He left the implications hanging in the air.
Conah fell silent.
“I’m sorry,” Mal said.
“I don’t believe Lilith would order this,” Conah said, but he didn’t sound so sure.
“Evidence says otherwise,” Mal reminded him. “We need to be cautious.”
He was right. “We don’t tell anyone about this. Not even this Asmodeus guy.”
They both looked at me.
“We say our carriage broke down, and we took a detour. We keep quiet. We act like nothing is out of the ordinary, and we watch and see what happens.”
“Flush out the culprit,” Conah said.
“Exactly.”
“I’ll meet you at Asmodeus’s estate,” Conah said. “I would take you with me, Fee, but I’m not at full strength yet, and the fight drained me. Transporting another person would be too risky right now.”
“I can take her,” Mal said.
The thought of being wrapped around Mal, up close and personal again, made my pulse thud painfully in my throat.
“Here.” Nirma handed me the amulet. “You’ll need this.”
I took it with a smile. “I promise I’ll get it back to you in a week.”
Her eyes smiled. “I trust you, Fee. You know where to find me.”
I slipped on the amulet, and my skin prickled. Conah shook his head. “I still need to get used to this.” His mouth parted as if he’d just thought of something, and then he groaned. “Asmodeus…”
Mal groaned too.
They’d obviously thought of something. “What?”
“Asmodeus never takes what isn’t offered freely,” Mal said to Conah.
“You know him better than I do,” Conah replied.
“It will be fine,” Mal assured him. “Besides, what other choice do we have? It’s a few hours’ layover there, or the risk of a tavern where our location could get back to…whoever is after you.”
“I could travel alone,” Conah said.
“Like hell,” Mal replied. “We stick together.”
Seriously? “Hey, how about filling me in on what the fuck you’re talking about?”
“Asmodeus likes men,” Mal said. “Young men. He has women too, but men are his preference.” The way he said it made me wonder if he and Asmodeus had been lovers in the past. “He won’t take what’s not offered, though,” Mal said. “But he is a master of seduction so…be on your guard.”
“I can take care of myself. Trust me.”
Conah’s shoulders relaxed. “Okay, now that’s settled, I’ll see you there.” Conah winked out.
Mal turned to face me and held out his arms. “Hop on.”
Mouth dry, heart pounding, I wrapped myself around him. His hands settled on my hips and then smoothed down to cup my ass. I bit back a moan.
This was going to be a long ride.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cora
Lumiers is buzzing when I walk in. I’m almost half an hour late, but I’ve dropped Vi a message letting her know, so she should still be here. I hope. Leana flashes me a grin from behind the counter as I enter and then looks up at the balcony. I follow her gaze to see Vi sitting by the railing sipping a drink. She sees me and waves.
“I’ll bring up the usual,” Leana says as I pass. I weave my way between the tables and head up the steps to join Vi.
“Thanks for waiting.” I slide into the seat opposite her.
“No worries. I don’t have any other plans today. I’m glad you called.”
“Me too.”
“I was worried that after I wasn’t able to help you with the amulet, you might not want to hang out.”
I give her my best what-the-fuck look. “We’re friends, Vi.”
“Yes, yes, we are. But Fee…Is she all right?”
I shrug. “Yep.”
She frowns. “You managed without the amulet?”
“We managed to get hold of one. No worries.”
“You did?” Her brows flick up.
“Courtesy of Jasper the malevolent.”
She sits back in her seat. “Wow. He has contacts.”
“It seems that way. So, no need to worry, everything worked out great.”
She flashes me a relieved smile. “Oh, thank goodness. I felt so bad I couldn’t help.”
Leana appeared with a tray carrying a hot chocolate and a brownie. “Hot and chewy from the oven,” she says. “Just the way you like them.”
“I love you.”
She blows me a cheeky kiss and then sashays away.
Vi chuckles. “You make friends easily.”
“I do?”
“People like you.”
I shrug, not sure where she’s going with this, but she falls into silence, so it looks like she isn’t going anywhere.
We sip in companionable silence for a minute, and I allow myself to appreciate this. The taste of my beverage, the soft, chewy texture of my brownie. The air in my lungs. All things that were alien to me a few weeks ago.
Being alive is a gift. A gift that Fee gave me, and I need to make sure she continues to breathe. I open my mouth to ask about tulpas, but Vi breaks the silence first.
“How come you didn’t go to the Underealm with Fee? Don’t you have family there?”
I stare at her blankly for a moment while my brain figures out that she has no idea what I am. She has no inkling I’m a tulpa. She thinks I’m a demon. It’s time to set the record straight. And it’s a perfectly good time to ask the burning questions I need answers to.
“Cora?” Vi reaches across the table to lightly touch my hand. “Are you all right?”
She’s a sweetheart this one. “I’m fine, babe. I just realized you don’t know what I am.”
“You’re not a demon?”
I shake my head. “I’m a tulpa. Have you heard of those?”
Her lips part in surprise. “Yes. Yes, I know what a tulpa is, but Cora…Tulpas aren’t physical beings.” She looks down at my hands, curled around my cup, and then up to my face. “Tulpas can’t manifest in our world. They live inside the creator’s mind.”
“Yeah. I know. But I’m…different.” I give her a slight smile. “As you can see.”
Vi is looking at me, really looking as if seeing me for the first time. “I don’t…I mean, how?”
“Fee.”
“Fee created you?”
“Yep.”
“But to have you manifest, to have you independent like this…I can’t even imagine the power.” Her brows shoot up. “She’d have to be a witch.”
“Yeah. She found out her birth mother was a witch when she found out that Eldrick was her father.”
Vi lets out a soft whistle. “Eldrick procreated with a witch. Wait, what coven?”
“None. Her mother was independent, non-practicing.”
Vi looks speculative. “So, Fee is a witch.”
Oh, boy, this is the part where I tell her that I’m the witch. That I can manipulate miasma or whatever without a link to a coven, but my gut is writhing and warning me to keep my mouth shut. So, I do the next best thing. I lie.
“No. She used up all her power to make me. No longer a witch.” I shrug.
Vi’s shoulders relax, and I realize she’s been super tense during this conversation. My scalp prickles in warning.
“It makes sense,” Vi says. “The amount of power and mental strength it took to create you and manifest you could drain a witch, force her ability into dormancy, especially if she wasn’t part of a coven, but being a witch would still be in her DNA…”
“She was grieving at the time, and I guess being a demon and a Loup too might account for the witch thing not being the same as yours…” I’m totally spitballing, but she’s eating it up.
“That could account for it, yes,” Vi says. “And you’re right, being a demon and a Loup makes her a unique case.” She sits back with a smile, seemingly satisfied, and it’s my turn to relax.
“My question is, do you know anyone el
se who could do what Fee did? But maybe on a larger scale?”
“What do you mean?”
“The hooded figures that keep attacking Fee are tulpas. At least the one we caught was. But he wasn’t like me. He seemed more like a…a puppet.”
“You think someone is playing puppet master?”
“Yes. And I need you to help me figure out who. Fee’s life is at stake.”
She reaches across the table and takes my hand in hers. “Of course. I’ll do some research on tulpas in the Masterton library. See what I can dig up.”
“What about independent witches? Anyone new in the city?”
“Not that I know of. If an independent witch comes into the city from outside, then she has to register with the outlier liaison who then informs the local covens. We haven’t had anyone new.”
Urgh.
“But witches aren’t the only people with power to create a tulpa…”
The penny drops. “Warlocks?”
She looks torn. “Look, witches and warlocks have history, but Necro belongs to the witches. We drove out the warlock conflagrations decades ago. Still, there are independent warlocks living in Necro. Not all of them are registered.”
“Rue Mort?”
“Yes, and there’s only one man who liaises with them. His name is Elijah Black, and he works for the Grimswood Coven. Conflagrations aren’t as magnanimous as covens when it comes to independence. They call the warlocks who refuse to bind to a conflagration rogues. Elijah acts as a liaison for the rogues. I’m not entirely sure what his deal is with Grimswood, or how it all works, but if there is a new warlock in the city, then Elijah will be able to find him.”
“Do you know where I can find him?”
“No. You don’t find Elijah. He finds you.” She reaches into her purse and pulls out a black card. “Call this number and leave him a message. He’ll be in touch.”
“Is it always this cloak-and-dagger?”
“Honey, you have no idea. Just be glad you’re not a part of my crazy world. The etiquette and the fucking rules are enough to drive anyone crazy.”
Okay, my curiosity is piqued. “Then, why stay?”
Vi’s smile is wry. “Power is addictive. Power is all I’ve ever known, and to have to live without it… To have to scavenge for it…No. I couldn’t do it. I’ll happily wear the shackles of duty to keep it.”
And I have it without the shackles. Yep, that’s something I’m going to keep to myself.
I tuck the card into my jacket pocket. “The information-gathering portion of this lunch date is over. Time for cocktails and giggles.”
Vi grins. “Add dancing to that and I’m all yours.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Fee
The River Enmity was massive, its width stretching for several miles. I clung to Mal, tucking my face into the crook of his neck and locking my ankles around his waist. His arms were wrapped tight around me, one hand gripping my ass, the other pressed diagonally across my back.
The wind was icy cold, cutting at my face with razor fingers, and below us, the river was a vast, twinkling, black sheet of deceptive calm waters.
“There are wraiths beneath the surface,” Conah had said. “Boats can’t cross the river without being accosted by angry wraiths. They’ve taken many vessels down to the inky depths.”
“In other words, don’t drop Fee, I got it,” Mal drawled.
Apparently, only boats that had the proper protection runes etched into them made it over. The general mode of transport was drake and carriage.
I clung to Mal, reveling in the feel of his heartbeat against mine and the beat of his wings.
A multitude of stars twinkled above us, larger than on earth, brighter too, so the world was bathed in silver.
Mal gripped me tighter, and I looked down to see an expanse of darkness, churning and alive.
“What is that?”
“What’s left of limbo,” he said. “The domain of ancient human souls. We leave it alone, and they leave us alone.”
The souls heaven hadn’t wanted back. I wonder why?
“Land ahoy,” Mal cried out.
We flew over villages of ice and snow that glittered like diamonds. Chimneys released tendrils of ethereal smoke and winding tracks wove between tiny houses like silver snakes. The terrain began to shift, opening into flatlands where the snow had melted in patches, leaving tufts of grass visible, and the odd slender-barked tree reached up to us with delicate branches. Mountains appeared, snow-capped and beautiful against the night. Mal gained altitude, his grip on me tightening, but I could feel the strain in his muscles. This was the longest he’d carried me. I turned my head and my lips grazed the pulse at the base of his throat. We dipped suddenly and my stomach dropped. But then we were rising again.
“Do you want to kill us?” Mal said against my ear, his breath hot.
I lifted my head, keeping my eyes closed against the cold air, and pressed my lips to his ear. “Are you going to be nicer to me?”
“Fee…”
The torment in his tone made my throat pinch. “Mal, please. It hurts…”
He held me tighter and kissed my earlobe. “I’m sorry I was such a dick.”
“Friends?”
“Always.”
The vise that had been around my chest since we’d made love loosened. I’d missed him. I missed our banter. I needed us back, whatever I could get.
My stomach dropped as we descended.
“Look,” Mal said.
I tucked my chin, pressing my cheek to his chest, and opened my eyes to look down. A cliff jutted out over a churning sea, and planted on the cliff was a three-story mansion with two wings and a courtyard. White marble pillars twined with ivy and dotted with crimson berries jutted toward us. A fountain sprayed crystalline water into a pool filled with darting pink fish.
“Hold on,” Mal warned, and then we were diving toward the courtyard.
Mal pulled up last-minute, his wings flaring to catch the updraft so we could land lightly. He lowered me to the ground but held on to me.
“I really am sorry, Fee,” he said. “I thought it would be easier if I acted aloof.”
“What happened between us was real, Mal. I get why you don’t want to go that route with me, and yeah it hurts, but it hurts more when you push me away. We were friends first, remember?”
He touched my cheek with his fingertips. “I know.”
My eyes grew warm with the threat of tears. “If you can’t be my lover, then be my friend. I can’t lose you completely, okay.”
Fuck, do not cry, Fee. Do not cry.
He rested his forehead against mine and inhaled. “I’ll stay, Fee, for as long as I can.”
Stay with me. As in not die. Oh, God, Mal…
Movement on the periphery of my vision caught my attention, and two figures stepped out into the courtyard. Conah and another guy. This one was almost a head taller than Conah. His hair was so dark it seemed to absorb the light, and his face was all sharp angles and sloping planes. Piercing cobalt eyes stared at me from beneath straight dark eyebrows, and then he smiled, and the harshness of his features was softened by the curve of his luscious mouth.
“Malachi, it’s been a long time.” He looked from Mal to me, and it hit me that we still had our arms around each other, and I, as far as Asmodeus could see, was a guy.
Mal didn’t seem in a hurry to release me, though. In fact, he pressed a kiss to my temple before letting go of me.
Asmodeus’s eyebrow twitched, and there was a hint of amusement on his face. “Staking your claim, Malachi?” He looked at me. “I can understand why. Felton, you are a treat for the eyes.”
My cheeks grew hot under his scrutiny. I’d expected lecherous, but there was a sexual magnetism about the guy that was undeniable. Asmodeus…demon of lust. Yeah, I could totally see it.
“Nope,” Malachi said with a smile. “This one is mine.” He gave Asmodeus a faux stern look.
“I’m sure Felton can
make his own decisions.” Asmodeus smiled at me, and my heart fluttered. What the fuck? He was using his mojo on me; I could feel it like tendrils kissing my skin. But the glamour was keeping the worst of it at bay, thank goodness.
I returned his smile. “Oh, I totally can.” I slipped my hand into Mal’s and he laced his fingers through mine.
Asmodeus chuckled. “Come. You must be hungry after your journey.”
Conah looked relieved, but Mal’s grip on my hand was tight as we followed Asmodeus into his home.
There was more they weren’t telling me, but what?
We stepped out of the courtyard and into the warmth of the mansion. Well, whatever it was, I was sure I’d find out soon enough.
We’d been fed small sweet meats and flatbread warm from the oven, and the world was a little brighter and fuzzier after the red wine I’d had. Conah had taken blood, but Mal had taken wine like me.
I had to admit, this mansion was something else. It was as if Asmodeus had taken European and western influences and melted them together. The structure itself was classic Greek, and the interior was tapestries, rugs, and etchings on walls. It contrasted with the winter vista outside its many windows.
It looked like we might be enjoying the décor a little longer than expected because it seemed like Asmodeus didn’t have a ready carriage to loan us.
I didn’t believe that for a moment, and neither did the guys.
“Come on, Asmodeus,” Mal drawled lazily. “You must have one carriage you can loan us.” He gave Asmodeus his most charming smile, and the demon’s eyes lit up with hunger.
I stepped closer to Mal, unconsciously staking my claim.
Asmodeus’s tongue peeked out to touch the corner of his mouth. “I’m afraid the drakes won’t be ready to fly for several hours. Especially for such a long journey. But you’re welcome to rest a while. I’ve had rooms prepared for you.”
“I bet you have,” Mal muttered.
“Sorry? What was that?” Asmodeus said with a smirk.
Oh, God. I could see so much of Mal in him it was uncanny.
“Nothing.” Mal gave him a lopsided smile. “Felton and I will retire to our room.”
Reaper Unveiled (Deadside Reapers Book 4) Page 12