Wicked Lucidity

by Wicked Lucidity [lit]

  “I,” she hissed as blood began to pour from her hand, “promise not to scream.”

  “Branson!” I called out, needing the use of one of his many gifts. As a Fay, he possessed a limitless supply of magik and raw power. As a man he seemed to have limitless pick up lines.

  A tall, toned, sandy, blond-haired guy with a recently acquired full beard came rushing into the room. His gaze went instantly to Riston and hardened. “Who the hell is this, Karri?”

  “Questions later. Freeze them both now!”

  I didn’t have to say it twice. Branson put his hand out and pushed his magik out and over the room. Amber stilled and I knew it had worked. As I pulled her hand towards me to see the damage, I drew in a sharp breath. She’d split it wide open. “Amber, I can’t believe that you would grab that thing.”

  “Damn, what the hell happened to the sexy redhead?”

  I shot Branson a nasty look and he winked. “Hey, inquiring minds and all. Plus, she is sexy, Karri. We all noticed. Do beautiful people flock to you or what?”

  “I used to think so,” I said, grinning. “That was right up until I met you and ended up with your sorry ass as a friend.”

  “Karri, you’re killing me here.”

  “Where are the other two fools?” I covered Amber’s hand with my own and let my magik out. It rushed through her, healing her from the inside out.

  Branson chuckled. “Well, here’s the thing, darling, Matty’s team called and needed him right away. He took off to rendezvous with them. He said it sounded big and that he’d be getting in touch with us as soon as possible so be prepared to head out. They wanted you with them but Matty told them that you needed a break. I agree.”

  I rolled my eyes. It was just like Matty, the guy who could shift into several different types of large cats to be pulled away. “Yeah, well break ended less than an hour ago when some half-demon came looking for Hilary.”

  “Hilary?”

  I nodded. “A little girl that lives across the street. She’s amazing, Branson. She’s so full of life and laughter. It’s infectious.”

  He stared at me without blinking. “Yeah, I know. So, what the hell would the other side want with a....” He stopped and clenched his fists. “You didn’t let them find her, did you?”

  “Give me some credit. Though, I was sure to deliver what he was looking for--a magikal female.”

  “What did you do?” he asked, not bothering to hide the fact that he sounded almost scared to know.

  “Remember that girl you dated, the one who wanted me to be her best friend in the whole wide world because it meant she could be close to you all the time?”

  Branson shivered. “You mean Stephanie? The one who had it in her head that we were going to get married ten minutes before she even knew my name? The one who stalked me until you finally did what I couldn’t.” He grinned. “Oh, thanks for that. The minute you kicked her ass off my front porch, I swore my undying allegiance to you.”

  Laughing, I thought about that night. It was kind of fun getting to hit her.

  Branson made a choking sound. “Shit, you pulled a Stephanie on him, didn’t you?”

  “Yep. Worked like a charm. I never knew men were so phobic of commitment. I’ll have to use that one again.”

  “Aww, man, I almost forgot to tell you that Jason missed check-in. Before you panic and go off taking on a third-world country all on your lonesome, our informant on the inside says he’s still alive and will contact us as soon as he can. I think that about sums up my morning.”

  I continued to push magik through Amber’s hand while I stared at Branson. “What are you leaving out?”

  “Now why would you think I’m leaving something out?”

  “Because you haven’t made a pass at me yet and normally you’d have tried at least twice to get into my pants.”

  He raised his brows and bit his lower lip. “Shit, I knew I should have told you how hot your ass looked when I walked in. You know that those shorts leave a tiny bit of cheek showing on each side?” He wagged his brows. “Seger told me you’d know something was up.”

  “I sure did,” Seger, an equally tall man with brown roots and bleached out tips said, as he entered the oversized attic. The spiky hair look he had worked well for him. He entered the room and stared at Riston. He put his hand out and claws erected from it. The look he gave Riston scared me. He was a powerful lycan. One that not many dared to cross.

  I thrust magik up and held in place. “No! What the hell is going on? I just got done telling Amber you were shy about shifting in front of others. Care to explain the big bad wolf routine?”

  Seger kept his eyes locked on Riston like Riston was about to leap free of Branson’s magikal hold him and go nuts. “Who is the new guy and what do we know about him?”

  “Seger?” This was strange behavior for a man I’d known for years. Something was wrong.

  He pointed at me with his clawed hand. “Karri, you have pissed way too many people off with this project. You’ve got the powers and the normal scum on your heels. The price sitting on your head is the biggest I’ve ever heard of and I for one am sick with worry every time you’re out of our line of sight. I’m convinced that we’re going to walk in to find you dead. I will question everyone’s intent when it comes to you, doll.”

  Shocked by his outburst, I couldn’t help but laugh. He didn’t seem as amused. “Oh, yeah, it’s real fucking funny that they want you dead, Karri. We’ve been friends a long time now and I am not about to stand by and let you put yourself at risk.”

  “Hold up, Seger.” I glared at him but kept a level head. “I gave in. I moved back to the house by campus and stayed out of the forefront in New York for the last month. You were the one who told me that here would be best. That if I missed Amber that much to come to her. I said, no. I said that I would only lead evil right to her. You swore to me that all of that price on my head bullshit had blown over, that I wouldn’t risk anyone’s lives here.”

  “Yeah, well I thought it had, Karri. Someone shed some new light on the matter this morning. But I’m sticking with my gut. Here is where you need to be. I can’t explain it but I know I’m right.”

  “Time out!” I stood fast, not caring who knew I was pissed. “Who is in charge here, Seger?”

  His jaw tightened as his breathing grew heavy. “You.”

  “That’s right. Yet you continue to make decisions without consulting me. And these aren’t split-second life and death ones--these are ones regarding my life. What the hell crawled up your ass? Huh? You weren’t always like this.” The Seger I knew was caring, funny and full of life not paranoia and anger.

  “Sometimes, I wish you were a man,” he said between clenched teeth.

  “For the record, I’m extremely happy you aren’t. We are the only team with something to stare at while on missions that makes us horny as all....”

  I pointed at Branson. “One more word, I dare you.” Turning to Seger, I put my hands out. “Well, you tossed that out for a reason. Why is it you wish I was a man?”

  He snorted. “So I could knock some fucking sense into you. You bitch at me about not consulting you but do you ever stop and consult me when you run off and put your life on the line? Do you, Karri? Do you ever open up and tell me everything so I can make sure the rest of us are there to back you up? You used to. You used to tell Tripp everything. When he was your first hand man, you go to, you filled him in on the details. Do you respect me less? Is that it? If you think I’m less of a man, just say it.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “What?” he asked, his temper clearly rising. “Do you think I’m less of a warrior, Karri? Do you think that I can’t protect you? That I can’t lead the men in your absence?”

  I stared at the ceiling as I shook my head. “That’s not it and you know it.”

  He snorted, giving me a hard stare as he did. “Could have fucking fooled me, Karri. You’ve become a lone gun who is now dangerously close to ending up dead. I can
and I will continue to tell you exactly what I think. And I will do what I see fit when it comes to your safety. You can think what you want about me.”

  “Seger, I am not questioning your manhood.” I glared at him. “I’m scared to death that I’ll get you killed. Tripp is dead because of me. He’s dead because I shared everything with him. I will not do that to another of my men. I can’t and I won’t risk any of your lives. You’re like family to me and I can’t ... Seger, I can’t bury another one of you. I can’t.” It took all I had not to cry.

  He stilled. “Karri, shit. I’m sorry. This isn’t what I wanted to do. I just worry about you constantly. And then I walk in to find you with your back to--” he stared at Riston, “him.”

  “Seger, you really need kids of your own. Parenting me must get tiresome.” I winked. He growled. “Oh, you are just precious.”

  I went to him and wrapped my arms around him. He hugged me tight and lifted me off the ground with ease, careful not to scratch me. “Aren’t you happy I’m not a man? This would be weird for you then.”

  He chuckled.

  “What if I promise to tell you everything? Will that help you calm down a bit? I feel like I’m walking next to a rabid wolf with the way you’ve been acting lately.”

  Exhaling, he hugged me tight. “Yeah, it will help. Not letting men you don’t know into your house will help me too. And putting Branson on a fucking leash would be a plus,” he said, grumpily.

  “What happened? Did Branson do something stupid while you were at lunch?”

  “Hey, I do not do stupid things.” Branson grinned. I’d seen the expression countless times and knew exactly what it meant. Branson really did do something stupid.

  Seger growled, no longer seeming concerned with Branson’s antics. His gaze was on Riston. “Karri, who is the new guy? I want an answer now. I tried to calm down but it’s not working.”

  “A friend of Amber’s.” I watched Branson and Seger closely and noticed Branson favoring his weapon. “If either of you shoot him or attack in any form, you will have me to deal with. Are we clear? He’s not a threat to me.”

  Why did I add the to me part?

  “But, Karri, don’t you sense that he’s a....”

  I stood quickly and glared at Branson. “That he’s a nice guy? Yeah, I got that much out of him. I also know that the two of you will stay away from him. I think I already addressed the issue. Did I not? He is not to be touched. In fact, he’s to be protected.”

  Seger nodded, still watching Riston closely. I would have commented but the price of healing Amber decided to pick then to surface. Instantly, my hand split wide open. I held it out and gasped. “Ouch, damn. I friggin’ hate it when this happens.”

  Branson moved towards me quickly. “When is the last time you ate, Karri?”

  I thought about it and drew a blank. I shrugged. He growled. “Damnit, woman. It’s not a hard thing to remember. When you feel hungry, stop and eat something. Christ, without us around you would go days and days without eating. I’m starting think we need to remind you to breathe.”

  “Not true,” I said, doing my best to try to control the bleeding.

  Seger came to me, put his un-shifted hand over mine and the wound closed instantly. His healing power was different than mine. He didn’t suffer by having to take on the injury. He just healed and was done with it. He offered a small smile. “Branson may be a dick but he’s right, Karri. If you’re serious about staying here you need to remember to eat and sleep. We can’t get to you as fast as we normally can. If you’d let us relocate here to be with you, we could.”

  “Guys, come on. I’m not that bad. You have your own lives to live. You don’t need to follow me wherever I go. Besides, I’ll be back in a bit anyway and then just take time off here.”

  “You,” Seger growled, “are our life, Karri. It’s what being a team means. I know you have it in that pretty little head of yours that we’re all just here to pass the time and can’t wait to hand you off to someone else but that’s not the case. In our own weird way, we’re family now. Like it or not, Karri, you’ve people who won’t walk out of your life now. Learn to deal with it before I take you over my knee and let Branson spank you.”

  Putting his hands up, Branson took a step back. “Hell no, she’ll rip my arms off. You’re on your own, Seger. Matty might help but I’m guessing he’d do something to distract you just to see you get pissed off. He and Karri get a kick out of that.”

  “You guys do realize that you have to adopt Amber too, right?”

  Seger laughed. “Branson, I get the feeling that two women, under the age of thirty are going to make a bunch of us old timers stay on our toes, what do you think?”

  I went to laugh and staggered a bit. “Whoa, anyone else feel that?”

  “Feel what?”

  “Like something up to no good was close?” Evil tended to affect me in weird ways. The buzz I was suddenly getting had made me lose my balance a bit.

  Branson snorted. “When is the last time you got some sleep?”

  When I thought about it, I realized that I hadn’t slept in two days. Not wanting to alarm them, I just smiled. “I’ll catch a nap or something later today. Now, I want to know what Branson is hiding.”

  Seger grinned. “You are good. The guy can get away with lying to the rest of us but can’t be in a room two seconds with you before you pick up on something being off.”

  “She’s always been that way.”

  The minute I heard the voice from the hallway I froze. Staring at Branson and Seger, I did my best to make sense of it. “No. Tell me that you didn’t bring him here. Tell me that you did not drag that no good, son of a....”

  Seger put his hands up. “Karri, wait. You don’t understand. He’s not....”

  I threw power out, grabbed hold of Riston and Amber and let it coat them. For a second, I was positive that Riston moved. That was ridiculous. There was no way he could. Branson, while an ass, was still powerful. I moved in front of Riston because he was closest to the doorway and prepared to do what needed to be done to protect him.

  As I watched the tall, raven-haired man with piercing green eyes enter the room, my chest tightened. He tipped his head. “Karri, do you really think you needed to protect your friends from me?”

  “Yes. And I would strongly advise you to turn around and go back to the hell you came from, Hansen.”

  I watched as Hansen grinned. “I have to hand it to you, Karri-Lynn. You certainly take every precaution to keep the ones you care about safe. Well, almost every precaution. You will remember to mention that the crystals you put around any of their houses need to stay in their spot and not be moved to keep evil things out, right, Karri?” He put his hands out and smiled. “Funny, I didn’t sense a barrier here. Are you taking to tempting fate now?”

  Seger glanced at Branson and then me. “I swear that Branson read him. He cleared the test, Karri.”

  Hansen grinned and walked in a slow circle. “Tests are so easy to cheat on.”

  “Hansen, I’d advise against the attitude. She’ll kill you in a heartbeat. Don’t encourage her,” Branson said. “I’m shocked you’re still standing if that tells you a thing, man.”

  I glared at Branson. “What the hell were you thinking? He crossed the line and I for one can’t trust him.”

  Hansen laughed and I wanted to punch him just because it sounded fun. “Now that hardly seems fair. You cross the line all the time. Why is it okay for you to do it but not for me?”

  “Have I ever put any of you in danger or allowed you to be hurt during my crossing of the line?” I took a step towards him and he backed up.

  Seger stepped forward. “No, Karri. You have never done that. I can’t say that of all present.” He leveled his dark gaze on Hansen.

  “Hey, you can stop the backhanded remarks, Seger. Branson gave me a clean bill of trustworthiness. Isn’t that enough?”

  “No,” I said, not bothering to even put on the pretenses of liking h
im. “You yourself admitted to pulling one over on him, dickhead.” It was hard to fool Branson’s magikal senses. To do so meant one had to either be born evil or have the help of some powerful backers.

  “Aww, are you still upset about what happened? I thought you’d be happy to see me. You seemed to more than enjoy yourself on our last meeting, Karri. Or don’t you....”

  I went to go at him and found Seger and Branson next to me in a flash holding me back. I kicked out hard and they held me up and off the ground. “Put me down!”

  Hansen winked, taunting me. “Come to daddy, sugar. I can teach you things you’ve only dreamed about.”

  “And I can rip your head off and shove it up your ass. Want to see?” I thrashed out, almost freeing myself from Seger and Branson’s hold.

  “Shit, Karri, you’re a girl. You aren’t supposed to make me work this hard to hold you in place,” Branson said, sounding strained.

  Hansen let out a soft laugh. “See, even your own men believe you should be elsewhere, not wrapped up in this mess we call the war. You should be lying in a bed, spread out and eagerly awaiting me to....”

  I thrust a hefty dose of magik at him, striking his groin. He cried out and grabbed himself.

  I grinned from ear to ear. “You were saying?”

  Seger dropped his head down onto mine, pulled his claws into his body, letting his hand return to normal and hugged me tight. “Calm down, Karri. He’s doing it on purpose. He wants you to come at him. He needs you on the edge, doll. Don’t give it to him.”

  “What are you talking about?” Branson asked. “I scanned him for evil and found none.”

  Hansen smiled wickedly. “Care to explain why that is, Karri? Careful, you might have to confess what you tried so desperately to keep hidden from all of them.”

  “Karri?” Branson asked, letting go of me and putting his body between Hansen and I. “What the hell is going on here? I thought that you’d be ecstatic to know that he managed to break the hold they had on him.”