by Linda Wisdom
“How can you work with that thing?” Wreaker shuddered as he took a healthy swallow of alcohol. “He gives me the creeps.”
“He’s efficient.” Declan searched in the office-size refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of Coke. “I’m very busy, Wreaker. What do you really want?”
The incubus’s usual laid-back demeanor changed to the greedy creature he really was. “I don’t want to be left behind. I want to share what you’ll receive.”
“You’re blood. You will.” Declan welcomed the cold carbonation down his throat.
“You forget how much Victorio hated his sister—all the way up to the day he killed her. He tolerates me barely. But if you put in a good word for me, I’d have a chance.” Wreaker waited.
“You’d have a better chance than I do. At least you’re pure-blooded.” Declan didn’t want to think about what was ahead. Time was growing short. Victorio had hinted at that. He also had strongly suggested that his son make sure Maggie abandoned Courtney. Declan doubted that would happen. It was apparent that the comely witch was mother hen to her teenage chick. For someone who didn’t consider herself maternal material, she was doing a damn good job of it.
Wreaker pushed his hair away from his face. Declan realized he didn’t look as smooth and sexy as usual. Signs of dissipation showed on his features, and his eyes were heavy with fatigue.
“You look like shit. Aren’t you getting your quota of women?”
“Fuck off.” Even that was said with a weary sigh. “I might not know the whole deal, but I know enough that if the Mayans finish that ritual, there will be hell on earth for sure. Did you read up on the god of destruction, cuz? He doesn’t even have a name. There’s little information in the records. Not even any drawings on temple walls. All that’s known is when he’s revived, the world will never know any kind of peace.”
“You afraid you’ll lose your sex partners?” Declan was tired and well on his way to cranky. Only memories of his time spent with Maggie kept him from snapping Wreaker’s neck.
Of course, that could change at any moment.
“I’m afraid of losing the only family member I like,” Wreaker admitted. “You, of all people, know that Victorio can’t be trusted. It’s obvious that you have more than just the usual hard-on for the witch. Thinking with your dick can get you in all sorts of shit. I’m talking about the kind that can get you killed.”
He drained the glass and set it down on the table with a thump. He stood up. “Just remember, it’s family who stands behind you. She won’t.” With that, he walked out.
Declan leaned back in his chair. They only stand behind you if it protects them from being in the line of fire.
***
“You never think of them having kids,” Courtney chattered. “And that Frebus is so adorable. He’s like a real, live teddy bear, except with sharp teeth.” She looked around with open delight. “This place is so cool.”
“O’Malley, when did you turn into a tourist guide?”
Maggie turned to face her boss. Mal managed to share his glower between her and Courtney.
“Courtney, this is Mal, the head man around here. He keeps us all in line.”
“I wish,” he muttered around his cigar. He frowned at Courtney. “You’re not what I expected.”
“Cuter?” She’d developed enough immunity during the day that the grumbling gnome didn’t frighten her off. “So I understand you’re a gnome, but where are your little red cap and blue jacket?”
Maggie closed her eyes, not wanting to watch Mal fly into one of his usual snits.
“Girl, you need a good education in our worlds,” he rumbled. “I’m not one of those gnomes. You’ll never find me in someone’s garden—and no way I’d wear one of those damned red caps.” His gaze fell on the medallion hanging around her neck, and he leaned forward to finger the metal. “It’s not active.”
Maggie ignored his accusation. “Of course it is.” But she examined it and saw that he was right. “It was active when I picked it up for her.”
“I already heard about lover boy turning into confetti. Take her to the infirmary and have her tested. Then both of you come to my office.” He ambled off, the smoke coiling behind him.
“What a nasty little man. And what did he mean by having me tested? Tested for what?” Courtney dug in her heels. “Mick turned into confetti? So when he blew up, he blew up in pieces? Ick!”
“I don’t know. Yes, he did, and ‘ick’ is a good description for what happened. Let’s see Shayla.”
“You keep putting off telling me why someone wants to kill me. Are you ever going to tell me?” Courtney followed her like a good little puppy.
“Yes, but I thought you’d like a nice day first. Plus, I have an idea Mal will lay it all out.”
“Terrific. A nasty cigar-smoking gnome looks happy that he’ll be giving out bad news to an innocent teenager. How great will that be?” She continued dragging her feet even as Maggie gave her a gentle nudge to quicken her steps.
In no time, Shayla performed a few tests and then took Maggie aside.
“Mal wanted proof that Courtney has Mayan blood,” she said in a low voice. “She does, but there’s also something else in her blood.”
“Please don’t tell me she’s sick or something!” Maggie rarely experienced fear, but she did right now.
Shayla smiled. “Oh, no, but I saw a very faint trace of demon in her blood. It’s probably why her medallion isn’t reacting the way it should.”
“How could that happen?” Maggie kept her voice low.
“Why not? I have Aztec and Irish blood in my veins. You’re Scotch-Irish and Nordic. Courtney’s merely a blend the way so many of us are. And think about it. That might be another reason why the demons want her so badly for that ritual.”
“Do you realize how Mal will react to this?”
“He’s already received the report. I suggest you waste no time going over there.”
“Where are you dragging me now?” Courtney appeared in the doorway.
“To the cigar-smoking gnome.”
“Gross.” But she followed Maggie. “Do you actually do any work here?”
“I’m doing it now. You’re my job.” What she wouldn’t give to roust a nest of revenants or even a man-eating crocodile. They descended into the Dungeon.
“At least I’ll finally get the whole story.” Courtney stepped inside the Grecian temple and looked around with her mouth open. “How cool.”
Maggie didn’t bother looking at her boss. She was too busy looking at Declan seated in front of Mal’s desk. She didn’t need to be psychic to know he was worried about something, but the small smile he gifted her with held the memory of their time in the dream realm.
“Kid, you’ve got an interesting bloodline,” Mal said without greeting, gesturing to two chairs by Declan. “You have any idea of your ancestors?”
“Dad once started a family tree. The papers are in the storage unit. Why?”
Mal looked at each one of them and then focused on Courtney. “What has O’Malley told you?”
“That she’s a witch, Declan’s a demon, and from everything that’s happened, I figured somebody wants to kill me. Although I don’t know why.” She moved around in her chair.
“You better let me tell her, Mal,” Maggie spoke up. “You’re not exactly the most tactful.”
“Shit, I’m more tactful than any of you,” he groused, lighting up another cigar. He offered one to Declan, who politely refused.
Maggie looked at the girl’s face. The sullen, smart-mouthed teenager was gone. In the space of twenty-four hours, Courtney had grown up. The last thing Maggie wanted to do now was relate things that no child should learn, but she knew it had to be done. And better from her than from Mal.
“Just tell her!” he barked, causing Courtney to jump.
“Yeah, tell me, Maggie.” Her dark eyes pleaded for the whole story. “And don’t leave anything out.”
“Do you know who the Mayans
are?” Maggie began.
“Sure. We went to Mexico when I was little and took one of those corny tours where you see these big stone temples and stuff.” Courtney laughed. “So, what, you think I’m some long-lost Mayan priestess or something? Is that why you wanted blood tests?”
“Not exactly, although you do have some Mayan blood in you. But we already knew that, and that was why Mick chose you. There’s a small cult of Mayan priests who’ve been around for centuries. They plan to bring back one of their gods.”
“And marry me off?”
“More like use you for a ritual sacrifice in order to bring that god back. He’s the god of destruction, and his return would mean pretty much the end of the world as we know it. We need to keep you safe past the night they plan this ritual.”
She watched the girl closely. “Are you going to hyperventilate again?” Courtney shook her head. “Throw up?”
“Seriously thinking about that,” she said shrilly.
“Well, don’t. Mal hates messes,” Maggie told her. “Courtney, I know it’s been a lot to take in.”
“There’s more,” Declan spoke up.
“More? Some crazy priest is going to kill me, and there’s more?”
Maggie leaned over and took her hand, squeezing it gently.
“Is this why you’re here?” she asked Declan.
He nodded. “My father summoned me today. After Mal heard what was said in the meeting, he felt I should come out.” He looked at Maggie. “Victorio knows all about Courtney. He was the one who sent Mick to her. I heard what happened to Mick here, and my father set that up, too.”
He took a deep breath, clearly not wanting to continue.
“He… has a deal with the Mayan priests in the works. They gain the god of destruction, and he gains power.” He glanced at Courtney with sorrow giving his eyes a charcoal sheen. “I’m sorry, Courtney. He arranged your parents’ deaths. He figured if you had no one, you would be an easier target for them when the time came.”
If Maggie hadn’t been holding Courtney’s hand so tightly, she feared the girl would have slid off the chair.
“Your dad killed my parents?”
Even Mal looked uncomfortable with the pain that emanated from the girl.
“He made the arrangements. He prefers not to get his hands dirty.”
“But why? He didn’t know them, did he? He doesn’t know me. Why?”
Declan looked at Maggie, now clearly at a loss.
She shook her head at the stupidity of the male sex. She stood up and pulled Courtney to her feet, hugging her tightly.
“Everything that happens to us has a reason behind it,” she whispered, keeping her firm hold even as Courtney struggled against her. “You lost your family, but you went on. You developed that tough outer shell and, think about it, you even had a psychopathic boyfriend and survived that. You are a great kid.”
“You’re only saying that because you have to. Because it’s your job.”
Maggie paid no attention to her mumbles. “No, I’m saying it because it’s true. I really like you, Courtney. Yes, at the beginning I wanted to throttle you, but you’ve managed all these twists and turns without freaking out. Most adults couldn’t even do that.”
“Everyone’s gone.”
Maggie shook her head and framed Courtney’s face with her hands. “No, you have us.” She cut a quick warning glance in Mal’s direction. “And you have more than Mayan blood. You have demon blood.”
Declan shot to his feet. “What? She couldn’t. I would have sensed it.”
“Shayla ran the tests, and it’s very minor. Less than the Mayan connection,” she replied.
“Okay, overload now.” Courtney released herself from Maggie’s hold and dropped into her chair. “I’m a demon like Mick? Euww!”
“There are all kinds of demons,” Declan explained. “Trust me, you’re nothing like him.”
“Does this mean I can’t be sacrificed? I mean, I’m part demon, and your dad wouldn’t want to sacrifice a demon, would he?” Her words slowed as she read the truth in his eyes. “Okay, he would.”
“Did he say how they planned to snatch Courtney?” Maggie asked.
“The kid doesn’t need to be here for this,” Mal said.
“The kid does,” Courtney insisted.
“I promised her the truth from now on,” Maggie said. “If Courtney wants to stay, she does.”
“She does,” the girl said.
Mal puffed away on his cigar. “What are Victorio’s plans, Declan?”
“He didn’t implant some kind of booby trap on you, did he?” Courtney questioned.
Declan shook his head. “I’m to convince you that the ritual is a sham and Courtney is in no danger. The ritual is scheduled for a week from now during the night of the blood moon.” He looked tired.
“Victorio has been doing a lot of planning over the years. Not just Courtney, but he arranged my gaining the club, and he even sent the Bloater into the club so the Guard would show up. I can’t imagine he made sure Maggie would be the one who would come in, but the way things are going, anything is possible. He loves to play puppet master, and he will do what it takes to make sure the ritual is carried out.”
“And what about you? What will you do?” Maggie asked, feeling her hackles rise. One hand rested against her favorite blade.
He captured her eyes with his. “I’ll kill him along with anyone else who tries to hurt Courtney.”
“Good answer.”
***
“So where did Mal get an office that looks like one of those old Greek temples?” Courtney asked after Mal threw the three out of his office. “It sure doesn’t fit his personality. The guy seriously needs a new decorator.”
“It is a Grecian temple. Aphrodite learned the hard way not to play poker with him,” Maggie replied. “I admit the cherubs fluttering around are pretty much overkill.”
“Maybe you could add some gremlins,” Declan suggested. “I can hook you up with a few.”
“Guys, there aren’t any more surprises, are there?” Courtney smiled when Maggie conjured up a Tootsie Pop and handed it to her. The teen immediately unwrapped it and stuck it in her mouth.
“Of course, what more could there be after finding out I’m Mayan and demon—and a Mayan priest wants to kill me?” She paused. “That is it, right?”
“Well, there is the part where you’re naked and covered with snakes,” Declan said with a straight face. He laughed and danced out of her way as she threatened him with her sucker.
Maggie smiled, watching Courtney chasing him.
“There’s nothing like those Kodak moments.”
“Are we eating soon? Lunch was forever ago.” Courtney bounced up with Declan behind her. She looked back. “Do demons have fast metabolisms? I never seem to gain weight, although my friend Brooke said it would eventually catch up to me. She could just look at a salad and gain weight.”
“If I was a truly cruel person, I’d send her to The Library to gain an education,” Maggie told Declan with a wry smile. “Although The Librarian would probably bar my entrance for the next thousand years.” She looked at the girl who walked briskly ahead of them. “Look at her. She’s so resilient, even with all that’s happened to her.”
“It’s probably the demon blood. We tend to bounce back quickly. Even with her having that small amount, a family would take her in. I could find a good one for her.”
She skidded to a stop and pulled on his arm so hard, she almost dislocated his shoulder. “You’ll what?”
“Find a family for her. Not all demons are like my father or Wreaker,” he said, confused by her anger.
“Oh, no, she’s staying here.”
“Hey, are you coming?” Courtney stopped and started back toward them.
“Go on and get us a table in the dining hall I took you to,” Maggie ordered, not taking her eyes off Declan. “We’ll be there in a minute.”
“She’s not an abandoned puppy, Maggie,” he
said fiercely. “Even with a tiny amount of demon blood, she could have latent power. If so, she’ll need to learn to control it. You’re a witch. You have no idea what to do. She’ll need to be with her own kind.”
Her fingers twitched, power sparking off the tips. “Guess what. She’s with her own kind. If Courtney shows some power, I’ll work with her on it. And just maybe I’ll let you work with her. But no way am I handing her over to any other demons. Get it?” She poked her finger in his chest, setting off tiny fireworks.
Declan yelped and jumped back, extinguishing the heat that seared his shirt.
“You’re not being rational.” The moment the words left his mouth, he knew he’d made one of the biggest mistakes of his life.
“Rational? So because I’m female and a witch I’m not rational?” Her entire being started to glow with a yellow-orange light. She snatched his visitor medallion from his neck and crushed it in her hand. Two large males appeared on either side of Declan. “Escort him out,” she ordered.
Declan didn’t say a word, just stared at her with a mixture of confusion, frustration, and anger. Maggie’s expression was pretty much the same.
“And to think I fell in love with you,” she confessed.
He opened his mouth, ready to say something, but the Guards winked him out of sight.
Maggie stood there, unsure if she was going to scream or cry. She thought about settling for both, but she knew she couldn’t appear upset when she joined Courtney.
Instead, she walked slowly toward the dining hall, feeling about as sick as a witch in love with a stubborn half-demon could feel.
Chapter 20
Declan didn’t know who he was angriest with: Maggie for telling him she was in love with him right before she had him tossed out of the compound; Victorio for ruining his life when he thought he was finally free; Wreaker for helping Victorio: Or even Courtney for showing him what a normal life could be like.
“Master, we have discovered what happened to Alexi,” Snips announced, coming into the office.
“What?” He prowled the room, unable to stay still for too long. Even with the dampening spells, he was convinced he could hear the music and laughter coming from the club.
