Irresistible Magic (Crescent City Fae: Book 2)

by Deanna Chase

  “For?”

  “Sticking up for me.” Everyone else had a habit of treating me like I was a liability instead of an asset. Tal never did that.

  He turned in his seat until he was giving me his full attention. The moonlight shone in through the window, illuminating one narrowed eye. “I’m not so sure you should be going.”

  “What? Then why—”

  “Do you think I want you anywhere near the people who did this to me? That I won’t be distracted and worried about you while trying to find Dawson? That I’m not aware I was taken in order to lure you into their hands? Damn it, Wil, if I had my way, I’d have locked you up in David’s house until this is all over. Or better yet, at Allcot’s with your mom and Carrie.”

  I stomped on the brake, jerking both of us forward. Pain seared through my chest from the bite of the seatbelt. “Did you just say that I should put my lot in with Allcot?”

  A horn blew from behind us. I ignored it.

  “Hell no. I said I’d prefer it if you were locked away under his protection, because I know you. You’re not going to sit back and let everyone fight your battles for you. Especially if those people are Phoebe and me.”

  “What does that mean, especially you and Phoebe?” I eased back onto the road, scanning ahead for the giant Suburban I was supposed to be following.

  “You’re not going to step aside while the people you care about are in danger.”

  Oh. Well, he had a point. “Neither would you.” Ahead, the gold Suburban made a sharp right turn and I sped up to follow.

  “No, but a lot of people would.”

  “Not everyone was cut out to wear a superhero cape,” I joked.

  He smiled and rested his foot across his knee. The casual posture turned him back into the laid-back Talisen I’d known my whole life. “Do you wear anything under that cape?”

  My lips twitched. “Did you have something in mind?”

  His low chuckle reverberated through me and went straight to my heart. “I think black lace has some possibilities.”

  My mouth went dry from the husky desire suddenly lacing his tone. I cleared my throat. “I’ll take that under consideration.”

  We turned right again and stopped under a streetlamp. His emerald-green eyes sparkled with mischief. “On second thought, forget the cape. Just wear the lace.”

  Laughter bubbled from deep in my throat. “Are you implying I should fight the bad guys in my underwear?”

  He reached over and smoothed my hair back, caressing my cheek in the process. “No, love. I’m imagining what it might be like if we ever find more than a few moments alone together.”

  A shiver ran down my spine and spread to my wings. I arched my neck, pressing into his fingers, reveling in his touch.

  This was who I was meant to be with. Our connection, the way we understood each other, our history, the attraction. The shiver turned to chills as I realized what I’d be giving up if I let things get out of hand with David again. I’d have to tell Tal about that kiss if I wanted us to have a real chance at a relationship, but this wasn’t the time. We were headed into unknown enemy territory and I couldn’t have him distracted.

  “We’ll find out who’s targeting you, Wil,” Tal said, dropping the innuendo and staring at me with concern. “And we’ll do whatever it takes to stop them.”

  I clamped my hand over his and squeezed. There weren’t enough words to express exactly how I felt about him. Tal was my person. And no matter what, I wasn’t going to lose him.

  The lights on the Suburban went out half a block ahead of us. “We’re here,” I said.

  Tal pulled Nicola’s amethyst out of his pocket and slipped the chain over his neck.

  I patted my pocket to ensure I still had my stun gun. A fleeting desire for a batch of Orange Influence seized me. It was my one edible that could help me in battle. I shook my head, trying to dislodge the horrible thought. The only time I’d ever willfully used Orange Influence on anyone had been when I’d been locked in the basement of the Arcane, destined to be a lab rat. I’d used it to save myself. But it was a dangerous drug. One that I wished I could go back and never invent.

  I eased the Camry past the Suburban and parked in front of a large truck, hoping it was enough to keep the car at least partially hidden.

  “Ready?” Tal asked.

  I glanced back at Link. He took one look at me and started vibrating. A moment later, my white-and-gray wolf filled the back seat.

  “Now I am.” I climbed out of the car and let Link out. The pair of us waited in silence for Tal.

  He moved slowly, taking careful steps.

  “Tal?”

  “I’m fine.” His gait evened out as he led the way toward Phoebe.

  I kept a critical eye on him, but he took long, purposeful strides, appearing as right as rain. I didn’t buy it for a second. He had one tell. If he hadn’t put the amethyst on, I might not have noticed his neck muscles flexing and pulsing with tension beneath the silver chain.

  Nothing I could say would stop him, though. I suspected part of the mission had something to do with the fact we’d lost Beau. That neither of us had been there to help him after he’d been left for dead in my mother’s lavender fields. I felt the ache of total helplessness deep down and although we’d never talked about it, I knew he felt the same way. It wasn’t that either of us blamed ourselves, but we had that awful vulnerability that doesn’t go away, that makes one question everything they did right up until their life changed forever.

  And that’s why Talisen wouldn’t let another friend go without a fight. And exactly why I’d battle right alongside him.

  A slight whistle sounded from the shadows. I couldn’t see her, but I knew it was Phoebe. Link put his nose to the ground and headed in her general direction. Tal fell in step beside me and we followed him to Phoebe’s side.

  She was busy clasping a silver locket around her neck when she finally came into focus. I eyed the locket, then noticed the silver cuff and the four rings adorning her slender fingers. “Where’s Nicola?” I whispered.

  “With David and Harrison. They’re scoping out the building.”

  I eyed her locket and rings. “How dangerous are those?”

  She ran a light hand over the round locket. “More dangerous than the death spell Nicola was carrying around last week.”

  Whoa. I took a small step back. Nicola had almost killed Phoebe with that death spell. “I didn’t know there was such a thing.”

  Phoebe nodded once. “Just make sure you’re well out of the way if I have to use one.”

  “Got it.”

  One of her rings started to glow blue. I jumped back, pulling Tal with me.

  She reached out and grabbed me by the shirt. “No. Don’t move,” she whispered harshly. “This one detects threats. Light blue, like what you just saw, means someone with ill intent is in the vicinity. If it starts to turn green, then you can run.”

  I glanced around. “Is the threat out here?”

  “Unlikely. It’s too faint.”

  That made me breathe a little easier.

  Phoebe adjusted an earpiece in her right ear, cocking her head to hear whoever was speaking to her. “Okay, let’s move,” she told Tal and me.

  “Coast clear?” I asked her.

  She put her finger to her lips, indicating now wasn’t the time to ask questions. It drove me insane, but I’d been on enough vampire hunts with her to understand how she worked. Tal, on the other hand, was new to all this.

  “Phoebe,” he said, impatience in his tone, “what exactly is the plan?”

  She glared at him with her narrowed eyes. This time she reached out and covered his mouth with her hand and shook her head violently. If he didn’t get the picture after that, she was likely to spell him into silence. If she had any power left after the locator spell.

  I grabbed Tal’s hand and traced what I hoped was a soothing circle over his knuckles. He didn’t pull back, so I decided to go with it. Link flanked him
on the other side, occasionally leaning in to nuzzle Tal’s leg.

  He was picking up on my worry for Talisen. The knowledge that Link would protect Tal the same way he protected me eased some of my anxiety.

  “Here.” Phoebe pressed one of her rings into my hand.

  I held it with the tips of my thumb and forefinger, inspecting it. “What does it do?”

  “It’s a protection ring. It won’t stop an attacker, but it will slow them down. Just put it on. It’ll help.”

  “But won’t it affect anyone fighting alongside me?” I asked as Nicola, David, and Harrison returned.

  She shook her head. “Only someone who is directly attacking you.” She glanced at our entourage. “And if any one of them ends up attacking you, then this will be the least of their worries after I get done with them.”

  I slipped the ring over my middle finger and inclined my head in thanks. “This is new?”

  “Sort of. It’s a variation on a binding spell. But it’s the ring itself that makes it work. The metal specifically.”

  I eyed the ring. “Silver?”

  “Witch’s silver.”

  Oh, very rare indeed. This was a family heirloom. I pulled it off and stuffed it back into her hand. “I can’t take this.”

  “You can and you will.” She held her hand palm up, the silver ring appearing as harmless as could be.

  “Phoebs. It holds your family’s power. It’s too risky for you to give it away.”

  “I’m not giving it away to a random stranger. You’re my family.” With that, she grabbed my hand and forced the ring back on my finger. “You know my family history. This is not only encouraged, but expected.”

  Of course I knew about her family. She had a brother. But no one else. She’d never known her father, and both her mother and grandmother had died well before their time. She had an uncle she only saw once a year and that was only to go over family business. She’d told me once she was expected to adopt friends as family, but I’d always assumed she meant other witches. In fact, I’d been sure that was what her time with Nicola was about. Witches could feed off power from other witches, but not with fae.

  “When you put it that way, I accept,” I said, trying to choke back the unexpected emotion clogging my throat.

  She reached out and pulled me to her in a fierce hug. I returned the embrace, pouring everything I had into the brief contact.

  When we pulled apart, her eyes were brighter than usual. “Now be careful, dammit.”

  I chuckled. “You, too.”

  Harrison stepped between us. “If the love fest is over, maybe we should get on with it.”

  “Shut up, Harrison,” David and Tal said at the same time.

  Harrison rolled his eyes. “Somebody has to get this show moving.”

  David scowled and yanked Harrison back. Harrison sent him a bland smile and stood with his thumbs in the belt loops of his jeans.

  “The plan?” I asked Phoebe.

  “We break up into groups. Nicola will go with Tal, Harrison with me, and you and Link with David.”

  I glanced at Tal’s tense stance and David’s casual one and then gaped at Phoebe. “Wait, what? Why am I with David? You’re my partner.”

  Phoebe glanced over my head at David. “Told ya.”

  David shrugged.

  “I think it’s a good plan,” Talisen said quietly.

  I spun. “What?”

  Tal took my hand in his. I could almost feel David’s stare burning into our connection. But I knew Tal wasn’t doing it to show dominance. It was just a natural gesture. One he’d done a thousand times before. “The vampire is the strongest and quickest. If anyone can keep you safe, it’s him.”

  “Phoebe and Link have kept me safe hundreds of times before,” I argued.

  “Not against superhumans. And what if there’s a bunch of vampires in there?”

  “There isn’t—” I cut myself off, almost revealing to Harrison that I could sense vamps. “I mean, we don’t have any reason to believe there is.”

  Harrison gave me an odd look.

  “Either way, I’ll feel better if David’s watching your back.” Tal dropped my hand and moved to stand next to Nicola.

  Not wanting to hold the rescue mission up any longer, I reluctantly agreed. “All right. I’ll partner with David.”

  “Good.” Phoebe glanced around at all of us. “Now, here’s the plan.”

  Chapter 25

  The white antebellum home took up half a city block in the Lake Vista neighborhood and was surrounded by a black wrought-iron fence. The entire place was dark except for one light shining from the far upper right-hand window.

  David pointed to a balcony on the left side. “That’s where we’ll enter.”

  “Right.” Out of the six of us, it was easiest for David and me to deal with second floors.

  I turned to Tal, who was standing behind me. There was no way I was getting Link up there with me. “Link is too charged to change into puppy form. Take him with you.”

  Talisen put his hand out to Link. The wolf nudged Tal’s palm with his nose. The tight ball in my chest loosened a tiny bit. Not that I didn’t have confidence in Talisen and Nicola’s abilities, but they were the weakest pair. Tal was very gifted in healing…not fighting. He could hold his own in a brawl, but dealing with superhumans was another matter. And while Nicola was powerful, she wasn’t very experienced.

  They needed Link more than I did. Because let’s face it, I had David, badass vampire, on my team. As long as I didn’t get in the way, he would be able to protect me from almost anyone. Hopefully.

  “Go,” Phoebe said. “We’ll be right behind you.”

  David glanced down at me. “I’ll meet you up there.”

  I took a deep breath, shrugged off the sweater I’d borrowed from Phoebe, and fluttered my wings, instantly feeling more in control.

  I hovered under a tree and watched Phoebe and Harrison jump the iron fence. Phoebe paused at the front gate. A faint light glowed from her palm and a second later, the gate swung open. Link bounded in and she closed it.

  Phoebe joined Harrison near the front door of the house. Below me, Talisen scaled the large oak with Nicola right behind him. They were headed for the backyard. Once Phoebe was in and disarmed the alarm, they would sneak in through the back door.

  I kept one eye on Phoebe’s progress and the other on the shadows of the balcony. David was already there, waiting for me.

  Phoebe waved in my direction, giving me the signal. Time to get this party started. I flew soundlessly to the balcony and landed beside David, catching a glimpse of Link as he followed on Talisen’s heels and disappeared into the backyard.

  Everyone was in place. David had his hand on the knob of the French door and as soon as Phoebe had the front door open, he twisted his wrist. The flimsy lock broke easily and David ushered me inside the dark room.

  This was it. Our job was to clear the way for Tal and Nicola to get Dawson out. But first, we needed to find whoever was here without tipping them off. We had the best advantage coming in from the second floor. And that meant we had no time to waste.

  The more individuals we could neutralize, the easier it would be for the rest of the team. A dark walnut canopy bed took up almost the entire room. With super vampire speed, David maneuvered to the other side and checked the closet. Empty.

  He cracked open the door, poked his head out, and waved me forward. We needed to check every room.

  I stayed a half step behind him, listening carefully for sounds below. The house was pin-drop silent right up until I stepped on a creaky floorboard. Shit. I froze, but David grabbed my arm and yanked me into a room to the left.

  My breathing quickened and sweat broke out on my neck. He pulled me to the far corner of the room and did his cursory check, then he swept a glance over me and raised one quizzical eyebrow.

  His question was clear. Was I okay to continue? I mouthed I’m fine and smoothed my shirt. We hadn’t even seen anyone ye
t and I was ready to jump right out of my skin. He paused by the door, listening. I wasn’t sure if he was giving me another moment or if he actually heard something. But I wasn’t going to ask.

  We made our way down the hall and were almost to the stairs separating the west and east wings when we heard a loud crash followed by a vicious growl.

  “Fuck!” Phoebe’s angry voice floated up the stairs. “Resist and you’ll end up six feet under, dirtbag.”

  Another crash, this time sounding like glass on tile.

  “Move!” David ushered me down the hall. He only paused momentarily at each door, listening briefly. It appeared no one was upstairs at all…except that room at the end with the light shining from beneath the door.

  When we reached the end of the hall, David pressed me against the door with one arm and listened. After a brief moment he nodded. Someone was in there.

  He glanced at the door handle and then back at me to ask if I was ready. I wasn’t, but we couldn’t wait. If Dawson was in there, this could be our only chance to save him.

  The clatter of heavy boots sounded on the stairwell and David spun.

  So much for ending this mission early. I pulled the stun gun out of my pocket and held it with the hand wearing Phoebe’s ring. If anyone lunged for me, vampire or superhuman, hopefully the ring’s magic would slow them down.

  A wiry guy with shockingly white-blond hair bounded up the stairs and into the hallway, followed closely by a stocky bodybuilder type.

  David pushed me behind him and grabbed the first guy, barely catching him by his bloody T-shirt.

  Where’d all that blood come from? Someone was seriously wounded. What if it was Tal? No! I refused to believe it. I hadn’t heard Link and surely if Tal had been hurt, Link would’ve lost his shit.

  Bloody T-shirt twisted at the last moment and kicked out, hitting David in the knee. My vampire crumpled but brought Bloody T-shirt down with him. David’s hand wrapped around his attacker’s neck and the muscles in his forearm flexed as he squeezed. Bloody’s eyes started to bug out.

  I took another step back, but then the bodybuilder lunged and he lost his balance, crashing into me. His heavy weight slammed us both into the wall. A sharp pain shot through my left wing, but I bit back a cry and ignored it. The bodybuilder’s beady gray eyes leered into mine. He snarled and said, “Pretty. Too bad I’m going to have to crush your throat.”