Shades of Wicked

by Jeaniene Frost

  “You,” I said, pointing at the first two vampires while quickly working up a much simpler spell. “Meld.”

  They shot toward each other as if pulled by a magnetic superconductor. Then their bodies melded together until they were one double-sized torso, two heads and eight limbs.

  “Meld, meld, meld,” I said, pointing at the next three.

  They smashed into the flesh mass with the same force. Soon, all the limbs going in different directions made the flesh mass continually fall over, right itself, and fall over again.

  “What do you remind me of?” I wondered, cocking my head. “Vampire centipede? No, wait, vampire slinky!”

  The last two vampire guards were now backing away. I wagged my finger at them. “Ah-ah-ah. Meld, meld.”

  They screamed as they joined the pile. Their cries and the other guards’ howling made me wince. “Oh, stop. This’ll wear off in a few hours. You should hear what’s going on at the other end of the tunnel. That sounded permanent.”

  The hulking, howling mass of vampires might be making my head pound, but it served to scare off the next group of guards who ran down the tunnel. I gave an approving nod as they ran the other way after seeing what had become of their friends. But one more guard came down the tunnel and didn’t stop when he saw the writhing, rolling vampire mass. Instead, he threaded his way around it to stand opposite me.

  I didn’t have time for this. I still had to finish my blocking spell, which was taking forever. “Your friends who ran were smart,” I told him. “Be like them and leave.”

  He bared his fangs at me. “You don’t scare me, witch. I know spells, too.” And he began to recite the beginning of a lethal curse.

  Couldn’t have him do that while in the vampire slinky, or was it centipede? Whatever. “My killing spell’s faster,” I said, flicking my hand in an old, tactile spell. “Splat.”

  He blew apart, but only in sections instead of goo like he should have. I frowned. My strength must be waning. Hopefully, it was because I was channeling enough of it to fuel the blocking spell. That was the far more important one . . . and when had I fallen? Last I’d checked, I’d been sitting, but now I was lying on the tunnel floor and my skull hurt as if a team of miners were drilling for gold. Worse, I could feel more people coming from the opposite end of the tunnel. From the swell of magic preceding them, they were trueborn witches.

  I had to get this blocking spell done now. I cast about for an additional energy source. Couldn’t do it from the trueborns or practitioners in the castle. Magic bonded to its owner. But there was something near . . . yes, the pond! How did I not think of drawing energy from water before now? Being drunk sucked.

  I was pulling everything I could from the nearby pond when Ian came into view. He was covered in blood and dirt and his tuxedo was ripped in several places, but what really puzzled me was the bundle in his arms. It was the size of a burlap bag and smelled like demon and the shot glasses of Red Dragon I’d drunk.

  “What’s that?”

  He gave a brief, admiring look at the carnage beyond me before answering. “The source. Weren’t exaggerating about painting the walls, were you? And what is that?”

  “Vampire slinky,” I said dismissively. “Or centipede. What do you mean, the source? It was a baby?” Horror filled me and I nearly vomited all the Red Dragon I’d consumed.

  “Not a baby,” he said with a grunt. “Not human, either. Looks like a winged dog demon.” Then he shifted so he had one arm free to haul me up. “Can you walk?”

  I stood but immediately sagged. My strength had been spent between the spells and drinking myself stupid. Ian caught me before I hit the ground, then hoisted me over his shoulder.

  “Faster this way, anyway,” he muttered.

  He ran out of the tunnel right as I finally finished the blocking spell. It sealed the tunnel off so no one could enter or leave it. It also formed a seal over the hidden bridge and the magical castle. Now no one could leave any of those places for at least an hour. We should be long gone by then, unless . . .

  I hoped I hadn’t underestimated the supernatural juice I’d put into the spell. If so, it might only keep everyone trapped for minutes. I was so drunk, I couldn’t tell how much I’d put into it. I actually thought I might pass out, and that was with being repeatedly bounced on Ian’s shoulders as he ran over the uneven ground. He made good time, though. Within moments, the Fifth-Avenue entrance of Central Park was in view.

  Then Ian stopped so abruptly, I was catapulted over his shoulders. I didn’t hit the ground, though. I was caught midair in what felt like a giant, sticky spider web.

  “What fresh hell is this?” I demanded.

  “My thoughts exactly,” a cool voice answered in Mandarin.

  I froze. I knew that voice, could pick it out from thousands. “Xun Guan. What are you doing here?”

  Chapter 19

  Ian didn’t wait for a response. He held up his hand, ignoring my scream of “Stop!” and flung a spell at Xun Guan.

  I threw a protective spell at the same time. She flew backward from the impact of Ian’s spell, and for a few horrified seconds, I didn’t know if he’d succeeded in killing her. Then Xun Guan sat up, her waist-length black hair falling out of her normally impeccable bun. A large, rapidly healing hole was in her chest. I could smell the burning scent of silver, but my protection spell must have protected her heart.

  “You,” she said to Ian with icy fury. “For the crime of using magic to attack a Law Guardian, I sentence you to death.”

  “No!” I shouted. “It’s not what you think. He’s with me!”

  She tilted her head and gave me a look that normally heralded someone’s instant decapitation. “And you are?”

  Right, she had never seen me in this appearance before. “Veritas,” I said, straining against the invisible web that held me, but unable to move. “It’s Veritas, Xun Guan.”

  Winged black brows went up. Then the smallest of frowns touched her mouth. “The Veritas I know would never allow herself to be caught in so obvious a trap.”

  “That’s true, but I’m really, really drunk.” Then I caught one of Ian’s hands sliding behind his back. He was about to use tactile magic to hurl another spell at her. “Don’t,” I said. “She’s a friend, Ian.”

  “She set a magical trap that nearly caught all of us,” he replied in a silky tone. “And she just threatened to kill me.”

  “She didn’t know you were my partner in tonight’s secret raid,” I said in the strongest tone I could muster. “We just shut down a major Red Dragon supplier and killed its source,” I lied. “That’s why I’m drunk. I had to sample lots of the product in order to get to the right people.”

  To Ian’s credit, not a hint of disbelief showed in his features at my string of lies. Instead, he gave a jaunty bow to Xun Guan. “Always happy to do my civic duty.”

  “And this?” Xun Guan said, gesturing to the bloody, blanket-clad bundle. “What is this? It reeks of Red Dragon.”

  Ian must have dropped the source right before he flung that spell at Xun Guan. I didn’t know what sort of creature was in that blanket—winged dog demon, Ian had called it?—but if Xun Guan saw anything she deemed threatening, she would kill it. Or she would bring it to the council and the creature’s fate would be the same. Either way, I couldn’t allow that.

  “Someone had a baby there, probably to use its blood to mix with the source’s,” I said quickly. “It smells like Red Dragon because the source bled all over it when he died.”

  While speaking, I pushed through my inebriated senses to direct a single command toward that swaddled bundle as Xun Guan approached it. Baby, I thought fiercely when she was almost close enough to pick it up. Turn into a human baby!

  An ear-splitting shriek sounded when Xun Guan reached down and picked up the bundle. Then I almost whooped in relief when she drew back the bloody blanket and revealed pale human skin and two tiny, babyish fists waving in fury.

  Xun Guan winced as the
baby kept screaming. “One of you, take this,” she said, with a jerk of her head. That’s when I realized she wasn’t alone. Two Enforcers came out from behind the trees about twenty meters away. Neither looked anxious to take the squalling baby, but they didn’t dare refuse her.

  “I’ll take it,” I said at once. “There’s a baby drop at the fire station not far from here. I’ll leave the child there.”

  “Until then, do I have permission to stop it from screaming?” the dark-haired male asked Xun Guan.

  She let out a short laugh. “You could try, but you would fail. Babies’ wills are too focused to be affected by our mind control. Humans are only susceptible when they’re older.” Then her dark brown gaze swung my way. “Prove to me you’re Veritas beneath that glamour. What birthday gift did you last give me?”

  Even though I was still reeling, I didn’t need time to think. “A jade bracelet from the first Imperial dynasty.”

  Ian whistled through his teeth. “You two must be special friends to warrant a gift like that.”

  Xun Guan stabbed a finger at him even though she didn’t take her eyes off me. “Unless you don’t want to live long enough to appeal your death sentence before the council, be silent.”

  “Xun Guan, I told you, he was with me—”

  “He shouldn’t have been,” she said curtly. “Only Enforcers or Guardians are allowed on raids of this level.”

  “Think you can take me somewhere against my will?” Ian’s smile was an open dare. “Try it and I’ll kill you.”

  Xun Guan drew her sword and the ancient, elegant steel caught the moonlight. Then she tilted it and a pale line appeared across Ian’s throat. As was her custom, she’d marked the spot she intended to sever.

  “Xun Guan, no!” I said, a crazy thought occurring to me. “Ian had every right to be here as my backup!”

  Xun Guan didn’t relax her stance. “What law protects him as you claim?”

  I gulped in a breath of air. I’d need it to help get out this monstrosity of a lie. “The law giving spouses permission to go anywhere their husband or wife is.”

  “What?” Ian said with all the disbelief Xun Guan showed.

  “No,” Xun Guan breathed. “He cannot be your husband.”

  I tried to laugh but it came out as a high-pitched giggle. “We were going to wait to tell everyone, but saving his life takes priority over spoiling the surprise—”

  “The surprise?” Ian repeated, his tone bordering on shrill.

  I laughed again and it was worse. Cackling witches would envy what had come out of my mouth. “Don’t mind him, he’s still getting used to matrimony. But as my husband, he’s allowed to go anywhere I go. That’s why he was my backup tonight. I taught him that spell in case I got into trouble, which he had every reason to believe when you caught me in that web and failed to identify yourself as a Law Guardian.”

  Finally, Ian got over his horror enough to understand where I was going with this. He still looked rattled, but he stopped arguing. Xun Guan didn’t.

  “I know who he is,” she said flatly. “I find it hard to believe you would lower yourself to marry one such as he.”

  Anger flashed in Ian’s gaze. Then it vanished and he smiled with luxuriant sensuality. “You’d be amazed at what I can get people to do.”

  “Your wiles are wasted on me,” Xun Guan said coldly.

  “Obviously,” he continued in the same purr. “You’re too hot for Veritas. While I’d normally find that arousing, I don’t share what’s mine. So . . .” he flicked his fingers in a clear translation of back off.

  Xun Guan gave him another withering look before returning her gaze to me. “I understand why you wouldn’t tell the council, but why would you keep news of your matrimony from me?”

  I heard the slight waver in her voice at that last word and felt awful. I hated lying to her. Xun Guan was precious to me, but that was the point. I couldn’t risk her life if they fought. I also couldn’t risk Ian being brought before the council. He’d say something worthy of death within five minutes. Lying was the best way out of this, and while it hurt her, it also saved her. And him. That mattered more than anyone’s temporary discomfort.

  “I knew you wouldn’t approve,” I said softly.

  She blinked and it could have been a trick of the moonlight, but I thought I saw a tear. Then her lovely expression hardened. “Prove to me he’s your husband.”

  “You want to interrogate the marriage ceremony witnesses?” If so, who could I get to say they were there . . . ?

  “No, repeat your vows,” Xun Guan stated. “Now.”

  “Xun Guan.” My voice was sharp from the dread erupting in me. “You ask too much. You know how I cherish my privacy.”

  “He doesn’t,” she said, using her sword to point in Ian’s direction. “I’ve seen one of his many Internet videos. You ask me to ignore a magical attempt on my life and you bringing a civilian to a high-level raid. I cannot do that without proof. If he is what you say he is, why hesitate to repeat your vows?”

  Ian’s gaze swung toward me. The horror it contained made my body turn to ice. He was going to refuse. Then Xun Guan was going to raise her sword and Ian would conjure up a killing spell and I couldn’t get between them because I was stuck in this damn web! Panic swelled until I vibrated from it. I had to stop him before he blasted apart our only attempt to resolve this without someone dying.

  Freeze, I thought urgently, trying to will the necessary power out of myself. For the love of all the gods, freeze!

  Chapter 20

  My power spilled out. Not in its usual flash, but like a fog rolling in, from how drunk and depleted I was. For a few moments, I watched as Ian’s mouth opened to protest and Xun Guan’s sword started rising. Then, they slowed until they both froze where they were. I wasn’t sure I’d summoned enough power to encapsulate more than the two of them until I saw the brunet Enforcer freeze in mid ball-scratch and the other Enforcer’s head stay half angled so she could get a better look at Ian’s ass.

  The only one that wasn’t frozen was the creature in the bloody blankets. Tiny arms continued to beat at the air while its wails made my head feel like it would split open. It proved Ian was right, though. Only demons and other demon-kin were immune to this type of magic.

  I freed Ian from his stasis and started talking fast. “I can’t hold this for long, so be reasonable. I don’t like the thought of marrying you, but we have to do this. Would you rather die?”

  “Yes,” he said at once.

  Okay, I hadn’t been expecting that intractable of a response. “But it’s not like the marriage will be real.”

  “Repeating vows in front of witnesses makes it real.” He began to pace in front of where I was stuck. He also kept giving Xun Guan’s frozen form several dangerous looks. “Why don’t we just leave? She certainly can’t stop us now.”

  As if I hadn’t thought of that. “Sure. Pull me out of this web and let’s get going.”

  He tried and began cursing when his first touch caused the same impossibly sticky strands to latch onto his hand and not let go. Soon, he was using every magic trick he knew in an attempt to free himself, and his hand still remained stuck.

  “Not as easy as you thought, is it?” I said sarcastically. “This spell can only be revoked by the same person who cast it, and I know because I taught it to her.”

  He gave me a fraught look. “But vampires can never divorce. Worse, our laws say you can kill anyone I shag!”

  “Oh, now you care about the laws?”

  “I care about my freedom.” Instantly. “It’s all I have left.”

  I seized on that. “That’s right, one of us will probably die before this thing with Dagon is over, so you’re not sacrificing your freedom if that turns out to be me!”

  “And if it’s me, I’d die a married man.” He shuddered. “I’d rather take my chances in a fight with her.”

  The outline around my small time-bubble began to waver. Soon, it would drop. I might on
ly have seconds left. “And if she kills you, you’ll go straight to hell, or have you forgotten Dagon’s claim on your soul?”

  He gave Xun Guan another withering look. “She can’t kill me because of Dagon’s brands on me.”

  “She’s a two-thousand-year-old Law Guardian who knows about demon brands. When her sword won’t do the trick, she’ll stab your eyes out with the demon bone she always carries on her.”

  “Not if I kill her first,” he replied darkly.

  “You can’t,” I said, anguish gripping me at the thought.

  A harsh smile curled his lips. “So I was right about you two. Seems you broke your ‘no vampires’ rule for her.”

  Appealing to his reason and residual sense of mercy wasn’t working. I had to make a play for his selfishness instead. “Let’s say you do kill her. You’d also have to kill the Enforcers, too, since they’d never let her death go unavenged. Then you’d have Guardians, Enforcers, and the council screaming for your blood plus a pissed-off demon on your tail. Even if I didn’t leave you to them for murdering my friend—and I would—how long do you think we’d last with that kind of heat on us? Is being technically married to me worth losing your soul and forfeiting your long-awaited revenge against Dagon?”

  At last, I could tell I’d hit a nerve, but that stubbornness didn’t leave his expression. “Well?” I pressed.

  He gave me a hostile look. “I’m thinking.”

  “The spell’s going to drop,” I warned him.

  Another glare. “And I said I’m still thinking.”

  I was shaking all over trying to keep this area frozen. All the strain made nausea rocket up in my throat. “Even if we both survive, I won’t enforce my claim on you,” I said desperately. “In fact, the first thing I’ll do is drop you back at that bordello in Poland and order you a new carnival orgy, promise!” Then I threw up, spraying a stream of crimson all over him as I lost my fight against the nausea.