for magics.

  All of it came together.

  Tears fell out of his eyes as I pulled it to the front of his mind so I could work through it completely.

  “Traitor,” I hissed as I dug my nails into his cheeks. “You fucking idiot. All you had to do was tell me. I would have helped.” I brushed my lips over his. “I hope you enjoyed the one chance you ever had with me because now you’re about to see exactly how powerful and full of darkness I am.”

  I used my power to dress us both and restrain him as I brought us to the lobby, the enchanters at the front desk giving me a shocked look. “I need Helen, Jerome, Keegan, and Tommy ready for action with backup, and I need it now.”

  “Yes, boss,” she told me, and they both picked up their phones and started calling people.

  I popped to the vault, nodding to the guards as I opened it. I pulled two dozen totems out of the hundreds I’d taken off magics over my many years. Locking the vault again, I appeared back into the lobby as Helen showed up. I tossed her a totem, and she caught it, glancing to Hunt with a worried look as the others ‘ported to us.

  “Apparently the government has developed some sort of electrical blocker that can interfere with magic until you have sex with the person,” I explained. “Then I could get a full read still. It’s in my workroom, and you can look into it later, but we have more problems.”

  “Like where we’re burying Hunt?” Jerome asked as I tossed each of them a totem. I kept three and handed out the rest to our backup.

  “No, not until he sees exactly what we would have done to help him if he had just fucking told any of us,” I answered, swallowing down my anger and hurt. “It’s worse than that, and we’re about to piss off some very powerful people. Anyone want to stay home?”

  “I washed my hair last night, boss,” one of Tommy’s guys joked. “I had nothing better on the agenda.”

  “I live to keep you all entertained,” I chuckled darkly before bringing us to the estate where the baddies had their secret meetings, sitting Hunt on a chair in the middle and chaining him for effect more than needed.

  Then I went through the faces of those involved that Hunt knew, ‘porting to them after I focused and bringing them back to the large room. Keegan held the first five while Jerome took the next five and Helen the last eight, knowing the drill… And wasn’t surprised at what I found.

  “This is the caster who started all of this?” I checked with Hunt, holding the bastard by the hair, dragging him to the wolf, and tossing him onto the ground. The rage in Hunt’s eyes confirmed what I already knew. “They played you, idiot. I found him in the bed of that senator. So the whole thing was a con.”

  “What was a con?” Helen asked, trying to hide how nervous she was, but I could feel all their energy as I brought some of the most powerful people in the country into one room.

  I sat on a table off to the side so everyone could see me, settling in for story time. “Some years ago, Hunt’s baby sister fell for this caster, head over heels in young idiot love as we’ve all done. Except he was a con man and took her for all she had and was uploading their sex to a porn site unbeknownst to her. Broke and humiliated, she tried to go after him on her own.

  “She failed, and left in huge debt, she did something desperate and found herself standing on the doorstep of a private research facility that studies paranormals. Which is against government regulations, so how did that even exist?” I glanced out at the lawmakers and big shots, shaking my head as I
caught their thoughts of confirmation, already having guessed it. “Wow, it’s even federally funded.”

  Hunt started shaking with rage as the depth to which they’d played him truly sank in.

  I heard a few more thoughts, namely from the caster’s lover. I popped over to the caster and punched him out when I felt him trying to chant some sort of attack spell. I smirked up at the bitch. “He’s so far out of his league he couldn’t hurt a fly in the room without our permission. Just so we’re clear, you’re all bloody fucked.”

  I turned to face Hunt, some perverse part of me wanting to see it sink in.

  “She was targeted because of you. A young SPU officer who tested off the charts, had an impressive military career, and insanely loyal to his country was the perfect supe agent as long as he was given the proper motivation. You already didn’t trust magics and had a few bad brushes with us, right? So all they needed was for it to turn into hate that would consume you and you’d push your morals aside about coming after Americans.

  “Because I’m not really an American, am I? No, most of us come from Europe, so you figured we all were really immigrants who slipped through the system, equating us to terrorists or whatever you had to so it was justified.” I stormed over to him and fisted his hair. “I’ve been here longer than you have been alive. I’ve lived as an American for centuries. Most of us standing here have, so nice fucking try.”

  “What of the sister?” Tommy asked.

  “She died.” I felt the pain I saw in Hunt’s eyes like a punch to the gut. He’d so loved her. Granted, he didn’t understand why it hurt me more than just his betrayal, as no one knew of my twin, but yeah, seeing sibling love to that extent always hit me hard. I looked over at Tommy. “She died from something done to her in the testing facility. And they told him it was the caster who got her there.

  “Hunt tried to get her out, tried to make a deal for her, but she was already dying from what they did. They promised to do what they could to make her comfortable, pay off her debt, and to hunt the caster who did all of this, but they needed Hunt to help them with something.”