Seduced by Magic

by Cheyenne McCray

  Hawk charged for Darkwolf, sword raised.

  His sword arced through the air at the same time the warlock wrapped his arm around Silver’s waist.

  The bonds dropped.

  Darkwolf’s lips moved as if he were speaking.

  Silver struggled and shouted.

  She and Darkwolf vanished.

  Vanished.

  For a moment Copper was so shocked, so horrified, she couldn’t move. No sound would come from her mouth. Filled with fiery rage, she whirled to fight the demon woman and Garran who had been beneath the pier, intending to capture them to find out where Silver had been taken.

  But they were both gone.

  Gone.

  She ran into the darkness, her wand light flooding what was once dark. All she saw was the wall of earth and concrete beneath the dock and no sign of the demon or the Drow.

  Tiernan stood beside her with his sword raised and utter fury on his face.

  Copper swung her gaze back to look at Hawk, whose features were twisted into a devastated expression. He roared and slammed his boot into one of the pilings and Copper heard the massive wooden leg crack.

  “Godsdamn!” Hawk shouted, a mixture of rage and fear for his mate in his tone. “I will find that bitch of a demon,” he said just before he bolted out from beneath the pier and took to the skies. The other D’Danann warriors followed close behind.

  “I can’t believe Darkwolf took her.” Tears wet Copper’s cheeks as she clenched her wand in her fist. “The bastard took her!”

  The wand lit up Tiernan’s harsh features. He’d stayed with her, no doubt for her protection. “We will retrieve your sister,” he said in a low growl.

  “It happened so fast.” Copper couldn’t keep the tremble from her voice. “I was in shock at seeing Garran—”

  “Garran?” Tiernan grabbed her by the shoulders, surprising her. “The Drow king was here?”

  She nodded. “Apparently, he’s been betraying us all along.”

  In the light from her wand she saw Tiernan’s jaw tighten before he released her. “I shall throttle the Elvin bastard.”

  “Get in line.” Rage and pain coursed through Copper’s body. “I’m going to kill the son of a bitch. After I finish with Darkwolf and get Silver back.

  “I tried to throw up a shield to protect us both, but his got to her first.” Copper’s voice cracked. “And Silver—” Copper continued, her voice trembling. “Before she was captured, I saw her face. It was like she was fighting something inside her mind. I was so concerned about her, and so in shock about Garran, that I wasn’t prepared when Darkwolf attacked.”

  Copper rubbed her jacket sleeve over her eyes. She couldn’t stop the tears. “I should have protected her.”

  Her legs gave out and she found herself on her knees, rocks digging into her flesh. Tiernan knelt beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she choked back sobs. She leaned into him, needing his comfort.

  Copper trembled so badly she didn’t think she could get to her feet. Tiernan took one of her hands and helped her rise, then caught her in his arms when her knees wanted to give out again. “We will find your sister.” He sounded as if he was grinding his teeth. “We will find her.”

  Without responding, Copper went to where Silver had dropped her stiletto knife and picked it up. The hilt was slightly warm where Silver had gripped it. Pain cut through Copper’s chest as if the stiletto had knifed her.

  Goddess, why hadn’t she been able to protect her sister? And Garran . . . how could she not have put all the clues together before?

  When she finally gathered herself enough to go back to HQ, she drove Silver’s beat-up yellow VW Bug to the apartments, barely able to think clearly.

  On their way to the pier, Silver had explained how Hawk had saved her after she’d collapsed from a summoning. He’d driven the car, taking her back to her apartment above the Moon Song café. Hawk had managed to trash her new car, because he was from Otherworld and had never driven before. At the time Silver had told Copper the story, it had been funny enough that she’d giggled almost all the way to the wharf. Silver did have insurance, she just hadn’t had the time to have the Bug fixed.

  Copper didn’t even know why she was thinking about that as she drove up and down the steep streets of the city. Her chest burned with fear and anger, and her head ached from crying. Damn, but they should have listened to the men and not gone to the wharf. But why did the scrying cauldron show them doing just that? It didn’t make sense.

  She clenched the steering wheel tighter and tried to focus as she came up on a four-way stop.

  It also hadn’t made sense that all those months ago she had felt compelled to go to the beach alone, that her dream-vision had insisted she do so, only to meet Darkwolf and to end up in Otherworld.

  What was going on?

  She brushed the back of her hand over her wet eyes again. She’d been home two freaking days, and had managed to let her sister be kidnapped.

  As she continued to drive through the city she racked her brain to figure out how to find Silver. She couldn’t scry like her sister. Copper’s dream-visions were her only divination talent.

  Her heart leaped as she remembered Rhiannon. She had the sight! Then there was Cassia, who could discover clues through her rune stones. Mackenzie used tarot cards that could give additional hints, not to mention all the divination talents among the rest of the witches. With all their skills, they were bound to figure out where Darkwolf had taken Silver.

  And the D’Danann. She couldn’t forget them. Hawk wouldn’t stop until Silver was found. She was sure Tiernan wouldn’t, either.

  Until now, the witches, the D’Danann, and even the Paranormal Special Forces led by Jake Macgregor had failed to catch Darkwolf, the Balorites, and the Fomorii that had escaped on Samhain. But now so much more was at stake.

  Silver and her baby.

  Eighteen

  Darkwolf dropped the bonds from around Silver. As he snatched her around the waist, he steeled himself for the familiar sensation of transference. With the power of the god Balor and his stone eye, Darkwolf had the ability to transfer himself and up to three people at a time. All it took were two words spoken in the god’s ancient tongue.

  “Balor bahamenor.”

  Silver cried out. He heard the shouts of Copper and the yells of the warriors as he and Silver vanished from witch and D’Danann sight. He was leaving Junga to fend for herself, and the Drow king, as well.

  Transference was a rush like no other. Exhilarating. Filled with power. As if he were flying through the sky with wings. His brilliant purple magic flowed around him and his prize. He finally had her. He sensed Silver’s fear and that pleased him.

  Although it seemed longer, it took mere moments to transfer from the pier to the new lair where the Balorites and Fomorii now resided. In order to be large enough to accommodate the Fomorii and to house the number of remaining Balorites, they had selected a penthouse suite that encompassed the entire floor of one of the high-rises. Again they had settled into the lap of luxury. After a taste of wealth, Darkwolf would have no less.

  Of course Elizabeth Black had been wealthy when Junga took over her body, but when she was forced to go into hiding they didn’t dare touch her funds. The police no doubt would be investigating her disappearance.

  Unfortunately there were no servants, but the Balorites and Fomorii now had hefty bank accounts that Darkwolf controlled. This was thanks to the wealthy man who had owned the manor they had formerly inhabited. One of the Fomorii still controlled the man’s body, however. And now another demon had taken over the shell of the exceedingly rich woman who had owned this penthouse.

  All this shot through his mind during the transference. When they reappeared in the penthouse’s large office, Darkwolf gripped the witch Silver tighter to him to ensure she didn’t collapse from what would have been an unfamiliar experience for her.

  He shook off the rush of the transference. At the same time, Silver
raised her knee and her hand darted to her boot. She jerked out a stiletto knife, and had it buried in his thigh before he had the chance to blink.

  Not again.

  Pain ripped through him and he lost his grip on Silver. She spun away into a corner of the office near the computer. She gathered a blue spellfire ball, flung it at him, knocking him on his ass. Damn, the thing burned like white-hot heat. Not wanting to hurt her, he flung a shield around her and it glistened purple in the office lighting.

  “Scum.” Silver was so lovely when she was furious that he could almost forgive her for the pain he now endured. Not that long ago, during the battle of Samhain, she had buried her knife into his thigh in nearly the same location.

  He gritted his teeth, reached down and yanked the knife from his thigh before he pushed himself to his feet. Blood flowed freely. A fresh bout of pain would have caused him to drop to his knees if it weren’t for the power of Balor that filled him.

  Instead, thanks to his magic as a warlock and to the god Balor, the wound had already begun to heal, the flesh slowly knitting itself together beneath his now ripped and bloodied jeans.

  He kept his expression as calm as possible as he tossed the bloody knife aside where it landed on the white carpet beside a pair of finely crafted wooden file cabinets. Silver’s gaze followed the knife, then shot back to meet his eyes. Her eyes were a beautiful gray. When she’d torn away from him, her long silvery-blond hair had fallen from beneath the black cap, which now lay on the floor beneath the computer desk. A silver Celtic-knot hair clasp also lay on the floor. Her black jeans hugged her slim figure, but disappointingly, the jacket hid her lush breasts.

  “Again in the thigh, Silver?” Darkwolf raised an eyebrow and gave what he hoped was an amused expression. “Why not in the gut?”

  “Next time,” she growled and folded her arms across her chest.

  She was magnificent. With the most primal urges, he had wanted Silver from the moment he had sensed her gray magic and the power she wielded. And when he had first seen her, he had wanted her even more.

  There was something . . . special about Silver. His interest in her bordered on obsession. And in the back of his mind he felt as if somehow she could save him.

  He couldn’t help the sensual smile that curved his lips as he studied her. For some reason she looked even lovelier than ever, but he couldn’t say why. By Balor, he wanted to take her now, to fuck her as he’d planned to from that first moment of his awareness of her. But he wouldn’t take her until she was ready for him.

  Soon she would want him as much as he wanted her. Time . . . simply time.

  And perhaps their joining could do more, could rid him of the evil that consumed him . . .

  The eye warmed at his chest and a sharp pain burst in his mind, but he was certain Balor had not heard his thoughts. That was one thing the god had not been able to do—break down the barriers in Darkwolf’s mind when he chose to raise them.

  He attempted to mind-speak with Silver, as he had when they were at the pier tonight. He had caught her off guard, invading her mind with his thoughts, and rendering her helpless with his power.

  But now she had blocked him from her mind as if with steel shields. He couldn’t help but scowl as the power of his thoughts bounced away from her. Yet somehow it aroused him, too.

  Darkwolf placed one palm facing Silver and slowly moved it from left to right. His glimmering purple shield strengthened around her, ensuring that she was his prisoner.

  Silver’s throat worked and she raised her head a notch. “Afraid, Darkwolf? Afraid that if you drop your shield I’ll have you flat on your ass again and in my control?”

  He chuckled. “You’re a powerful witch, Silver Ashcroft, but you couldn’t begin to outdo me.”

  “Oh, really?” Silver cocked an eyebrow. “Was that why you vanished on Samhain? You certainly didn’t stay for the fight like the rest of us.”

  Darkwolf dismissed her question with a smile.

  “Why do you want me this time?” Silver asked, her voice now cold and cutting. “Does it have anything to do with a certain door that you’re looking for?” Silver gave him what amounted to a smug expression. “We know a lot, and you won’t get away with your scheme. We even know about your helpers.”

  “What do you know of the Drow?” he asked, anger lacing his words.

  She just smiled.

  For a long moment he studied her, trying to break into her thoughts. The witches and D’Danann may have found the missing parchment with the drawing, but they couldn’t possibly use it. No one could decipher the runes other than a servant or a child of Balor.

  “What we’ve planned has nothing to do with you.” He paused, thinking for a moment. “You’ll simply be at my side when we release the demons . . . and Balor’s body.”

  “We’ll never let it happen,” Silver said with absolute conviction in her voice.

  Darkwolf shrugged. “How could you possibly stop us?”

  “We will.” Silver’s gaze scanned her surroundings, then returned to Darkwolf. “What do you want with me?” she asked again.

  Darkwolf slowly walked toward her until he was close enough to touch his own shield that surrounded Silver. The shield hummed beneath his fingertips and stroked him like a lover’s caress. “What I want from you, Silver Ashcroft—I want everything. Your magic, your submission, your body . . . your heart and soul. As I always have desired.”

  “You’re sick.” The look of disgust that crossed her features was like a slap in the face and he nearly recoiled. “You’d better get over your obsession with me and fast. I’ll never have anything to do with you, and I’ll never turn to black magic.”

  Balor sensed Darkwolf’s rage and the eye warmed against his chest. The power of Balor was palpable throughout the room and the pain in Darkwolf’s head intensified. Silver’s gaze dropped to the eye. She uncrossed and lowered her arms, straightening them at her sides. She clenched and unclenched her hands, her jaw tight.

  Fear. Good, she feared him. She feared Balor. Once he broke through her hatred of him, he would strip everything away from her, layer by layer by layer, until even her soul was bared to him.

  Darkwolf turned away, flicked his fingers, and the office door sprang open. On the other side of the door, guarding the office, were two Fomorii in their human shells.

  “Watch her,” he said in a snarl to the man-demon and woman-demon. “Inform me the second she tries to break through my barrier.”

  He didn’t bother to look back or to close the door.

  Darkwolf stalked from the office, which adjoined the elegant front room of the penthouse. Sara was standing in the room, slightly turned away from him. Her head was cocked to the side as if she were listening to something. Perhaps she was having another vision.

  She looked delectable. Again she wore a low-cut shirt that revealed her cleavage. This time she wore a short skirt and high heels that accented her lovely legs.

  He wondered if she had dressed that way for him. He knew how much she wanted him to fuck her.

  As if feeling the flames that burned within him, she turned to Darkwolf and gave him a sensual smile. He strode directly to her, and she turned to face him completely. His cock was on fire from being so close to Silver and he had the need to fuck like he never had before.

  Darkwolf grabbed Sara by the shoulders and he saw her expression of lust. His gaze raked her body, starting at her flushed features, descended to her breasts, where her hardened nipples were already pushing against her shirt, and moved on down to her tiny skirt. His eyes met hers again. She would do. Yes, she would do. He had promised to fuck her the moment he recruited her from the D’Anu, and now it was time. She wanted him, and right now he needed her.

  He loosened his grip on her shoulders and began to knead them, working at the knots in her shoulders. “You are beautiful, my lovely Sara,” he murmured then brushed his lips over hers.

  She gave a soft moan as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Sara’s ki
ss was hungry, matching his. He demanded more from her, crushing her lips and tasting the sweetness of her mouth. She smelled of jasmine, and the scent suited her. As he rubbed her back, her answering kiss grew deeper, almost frantic. She braced her hands on his biceps, her fingers digging into his flesh.

  Darkwolf brought his hands between them and squeezed her beautiful breasts that fit his palms perfectly. He pulled her low-cut shirt down, along with her bra, so that it caused her breasts to jut up high as if on serving platters.

  His mouth moved to one of her breasts and he flicked his tongue over the taut nub. Delicious. His cock throbbed harder beneath his jeans. He didn’t know how much longer he could wait to be inside this woman. He suckled at her other nipple, then moved his mouth between her breasts, rubbing his face against her softness.

  “Sweetness,” he murmured as he kissed his way up the curve of one breast. “I want to fuck you here. Right this minute.”

  He wanted to rip her clothes off and drive his cock deep inside of her. But he had to hear the words from her mouth. He never took an unwilling woman, not that he’d had one refuse him yet—other than Silver Ashcroft.

  It both pissed him off and excited him, making him want Silver even more. A challenge. He liked a good challenge.

  “Yes, my lord.” Sara gave a moan as he laved her nipple again. “Fuck me.”

  That was all Darkwolf needed. He pressed her back against a leather couch and she braced herself with her hands to either side of her, a wild look on her face. She looked luscious with her shirt and bra under her breasts, causing her nipples to jut out at him. He jerked her skirt up to find that she wore only a tiny lace thong. With a yank he tore it away and she both gasped in surprise and gave a needy moan. More roughly than he probably should have, he whirled her around so that she was facing the back of the couch.