That plan worked for Linc. He had no idea what Axel would think, but they needed men they could trust. Baron and his men were solid. “Then let’s get to work. How many hunters do you have?”
“Twenty that are committed to the club and keeping their souls.”
“Impressive. What info do you have about what’s happening so far?”
“Rogues are protecting the spawn while he hibernates. And they are sweeping through Vegas, gathering up witch hunters and forcing them to choose—kill a witch and go rogue, or die.”
Linc nodded. “Same info we have. But our witches have an emergency system set up. If a witch is near her phone when she’s taken, and has the chance, she can alert us. Once the witch triggers the alarm, the GPS on her phone will send us her location information, and we have a chance of rescuing her.”
“Add us in. But once we rescue them, we need a place to take them. I don’t want my men exposed to witches longer than necessary.”
“Bloodlust is a bitch,” Linc said. “If the witch is unhurt, she can go wherever she wants. If she’s injured, Sutton’s here, he’s mated and has wings. He can meet the hunter and take the witch. We’ll establish a place at the academy for them. Carla’s there, she can help them heal.” They could put them in one of the other buildings, away from Ram, Eli and himself. Then move them out as soon as it was safe.
Baron agreed. “I propose we combine our training. I have plenty of room here to bring in more hunters who want to fight against the spawn.”
Linc nodded. “Our hunter in charge of recruits, Ram, oversees our training. And our tech guy will arrange a communications system for all of us so we can stay in contact, both to prep and while fighting.”
Baron clearly measured that idea as he rose and paced around. Finally, he looked up. “That works. We’ll meet here tonight, combine intel and make a plan of attack.”
“One more thing,” Linc said. “And this is business. Worth twenty-five Gs.”
Baron snapped up straight. “What?”
“Archer kidnapped a baby. A witch named Kendall. If you or one of your men find her location and it pans out, I’ll pay for it.”
“What’s the baby to you?”
Nothing. But she was everything to Risa, and Linc intended to keep his end of the bargain with her. “That’s not relevant. If you want the money, find the kid.”
“I’ll put the word out.”
Linc nodded once and left, anxious to get home to Risa. To the witch he needed to teach to trust his touch.
~ 11 ~
Risa didn’t find any food in the suite kitchen. Not surprising since she, Linc and the rest had shown up unexpectedly. She made her way down to the first-floor kitchen, threw together a quick sandwich and went looking for Linc while eating. They needed to seal their bond so she could find Kendall.
Her chest ached with longing. She missed the baby’s one-tooth smile, full-body laugh, the way she wiggled and bounced when she was happy. But what Risa missed most of all were Kendall’s hugs and touches. Before she met Blythe and Kendall, she hated being touched. Reminded her too much of the things she’d done, the men she’d let touch her…
Ugh, she couldn’t think of those men in the same headspace as Kendall.
Hearing soft voices, she followed them to a library with floor-to-ceiling bookcases. There were plenty of areas to sit and read, or nooks with desks, or a few larger tables to work quietly on projects. One entire wall opened to a courtyard about the size of a big master bedroom. A stacked stone water feature splashed into a small pond surrounded by desert plants, thickly cushioned furniture and a teak bar all set on a cool stone floor. Overhead, sunlight poured through some kind of mesh material that filtered the harsh rays.
Two women sat on a stone bench by the water feature. They had their heads close together and were talking. She recognized the one with the long white-blonde hair as Carla, but not the one with the dark hair.
Deciding to ask them about Linc, she set her partially eaten sandwich down and walked out to the patio.
“Risa, you’re up.” The blonde rose and walked toward her. “I’m Carla, we met on video conference.”
“Sutton’s mate, I remember. Nice to see you in person.” Steeling herself, she added, “Linc said you tried to help last night, thank you.”
“I want to help. That’s why I’m here.”
That gentle kindness helped her relax. “Thanks.” She glanced around. “I’m looking for Linc.”
“He and the other hunters went out. Linc is gathering up more hunters to help, and Ram and Sutton are checking out anything to do with Archer—the last place he lived, clubs, work, friends, anything. They’re all spreading the word that your daughter has been kidnapped.” She took a breath and added, “Phoenix and Key are searching every lead in L.A. for Archer’s mother, Petra, and the possible whereabouts of your baby.”
“Has anyone found a lead?”
She shook her head. “Not yet. Petra’s house hasn’t been lived in for a while. There’s no payments going to any mental health or rehab facilities, no money moving out of her account beyond previously set up automatic withdrawals.”
“Could she be dead?” If so, then where was Kendall?
“I wish I knew. She’s a demon witch, so we can’t track her magically either.”
Crap. “Thanks, Carla. If you see Linc before I do, can you tell him I’m looking for him?”
Carla moved closer. “We can try to circle our magic, and if you can get close to Kendall, I might be able to use my third eye to see her.”
She stared at the woman’s uncanny hazel eyes outlined in a thin blue ring. The colors seemed alive, and power danced on Carla’s skin. It caused Risa’s magic to stir and bubble. “Oh, is that possible?”
“Maybe if I can feel Kendall through you. It usually has to be a personal connection for us to reach someone with our third eye. But let’s try. Even if I can’t, there’s a good chance we’ll learn something valuable. Like, does Kendall feel close by or far away?”
Grateful, she said, “I’d appreciate any help.”
The other woman rose and joined them. “Hi, I’m Ginny. I’ll get out of your way so you two can work.”
Turning to the dark-haired girl with muddy-hazel eyes, Risa thought she would have been almost plain except for the way she moved with a lithe grace. The closest thing she could liken it to was a ballet dancer’s ability to glide. “I’m Risa.”
“Ginny is Eli Stone’s sister,” Carla filled in. “He, Ginny and I arrived last night. You’ll meet him later.”
Right, Linc had told her that, and Axel had mentioned Eli and Ginny in the video conference. “Good to meet you, Ginny.” Her curiosity grew at the vibration coming off Ginny—not chakra magic, but something Risa couldn’t identify. “So your brother’s a witch hunter, but you’re not?”
The woman grinned. “How sexist is that? Only letting men be Wing Slayer Hunters. You can tell their god is a man.”
That surprised a laugh from her. “About as sexist as only women being witches, I guess.”
Ginny’s eyes dimmed. “I’m going to go look into those gloves, Carla. Thanks for listening.”
Carla laid her hand on Ginny’s arm. “Ram loves you. I know it’s hard, but I really think his love for you is helping him fight against the thunderbird.”
A flash of pain radiated off Ginny, stirring Risa’s shield magic with the urge to protect the woman. But the conversation didn’t make sense. Ginny was mortal. Ram had to find his witch, his soul mirror.
“I just hope this is the right thing for him.” Ginny turned and walked inside.
Risa watched her go, the emotional pain flowing from the woman lessening the farther away she got. “She’s in danger.”
“Yes.”
Dragging her gaze back to Carla, Risa struggled to shed the lingering need to bring out her shield magic. “From Ram?”
“That’s part of it. It’s a complicated story, and I don’t know all of it. Let’s go si
t down.” Carla turned and walked to the plush charcoal-gray top to the stone bench.
Risa followed and sat. “Doesn’t Ram need to find his soul mirror?”
“He has found her. Her name’s Shayla Banfield, and she’s on the run from him because their mating will bring out magic she doesn’t want.” Carla sighed heavily. “The bird is driving him to find Shayla and will kill him with electrical energy if he doesn’t, but his heart belongs to Ginny.”
Risa had seen the blue sparks coming from the man’s fingertips. Love had caused Risa’s mom to make bad decisions, and now it looked like it was causing Ram and Ginny to do the same thing. “Then he needs to forget Ginny and convince Shayla.”
“He won’t. What he and Ginny have…” Carla shrugged in a helpless gesture. “He’s willing to die for it.”
Risa studied the shadows stretching out over the patio that reminded her of the souls trapped within her, looming bigger and longer each day. Marking her. She wasn’t someone a man would love. Nor did she want to fall in love and give anyone that kind of power over her. Her mother had been weak, becoming a monster to please the man she loved.
Reining in her thoughts, she said, “Ginny’s in danger. Maybe it’s from Ram, but it feels bigger than that.” She hated this, worrying about someone she’d barely even met. “Just wanted to warn you since you seem to be friends.”
Carla watched her. “How do you know? Are you an empath?”
Risa pulled her mouth tight. “No, but when I’m around someone who feels threatened, it triggers a compulsion in my magic.”
“That must be hard, especially given how risky it is for you to shield.”
Failure was hard, and the guilt? Unbearable. “I can usually control it. I don’t shield unless I want to.”
“Like when you shielded the men from the hellfire in Linc’s house. Even knowing what you’d suffer after.” Carla’s eyes clouded with yellow. “Thank you, Risa. Sutton’s immortal, but it’s possible that hellfire could have killed him.”
Risa shrugged it off, uncomfortable with Carla’s gratitude. “Thanks for trying to help me last night. I know you were shocked.”
“Concerned,” the witch answered. “I just…Linc is…”
“Special.” Sensing a theme here, she clarified for Carla, “I get why you’re worried.” After all, Carla had witnessed the soul screams. “But I’m not going to be in his life permanently. We both know we’re not right for each other long term. I can’t be the witch you’d wish for Linc, but I can be the witch who frees him of the bloodlust.” That had to mean something. She wanted to be more in Linc’s memory than just another woman he slept with.
Carla tilted her head. “You’ll need him to help you funnel your magic. The soul-mirror bond, it’s not some piece of engineering where you follow three steps and it’s done. It’s a living entity and must be kept alive, or you’ll lose your familiar, the bird in Linc, and your high magic.”
Concern rippled over Risa. “What about him? What happens to Linc if I’m gone? The curse won’t come back, will it?” Anxiety ate at her guts.
“No. But the wings will die off. He’ll just be a very strong witch hunter.”
Relief calmed her. Getting control of her emotions, she looked at the other witch. “Will you still help me try to find Kendall?”
Carla caught Risa’s hand. “Of course.”
Shock coursed through her body at the contact. She stiffened but didn’t pull away.
“Go ahead and summon your magic,” Carla instructed. “Then I’ll begin adding mine.”
Risa shut out the feeling of the other woman’s hand around hers, opened her first chakra and the next three quickly followed. Power streamed out, looping through her chakras and gaining strength. Magic swelled, creating an adrenaline rush and making her body feel alive and vital. Tingles raced along her skin, and her breasts tightened.
The same thing happened when Linc touched her. Desire. But Linc wasn’t here, so she shouldn’t feel it now. Shame rose. What would Carla think? Uneasy, she called her magic back.
At that second, a new power surged into her, fast and strong, weaving with her magic. Thickening and pulsing.
She couldn’t get a hold of her witchcraft. Instead, the sensation filled her. Everything engorged until her breasts ached and belly fluttered. The caress of a soft breeze made her shiver and almost moan. She clenched her jaw against the onslaught of vivid sensations, as if a dormant part of her was awakening. It was too much.
“Risa, you’re pushing out my magic. What’s wrong?”
“I…” She jerked her hand from Carla, unable to bear the touch. Chills broke out on her skin. Tingles of awareness. She willed her magic to calm and cool.
Detach.
But it kept pulsing until everything throbbed, even between her legs.
Desire. Too much, too sexual. It was in her magic and rushing, racing, desperate for…
Linc.
His image appeared in her mind, the way he’d looked as he’d touched her face, then brushed his mouth over hers, trailed kisses down her jaw, the tender skin of her throat. That moment when he’d opened his mouth and licked her collarbone. Sucked.
The throb between her legs bloomed hotter, heavier.
Everything hurt. Need clawed at her.
The need for Linc.
* * *
Linc pulled into the garage, got out and waited for the SUV holding Sutton and Ram. Once they arrived a few minutes later and jumped out, he said, “Find any sign?” He’d wanted to be out there with the two men searching the Strip for Archer and Kendall, but he’d needed to secure Baron’s cooperation.
“It’s a goddamned disaster.” Sutton shut the car door. “Fires still burning, power out, debris in the streets.”
“No sign of the spawn or baby.” Ram started heading out of the garage.
Linc took a step, and a wave of powerful magic slammed into him. He stumbled at the impact. Catching himself, he snapped his head up. “Risa.”
“Jesus, Dillinger.” Ram bent over, his hands on his thighs, panting beneath the bloodlust. “Go mate her before she destroys us.”
Linc fought down a wave of possessive anger. No one talked about Risa like she was a dog to be bred. But the rational part of his brain recognized Ram was right. The witch was in extreme danger. Any one of the three of them—Ram, Eli or him—could snap and kill her. That propelled him into action. He raced for the door, going through the tunnel into the laundry room, when he heard Carla’s voice.
“Trust me, and I can help.”
Sutton’s mate meant well, but asking Risa to trust in someone? He knew better than anyone she couldn’t do that. Judging by the strain in Carla’s tone, Risa had hit some trouble. He raced through the kitchen, dining room and into the library, where he spotted a partially eaten sandwich resting on a plate atop the worktables.
Turning his gaze to the patio, he sucked in a breath. Risa had dropped to her knees, bent over with her arms wrapped around herself. Her hair fell forward, shielding her face, but he could see her normally silver-blue witch shimmer had threads of red and yellow. Her scent carried the too-sweet bite of pain.
Linc leapt forward, rushing out to his witch.
Carla, hunched down beside Risa, looked up. Her hazel eyes swirled. “Her magic is out of control, and I can’t get past it to help her. The blood you gave her last night must have opened the soul-mirror connection more, and it’s too much for her to handle.”
Damn it, he shouldn’t have left her. She needed his falcon. Needed him. He resisted his first impulse to lift Risa and hold her tight. Using every shred of self-control he had, he said, “Move back, Carla.”
Without a word, the witch got up and went to stand by the sliding glass door to the library.
He walked to the front of Risa, sat down on the stones and stretched his legs out so that she was on his left.
She shuddered violently.
Her power slapped at him in undisciplined waves. He could only imagine what
it was doing to her. “Risa, I’m here, love. All you have to do is let me help you. The bird’s here too. Do you feel him? He wants to help you get your magic under control.”
“Can’t.”
God, he had to touch her to make this better. “Come here, baby. We can do it together.”
She desperately shook her head.
He gently stroked the fingers wrapped tightly around her arm. “It’s okay.”
She looked up.
Linc’s breath caught at the sight of her huge, haunted eyes. The bird tugged and pulled on Linc’s back, trying to get to Risa.
“It’s not just magic. It’s hot need leaking through.” Her voice cracked. “Something broke.”
Drumbeats of rage exploded in his mind while the bird shrieked in fury. He got it. She felt desire, something he was given to understand was normal and natural for witches when summoning their magic. But Risa had seen too much of the dark side of sexuality.
The bird shifted, his entire being telegraphing that he wanted to wrap around her, protect her from what she had suffered.
Risa, strong and resilient, had found a way to protect herself by having her magic numb her sexuality. And now by beginning their bond with the blood exchange, he’d ripped away her only coping mechanism, revealing the festering wounds beneath.
His entire world narrowed in that moment. Nothing else mattered, not the shredding of his veins by her magic, not the pounding in his dick, not even the threat of losing his soul.
Nothing mattered but this witch.
Glancing up at Carla, he was grateful when she got the message, nodded once and went inside the library. He heard the door close, leaving them alone. No one would disturb them in this private time between him and Risa.
Turning back to his soul mirror, he stroked her fingers again, using the tiny contact to keep the bloodlust controlled. With his other hand, he cupped her jaw lightly, just enough to keep her with him. Appealing to her tough side, he asked, “Risa, do you want to control your magic and desire, or do you want them to control you?”
She panted but managed to shove her shoulders back and raise her chin. “I want to be in control.”
Caged Magic Page 13
