Witch of All Witches: Tales of Xest #4

by Donna Augustine

  “Uh, nothing much, but maybe we should go in the back room to talk.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest, then uncrossed them, before crossing them again.

  I was a dead woman.

  I rose out of my chair. Bibbi and Zab watched with matching expressions that could only mean they too thought I was going to die.

  “We’ll be back soon,” I said, as Bibbi was about to get up and follow.

  I nodded in her direction, patting the air as if to say everything was fine.

  When that didn’t work, I whispered, “Maybe sit this one out. I think she’s got a thing going on.”

  In spite of my soft tone, Mertie heard. Instead of looking offended, she nodded. “Yeah, I got a bad thing. I think I caught it from a guy at the bar the other night.” She nodded and made a ghastly face.

  That got Bibbi’s butt right back in her seat, and Zab’s face was glowing red, his nose now an inch from his paperwork.

  We walked in the back, and it would’ve been nice to know the trick Hawk used to mute the room, not that I’d be able to do it now. I was no longer among the witches who could be frivolous with their magic. I might even have to become magically frugal.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, keeping my tone low because Zab and Bibbi were probably right around the corner, trying to hear every word. Odds were I’d want to process this alone for a few seconds, before dealing with their input.

  “I don’t know exactly how to tell you this.” Mertie was fidgeting—again.

  The back door opened and Hawk walked in, windblown and looking as fresh as ever. He paused, as if he immediately sensed an issue.

  Mertie let out a sigh as she took in the sight of him. “Thank Satan you’re here. I’ve been waiting hours, and I might need you.”

  “Why do you need him?” I asked, shifting my attention back to Mertie. Hawk stood beside me, as if I was the one who’d need assistance.

  “In case…” She shook her head. “I don’t know… Just in case.” She threw up her hands, exasperated, as if I’d told her I wanted her to solve some calculus problem in her head in under two seconds.

  She took in a deep breath and then blew it out slower than she’d inhaled. It was a breathing technique meant to calm oneself. It was only calming to her, as I saw steam flow out of her nostrils.

  “Mertie, what’s the issue?” Hawk asked. His voice had a strange, calming tone to it. The line of her shoulders softened almost immediately.

  Had he ever used that on me? I really needed to start paying attention to all his little tricks. He had some good ones, and I’d been a real slacker. I didn’t remember hearing that tone before, but maybe when it was used on you, you didn’t realize it? Even if I couldn’t do his tricks, I’d better know them when I saw them.

  Mertie was breathing calmly and leaning against the table, like this was a run-of-the-mill conversation and not some dire information. “You know the message? The one that said relinquish your magic or else, all spooky like? The one that had you running over to the hill and getting drained like a nitwit?”

  “Yes,” I said. He might’ve laid that relaxation spell on a little too thick. She was poking in some very sore spots, and I was feeling more like punching her than listening to her.

  “Well, you know I’ve got my sources on the inside. They got themselves some information. What I’m about to tell you might be a rumor, but they’ve heard it from a couple of demons at this point, enough that they thought it should be passed on. From what they’re saying, it’s true that the powers that be know of your situation, from the tippy top to lowest low with you having…” She lifted a hand and waved it. “They all know you used to have way too much of the Xest start-up magic. They were debating what to do with you as well. That was all confirmed. But that message you got? The ultimatum? It wasn’t authorized. My source said it was sent without anyone’s knowledge. Lou went rogue to lure you into doing exactly what you did.”

  “There wasn’t a threat from them? They were just aware of an issue?” My voice was a whisper of its normal self, as the shock robbed it of its strength.

  “Yep. That’s about the long and short of it.”

  The wind was knocked right out of me. I’d been set up, and so perfectly. If Mertie thought Hawk was supposed to be the calm one, she was wrong. I could feel him vibrating beside me. I took a step away from them, wishing I could have the room to myself to absorb what she’d just said.

  “Yeah, so now you know.” Mertie stretched out her arms and yawned. “I’m going to go take a nap now. I am wiped out. See you guys for dinner, or not. I might sleep through tonight and fend for myself when I get up. We’ve already got one man down today. Not sure we can shoulder any more Bertha casualties, if you know what I mean.”

  I barely listened to her as I walked out of the back room.

  The only thought in my head was what an idiot I’d been. So intent on saving everyone, and what did I do? Walked right into a trap.

  “We’ll fix it,” Hawk promised.

  “We didn’t make this mistake. I did.” And fixable? I wasn’t going to debate that right now. If it was so fixable, he wouldn’t be thinking of drastic measures, and I’d be regaining my magic naturally because I was an Infinite.

  “You’re not the only one that’s made mistakes,” he said, watching me as I grabbed my jacket from the coat rack.

  “Maybe not, but I’m on a real run lately,” I said, walking toward the back door. I almost always used the front, but today, the less people I saw, the better.

  “Where are you going?” Hawk asked as I headed out.

  “I need to clear my head.”

  “Don’t do anything—”

  “Stupid? Don’t worry. I’ve had my fill.”

  29

  I lifted my hand to knock on Hawk’s door.

  Hawk opened it before I got the chance. He stood there, saying nothing. He probably thought I was here to fight over him doing something or me doing nothing. It was the very last thing I wanted right now, even though fighting might be the easier route to take. Definitely less complicated. But tonight, I needed this. The walk had cleared my head, and I knew what needed to be done. It was now or maybe never.

  He took a step back, watching as I squeezed past him into his room. He watched me but made no move toward me.

  There were a couple of options. I could tell him why I was here, lay it out raw and bare, and then brace myself to either reap the rewards or rejection. Or maybe I said nothing. I could lay myself out raw and bare, knowing he’d more likely take the invite, but the possible rejection would be that much more staggering if it came. It wasn’t like he hadn’t wanted me in the past. Then there was the other night when he’d kissed me but then left…

  I needed to stop thinking immediately or I’d bolt out of this room. Just act. For once in my life, I needed to get out of my head and do it.

  I gripped the hem of my shirt, watching his eyes shift to my waist—and then I froze. Was that a look of disgust? Was that interest? I couldn’t even tell anymore. I needed to abort immediately. I dropped my shirt and then played with the hem, as if I’d meant to yank it up or something equally idiotic. My face burned as I scrambled for a Plan B. Pick a fight and get the hell out of here.

  “You know, you’re a hypocrite. You’re constantly telling me what to do but don’t care when I don’t want you to do something.”

  He raised a brow. “That’s why you came here?”

  He took a step toward me. I kept my gaze on his shoes. That was the safest place.

  “Of course it is. Why else?” I should really look him in the eye. Bluster didn’t work well when you didn’t have the balls to meet someone’s gaze.

  He took another step, crowding me, his toes nearly brushing mine.

  His hands went to the hem of my shirt.

  He knew. That small movement had given me away. I turned to walk away, but he shot his arm out, stopping me and pulling me back in front of him.

  “What’s wrong? Lost your
nerve?” he asked, his voice roughened.

  “I didn’t lose anything.” My mouth grew dry and I swallowed for the fifth time in a minute. His hands grazed underneath my shirt to the flesh of my waist, sizzling where we connected flesh to flesh.

  They changed direction, sliding under my waistband. They traveled slowly downward, following the curve of my hips, dragging the soft fabric of my leggings with them until he cupped the curve of my ass. He lifted me upward until I was on tiptoes, pressing me against the hard length of him. I was off my feet, grabbing his shoulders for balance as I wrapped my legs around him.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Exactly what you came for,” he answered, running his fingers over the slick, wet folds of my vagina. “Unless this wasn’t what you wanted.”

  A soft moan escaped me as my head dropped back, only to give him more flesh to ravage. His mouth caressed my throat as he plunged his fingers inside me, pumping slowly while his thumb rubbed at my apex.

  “This is why you came, isn’t it?” he asked, the low rumble of his voice echoing through me as his fingers paused.

  “Yes,” I said, knowing I would’ve told him anything at that point to have him continue.

  He plunged back in, hooking and rubbing.

  He walked us forward and then dropped me on the bed.

  He reached forward, dragging my pants off and then moving quickly to rid me of the rest of my clothes until I was lying bare in front of him. His eyes roved over my body, studying me.

  My instincts were to cover up. But what I really wanted was to pull him down to me and strip his clothes from him. I opted for the latter, grabbing a hank of his shirt and pulling him forward.

  His chest collided into mine without him losing a grip on my ass. I knew for certain that if I made it past the next couple of days, he would surely be the end of me. But what a way to go.

  “Do you know I waited longer for you than anyone else in my life?” Hawk toyed with a lock of my hair.

  “How long do you usually wait?” Hopefully he couldn’t hear the smile in my voice. I was glad my face was turned away from him. If he saw me right now, he might see the truth. I was utterly in love with him.

  “A day. A couple if I’m particularly interested.”

  “Hawk? You in there?” Oscar yelled.

  Hawk muttered a curse. “I forgot about Oscar. I’ll meet you downstairs in five,” he yelled.

  Hawk stood up, stretching, not an ounce of shame in his nudeness, not that he should. Leonardo couldn’t have done a better job sculpting him.

  I sat up in bed, looking for my things as well, trying to keep my expression neutral, even as I felt like someone who was leaving a carnival to go straight to a funeral. I might be, too. My own.

  Hawk walked over to my side of the bed and leaned down, giving me a kiss that left me breathless and promised a continuation.

  “You don’t need to get up. I’ll leave the door set to open to the building for you. Lie back down. I won’t be gone long,” he said. He kissed me again before he left.

  All I wanted to do was curl up in his bed and wait for him to come back. But the world wasn’t going to wait. I wasn’t delusional enough to think he wasn’t still going after Lou. If he’d been the hurt one, it was what I would’ve done. It was what I would’ve done for anyone I loved.

  I leaned back against the wall.

  He loved me. How had I not seen it? There was nothing left I had to give him, and yet he was hellbent on avenging me.

  I had finally found the man of my dreams, who loved me, and if I didn’t do something, he was going to get himself killed. I ran my hands through my hair, feeling certain about what I had to do as I caught sight of my token.

  There it was, sitting on top of his chest. In just seconds, I could be at the hill. I’d never been one to believe in fate or karma, but this was a pretty blatant sign. If I’d had any doubts, they were gone. Maybe this was one time I needed to be a believer.

  I walked over, picked up the token, and felt its call in my hand. Hawk would be furious. Then again, when wasn’t Hawk mad about something I did? When had I ever let that deter me before? And if this worked, I might be able to keep Hawk alive. There was no way I could save him in my current state.

  30

  I hurried down one set of stairs before racing up another, having no idea how long Hawk would be gone. I did have a strong idea of what would happen if I didn’t get out of here before he got back.

  The token was in my pocket, but I wasn’t sure it was capable of doing what I was planning. There was only one person I could count on, one person who had enough balls to help me, and definitely only one person who might agree to this.

  I rapped softly on Bibbi’s door.

  “Come in.”

  I opened the door and then stepped over the different piles of yarn, books, and scattered clothing about the floor. I’d thought initially she was just turning into a slob until I caught her reading about rare and unusual creatures. It turned out that dust bunnies’ natural habitat was clutter. Bibbi was determined to lure Dusty away from Mertie, his current favorite, and over to her room. I’d told her ten times he was avoiding her because of the bows, but she insisted he didn’t mind.

  “What’s going on?” Bibbi sat up, chucking her book to the floor, adding it to one of the many heaps and motioning to the end of her bed.

  “Are you tired? I’ve got something I need to do, and I could use some help.” I stayed on my feet, tracking the minutes in my mind.

  I glanced over my shoulder, paranoia making me think Hawk would storm in at any second, as if he knew every thought and plan I hatched.

  “Where are we going?” Bibbi was off her bed, grabbing her boots, and almost falling over as she pulled one on and then the other. “Is it dangerous? You know I thrive in danger.”

  Thankfully, Oscar was out with Hawk because his last warning to me had been not to get Bibbi mixed up in my problems. I was pretty sure what I was about to do fell into that category.

  “Keep your voice down. This is solely a mission for us.” I glanced toward the door again, not sure who might be rushing in next. It might be both of them.

  “Oh, covert, too! This is amazing. I usually have to fight to do anything this fun.” Bibbi jumped in place, shaking her hands with excitement.

  She might not feel so awesome about it after we got there. Once she saw what her part was, there was bound to be disappointment, especially since she was strapping on her glittery dagger holder.

  “I’ll tell you the rest after we get out of here.”

  She had her jacket on and was pulling on her hat as we made our way out of her room and to the back alley.

  “Okay, give me the lowdown,” she said.

  I pulled out my token. “We’re going to the hill.”

  She took an immediate step back. “Wait a second. You said it was dangerous. Not stupid. Why the hell would we go to the hill? I thought you were over that craziness? Do you have a problem again?”

  She took a step closer, as if getting ready to pin me to the ground if need be. She squinted as she looked into my eyes, like they’d show her something.

  “I am, and I need to make sure it doesn’t happen again. If I go to the hill and can pull more instead of letting it take, I’ll wipe out the spell and undo its influence.” I spoke in the most reasonable tone possible, in the hopes the very blandness of my explanation would convince her I hadn’t gone off the deep end again.

  She didn’t look ready to clobber me anymore, but she also didn’t seem to be on board. She tugged her hat down a little and then crossed her arms.

  “Look, danger could be my middle name. I don’t run from a fight, but I’m not looking to watch you die, or worse, get all weird like you were. I’m just not sure it’s a good idea.”

  I grabbed her shoulders, ignoring the Xest ways. “If things don’t turn out well tonight, I’ll need you to get me help. That’s why you’re coming. I have to do this and I need you. If I don’t g
et my magic back, Hawk is going to do something very bad. Oscar and I will try to save him and probably die in the process. You’ll also probably try to save us, and then die. Do you want us all to die?” There was a time for calmness, but don’t let anyone tell you hyperbole doesn’t have its uses.

  She was shaking her head and sighing, which for Bibbi meant capitulating. “How am I supposed to say no when you put it like that?” she asked. “I don’t like it, but I guess I’ll do it if that’s what you need.”

  “I do.” I’d known Bibbi was my girl. I dug the token out of my pocket. “Hold on to the other half of it. I’m not sure I made it strong enough to get two people there, but hopefully it will.”

  If it didn’t, we’d be walking, because I wasn’t strong enough at this point to make another.

  She grabbed the other end. A second later we weren’t at the hill, but we weren’t terribly far off, either.

  “This isn’t it,” Bibbi said, looking around.

  “No, this isn’t. We’re a bit away. The token wasn’t made for more than one person, so it didn’t have enough juice.” I began to walk in the direction of the hill, hoping this wasn’t an omen.

  “Maybe this is a bad sign,” Bibbi said, walking beside me.

  “It’s not.” Was it? It certainly hadn’t been a good sign.

  “What am I supposed to do, anyway?” She was looking around as if she expected a monster to jump out and eat us.

  “If I get stuck, you push me off. Anything else looks weird, you run for help.” I held out my coin to her. “Keep that in your pocket. It’ll make it faster to get back to the building for help if things go badly.”

  She took the coin, making a little grunt as she did.

  We crossed the last group of trees to the clearing where the hill was. Bautere was standing there.

  Bibbi shot me a side glance that pretty much summed up my interpretation of the situation: we were screwed.

  “Hey,” Bibbi said with fake enthusiasm. “Tippi and I wanted to stretch our legs, and look at this? We run into you!”