Tempted by Darkness

by Avery Gale

  Jameson slid an envelope over to her, “This is a written offer. Take it with you and open it when you have the time to give it thoughtful consideration.” Libby was still struggling to wrap her mind around this turn of events, but she followed their lead and stood when they both got to their feet. Both men extended their hands and she shook them without even realizing what was happening because her mind was spinning with the possibilities. Jameson laughed and tilted his head toward the door, “Charlie and Dirk are pacing outside the door and I don’t want to keep you here all evening discussing the details. After you’ve had a chance to review the offer, give us a call and we’ll answer any questions you might have.” When she took the envelope, clutching it so tightly the edges crinkled in protest, Jameson smiled and added, “And Libby, I think you’ll find that we’re pretty eager to make this work.” He nodded toward the envelope letting her know the offer was going to be difficult to pass up.

  This time it was Trev who spoke up, “And, we’re expecting you to have questions so don’t hesitate to call with those. And Libby, all things are negotiable—never forget that.” Suddenly she wasn’t sure they were speaking exclusively about the offer. After all, she knew they were members of Dark Knights and she’d learned enough about the lifestyle to understand all the implications of pre-scene negotiations. Libby wasn’t a fool, she knew full well Trev had deliberately left the comment open-ended. She also knew they were going to make the deal so sweet she wasn’t going to be able to say no. The only problem was, could she work for two men she knew full well were Dominants? She wasn’t a shifter so she wouldn’t be subject to their Alpha nonsense, but they’d still be her employers and that would mean she’d have to make some allowances for their bossiness.

  She smiled as she made her way to the door, “Well, you’ve given me a lot to consider,” and waving the envelope, she added, “and I’m sure this is going to be quite interesting as well. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. I need to put the final touches on my presentation, and then I’ll be flying to San Diego in in a couple of weeks for the conference, but I’ll touch base with you before I leave.” She shook both men’s hands again and shook her head at how lost her hand looked in their grip. “If Kit is available, I’d love to say hi before I leave. And if my godchildren aren’t busy terrorizing their nanny, I’d like to see them as well.”

  Both men laughed out loud, “Kit will be back momentarily, I believe she’s been out working with Ruby in the small lab we built for her. The last time she and her granny destroyed the kitchen, we decided it was cheaper to build a separate facility complete with a great fire extinguishing system. It was less costly than our repeated repairs to the kitchen and it keeps the staff from wanting to strangle our mate.” Jameson had tried to make light of the situation, but Libby knew Kit had done some significant damage on more than one occasion. She’d also seen pictures of the facility they’d built for Kit to use while learning all her hocus-pocus tricks and the set-up was something to behold. Hell, Kit had been a disaster in the kitchen even without the added risks associated with learning magical spells, Libby didn’t even want to think about how much more dangerous she’d been now.

  Trev grinned down at her and continued, “As for the treacherous two, as most of the pack refers to our children, I’m sure they’d be thrilled to see you. Just don’t let them levitate you, they’ve mastered take-offs but not landings.”

  Fuck me. Is he serious? Guess I should be grateful for the warning.

  Chapter Eight

  Kit walked gingerly down the long hallway, trying to make her way quietly past her mate’s office when she noticed Charlie and Dirk pacing just outside the door. Sighing to herself, Kit knew that could only mean one thing, her pint-sized pal, Libby, was inside. She’d known Jameson planned to offer Libby a position after her big project ended, but she hadn’t realized they’d planned to so this soon. Damn, nobody ever tells me anything. When Charlie looked up at her, Kit saw panic move over his face as he froze, “Shit, are you okay? You look sort of…well, worse for wear. What the hell happened? Do our Alphas know you’ve been injured?”

  Damn it, she’d forgotten all about cleaning up before returning to the house. Hell, who was she kidding, she hadn’t really been thinking clearly and now that she thought about it, she really didn’t even remember making her way back to the house. Looking down at her clothing, she winced at the rips and tears that were highlighted by the black soot. And what the heck? Who knew buttons would actually melt into the fabric of a shirt? “Well, there was a small explosion, and,” she didn’t get to finish her sentence when the ornately carved wooden door behind Charlie slammed open and a very annoyed Jameson stormed out of the office to stand in front of her with Trev right on his heels. Oh yippee, two pissed off mates for the price of one. Goddess I really don’t need this right now.

  “Explosion? Explain.” Jameson was in full Alpha-mode and Kit couldn’t hold back her involuntary flinch at his harsh tone. Good Goddess she was in for it now. Neither of her mates understood that magic was like anything else—just because you had natural ability, that didn’t mean there wasn’t a learning curve involved. She’d tried to point out that professional athletes learned and then practiced skills for years before they achieved greatness, but the argument had fallen on deaf ears so she’d given up trying to make the point.

  Kit looked from Jameson to Trev and back again before taking a deep breath, “Well, I’m trying to learn how to modulate the amount of dark energy I put out. And well…it seems blenders are apparently particularly sensitive to that sort of thing.” She could have sworn she saw the corners of Jameson’s lips twitch but it was gone so quickly she wasn’t sure. As always a small crowd was quickly gathering around them to see what sort of trouble she’d stirred up this time, and none of them tried to hold back their laughter. I swear there is some sort of network alert that goes out calling all voyeurs. And if I find a video on YouTube again someone is going to find themselves turned into fucking frog—no there is no imagination in that, I’ll have to come up with something out of the ordinary—something truly—

  “Baby? Are you all right?” The concern in Trev’s voice was unmistakable and it pulled her back to the moment.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Sticky, but fine.” Mostly. The truth was her ego was probably more damaged than anything else, but she didn’t feel particularly obligated to share that little tidbit. And Braden’s hysterical laughter when she and her granny had emerged from the lab hadn’t helped either. Damn, she was going to talk to Angie about him—that kid had entirely too much free time if he could be hanging around waiting for her to mess up. Sighing to herself, Kit had to admit it wasn’t like he’d had to wait long, but she still thought she should be able to blow up a blender without it being front-page news with the whole pack. In her peripheral vision she saw Tristan slip a folded bill to his brother. Great. Now they were placing bets on me. Just fucking fairy dancing in the dark dandy.

  “Kitten, where is Ruby? Is she alright?” Jameson failed miserably to keep the amusement out of his voice and Kit really wanted to give him a big slap right upside his head.

  “She’s just dandy.” Because she is far more experienced and dropped a cone of protection over herself at the first hint of trouble. Did she bother to help me? Oh hell no. And the claim that experience is the best teacher was a lame damned excuse if there ever was one. “She’s in the kitchen trying to wrangle another blender from your staff. Seems she’d become a big smoothie fan all of the sudden.” Probably another thing I need to talk to Angie about. If she’s going to teach Granny Good Witch all that health food bullshit, she should be the one slurping up that green goop, not me. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go take a shower.” And guzzle a bottle of something with a really high percentage of alcohol before I collapse into bed.

  As Kit started to weave through the growing crowd, she spotted Libby standing between Charlie and Dirk. Each of the man had a hand on one her friend’s shoulders holding her back
and for the first time she could remember, Kit was actually grateful to be spared one of Libby’s rib-crushing hugs. She was still covered in whatever green goo her granny had been mixing up in that damned blender and the scent of burned hair was scorching her sense of smell—damn she hoped she hadn’t burned off her eyebrows again. Glancing behind her she frowned, damn it, she’d left green footprints all the way down the hallway.

  The cuts she’d gotten from the flying debris were already healing, thanks to the accelerated healing rate of a shifter, but there was still blood on the surface of her skin and spots where it had dripped onto her clothing. She hadn’t looked in the mirror, but she knew her red hair was probably sticking out in a hundred different directions leaving her looking like she’d survived a tornado—which wasn’t that far from the truth.

  She saw Libby start to speak, but Kit just shook her head and mouthed later. Libby didn’t look pleased, but she finally nodded her assent. As far as Kit was concerned, Libby Wells’ biggest gift was her ability to spread joy to those around her but right now Kit just wanted to wallow in the pity party she had planned. Kit had never met anyone who could claim immunity when it came to the little dynamo who was Libby Wells’ charm, and when her friend actually got her hands on you, the effect was almost electric. But right now all Kit could think about was making her way upstairs and soaking in a warm bath and drinking a glass or three of wine until her sense of humor returned, because looking at the smirks surrounding her, she couldn’t for the life of her see what everyone around her found so damned amusing.

  Kit startled at the realization that holding back her temper was taking all her focus and that was something that had never happened to her before. Then she remembered Devin’s words of warning, that even dabbling in dark magic could have unintended consequences, including unsettled and volatile emotions. She’d laughed it off at the time, but now she felt trepidation moving through her. The last thing she ever wanted to do was to accidentally hurt anyone who wasn’t a threat to the safety of those she loved. But for just a split second her mind had gone to a very dark place when she’d let the wash of anger move over her and that scared her—a lot.

  Jameson looked on as Kit slowly made her way up the stairs, and put his hand on Trev’s shoulder to keep him from following her. “Give her a few minutes to regain some equilibrium. She isn’t seriously hurt and right now she is feeling foolish, she just needs a few minutes to herself.” Then he turned to address the pack members who had gathered around, “I don’t want any of you to mention this to Kit or anyone else for that matter. Let’s remember, she’d trying to cram a lifetime’s education into just a few weeks’ time, and she is doing it in order to protect all of us. I think she deserves our support and our respect.” Most of those around him had the decency to look contrite, but several seemed annoyed with the warning and he made a mental note to speak with each of them individually. Perhaps it was time to remind everyone that the pack was only as strong as their weakest member.

  Trev made his way up the stairs as soon as Jameson returned to their office. He couldn’t remember ever seeing Kit look as defeated as she had when she’d looked around her as pack members had worked to hold back their amusement at her misfortune. Seeing the sadness as she registered the betrayal reflected in her eyes had made him want to lash out at those who had made her the object of their ridicule. Damn it, she was busting her ass to master the skills she was going to need to protect the very people who were sneering at her. Hell, there were a lot of times her antics had him biting the insides of his cheeks to keep from smiling, but he also tried to make her understand how grateful he was for all her hard work.

  There had also been something else in her eyes, a flash of uncertainty laced with fear but she’d shuttered it so quickly he hadn’t been able to read it. For all her bravado and apparent self-confidence, she was still a very real woman trying desperately to fit in and earn the respect of her new family and that made her more than a little vulnerable to their scorn. He’d felt her pain and disillusionment just before a flash of terror moved though her mind, it wasn’t fear of what might happen to her, but a very real fear that she might hurt someone else. Trev wasn’t sure what had set her mind on that path, but it wasn’t something he intended to let go.

  Stepping up to the door of the master bath, he heard her soft sniffles and wanted to pound his fist into the wall in frustration. Their sweet woman already had enough insecurities about being mated, she certainly didn’t need their pack adding to that burden. He’d heard Jameson’s admonishment to the members who had been looking on downstairs and then his mental inventory of the members whose reactions hadn’t set well. Trev could only hope his brother followed through on those come to Jesus meetings he had planned—and sooner rather than later.

  Taking a deep breath to calm the internal storm swirling through him and schooling his features, Trev knocked softly before opening the door. Kit was leaning back in the large tub surrounded by bubbles. Her pose might appear relaxed but her entire body was practically quaking with tension. When she saw him, she quickly swiped the soft washcloth she’d been clutching over her face trying to erase the evidence she’d been crying. She might have hidden the tears, but her red-rimmed eyes would have still given her away even if he hadn’t heard her soft sobs just a few seconds ago.

  He didn’t say anything, just quickly set about stripping out of his clothes and then easing into the large tub to settle behind her. Taking the cloth out of her hand, he gently rubbed it over her back and frowned at the bruises he found there. Obviously she’d been battered from all sides and he wondered briefly how much damage the small lab had sustained.

  Leaning forward, he pressed his lips softly against her bruised skin, pleased when he felt her relax into his touch. “That’s it, baby. Let me love you. Just relax and let me take care of you.” He continued his gentle ministrations and then cupped his hands over the shoulders to pull back gently until she was cradled against his chest. Leaning down to press his lips against the damp skin below her ear, he let his words whisper softly against the spot he knew was particularly sensitive, “We are all very proud of you, baby, even when we don’t do a very good job of showing you.” He hoped she felt his sincerity, and that it would leach from his soul into hers. Trev had felt their heartbeats synchronize as soon as he’d pulled her against his chest, it was a phenomenon their fathers had talked to them about frequently, but they’d honestly assumed their dads were exaggerating—until they’d met Kit.

  One of the most challenging things about having a mate as brilliant as Kit was how creative they’d had to be in order to keep her focused on all the progress she was making rather than fixating on all the ways she could improve. They’d tried to show her that bumps in the road were a part of life, they were meant to remind you that perfection wasn’t the goal—putting forth your best effort was all anyone should expect. Kit had unreasonably high expectations for herself and a work ethic that often left everyone around her exhausted just trying to keep up with her. Braden had called it correctly when he’d referred to her as a Wärtsilä-Sulzer RTA96. Damn kid had a real affinity for trivia and Trev had been forced to Google it late one night just to find out what the young wizard had been talking about. He’d laughed when he realized his spirited mate had been likened to the most powerful motor ever made. And at 3,209.085 HP, the comparison was probably about right.

  Tristan had stepped up behind him and laughed when he’d seen what was on his laptop screen. “I keep telling Nick and Angie we need to limit Braden’s internet usage, but I’m not sure it would make any difference. I swear the kid’s mind is a fucking steel trap. I’ve never met anyone who could retain information like he does—it’s humbling to say the least. And I shudder to think of what he’ll have stored in his head by the time he’s thirty.” When Trev turned and looked at him with a brow raised in question, their head of security didn’t miss a beat, “I know this is one of his favorite ways to say something is kickass strong, what was he referrin
g to that has you Googling when you don’t think anyone is around?”

  “Kit. He was talking about how hard she works.” Trev finally shook his head and smiled. “Damn, can’t you teach that kid to speak normally when he is talking to those with IQs closer to average? And I agree with you, I don’t even want to consider how much worse he’s going to get as he gets older.”

  “I’m hoping his social intelligence catches up and he learns to be a little more diplomatic, or at least more aware of the fact he isn’t spending all his time with a bunch of Mensa think-tank hopefuls.” Trev knew Tristan Michaels was incredibly bright, and his brother, Nick, would likely test in the genius range. And everyone knew the men’s mate, Angie, was, without question, the most intelligent person in a pack that had more than its fair share of brilliant members.

  Trev hadn’t even realized he’d left the telepathic link between them open until he heard Kit’s whispered words, “There might be a lot of intelligence floating around, but not much kindness, and that just sucks if you ask me.” Kit had spoken so softly Trev probably wouldn’t have heard her if he had been a shifter blessed with superior hearing. He wrapped his arms around her and just held her for several minutes, after all, what was he going to say? He certainly couldn’t argue her point.