by Lexi Blake
Sloane watched as Eddie brought in a tray of coffee and tea. The brownies followed with plate after plate of tiny sandwiches and scones and clotted cream. They all had red eyes as though they’d been crying.
I stopped the one closest to me as she placed the food on the coffee table. “I’m sorry about your sister.”
Her head bowed. “Thank you, mistress. Racha will be sorely missed. She did her duties with such devotion. Like last night.”
“What do you mean?” I hated the thought that the brownie had survived so much, a war on another plane, being a refugee, only to die here when she’d been peacefully fishing.
The brownie spoke quietly as Eddie explained the offerings to our guests. “When we heard there had been a glass broken in your room, we all thought we should clean it up but then you were…”
“Boinking like it was the only thing that could save my sanity,” I offered.
She flushed. “Yes, mistress. None of us wanted to interrupt you, but Racha was nervous that you or the masters might cut yourselves.”
Trent leaned over, his words quiet, too. “She waited for an appropriate moment.”
“You saw her come in?” He hadn’t mentioned it to me.
“You had fallen into a peaceful stupor after everything Gray and I did to you,” he replied. “She snuck in but normally my sniffer can catch pretty much anything.” He glanced to where Fen was giggling with Lee. He shook it off. “She cleaned up the glass. You did a number on it, baby. She cut herself but managed to get it all up.”
“She wasn’t feeling well this morning,” her sister admitted. “But she still insisted upon doing her part. We thought the fresh air would help.”
“You lost a brownie?” Lord Sloane asked, his eyes sharp.
I didn’t want to pierce the good mood Fen seemed to be in with more talk about death. I looked to Eddie. “Could you take the boys and stuff them with food that will clog their arteries a couple of decades down the line?”
Eddie nodded. “Of course, mistress. Young masters, please come with me. Master Fen, we must get you fed. You’re far too thin. I have chicken nuggets and ice cream that will do the trick.”
The boys were off in a shot and Eddie looked pleased to have someone to take care of. The brownies bowed, but I noticed that they backed out of the room. Since they’d never done that to me or Trent, I had to figure it was all about our guests.
“Yes,” I replied as Liv passed me a cup of coffee. She’d sugared and creamed that sucker up properly. “Earlier today we discovered one of our brownies had been killed.”
“Was it the wolf?” The witch had poured herself a cup of tea. I’d heard her comment that she wouldn’t pollute her body with caffeine. Of course, she’d sold her soul to a Hell lord for power, so I thought she should rethink her life choices, but that was just me.
“I’m not sure.” I wasn’t giving away a damn thing. If Sloane thought for a second the wolf who’d killed his witches was the little boy running through our halls, he would slaughter him in a heartbeat, and then we would have another problem. “Those killings all happened at night. This was during the day.”
“Well, I can promise you that massive wolf that tore up Aurora needs to be stopped,” the witch who’d been introduced as Celine said.
“Yes, that is what I intended, Celine.” Lord Sloane picked up the vodka Eddie had brought with the other more normal afternoon snacks. He knocked it back and poured himself another. “I certainly didn’t intend to send the Nex Apparatus on an all-inclusive vacation where she and her wolf could practice their parenting skills. Where is my son, by the way?”
“He hasn’t been feeling well.” I wasn’t sure how to bring up my worries about Gray. “He’s resting right now.”
He was asleep. I’d checked on him. He’d taken the medication meant to stave off the headaches that came when he tried to force a vision and not even the alarm had woken him up.
Sloane sighed. “He’s always been a stubborn boy. Is the tonic no longer working? That academic doctor concocted something to help Gray fight off the headaches. Of course the simplest solution would be to concentrate on his prophet duties. He should do nothing but allow the visions to come. He needs a companion around him at all times to record what he says.”
I was sure it would be a demonic companion. I was getting a preview of what Gray’s life would be like on the Hell plane. “It does seem to be getting worse.”
Sloane leaned in. “I can help him, Kelsey. He’s a dark prophet. The heavenly tricks won’t work on him.”
“Somehow I don’t think Gray wants your help,” Trent said.
“Your opinion is not required, Mr. Wilcox.” Sloane kept his gaze on me. “This doesn’t have to be a terrible thing for him. He’s going to get worse, and all the tricks the academics come up with won’t save him. He should descend early and find some peace. I could work on the contract to allow him a bit more freedom. If I had Grayson, I wouldn’t need these witches.”
Celine frowned. “We are working very hard, My Lord.”
He waved that off. “You can’t possibly touch what a dark prophet could do, but you’re all I have for now and I need this to work. Look, the reason I’m here is another witch has been found dead. Just last night. I replaced the last one and now I’m down to twelve again. For the ritual to work, I need thirteen, and I need you and Trent here to go and make sure the area is secure.”
I shook my head. “Not going to happen. We’re leaving for Dallas tonight.”
Liv sighed, pouring her own cup of coffee. “Thank god. This place gives me the creeps. Someone is working some mojo out in the woods. I’m sure of it.”
Celine nodded. “I got that feeling, too. I was going to cast a spell to show what is hidden but then I found Aurora’s eviscerated body and decided I probably don’t want to know. She was out there alone casting a prosperity spell. I told her not to go.”
“Minions,” Casey said with a shake of his head. “They never listen.” He caught Lord Sloane’s stare and was suddenly super interested in the tablet in his hand. “I think I’ll go and let Eddie know we need to pack up.”
He stood and excused himself. Liv rolled her eyes his way and said something that might have been coward.
“Between Gray being off and the whole crazy Lupus Solum situation, you can see that we need to regroup.” I gave him my best “super sorry but we’re retreating” shrug.
I was going to dump the whole problem in Marcus’s lap. Maybe it made me a coward, but I needed the academics to help me with this one. If Fen had killed the witches while he was in his wolf form, I needed Hugo to work out a defense. I needed Henri to figure out what was going on that a kid Fen’s age was the single strongest wolf I’d ever encountered. And I needed Marcus to deal with the Council.
Trent and I needed to figure out what to do about Gray.
And Lee. My problems were racking up and I was starting to feel the pressure.
Trent’s hand reached out, his skin sliding along mine. He turned my hand over and threaded our fingers together. He sent me a look that let me know he could take care of me at any time.
My wolf didn’t care that we were having tea with a Hell lord. I was the important thing in his mind.
“There’s not going to be a ritual,” Celine insisted.
Sloane’s eyes narrowed.
She shook her head. “You can be scary all you like but the coven has discussed this. We’ve lost too many members to this thing. You can kill us for not obeying and then we get dragged to Hell. Or that thing can massacre us and we still get dragged to Hell. Besides, you know not a one of us can concentrate when we’re worried about getting taken apart and having something lick up every ounce of blood we have.”
He shook his head my way. “The things I have planned for them on the Hell plane.”
“My family’s contract states plainly you must protect us while we’re here,” Celine insisted. She looked back toward the door. “Was that a satan I saw? Could we get him
back here? I would like a ruling.”
“What you saw was a freak and he’s dedicated to watching the children and fixing his betters sandwiches,” Sloane explained with a roll of his eyes. “We don’t need a satan. I’ll follow the rules of the contract. God, I’m going to devour your soul, bitch.”
If Celine was worried, she didn’t show it. “Not today. My family has an ironclad contract. If you want my coven to work that spell tonight, you’ll protect us.”
Every muscle in Sloane’s body was tense. “I’ll let Wilcox off the hook. No more outcast status. If the witches can do their work tonight, your wolf can come home. I’ll take care of Lupus Solum. They won’t come near this place. Tomorrow you can leave, but tonight I need your help. One night and then the witches can find another freaking ley line.”
Celine nodded. “I’ll be more than happy to leave.”
Now he had my attention. “You can handle the cult?”
“Of course I can,” he said, sounding slightly weary.
“No,” Trent said. “We leave today.”
Liv looked at me. “I don’t know. This solves a lot of your problems. Having Trent back would be nothing but good for you.”
“Yes,” Trent agreed. “It’s far too good to be true. He’s planning something.”
I looked to Sloane. “What are the witches doing?”
“I’ve told you, I have witches dealing with my prophecy issues,” Sloane replied. “We have delicate negotiations coming up with King Daniel and the Council. It is and always has been my House’s job to advise Lord Lucifer. My particular House was bred for divination and prophecy, and we have long lines of empaths, the strongest of whom Trent killed last year at the behest of the king.”
“I did that all on my own,” Trent replied.
“If there was any chance of proving Donovan was behind it, I would have called all of Hell down on the king’s head, but he’s a tricky one,” Sloane admitted. “Our contract with Vampire is in an extension phase, and though we’re supposed to follow the previous contract, it’s legal muddle. Though I also suspect that wolf there would cover for the king.”
“Nothing to cover up. I killed Nemcox, who had also broken the rules by kidnapping Neil Roberts. I killed him because he was trying to force my mate to sign a contract,” Trent pointed out.
“Nevertheless, the point is my House can’t function without prophecy,” Sloane complained. “Nemcox served a purpose. He wasn’t the strongest demon, but he could read emotions like no other. It was a valuable service we could provide. With Grayson’s contract not yet enforceable, I am in a weakened state. The spell the witches are working will put my House in a better position. Do you understand what could happen if Lord Lucifer decides my House isn’t completing its duties?”
The thought kind of made me gleeful. “You get punished? Ohhh, or killed? Would he do that ‘eat your soul’ thing?”
Liv elbowed me, but I was already wondering what happened to Gray’s contract if Sloane died a painful, horrible death. If we could get Gray out of his contract that way, I was all for it. I wouldn’t even have to get my hands dirty.
Sloane’s jaw tightened and there was the faintest tinge of red to his eyes. “He would demote us all, and that includes Grayson. You think it’s going to be bad now? We don’t torture souls in our House. Well, not as a job. We do that for recreational fun. Torture as a job is for the lower Houses. Do you want Gray to spend his days pulling out the bowels of the damned and feeding them to the hell hounds? Or would you prefer he sits in a comfortable room with many servants as he uses his power to see the future? It’s really your choice, girl.”
“I’m not the one who chose to serve Lucifer,” I shot back. “And neither did Gray. You made that choice for him.”
“Grayson was bred for this,” Sloane replied. “Don’t pretend like it doesn’t happen on the Earth plane. The wolf there was bred for a reason. He chose to walk away from it. He could lead his own pack.”
“I’m lazy that way.” Trent brought my hand up to his chest as though letting me know he wasn’t going to get emotional and I shouldn’t either.
But I couldn’t not be emotional about this. I pulled away from him and squared off with Gray’s father. “He’s his own person. You had no right. Legacies shouldn’t be allowed, and I assure you I’ll be talking to the king about bringing it up during the negotiations.”
Celine nodded my way. “You go, girl. I think it sucks. My mother’s a crazy bitch. I’m not looking forward to all that time on the Hell plane.”
Sloane’s eyes flared and then he seemed to calm. “What you don’t understand, little girl, is every single one of us is a legacy. No one can outrun fate. You certainly couldn’t. Our fathers’ fates always inform our own. You can try to run. You can pretend to be your own person, but it always comes back to haunt you. You should know that most of all, Hunter.”
Blood informs blood. Gray had said that and I knew it was a piece of the puzzle. Somehow Sloane’s words sent a shiver through me.
Trent stood up beside me and took my hand again. Stubborn man wouldn’t let me get truly angry.
“What are you doing here?” Gray walked in, his eyes bloodshot.
Sloane stood up and held a hand out to his son, who utterly ignored it. Sloane shook his head and sat back down. “I’m making a deal with your bit…lovely fiancée. You look a little sick, son. Could that be because you refuse to spend time on the Hell plane? You talk a lot about how you need Earth plane energy, but you’re a dark prophet. You would feel better if you came home even for a bit.”
“Where you can force me to work for you? I think not.” Gray looked down at the place where Trent’s hand held mine. His own hand went to his side and I had to wonder if his tattoo was tingling. That dragon of his responded to both me and Trent. Did it heat up the minute we were all in the same room? “I’m going to see Meredith. Let me know when he’s gone.”
He turned and walked out and I wasn’t sure if he meant his father or Trent.
Sloane’s eyes went to where Trent and I were connected. “It can’t do Grayson any good to have to deal with your obvious affection for the werewolf. I understand that you need him to balance the she-wolf inside, but have you considered the fact that there’s magic out there that can silence her? You could be yourself again. Just Kelsey.”
“Sure, I could do that,” Celine said. “It’s a soul spell. I could lock that she-wolf up nice and tight.”
Liv stood and looked way scarier than normal. “You send a spell her way and I’ll kill you where you stand.”
Celine’s face went cold. “I’d love to see you try.”
Sloane put a hand out. “Think before you make bitchy statements. We need thirteen witches and she’s the only one around.”
“Good luck with that.” Liv started to turn away.
“I thought you would help your friend,” Sloane said. “After all, I will ensure that Trent can never go back to Council headquarters and Grayson will descend no matter what she wants. She’ll be alone, and then what will happen? She can become an outcast with only her she-wolf getting what she needs. That might work for a while, but I assure you eventually the Council will have to put her down.”
Trent’s hand tightened around mine. “Why don’t you give us a couple of minutes to discuss the situation? If we deal with the problem, would you be satisfied? It’s a full moon tonight. When do you need to do your spell?”
Sloane stood, straightening his suitcoat. “Midnight. I have to have the situation dealt with before we go into negotiations with the king. Now that Myrddin is back, things will move along quickly.”
“What does Myrddin have to do with the negotiations?” I didn’t want him anywhere near the Council at all.
Sloane arched an aristocratic brow my way. “Everything, my dear. Myrddin shall sit at the king’s side during the negotiations. He’s the bridge between the worlds. He’s finally taking his place at the right side of the king.”
“What is that
supposed to mean?” I asked. “The king doesn’t have any sides left. He’s got the queen and Dev.”
“Such a literal thing, but then there’s a reason you’re the muscle of the family,” Sloane said with a sniff of disdain. “Myrddin serves the King of the Sword. He’s always advised the man who holds Excalibur. We were all shocked when King Daniel was given the sword and Myrddin didn’t stay on to advise him. It’s likely the very reason his reign has been such a spectacularly failed one.”
“He freed the slaves,” I pointed out. “He brought the supernatural world together.”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m talking about,” Sloane replied as though I’d proven his point. “I’m going to find that little satan. I assume you have room for me.”
Before I could explain that we absolutely didn’t have room for him, he walked away.
Celine reached for another chicken salad sandwich. “I’ll take you out to the place where the killings occurred. It’s not far from here. But I swear if I die on your watch, I’ll be a spirit haunting your ass forever. I’ve heard I can apply on the Hell plane and everything.”
Trent’s hand tightened around mine.
Going back to Dallas might not be an option, not if Myrddin was waiting there.
“It’s going to be okay,” he whispered, pulling me into his arms.
I prayed he wasn’t lying.
Chapter Fifteen
“It’s a trap, you know,” Casey was saying as I walked into the room we’d designated as our office of sorts. Casey had been putting together everything we knew about the murders, but his conspiracy board wasn’t exactly loaded up with helpful information.
A trick and a trap. Yeah, I was on the lookout for those. “Of course it is, but what am I supposed to do? I’ve got to keep suspicion off us for a while, and I did promise to solve the murders. Liv, are we safe with that man in our house?”
Liv had followed behind Trent and myself, leaving Celine in the parlor under the watchful eyes of the brownies. Oh, they had strict instructions not to get in the way of anything the dark witch did, but they were to come running at the first sign of anything suspicious.
