by Colt, Shyla
“I won’t leave one master for another. You’re lenient, but I’d be working for you, nonetheless.”
“Do you fancy yourself an entrepreneur then?”
“I’m not sure what I am yet, Sandor,” Crewe sighed.
“That means you’re ready for reinvention. And I have to say it’s about time.”
Venett cleared her throat. “If I can have your attention, gentleman. May I introduce the new and improved Ms.K.”
The black leather pants looked painted onto her shapely legs and lovingly hugged her plump ass. Knee-high black boots gave her additional height and went with the chic black, off-the-shoulder sweater that showed an expanse of her slender neck and collarbone. She’d tamed her hair, weaving it into an intricate French braid, and tossed it over her opposite shoulder. Crewe stood and stepped forward, entranced.
“I think he likes your work, darling,” Sandor said. His voice sounded distant.
“If you’re trying to feign nonchalance, you’re failing.” The amusement in her mental voice snapped him back to the present.
“You’ve done well, Venett.”
“Now let’s give you the same treatment. We don’t want people thinking you’ve kidnapped the poor woman.” Sandor swept past them, and he reluctantly followed the red-haired man down a small hallway.
“I’ve been dying to get my hands on you in one way another.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.
* * *
“I think you got the raw end of the deal here.”
“It was killing you not to say anything, wasn’t it?” He tugged at the leather pants.
“Oh, yeah.” She turned to face him in the plush white leather seats of the private jet. “You vamps sure travel in style.”
“We’ve had enough time to accumulate wealth. It’d be silly not to use it to our advantage.” He loosened the black scarf with skulls around his neck and tried to ignore the tight fit of the borrowed clothing.
“Spoken like a wealthy person.” Keeta ran her fingers down his scarf. “Do you think he’ll rat us out?”
“No, he’s very anti-establishment.” Bending down, he placed a kiss on her crown. “I think we’ll be safe for our flight. Once we reach Savannah, we’ll have an entirely new set of worries.”
“Why trust Kaz? Look what happened already.”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. “He told me to be careful who I trusted. I don’t know if Dregan was involved in this. I don’t want him to be, but the sickness does things to our mind.” He shook his head. “Either way, we have nowhere else to go. We need to regroup, plan, and moved forward.”
“I have friends—”
“They’ll be expecting us to go back to Louisiana.”
“There are more ways than one to contact family.”
“Enough, witch. Turn off your big brain and rest.” He pulled her head down to his shoulder.
“I can’t.”
Burying his fingers in her hair, he captured her lips, silencing her with a blistering kiss. He broke the kiss to let her breathe. “We’re alive, and no one knows where we are. For now, it’s enough.”
“Bossy vampire.” The words were muffled, but he understood them well enough.
“Stubborn witch.”
Chapter Nine
KEETA
She followed his directions, placing thick comforters over the blackout curtains they’d taken from the plane. Vamps really do think of everything. With no real plan, they’d checked into the Hotel Indigo in the historic district. The old, brick building and the area appealed to Crewe, who’d pulled money from a private account he’d kept hidden from everyone. With the room sufficiently Crewe ready, she sat on the end of the bed. The city was old. The ancestral magic hummed beneath their feet. Intricate spells woven over time blazed to life the moment they landed. It was a warning system.
She felt like she was constantly walking through cobwebs. The feeling of thin strands of energy brushing up against her barriers made her shudder.
“This place is alive with magic,” Crewe marveled.
“You feel it, too?” Her mouth parted as she studied his pensive face, stunned at his keen observation. Too much sat between them unsaid.
“Yes. It’s the oddest sensation.” He frowned. “How can you stand it?”
“Most places aren’t so active. I suppose you get used to it. It’s part of being connected to everything. When the balance is thrown off, you feel it here,” she placed a hand on her belly, “and here,” and another over her heart.
“No wonder you strive to keep the balance. It affects you on a personal level.” He tilted his head to the side as the wheels in his head spun at a furious pace. She could almost see the mechanisms whirling.
“Yes.” She took one of his hands between hers and ducked her head to meet his gaze. “Now you begin to fully understand. What we do isn’t a judgment call. We work to keep things at an even keel because it is in our nature, and serves our best interest.”
“What different creatures we are.” He shook his head. Sadness tinged his aura a deep blue. “You act to preserve for everyone, and we act to protect ourselves.”
“As you’ve said, we’ve been able to walk in the open for a lot longer. I think on some level we’re all formed by the things our ancestors went through. It’s coded deep into our bones, influencing us even as we evolve. Perhaps escaping who we once were is a futile endeavor.”
He grunted. “I hope you’re wrong. Because otherwise, we’re all doomed.”
“I don’t believe that.”
Slipping his hand from hers, he trailed his thumb across her cheekbones. “Then you’ll have to believe for both of us, witch. Because I find myself running low on optimism. Are we going to approach the elephant in the room?”
She snickered. “Always to the point.”
“What happened at the castle?” He cupped the back of his neck. “That power I wielded wasn’t normal.”
“When has anything between us been considered the norm?” she teased.
“I used a witch’s magic. Have you ever heard of that happening before?”
“No. I don’t think they’d be advertising it, though.”
“You’re right, of course.” He chuckled self-deprecatingly. “It makes one incredibly dangerous. A weapon to be used or a threat to be extinguished.”
“What happened?” she whispered.
“I saw you on the ground about to be attacked by wolves, and I knew I couldn’t get to you in time. Anger unlike anything I’ve ever experienced swept through me and something inside of me snapped.” He furrowed his brow. “Or perhaps is clicked into place.”
“May I examine you?”
He swallowed hard and nodded.
She stood. Palms up, she scanned him—starting at the top of his head, she gently prodded his aura. It was altered.
“Wow.” What was once black had become a deep blue. Shimmery bits that looked like stars were scattered haphazardly. The points pulsed with power.
“What do you see?”
“You’re beautiful. Like a night sky. Your aura has changed. It’s as if you were part witch.”
“Maybe I am. In the same way you are no longer simply a witch.” He gripped her hips, pulling her between his legs.
Hands on his shoulders, she leaned back. “Now it’s you who must learn control.”
“And you love that, don’t you?”
“Perhaps a little.” She bent and nipped at his bottom lip. “I think we need to take our mind off things.”
“What did you have in mind?” He widened his eyes, feigning innocence.
She laughed darkly. “Why don’t you guess?” Wrapping her arms around his neck, she swung her left leg over his, and he pressed his other leg together, lifting her to sit on his lap.
“A hug?” He hooked his arms around her, pulling her closer.
“That’s a start.” She nodded her head, pleased he decided to play along. Since meeting, they’d bee
n in a constant state of upheaval, high-stress situations, and peril. They needed this. Every smile felt like a gift. For so long, he’d had only death and missions. She wanted to show him there was more.
He licked her pulse point. Her body tensed and she rolled her hips against the bulge in his pants. His fingers dug into her hips as he nipped his way down her neck. Each bite was harder than the next, but he never broke the skin. Whimpering, she pressed her neck more firmly into his mouth. His chuckle vibrated through her. Her breath caught, and her belly clenched.
Twining his fingers in her curls, he tugged sharply. The pull on her scalp pushed her closer to the edge.
“You’re so pretty when you submit.” His words sent a hot river flowing between her legs. “Oh, you like that, do you?” His accent thickened as he nipped her bottom earlobe. “You like it when I claim what’s mine?” Fangs caressed the tender flesh of her neck. She panted, trembling as she waited for his next move. “Because you are. You understand that, don’t you?”
Dazed, she tilted her head up to meet his ruby gaze. “I’m what?” she whispered.
“Mine.” The possession in his eyes caressed her like a lover.
“I don’t recall being asked.” That she managed to form the words was a small miracle.
“Stubborn witch. Shall I show you what your body already knows?” He rocked her against him. “See how your body sings? How your honey flows?” He inhaled. “You smell like a ripe grapefruit sprinkled with sugar … red and juicy.” His fingers slipped under her shirt, and caressed the skin on her back, setting her aflame. “Arms up, my mouthy little love.”
He mesmerized her. Clothing hit the ground with a gentle whoosh as she obeyed his sensual commands.
“Hmmm, suddenly you’re quiet, love.”
He bit into her neck, and she saw stars. Bright points of light exploded behind her lids. Her back arched. One sip had her tumbling over the edge into bliss. Tremors continued to make her muscles twitch. She opened her eyes and found herself spread out before him like a buffet.
“So, this is how to hush your backtalk?”
“You—” He drove home, and she cried out, all responses forgotten. Digging her nails into his shoulders, she wrapped her legs around him, pressing her heels into his back as she matched him stroke for stroke. The friction melted her brain as they moved in a sensual rhythm that took her higher and higher. He filled her to bursting and retreated. Their bond broke open. She fell into a loop of pleasure as his emotions became her own.
Her mouth watered as her smaller fangs distended.
“That’s it, witch. Bite me.” He moved her hips, going deeper as she sank her fangs into his neck and they both shattered. Her body convulsed, clenching him tight as he continued to drive his way through her own completion. Swallowing his sweet blood, she trembled as desire rocketed through her.
She screamed, breaking the suction as she experienced his completion and felt his essence coat her insides. Spent, they collapsed side by side on the bed as she struggled to catch her breath. He rolled to face her. Turning her head, she smiled.
“I love thee, Nakeeta.” His words were softly spoken and completely heartfelt, expressed in the language of his time.
“And I love you, Crewe.” She brought her heavy arm up to caress his baby fine hair. Memorizing the moment, she held it close to her heart. There was pure joy to be had here among the wreckage of their old lives. It gave them more reason to succeed.
* * *
“I think they’ve found us,” Keeta whispered groggily. The low-level wards she placed around their building woke her from a light slumber. Pushing herself up onto her elbow, she rubbed her face.
“Kaz said they would.”
“Let’s hope the rest of what he promised was true,” she mumbled.
He squeezed her shoulder. “Let us make ourselves presentable for our guests.”
She watched the walls come back up as he took on his vampire persona. Knowing what lay behind his mask, she’d never be able to see him as others did. As she trailed her fingers down his strong jawline, she drew strength from their bond as she slowly moved from the bed to straighten her hair, wash her face, and steady her nerves. In borrowed clothes, she felt like a child playing dress up. Black skinny jeans and a black T-shirt with the lunar cycle around the word ‘Moonchild’ wasn’t an outfit that commanded respect. It did allow a person to blend in, though.
Turning on the tap, she let the sound of running water soothe her senses as she brushed her teeth. She splashed the cold water on her face. The shock of the temperature made her flinch. Spinning the faucet, she froze. Misty whiteness coated the mirror. A hazy cloud gathered as she breathed. The intense sensation of being watched set in.
Attention drawn to the mirror, she focused on the large square with a swirling silver design patinaed by age. A line appeared in the condensation. She jumped back. More followed, spelling out the word ‘look’. The mirror rippled outward, like a pond disturbed by a pebble. Slowly, a hand emerged from the mirror. Long, slender, brown fingers clutched a faded and worn brown notebook.
Trembling, she reached for the article, powers ready to block. Mirrors were portals in the hands of the powerful. The last thing she needed to do was land in another dimension. The hand remained benign, as she took the lightweight book from it. Returning from where it came, the temperature of the room rose, and the crawling sensation on her skin ceased. The door slammed open. Crewe rushed in with a motley couple behind him.
“Are you okay?” Crewe cupped her face.
She gripped his forearms. “I’m fine.”
“We felt an ancient source coming from this room. It barred us from entering.” She glanced over at the petite redhead with a short bob, dark brown eyes, and porcelain skin. Her round eyes and delicate facial structure gave her a doll-like appearance. But she sensed her age.
“How long was I in here?” she asked, taking the time to observe the tall, olive-skinned man with thick, chestnut-colored hair that framed his square face, and highlighted his wide-set moss green eyes. He seemed laid-back, but his magic was strong.
“Fifteen minutes too long,” Crewe snapped.
“Wow. For me, it was seconds.”
“I’m starting to think I can’t leave you alone.”
She scowled. “For once, we got a break.” Grinning, she waved the book she’d seen in her vision. “I see you decided to trust Kaz.”
“I can’t explain how, but I knew.” His baffled voice in her mind made her giggle.
“Welcome to the witchy world, Crewe.”
“Keeta. This is Lavina and Reagan. They are here as ambassadors for The Balance.”
“They match us, a witch and a vampire.”
Reagan laughed. The rich sound coaxed an answering smile from her. “Oh, she’s going to be a breath of fresh air.” His southern drawl was as sweet as sugar when it broke over her ears.
“We have serious things to discuss,” Lavina replied sternly.
“Doesn’t mean we have to be as dull as a pile of rocks while we do it, Lav.” Regan stepped forward. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. We’ve been waiting a long time for this.”
“Is he for real?” Keeta whispered.
“She doesn’t understand who she is,” Lavina said in a voice tinged with sadness.
“Crewe?” She turned to him, and he shook his head.
“You are the Mother. The blood of the three beings runs through your veins. Everything started with your line, and it will end or continue with it.”
The impact of the words made her knees shake. Images of the Native American played in her heart. The murders, cannibalism, and careful consumption of the hearts. He’d twisted the gifts given, and now they would all pay. Unless I do something.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“That’s where we come in. And that book. We’ve heard rumors of the Seer journal, but we weren’t sure it truly existed,” Reagan whispered.
“Seer journal?”
Directing her gaze down at the book, she opened it and watched as the ink appeared on the paper.
My name is Blythe Rivet, and for a long time, I thought I was crazy. Until I understood why I truly am, and what my role is to play. If you’re reading this, things are worse than I ever anticipated they’d be.
“It’s true.” Keeta’s voice shook.
“Let me see.” Lav grabbed the book. “Shit.” She jumped back, waving her red hands. “It was like sticking my hands in a fire.”
“Because it wasn’t meant for you,” she read the words appearing in the book. “Only the chosen can access the books. It’s a fail-safe.”
“Chosen?”
“There’s more than one of me … er, us. One from each bloodline. The map will lead us to them.”
“Where’s the map?” Crewe asked.
“I haven’t gotten that far yet.”
“We can’t stay here in the open like this. It’s not safe. Eyes and ears are always about, reporting back to their masters,” Reagan stated.
Crewe placed himself slightly in front of her. “Where do you suggest we go?”
“Someplace safe, warded, well-hidden, and protected by the rest of us.”
“How many of there are you?” Keeta inquired.
“Six. Three witches and three vampires,” Lav replied.
“If you’re deceiving us, you’ll regret it.” The ruthless tone sent shivers of delight down Keeta’s spine. In a world gone mad, knowing her vampire was formidable did funny things to her insides.
“Her eyes,” Reagan muttered.
Reining the emotion in, Keeta averted her gaze.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?” Crewe asked.
“You are very protective of your ward,” Lav remarked, cocking his head to the side.