by Lia Davis
“It’s beautiful.”
“Why, thank you.”
Khloe turned toward the soft voice. Shock stole her voice again. The woman standing in front of her was an elf. Her pointed ears peeked out from behind white-blond hair that fell to her ankles. She wore a blue gown much like the ones Willow loved to wear.
“Lo!”
Turning at the familiar voice, Khloe faced her adopted sister, the wood nymph that lived near their cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains. “Willow?”
She flew toward Khloe, hugging her so tightly it was hard to breathe. “Why are you here? How did you get here?” Stepping back, she noticed Jagger. “Oh, I see.” She nodded to the demon with a frown. “Jagger.”
“Nice to see you again, Willow.”
“Yeah, yeah. You come to see Clara?” When he didn’t answer or move, Willow tsked. “I know you did. She said you were coming. Now go. Shoo. I’ll take care of Lo.”
It was several moments before Jagger released a low growl and left.
“You have got to tell me how you did that.”
Willow laughed and looped her arm with Khloe’s to tug her toward a large building. “He’s your guardian, not mine.”
Khloe frowned. She hadn’t asked for a guardian, nor did she want one. Especially the sexy and irritating Death Demon. “Where are we going?”
Mischief crept into Willow’s pale green eyes. “You’ll see, my ever-so-curious Lo.”
Khloe smiled and quickly relaxed. Having someone she knew and loved beside her was comforting. “You know I hate being out of my element.”
“Yes, I know, but you can trust Jagger.”
Khloe nodded but didn’t comment. Sure, Jagger seemed loyal, and she had seen a small part of his softer side, but she wouldn’t be handing her heart over to him anytime soon, if ever. That would be too easy for her to do. He ignited something inside her, the same something that made her fall for the wrong men for the wrong reasons.
Entering the building that she now recognized as a community center of some sort, she was met by chattering youngsters sitting in the middle of the open-spaced floor. When the children saw them, they got up and ran over. “Who is she?” a tiny elf girl asked.
Another elfin, a boy who looked about seven, said, “She’s a goddess.”
That got all the children talking at once. Willow clapped her hands, silencing everyone. “She is not a goddess. But she is a very powerful witch.”
A shower of “oohs” and “aahs” came from the group. Willow squatted in front of them. “And guess what?”
“What?” The chorus of tiny voices made Khloe laugh.
“She’s going to show you how to dance.”
The group of little creatures jumped for joy and started talking all at once again.
“Willow, I don’t—”
“Oh, come on. It’ll be fun. Their teacher has fallen ill, and they need cheering up.”
Khloe peered out at the faces of the adorable group of magickin children and sighed. “Okay, I’ll do it.”
“Yay!” the group sang out.
Thank the gods for small blessings.
Jagger would have to send Willow a gift for being here and entertaining Khloe. Somehow, he didn’t think she would mix well with Clara.
He mounted the stairs of the main house in the village. It was the largest and served as the great hall of the community as well as Clara’s home. Pure white, accented in crimson and gold, the small mansion fit the Oracle in every way possible.
The front door opened before he could knock. Clara’s beautiful, smiling face greeted him. She leaned into him but stopped inches from his face. “Oh. For once, I didn’t see this. You have met your mate.”
He nodded, knowing better than to lie to an Oracle.
Her smile widened, and she shifted to kiss him on the cheek instead of the usual soft peck on the lips she’d greeted him with in past meetings. It was rumored that her mother was a succubus, and the power of seduction had been passed down to her. Jagger didn’t know how true those tales were, but he suspected there was some truth to them. He had never had the balls to ask either. That was her personal business.
“You know why I have come.”
“Yes. Please sit.”
He did, and she sat across from him in an armchair. She studied him for several moments before dropping her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I can’t see anything you don’t already know.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. However, I do know that this will not be an easy journey for either of you.”
He stood and offered her his hand. She took it and allowed him to pull her to her feet. “Thanks, as always.” He placed a palm-size ruby in her free hand.
Gasping, she shook her head. “This belonged to your birth mother.”
“I want you to have it as payment for all the help over the years.”
Her crystal gaze filled with tears, and she closed her hand around the gemstone and cradled it to her heart. “You are too kind to my people.” Her words faded into a whisper, and her brows bunched together.
“What is it?” His stomach sank to his feet. Something in his soul told him he’d regret asking her.
Her eyes sparkled with silver as she stared back at him with a frown. “Your road ahead is bleak. I will not lie to you about that. You must open your heart to your love and seek your mother out.”
When he jerked back from her, she gripped his hands with hers. Shaking his head, he said, “The Fates never cared to save my village. Why should I seek my mother out?”
“I feel strongly that you need to. I don’t see why or how.” Clara lowered her gaze and released his hands. “Be safe, Jagger.”
Jagger stepped closer and pressed his lips to her forehead. “I will. Brightest blessings, Clara.” He turned and walked out into the setting sun.
His future was bleak? What the hell did that mean? Did the Oracle see his death? Khloe’s? He’d just have to be more aware of his surroundings and not let Khloe out of his sight. He’d be damned if he went to his mother for anything.
Loud music pounded from inside the community center when he reached the doors. Entering the stadium-sized building, he smiled. Khloe danced around the floor with ten small children, who giggled every time they missed a step.
He watched her drift around the floor as if she were made for dancing. Graceful and beautiful.
She spotted him and stopped. The music shut off instantly. Embarrassment coloring her face, she bent down to speak to the kids softly before she made her way to him.
“Why did you stop?”
She shrugged. It made him chuckle. Holding out his hand, he asked, “Are you ready to go home?”
Chapter 7
They materialized a couple of feet from the high-rise condominiums along the St. John’s River across from downtown Jacksonville, Florida. Khloe dropped Jagger’s hand like a hot potato and ran for the door. Joy filled her at the promise of sleeping in a familiar bed, in her own room, with a door so she could lock the demon out.
The waterfront condos were her home away from home. Her sanctuary. The idea of bringing Jagger into her private space set her on edge. Kalissa had only been inside a couple of times since Khloe had purchased it five years before. After her breakup with Mark, she’d needed space to think, grieve, and release her rage in private.
Exiting the elevator into the foyer of her unit, she went straight for the phone in the living room. She lifted the receiver off the cradle and punched a button as she dropped into an oversized La-Z-Boy and swung her legs over the arm.
Jagger stood in front of her with a disapproving look. Whatever. She wrinkled her nose at him, which seemed to irritate him.
Good.
“Khloe? Thank the gods. Where are you?”
Her heart skipped several beats at the sound of Kalissa’s frantic voice. “I’m safe. It is so good to hear your voice.”
“When are you coming home?”
Khloe watched the demon shake his head. Figured
he could hear both sides of the conversation. She waved him off and answered Kalissa’s question, “Not sure right now. We need to figure this out.”
“We?”
“Yeah. Our stalker…”
“Is a Death Demon.” Kalissa finished her sentence.
“How did you know?”
“His brother showed up a couple of hours after Lydia and I got home.”
“So he told you where I was?”
Kalissa said, “Yes.”
Khloe quickly gave her sister the edited version of the past twenty-four hours.
“And he’s there with you?” Lis didn’t sound pleased.
Khloe shifted her eyes to Jagger, who had moved toward the wall of nine-foot-tall windows that overlooked the river and downtown Jacksonville. “Yes, Death looms over me.”
Her sister huffed, indicating she wasn’t in the mood for Khloe’s dry humor. Zach Manus, Maxville Deputy Sheriff and one of her best friends, would have come back with something.
“How is Zach coming along with surveillance?”
“He’s not, really. The demons are keeping a low profile. I thought for sure the attack on us would bring them out. But, nothing. I can’t even pick up anything on the radar. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” Kalissa’s worried tone sent a sliver of fear through Khloe.
It was never good when the bad guys fell silent. They were plotting something. Khloe wanted to know what. Especially if those plans involved her. “If you hear anything, let us know. My phone broke, so I’ll use my spare.”
“Okay. Lo, be careful.”
“I will. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Talk to ya soon.”
Khloe pressed the off button to the cordless and returned it to the base. She stood and went to the master suite. The first thing she was going to do was take a long, hot, invigorating shower. Dancing over to her dresser, she whipped open the drawer and picked out her sleepwear for the evening. When the air in the room shifted to that all-too-familiar but arousing demonic energy, she smirked inwardly and pulled out one of her babydoll nighties.
“Make yourself at home. I’m taking a shower.” She walked past his large body, casually holding up her doorframe, into the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind her.
Samoan Grayson prowled along the edge of the property, hidden within the forest, and sought out the prime opportunity to strike. The orange and pink glow of the sunset filtered in through the trees surrounding the coven.
The wards encompassing the small community were strong but only set to keep demons out. A grave mistake they would soon regret.
“What are you waiting for?” she growled into the ear of the Dark Divine that would get her inside the coven.
He squeezed his eyes shut as if her presence irritated him. Good. She wasn’t here to please anyone.
“I’ll let you know as soon as I find what I’m looking for.” Movement to their right made him curse. “Damn it. Tell your demons to fall back. If they set off the wards, we’re screwed.”
With a flick of her hand, the impatient demons froze. “Anything else, Pete?”
He ignored her and continued stalking the outer edge of the perimeter, searching. “There.” She followed his stare to two young adult, female Dark Divine hidden among the magickin that protected them.
“Is that them?” Samoan whispered in his ear. He shivered, and she smiled.
“Two of them.” He shifted forward. After a few minutes, he said, “The other two are in that house.”
Samoan nodded and gave the signal. The demons charged in as a single entity. Within seconds, the magickin males flooded out of their homes to defend their people.
Samoan grinned in satisfaction as her demon army attacked the village. Pete formed a basketball-sized fireball between his hands and thrust it toward the oncoming witches. Samoan joined in and threw two of her own—in different directions for good measure. Flames shot up into the sky and spread to consume anything in their path.
Pete teleported to snatch up the females, who had run toward the main house of the coven. Samoan flashed in and grabbed the two younger children from their slumbers. Coming out of the cabin, she noticed her Lackeys were getting their asses handed to them. She shook her head and decided to leave them. The lower demon class was expendable.
She gave Pete a short nod, and they dematerialized to take the Dark Divine children to their new homes.
Chapter 8
A slow smile tugged at Jagger’s lips as Khloe locked herself inside the bathroom to shower. Like a human-made lock could keep him out. Chuckling to himself, he stalked out of the bedroom to explore her home.
She didn’t live here. The too-clean space told him that. He crossed the white marble floor to a set of French doors that opened to a balcony. The rest of the living room walls were lined with nine-foot-tall windows that revealed a beautiful view of the river and downtown Jacksonville. The orange and pink glow of the sunset lifted his lips in another smile. She’d chosen this unit for that view; he was sure.
The swoosh of the elevator door had him whirling around, ready to strike. His nostrils flared, and his eyes narrowed on the man stepping out of the lift. The male’s golden gaze snapped up to meet Jagger’s. A smirk had raised one side of the man’s mouth before he turned toward the kitchen.
Zach Manus, the deputy sheriff of Maxville, and the witch who hung around Khloe a little too much to be healthy for him. Jagger’s gaze followed the male as he set the paper bag he carried on the counter and opened the refrigerator.
“How did you get in?” Jagger scowled.
Zach pulled a container out of the icebox, opened it, and shuddered. Jagger’s nose twitched at the rancid smell that lingered in the air.
“I have a key,” Zach answered, throwing the rotten food in the trashcan.
Jagger clenched his jaw. Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer. In this case, it was an obvious answer. “Why are you here?”
Amusement lit up the witch’s face, then was replaced by mischief. “I came to see Lo.”
Hand clenched at his side, Jagger forced himself to stay put and not choke the life out of the deputy. Watching the other male move around the kitchen as if he belonged there wasn’t helping. But he did notice Zach’s stiff movements and the way he watched Jagger from the corner of his eye. His aura turned a navy blue. Power surrounded him, and Jagger knew it had nothing to do with his dormant Divinity gene. There was something else hidden, almost as if a darker magic lurked within Zach.
Just as he opened his mouth, Khloe flew into the room and tackled Zach in a tight hug. “Oh, my gods. What are you doing here? I mean, I didn’t expect anyone to come over.”
“Ayd said you were here, and I figured you needed some food.” The witch’s energy returned to his natural bright blue as he searched her face with concern.
She moved to the bag on the counter and peered inside. Jagger moved closer to take a look. When she lifted something out of the bag, she stepped back into him. Out of reflex, his hands gripped her hips, and he heard her sharp intake of breath. Jagger stole a quick glance at Zach, who had a look of amusement on his face, confirming that the empath had his shields down.
Khloe turned in Jagger’s arms and stared into his eyes. With a palm flat on his chest, she pushed. A silent command to back off. That was when he noticed what she was wearing, or what she wasn’t wearing. A low growl rumbled up his chest, and he took her by the upper arm and dragged her toward the bedroom.
Inside her room, Khloe snatched her arm out of the demon’s grasp and stabbed him with a stare. “What the fuck is your problem?”
“You,” he growled, moving his eyes over her body.
She hated the sudden heat that formed in her belly and spread lower. With narrowed eyes, she studied him for a few seconds. A smile softened her anger, but only a little. He was jealous. How sweet.
But, seriously, that was Zach out there. It wasn’t as if it were the hottie one floor below her. When she’d chosen her nigh
twear, she hadn’t expected her BFF to stop by, or her protector to go into a jealous fit. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at her almost-seven-foot-tall demon. “How am I your problem?”
He opened his mouth and closed it again. Gods, she wanted to have that mouth on her, possessing every inch. And the next instant…it was. She wasn’t sure if he’d read her mind or if she’d actually said the words aloud.
The bedroom door slammed shut, and she found herself being herded backward. She wrapped her arms around Jagger’s neck and fisted his black hair. He moaned deep in his throat, and his tongue thrust into her mouth, finding hers.
Big hands slid to her ass and lifted her off the ground. She wrapped her legs around his waist and ground against his thick erection.
Her back touched the cool silk of the king-sized bedspread, and Jagger’s mouth left hers. A moment later, his lips touched her right breast. She cried out at the sensation of his hot tongue flicking over her nipple.
A tap on the door froze them in place. Jagger lifted his gaze to hers, and she almost gasped. His eyes glowed pure red. Zach’s voice drifted through the door.
“Um… I hate to be a party crasher, but the Oceanway Coven was just attacked.”
The passion drained from Jagger’s face, replaced by the hard, lethal expression he’d had yesterday when he killed the demons that had chased her from the mall. She was sure her own expression mirrored his.
Why attack Oceanway?
Before Jagger released her, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers in a quick kiss. “We’ll finish this later.”
Oh, yes. They would definitely finish it. But for now, she needed more info on what Zach had said. The Oceanway Coven was run by a Divinity Elder. Eleese Sanders had stepped up the month before to aide in the search for Kalissa when her psycho demon ex-boyfriend had kidnapped her.
Khloe grabbed a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt from the closet and quietly dressed before entering the living room.
