Taste of Wicked

by Michelle Howard

  “What about that?” Drake asked.

  Toni blinked and tipped to the side. Everything went dark moments before she fainted.

  ***

  “That was your bright idea?” Mike asked with a shake of his head.

  Drake cradled Antonia in his arms, waiting for her to regain consciousness. “You heard her. Saw the doubt. My proof needed to be visible and undeniable.”

  He was just glad his magic responded.

  “That’s what happens when you date a human.” A wealth of meaning accompanied Mike’s smirk.

  Was he dating Antonia? The possessive surge of emotion at the thought answered for him. They were beyond dating. He wanted Antonia with him forever. She belonged to him. No other woman would fit him better.

  Antonia groaned in his arms. Her lids lifted and she pushed up in his embrace. She stared at Drake and he couldn’t decipher the look in her eyes. “You’re a warlock.”

  Did she finally believe him? “Yes.”

  “And Thomas is a goblin?”

  “Yes.”

  This time she didn’t flinch from his answers Drake noted with relief. He ran his hand up and down her back, caressing her hair at the same time. She curled into his chest. “You’re a CEO and a warlock.”

  He wasn’t sure if she needed him to agree again so Drake kept silent all the while hoping she could accept him and all the facets that came with him being the head of a major corporation and a magical being.

  “Chrissy will never believe me.”

  He brushed back her hair and lifted her face. “If she can’t keep the knowledge of otherworld beings to herself, you can’t tell. Humans aren’t ready to know about us.”

  She looked adorably confused. “But you told me.”

  “I trust you and don’t want any more lies or secrets between us.”

  His phone buzzed before he could explain her new role in his life. Mike rose to his feet, the chair creaking beneath his weight. “I’m glad you two are having a moment but none of it explains why the goblin wants her.”

  Antonia sat up further but Drake refused to let her go. She glared and he glared back.

  “I don’t know what Thomas’ problem is. I’ve been telling him every way imaginable that I don’t want to be with him.”

  Drake’s phone buzzed again and he couldn’t ignore it in light of recent events. “Winston.”

  “A goblin is on your trail,” Ben announced in lieu of a greeting.

  Antonia used his distraction with the phone to climb from his arms and move to the other side of the room. As long as she didn’t leave, Drake wasn’t concerned.

  “I know. The goblin’s name is Thomas...” He raised a brow at Antonia.

  “Oliver. Thomas Oliver.”

  Drake kept his gaze on her. “Did you get that, Ben?”

  “Yes. Are you going to come back now? You can’t want to deal with a dark-magic goblin without back-up.”

  “I’m not leaving until I take care of this.” Drake hung up in the middle of Ben’s rant.

  Mike tucked his pencil and pad in his back pocket. “We’ll start looking for him. There are a few witches I can call on to help. If he’s still in Magic, we’ll find him.”

  As soon as the door closed behind him, Antonia swiped her hand over her hair. “Okay. I think I’m a believer unless you’ve fooled everyone in this town. But allow me a few moments to have a small freak out.”

  Drake wished he could have told her in an easier way but he’d never had to reveal information about otherworlders to a human. Aside from passing out, she seemed to be taking it well.

  “What do we do next?” She asked, shoulders thrown back.

  He smiled and with a single step eliminated the distance she’d put between them. “I called Simon. He’s reaching out to a witch named Lacey. I met her while here. He thinks she’ll be able to help.”

  She licked her lips. “Simon’s not human, is he?”

  Letting out a chuckle, he revealed a little more. “Simon is a werewolf and his wife, Tory, is half-vampire.”

  “Unbelievable.”

  “The town of Magic is filled with residents who aren’t human.”

  She blew out a breath. “Of course. Why wouldn’t it be? I think I want to sleep on all this.”

  Heat blasted through his veins. “Don’t even think you’ll be doing that alone.”

  Chapter 16

  Toni woke the next morning snuggled spoon style with Drake behind her. This was the second time she’d awakened in this position and found it no less addictive. Carefully turning over, she studied his sleeping face. Tiny lines fanned from his mouth, blond hair stuck out from the sides and he still carried a sexy vibe. How could he have bed hair and make her want to wake him with a kiss?

  Resisting temptation, she crawled out of the bed one inch at a time. It was a success when Drake only mumbled and rolled over. He was tired and after the other evening she didn’t blame him. Her gaze strayed to the newly repaired door. Repaired with magic by Drake right in front of her eyes. Thinking of Thomas bursting in again unsettled her.

  Toni picked out a change of clothes and headed to the shower. She didn’t get to do more than turn on the water and step inside when Drake joined her. He slid behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, propping his chin on her shoulder.

  “Good morning,” he whispered against her neck.

  Toni locked down her surging hormones. “So far it is. I need coffee to confirm.”

  Drake chuckled and spun her around. Water rained down on both of them and she decided Drake looked good asleep but he was gorgeous soaking wet.

  “We’ll go to the coffee shop together and I’ll have Simon join us there.”

  “What about Thomas?”

  His features grew dark. “We’ll discuss how to handle the goblin together.”

  The fact that they needed to discuss a goblin was farfetched but there was no other way to describe the green monster that had morphed into Thomas while she watched. “Since this is more your thing, I’ll go along with whatever.”

  A relieved smile crested his full lips. “Thank you, Antonia.”

  They finished their shower and dressed, Drake dragging Toni to his room for clean clothes. He made it clear she was not to be out of his sight. Considering that there was a monster aka Thomas on the prowl, Toni didn’t put up much fight.

  They arrived at the coffee shop and due to the early morning hour there was a nice crowd standing in line to place orders. Every table was taken except one in the back with four chairs. Drake headed directly toward it and pushed Toni into a seat. He didn’t join her but his mouth pulled down into a fierce frown. “Don’t move. I’ll bring your coffee.”

  She risked a quick glance around. “Is this a warlock thing? Are you going to magic me so I can’t move?” Could he do that?

  Drake sighed. “Magic you? I don’t want to know what that means. Stay here.”

  As he walked away, Toni thought about barking like an obedient dog but he looked far too serious for a joke right now. She chose to call Chrissy.

  “Have you any idea how early it is? This better be life or death, Toni.”

  Hearing her friend’s sleepy voice gave Toni her first blast of normalcy. “I don’t know where to start, Chrissy.”

  Rustling sounds then a huge yawn came across the line. “I’m pretending to be awake. Spill.”

  Toni didn’t hesitate. “Thomas is here.”

  “What!”

  “And he’s a goblin or something which is bad because he’s stalking me. I should be fine because Drake is a warlock and he has some witch and wolf friends to help.”

  Silence.

  Toni checked the line and three customers waited ahead of Drake. She lowered her voice anyway. “Chrissy, did you get all of that?”

  “You lost me when you started talking about imaginary creatures.”

  “I know it sounds crazy but these things exist.”

  Chrissy hummed in doubt. “And Drake is a warlock you
said.”

  “Yes!”

  “I need you to get on a plane and come home, Toni.”

  Toni snapped. “You have to believe me. I can’t tell anyone else.”

  “Okay. Say I believe you. Why won’t you come home and get away from Thomas the crazy goblin? I knew something was wrong with him so it’s not a stretch to think of him as a nightmare creature.”

  Toni slumped back in her seat. “I know. I’ll be home. Soon, I think. Drake has a plan.”

  One he hadn’t really shared but she would ask for details after she had something in her stomach to still the butterflies.

  “Toni, if you weren’t the sweetest person ever, I’d swear you were doing drugs out there. As your friend I’m going to believe what you told me until the men in the white coats come to take you away. I’m giving you one more day to come home or else I’m calling in the big guns and telling your mom.”

  Toni gasped, forgetting about Drake. “Don’t call my mother!”

  Her mother was a worry wart. She lived in North Carolina and begged Toni not to move to Florida after she graduated college. The opportunity to get away from home and her family was too good to pass up. If Althea Hendricks knew her daughter met a strange man from the internet and had sex with him she’d die.

  “Then you better get your butt home soon.”

  She didn’t get a dial tone but the two sharp beeps let her know Chrissy had hung up on her. Toni’s chest tightened. She’d rather fight a goblin then listen to her mother.

  “Here you go.” Drake sat down across from her and handed over a steaming white cup.

  Toni set the cup down and reached over the table to grab his free hand. “We have to take care of this mess with Thomas or my mom’s going to be involved.”

  She knew she sounded paranoid but as an only child she’d dealt with her mother’s hysterics on plenty of occasions and didn’t take Chrissy’s threat lightly.

  ***

  Drake sensed the change in her manner. It was too much to expect that this situation wouldn’t frighten her. He squeezed her fingers. This was a lot for anyone to take in. Having a goblin after you was a serious issue.

  “I’m going to make sure you’re safe. I won’t let him hurt you.” The reassurance was etched in steel. No one was getting close enough to harm Antonia.

  The door to the coffee shop opened and Simon walked in with the woman Drake had met.

  The witch, Lacey, smiled as soon as they reached the table. “I had a feeling our paths would cross again.”

  “Antonia, this is Lacey and she’s agreed to help. You remember Simon.” Drake performed the introduction.

  Simon and Lacey took the remaining seats.

  “I’m sorry we’re meeting like this but it’s good to see you again, Toni.” Simon kissed Antonia’s cheek and Drake controlled the urge to punch his friend.

  Simon was happily married but Drake didn’t want another man touching her intimately.

  “Alright we have a little pest problem. A goblin on the loose.” Lacey smacked her hands on the table palm down. “I know all about getting rid of unwanted visitors.”

  She and Simon exchanged a knowing look he couldn’t read but Drake was only interested in how to stop this Thomas guy.

  “I didn’t know he was a goblin. I’m trying to digest all of this.”

  Lacey’s gaze warmed. “I can bet.”

  “Drake says you’re a witch.” Antonia fiddled with the cup of coffee she’d yet to drink. She kept her gaze on Lacey as if expecting her to fly off on a broom any moment. They’d talk later about the misconceptions humans held.

  Thank goodness the statement didn’t offend Lacey. “Yes.”

  Everyone at the table gave Antonia time to absorb this. “I guess it’s not farfetched to believe in witches after what I’ve seen.”

  “Would you mind if I touched your hand, Toni? I think I know the problem already. Or at least how you attracted a goblin’s attention.”

  Drake froze and slid his chair closer to Antonia’s, the instinct to protect guiding him. “What do you mean?”

  Lacey ignored him and extended her arm over the table, waiting for Antonia. They clasped hands and Lacey blinked before letting it go a moment later. She turned to Drake, expression tight. “You’ve leaked magic all over her. I can sense it sitting across the table from her but touching her is like touching you. She’s coated in enough for someone to mistake her as otherworld.”

  “Leaked magic on me? What’s she talking about?” Antonia turned in her chair, expecting an answer from him.

  Simon stared at Drake but his thoughts were going a hundred miles an hour. There was only one way for his magic to attach itself to her. It was a deliberate choice the men in his family made and only done when a warlock found his other half.

  “Did you mark her?” Simon asked, his eyes narrowed.

  This explained everything. When had his feelings for Antonia shifted? Then it hit him. Six weeks ago. They’d known each other for months but six weeks ago during one of their chatting sessions she’d said something to him. It had been a small remark but it hinted at her feelings for him. Drake hadn’t called attention to the comment, sensing her embarrassment when she began talking about a barrage of other topics.

  He’d let it go. Or at least he thought he had but that night he’d dreamed of Antonia. Not an ordinary dream but one of sex and passion that left him with a swollen and aching erection when he awakened. His magic had started faltering the next day.

  All because he was sharing it with Antonia in a subconscious attempt to mark and protect her because she was his other half. He’d been blind to how deep his own feelings had grown.

  “Hell,” he burst out. “This is all my fault.”

  Antonia gripped his shirt sleeve, knotting the fabric. “What are they saying, Drake? What did you do to me?”

  Fear glinted in her eyes and he responded instantly. He stroked a hand through her hair to calm her. “It’s nothing to worry over. My magic is on you and probably called attention to the goblin.”

  More like a definite since magic attracted goblins. Thomas obviously thought Antonia was otherworld and targeted her to steal the power she possessed. Except she didn’t have any. She was a walking target for anyone who couldn’t sense the human in her.

  Drake curved an arm around Antonia and she rested her head on his shoulder. He’d been afraid she’d pull away after hearing all of this. He faced the witch. “Tell me what I need to do.”

  Lacey smirked. “I left a message at the center of town. Our goblin buddy can’t miss it and should join us shortly.”

  Simon extended his legs beneath the table. “I’m here for muscle. Or until Tory finds out I snuck out of the house.”

  Antonia directed her next question to Lacey. “Is there a way to get his magic off of me?”

  Drake hid his wince. The leaked magic would fully revert to Drake once the two of them committed to one another. In the meantime, what he was sharing served as a warning to other men to know she was taken. Only certain otherworld beings sensitive to the nuances of magic would notice. Antiquated and outdated but warlocks in his family couldn’t stop the innate need to mark their other half.

  “I believe Drake can help you with that. It’s pretty easy.” Lacey tossed him a taunting smile.

  “Dr—”

  Whatever Antonia was about to ask broke off and her eyes grew wide. Simon leaped to his feet and shifted as the plate glass window at the front of the coffee shop shattered inward. Drake stood, curling around Antonia as people in the store screamed. Lacey jumped up, staring at the giant green creature stalking toward them. With each step, glass crunched beneath his feet.

  Drake’s magic flared. The goblin stopped at the center of the shop, his thick neck turning until his round head and bulbous eyes met Drake’s gaze. Then it landed on Antonia. Confusion flashed then understanding. Stubby fingers clenched into fists at his side.

  “I knew you were connected to magic. I could sense it on
the surface of your skin the first night we went out together. Now I know why.” His voice reeked of bitterness.

  Chapter 17

  The attractive man, who begged her to go out and stalked her, looked nothing like the nightmare in front of her. Toni hovered in the corner where Drake shoved her and stared at the broad, green-skinned creature panting in the middle of the place.

  “Thomas, you need to stop this.” She hoped her words would make him see reason.

  “Not until I suck off the magic he left on you. Then I’m going to drain him.”

  “Like hell,” Drake muttered, shifting Antonia closer to the wall.

  Her back was already pressed against it. She glared at him but he never took his attention off of Thomas. A quick glance around revealed some of the patrons in the place had fled but others remained. They stood waiting as tension flowed about the room. Two of the teenagers glowed and the peppy girl behind the counter sprouted wings and fangs as she hissed in Thomas’ direction.

  Drake left Toni’s side and prowled next to Lacey. The chains on his boots clinked, drawing her eyes down. His jeans molded to his legs and the crisp shirt he wore had the sleeves rolled up.

  “You can’t win here, goblin. Leave while you can,” Lacey announced.

  The dark-haired woman didn’t look anything like a witch. She was beautiful without a wart or pointy nose in sight. Her slender body angled forward and she held her hands up in warning. A warning Thomas chose to ignore as he roared and charged them. Lacey pointed at a table then Thomas and the round top flew in the air to slam into his shoulder.

  Thomas didn’t slow or stagger. Lacey didn’t have time to get out of the way as he lifted her high over his head and tossed her behind him. Toni gasped but the wolf jumped and shifted. Simon caught Lacey in his arms and rolled with her as they crashed into another table and hit the floor on their backs. Drake’s arms moved quickly in the air and a shimmering wall of light formed, blocking Thomas from continuing.