Rustling alerted him that she’d risen behind him. Gentle hands settled on his hips, and Daffodil’s body heat radiated into his back.
“You were told to leave,” Phil said, ready to battle the fiend.
The females behind Ezra giggled and tittered as though they had a secret.
“I will go once my other little human battery arrives,” Ezra replied. “I’m sure she’ll be here any moment.”
Daffodil gasped softly, then whispered, “Bernadette.”
Everything suddenly made sense. These creatures were drawing not only sexual energy from their victims, but Ezra, in whatever form he took, was also siphoning the magic from Daffodil and Bernadette.
Headlights appeared through the windows, the beams sweeping into the driveway, followed by another set of lights behind the first. Two trucks slid to a halt below them.
“Ah, she’s finally arrived.”
The self-assured manner with which Ezra spoke pissed Phil off. “Look, you son of a bitch, you’re not touching either woman. You’re trespassing—now leave!”
Laughter rumbled out of Ezra, and Phil recognized it as the same laugh he’d heard at the MC earlier that night.
“You have no power, mortal. You have no magic to defeat me.”
Anger sluiced through Phil’s veins. His inner beast rose, desperate to slay the incubus, desiring to shred him limb from limb, leaving him a bloody heap of limbs and internal organs on the floor, then it would be the succubi’s turn and he’d rip them to pieces too.
“You’re weak,” Ezra stated, “useless and pitiful. You’re a meat puppet that my succubi will feed upon.”
Phil let his beast take control. Tingling rippled across his body. The pain of the metamorphosis almost dropped him to his knees, but he focused on the thought that once he’d shifted, he’d be a hell of a lot more powerful than Ezra ever expected. The chatter of his friends approaching the porch reached him. It sounded like Frank and Beastman. Good. They could help him kill this worthless piece of shit and his bimbo she-demons.
The door had been locked earlier, but Beastman knew where the spare was kept and easily let everyone inside.
“Phil?” Frank hollered.
“Daffodil,” Luella called.
“On the sunporch,” Daffodil answered, “but Ezra has found us.”
Unable to respond, Phil issued a low, pain-filled groan.
The moment Bernadette appeared in the doorway next to Frank, Ezra surged out of the shadows. Stunned by Ezra’s ghastly appearance, Phil used the surprise to propel his transformation. There was no way he’d let Ezra hurt anyone else, especially not Bernadette or his Daffodil.
* * *
The monstrous appearance of Ezra in his true form forced a cry from Daffodil. Although humanoid, his leathery, brick-red skin, extra-long, extra-jointed fingers and toes tipped in shiny claws, his bald head, pointed ears and fangs presented him as an unholy aberration. The realization that this…this thing, this demonic freak had used her body urged bile up her throat. She lunged toward a wastebasket by the end table and vomited in it until nothing she’d eaten or drank at the party remained in her belly.
Bernadette gasped and shrank away as Frank moved between his mate and Ezra.
“What the fuck?” Beastman snapped. “Who the hell let the Exorcist in here?”
“The Exorcist was the priest, you idiot,” Luella snapped back at her mate.
“Whatever that thing is,” Beastman replied and pushed out onto the sunporch, “it’s an abomination.”
“Oh, it’s the big, burly one.” The sexy voice belonged to one of the succubi who stepped into the light to stand next to Ezra. “We can feed on him longer than the others,” she cooed.
Daffodil recognized her as the sweetbutt called Erica, the one she instinctively disliked, and now she knew why. One called Kiki moved away from the corner too, followed by the smallest of the three, Chloe. All three had been at the last two sweetbutt nights she’d witnessed at Frank’s MC as well as tonight’s party in their sexy devil-women costumes.
“You’re the ones who murdered Tony and Ass Crack,” Frank snarled, his face thunderous.
The sinister tone of his voice pushed a shiver down Daffodil’s spine.
The she-demons tittered and hung on one another, kissing each other on the mouths and fondling one another’s breasts.
“Oh, give me a break, you stupid hell sluts!” Luella pushed between her mate and Frank, unholstered a massive revolver from behind her back, leveled it at the devil women and began firing.
The succubi screamed and howled, the sounds deafening. The thwap-thwap of the projectiles hitting their bodies gave Daffodil a sense of satisfaction. Luella continued pumping bullets into the females until all three fell backward together through the plate glass behind the stove. The shatter of glass proved almost as loud as the gun. The howls and shrieks of the she-demons rose from somewhere in the driveway.
“Piss with my clan,” Luella snarled, “and my.44 will pump your asses full of lead.” She moved over to Beastman. “I’m out of bullets, baby.” She sounded disappointed.
Daffodil, her ears ringing with the numerous reports, staggered against the wall. She caught Bernadette’s gaze, and something between them connected, the power raw, primal. They nodded to each other, Daffodil sensing what she might have to do and somehow knowing that Bernadette was aware of it too.
The sound of rending fabric drew Daffodil’s attention back to Phillip. Fur now covered his body, and his joggers hung around his hips in thin strings.
“My, my,” Ezra stated. “It appears you’re not what I thought at all.”
Bernadette leaped over the arm of the sofa to land in the center of it, then jumped off to stand next to Daffodil.
“Aw, good,” Ezra went on. “My Russian beauty and my sexy, redheaded witch are friends. That will make it much easier for me when I take them home.”
“Are you all right?” Bernadette asked Daffodil.
“Yeah.”
“You know we have to work together to vanquish Ezra, right?” Bernadette said, her gaze brimming with magic.
“I know. And I understand. I don’t know how I understand, but I do.” Her voice trembled. Hell, her legs were vibrating like tuning forks. “How do we do it?”
Bernadette shook her head, her face a mask of worry. “I’ve no idea. We’ll probably know when the moment is right, but Ezra is frightened,” Bernadette whispered. “I hear it in his voice. He wasn’t expecting lycanthropes, which are extremely powerful.”
Although Daffodil had never witnessed Phillip’s change before, she knew what was happening, having seen some of the River Rebels shift.
“I will enjoy fucking them as I suck their magic dry,” Ezra continued rambling.
Growls emanated from Frank, Beastman and Phil. Soon Luella’s growls melded with theirs.
“But, in order to continue using them as batteries, I won’t fuck them to death.” He drew in an excited breath and stepped more fully into the light, sporting a huge erection.
“Ew,” Bernadette whispered. “Porn from hell was not what I had in mind for tonight.”
Giggles burst from Daffodil. Her mirth built and swirled through her until she was laughing so hard she had to lean against the wall for support. Bernadette started chuckling too. The more Daffodil laughed, the more Bernadette giggled too. An unknown force awakened in Daffodil born of friendship and of a new life, but most of all born of her newfound freedom. She threaded her fingers together with Bernadette’s, who turned, facing the room, keeping their hands clasped between them. The magic sparked between them. Somehow Bernadette was channeling her ability into Daffodil and vice versa.
“Stop laughing at me,” Ezra shrieked, his eyes flame-red. “Bitches!”
Phillip lunged at Ezra, bearing him back against the pot-bellied stove and knocking the smoke pipe free. Ashes rained down on them, then bloomed black and thick in the air. Coughing and hacking burst from everyone on that side of the room, and Ph
illip’s snarls turned ravenous. A strange shimmer of black ash roiling with flying snow blowing in through the broken window blended together in a flash of movement that suddenly had Ezra appearing in front of Daffodil and Bernadette.
Together, they jerked and stumbled back against the wall, knocking the sconces there to the floor.
“You’re both mine!” he screamed. “Mine!”
“How the hell did he get over there?” Beastman yelled.
Phillip scrambled to his feet and approached Ezra with stealth while the incubus had his back to him. Daffodil met her mate’s eyes, their glow bright amber in the dim room, and shook her head, once. Phillip hesitated, then took another step and another. She shook her head again, once, sternly this time. Phillip halted, a questioning light in his gaze. Again, she shook her head the one time.
“You’ve just called off your beast,” Ezra sneered. “Why?”
“I don’t want him to get hurt,” Daffodil lied effortlessly. Years of lying so easily with a deadpan expression earned her a satisfied smile from the devil.
“Wise decision, my sweet.” He reached out, his palm out, claws curling skyward. “It is time to leave. You know you have no choice. You both belong to me, and I intend to dine on both your powers tonight.”
Daffodil looked at Bernadette, who blinked once, slowly, to convey that she understood what needed to be done. Although Daffodil had no idea how she knew how to vanquish Ezra, the magic flowing through her whispered she was right, that it would all be over in a few seconds.
With Beastman, Luella and Frank all having given themselves over to their inner animals, the werewolves growled and gnashed their teeth, waiting for a signal to kill Ezra, but they wouldn’t have to. They wouldn’t get the chance.
Still laughing, Daffodil reached out with Bernadette’s hand still in hers. With their fingers threaded tightly together, and mirth and joy bubbling through their bodies, stoking their combined magics, they placed their hands into Ezra’s.
He closed his long fingers over theirs, the heat of his touch almost burning. “Finally. I win! Mine!”
The others howled low, menacingly. Outside, more shrieks erupted from the succubi in the driveway.
He let rip with a maniacal laughter, the same sound Daffodil hated whenever he’d fuck her until she was near death. But his laughter died abruptly. Snow whisked across the room, stirring Daffodil’s hair and tousling Bernadette’s ruddy locks. More power rode the gust, and an image of a big black woman with salt-and-pepper locs filled Daffodil’s mind.
Chapter Twenty-One
“We have help,” Bernadette whispered.
Ezra tried jerking them to his body, his erection bobbing against his belly, eyes like hellfire, but the fear that crossed his face revealed that he possessed a false victory.
Looking at Daffodil, Bernadette said, “Let Mary into your mind.”
She knew the instant her mentor connected with Daffodil. Laugher bubbled out of them again, and together, they sent their joy, their freedom and celebration of love and life directly into Ezra. He screamed and tried to release himself, but they held fast, transmitting more white light into him until his eyes rolled back and his body collapsed in on itself. Flames erupted from him, spiraling toward the ceiling, scorching it until plaster melted to drop and cool on the floor. With a flash of white-hot light, Ezra evaporated.
“Vanquished,” Bernadette announced. She grabbed Daffodil before she hit the floor and eased her over to the sofa, where Phil helped lay her on it.
“You girls did well,” Mary’s voice rang out in the room. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going back to bed.”
The wind receded, and snow fell softly past the windows again. Bernadette looked down at her inner wrist. The glowing brand faded, a ring of ash rose from it to hover over her skin, then a soft breeze blew it away.
* * *
A week later, Daffodil was helping Luella, Puppy and Bernadette bring Thanksgiving decorations down from the attic. They carried the last of the boxes into the dining room and set them down on the tables to sort through.
Frank walked in with a six-pack of Dos Equis in one hand.
“Are you sure you don’t want me going with you to Ass Crack’s funeral?” Bernadette asked.
He set the six-pack on a chair and strode over to her. “No, it’s a simple burial and his family just wanted those closest to him to be there.” He leaned down and kissed her firmly on the mouth. “Besides, you look like you’re up to your eyebrows in work right now. I’ll be back in a couple hours tops.”
Beastman poked his head in through the living room entrance. “I’m heading out with Frank, baby.”
Putting down a silk arrangement of autumn leaves, Luella gave her mate the once-over. “You look nice, honey.”
“I can clean up…once in a while.” He grinned, looking like the Cheshire cat. “Give me some sugar.”
Luella walked over and kissed him as he gripped her ass and hauled her tightly to his body.
Shaking her head, Daffodil asked, “What’s the Dos Equis for?”
The snort that came out of Frank punctuated his words. “Ass Crack, that damn gearhead, was always stealing my beer. Dos Equis is my fave, but every time I put a six-pack in the fridge, I might get two—if I was lucky.” He shrugged, his expression turning sheepish. “I thought I’d put a carton in his casket so he can take it home”—he pointed up—“with him, and also to let him know I miss him.”
“Oh.” Unexpected emotion welled in her eyes. “That’s so sweet.”
Obviously having embarrassed himself, Frank ducked his head, averting his gaze, kissed Bernadette one more time, then snatched the carton through its handle and exited the dining room. “Later, sweetheart!”
“Damn it, Frank,” Beastman grumbled loudly as he hurried through the living room, then the kitchen, “slow the fuck down. I’m riding with you, remember?”
The women all laughed.
“So,” Luella stated as she resumed sorting the box she’d started unpacking, “how are things with Phil?”
“Great.” After finding several beautiful candlesticks of rust-red, gold and black glass, Daffodil set them all out on a table and went in search of tapers to set in them. “He’s amazing and I love him very much. I’ve never had anyone support me—believe in me—like he does.”
“We’re all very happy for you,” Puppy said.
“I hear you’ve made a big decision,” Bernadette urged.
Heat suffused her face. “Well, it’s not big, but I guess it is to me.”
“Come on, tell us,” Luella coaxed, her eyes bright with interest.
“I’m enrolling in the Scott College of Cosmetology in Wheeling next semester,” Daffodil said. Excitement stormed through her every time she thought about her future with Phillip and having a career. “I can’t wait!”
The women all laughed, but their laughter was a mix of excitement for her and happiness.
“You know,” Bernadette said, “I don’t think we have a hairdresser in the community, nor a makeup artist—”
“Or a nail technician,” Puppy said, holding her hand out to examine her fingernails.
“Ladies, I think you’re right,” Luella joined in. “We all get freebie makeovers, right, Daffodil?”
They all giggled, and Daffodil threw lightweight plastic turkeys that fastened into a centerpiece at them.
“What’s with all the chickens cackling in there?” Phil stepped into the entrance. “Shit, should’ve known it was a bunch of women.”
“Hi, baby,” Daffodil greeted him shyly. She couldn’t get over the giddiness she always experienced in his presence.
“Can I steal her for a few minutes?”
Luella waved him away. “Go on. I’m about to sit for a spell anyway. Ladies, how about some coffee and a piece of pumpkin pie?”
They all filed into the kitchen chattering among themselves.
“I want a cup and a slice too,” Daffodil called after them. She let Phillip pull
her into his arms. “What’s up?”
“The clinic called.” He beamed at her. “I wanted to give you the news before I went to the funeral. The nurse practitioner couldn’t give me details, but since you’ve been waiting so long for the test results, she said to simply tell you that you have absolutely nothing to worry about. However, if you wanted a blow-by-blow account of each test result for your own ears, you could call her when you got a moment.”
Relief swept through her. “Thank God.”
“So, does that mean we have a night of crazy-hot sex ahead of us?”
“Maaybeee,” she teased and poked him in the chest.
“Maybe, my ass.” He nuzzled her neck, and goose flesh rippled over her body.
“I love you.” Her heart swelled with emotion until she thought she’d burst from it.
“I love you,” he replied, gazing at her with sincerity. “I want you to be with me forever, Daffodil. Be my mate for life.”
“Yes,” she answered without hesitation. “I want that so much.”
He kissed her long, hard and thoroughly. Ravaging her mouth, he palmed her ass and molded her body to his. Desire coiled in her core, the warmth of it settling in her folds until that all-too-familiar throbbing began anew for him.
“Forever, baby,” he murmured once he broke the kiss. He stood forehead to forehead with her, his palms still planted firmly on her ass. “You’ve healed my soul.”
“No,” she replied softly, “you’ve healed mine.” She nestled her head in the crook of his neck. “With you, I’m home.”
* * *
That evening just before dark, Bernadette sat in the swing behind the house with Mary. She finished telling her everything that had transpired since vanquishing Ezra, and that when he was sent back to whatever realm he came from, his succubi had been vanquished too.
“First time I’ve encountered such creatures,” Mary stated. “Nasty critters, aren’t they?”
Nodding, Bernadette rocked slowly with her friend. The day had been warmer than usual, forcing everyone to shed coats and even a layer or two of winter clothing. The snow from Halloween night hadn’t lasted long, but the weather hinted at more of the white stuff due any day now.
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