by J. L. Weil
Chapter Two
I had made it two feet into my bedroom when my phone started buzzing. Digging it out of my back pocket, I stared at the screen and sighed as Hannah’s goofy face popped up. I bit my lip, contemplating whether I should ignore the video call. Did I have the energy to deal with Hannah?
No.
But I knew Hannah Tisdale, and the girl wouldn’t stop calling until she got the scoop. Hannah was as persistent as she was bubbly, and I’d taken off on her and Jesse the other night.
Kicking my shoes off in the corner, I hit the accept button on the screen and plopped down, belly first, on the bed. The white curtains on my window were pushed to the side, and swayed with the gentle spring breeze blowing through the room, standing out against the mint-green walls.
“Oh hey, girl.” Hannah grinned into the phone. She was in her soft-pink bedroom, a room that would have made Barbie envious, swiveling on a velvet chair. My best friend was kind of a living Barbie.
“I’m surprised you’re up this early,” I replied, checking out the clock beside my bed.
Hannah rolled her pretty cornflower-blue eyes. “Where the heck did you take off to last night? And don’t give me that ‘I wasn’t feeling well’ bullshit. I’m so not buying it. Did you and the green-eyed hottie run off to make even hotter babies?” Hannah’s chatter barreled through the speaker.
“Hannah,” I groaned. “Do you wake up thinking about sex?”
She batted her long, wispy lashes. “Doesn’t everyone?”
If that was true, there was something wrong with me. Up until a month ago, I’d barely had time to think about guys let alone have wild fantasies about one, but then in strolled Devyn St. Cyr, the dark-haired Shaman who was born to protect me…and turned my life upside-down. My feelings about the devilish Shaman were still under evaluation. He was a mystery I wanted to crack, and darn it if he didn’t make me feel like Nancy Drew.
Hannah pouted her rosy, heart-shaped lips. “So, there was no kissing involved?”
My feet dangled in the air, a ghost of a smile playing on my lips. “I didn’t say that.”
“I knew it!” she shrieked, her blonde ponytail bouncing with her excitement. “I want deets, like, graphic ones. Was he a good kisser? Too much tongue? Nah. That boy has experience. Did he make your toes curl? What did he taste like? Were his lips soft? I bet they were. Lips like his have to be baby-ass smooth.” Hannah thrived on being naughty.
I shook my head, a dull throbbing beginning to take up residence at my temples. “It was just a kiss.” A kiss that had ended with an apology and regret, as in Devyn had regretted kissing me, claiming feelings complicated matters between us. He more or less had friend-zoned me.
Fine by me.
The last thing I had time for was a complex relationship. My life was complicated enough. Still, the quick remorse hurt more than I was willing to admit.
Hannah gasped, a hand flying to her chest. “Girl, if you got just a kiss vibes from a guy like that, you must be doing something wrong.”
“It was a fabulous kiss; there, are you happy? I’d gladly kiss Devyn a hundred more times. He didn’t just curl my toes.”
“I knew it!” she sung, doing a full spin in her chair, her long locks twirling in the air. “Then why do you look like someone kicked a kitten?” she asked, studying my face.
“If I say it’s complicated, are you going to grill me?” It was a ridiculous question, because I already knew the answer.
“K, you deserve to make a big deal out it. You deserve to have a guy like Devyn chase after you, and have a little fun. I don’t know anyone who deserves it more. When are you going to see him again?”
“I’m not sure. I have to work at the coffee shop today.”
“There’s something so mysterious about him, like he’s from another world.”
I choked. She had no idea.
“Do me a favor.”
“Your favors always end up with me doing something I don’t like,” I mumbled.
“Not evvvvery time,” she over exaggerated. “Just don’t work so hard that you forget to have a little fun. We’re only in high school once, and the year is almost over. Live, K.”
Hannah had been trying to get me to step out of my comfort zone since the day we met. “I’ll try,” I promised. “But that doesn’t mean I’m having sex with him.”
“Well, if you’re not, I will.”
I scowled.
Hannah laughed. “See, you want to. Go get him, tiger. I’ll talk you to later.”
It would have been more appropriate if she had said fox. I stared at the blank screen and rolled over onto my back. I’d been lying to my friends for weeks. Neither Hannah nor Jesse knew the real reason I was spending so much time with Devyn, and it occurred to me maybe I understood why my mom had kept what she was a secret from my father.
To protect him.
Dressed in my work uniform of black and white, I threw my long dark hair into a ponytail, pulling out a few pieces to frame my oval face, and grabbed my keys and wallet off the dresser before trotting downstairs.
“I’m going to work now,” I yelled over the TV in the family room. My father was in his recliner and Mom was lying on the couch, a pillow propped up behind her.
“Drive save, Kit Kat,” Dad called back.
I raced outside to my car with ten minutes to get to Sugar and Spice. The short drive gave my mind time to wander; never a good thing lately. There were too many things in my life to worry over, and at the moment all I could think about was Dad. How Mom kept this gigantic secret from him. How I was going to go on pretending, as if my whole life hadn’t suddenly changed?
Then, of course, the impending dinner with my parents. How was I going to explain Devyn to my dad?
Kitsune problems. They were real.
Sugar and Spice was nestled on the corner of a quiet, quaint street. There were a few iron bistro tables out front on a small patio, flower boxes lined the brick building, but the scent of coffee was strong, even from outside.
I inhaled, never tiring of the smell.
The little bell chimed as I opened the door, maneuvering around the tables to the counter. A black chalkboard wall lined the shop, listing the menu and daily specials. Working at the coffee shop, gave me a sense of normalcy I desperately needed.
“Look who decided to show up today,” Tristan razzed, still giving me a hard time for the one night I had blown off my shift. It had been the night I had first shifted—one I wasn’t likely ever to forget. Obviously, Tristan wasn’t about to forget either.
Tristan Delcour had graduated two years ago and attended the university in town. He had earned a full ride with a swimming scholarship, and was overall a nice guy, if you were into the frat-boy, jock types. I wasn’t, but Becka Wick was. His bleached-blond hair had a bright blue streak running through, taking team spirit to new levels.
Becka also worked at Sugar and Spice, although she spent most of her shift making dreamy eyes at Tristan when he was scheduled, which meant today was going to be a busy day for me, picking up her slack. I didn’t mind, not when all I wanted to do was throw myself into work and keep my mind off all the other crap.
“Look who doesn’t smells like a bottle of chlorine.” I sniffed the air around him. “Wow, did you even take a shower today?”
Tristan often came to work straight from practice, with damp hair and emitting a strong stench of pool chemicals. He draped an arm around my shoulders. “It is your lucky day, then, I guess.”
I smiled, shaking my head as I reached to tie a black apron around my waist. “Is Naomi in the back?”
“Yep, she’s working on the ledgers.” He scrunched his face. “Numbers give me a panic attack.”
I let out a short snort. “You should try a day in my shoes.” I checked my phone for any missed texts before slipping into my back pocket.
Becka leaned forward on the counter, facing Tristan so the front of her powder blue top drifted open. “Yeah, Tristan, you might look g
ood in pink tennis shoes.”
“There’s nothing I don’t look good in,” he replied, winking.
Becka laughed. “I’ll attest to that.”
Ugh. Their constant flirting was going to drive me loony today. “Maybe you should have taken a cold shower,” I suggested, lifting a mocking brow.
Tristan flashed me a boyish grin. “You got a boyfriend yet, Lang?”
“Why, are you asking me out?” I asked dryly.
Becka tapped her foot, pouting.
“You’re going to graduate in a few weeks. That makes you practically legal.”
I knew what he was doing, trying to make Becka jealous, so I played along. What was the harm? “Nice. Glad to know you have standards.”
“So does that mean you’re interested?”
I tossed Tristan a wet towel. “Why don’t you clean up that mess you made?” There were coffee grounds all over the counter behind him.
No longer seeing me as a threat, Becka immediately jumped on what I had revealed. “Who’s the guy? I probably know him.”
Ha. I didn’t doubt if I was dating a guy at school, Becka would know who he was. “He isn’t in high school,” I said.
Becka’s lips twitched. “You’re into older guys?”
I pulled out the stack of paper cups from under the cupboard to replenish the stock. “He’s not older. We’re actually the same age.”
Becka drew her lip in between her teeth. “Ah, the bad boy. I can see that. It’s classic. The good girl falls for the rebel.”
I was not that cliché, was I?
Jumping right into work I greeted the next person in line, and the steady stream kept coming as the day progressed. Tristan manned the machines as I took care of the customers, and Becka twirled her pretty brown hair as she flirted with Tristan, who loved the attention.
Ding-a-ling. I glanced up as the little bell rang, seeing two guys walk into the coffee shop, and even though it sounded like the beginning of a bad joke, it wasn’t. It was just bad.
Chapter Three
I could tell by looking at the two newcomers they weren’t from this world. It wasn’t so much their outwardly appearance, but a feeling I got in the pit of my stomach. They weren’t Silvermyst, lacking the silver physical traits associated with the vile otherworldly beings, so what were they? My lack of knowledge about the Second Moon was a real disadvantage. Were they friend or foe? The most important question was whether they wanted to kill me.
There was one way to find out.
And if anything went haywire, Devyn would show up.
Butterflies buzzed through my belly, and I couldn’t decide if it was because the two guys could be potentially dangerous or the prospect of seeing Devyn.
Weaving around the counter, I called out over my shoulder, “I got this one.” If anyone was going to deal with these two, it was me.
What do they want?
Me was the obvious answer or, more accurately, my soul.
They wouldn’t openly attack me in the shop, would they?
No, because that would mean risking exposure.
At least I hoped, otherwise I could be walking in to a potentially hazardous situation.
Where is Devyn? Shouldn’t he be busting through the doors, sensing I need him? Isn’t that how this bizzaro bond we have works?
I walked up to the table in the corner they had slipped into. “Can I help you?” I asked in my sweetest tone, proud I was able to keep my voice steady.
My eyes met the topaz pair of the young man on my left. He had wavy brown hair that reached his shoulders; he shot me an I-know-what-you-are grin. The guy across from him could have been his twin, their features so identical it was eerie. I had to shake my head a moment to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. The only difference between them was the length of their hair, one long and the other short. “We’re new in town. What do you suggest?”
A one-way ticket back to where you came from. I kept the comment to myself and, instead, I made myself smile. “Our espresso cortado is the specialty for the month.” How long were they going to pretend? I didn’t want to make a scene, not in front of Tristan and Becka, but I also didn’t want these two clones in the coffee shop. How was I going to get rid of them?
“We’ll take two,” they said in unison.
My eyes yo-yoed between them. Oookay. That was weird. “Would you like them to go?” I prompted, not so subtly suggesting they leave.
“We’re actually waiting for someone,” the one to my left replied, shutting down my hope this would be a quick visit and had nothing to do with me.
“Great. I’ll have your drinks back in a moment.” I spun around, cursing under my breath as I went to punch the order into the computer.
“Someone was all too eager to jump at the chance to take the double pleasure table,” Becka said, insinuation in her tone.
“I was trying to give you and Tristan some alone time.”
The purr of the coffee grinder sounded behind us as Tristan began to prepare the espresso. I continued to cast worried glances at the duo, wondering what I was going to do next.
“Why the frown?” Tristan asked, handing me the two drink orders. “Those guys giving you a hard time?”
“No, not yet at least.” Picking up the hot paper cups, I took a deep breath and turned, stumbling over my foot. My cheeks flamed. Smooth, Karina. They’re really going to think you’re a tough Kitsune now. Tristan snickered under his breath, and I shot him a glare over my shoulder.
When I got to the table I set the drinks in front of them, and then flattened my palms, leaning forward. “Why are you here? And I want the truth before I dump this coffee all over your prized jewels.” The games were over before they began. Rewarded with twin looks of confusion, I shook my head. “Didn’t they teach American slang in the Second Moon?”
“You know who we are?”
My pulse leaped. Uh, not really. I knew they weren’t from this world, but what species? Not a clue.
“Then you know what we want,” the other prompted, taking my silence as affirmation.
Yeah, my soul—my power—my life. Take your pick. They essentially all boiled down to the same thing—me dead. “Sorry, boys, today isn’t your lucky day.” I kept my voice low, cutting the crap. What was the point? They weren’t here for the lattes or the homemade chocolate chip cookies.
Damn it, Devyn. Where are you?
My heartrate picked up tempo as my brain contemplated how to handle the situation.
Run, maybe?
But that wasn’t an option, not with the chance of Tristan or Becka getting hurt, and I couldn’t shift for the same reasons.
“How about you take a break and we step outside?” One suggested.
I snorted. “I’m not suicidal.” The charm containing my soul heated up under my shirt, a soft glow peeking through the material and catching the creepy twins’ eyes.
They licked their lips in a freakish mirror-image way. “But you also can’t fight us both off. We’ve been keeping track of your abilities. You haven’t gained any new tails.”
These weirdos had been following me? For how long? How many others were out there doing the same thing? Watching me at school, work, at home, peering through my bedroom window like peeping toms?
The bell above the door dinged again, sending a series of warm tingles tap-dancing down my spine.
Devyn.
About freaking time.
I lifted my gaze.
His bright green eyes, like the stems of freshly cut grass, flickered to mine. The intensity in them set off the now familiar tingling through me. Unruly dark hair fell over his forehead as he tilted his head and once again I wanted to run my fingers through it, a trace of a smirk on his lips. Devyn owned any room he walked into. He had a presence about him, dominating and formidable, the kind of guy you didn’t approach unless you wanted a problem. He also had killer abs and a bone-melting smile; both were weapons he used at his disposal, along with the two magical swords strapped at h
is back. I’d quickly learned they could do unbelievable things, like appear or disappear when needed.
So, he had a hot body and a cocky attitude.
Big whoop.
I wasn’t going to fall for it. I refused to fall for Devyn St. Cyr. And that was that.
Devyn slid into one of the empty chairs at the twins’ table.
I lifted my brow. Was he the one the freaky twins were waiting for? My mouth might have dropped open, before turning into a frown.
“Hey, Kitten, I thought we agreed you were going to stay out of trouble.” Devyn’s dark, husky voice did unmentionable things to my body.
I rolled my eyes. “They’ve been stalking me,” I hissed.
“No surprise. In our world, Jayden and Jaylen are phantom assassins. The question is, why haven’t they tried to make an attempt on your life yet?” Devyn pulled his gaze from me, to eye the twins.
Assassins, my brain screamed.
“The brooding, loner look doesn’t suit you, Sin Eater,” either Jaden or Jaylen said. I still didn’t know who was who.
“You know what would look good on the two of you? Matching black eyes. I can arrange that. Or I can let my companions suck the sins from your souls. Your decision.” Devyn leaned back in the chair, folding his arms, and waited for the twins to ponder over their choices.
Wrath and Fury were the companions Devyn spoke of. They were snakes, but not the kind we had in this world—they had abilities—really kickass abilities. I wasn’t fond of any kind of reptile, but there was something intriguing about Wrath and Fury, and not at all squeamish.
“I wouldn’t be so quick to take us on,” the twin I thought was Jayden warned.
Devyn arched a brow. “Oh, and why is that? Pretty sure I can kick both your asses all the way back to Thornland.”
“We don’t doubt your skills, but why make an enemy with someone who could be an ally?”
Devyn snorted, his relaxed posture telling me he thought their suggestion absurd.
I, on the other hand, didn’t.
Pulling out the last empty seat, I sat across from Devyn. His eyes watched my every move. “I’m taking my break,” I hollered, catching Tristan’s eye over the cappuccino machine. He nodded, worry lines crossing his forehead.
