The Punisher reached out for the magical powder, but Beaumont snatched it back. Interesting. Perhaps the old man wasn’t as blind as he let on, the sneaky old bastard.
“There is the matter of payment.” Beaumont’s smile had faded. He uncurled his other hand, waiting for his money.
The Punisher took out a huge wad of cash and placed it firmly in his gnarled hand. Beaumont moved quickly and grabbed the Punisher by the wrist. He pulled his customer closer and lowered his voice to hushed tones.
“Remember,” he cautioned. “All magic has a price. Use this dark magic, and be prepared to receive its opposite.”
The Punisher tugged hard and got free of the old man’s surprisingly strong grip. Leaving the room quickly with the expensive purchase tucked safely away, the Punisher uttered one last thing. “Don’t worry about me, old man. That will mean good magic will come my way, and that sounds fine to me.”
Chapter 6
Dante stared at the address on the paper and couldn’t squash the sense of dread that continued to gnaw at him. He knew this property because it was the same address Malcolm had given him before they left. It was owned by a member of the Vasullus Family, Joseph Vasullus. They were the only human family, other than the Caedo, who knew about his people. The Vasullus worked with the Amoveo for centuries to help keep their existence a secret. Two members of the Vasullus family even served on the Council with a representative from each of the ten clans. Knowing the house was owned by a Vasullus should’ve made him feel better. However, it had exactly the opposite effect.
The revelation of the Purist Movement had changed everything. The Purists considered the hybrids an abomination of their race, and his father said there were others that felt as strongly as he did. The scar in Dante’s chest burned at the memory of his father’s betrayal, and he rubbed at it absentmindedly. He’d even been willing to sacrifice his own son when he’d gotten in the way. If there were Amoveo willing to kill their own people to keep the race pure, then there could easily be Vasullus who felt the same way.
Dante stared intently at the address on the paper. What were the odds that Kerry’s shoot would just happen to be switched to a property owned by a Vasullus family member? Dante scoffed audibly and tossed the paper onto the table in front of him. He didn’t believe in coincidences. This entire situation reeked of trouble, and it looked like he was going to need some help.
There were only a select few he could trust. Malcolm and Samantha were obviously at the top of his list, but he certainly didn’t want to ruin their newlywed bliss with what could be a dangerous situation for Sam as well. Richard, their prince, was aware of the Purists, but Salinda was pregnant, and Dante didn’t want to take him away from his wife at such a delicate time.
Only two other Amoveo could be trusted with the safety of his mate: Steven and William. Not only were they his two best friends since childhood, but they had also been enlisted to help Malcolm when Sam was at risk. Aside from Richard, Samantha, and Malcolm, they were the only two Amoveo who knew of the Purist threat and of his father’s betrayal. They all agreed that was the only way to sniff out the other traitors in the Purist sect. They didn’t know who else could be trusted.
Dante sat up in the chair, closed his eyes, and reached out to Kerry’s mind. The soothing rhythm of sleep pulsed around her. He smiled, and his tense muscles relaxed. He needed to be sure she was sleeping soundly before he called to his friends. The last thing he needed was Kerry walking out to find two strange men in the living room of her suite.
Satisfied that she would remain sleeping for a while, he withdrew from her mind and refocused his attention on creating a mental link with Steven and William. He established the link much more quickly than he ever had before. Connecting with Kerry had increased the strength of his abilities significantly.
Within minutes the air in the room thickened, and electricity crackled briefly as his two friends materialized before him. Dante opened his eyes and stood to greet his friends. Steven’s friendly face immediately cracked with a huge smile, and William nodded curtly in his usual formal manner. The two men couldn’t have been more different.
Steven, a member of the Coyote Clan, was open and friendly. His shaggy, sandy blond hair was as rumpled as his Rolling Stones T-shirt and ripped jeans. Steven’s open and accessible demeanor worked well for him as a healer.
William was stuffy and Old World. His long blond hair, streaked with brown, was pulled back in a low ponytail. His slicked back hair matched the fitted pinstripe suit he almost always wore. William was a member of the Falcon Clan, specifically, the Gyrfalcon Clan. Dante always thought William had been born at the wrong time. He reminded him much more of the elders, not a man in his twenties. The Eagle and Falcon Clan members had a certain air about them.
“Thank you for coming,” Dante said, keeping his voice low. He shook hands with both men and nodded toward Kerry’s bedroom door. “She’s asleep, so we should keep our voices down. Please have a seat.”
William sat stiffly in the oversized chair, and Steven flopped himself easily into the corner of the couch. Dante stood. Too wound up to sit, he began to pace the room as he relayed his concerns to the two men. They listened intently as Dante explained who and what Kerry was. When he was finally finished he stood silently in front of them, watching and waiting for their reactions. As he expected, William’s face remained serious, while Steven let out a low whistle.
“Another hybrid?” Steven’s eyebrows knitted together. “I don’t get it? Why didn’t we pick up on that when we were at the beach watching out for Samantha? I saw Kerry then, but I didn’t pick that up. Did you, Willie?”
Dante stifled a chuckle at the look on William’s face. He hated being called Willie, and Steven always did it just to get a rise out of him. He had since they were kids.
William shot him a look through narrowed eyes. “No. I did not,” he said in a voice laden with irritation. He shifted in his seat and cleared his throat. William hated being wrong. Dante was tempted to let him squirm but decided to let him off the hook.
“She’s a powerful psychic, William. She has built and maintained an incredibly strong shield around herself.” He shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t even think she knows she’s doing it, but it’s been very effective in keeping her hidden all these years.”
“That must be one hell of a shield.” Steven leaned forward and rested his elbows on his wide spread legs. “She’s in pictures all over the world. I can’t believe none of us picked up on it.”
“Especially you, Dante.” William nodded toward him. “If she’s really your mate,” he said offhandedly.
Dante’s eyes shifted and flared brightly. His gaze landed harshly on William. “She is my mate.” His voice stayed just barely above a whisper. “You would do well to remember that.”
William cocked his head and raised one eyebrow. “I am merely suggesting that it seems odd you didn’t recognize her as your mate when you saw her pictures,” he said with a wave of his hand. “Really, Dante, do get a hold of yourself.” He sniffed.
Dante breathed deeply and willed his eyes back to their human state. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and stalked over to the window, embarrassed for losing his temper like that. They were here to help him, and he was snapping at them like some moody teenager. William had touched a nerve because he was absolutely right. Dante hadn’t known her from her pictures. It wasn’t until he saw her in the flesh that he knew who and what she was.
“Wait a minute,” Steven said. “What about the dream realm? Didn’t you see her there?”
“No.” Dante shook his head and turned back to face the two men. “I could feel her there, but I could never see her. It was, as you can imagine, incredibly frustrating. I didn’t figure it out until I saw her with Samantha that day on the beach,” he said quietly. “I recognized her energy signature. It was the same as the one that has haunted my dreams.”
His mouth set in a grim line as he looked at both of the men who were nodding
solemnly. They understood his frustration better than anyone. Neither had found their mates yet, and since they were approaching thirty, their time was running out. If too much time passed without finding their mates, they’d lose their abilities and would slowly die. It was a lonely, torturous, and painful demise that Dante wouldn’t wish on anyone.
“William, I’ll need you to keep watch from the air. The house is out on the bayou in a pretty remote area. If anything—and I mean anything—seems out of whack, you tell me, and I’m getting her out of there.” Dante crossed over to them slowly, hoping that they would be willing to help. “So, can I count on your help for the next few days?”
William nodded his acceptance, and the muscles in Dante’s neck immediately loosened. He then turned his attention to Steven. “I would feel especially grateful to have one of our best healers nearby.”
“Absolutely,” Steven said, smiling, but the smile quickly faded. “You don’t think it’s a coincidence. The shoot location, I mean?”
Dante shook his head. “Kerry’s a hybrid, and the shoot just happens to be taking place at a home owned by one of the Vasullus family members?” he said skeptically. “I’d say that’s a little too much of a coincidence, wouldn’t you?”
“The Vasullus live to serve and protect our people,” William scoffed. “Why would they want to hurt one of us? Even a hybrid?”
“I don’t know, William. But I do know that I’m not willing to be complacent and risk her safety. Until we know more about the Vasullus who owns that house, we stick close.” Dante’s face remained as serious as his voice.
Steven nodded in agreement. “Malcolm did tell you that one of them lived down here. He must know more about them. We also have Amoveo kin that live here. Pasha Zankoff. She went to college with my sister. She’s a member of the Tiger Clan.” He smiled and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
William made a sound of disgust. “She isn’t your mate, Steven. Really, show some dignity.”
“Whatever man, she’s still a hottie.” William rolled his eyes, but Steven ignored him and continued. “She and her twin brother Boris own a little bar down here in the French Quarter, The Den. We could ask them for help.”
“No!” Dante said sharply. “We can’t be certain that they can be trusted. We don’t know who else was working with my father.” Frustration edged his voice, and he swore softly.
“Dante, we don’t have to tell them who Kerry is. But they live here, and my guess is she and Boris could be pretty helpful. They must know the scoop on the guy who owns the house. And one other thing, fellas. They haven’t found their mates yet either,” he said pointedly. “If you ask me, the only Amoveo we can trust are the ones who are unmated like Willie and I.”
“Our uncouth friend has a point.”
“Thanks, Willie,” Steven said with a smile.
“Piss off,” William shot back.
Dante smiled at their familiar banter and let out a sigh. “You’re right. We should find out everything we can. But I don’t want them to know about Kerry. Not yet.”
His friends stood up and faced him. The three remained silent for a moment as an unspoken fear of the unknown flowed between them. Their race’s existence stood at a crucial point, the future uncertain for all of them. Dante stretched his arm out with his palm facing down. Steven, and then William, reached out and joined their hands with his. They closed their eyes, and together they silently uttered the ancient language. Iunctus. Each man proclaimed loyalty to the other, each willing to lay down his life and ensure the future of their race.
After William and Steven left, Dante decided to investigate the client. Kerry had been hired as the new face of Le Fleur Designs. Le Fleur was a fairly new company, and it surprised him that they would be able to afford Kerry as their spokeswoman. It seemed odd that such a young company would hire a model of her caliber. The designer, Jacqueline Petite, was a native of New Orleans. Dante figured she must have some major investors onboard to score a model like Kerry.
Much to his dismay, they specialized in high-end lingerie, and he shifted in his seat as anger and jealously reared their ugly heads. She would be prancing around in underwear in front of perfect strangers? Other men? The very idea of it ignited the crushing urge to smash every piece of furniture in the suite. The rational side of Dante’s brain reminded him that this was her livelihood, and she’d been doing this for her entire adult life. Something told him Kerry would not find jealousy an attractive attribute and would only confirm her suspicion that he was indeed a Neanderthal.
Dante leaned back in the chair and ran both hands over his face. Various images of Kerry floated over the computer screen. He laced his hands behind his head and let out sigh of defeat. He knew modeling was her business, but it didn’t mean he had to like it. The shrill of his cell phone interrupted his private pity party. Dante snatched the phone from his pocket but kept his eyes fixed on Kerry’s image.
“Hello?” he barked.
“Hey boss. It’s Pete. You okay?” Pete’s familiar voice snapped him back to reality. As Kerry’s bodyguard, it was his job to keep her safe, not beat the shit out of any man who looked at her.
“What? Yes.” He fumbled over his words, embarrassed by his poorly veiled irritation. “I was just having a problem with the computer,” he lied, slamming the laptop shut. “So how is it?”
“Well, I took a look around the new location,” he began. “It’s a pretty rural spot, and the place is really rundown, but we should be able to get in and out without a problem. It’s privately owned. Get this. The old guy who owns this place lives in a tiny shed on the edge of the property. How’s that for weird? He lets this big old house sit empty and get completely run down—but lives in a little shed. Word has it he works as one of the tarot readers on Jackson Square.”
“Thanks, Pete.” He let out an audible sigh. “Pick us up tomorrow morning at seven. She’s got an eight o’clock call time, so that should get her out there in plenty of time.”
“You got it, boss. “He was silent for a moment. “I have one question.”
“Sure,” he said absentmindedly. “What’s up?”
“Why would they do a fashion shoot at this place? Wait until you see it. It looks more like a horror movie set.”
“Apparently, this designer is born and bred here in New Orleans, so perhaps she’s got some kind of personal connection.” He shrugged. “I’m not sure, but you can bet I’m going to find out.” He glanced at his watch and then to the closed door of her bedroom. “Kerry has dinner in about an hour with the clients and that obnoxious rep of hers. I better go wake her up.”
Pete delivered a catcall whistle into the phone as if he knew exactly what Dante was thinking. “Nice. You get to go into Kerry Smithson’s bedroom and wake her up, while I scout out the boondocks. It’s good to be the boss.”
“Very funny, you smart ass.” He smiled in spite of himself. Pete could dish it out pretty well. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” Dante hung up to the teasing sound of Pete’s laughter.
Dante slipped the phone into his pocket and went to Kerry’s bedroom door. His fist was poised to knock but stopped at the sound of the shower running. Images of her naked, soapy body blasted into his mind. Dante placed both hands on the door and closed his eyes in an effort to gain some kind of control and rein in his raging hormones, but it did no good whatsoever. It only made it worse.
His eyes shifted, a low growl rumbled in his throat, and he pushed himself away from the door. His desire for her had the animal inside clamoring to get out. This entire experience with Kerry was uncharted territory. He always thought that when he found his mate everything would fall into place, smoothly and easily. That was the way it had always been for all of his people, but she was not like all Amoveo. Kerry being both human and Amoveo had changed the rules. Boy, had he been off base.
He ran a hand over his face and let out a low sound of frustration. In fact, it had been nothing but an uphill battle. Dante stood at the heavily drape
d window staring out over the city streets below. He wanted to sleep when she did and connect with her in the dream realm again, but he knew that would have been selfish. She specifically asked him to be alone, and connecting with her in the dream would not exactly be doing as she’d requested. They were making some progress, but the biggest hurdles still lay ahead.
He’d seen her pictures in magazines and on billboards but never made the connection. After all, he thought she was human, and according to his people’s history it was impossible to mate with a human. He didn’t know until he saw her in person and felt her energy call to his. The moment he’d clapped eyes on her at the beach he knew she was his mate. He also knew she was a hybrid.
Dante snorted and shook his head. Lie. Everything they’d been raised to believe had been a lie. The existence of Kerry and Samantha proved that Amoveo and humans could mate. Obviously cross-mating did not happen often, but it did happen. For years his people were under the impression that Samantha’s parents had been killed by the Caedo family. It had been easy enough to believe. Over the last several generations the Caedo had hunted his people to the brink of extinction. But it hadn’t been the Caedo that killed Sam’s parents. It had been something far more sinister.
The Purists were infuriated over the pairing of Samantha’s parents—an Amoveo man and a human woman. They felt human blood would muddy their ancient heritage and weaken the race. They were willing to kill their own people in order to keep the race pure.
Samantha had stayed hidden until she connected with Malcolm. Prior to connecting with him, all of her abilities lay dormant—but now they were strong, very strong. Kerry had a powerful psychic gift and had managed to keep her heritage a secret, but once they were mated her secret would be out. What then? It was the unknown, the uncertainty of their future that clawed and nagged at him mercilessly.
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