Magic After Dark Boxed Set (Six Book Bundle)

by Deanna Chase

  Did he really care what happened to me? That’s stupid. Of course he cares. We dated for over a year. He turned into a vampire, not a monster. But just because he doesn’t want to see you dead doesn’t mean he wants you.

  The thought brought on a rush of painful memories. I pushed them aside, resolve hardening my heart.

  He sighed, the human gesture looking very out of place on his now-chiseled features. Vampires didn’t sigh. They didn’t even need to breathe. “I don’t know who. One of my boss’s contacts informed him of a plan to abduct you. I overheard the conversation and wanted to warn you.”

  I leaned back against the window, my brows furrowed in confusion. “But you were surprised to see me last night. What were you doing there?”

  “Looking for Phoebe. I was going to tell her.”

  “And you just happened to know where I was going to be?” Phoebe asked “Yeah, right. Sounds suspicious, Laveaux.”

  David’s intense gaze bored into mine, and for a moment I wondered if he’d even heard Phoebe. “I didn’t know where she would be,” he said to me. “I was on my way to your house when I saw her car. Then I saw you sitting against the oak with your suitcase like you were checking into the cemetery. I was going to meet you at your house, but then you went tearing off onto a rooftop. I couldn’t leave you there by yourself. Don’t you understand?” He paused and leaned forward. “Your life’s in danger.”

  The concern in his voice brought fresh tears to my eyes. I blinked them back. When had I turned into such a blubbering idiot? “I’m an agent of the Void. I can take care of myself.”

  “Sure, after you let the cemetery drain your energy. And then were almost taken out by a master vampire. Yeah, you looked like you were doing fine.”

  Smart-ass. Who was he to judge? Suddenly a question I’d been holding back came rushing out. “Why did you volunteer to be a double agent against the Cryrique? That’s a good way to get dead…I mean really dead.”

  “I can handle it.”

  “The same way you handled not getting turned?” I said it to piss him off, anger bubbling in my chest at the way he dismissed my concerns. He’d left, and now he wanted to protect me—and worse, spend twenty-four hours a day together for however long I was stuck with him. And he couldn’t even do me the courtesy of acknowledging the danger he’d put himself in on my behalf.

  Sadness clouded his midnight-blue eyes. “It was my choice, Wil. I asked to be turned.”

  His words silenced me. He’d asked to be turned. How? Why? He couldn’t have. Not my David. Sweet, gentle, always-there-for-me David. My mouth worked as I tried to form words. Finally I spit out, “When?”

  He turned, staring out the window.

  “David?” I whispered.

  Phoebe glanced at me, her eyes wide with curiosity. I clutched Link and waited. When it became clear he wasn’t going to answer, I switched gears. “Do you think someone at Cryrique is after me? Is that why you turned double agent?”

  Slowly, he turned toward me and shook his head. “I don’t think so. But they’re interested in you, otherwise why would they care? Vampires don’t usually involve themselves in other races’ business. The only way I could make sure you were safe was to get the Void to let me be your partner, and the only way to do that was to turn double agent.”

  “And to save yourself from a murder rap,” Phoebe added.

  “What?” I cried.

  “I didn’t kill anybody, Phoebe, and you know it. The Void would never let me in if they thought I did.”

  She didn’t look convinced. We both knew Maude was known to not only push boundaries, but to erase them altogether to get what she wanted. When I’d accidentally discovered the Influence formula—one I didn’t want to pursue—Maude learned of it and forced me into producing the stuff. She’d threatened to take the formula to a competitor, where I’d have no control over who used the dangerous concoction. I hated her for it. All my instincts said this situation had Maude’s greed written all over it.

  David couldn’t be a killer, could he? My stomach rolled. I snuck a glance at him. Impossible. The muscle pulsing in his jaw radiated with righteous indignation like it always did when Phoebe suggested something outrageous. Relief swept through me. Part of my David still remained inside his new persona.

  “Have you eaten?” I asked, trying to appear normal. As if asking my ex if he needed blood was any kind of normal.

  David flinched.

  “What? You have to eat, and we have somewhere to be in an hour. We need to know if we’ll have to stop for you to feed.”

  Phoebe parked the car in front of our house and twisted. “Well, do you?”

  “No. I’m fine.”

  “Good,” she said. “We don’t have time anyway.”

  “Where’s he going to sleep?” I asked Phoebe as we all filed out of the car.

  “Somewhere with no windows.” She unlocked the front door and deposited her bag on a distressed side table in the entryway.

  “We don’t have any rooms without windows. You’ll have to charm one of them.” I eyed David, who stared warily at Link. He’d started snarling again as soon as the vampire entered the house.

  “Link, that’s enough! Go.” I pointed toward the stairs leading to the second floor.

  The Shih Tzu shot me a look of disgust and quit growling, but didn’t move. I sighed. It was progress.

  “Sure we do,” Phoebe called from the hallway.

  “Huh?”

  “We have a windowless room. It’s upstairs.”

  “No we…Crap! You mean my walk-in closet?”

  “That’s the one,” she quipped.

  “Oh, no. David isn’t staying in my room. What would I do with all my clothes?”

  “Your closet isn’t exactly your room,” Phoebe reasoned as she walked back into the living room carrying a handful of defense charms.

  “But he has to walk through my room to get to it.” I folded my arms over my chest. “It isn’t practical.”

  Phoebe opened her mouth to reply, but David interrupted by clearing his throat.

  “What?” we said at the same time.

  “Since I sleep during the day, it shouldn’t be a problem if I occupy your closet. If you don’t mind, of course. I would feel much more comfortable there than in a room that has windows…even if they are charmed to block light.”

  Phoebe grinned. “Don’t trust me, huh? Smart vampire.”

  “Trust isn’t the issue. Spells and wards can be broken. I’d prefer to not be caught unaware, especially since I’m now in a volatile situation.” He caught my eye and waited.

  I threw my hands up. “Fine. But you’re going to buy me one of those freestanding closets in the meantime.”

  David nodded his assent.

  Phoebe laughed, then sobered as she checked her watch. “We’ve got a meeting to plan for.”

  ***

  “This way,” David said, leading me past a line of patrons waiting to get inside The Red Door—the most famous vampire jazz club on Frenchmen Street.

  I followed, keeping my distance. It was one thing to go to the meeting together; it was entirely another to act friendly about it. He was a vampire, after all.

  Vampires. What was I doing here? Unease ran through my limbs, making me fidget with the glass bracelet I wore on my wrist. Through my worry, I barely noticed David’s vampire energy. I paused. Why didn’t I feel as though I were underwater? David was right in front of me, and the club had to contain at least one other vampire—the one we were meeting. Was David’s proximity dulling my senses? God. What else was going to go wrong?

  David nodded to the bouncer and we walked in unchecked.

  “Huh,” I mused, trying to put everything else out of my mind. “The door isn’t red, after all.”

  “You’ve never been here?”

  I shook my head. Vampires never caused trouble on Frenchmen Street. The profits from tourists ensured humans were kept safe. Phoebe and I’d never had a reason to work in the area.


  “The club is named for a state of being, not the color of the door.”

  “Good thing, since it’s blue.” I wanted to ask what he meant by “a state of being,” but the band kicked in, and I didn’t want to yell. Instead, David led the way to a secluded table in the back.

  “Now what?” I shouted.

  “We wait.”

  I sat, scanning the smoke-filled room for Phoebe, but I didn’t see her anywhere. Of course, she had to be disguised. She could be a middle-aged chain-smoker with blue eye shadow downing scotch. Unless I looked carefully, I’d never know.

  Besides, I had Phoebe’s new magically enhanced bug—a sterling silver brooch in the shape of a beetle—in my pocket. Somehow it transmitted everything it heard to another beetle, and Phoebe assured me whatever happened, she’d know about it. It was the same one she’d planted on David when she’d taken him in for questioning. Since he was knocked out, they hadn’t forced him through the security radar. They’d let Phoebe search him. That was how she’d known about his deal.

  Please let her be close by. Tension pulsed through my core in time with the bass. I longed for a couple of shots of my magically enhanced spiced rum. The mundane stuff wasn’t nearly strong enough to combat the massive waves of anxiety making my wings tremble.

  Two songs later, the sax player of Unstrung Blues launched into a slow, sad melody. David stood, holding a hand out. “That’s our cue.”

  Great, a death march.

  I rose, walking past his outstretched hand. I’d made the mistake of letting him touch me once. It wouldn’t happen again.

  He dropped his hand, confusion flickering over his features. We stood uncomfortably for a moment, then he nodded toward a poorly lit hallway. “That way.”

  I took the lead, peering through the dark, smoky lounge, still fruitlessly searching for Phoebe. As I turned to enter the narrow hallway, a cold, dull ache riveted through the small of my back. I flinched and took several steps, putting plenty of space between me and David.

  Son of a…How many times before had he reached out to guide me? Before, when he hadn’t been a vampire. When the gesture seemed natural. I forced myself to meet his eyes and immediately regretted it. Something very close to pain flickered through them before they turned cold with that uncaring expression vampires were known for. I swallowed. Why did that upset me so much?

  “Sorry. It won’t happen again.” He clasped his hands behind his back.

  “It’s not…” What could I say? It’s not you, it’s me? It was him and the fact that he’d turned vampire. I couldn’t bear his touch, no matter how gentle. Memories of what used to be filled my mind, making my heart break again.

  “Let’s go,” he said, his tone matching his expressionless features.

  “David.” I held out a hand, intending to catch his arm, but snatched it back at the last moment.

  He stared at my hand, then met my eyes in an unflinching gaze.

  “I’m sorry. It’s not you. I mean not you, personally. It’s…” Gods, can I ever finish a sentence?

  “Forget it. Follow me.” He opened a door I hadn’t noticed, revealing a steep set of stairs, and started to climb.

  Chapter 6

  Guilt made me drag my feet up the wooden steps. My rejection of even a small touch must have made me seem petty. Prejudiced, even. I took a deep breath and focused. He couldn’t have thought I’d just accept his new identity. I mean, faeries and vamps don’t mix. Ever.

  I stared at David’s long legs and realized something was off. Well, more off than the fact I was headed into a vamp lair. His energy was back in full force, clinging to me like static, but I still couldn’t feel any other vamps. Who exactly was I meeting? A corporate lackey? Now I was irritated. All the drama of a written invitation and an ominous phone call and I didn’t even rate a face-to-face with the boss.

  David rapped twice on the lacquered oak door. After a few moments it swung open. No one stood on the other side. It had to be magic. How else would the door open on its own? Vampires didn’t possess the type of power to produce spells, but that didn’t mean they didn’t have a witch on staff. I wished there was some way to warn Phoebe.

  David stepped aside. “Ladies first.”

  Every nerve in my body screamed to stay put, my feet as heavy as cement blocks. The last thing I wanted to do was turn my back on a vampire, even David. But I couldn’t bear to see his cold, dead stare when he realized I didn’t trust him.

  I flashed a smile, praying it looked sincere, and forced myself to walk into the room. The vampire energy swirled so strong my lungs seized in protest. My knees buckled. I clutched the back of a velvet settee and steadied myself. Either my gift was way the hell off, or the vamps had found a way to conceal their energy.

  Panic coiled in my stomach. What if my power was malfunctioning? And right after I’d caught the attention of the most powerful vamp corporation within five hundred miles.

  Worst. Timing. Ever.

  No. They had to be using a concealment charm. Their energy weighed me down like a two-ton anchor. But why? Did they know I could sense them? My wings twitched, ready for flight. It took every ounce of self-control to not spread them in a display of weakness.

  A teenage male wearing a custom suit rose from behind the mahogany desk and moved to stand in front of the behemoth mass of gleaming wood. He leaned back, oozing confidence and casual grace. The boy…no, not a boy at all. He was a vampire. An old one, judging by the way he commanded the attention of everyone in the room. He held his hand out in greeting. “Ms. Rhoswen. I am delighted you were able to accommodate my late invitation.”

  Amused. If I had to choose one word to describe his demeanor, it would be amused. As if I’d been summoned for sheer entertainment in a game of predator versus prey.

  I’d be damned if I was going to let him intimidate me. Boldly, I reached out and clasped his hand. A mind-blowing, icy numbness snaked up my arm. I ground my teeth together and forced myself not to flinch. Not even when he bent and pressed his cold, hard lips to my fingers.

  “What a pleasure it is to meet New Orleans’ most-prized faery,” he said.

  Prized? Since when?

  I gently withdrew my hand from his grip. I was desperate to clutch it to my chest but let it fall helplessly to my side. How long until the frostbite wore off? I tilted my head, considering him. “I’m sorry. I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced.”

  A knowing laugh escaped his wide, angular mouth. “Of course. Pardon my lack of manners.” He held out an arm to a gorgeous blonde, who slid easily into his grasp. “This is Pandora, and those two over there are Carter and Tanner.” The blonde nodded a hello, her attention barely wavering from her man. The other two vampires continued to stare at me, saying nothing.

  “And of course you already know Davidson.” His lips twitched. “I understand you two have history.”

  I raised my eyebrows but said nothing.

  He laughed. “Of course, that isn’t my business.” His tone implied it was very much his business. And just like that, the amusement faded, and his true colors shone in full spectrum: domineering, impatient, dangerous.

  David stepped forward. “Willow, this is my boss and maker, Eadric Allcot.” He gave a slight nod and stepped back.

  “You have nothing to fear, Ms. Rhoswen. You’re an invited guest. No harm will come to you this night,” Allcot drawled.

  This night. What the hell am I doing here? “That’s good, since I’m not really fit for consumption, as you probably already know.”

  The room went silent as my words sank in. It wasn’t exactly a secret I was the creator of Sunshine, a drink I’d created to discourage vampire bites. The potion made faery blood impossibly bitter and unappetizing. Too bad it didn’t work for humans; it might have saved David. Or not, since he’d asked to be turned. Allcot held my gaze. The intensity made my skin crawl and one wing twitched involuntarily.

  His laugh started as a chuckle, then blossomed as his companions
joined in. “I knew I’d enjoy our meeting.”

  Tired of the theatrics, I straightened my spine and got right to the point. “Why did you summon me here, Mr. Allcot?”

  His smile disappeared as he narrowed his eyes. “Bored of me already?”

  Shrugging one shoulder, I dug my nails into the velvet settee. “I could say I’m dying to know what you want from me, but we both know it isn’t true. Maybe we should just get down to business.”

  David cleared his throat, shifting slightly so he ended up almost brushing my arm.

  He always was protective.

  “Relax, Davidson. Your girlfriend is safe,” Allcot said.

  David nodded once, but didn’t move.

  I opened my mouth to deny the association, but caught myself before I blew his cover. Double agent, remember, Willow?

  Allcot said something into his companion’s ear and gave her a slow, sensuous kiss, which she returned with vigor. With one last lick of her bottom lip, he sent her off toward the other two vampires, who’d been watching in rapture. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. The whole thing made me long for a hot shower.

  “Very well.” Allcot turned his attention to me. “Since it appears the niceties are over, I won’t waste any more of your time. It has come to my attention that my young one here,” he said, nodding his head toward David, “is now working with the Void. And you in particular.”

  My breath vanished, and I had trouble refilling my lungs. What. The. Hell? “What makes you think that?”

  “He told me.”

  Every muscle in my body ached to turn to David. To lash out and maim him. But what if the teenager vampire was bluffing? “Why would he do that?”

  “Because he knows where his loyalties lie. Do you?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Not everyone is as they seem. You’d be better served if you employed more caution with those you keep close.”

  I clenched my fists to keep from slapping the righteous, self-important look from his face. “Are you being cryptic on purpose, or have you completely bought into the master of the universe persona you have going on?”

  His eyes turned dark gray and he lowered his voice. “Be careful, faery. You’re here at my whim.”