Hex and the Single Witch (Vehicle City Vampires)

by Roxanne Rhoads

  I looked at him. Seriously! He didn’t know which guys on the force were not human.

  “Uhm, no they are not all human. The ones that don’t look nervous or queasy can stay; get the rest out of here. The vampires are filling the club with so much power I have no idea what could happen. You might want to chill outside for a bit too, just in case.”

  “There is no way in hell I am leaving you in here without proper back up. I am the Detective in charge; it’s my job to be here.”

  “Okay, but if you start feeling weird you need to step out and get some air.”

  He looked at me for a minute then went to usher all the human cops out of the club.

  Galen stood up and made a move toward me, I shook my head at him and he sat back down.

  I walked over to the table where Devlin and Galen sat across from each other. Both of them were covered in drying blood. Satinka sat between them. Guardians were on either side of the table and lined up behind Satinka.

  “So, uhh, what happened here?” I asked no one in particular but looked at Galen. His dark hair was tousled, his square jaw set, and his usually full lips were tightly set in a thin line. Dried blood crusted near his right eye and at the corner of his mouth. Whatever damage had been done was already healed. Only dried blood remained.

  I turned toward Devlin; suddenly very pissed he had hurt Galen. Then realized he must have been hurt worse because his wounds weren’t all healed. His hair was still filled with gooey blood, his ear looked a bit odd, his shirt torn to shreds and his face sported pink zig zag lines not yet fully healed.

  Galen had did that to him? Wow. One part of me was all “Go Galen” the other part was “Crap Galen does have a violent side.”

  Devlin made a move to speak but nothing came out. Ha! My spell actually worked. First time for everything I guess.

  Satinka smiled. “Strangest thing happened, after the fight broke up and the boys were dragged inside. All of the sudden, Devlin’s running of the mouth stopped. Now he cannot make a sound. Quite a blessing since what he had been saying was entirely false.”

  Somehow Satinka Tala knew what I’d done. I was sure I turned a little red; I just hoped none of the cops noticed. I couldn’t be caught interfering in an investigation. But I had to keep them from connecting the murders to Galen.

  “So was this just a territorial thing?” I asked looking intently at Galen, praying he would understand and say yes.

  “Devlin has never much liked me and we just had a minor disagreement which got out of control. He will be heading back to London tonight and there will be nothing more to worry about,” he said in a very tight lipped manner.

  “So this was all just about vampire ego?” Malone asked as he walked up behind me. I could feel his unease without even looking at him.

  Galen could apparently see Malone’s dislike toward vampires as well, but knew Malone was not someone to aggravate. “Yes, Detective, in a way. Centuries of dislike can very easily lead to violence between vampires, but it is nothing human police need to interfere with. If it happens again we will be sure to stay out of the public eye. I apologize greatly. I let Devlin goad me enough to resort to violence in front of human witnesses. It will not happen again. You have my word.”

  Galen sounded so sincere, but Malone didn’t look impressed. “See that it doesn’t happen again. Next time the P.I.T crew will handle it our way.” He turned and walked out of the club.

  “What is the P.I.T crew’s way?” Satinka asked.

  I shrugged my shoulders. “I have no idea.”

  I glanced at Galen who gave me a weak smile even as he looked quizzically at the sweatshirt I wore. He could probably smell Malone on the shirt. I felt like I needed to explain. I turned to see where everyone was. The uniformed police were already following Malone out. I had to leave also, although I really didn’t want to. I turned to follow the humans out of VAMP.

  I almost reached the door when I felt Galen’s nearness before he grabbed my arm and stopped me from leaving.

  “I am really sorry about earlier,” he said quietly.

  “It’s okay, you were upset, perhaps even embarrassed about telling me all those things. I understand. We’ll talk later. I have to get out there before they come looking for me.” I wanted to throw my arms around him and kiss him again, but there was no way I could chance it with all the cops milling around.

  He put his hand on my cheek. “Anwyn, there’s so much I want you to know, I feel…”

  “I know, Galen, me too, just not right now.”

  I turned to leave and found Malone standing in the doorway glaring at me.

  Chapter 10

  All the guys in uniform had already pulled away from the curb and out of the parking lot across the street. Malone and I were the only people with badges still at the scene and the only two cars left alongside the empty brick road. Since there wasn’t any official report to file when we were done, no need to go to the station.

  “I fucking knew it; you’re banging fang face in there, aren’t you?” Malone was in a rage.

  I couldn’t believe him acting like this.

  “Uh, no I am not banging anyone and even if I was it wouldn’t be any of your business!” I snapped at him.

  “Not my business? God damn you, Anwyn! I know you are Other, you’re a witch, I can deal with that. But I don’t like vampires, not even a little. And that was before this crazy fanged serial killer started draining women in my city. Now I flat out don’t trust them. I can’t have a member of my team getting cozy with someone from the Other side. Especially not you.”

  “The Other side? The whole point of my position as liaison, to bridge a gap between humans and Others. I have to be able to communicate with and incite trust in Others in order to do my job.”

  “Yeah, well you don’t have to fuck them to do that.”

  “What is your deal, Malone? Why do you care so much about who I fuck?”

  He stared at me, his face still red from anger, but his eyes appeared sad, holding a touch of pain. I’d seen that look in them every time I insulted him or turned down one of his advances.

  He took a step closer to me and I automatically stepped back. This pissed him off again.

  “Annie, girl. I am not the one you should be afraid of,” he growled, reached out and yanked me against his strong body, crushing me in his arms as he pressed his firm lips against mine so hard I could feel them bruising…while I could feel the rest of my body responding positively. Malone’s enticing aroma surrounded me, filling my senses, making me melt into him even when my better judgment told me to pull away.

  I kissed him back, tasting coffee and cinnamon. He tasted as good as he smelled. And his kisses were amazing.

  His hands crept up under the hoodie and across, then under my lacy pajama top. His big, strong, slightly rough hands sent shivers over my skin. I ached for physical…sexual contact. His touch was like water for someone dying of thirst. But when his huge hands cupped my naked breasts I snapped out of the pleasure filled delusion.

  Shit! I was making out with Malone. On the street, in the open. Crap on a broomstick! I was making out with Malone! Malone! Oh, this was bad. Super bad. I pushed him away.

  “Stop, stop! What the hell are you doing?” I screeched at him while trying to untangle his hands from under my shirt.

  “What I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” he replied breathlessly licking his lips like he couldn’t get enough of the taste of me.

  Damn, Malone was so freaking hot…I had to shake myself, I fell under his spell again, ready to fall right back into his arms and let his lips consume me.

  Wait, fall under his spell…that was it, this must be a spell, maybe an effect of all the vampire pheromones running amuck, or maybe a different spell, who knew. I just couldn’t be making out with Malone of my own free will, could I?

  “Malone, pull yourself together. We are co-workers, you are practically my boss. This isn’t right.” I tried to reason with him, with myself but reason
didn’t appeal to either of us at that point.

  “Right is you being with a man, a human man, not a god damn vampire, Anwyn.” His voice grew deeper and huskier than usual. The tone held an edge of desperation to it along with something else…something tugged at my heart.

  My body wanted in his arms while my brain fought to stay in control. “Malone something’s not right. I think we’re under some kind of spell. You have never acted like this before and I never would…”

  “Never what? Think about fucking a mere mortal like me?” The pain in his eyes no longer remained hidden while anger threatened the rest of his features. Goddess help me. I liked him much better in sexy mode. Less dangerous that way, well mostly less dangerous if you didn’t count the danger he posed to my…ah…virtue and pride.

  I spoke quietly and softly to him trying to calm him down. I held onto his arms to keep him from touching me in more intimate places but the feel of his skin underneath mine was a distraction itself. I fought my own desires to keep my hands from roaming his well-muscled body.

  “Malone…Mike. Stop and think. This isn’t you. You are a clear thinking, level headed cop. A cop! Come on Mike, you’re part of the P.I.T crew. You’re the lead detective. This behavior is completely unlike you. Something is wonky here. I think someone, or something might have spelled us.”

  In that way I had, I suddenly knew what had happened. A release of inhibition spell had been cast on us, meant to make us shed all of our inhibitions and to let buried feelings surface. It also had a way of magnetizing minor thoughts and feelings people had a tendency to keep hidden, even from themselves.

  This spell seemed to let loose whatever minor attraction Malone and I felt for each other and played upon it. It also shed light on Malone’s uneasiness about vamps and Others. Now the spell had been realized it would dissipate.

  His eyes cleared and his anger vanished. He let go of my arms and I let go of his.

  “Fuck, Anwyn. I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. After I saw that vampire touch you, I just lost it.”

  He moved toward me and this time I didn’t step away, I wasn’t afraid of him. In fact, I seemed more aware of him as a man than I had ever before. He was so good looking, a fact I had tried to ignore ever since being paired with him. Now it was clear there was something between us, something out in the open had been under wraps before.

  My breathing was ragged as I struggled with words, “It’s alright, not your fault. Spells do weird things. I just wonder who cast the spell and why? Why now and on us?”

  “Well, Annie girl. That’s your department, darling,” he smiled. The old Malone was back. “You better figure it out.” He turned to get into his car. I almost didn’t want him to leave.

  “Hey, you want your sweatshirt back?” I asked as he went to close his door.

  “Nah, you better keep it. The sight of those luscious tits of yours may make me crazy again, especially now I know what they feel like in my hands.” He winked and his smile was completely lascivious.

  I stood there turning ten shades of red as he started his car and drove away.

  I moved to get into my car and thought I saw Galen ducking around the side of a building. Please, Goddess, tell me he did not witness what happened between Malone and me. I wasn’t interested in Malone; was I? Everything had happened was because of a spell. It was just a spell, I tried to convince myself.

  I kept telling myself that all the way home, even once curled up in my bed, wearing Malone’s sweatshirt. I was still trying to convince myself as I fell asleep surrounded by Malone’s sensual scent.

  Chapter 11

  I had just grabbed my bag and my must-have-with-me-at-all-times refillable coffee mug when someone knocked on my front door. I wasn’t expecting anyone and my friends normally don’t drop by unannounced.

  Could be the UPS guy with the shoes I had ordered online.

  I put my bag and mug down and opened the door hoping to find a hot guy in brown shorts with a box of shoes for me (hello, fantasy anyone?) and instead found something way better…Galen stood there like a naughty dream come true leaning against my porch rail with his long, dark hair looking windblown and finger combed, holding a cup of something that smelled deliciously like a mochaccino. Too bad he wasn’t wearing a smile. Then it would have been perfect.

  “Uhm, hi,” I stammered as he pushed past me and came inside handing me the coffee. “Hey, don’t vamps like need an invitation or something to come inside someone’s house?”

  “Nope, all a myth,”

  “Problems with sunlight must be a myth too huh?”

  “For most of us,” he muttered then turned to look at me with those intense green eyes. “Look, I’m sorry just to drop by like this, but we need to talk. I haven’t been able to think straight since I kicked you out of VAMP yesterday, then after last night…”

  His eyes looked down at the floor as he shifted uncomfortably, and flaming heat crept into my cheeks. I didn’t think he was talking about the scene with Devlin. I knew it; it had been him ducking behind the building as I was driving away. But, I wasn’t going to be forthcoming about this whole mess. Plus, I still had no idea who placed the spell on Malone and I or why.

  He looked back at me, his green eyes glittering with a touch of anger. “You aren’t going to say anything?” He looked more than a little angry and slightly pained. Damn he had the whole broody and tortured vampire thing going strong this morning.

  “About what? Kicking me out of the club yesterday, or you and Devlin going at it last night? You know I put a spell on him to keep his damn mouth shut about you so the cops couldn’t connect you to the murders, or did you think he just suddenly decided to be quiet? What is his deal anyway, why does he want to see you dead?”

  “That’s a long story and not what I was talking about. Why didn’t you tell me you and the cop have something going on?”

  Holy witches watches! Each guy thought I had something going on with the other. What the hell was going on in my life?

  “Why are you skulking about in the shadows spying on me? I think you’re taking the vamp thing a little too seriously, really, hiding in the shadows watching me? There’s nothing going on between Malone and me. Some smart ass spelled us last night. I don’t know who or why, but it had to be someone at VAMP. Maybe they were trying to keep us away from you and your connection to the murders?”

  “Spelled you? A spell made the two of you paw at each other like horny teenagers in heat?” he growled at me, disbelief etched all over his face. His anger seemed uncharacteristic, but jealousy can make a man…or vampire crazy.

  Not that I’d ever experienced it firsthand and definitely not from a gorgeous vampire.

  “Yes, someone placed a release of inhibition spell on us. As soon as I realized what was going on the spell dissipated and we immediately stopped…pawing at each other. We are co-workers, that’s all. I wouldn’t even say we are friends and most definitely not lovers.” Goddess, my face had to be as red as a tomato. I really hated having to explain this to Galen. I had hoped to keep it strictly between me and Malone.

  He looked at me thoughtfully then his eyes narrowed again. “A release of inhibition spell amplifies what a person is feeling…or hiding. So obviously there must be something between you two for the outcome to have been what it was.”

  Shit, I hoped he didn’t know jack about spells, but since he was a vampire who had been alive for around two hundred years and happened to be one of Satinka Tala’s inner circle, I guess he was well schooled in magick. Very well-schooled to come to that conclusion so quickly.

  “There’s probably an underlying attraction between the two of us, we are close in age, both single and are relatively good looking members of the opposite sex…but normally nothing would ever come of it because we are co-workers…and he annoys me,” I added as a second thought.

  “Uh huh.” He didn’t look convinced. “So you consider yourself to be single?”

  “What else would I be, or is
this your attempt at staking a claim? If so you really suck at it and jealousy never looks good on anyone, especially not on an immortal vampire.”

  He pulled me close to him. His long, strong arms wrapped around me, his hard body pressed against mine.

  He whispered into my hair, “I’m sorry, luv, I’m a little out of practice and you seem to have a strange effect on my manners. I have never had a relationship, not a real one; I have always thought that was something out of reach for a monster like me. Yet, I want you so bad. I have tried to keep you at a distance, tried to keep you out of my troubles. Too bad you keep finding your way into them. Last night, seeing you with that cop…” His voice trailed off and his mouth moved closer to mine, his warm sweet breath tickled my cheek.

  Those damn butterflies started fluttering in my belly.

  If I let him kiss me things would all go south quickly and I wasn’t talking south as in bad, I was talking south as in south of the belt, which didn’t leave the brain in the north thinking clearly.

  I pulled away from him.

  “Galen, I’m not sure what to make of our relationship. The first night we met the sparks flew, then you never called me. Whenever we bump into each other you’ve been polite and hang with me casually, but you always keep me at arm’s length. Then all the sudden yesterday you open up to me, you’re all over me, then you push me away and practically order me out of the club, only to call for me last night when you needed help. Now this? You show up on my doorstep today, acting like a jealous boyfriend. Mixed signals much?”

  “I know it’s all odd. We met at Mel’s party and I was so into you…but I have never done relationships…just sex and blood. I have lived the life of a monster, yet something about you makes me feel like a man again. I wanted to call you, but the night after we met the first murder victim was found and it…well…she was someone who was once close to me. Then a week later another victim was found, then a couple weeks later another woman drained of blood. And all of them, at one time or another had meant something to me. I could not put you in harm’s way; I could not add you to the list.”