by Brea Viragh
Astix stared at the piece of obsidian, the same one she’d conjured in front of him days before. A faint copper taste lined her tongue, as though she’d licked a handful of pennies.
“How did you get this? You handed it back to me.”
Leo shrugged. “You only thought I did. I manipulated your sense of the object so I could keep it. I hope you don’t mind. Again, I’m sorry.”
Mind? She was ready to jump out of her own skin. Of course she minded. Any other night and she would have been running for her life to get far, far, far away from Leonidas Voltaire and everything he represented. He was a solid link in the chain dragging her closer to the Claddium. Closer to the Vault.
Instead of being smart, she stayed. “Look, I appreciate your help in getting me and my sisters out of Constance.” Astix took several steps away from him. She felt the obsidian in her palm and wondered if it was really there or if Leo was still manipulating her senses. “I don’t like you lying to me.”
She studied her surroundings like a person coming out of a coma. Her arm was rigid when Leo reached out to take it. Ready to bolt.
“It wasn’t a lie. It was—” He broke off. “I’m sorry, okay?” He spoke roughly though his hands were gentle, brushing the hair out of her eyes. “And I know what you’re thinking. I won’t tell my father about your contact with your family. Or about you being at the club tonight. You have my word on it.”
“This is too strange for me.” She slapped at his hands. “I think I’ll take my bike and go home. Thanks for returning it. Real standup guy, you are.”
“Hey, don’t be frightened.” Leo started after her. “Would you believe I wanted to see you again?”
“No.”
Men did not simply want to see her. They were always after something—the trick was determining what. Adrenaline coursed through her still, making it hard to think, to figure out his angle as she shook off the dregs of something dark from her mind.
Leo leaned his head back and barked out a laugh. “I wouldn’t believe me either.”
The sound was rich. Designed to demolish the staunchest of objections. She stilled her feet and swirled around to face Leo again. “There! You admitted it.”
“You didn’t let me finish. I wouldn’t believe me either, although I wish you would. You’re an amazing woman. Now tell me why I found you at Constance, in the middle of a shit tsunami.”
“I was there looking for someone,” she said slowly. Skeptically. Knowing it was better to hide her cards rather than reveal them. “We had reason to believe he was at that club.”
“So you went to the darkest spot in the city, weeks before the eclipse, with the veil fraying and the balance at a tipping point. Because you were looking for someone.” His tone told her what he thought of the move. And it wasn’t good. “Real clever.”
Yeah, she’d thought the same. “It was senseless, I know. But I had it covered.”
“I have no doubt.” Leo took cautious baby steps toward her. “You’re shivering.”
When she did nothing but stare at the ground, he stepped forward boldly and drew her to him. The voluminous fabric of his coat enveloped her, locking in their combined body heat.
She breathed him in and thought the scent familiar, though they barely knew each other. Something about Leo radiated safety. But only if she ignored certain facts about him. Who his father was, for one.
“I think you should let me go. This is really a bad idea.” Even after stating it, she could not make her arms release from around his midsection.
“Oh, shush.”
What the hell. Keep your friends close and all that.
So she let him comfort her, let his hands travel down her spine. It felt good. Too good. Their thighs touching so that a piece of paper wouldn’t be able to slide between them. Holy smokes, how long had it been?
“You shouldn’t have been there tonight,” Leo said softly, his chest rumbling against her cheek when he spoke. “Constance is not a place for a woman like you.”
Astix snuggled closer. “What do you know about women like me?” His shirt muffled the question.
“I know that you are light magic despite what happened in your life. I can practically smell it on you.”
“And you aren’t?”
“I am what I am. What I’ve always been.”
“A non-answer if I’ve ever heard one.” She poked her index finger into his belly.
“I’m light, Astix,” he said. “I shouldn’t have to tell you. Just like I shouldn’t have to tell you to stay away from that club. Whatever display you made? Whatever scene you caused? It’s going to get you noticed by the wrong people.”
“I’ve already been noticed by the wrong people.”
“We both know I’m not going to turn you in.”
“I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. What I need to do for my family.” Only a little shocked by the admission, and more confused by her willingness to divulge, she decided to go with it. “And I think in the process I found enough trouble to last me a lifetime.”
Leo sighed. “That settles it.”
“What?”
“I’m going to have to keep both eyes on you from now on.”
“No, you’re not. That’s not necessary.”
“Who knows? It may be enjoyable.”
“I doubt it. I’m used to being alone. Why can’t everyone leave me be?”
“Too late.” Before she could open her mouth to protest, Leo had his arms around her waist, drawing her even closer. He slid a hand around to the back of her neck and stopped a whisper away from her lips.
He wanted to savor the moment right before he dove. The moment when her breath caught in her throat and his heart stumbled in response. Then he closed the distance between them.
Astix pulled away without thinking, the response automatic. Her palms slapped against his chest. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I would think that’s obvious. Kissing you,” he murmured.
Caught in the spell of those damnable amber eyes, the air grew hot and close around them. She swayed, drowning in depths she had no business wading into, overpowered by the smell of leather, rosemary, and the spicy undertone of male. Leo reached out a steadying hand and she jerked away. It wasn’t enough to break the attraction.
“Don’t touch me.” Astix winced at the uncontrolled shaking in her voice.
Leo’s brows twitched up. “I’m sorry. I plan to kiss you. Sue me.”
He was persistent as his lips moved over hers gently to coax a response. She may have leaped out of her skin if he tried to touch her intimately. Luckily, he did not. It was only his mouth moving lightly, easily, on hers. Every thought raced from his head the moment those sweet lips met his. Of the two of them, it was Leo who nearly staggered when she responded. He’d never been a big believer in love at first sight, but he was beginning to change his mind. At least, he might when his head cleared. She was soft and warm. Her hair heavy, a silky weight against his hand. Her body a pleasure to touch.
She’d gone still except for the hammering in her chest. Then she made contact. Just a slight gathering of his shirt between her fingers. It was enough.
The instant Astix yielded, he changed the tempo from probing to passionate. It was a simple matter to deepen the kiss when she melted around him. Easy to take as much as he wanted the second she sighed. His tongue thrust inside her mouth and she parried, lips opening.
She was sweet. Soft in all the right ways. The combination nearly undid him. It was impossible not to want more—more than she was willing to give, Leo thought as he tilted his head to change the angle of the kiss.
Astix purred low in her throat, and he wondered how it was possible to have gone this long in his life without having kissed her. Her response became enthusiastic and hungry. Her feet left the ground when he picked her up and she snuggled into the embrace. She wrapped her legs around his waist, his mouth taking hers again and again.
Through it all, he could taste her re
luctance despite the physical response. She didn’t want to want him. As it was, she was doing terrible things to his insides. Stirring long dormant feelings and needs and wants to life.
Leo used his strength to wipe away the horror of the night. He wondered if any kiss had ever been so delightful, so delicious. He needed more, pulling her close until her breasts mashed against his chest. Her heart beat erratically through her clothing and he felt it. Her silky tongue traced patterns on his with the smallest teasing bite of teeth.
He ached for her.
Astix broke the contact without warning. She stumbled backwards on shaky legs, unable to stand, to catch her breath. Her fingers curled around the motorcycle’s handlebars to keep her balance. “You…you kissed me.”
“I did. You noticed.” His belly was quivering. Doing his best to stay casual, Leo followed her and wrapped a length of her hair around his wrist, wanting to drag his fingers through the strands and gather her close. “And I’m about to do it again.”
“I…seem to have lost the ability to think. Will you really take advantage of a woman who can’t think?”
“If the woman is you, then yes.”
Her belly jumped, hands moving to her hips when his lips met hers. A moan formed low before she could stop it. Power and strength coursed through her, mixed with the subtle tinge of magic and a hint of something else. Lust.
Their mouths brushed once before retreating, only to come together again. A moan burst forth and this time she kissed him, crushing her lips to his with a hot burst of hunger.
What else could she do but hold on and enjoy the ride, the dance between them as old as anything in the world. She wanted him then, and knew he wanted her in return. Letting herself go, after everything, seemed the greatest pleasure of all.
The kiss went on for eternity, sweet as heaven, sinful as hell. Logic intruded too late, the events of the past few hours creeping between them. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him again. Safe within the sanctuary. She tried not to think about the past or what the future might hold. Knowing the only certainty they had was the present moment. Her magic made sure she’d learned that lesson the hard way.
She couldn’t shake the feeling of doom, a feeling that had been building for weeks now. Something bad was coming. The explosion was just the beginning.
A sour taste rose and she pushed Leo away. “You need to stop,” she told him, wiping her mouth. It felt bruised and wonderfully used, holding hints of what would come. What may come if she allowed it. “We can’t do anything. Not tonight.”
Leo stared at her with amusement in his gaze. “I’m glad to hear you admit that there might be a later. Gives a guy reason to hope. By the way, you look lovely. Green is a good color for you.”
“Go on.” Astix paced along the sidewalk, back and forth. “I need some distance.” She shooed him away, stopping only when there was finally space between them. “Someone tried to curse me tonight. Kill me.”
“I’ll have one of my people look into it,” he told her. “Off the record.”
“We were led here. Fed clues that someone dropped along the way until we did exactly what he wanted. Like sheep to slaughter. And he used magic.” She slapped a hand to her forehead, staring out over the water. “Fuck.”
“They knew your sisters couldn’t fight back.”
“The whole thing reeks of a setup. And I still have no clue what’s going on with my brother or where he is.” Astix stifled a sob, determined not to release the full brunt of her psychic misery. “Things got out of hand. Quick.”
“Don’t think about it, and don’t go back there. Promise me.”
“I promise.” That was an easy one.
“Come on, I’ll drive you—”
Astix shook her head. “I’ve got it from here. You go do…whatever it was you were doing before.” She just wanted to go home. Home equaled security, routine. Normalcy. Somewhere she was not ready to introduce Leo into. She needed time to herself. “I really don’t think I need an escort.”
“All right, if that’s how you feel.”
“I do.”
“Then I’ll say good night.” Leo swooped to clasp her hand, raising it to his lips. “Until we meet again. Everything will be all right.”
She wanted to believe him. More than anything. “I wish I could trust you,” she admitted softly, turning toward the bike. Apprehension warred with attraction when he stared at her. Even in the dimness of night, Leo’s eyes glowed. Her desire spiked to staggering heights, heights she both craved and feared.
“Someday I’m going to prove myself to you.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“I like complicated. We’ll take this slow if we need to.” He nodded. “Until you’re sure.”
“Until I’m sure,” she repeated, and hurried to get on her bike. “I need to go.” Afraid to mess things up, she knew.
“I will see you again, Astix. Soon.” Leo tugged the collar of his coat up to his neck and let the statement linger as he watched her start the bike. Astix never saw the slight grin tug one corner of his mouth north.
CHAPTER 7
Leo whistled as he walked off in the opposite direction. She didn’t recognize the airy tune. She sat and watched him, wasn’t sure where he was headed or if he had a ride back to his house or not. She had no clue about him in any respect. But she knew the way he tasted. She knew he was lush and great-smelling and strong in the right ways. She knew his ass in jeans was enough to make her mouth go dry.
It was another trail of eggshells she was expected to dance on in order to get an answer. Determined to tread lightly, she gunned the engine and took off. Damn Leo. She could get used to a man like that. Which should be the last thing on her mind. His kind of distraction was one she couldn’t afford.
Not now, not later.
Leo, the curse—they were puzzles she needed to solve, and none of it felt real. Part of her wondered if she would ever find the answers, because a happy ending didn’t seem in the cards for her. A sly tendril of queasiness curled in her gut.
The night opened up for her on the drive home. The landscape expanded beyond the visor of her helmet and Astix took her time, needing the road to erase the memory of Constance. Of the remaining traces of heat on her wrist from the close call with almost being cursed herself.
Soon the streets became familiar and a tension she hadn’t been aware of released between her shoulders. Pulling into the driveway, she took a moment to sit and catch her breath. The air was moist as she drew it into her lungs, damp from days of icy rain. A January cold snap that refused to break.
She glanced up at the moon and wondered if her brother was able to see its light. The clear, bright white was obscured by clouds again. Her gaze hardened. Whoever tried to curse her tonight with the same rune used on her family considered her a target. A weak link who was easily manipulated.
Yes, she was a fuck-up living under a proverbial rock. A pariah since birth. Nevertheless, she wouldn’t let some random stranger intimidate her with his magic. Huge mistake. She’d detangle the mystery, find her brother, and get back to normal. Guaranteed.
She parked the bike beneath the lean-to. Leo’s advice from earlier was sound. No way in hell was she going anywhere near Constance again. There were other ways to find Zee. It just required a little digging, and Astix was prepared to get the shovel. She walked to the house with her mind drifting toward men and kisses.
It was only in the hush that she tuned in to the energies of her home. Something was wrong. The crystals were going crazy, buzzing in her mind like hornets in an attempt to capture her attention. Astix was on her way to the door in seconds as she tried to calm their manic vitality and find the source.
It became startlingly clear the instant she made it around to the front.
Three dead crows lay arranged in a circle on her doorstep. Their necks had been broken and wrenched at odd angles. Bright splotches of blood decorated their wings. Astix stepped back and stumbled
, hand slapping against her mouth to stifle her scream.
Crows. This was dark magic. A bad omen.
A chill ran down her spine and Astix spent the next hour smudging her doorstep with sage. She didn’t stop there. Once the crows were disposed of—a huge bonfire in the backyard large enough to have the neighbors contemplating a call to the fire department—she smudged every corner of the house. She gathered every gemstone she could call within a mile radius, uncaring whether it sent the Claddium right to her or not, and set them in a perimeter around the property until she was warded out the ass.
A layer of filth settled just below her skin, the kind that wasn’t easily washed away. The metaphysical properties of her stones helped. Even then…they weren’t enough. It wouldn’t be enough for a long time.
She peered into the deepening shadows. She couldn’t see anything, but the way her skin crawled told her there was something out there watching. Waiting. She activated the gems near her door for protection. Then spent the next eight hours staring at her ceiling, mind whirring.
Crows were the messengers of death. Not only death, but also a portent of change. To see them so soon after leaving Constance meant something, she was sure. If only she could determine what.
The crow was a respected totem in her world, a symbol merging both light and dark. Inner and outer. Sounded eerily familiar to something her mother had said days earlier.
Which meant Astix would need another trip to the family homestead. As if one wasn’t terrible enough. All of these problems began after her parents asked for her help. Time to do a bit more digging, because vague wasn’t cutting it. Not when the wizard with the curse power was coming after her and leaving little gifts for her to find.
The moment she closed her eyes, the man with the hoodie was back. Pointing his finger. Pulling an imaginary trigger.
Astix turned and slapped on the light, a tear spilling over before she rubbed it away. She kept the light on until the sun peeked over the horizon.
Then she took a shower, came out cleaner if not warmer, and a good deal steadier than when she’d first undressed. Unfortunately, there would be no rest. Not when the clock was ticking and each day brought them closer to the end. Closer to the eclipse.
