Witch for Hire

by Shyla Colt

  Her eyes narrow and I know my barb struck home. “I’m also not the one who’s trespassing.” I nod toward the plantation in the distance.

  “Most people wouldn’t be brave enough to talk to me that way … or are you stupid?”

  “What do you want, Soulange?”

  “You in my coven.”

  “It’s not going to happen. I have responsibilities to my family.”

  She chuckles darkly. “You’re already bending the rules. A witch with a vampire? Clearly, you’re not as tight-laced as other Esçhetes. You’re still green. I can teach you everything you need to know to be truly independent. “

  “There’s strength in numbers.”

  She huffs. “We’re not wolves. We’re witches.”

  “It doesn’t make it any less true. My family is my life’s blood. I won’t turn my back on them.”

  “You can come willingly, or I can take you by force.”

  I take a step back into a fighting stance. “You can try.”

  “Please fight back; it’ll make my victory that much sweeter.”

  “How can you create a coven of the unwilling?”

  She chuckles. “My friends in the shadows don’t much care about how as long as I have control.”

  My stomach bubbles. Magical slavery. If you yield your powers to someone, they’re basically the pied piper that leads you around by the rat, using you as they see fit. This is why we need the council.

  “Do you really want to do this here?”

  “Oh, they won’t hear you. I made sure of that.”

  She twists her hands, and an invisible hand jerks me off my feet. I manipulate the air molecules, making my landing cushiony. A blow lands on my stomach, sending me across the ground. I raise my hand, tossing her away from me. I scramble to my feet, clutching my stomach as I toss up a barrier.

  “Child’s play.” She laughs, bursting through it like it’s less than nothing.

  She fists her right hand. Pain shoots through my body. I convulse. “Are you ready to reconsider, yet?”

  I grit my teeth and spit out blood.“That all you got?”

  “Stubborn.” She grins maniacally as she hits me with another dose. She has a rhythm. She ends the pain, and I pounce. I slam her down with a spell, pinning her into place, binding her power temporarily. My magic core is working in high gear. I strain for more, breaking her silencing spell and the barrier she’s placed around us. My muscles shake. She’s fighting back, trying to escape. I focus all my attention on the woman, slowly unfolding herself in an attempt to rise.

  “Cristobal,” I scream, knowing wherever he is, he’ll come.

  Soulange breaks free. “Wrong choice, little mouse.”

  An unseen beast attacks. Claws rip at my flesh. Cuts open on my skin, chest, and face. I scream as she breaks free, and I’m gouged in the stomach. My eyes flutter. Her eyes widening in fear is the last image I have before I collapse.

  “Are you awake now?”

  I groan as I open my eyes. “Cristobal?”

  “Yes.”

  I blink. “What happened to Soulange?” I place my hand on my stomach and find my body covered in a silk gown.

  “I healed you. You don’t need to worry about her.”

  He stares at me, unrepentant. I’ve been against blood sharing our entire relationship. I was so careful to keep my power. Sex, blood, and emotions. He’s already gotten two. It seems only fitting he get the last.

  “You saved my life.”

  “I would do anything to keep you safe.” He cups my face. “When I heard you scream I nearly lost my mind.”

  “Soulan—”

  “Is being dealt with. She will never be a danger to you again.”

  “Be careful. She’s powerful.”

  “So are you, dove.”

  I lean into his palm. “Thank you.”

  Because of this man, I’m alive. I actually feel better now than I did before the battle. I can see the lure of vampire blood.

  “Anything for you, my love.”

  I pull his face to mine and brush my lips over his. I trace his lips with the tip of my tongue. He parts them for me, sliding his tongue into my mouth. Our tongues swirl and circle. I bury my fingers in his sable hair, pulling him down toward me as I tilt my head. For nearly two years, he’s been a patient gentleman. I’m ready.

  We separate, breathing heavily.

  “Louella?”

  “I’m ready, Cristobal.”

  His eyes flicker to amber, and my insides go molten. He crawls over me and devours my lips. I relax, allowing him to take the lead. Clothes fall to the floor, and I shiver as he peels back the final layer of who I am.

  ***

  I feel hungover. Smoothing my hair back out of my face, I roll over onto my back. The room is full of power. More than what would come from a witch losing her virginity. Is this all from blood sharing? I sit up in the bed and find Cristobal waiting in a chair beside me.

  “What happened?” I whisper.

  “Do you know what happened last night?”

  “If I have to explain that to you …” His face remains stern, and I know I won’t like what he has to say.

  “There was a lot of energy generated last night, and it had to go somewhere.”

  “What?” I ask, feeling blindsided.

  He offers his hand, palms up. “Feel.” Cristobal is a rare kind of vampire. One who can do magic, thanks to his sire, Rasputin. I expect the usual tingle I receive from him. What I get is an electrical current.

  I jerk my hand back. “What the hell is that?”

  “That’s us. We’re bonded.”

  “From one blood exchange?” The questions die on my tongue as I relive the previous night. “You did it three times on purpose.”

  “I did.”

  “Why? Why would you do this without asking me? I trusted you.”

  “Almost losing you made me realize how vulnerable you were—”

  “No.” I pound my fist on the bed. “You don’t get to make a decision like that by yourself.”

  Turning his head, he averts his gaze.

  “What else did you do?”

  “I used the power we created to banish Soulange to another dimension.”

  “You what?”

  “She wouldn’t stop, and I couldn’t have her coming after you again.”

  “You killed her! You know I’m against that.”

  “She’s not dead—”

  “You’re splitting hairs.”

  “I’m protecting you. She almost killed you.”

  “And … what? You’ll kill anyone who threatens me?”

  “Yes.”

  The bold statement spoken without hesitation or remorse chills me. “Where is this coming from?”

  “This is who I’ve always been?”

  I shake my head. “No.”

  “I’m not human, Louella. I don’t see things like you. You don’t stay alive as long as I have and keep the stars in your eyes.”

  “So now I’m naïve because I don’t believe killing should be taken lightly or done in a way that will darken my own magic?”

  “If the intention is self-protection it’s not the same as killing for sport.”

  “And you know that because you were once a witch? It’s a slippery slope to be carefully considered.”

  “After everything you’ve seen and experienced, do you really think life is so black and white, Louella? Open your eyes and see the world for what it is. We do what we must to survive. I won’t apologize for that.”

  “And the bond? That was love?”

  “Yes.”

  “To who? You knew what it would do, didn’t you? You keep me so fucking distracted.” Anger raises inside of me. “This is the last time you use me, Cristobal. I can fee
l the power radiating from you. It’s not the same as it was last night.”

  “That’s because—”

  “No. I don’t want to hear another word.” My chest aches. He took my birthright, the gift I offered him, and twisted it into something that makes me sick to my stomach. I stumble from the bed and bump into the dresser. “What the hell?” That was faster than a human should be able to move.

  “It’s an after effect,” I scream, tugging at my hair. In one evening everything about me has changed. “Will it last?”

  “I’m not sure. This … It’s different for everyone.”

  I can see the half-truths he’s giving me. I breathe heavily. I’m suffocating here. I need to get away. My hands shake as I dress.

  “Don’t leave like this.”

  I point my finger at him. “You stay away from me. For the first time since we started dating, I really see you, Cristobal, and I don’t think I like it.”

  PRESENT

  “I can admit I handled things poorly. I didn’t think about how it would come across to you. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Being with you … kept me from completely detaching from the human world. You live so long the numbness sets in. Memories of humanity grow distant, and you stop caring. I was on the cusp of that dark period where many choose to go to ground and rest. Then I saw you. This blazing light in the middle of the pitch black. You made me feel again. I couldn’t taint that. I refused to ruin the qualities I found endearing.” He toys with his cufflinks.

  “You were right about a lot of things. I hate how you went about getting what you wanted. That’ll never change. Back then you made me face some harsh realities about myself, the world, and what it means to be not fully human. I’d been so insulated by my family and the community I grew up in. I was unprepared for it. I never viewed the world the way you did. Maybe that’s why I wanted to get out and see it for myself.”

  Reaching across the bed, he grabs my hand. “And now?”

  “It’s time to admit we both screwed up and decide how we’re going to move forward.” Luz’s story plays in my head. We’ve both hurt each other and laid our cards on the table. It’s time for healing.

  “As long as it’s together, I could care less about the details, dove.” He kisses the back of my hand.

  “Ask me.”

  My eyebrows pinch together in confusion. “Ask what?”

  “Whatever has you trying to stare a hole in me,” he replies, amused.

  I sigh. “Are we going to have a problem with Etta?”

  “Not after the equinox. She’ll know her place once you take your place beside me.”

  “Good. I never liked that wench.”

  He chuckles. “She fancies herself a queen. All she’s ever wanted was a throne to rule from. The resurgence in the area is about my position, not me personally.”

  “You sure about that?” I ask, thinking about the way she watched his every move.

  “I like the look of jealousy on you.”

  “Jealousy is for people unsure of their place in someone’s life. This is territorial. I know enough about vampires to know that’s how you think. In terms of what’s yours to protect and defend.”

  “You admit you’re mine then?” he asks.

  I tap his nose. “Pay attention. I’m admitting you’re mine.”

  He gives me a rare dimple revealing smile. “They’re mutually exclusive.”

  “Better be.”

  “I had something made for you.” He sits up and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a shiny circular item. He places the ring in my palm, and I recognize the Cortez C that will mark me as one of his court.

  “It’s beautiful,” I whisper.

  “Let me place it on you.”

  I hold out my hand, and he slips the band on the ring finger of my left hand. The action is a silent pledge between us. As binding as any wedding ceremony, it drives home the bond. You can’t get divorced from it. I scrap the things I know about bonds together.

  “Our bond is different from other blood bonds, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, situations like ours are rare. That the two of us would meet, recognize one another, and be compatible enough to initiate the bond beats rather considerable odds. When you add the fact that we are both so powerful, it complicates things even more. I’ll be honest, I’m still learning what our bond can do. There aren’t many documented cases, and it’s not something we talk about among ourselves often.”

  “It wouldn’t be when our people spent so much time as enemies.” I admire the shimmer of the ring in the sunlight. I don’t know if I ever felt like I belonged in my family. There were moments of kinship, but it was obvious I was different. Now, I’m carving out my own space between both worlds.

  He runs a finger across my hand, and my body tingles. With the barrier between us toppled, a new kind of tension arises. I lick my lips.

  “I should dress. We need to work on finding that witch.”

  “Louella.”

  “I’m afraid of what she might try.” His voice is unyielding. Stern and commanding. I ignore him and continue to ramble on, desperate to get out of the room that feels too small and away from the tempting man sitting beside me. “Louella.”

  “I’m sure the others are getting antsy.” I clear my throat.

  “Look at me.” Three words are spoken. I comply. The emotion visible sucks the air from my lungs. He places two fingers under my chin, and moves in, pausing when we’re millimeters apart, breathing the same air. I place my shaking hands on his chest, with every intention of holding him at bay. His lips brush mine, and I’m clutching his lapels, and pulling him closer.

  He tastes like honeyed whiskey, sweet and powerful. He melts on my tongue, setting me on fire from the inside out. I have a sudden, intense craving, and he’s the only way to sate it. Moving my head this way and that, I drink him down, exploring the slick smoothness of the inside of his cheek as our tongues lazily circle around each other.

  I rise to my knees, and he scoops me up, pulling me onto his lap. Twining my arms around his neck, I run my fingers through the silken strands of his hair and press my breasts to his hard chest. He swells beneath me, straining against his slacks. The muscles in my stomach tighten. I press my thighs together to ease the ache between them. His throaty growl has my panties even damper.

  “Your arousal is an intoxicating scent. Like an exotic flower in full bloom, it begs me to bury my nose between its petals and breathe deeply.” He spins me carefully to face the wall. “Lift your night grown. There you are, my darling, now spread your legs.” Every command heightens my pleasure. He palms me, massaging me gently, grazing my bundle of nerves and fanning the flames of desire. He nuzzles my neck and trails his fingers down my side. “Are you ready to feed your man, dove?

  “Yes.”

  He sets me on the bed, pulling the gown over my head and tossing it aside. I reach for his belt, and he evades my hands.

  “Tonight is for you.” He pulls me to the edge of the bed and kneels. Smirking, he slowly removes the scrap of material separating us in a torturous manner.

  “Wicked man,” I whisper.

  He flashes me a devilish grin before he leans over to kiss the inside of my thigh. Tracing patterns with his tongue, he works me higher. I slip my legs over his shoulder and lean back, enjoying the sight of his dark head between my thighs.

  “If you’re hungry, you should eat.” I arch my body, pushing my core in front of his face.

  He swipes me with his tongue. The look of ecstasy makes my belly quiver. No man has sampled me as if I’m a delicacy. Only this masculine being with amber eyes lit with possession. He pushes deep, and I slowly unravel as he devours me, leaving nothing untasted or unexplored. Breathing heavily, I peer up at the ceiling completely sated and drained. My throat is hoarse from screaming, and my body has a warm glow flowing through my heavy li
mbs. We’ve begun an avalanche. There’s no going back. I don’t think I want to.

  Chapter Twelve

  They claimed it was a dinner, but I know better. It’s an interrogation. There are no better cross-examiners than my mom and Mémé. Them working as a team should be illegal, or a highly sought after and incredibly expensive service. Between working two jobs, and chasing down the witch I haven’t had time to be cornered. The minute I had a day off, they both pounced. I set the plates on the table as my mom places down napkins and silverware.

  The silence is odd. I can feel her gearing up to speak.

  “There have been rumors going around recently.”

  “You’ll have to be more specific, Mom. Folks love to talk around here.”

  She snickers. “Now that’s the truth. I’ve heard talk about you and Cristobal Cortez on more than a business level. I know you’re bonded, but you didn’t tell me you’d decided to enter into a relationship with him again.” Concern creeps into her voice.

  “It’s not like the last time, Mom. I ran because I was scared of myself, this world full of magic, friends, and foes that are hard to tell apart, and the responsibility that comes with our family. He was only part of the problem.”

  “Fear is our brain’s way of telling us what’s not healthy for us. Be it physically, mentally, or spiritually. In this case, I’d imagine it was all of the above. I understand you have history and you want to keep the peace, but what they told me sounded unnatural.”

  I could downplay it—make her feel like she’s reading too far into thing—but after everything we’ve been through, I can’t bring myself to do it. The truth is going to come out regardless, delaying it won’t help anything in the long run. “To some, it may be.” The look of utter devastation on her face is a knife to my heart. “I know it’s not what every mother dreams of. I never could’ve imagined it. Even when he and I first date. But the type of bond we share in itself is of a romantic nature, Mom. Not being involved would be likened to stopping the sun from shining. Eventually, it’d be bound to happen. We just … progressed faster than I expected. I wasn’t trying to hide truths from you before.”

  “What changed? What could he have promised you to make you go so far off the grid?”