by Deanna Chase
“Excuse me, I didn’t mean to hold anyone up,” he said to the woman in line and nodded a good-bye before he headed out the door.
I did my best to not shoot eye daggers at the woman. She was a customer, after all. But I hadn’t seen such a lovely male specimen in months. It was a shame to rush him off. I sucked up my resentment and hurried to fill the woman’s order.
An hour later, with the store finally empty of customers, I did a cursory sweep of the lobby and stepped outside to check the sidewalk tables.
All but one was empty.
“Hello again,” Mr. Gorgeous Eyes said, leaning back in his chair.
“Oh.” I sucked in a breath as my pulse quickened. He had an air of easy confidence about him. “You’re still here. Enjoying the afternoon?”
He picked up the tiny bag I’d stuffed the Kiss Me chocolate in. “I was waiting for that girl.”
“Oh,” I said again, a tremor of disappointment flashing through me.
He waved to the empty chair. “Have a seat?”
“But what about your date? Won’t she be here soon?”
“No date.” His eyes crinkled as he squinted into the sun. “I took a chance, hoping she’d show up here.”
Poor bastard had it bad. It would be almost pathetic, except he didn’t look upset in the least. I shrugged. “Sure, for a minute.”
He held out his hand. “I’m David.”
“Willow.” Our hands met and I swear electricity jump-started my heart, making it skip a beat.
“Nice to meet you,” he said.
“Likewise.”
We sat in silence for a moment until he started chuckling.
“What’s so funny?” I frowned, glancing around.
“Me. I was trying to figure out a way to offer you this,” he said, holding up the tiny Kiss Me chocolate bag, “but I seemed to have misplaced all my moves.”
“Your moves? I…” What did he just say? “You bought that chocolate to give to me?”
“Yeah.” He laughed. “Any chance you’ll take me up on it?”
“Um…” Heat crawled up my neck. What was I supposed to say to that?
Shaking his head in mock sorrow, he put it away. “That’s what I thought. How about we try dinner instead?”
“Dinner?” I seemed to have lost my ability to form coherent sentences.
“Dinner,” he said firmly. “Friday?”
For some reason, I found myself nodding. Why was I agreeing to this? I just met him. Easy answer. He was nice, too gorgeous for his own good, and I hadn’t had a date in months.
“Great.” He handed me a business card and a pen. “Write down your address and I’ll pick you up at seven.”
A moment later, I grinned and handed the card back to him. “Just so you know, my roommate is a witch. If you’re a crazy stalker or serial killer, she’ll find ways to make you suffer that you’ve never dreamed of.”
“Noted.” He held his hand out again. “Nice to meet you, Willow.”
A spark ran through my fingers as my hand met his. “You, too. See you Friday.”
“Count on it.” He nodded and took off down the sidewalk. A few feet later he turned and held up the bag. “Do you think I’ll need this?”
Laughing, I shook my head and disappeared back into my shop.
The sound of David moving around the room brought me back to myself. He was much more serious now that he’d turned vampire, but underneath his statuesque armor, he was still that sweet, thoughtful guy I’d met so many months before.
He hadn’t turned into that douche who’d dumped me by text message. He’d been doing his best to protect me.
I stood, and feeling as if David and I had formed some sort of real connection, I walked side by side with him back to the library. He’d let me in and bared his vulnerability. A barrier had been blasted away and I finally understood the motivation behind all his recent actions.
And all the conflicting emotions running through me made me nauseated. How could I let David kiss me with Tal a few feet away in the living room, trying to recover from his horrific ordeal? David had initiated the kiss, but my entire being had responded to him. I blinked back hot, angry tears, knowing deep down I’d wanted him.
What was I doing? I was a terrible person.
I slowed, letting David go ahead of me, and trailed a few paces behind him. I needed some sort of buffer.
He paused and glanced back at me. “Everything okay?”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
He didn’t move. “You sure?”
“Yeah,” I forced out and pointed to the restroom across the hall. “Excuse me.” My shoes echoed in the silence and the click of the door closing rang in my ears. I leaned forward, pressing my hands to the marble vanity, and focused on breathing.
Okay. I could get through this. We’d had a very stressful day and David had caught me off guard by being so open with me. My emotions were running too high and too close to the surface. It was time to focus on what we needed to do. And that was to find Talisen’s boss.
We should have been able to call the Void and have them deal with the abduction. Why did we have to be suspicious of everyone all the time? Would there ever be a day when I didn’t have to hide what I could do?
No.
The answer was clear and definite. If the vampire world found out about my abilities, I’d be tracked by more vamps than I could imagine. Unless I wanted to be confined to a lab and strapped to electrodes indefinitely, I couldn’t tell the Void either.
It meant we’d have to deal with Asher on our own. Terror edged out my guilt and the nausea intensified.
Another deep breath. My eyes were wide with dark circles lining them. I almost looked as haggard as Talisen had. Almost, but not quite. I turned the faucet on and splashed cold water on my face. It didn’t do anything other than give me a little more time to myself. All I wanted to do was curl up in my bed under the oak with Link and a cup of hot chocolate laced with Soothing Peppermint.
The hot chocolate was out for now, but Link was here. I pulled the door open and whistled. Seconds later, he barreled down the hallway and then sat at attention, focusing on me. My heart clenched, knowing I could always count on him and he never caused me any drama. “You’re such a good boy, Link.”
His tail thumped rhythmically against the wood floor.
I reached down and he jumped effortlessly into my arms. His warm body instantly settled me. I buried my head into his fur, grateful for his unconditional love as he pressed closer. Nothing could be more pure and uncomplicated than the love of a dog, wolf or not.
“Wil?” Tal asked from the other end of the hall.
I turned, still clutching Link. “You’re up,” I said, eyeing him. He still looked too thin, but the color had returned to his skin and he was standing taller, more assured than he had thirty minutes ago.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
I shook my head. I couldn’t tell him about David. I would, but now wasn’t the time. Not when we had a job to do. “I just needed a moment.”
Yeah, a moment to wallow in self-pity. What was he going to say when he found out?
Link wiggled, trying to get to Talisen. My dog had a serious crush on Tal. I kissed the top of his head and gently placed him on the floor. He leaped and in three bounds landed in Tal’s arms, his tongue lapping at Tal’s cheek while his body wiggled in uncontrollable excitement.
“Looks like he’s pleased you’re feeling better.” I stuffed my hands in my front pockets.
“He’s not the only one.” Tal shifted to stand next to me, letting our shoulders touch. “Are you sure there’s nothing wrong? If it’s the way I acted earlier, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. You have to know that.”
I sent him a too-bright smile. “I know. Don’t worry. I’m just stressed about not being able to go home or to work and being stuck at a vampire’s house.”
He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close. His familiar woods
y scent filled my senses, and I had to bite down hard on my lower lip to keep from blurting out my transgression. “We’re going to get through this.” He kissed the top of my head, the gesture so gentle and loving. One single tear spilled down my cheek. He gazed down at me and gently wiped the moisture with his thumb. He didn’t say anything else as he embraced me, hugging me to him and Link.
Link turned his head and licked my ear.
“Hey!” I cried as I pulled back, laughing. “He gave me a wet willy.”
Talisen chuckled. “Good one, Link.”
“It’s not funny.” But I couldn’t keep the smile off my face.
“Yes it is.” He lifted one of Link’s paws and gave him a high five. “Way to go, buddy. You broke your mom’s gloomy mood.”
I smirked and wiped at my ear. “Yeah, but don’t get any ideas about making that a habit.”
Tal whispered something to Link that made his tail wag faster.
“Stop conspiring, you two.” I swatted at Tal. Link pulled back, giving me the evil doggy glare.
“Uh oh, your dog is turning on you.”
I reached for Link. He shifted forward, waiting for me to take him again. “Looks like you lost, fae boy,” I teased back.
Tal laughed as I hugged Link and kissed his head one last time before setting him on the floor again. My entire body relaxed. Tal was okay and we were standing in David’s hallway, joking around as if nothing had happened the last twelve hours.
It gave me hope Tal would forgive me.
“Let’s see if Phoebe has a line on Professor Dawson yet.” Tal’s fingers twined with mine and we headed back into the library. We waited near the book-lined walls, not wanting to interrupt. Phoebe and Nicola sat crossed-legged in the center of the room, their hands joined while they continued to chant. Had they been chanting this entire time? If so, their magic would be woven tightly and they’d have built a massive amount of power. I pressed closer to the bookshelf, a bit frightened of what they might be able to accomplish.
Across the room, David’s stare bored into me. I did my best to ignore him, but my curiosity won out. As soon as my eyes met his, he cut his gaze to my hand, which was still twined with Talisen’s. I frowned at him. What had he expected? For me to break things off with Tal just because he’d finally opened up and then kissed me?
The righteous anger I’d been carrying around ever since David had broken up with me by text came roaring back. He couldn’t expect me to forgive all the ways he’d hurt me just because he’d ultimately had good intentions. Honesty would have gotten him a lot further. As it was, I was starting to trust him with my physical safety, but when it came to matters of the heart, he’d crushed mine one too many times.
I focused on Phoebe. A soft white light glowed around her, and as the pair chanted, it slowly crept its way over Nicola. I sucked in a surprised gasp.
“What?” Tal whispered.
“I think Phoebe’s sharing her power with Nicola.” I inclined my head. “Do you see that faint light engulfing them?”
He tilted his head and squinted. “Yeah.”
“That’s a magic meld. I’ve only ever seen it done once before. It’s very invasive.” I frowned. Why was Phoebe doing that? It would make them both more powerful, but was finding Tal’s boss worth the risk? If Nicola wanted to, she could steal some of Phoebe’s magic. And if Phoebe wasn’t careful, the pair could be bound forever.
“Now!” Phoebe cried.
Nicola yanked her hands back at the same moment Phoebe raised hers skyward. Their chanting grew louder while Nicola fanned her arms to the side and slowly lifted her hands to join them once again with Phoebe’s. As soon as their fingers touched, the small business card that had been sitting between them elevated and glowed with a bright white light that made me squint at its brilliance.
The card started to vibrate and then spun wildly in a circle, moving so fast it turned into a blur of white. Phoebe and Nicola lowered their arms and each scooted back, waiting to see what the card would do.
And just as suddenly as it had started spinning, it stopped. The card stayed elevated, vibrating slightly.
“It’s ready.” Phoebe got to her feet and smoothed her black T-shirt.
“What’s it supposed to do?” Nicola asked.
“Point us to its owner.”
Huh. With what? “Phoebs?”
“Yeah.” She swayed on her feet.
I dropped Tal’s hand and rushed to her. Placing a tentative hand on her arm, I frowned. “You used too much power already. This isn’t going to work.”
She shrugged me off. “I’ll be all right. Trust me.”
“I don’t understand,” Nicola said, still eyeing the business card. “How is it going to tell us where to go?”
“You’ll see. Now let’s get moving before it loses its juice.” Phoebe strode to the door and pointed at the card. It strained to move in the opposite direction but stayed in place. “See that? It wants to go north.” She snapped her fingers and the business card zoomed to her side. “Let’s go.”
I followed her and she paused, her head tilted to the side in contemplation.
“What?” I asked, knowing exactly what she was going to say.
“Maybe you and Tal should stay here.”
“Phoebe—”
“I know. You feel obligated to go. And in your shoes, I would, too. But you’re a target. We don’t know who we’re going to run into, wherever this trek leads us. I can’t help wondering if it’s safer for you to stay in David’s lair while we find this guy, and then we can make a plan to get you out of this mess when we get back.”
“I’m going,” Tal said with grave finality.
“I’m going wherever Tal goes,” I added.
He put his arm around my shoulder and as if on cue, Link sat down between our feet, facing Phoebe, his bottom teeth jutting out in defiance.
I had to stifle a laugh. Could he be any cuter?
Phoebe rolled her eyes. “Fine. But keep your heads down.”
Talisen opened his mouth, probably to defend us, but I clutched his arm and shook my head. It wasn’t worth arguing. We were both incredibly skilled fae, but not in combat. She had a right to be worried. Not that her fear was going to keep me locked away from the fight. I did have Link and the stun gun.
Nicola swept past us, catching up with Phoebe. She immediately started peppering Phoebe with questions about the spell they’d just completed, no doubt hoping to learn from Phoebe’s superior knowledge and experience. After we’d freed Nicola from the Influence she’d been drugged with, she’d been spending every spare moment with Phoebe, learning as much as possible in an effort to never be controlled again.
Honestly, I admired her tenacity. But it scared me. She worked for Allcot. The more she learned, the more powerful she’d become, and the last thing Eadric Allcot needed was more power over the city of New Orleans.
It’s not her fault she’s related to him.
She was Pandora’s sister. Nicola didn’t have any control over that. But how loyal was she to him? At the very least she was loyal to Pandora, and that alone made her untrustworthy. I hated that feeling. I liked Nicola. She was only trying to survive in a world she’d been forced into. It wasn’t her fault Allcot and his ilk were corrupt.
We all trudged outside with David and Harrison following behind us. Phoebe pointed at me. “You and Tal take my car.” She gestured to the pair behind us. “And those two can ride with Nicola and me.”
David stared at me, but then his gaze shifted to Tal. “Don’t you think she’d be safer with us?”
Tal’s hand squeezed mine, making me almost wince. I pinched his side, letting him know that wasn’t okay. He immediately relaxed his hand. “She’ll be fine with Link and me in the Camry.”
“Yeah, David,” Phoebe said dryly. “They’ll be in a two-ton vehicle. If anything comes at them, running it down won’t be much of an issue. Stop trying to control everything she does. It’s getting annoying.” She turned on her
heel and stalked toward the gold Suburban we’d commandeered earlier that night. She opened the back door and waved her hand. “Now get in before I decide to leave you here.”
David glared at her. Harrison chuckled, not bothering to hide his amusement.
“Shut up, Harrison,” David growled.
Harrison’s grin widened. “What’s wrong, Laveaux? I thought you were accustomed to taking orders. Or is it the fact she’s female?”
Phoebe gestured to Harrison. “I like him.”
“Of course you do,” I said dryly.
The muscle in David’s jaw pulsed and his entire body tensed. He pulled out his phone and quickly tapped out a text.
“That had better not have been a text to Allcot. I don’t need him fucking this up,” Phoebe said.
David shot her an irritated look. “Someone has to interrogate the prisoners. Father has the best chance of obtaining any useful information.”
“And what happens when he’s done with them?” I asked. A week ago Allcot had ordered the former Void director killed without letting the Void get their hands on him first. “Kill them?”
David shrugged. “Maybe. It depends on what they say.”
Fuck. Just when I thought the old David was back, the new version reared his ugly head. Goddess, that pissed me off. Through clenched teeth I said, “Please tell him to do what it takes to get information on Asher but to not kill them. I have questions of my own.”
David nodded and typed out another text, then he climbed into the Suburban.
Harrison followed him while Tal and I headed for Phoebe’s Camry.
“Wil?” Phoebe called.
I reached for the driver’s side handle and looked up at her. “Yeah?”
“Be careful.”
“She’ll be fine,” Talisen answered for me.
I raised my eyebrows at Phoebe and jabbed my head toward Tal as if to say, “You heard him.”
She held her hands up in front of her. “Okay. I got the message. Follow me, but don’t make a move until I signal.”
“What’s the signal?”
“When it happens, you’ll know.”
Chapter 24
Following the Suburban down the dark street, I turned to Tal. “Thank you.”
