It didn’t take her long to ready the ingredients for the spell. She threw a ratty brown tarp on the floor beside the altar. Cream candles were placed around the edges in a circular pattern, a trail of blood to connect them. When she was done, she tossed the dagger she had used to slice her finger into the center.
“I’m ready. Stand beside the circle.” She loosened her body, her hair dancing behind her.
Gray did as she asked. “That’s all you need?”
With a pronounced eye roll, she gestured him forward. “My magic is user-friendly. Do you want to do this or not?”
“Get on with it.” Arms crossed, he waited.
She murmured an incantation and her power swelled. It swirled in the center of the room until it formed a vortex of thick blue smoke. Gray leaned forward, holding his breath as the pressure continued to rise. There was an audible pop, and it was gone. Lilura slid to the floor, unconscious, as her magic sought her prize.
It didn’t take long.
Mist formed in the middle of the circle. It thickened, growing in stature until it evolved into the shape of a man. Soon the mist fell away and a very angry dragon stood in its place, locked within the circle.
“You.” Keegan lunged at Gray. He cursed as Lilura’s magic shoved him back.
In human form he was a large man. Close to seven feet of solid muscle, his head touched the top of the tent. His black hair was cut short, framing a face too masculine to be handsome, yet unmistakably attractive.
Lilura stirred as her magic returned. After a few moments, she stumbled to her feet, hand outstretched. “The necklace.”
Gray dropped it onto her palm. His eyes never left Keegan.
“Use the knife,” Lilura instructed Keegan as she shoved the relic into the gap between her breasts. “Spill your blood on one of the candles. It will break the circle.”
Gray could feel Lilura’s apprehension as Keegan tried to complete the ritual. “Don’t worry. I’ll get him out of your hair.”
“The sooner the better.” She glanced around the tent. “Don’t destroy anything. It’s taken me years to put this place together.” With one final glance, she left.
“Stupid witch.” Keegan held his sliced palm over the nearest candle. “I told her if she did this again, I would have her heart for breakfast.”
“Blame me.” Gray shook his head as the candle flickered, but didn’t go out. “Let the blood drop directly on the flame.”
Keegan glanced at him, one eyebrow cocked. “Maybe you should haul your ass over here and help me.”
“I can’t until you break the circle.” He paused. “Want me to write instructions?”
A growl slipped from Keegan’s lips. “I’ve never eaten a Shadow Bearer. Bet you taste like chicken.” He slammed his palm onto the still-burning candle without batting an eye.
The circle broke with an audible snap and Keegan walked through it.
“Feel better?” Gray moved to give him space.
“Much.” Keegan shook himself then leaned his head to one side, stretching his neck. “Time to skewer a witch.”
Gray grabbed his arm. “It’ll have to wait.” Ignoring Keegan’s hiss, he handed him a photograph. “It’s happening again.”
Keegan ripped the paper from his hand. “When?”
“We found the first set of victims a few hours ago in a bar downtown.”
“Damn Adare.” The dragon glanced up, smoke billowing from his nostrils. He folded the picture into a series of perfect squares then shoved it in his back pocket. “I should have killed him years ago. Now he’s hiding behind those demons. I’ll find him. When I do, there’s a nice fire pit with his name on it.” He slammed his fist into the metal support rod at his side, and the tent trembled.
“Simmer down, big guy.” Gray shook his head. “Killing Adare won’t solve anything. There are too many unknowns.”
“Okay. I’ll torture him ‘til he cries like a baby, then kill him.”
“Let’s find him first.” Gray met the other man’s gaze. He didn’t like Keegan, but this time he agreed with him.
As they walked toward the door, Keegan turned to Gray. “How long have you been back? Is Brenna with you?”
Gray tensed. Brenna and Keegan had once been close. How close, he didn’t want to know. He was sure Keegan would love to tell him. “She’s at headquarters looking through files.”
Keegan grinned. “Afraid she might see something she liked? It’s too bad Seraph sent me on assignment when you arrived on scene. Things may have turned out differently.”
Rumor had it dragons returned to their bestial form once they were killed. Gray considered. A large scaly head would look good mounted above his fireplace. Keegan grinned. His kind were empathic and antagonistic. It was why they had no friends.
Gray had to be the bigger person. Keegan didn’t have it in him.
“Brenna’s mine. You touch her, I’ll rip your throat out.” He would be the bigger person, starting tomorrow.
Although Keegan tensed, he didn’t reply. With a quick smile, he motioned to the door. “Better leave or the witch might burst a vessel. I promised Seraph I wouldn’t kill anyone while I was down here.”
As they stepped from the tent into the marketplace, Gray realized he had played into the dragon’s hand. Determined not to let the beast rile him further, he moved quickly through the vendors. Keegan was forced to keep up or lose him in the crowd. By the time they stopped near the edge of the tunnels, Gray was considerably calmer.
“What’s the deal?” Keegan asked once they reached a semi-private spot. “You didn’t summon me because you wanted to see my sexy smile.” He grinned and leaned against the concrete at the far edge of the tunnel. “Course I wouldn’t blame you. Brenna sure does like it.”
Gray didn’t take the bait. He was done playing Keegan’s games. “We’re hunting Adare.” He let out a short breath. “Tell me what you know. The first victims lived with you. You have to have some idea what happened to them.”
“Adare happened.” Keegan cursed. “The bastard swore he would get back at me. But I didn’t think he had the balls for this.” Smoke curled from his lips. “I tore our home apart looking for some clue. But there was nothing that could have infected them. My protection spells made them immune to magical attacks.”
“Seraph gave us the investigation,” Gray continued, knowing he had no choice. “We could use your help.”
Keegan crossed his arms, considering. “And I could use yours. We can work something out, but let’s get out of this hell hole first.”
“Agreed. But leave Brenna out of this. Our relationship is complicated. Don’t make it worse.”
Keegan threw his head back with a belly laugh. “Brother, she’s a woman. What do you expect?” He held his hands, palms up, in front of his body. “Hands off as long as she’s yours. Good enough?”
“For now,” Gray replied. If he ever saw those hands on Brenna, he’d rip them off.
As they exited the tunnels, Brenna stood beside the IRT van. Gray didn’t need to see her face. Arms crossed, her black sweater riding high on her taut belly, she looked like an avenging angel. She was beautiful, even irritated.
“I thought you weren’t going to hunt him down without me.” She grabbed her black duster from the hood of the car and slipped it over her shoulders.
“If he wasn’t already here,” Gray corrected.
Keegan grinned. “Did Gray misbehave? Should we spank him?”
“Shut up, Keegan.” Brenna glared at him. “You’re next.”
“I took an opportunity and ran with it.” Gray pulled the keys from his pocket and unlocked the van. As he moved to open the door, Brenna pressed her hand against the window to slam it shut.
“I’m not done talking,” she continued. “You planned all along to come down here and have Lilura summon Keegan. Did you
even look for him first?” Brenna took the keys from Gray’s hand and opened the car door. “I figured it out when Seraph told me the Victus Pendant was missing. You gave it to her as payment, didn’t you?”
“Brenna–”
“This is why we aren’t together. I still can’t trust you.”
Gray reached for her, but she stepped back. His hands fell to his sides. “I didn’t lie to you.”
“You didn’t tell me the whole truth. It’s the same thing.” Her gaze fell on Keegan. “And you, Mr. Vigilante, where have you been? You’re not in this alone, you know.” Shaking her head, she motioned to the passenger seat. “Get in.”
Keegan pressed a hand against his chest.
“Yes, you.” Brenna sighed. “Get in before I change my mind.”
Gray batted down a sharp denial. Walking to the back of the car, he reached for the door handle. The metal burned his fingers. He jerked back, stunned.
“Not you.” Brenna shook her head. “Keegan and I have some catching up to do. Alone. We’ll see you back at headquarters.” She jumped into the driver’s seat, slammed the door and hit the gas. Keegan waved, a wide grin on his face.
Gray watched them go, torn between rage and guilt.
Brenna’s temper began to cool as she drove back to headquarters. Gray claimed he wanted her trust, to be her partner, then he pulled crap like this. Part of her wondered if he truly wanted to be with her, or if he was still hanging on to old prejudices. He clearly didn’t trust her. He wouldn’t act this way if he did.
“He lied to me again.” She made a hard right onto the dirt road.
Keegan slammed against the door. “Make him pay for it, then get over it.” He righted himself. “We all have to work together, might as well make the best of it.”
Brenna shot him a wary glance. “Since when are you willing to play nice?”
“I want Adare.” He stared out at the fading landscape. “Tell me about the new bodies.”
Brenna filled him in.
“Sounds like the others.” He considered. “They had no symptoms. Nothing tied them together except where they lived.”
“They never went anywhere together?”
“No. They weren’t friends. They were roommates. The only thing they shared was the wine.”
Brenna glanced at him, confused.
“Humans bring me things so I don’t eat them,” Keegan explained. “Once it was virgins, now it’s alcoholic beverages.” He shrugged, thrumming his fingers against the dash. “Someone dropped off a case of wine. It seemed legit, so I gave it to the others. It was long gone when they died. I’ve searched everywhere, even the landfills, but I can’t find the bottles. Even so, I doubt the residue would still be present.”
Brenna considered. “Did they say the wine tasted funny?”
“They loved it. Said it was the best they’d ever had.” He put his hands behind his head, leaning back in the seat. “One of the girls was convinced it was spelled. Claimed it calmed her nerves.” He shook his head. “She was a cheap drunk. One glass and she was under the table. That would calm anyone.”
“Did you keep the package it came in?” Brenna asked.
“There wasn’t one. Only a stack of wine bottles and a note.”
Brenna sucked in a breath. “Please tell me you kept it?”
“The note?” He shot her a surprised glance. “I probably burned it.”
Frustration reared its ugly head, but Brenna held it back. Keegan loved to rattle people. The more buttons he pushed the happier he was. “Do you at least remember what it said?”
He shrugged. “Why would I read it?”
She sucked in a sharp retort. “Do you have anything at all that might help us?” she wondered aloud.
“Yeah.” He grinned, smoke drifting from between his lips. “I have the person who delivered it.”
Damn. Brenna hoped the poor bastard wasn’t human.
“You can’t kidnap people,” she said. “He was probably a messenger boy. Why didn’t you bring him to Seraph?”
With a snort, he sank back into the seat. “Seraph would have let him go. I wanted to find out what he knew.”
“Not fair.” She shook her head. “You know Seraph is invested.”
“Why isn’t he doing anything? The whole time you were gone, he sat on his ass. Adare didn’t take a vacation. He was still killing people.” Keegan shifted in his seat. “I’m done dealing with Seraph.”
“No, you’re not. We need each other if we’re going to win this war.”
Keegan snorted. “No. I need you and Gray, not some pompous prick that won’t pull his head out of his ass.”
Brenna rolled her eyes. “Play nice, Keegan. It might get you somewhere.” She slowed the SUV to a stop in front of the tunnels. Once her seatbelt was unfastened, she turned to face Keegan. “Is this messenger you kidnapped human?”
“A shifter.”
“What did he tell you? Anything useful?”
He shook his head. “He’s useless. Hasn’t given me a damn thing that’s helpful. Course I haven’t had him very long. It was a bitch to find him.”
Brenna stepped onto the dirt, slamming the car door. “We need to fill Seraph in, then we can go get your shifter. He better be in one piece.”
“I’m not a monster.” Keegan moved to her side. He was close to shifting form. He wavered between the iridescent blue scales of his beast and his human skin. “You can’t blame me for not sitting around like Seraph.”
“That’s not the point, Keegan.” Keegan tended to lose control when he lost his temper. They could go neck and neck, but she wasn’t sure who was more powerful. Now wasn’t the time to find out.
“Go home.” He ordered. “I’ll bring him to you, but I’m not bringing him here.” He glanced at the now open tunnels. “I’m done with this place.” He turned to her, a smirk on his lips. “And, as much as I’d like to piss Gray off, you’re not coming with me. You’re just going to have to trust me.” Smoke swirling in the air around him, he crossed his arms across his broad chest and vaulted into the air in a cloud of fire. Once airborne he shifted, his long bluish-green wings slipping through the icy wind. Brenna watched until he disappeared into the night.
Chapter Four
“He better come back,” Gray moved to her side. She had felt him arrive earlier, but hadn’t acknowledged him.
“He will. Though it would serve you right if he didn’t.” She turned to face him. “We’re partners. You make plans like that, you tell me.”
“We’re a little more than partners,” Gray replied. He moved closer, his hands resting on her shoulders. She fought the urge to lean into him. “We’re around each other twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Sometimes I need a break.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” She took a step back, and his hands fell to his sides. “You need a break?”
He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. The heat of his body sank into her, his magic playing across her skin. She closed her eyes and tried to control the flood of desire pouring into her blood. Her body went haywire when they were this close, and her self-control evaporated. Somehow her hands became tangled in his hair, her breath coming in short bursts.
“I need you too much,” Gray whispered, his breath hot against her ear. “I haven’t been with a woman since we took our vows. Even if we weren’t married, there’s no one else I want.” He shifted and she felt him hard against her thigh. “I’m not going to pressure you. Being with me is your choice, but give me a little grace. I can only take so much.”
The urge to wrap her arms around him was nearly debilitating. And she could barely remember why that was a bad thing. “I’m not ready to give up my freedom. The bond requires us to complete three rituals, and we’ve already done two. That third step will link our souls. We’ll be bound forever. I have to
be sure, and sex complicates things.”
“I know, Brenna. It complicates things for me too. But that doesn’t make me want you any less. I’m just asking you to see it from my perspective. I’m not going to wait forever.”
“No pressure.” She was trembling when she stepped from his embrace.
“I’m being honest. That’s what you said you wanted. I want you, but, once this war’s over, I will return home and rule my Clan, with or without you.” He leaned against the vehicle, putting some distance between them. “Tell me what Keegan said.”
She stared at him. That was it? Didn’t he realize her emotions were flinging themselves around her brain like a hummingbird on crack?
“I shouldn’t have brought it up.” He gave her a wry smile. “It’s better if we change the subject.”
“Fine.” She moved closer to the tunnels, needing more distance. “Keegan refused to come to headquarters. He’s got a link to the item he thinks infected his friends. Once he gets him, he’ll meet us at the house.”
“Him?”
“The only thing the first victims have in common is the wine Keegan gave them. He kidnapped the shifter who delivered it and has been trying to get information from him.”
“Typical Keegan. He should have brought him to Seraph.” Gray shook his head. “I hate dragons. They act first, think later.”
Brenna raised her brow. “Funny. I’d say the same about you.”
He shot her a quick glance. “Only when I have to. And you don’t seem to mind it when it saves your life.”
“Touché.” She tossed him the car keys. “Let’s go. I don’t know when Keegan’s going to get to the house.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He caught the keys and shoved them in his pocket.
She followed him, lost in thought. Until they could trust each other they were like hamsters spinning in an exercise wheel. Sweaty and exhausted, but never going anywhere. Trust was a tenuous thing. Once you lost it, you had to work twice as hard to get it back. And no amount of lust could heal those wounds.
Fading Light: Shadow Born, Book 2 Page 4
