Mending Scars

by Rivers, Brandy L

  “If you really think it’s a good idea.”

  “Good idea? In this situation, is there such a thing?”

  “Maybe not.”

  Chapter 16

  Jayde stared at her phone, wondering if she should visit Lamar. He was being watched, everyone knew it. With glamour, no one had to know it was her, but she couldn’t figure out why the slimy prick would call her anyway. He had no need of healing, and if he had, one of the Council mages would do that for him, probation or not.

  Then again, she didn’t have anything better to do. It was best to go find out. Worst case, she could disappear, and take a vacation somewhere sunny. The dreary Seattle weather was getting to her.

  Pulling on her jacket, she stepped in front of the mirror. Her appearance changed to what she envisioned. Short spiky platinum hair replaced the long chestnut locks, and her hazel eyes darkened to nearly black.

  She ran down to her Ecosse Heretic and fired it up before pulling her helmet on and making the drive.

  With the Dales out of the picture, no one was prying information from the worm. At least no one she’d heard of, and with her profession, she made sure to know everything that was going on.

  Luckily it was still early enough that traffic wasn’t an issue. She parked her bike several blocks away and clipped the helmet to the seat before walking the short distance.

  Jayde felt eyes on her as she knocked on the door.

  Lamar answered quickly and pulled her inside, trembling so bad she almost turned around and left.

  “Down… do… downstairs. He’s wi… willing t-t-to p-pay whatever your p-p-price.” The words were barely out of his mouth before he fainted.

  Frowning, Jayde pulled her blade and silently made her way to the basement. Her breath caught in her chest as her heart slammed against her ribs. A burnt husk lay in a heap on the rug, his chest rising and falling as pained whimpers escaped. He didn’t have long to live.

  Her skin crawled, and she had a feeling whoever the bastard was deserved the state he was in. Lamar was scared shitless—not a good sign. Leaving seemed the wisest decision, but her feet carried her toward the man.

  Heal me, and whatever you want is yours. Safe passage to Faerie, money, anything. He spoke directly to her mind, and his words chilled her to the bone. She stopped in her path, now recognizing the wretched creature.

  She could leave and he would die, but it wasn’t enough. He needed to pay for his crimes. He was in pain, but clearly not sorry for anything he’d done.

  “Aeremaius. It’s a pleasure to see you this way.” She didn’t bother hiding the sneer.

  He groaned. “Heal me, and anything you want is yours.”

  She heard a knock and her chance to flee was gone. Killing wasn’t in her nature. Watching someone suffer without action wasn’t either. The best option, for both herself and justice, was to take the skill Remus relied on to get away.

  A cruel smile lifted her lips. “I’ll take what I want and be on my way.” Afterward, she’d make a phone call. Question was, who to contact? It was no secret the Silver Council was watching Lamar for betraying their secrets. And everyone knew both the council and Elder guard wanted him for the same crimes.

  Two birds, one stone no matter which she chose. Toryn and Preston were working together. The mages and the fae.

  Attempting to glare at her, Remus feebly gestured. “Very well. Get on with it.”

  Her brow arched. What does he think I’ll take?

  “I will be whole, or you will pay dearly.”

  She didn’t think she would, but that gave her an idea. Rumor was, Toryn unmanned Remus with a fiery grip before he escaped certain death. Closing the distance, she knelt beside him. “Whole?”

  He nodded with a cry of pain as puss oozed from the newly cracked blister. Jayde looked down at him and took in the damage. He was naked, the burns were crisp in places, oozing in others. No inch of him was unmarred.

  This is going to hurt like a bitch. Is disabling his escape worth it?

  She thought about it until she heard the door burst open upstairs.

  Jayde laid her hands on his chest and grimaced as she felt the blisters burst under her touch. She reached for his ability to blow away on the wind. Finding it, she pulled the thread of magic into herself and transferred his injuries to her, healing him.

  Her skin blistered, a deep burn settling through her as she sucked the damage out of him, careful to leave his piping dysfunctional. Helping him violate another person was something she wouldn’t do.

  The door leading into the basement slammed open. She dispersed and wisped up the stairs and out of Lamar’s house.

  * * * *

  Remus cried out in relief when the pain was pulled from him with brutal force. As his skin healed, the damaged tissue sloughed off in sheets, new skin replaced the old. Blood rushed through him so hard he couldn’t hear over the sound.

  Then the pressure of Jayde’s hands disappeared and he felt a breeze. His nerves were still oversensitive, his skin healed but the new flesh raw and tender. So sensitive he could feel the fibers of the rug beneath him digging into his back.

  He lay perfectly still, afraid to move and make the sensation worse. Holding his breath helped, until his lungs burned for air.

  A lovely raspy voice washed over him. “Freeze asshole!”

  Just what I need, he thought with glee.

  He closed his eyes to disperse, but nothing happened. He forced himself to air… and nothing.

  Fucking bitch! You’re going to pay for that, Jayde.

  The woman stalked toward him. A petite, delicate mage had her hands out. Magic flowed around her, though he couldn’t see any obvious spell.

  One last time, he tried to turn to air, only to find himself solid. Time for plan B. He rolled to his feet and grabbed the mage’s shoulders, shoving her to the ground. Fisting her hair, he slammed her head into the concrete floor beyond the rug once, twice, and once more, until her eyes slid shut.

  A vicious smile spread on his face as he stared down at her lush curves under tight black clothes. It seemed like forever since he was able to take a woman, but if there was one mage, it wouldn’t be long before another showed up.

  He stood and threw the unconscious woman over his shoulder, casting a spell to keep her under until he got where he was going. He was sure he’d given her a concussion, but wanted to guarantee she’d remain out for the duration of the drive. Once safely in his hideout, and she locked securely in a cage with fae shackles, he’d play.

  Chapter 17

  Robert’s phone rang, and he answered, “Gwen, is he there?”

  “Not sure. Something’s going on. A woman showed up and Lamar freaked. She went in, but no one has come out yet.”

  “Wait for us to get there. We’re almost done here.”

  “Preston’s okay?”

  “Yeah. Give us a minute to get there.”

  Her tone took on an urgent note. “There’s something going on in there. I can sense the magic.” Then the phone went dead.

  Robert ran back into the apartment and grabbed Preston’s arm. “Something’s going on at Lamar’s. Gwen went in.”

  Liz frowned. “Go, I’ll bring Dacia with me. I’m almost done, then I’ll lock up before I leave.”

  Dacia came out of the bedroom, her head tilted to the side. “What’s going on?”

  Preston took in a deep breath and turned to Dacia. “Not sure yet. This may not have anything to do with your father. We were watching a Silver Council member who had ties with the Dales. Our mage went in without backup. Lamar’s a leak, so it could mean anything.”

  “My father had ties to the Dales. Long and old. It’s likely him.”

  Preston nodded.

  Robert looked from Liz, to Dacia, and back to Preston. He knew this was his call, and no choice was easy. He also knew Liz would have his balls if he told Dacia no.

  He took a deep breath and turned to Dacia. “After this morning, if you want to join us, I won’t s
top you, but you need to listen to us. If we give you direction, or even an order, it’s for your safety.”

  She nodded. “You’ve got it. Remus needs to understand that, blood or not, I will never help him again. He will pay.”

  “Liz, you coming, or going home?”

  “If you need me, you can come get me, but I’m no longer an enforcer, and I want to finish this.” She nodded to the drawer. “Preston, I’ll show you how to get the documents later. For now, I’m the only one who can get to them.”

  Preston walked over to Liz and gave her a hug. Robert had to smile. Even after she pretended to be dead 21 years, Preston and Liz were close as ever.

  “Thank you. I feel better knowing Gebiet can’t lay claim to Dacia.”

  Liz grinned savagely. “We’d kill the damned dragon before we let that happen.”

  “Got that right,” Preston replied and stepped back to grab Robert’s hand.

  Robert took Dacia’s. “I apologize in advance if this makes you sick.”

  * * * *

  They landed on Lamar’s porch, but the door was open. Lamar lay in a pool of blood at the entrance.

  “Shit,” Preston muttered, stepping over the threshold to roll Lamar to his back. He was barely breathing and bleeding from his head. Most likely a concussion.

  “I’ll take him to Emily,” Robert said. “She’s at headquarters. Maybe she can get some answers out of him.” Robert knelt down, and zapped Lamar away.

  Preston turned to Dacia. “Stay behind me, Minx. I’m positive he’s gone, but we still need to be careful.”

  She nodded, not saying a word as she fell in line behind him.

  He held back a laugh as he realized she was still in her sleek dress and stilettos. Hot as hell, but definitely not the most functional outfit.

  He went through the house, then down to the basement. More blood, and layers of dead skin. It looked like a dozen charred snakes molted. There was also blood on the cement floor. Most importantly, no sign of Gwen.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Preston hurried up the stairs in time for Robert to appear before him. Dacia ran up on his heels.

  Preston said, “Paineater was here. Remus is gone. So is Gwen.” He walked to the kitchen door and threw it open. Lamar’s car wasn’t in the carport or the street. “Remus drove out, so Gwen’s likely alive.”

  Dacia cut in, “I know where he’s taking her.”

  He prayed Dacia didn’t say Deception Pass, and yet, he knew she would.

  “He has a hideout, well hidden, up on—”

  “Deception Pass,” he groaned.

  She nodded. “You know about it?”

  “It’s where I found his contract with Gebiet. As much as I don’t want to know, I need to ask. Did he ever hurt you there?”

  “My father didn’t. But Gebiet tried to claim me. I ran and never went back.”

  “You don’t have to go now. You can stay in Edenton, where it’s safe,” Robert offered.

  “Thanks to Preston and Liz, he can’t have me. I’ll be fine.” She grabbed Robert’s hand with a stubborn set to her lips as she stared back at him.

  Preston sighed. It would take Remus at least ninety minutes to get there. They had time.

  “Before we go there, can you take us to Dacia’s so she can change?”

  Dacia looked down at herself with a frown. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

  “It’s going to get ugly when he shows up. You may be able to run in those shoes, but wouldn’t it be easier if you were in something more practical?”

  “Maybe.”

  Robert took them to her house.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  “It’s at least two hours from Lamar’s to Deception Pass by car, and he can’t disperse and travel with another person. She was taken recently. You don’t have to rush.”

  Her head dipped into a nod before she walked up the stairs.

  Preston turned to Robert. “I’m worried. Gwen’s in trouble.”

  “Me too. Her absence is the only reason I can come up with to explain why he didn’t take the opportunity to ghost away like he normally would.”

  Preston scrubbed a hand over his face. “What was Jayde thinking, healing him? She has plenty of reason to hate the fucker. Remus destroyed her family.”

  “She also thinks long term. Maybe she thought whoever took him in would make him suffer more than she could.”

  His phone rang, and he answered, “Yes?”

  Speak of the devil, Jayde sounded shaken. “Remus has the mage. You best track him and fast. He’s likely to beat the shit out of her. Or worse, torture her when he realizes he can’t get it up. I made sure he couldn’t fuck another person.”

  “Why do you sound like hell?”

  She swallowed hard enough he could hear it over their phone connection. “Someone cooked him from the inside out. I’m healing, slowly for me. I’ll be better tonight.”

  “Shit, I fried him while he was without form. I wish you’d left him to die.”

  Jayde snarled, but it was pained. “Yeah, well one of your enforcers showed up. It was take his favorite means of escape or be taken in for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Give me some credit. His body is whole—by outward appearance, but he can’t slip away like he has in the past, and he can’t rape anyone else.” With that, the call ended.

  Preston slammed his hand against the wall.

  “Why does the Paineater have your number?”

  “She has helped on a number of cases. Usually right after she took some important talent from our criminals.”

  “She’s wanted,” Robert pointed out.

  “For aiding criminals. I know, but think about this, Robert. Those monsters she’s helped, she crippled them, leaving them easier to take in. She’s not on their side, though at first look it may seem that way. She called to tell me about Gwen. She also mentioned he can’t disperse, and his dick is still broken. So there’s a positive in this. Gwen will be worse for the wear, but she won’t be violated. We have time to stop him from killing her. The bastard will want his sanctuary.”

  “Right. Doesn’t make me feel much better, but you have a point.” Robert sighed.

  Dacia came back out in jeans, hiking boots, and a hoody. She chewed her lip a second before asking, “This work?”

  “Yup,” Preston answered, trying not to take too much notice of how tempting she was in faded denim, and dressed down. Later, when they were alone, and not dealing with a million things, he’d show her how sexy he found this casual side of her.

  He closed the distance and caught her face in his hands, threading his fingers into her hair. Staring into her eyes, he gave her one more out, “Are you sure you want to be there? I have every intention of nailing his ass, but I don’t know what shape Gwen will be in, and I’m not sure what tricks he still has up his sleeves.”

  “We’ll get her out. I understand what he’s capable of. Better than either of you. I can help. I want to.”

  “If it ever becomes too much, Robert will bring you right back here.”

  “He won’t need to.” She reached out toward Robert.

  Shaking his head, Robert took her hand, and grabbed Preston’s shoulder. They immediately stood in the dungeon, untouched since they left.

  Preston’s eyes widened as he noticed his light was still shining.

  Dacia looked around, her head tipping to the side. “It feels like your magic.”

  “Um… I… uh...”

  Robert snorted. “New talent indeed.” He looked to Dacia. “He made a magelight, and when he blew out a breath it exploded into some kind of glowing dust. Apparently the magic isn’t fading away like it normally would.”

  Dacia shivered as she took a look around. When her eyes landed on the cage, she backed into Preston.

  “Sure I shouldn’t take you home, Dacia? No one will blame you,” Robert prodded.

  Preston wanted to urge her to take him up on the offer, but he also knew everyone had to face their d
emons sooner or later.

  She took a deep breath and shook her head slowly. Her wide-eyed stare turned into a defiant glare. “I’m fine. No one else will ever be put in that cage. I won’t allow it.”

  Robert met Preston’s gaze. He seemed to relax which helped Preston. Then he had an idea. One corner of his mouth tipped up as he turned to Dacia.

  “What if he’s the only one to ever set foot in that cage again? Those wards on your place? Can you replicate and alter them? I think I know how the three of us can trap him.”

  “I helped my mother do Dane’s and I did mine myself, tweaking them slightly. If you tell me what you’re looking for, I can weave them to do what we need.”

  “Here’s the plan...”

  Chapter 18

  A thousand thoughts filled Remus’ head. There was a list of things he couldn’t wait to do to the mage. Once he had his fill of his new plaything, he was going to contact Gebiet and finally be able to go after Isadora with an ally sure to turn the tide in his favor.

  Once their transaction was complete, he would hunt down Jayde and take back his stolen power. He had more deadly skills the damned bitch could have taken, but she took the weakest of his gifts.

  Over a century ago, Remus had planned to siphon the skills her mother had stolen from countless fae over a millennium, but he couldn’t control his desires when he held her captive. Her cries of pain kept him hard no matter how many times he used her. The fear in her eyes drove him to do things he normally saved for his victim’s end. All the things that wrought the most pleasure from him. Regrettably, peeling her skin from her body to lick away the blood killed her before he had a chance to tap her powers.

  Soon, he would find Jayde and take his power back, and the rest of hers, before she suffered the same fate as her mother.