by Mandi Casey
“Call me right away if you have another vision. Otherwise, I’ll come to the store tomorrow morning to check up on things.” He stood next to the bed, hands on hips. He took a deep, frustrated breath. I was grateful he kept whatever it was he wanted to say to himself.
Before he left my bedroom for the night, I said, “Blake. Thank you for everything. I really appreciate and am grateful for your friendship.”
“Sydney, I hope someday you’ll realize I’m not going anywhere. I’m here for you no matter what.” With his hand on the doorknob, he finished with, “Someday you’ll realize I love you for you, not for your powers or what you could do for my pack.”
He walked out of my room, but I felt better knowing he would be back. I doubted I’d ever be able to get rid of him that easy. Not that I wanted to.
My heart thumped with every sound his boots made on the stairs going down. He quietly made his way out of the house, trying not to wake Aunt Judith in the process. Blake was truly a thoughtful man. He was the whole package and then some. He was attractive, strong, supportive, great to talk to, he drove me wild with wanting him every time he walked within a few hundred yards of me, and I was pretty sure he felt the same way about me.
He said he loved me.
In my heart, little cheerleaders wearing the letter B on their sweaters did a peppy dance, their pompoms shaking vigorously in the air. I was glad I was already lying down. Otherwise I might have fainted.
Blake loved me.
Chapter 9
The Moon is Calling sounded from Blake’s phone. Being a huge Wolfs Bane fan, he’d been psyched when the ringtone became available. He didn’t recognize the number on the blue-lit screen.
“Hello.”
“Hello back, Wolfy.” The female voice on the other line was lined with venom and superiority.
Kasdeya.
“I won’t even bother asking how you got my number. What do you want?”
“Oh, poor wolf boy. You sound like someone stepped on your furry tail. Care to talk about it?” Kasdeya laughed into the phone, sounding like she thoroughly enjoyed tormenting him from the tone of her voice and the evil cackle piercing the air through the phone.
“Demon, I don’t have time to play games with you. Why did you call?”
She purred into the phone. Judges were known for their brutality and complete disregard for the human race. They were ancient, older than the oldest vampires, some said. Despite the fact he was one of the strongest in the wolf pack, if not also the fastest, she still gave him the creeps.
“Wolf Blake, I want to discuss tomorrow night with you, unless you are not interested. But first, you will give me information that I seek.”
“What exactly do you want to know?” Blake ran his hand through his hair and rubbed it back and forth, making it wild and out of place. Sydney had mentioned to Blake that he had the habit of messing his hair up, when he was trying not to force his mark on her.
“Do you know anything about what the rogues are doing?”
Blake hesitated. He didn’t know if telling her about Sydney’s visions was a good idea. Talking to the demon about the Selected wasn’t an activity he felt furthered her safety. The less the demons knew about her, the better.
“One of my wolves found out the rogues are trying to break someone free from some kind of prison. We don’t know who they’re trying to release. We’re just sure it can’t mean anything good. We also have an idea that it’s a demon they’re after, and we think they plan on attacking the ball. But right now we don’t know anything concrete.” Kasdeya didn’t try to keep the malice from her voice when she spoke. It was clear that she didn’t like to depend on werewolves—beings she felt were beneath her—for information.
“I want to speak to this furry friend of yours. Wolf, I think you’re lying to me. I don’t have to tell you what will happen if I find out that’s the case. Withholding information is the same thing as lying, particularly when the safety of my charge is involved. The king better not be in any type of danger. If he is, and you know about it, I will personally take it upon myself to skin you alive, layer by layer, slather thin strips of your skin with your own blood, and then make you eat it. For the last time, what are you not telling me?”
“Demon, mind your manners. You and your contract are insignificant to me. The only reason I’m even speaking to you is because of the Selected. If you want to keep this warm relationship we have going for the greater good, then you will treat me and my pack with respect.”
After a moment of silence, the demon sighed heavily into the phone. “Fine.”
“My father spoke to Kieran. Our pack will be working the property line as part of the security detail while the ball is going on. I assume you will be inside the house with your charges?”
“Yes. The king plans to attend, as do the Elders. King Alexander has set the Judges in charge of protecting Raum and Uphir. I, however, will stay by my king’s side.”
“You’ll be on the inside. That’s good. But how do I get in touch with you if we detect something wrong on the outside?”
“You could give me some of your blood. That would let me into your pack’s communication link. Just think of all the ways we could have fun with that,” she sneered.
“Listen, black demon, there will never be a time where you are welcomed into my pack link. Not now, not ever. I think you should keep such ideas to yourself in the future.”
The audacity of Kasdeya, along with her elusiveness, even though she was a demon, was above anything Blake had ever dealt with. Even the vampires were more straightforward than her.
“Wolf boy, don’t get your tail all in a fluff. You’re so serious all the time. You should really lighten up a bit. What’s life for without a little fun along the way?” She laughed into the phone again. Blake waited, knowing she wasn’t done speaking. He was right. “Wolf, don’t press your luck. I don’t have a large reserve of patience dealing with vampires as it is. I have even less when dealing with wolves and humans.”
“Demon, you are going too far. Do not try to manipulate or intimidate me. The link between the pack is a very serious business. It is sacred to us, not that demons would have any understanding of what sacred means. Giving you access would put my pack in danger from the likes of you and your kind. Plus, your loyalty is to the vampires, not us.”
“Calm down, Blake. It would only be for a little while. It would not be permanent like with a blood exchange with the vampires. It would only last a few hours.”
Blake shook his head. “No. Absolutely not. Find a different way.”
“If that is how you want it to be, that’s your loss. Or it could be the loss of your precious Selected. You have my cell-phone number now. Call me if you or your pack picks anything up during your security rounds. Keep in mind you need to do a better job of watching the area than when I found you near the compound. I mean seriously.” Again, she laughed into the phone. Blake closed his eyes and saw her. What the hell? In his vision, he watched as she rolled her red eyes. The motion gave Blake the creeps. There was a silver crescent shape beneath the red of her eyes.
“Demon, what did you do to me?” Blake wanted to reach through the phone to throttle her. The demon had done something. He could see what she was doing and knew it to be true, but he didn’t have any idea how she was doing it.
A big breathy sigh sounded through the phone’s earpiece. “Blake, I’m just playing with you. Yes, demons can project images to those with human blood. Call it one of the many defects that occurred when the grand maker of humans designed them.”
Blake wondered how she knew he wasn’t pureblooded?
“I didn’t, it was just a guess, so calm down. I need you focused and able to serve me on the outside of the ball. Do you think you’re up to the task, wolf?”
Blake hated the patronizing t
one she laced her words with.
“Demon, that was the last time that you do something like that, not unless it’s absolutely necessary. If you ‘project’ another image into my head without my permission again, I won’t work with you on securing the ball, or anything else, ever. Another thing, demon, don’t tell me how to do my job. I’m the best hunter in my pack.”
“That’s a real shame for your pack. You weren’t exactly doing a stellar job keeping your location a secret when I found you near the rogue’s compound. Anyways, you may also call me if you decide to tell me what you are lying about. The sooner the better, Blake.”
“Demon, I don’t know what you’re talking about, so we should best be on our way. I have to make arrangements and ...”
She interrupted him with, “The longer you take coming out with the truth, the more severe my anger will be. Maybe I’ll let Damas have a hand at you. If you don’t trust me in anything I say, it’s safe to believe me when I tell you that Damas would like to be given the opportunity to take a go at you. You can also believe me when I say you have no chance in living should he decide on his own that you are a threat to the king or any member of his family. Keep that in mind, wolf. Damas has a grudge against you. Who knows? It could have something to do with him wanting to play with the Selected.”
Blake’s blood ran hot with anger, his wolf clawing at him from the inside. His beast wanted out. The muscles in his hands ached to strangle the demon Judge that dared threaten Sydney.
Kasdeya was trying to goad him into action. He’d have to have been pretty dim-witted the other night not to cue into the friction between him and the other demon. He wanted the Judge’s head. It was clear the demon wanted his, too.
“Ah, wolf boy. Whatever are you going to do if something happens to your precious Selected?” Kasdeya materialized in front of him, holding her cell-phone in her hand. She loved taunting Blake. His protectiveness over the human girl was downright foolish, no matter that she was the revered Selected. Obviously his feelings went far beyond the prophecy predicting the Selected could give birth to wolves able to change at will. Why would anyone want to put themselves in such a vulnerable position? Giving your heart to someone else to take care of? Please. No one was that trustworthy. There was no way that was going to happen to her. Once was enough to learn that harsh lesson.
Once upon a time, Kasdeya thought she was in love. There was nothing anyone could do or say to hurt her because she had the support of her father’s right-hand demon, Rage. Well, even Rage had let her down, proof enough to her that no one was completely worthy of her trust, not ever again.
That had been before she was bound by the contract with the vampire king. Rage was the reason she had to remain at the king’s beck-and-call until the time served was completed. Kasdeya knew Rage was looking for her. It was only a matter of time before he realized she resided in the realm on Earth, playing with the vampires. But it didn’t matter. Her father’s poor decisions were what had gotten her into this mess. Rage, no matter how powerful he had become, wouldn’t be able to use his might against the Elders’ contract.
Contracts sealed with blood were unbreakable. The vampires were wise to use blood as the binding agent, not even demons could break such a deal. She realized early on working with the vampires that they did not lack foresight, cleverness, or underhandedness. She didn’t mind overly much.
The king gave leave to the Judges when they needed to expel pent-up energy. Plenty of vampires deserved Judgement, and she enjoyed exacting their punishment. Kasdeya had come to appreciate the peace she got from being away from her father and Rage. They deserved each other, in her opinion. She was just fine with being in a whole other dimension away from them.
Turning back toward her favorite wolf she enjoyed tormenting, she said, “Yes, Blake, there is a very real possibility Sydney won’t come out of this alive. I am curious. What will you do?”
Blake couldn’t believe the bitch of a demon asked him such an absurd question, he also couldn’t believe she’d dare come onto his property. The sneer on her black- and-silver face told him she was looking for a reaction, maybe even a fight. Blake knew Kasdeya loved chaos and found pleasure in being the cause. She was a demon. Demons loved to stir up trouble. They fed on other people’s misery. Blake reminded himself he would be fine if he kept that in the forefront of his mind while dealing with the likes of her.
“For your information, demon, nothing’s going to happen to Sydney. You’ll be inside the house during the bloodsucker’s ball, and I’ll be outside, ready to come in. We’ll contact each other at the first sign of trouble. If it should come to that, I’ll go in and get her out. Plain and simple. Don’t forget, she is my priority, not the vampire king.”
“Are you sure you want to be with the Selected? It would make my heart constrict if I had to watch you, such a virile male wolf, wither away into nothing because you lost the love of your life. I’ve heard stories of your kind’s mating and the catastrophic results when one of a pair dies. Why strap yourself with only one woman? I don’t mean to remind you, but your woman is mortal. She will die on you, wolf. Have you ever enjoyed the pleasures a demon could bring you?”
Blake watched as Kasdeya sauntered around him in a seductive stride, emphasizing the sway of her hips underneath her black-leather pants. A blade handle poked out of the black-leather holder on the inside of her right thigh. Interesting, the knife was so thin he hadn’t noticed it thus far. She did nothing to hide the swords hanging crisscrossed on her back. Why conceal such a small weapon when it was obvious she was heavily armed? Nothing about Kasdeya made sense, and he didn’t have the energy, or the interest, to try and figure her out.
Kasdeya slithered up to him when her seductive efforts continued to fail. His skin prickled when she pressed her fingertips along his jaw, creating an uncomfortable friction as they slid along his skin. She was trying to seduce him or scare him, maybe both. Neither was working. He knew from the lingering burning sensation crawling from his jaw, to his throat, and down his neck that she had marked him. His father had told him demons were able to mark their subject of interest with the merest touch.
“Keep your witchery to yourself, demon. You know when this is over we’ll not be friends, not that we are now. The less we have to do with each other, the better.” Blake took a step back, putting distance between them. Growing up, he had heard stories of what happened when a demon gets bored. They caused problems, and they weren’t worthy of a wolf’s trust.
Kasdeya surveyed the surrounding area of the pack’s property. She seemed to be lacking something, but he knew demons didn’t have the same personality traits or needs wolves and humans did, but it seemed to him the demon had accidentally let an emotion cross her face without knowing he had seen it. Longing? Could she miss her family? Demons were known for staying together within their own castes, not socializing much with outsiders, or living in other dimensions for long periods of time.
Blake knew he’d catch hell if any of the other wolves, especially his father, found out he had allowed a demon amongst them, so close to the pack house. He didn’t have a choice, really. Kasdeya had followed him to the den’s property from Morning Sun. She hadn’t revealed herself until he was about to enter his father’s house.
The wind was gently blowing against the bare tree branches covered in snow. The chill in the air didn’t seem to bother the demon anymore than it did him. She was a fire demon, after all. Fire demons were infamous for instigating despair when they didn’t have anything better to do. They were also known for their domineering personalities. Kasdeya lived up to their reputation, in spades. What would she do next?
Weariness washed over Kasdeya. She didn’t want to think of Rage anymore. His betrayal had occurred a long time ago. She shouldn’t be so strongly affected by it. Not after all this time. She still loved him, but she would never admit that to anyone. If he did find a wa
y to Earth, he wouldn’t receive a warm welcome from her. She knew it would happen eventually. He would find her. When the time came, she planned on making his arrival on her newfound turf something he regretted. In fact, she planned on making him regret ever having known her. Her father had taken his side when Rage betrayed her. She would never forget either of their treachery. Her father was just as guilty as Rage. She didn’t want to have anything to do with either of them.
“You have a very nice place here, wolf. I can see why you and your pack want to keep it safe from the vampires.”
Looking a bit startled at her softer tone, Blake said, “Thanks, I guess.”
Glaring at the dense wolf because he obviously didn’t have any appreciation for what he had, Kasdeya sneered, “Don’t get your hopes up, rabies boy. I’m not going to betray my contract because I can see your point against the vampires. Nothing could make me do that.” Not even my father or Rage could get me out of this. But she didn’t really want to be released from the deal. No one bothered her. She was allowed to take her frustrations out on vampires that deserved to suffer for betraying their kind. Kasdeya enjoyed teaching vampires who would go behind the backs of their families a lesson in humility, and pain. Someday she hoped she would be able to make those that went against her pay for their misdeeds.
“So what did you come here for? I don’t believe you’d want to have a scintillating conversation with me.” Blake held his breath. He didn’t trust the demon. If he were right, he saw pain and suffering cross her usually cold, expressionless face when she didn’t see he was watching. He didn’t like anyone to suffer, not even Kasdeya, but right now wasn’t the time to get all personal with a demon who would torture and kill him on a whim, just because she could. He had no doubt he would have a chance of surviving should they come to blows. The demon had advantage over him because he didn’t know all the dark powers in her arsenal. She could take him in a millisecond.
