Dark Tremor (Mated by Magic #2)

by Stella Marie Alden

  “I needed the cash. What’s the big deal?”

  “The big deal is that you could be charged by the clan court for hording and illegally selling a conduit.”

  “Clan court?” She swallowed past the growing lump in her throat. She’d been so busy worrying about someone stealing her pieces, she hadn’t thought about the bigger repercussions.

  He clenched his jaw, kept his eyes on the road, and didn’t say anything for miles.

  “What clan do you owe allegiance?” He pulled into Jelly’s lot, and parked the car.

  She started to jump out, but he got to the child locks with a fast click. She was his prisoner.

  Heart racing, she struggled to keep her powers from causing a previously unknown fault from making the news in Nevada.

  “Fine. Let me start, then. Jason Fialko. Nice to meet you.” An intense fireball spun in his outstretched hand.

  I am so screwed.

  “Brother to the billionaire Jack Fialko? Leader of the Iesco clan?”

  He nodded and let the flame die out in his hand. It moved to the center of his dark eyes.

  The ground trembled as sweat rolled down her side. Oh shit. She was going to lose control if she didn’t get out of there soon.

  “You’re Earth, right? Clan Brasmatia?”

  Swallowing hard, she croaked out, “Yeah. And you need to unlock the doors. I don’t like being confined, and that can lead to unpleasant consequences. Understand?”

  “Is that a threat?” He unbuckled his belt, held her hands, and loomed over her.

  “You’re scaring me, Fialko. Sometimes I lose control. You have no idea what I’m capable of. Let me out. Now.”

  He viewed her as if a specimen under a microscope, then let out a deep breath, and his face softened. He unlocked the doors and let her go.

  “Just tell me your name?”

  “Terra.” She reached for the door handle.

  “Last?” He reached an arm across her body.

  Her nipples went hard where he touched her and her brain cells refused to fire. She bit her lower lip and shook her head.

  “I want to know what you were doing in that shop.”

  “It’s not brain surgery. I needed some cash, fast. And, as I have said repeatedly, it’s none of your business.” The ground rumbled and the car shook. “Please. Just let me go.”

  “The dark turquoise. How much is there?”

  “Just what you saw on the counter and what you stole,” she lied.

  “By the way? I didn’t steal anything. I found a shard on the ground outside your spaceship-thingy.”

  “It’s an earthship.” She clenched her hands into fists. “And you tracked me out here to steal it. Same difference.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “Don’t approach me again. And Stop. Following. Me.” She opened the door and jumped out, slamming it behind her.

  For a moment, she thought he would jump out of the truck and follow her.

  She let out the breath she was holding when the tires spit up gravel and the truck sped out of the parking lot.

  The desert sun beat down, hot and dry, but she couldn’t suppress the shiver that ran through her body.

  If Jace decided to investigate her further, she was in deep, deep shit.

  She had a feeling she already was.

  Chapter 5

  Across the street, a prostitute picked up a john and a kid dealt to a limo with darkened windows. Under the shot-out streetlight, a homeless guy muttered as he wheeled a shopping cart full of empty cans.

  Hands shaking and hyper-vigilant, Falcon pressed the button next to the solid steel door and looked up into the camera.

  The distorted speaker overhead said in Eddie’s voice, “Who is it?”

  “Mr. Luggerio asked to see me.”

  “Is that you, Falcon?”

  “Yeah, it’s me.”

  After a few seconds, the solenoid buzzed. A welcome draft of cool air hit his face when he pushed the door open. In the dim staircase, the boom-boom of the cover band mixed with the bling-bling of the slots.

  Falcon needed the crapper, bad. Another vicious cramp bent him over. He’d never get used to these midnight calls by the scary-as-hell Brasmatia clan leader.

  At the bottom, he squirmed, when stopped by a fuckin’ line at the door. Who the hell stands in line at a club at two in the fucking morning? No place, no matter how exclusive, was worth the risk.

  His sometimes-friend Eddie patted down a country-chic couple standing below him on the landing. He was pretty sure he recognized them from TV. The cowboy hats. The boots. Her with her big, fake tits, and him with a cocky grin that had the girls in line swooning. Eddie let them pass, then sent another little shit with a bad attitude packing.

  Finally, it was his turn, and Eddie patted him down. “The boss said to wait in the Champagne Room. What’d you do to piss him off this time?”

  “Nothing. I swear. I wouldn’t have come at all except my grandfather insisted.”

  “Wouldn’t want to piss him off either.” He snickered. “Basically, dude, you’re screwed.”

  “Shut it. When my grandfather dies, I’ll be in charge of the Healers.” He followed the bouncer up the curving stairwell. “Best start showing some respect, bro, or find another clan to sew you up next time you take a bullet.”

  Eddie snorted out a laugh. “Like you have anything to say about it, bro. You think Michael Luggerio will cut you any more slack than he does your grandfather?”

  “Fuck off.”

  “You need to relax. It’s the way of things. Keep the healing magic coming, and everything will be fine. Just remember what happened to Running Wolf.”

  “Seriously, dude? That was over a hundred years ago.”

  Eddie opened a door and nodded for Falcon to enter.

  “That’s my point, kid. Sit down. Boss will be here soon.”

  “Right.” Falcon shivered when the door shut behind Eddie.

  He hated this place. Someone could walk in and never walk out, without anyone even batting an eye.

  The frigidly cold air would mask time of death, thick maroon carpet would no doubt hide any bloodstains, and soundproof walls would silence the gunshot.

  In the room known for death, Falcon took a seat. Shit. This was bad. His stomach twisted and cramped when the door opened and Mic entered.

  Easing his six-foot frame down on a black leather chair, Mic released the lowest button of his expensive Italian jacket and leaned back. Eyes so dark, one might call them black, stared with accusation.

  A spider with a fly.

  “So. Healer. Your grandfather has assigned you as the new representative of your clan.”

  Falcon wiped his hands nervously on his pants. He’d known that weeks ago.

  “You do know what that means, don’t you?”

  Unable to trust his voice, Falcon nodded.

  “No.” Mic squinted at him. “I do not think you do. Unlike your grandfather, you seem a bit…slow. So let me explain.” There was a gleam in the man’s eyes that made Falcon shift in his seat. “I am warring. This place is warring. The whole Goddamn fucking world is warring. You”–he stood and pointed a long finger at Falcon–“are healing. Put on the earth for the sole purpose of keeping us healthy. Understand?”

  Falcon held his stomach, and prayed not to shit on the couch. Eyes wide, he nodded again.

  “Great. Good talk.” The leader, known to murder healers just to make a point, wandered across the room, poised and calm. He called out the door, “Hey Eddie. Have Mary make up a plate. Some prosciutto, cheese and olives.”

  Mic crossed the room to a bar with a solid marble top, poured two glasses of bourbon, and placed them on a coffee table in front of the couch. Then, he reached deep into his jacket and placed a series of photos on the table in front of Falcon one by one.

  “You know this girl?”

  Falcon swallowed hard and studied each of the black and white surveillance pictures. They were bl
urry, but he knew her face well enough.

  Terra. What the fuck kind of trouble is she in, now?

  “I’ve seen her around. Why?”

  “She has something that’s mine.” Mic swirled the amber liquid in his glass, studying perfectly manicured nails. “And I don’t like when people have what belongs to me.”

  “Wha–” Falcon’s voice cracked like a teenager. Shaking, he cleared his throat and tried again. “What does she have?”

  Mic tilted his head and the corners of his mouth lifted in an awful grin. Like a priest saying mass, he said, “A rare stone. A piece of turquoise that has the ability to amplify a witch’s powers.”

  Mic with more power. The thought sent a terrifying chill down his spine.

  Terra is so fucked. “What are you going to do to her?”

  “I just want to know where she found them. Nothing bad has to happen if she cooperates.”

  “I-I really don’t know…” Falcon started to stand.

  A hand shot out. Fist slammed on the coffee table and coasters went flying. Mic’s eyes flashed dangerously, like earlier, but this time his voice was low and menacing. “I told you what I want. You get it for me, or bad things happen. Gabeesh?”

  Falcon sat, lifted his chin. “You won’t harm her?”

  Like an addict, the man toggled back to calm. He gave a small nod. “Tell me. Where does she live?”

  “I’m not sure…”

  The ground shook and the chandeliers swung above their head. “Don’t bullshit me, son. I know you’ve been watching her.”

  “She’s just some chick who comes to the reservation sometimes to barter and trade. I don’t know much else about her. I swear…”

  Mic slapped pictures on the table, laying them down like a game of solitaire. “That’s you and her in front of the garage. That’s you and her looking chummy at the rez. Need I go on?”

  Shit, shit, shit.

  Mic’s eye twitched, he grabbed a tablet off the bar, and placed it on the table. “How long have you been hiding her from me?”

  “I’m not hiding her. I swear I didn’t know she had something you wanted. Now that I know, I’ll tell you.” He called up Google Maps and scrolled into the desert. “There.”

  “Good boy.” Mic nodded, picked up the tablet, and called out the door. “Eddie.”

  “Yeah, Mr. Luggerio?” Eddie must’ve been standing right outside the door. He didn’t even give Falcon a nod.

  “Get Chuck and Pedro.” He handed him the tablet and pointed. “I want this land, and the girl on it. Give her a bit of a scare and bring her to me. If she’s who I think, we may have a new brood mare.”

  He turned to Falcon, “See? We’re good. Give your grandfather my regards. Tell him I’ll be up there this weekend for a steam and a massage.”

  Chapter 6

  Furious, Jace got out of his rental truck, strolled across the rough terrain, and walked up the hill to her burrow. Already the sun was low, turning the desert sand orange, and here he was, babysitting, instead of enjoying the great outdoors.

  All he’d wanted was some fucking time alone, away from people, and especially from little witches who turned his cock to steel with a single touch.

  If he was smart, he’d turn around, go back to the Strip and find some hot chick to hook up with–get through solstice with some shred of sanity. But he’d never been known to make the wisest decisions, and hell, Jack was counting on him to deal with this shit.

  He swallowed thickly when Terra stormed out the front door, blue fire in her eyes. Faded jeans painted her perfect ass, and a plain white t-shirt hugged her upper curves.

  Energy coursed through him and the edginess of moments before came back with a vengeance.

  Fucking Solstice mating heat.

  “What’re you doing here?” Her sweet little mouth turned down in a frown as she crossed her arms over her chest. “I told you to stop stalking me.”

  “We need to talk about this.” He pulled the black stone out of his pocket and held his palm forward. “I want to know where you found it.”

  “Like I’d tell you.” When she reached for the stone, he snatched it back.

  “How about we start with the other pieces you have. You were willing to sell them and I’ll give you triple what that guy was offering.”

  Blue eyes squinted up at him suspiciously. She leaned against the plate glass that reflected the darkening, yet still pink sky.

  “Why do you want it so bad?”

  So that he could get the hell out of this godforsaken place and away from her seductive little ass.

  “To keep it out of the wrong hands. Whatever these stones are, one thing’s for sure, they’re dangerous.”

  “Dangerous how?”

  An evening breeze blew. She rubbed her arms and shivered. Damn, if he didn’t want to wrap his arms around her and warm her, send his heat coursing through her body. He wondered how responsive she’d be to his touch, his magic. The thought made him rock hard.

  He moved forward and placed one hand on either side of her head, wondering how those pouty lips might taste.

  “You’ve touched them, felt the energy surge they produce.”

  “Sure.” She shrugged and ducked under his arms. “But only a witch with earth powers would be able to use them. I‘m careful who I sell to.”

  “Exactly. But let’s just say the wrong witch gets a hold of these, or if there’s bigger portions, who knows the damage that could be done.” He took two steps back, allowing his words to sink in.

  Terra paled and he saw something flash behind her eyes. Was it fear?

  “And how do I know I can trust you with them?”

  “If you know anything about my family, then you’re aware that we don’t fuck around. Give me the stones and I’ll make sure they’re kept somewhere safe.”

  She chewed on her bottom lip and turned her head, her eyes unfocused as she stared out into the desert.

  His frustration subsided. Maybe he’d finally got something into her thick skull.

  “And then you’ll go home?” She glanced back at him. “You’ll leave this place and never bother me again?”

  “Yes.” He exhaled and dragged his fingers over his face, then nodded. “I’ll need to do a quick survey of the spot you found them, but yeah, once I get the stones, I’ll be booked on the next plane back to Jersey.”

  Her mouth skewed in a doubtful little frown, but he could tell he’d already won.

  “Fine.” Turning on a heel, she opened the door to her cave dwelling and motioned for him to follow.

  How the hell someone could live in such cramped quarters was beyond him. With the red rock and no one around for miles, he figured it would be like living on Mars. What kind of insane person chose to live like this?

  He waited in the kitchen area while she retrieved the turquoise.

  “Here. This is all I have.” On the table, a baggie appeared with two dark stones. One shard was larger and the other smaller than the piece he already had. “If there’s more, I haven’t found it.”

  Her lying eyes refused to meet his and she bit her lower lip.

  “I’ll have my brother wire you the money.”

  “Cash only,” she said flatly.

  He glared and shoved the baggie back into his pocket. The rocks vibrated, warming his skin.

  “Fine. I’ll go to the nearest ATM and get it. Then, when I get back, you take me to where you found them.”

  Brows furrowed, she abruptly went to her knees, and put a finger to her lips. The other hand shot to the floor.

  “That wasn’t part of the deal, you–”

  “Shush.” With a stop gesture, she scrunched her eyes tight. “Someone’s coming.”

  From the huge plate glass wall, the empty desert went on for miles and miles. Nothing, not even a car’s dust plume, was in sight. Maybe the woman really was crazy. Living alone in the desert could do that to a person.

  “Two cars, maybe three, about a quarter of a mile from here.”
Breathing hard, she ran to the window.

  Jace squinted right, and left, and waited. Nothing. “You don’t get a lot of company do you?”

  “No. And I prefer it that way.” She ran to the table and cranked the generator until the tubes in the back turned red. “Jelly? Jelly? You there?”

  After trying again, she sat back in her chair. Her face paled to a deathly shade of white.

  The ground trembled beneath his feet.

  “They found me.” She put her elbows on the table and dropped her face into her hands.

  He saw it then. The dust cloud that announced they had company. Two black SUV’s stormed across the desert, heading straight for them.

  “You in some kind of trouble?”

  She glared up. “I wasn’t until you showed up.”

  “You think this is because of me?”

  “They wouldn’t have found me if you hadn’t been snooping around.”

  “Right.” He rolled his eyes. “Stay in your burrow. I’ll deal with this.”

  The blonde badger followed. “It’s an earthship, and I’m not–”

  Car doors slammed.

  “Shit.” Her voice quivered on the word.

  A total of six men, wearing black suits and matching sunglasses, moved like zombies, forming a semi-circle around them.

  What the fuck?

  “I suggest you go back to wherever you came from,” said Jace, taking a step forward.

  When they didn’t move, he conjured a ball of energy. With the turquoise in his pocket, his power flared high, looking like flames from hell. Crap. He tried to take it down a notch, but it wasn’t like he’d had a lot of time to practice.

  “We’re not here for you. Give us the girl and no one gets hurt.” The men nudged each other, crouched low and placed their palms on the ground. A vibration shook the earth and the plate glass window rattled.

  “So not happening.” He let loose the out-of-control energy and it exploded in front of them, blasting sand and men in all directions.

  One dropped to the ground screaming and rolling as he tried to put out the flame that burned through his suit. The others scrambled on all fours to regroup behind the cars.

  “Leave the girl alone and don’t come back.” With adrenaline and magic rock coursing through his veins, Jace was primed for a good fight.