Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels

by Adkins, Heather Marie

  “We need Damian, Aedan, and Juls here for that.” Markos motioned toward their friends.

  Aria watched him quizzically.

  Aedan and Julie sat down with them first, and then Damian joined the group, sitting next to Aria. Markos waved Ember over to the table.

  Aria had noticed Ember staring at her brother but trying desperately to not seem like she was. She would have to corner Ember later to get the details.

  Ember began to hurry over but forced herself to slow her movements along with her racing heart. She hadn’t been around any of Markos’s friends or family in a long time. She took the seat next to him and tried not to fidget. Gathering her courage, she decided to tease him. “You wanted me, baby?” She batted her eyelashes for effect.

  Markos didn’t respond but draped his arm on the back of her chair, getting looks from everyone, but not one of them said a word about it. His expression dared them to mention it. “Ember, show them who you’ve been hanging out with.”

  She glared at him. “Jealous, Markos?” Ember looked at the people around the table. She didn’t want them to hate her. “I need to explain what happened before I show you.” She knew that she was stalling, but Ember dreaded their reactions. “You have to understand. I made the mistake of showing Markos first, and he was reluctant to hear my explanation afterward.”

  He growled at her, but she told them all about her assignment and the girl who was killed. “I found the man responsible for her death, and I got close to him so that I could gather as much information as possible.” She took a deep breath and looked at Damian and Aria. “You both know him well.” Ember pulled out her phone, entered her code to unlock it, and opened her photo gallery. “Here, take a look.”

  Damian grabbed the phone from her hand. “That can’t be possible.”

  Aria had jumped up from her seat to look at the photo over Damian’s shoulder but slumped down once she saw the man’s face. “He can’t be alive. How has he stayed hidden all this time?”

  Damian shook his head. “No. This has to be someone who looks like Kallias. I was bound by the blood oath with Pravus. Kallias would have had to die in order for that to transfer to me. This is someone who wants us to think it’s Kallias. I’m just not sure why. But I can tell you this; I’m going to find this guy and beat the answer from him.” Damian got up and stormed out the door.

  Aria watched him leave for a second before following after him.

  Aedan wiped a hand down his face. “Ember, why do you think this is Damian’s brother?”

  “He told me. After what I witnessed, I had no reason not to believe him. If it’s not Kallias, the guy is using his name, looks just like him, also steals magic, and hates Damian and Aria,” Ember said with finality.

  Aria rushed to catch up with Damian as he stormed out of the mansion and into the park. She could see that he used a spell to increase his speed. She glanced around to make sure no one would witness if she went into super speed and then gathered her magic to follow.

  When she reached the park, Aria slowed to scan the area but failed to see him anywhere. She traveled through it quickly, following her instincts to the river. They both seemed to gravitate to water when upset. Damian was up ahead, standing on the walkway with his hands in the pockets of his faded jeans, staring at the ships in the busy waterway.

  Aria approached him carefully, standing by his side without saying a word. She knew he was confused and hurting. Damian probably thought that he wanted to be alone, but she wasn’t going to let that happen. He was there for her when she was hurting, and she would be here for him.

  She reached out and laced her fingers through his. Damian squeezed her hand in acknowledgement. They stayed that way for several minutes, simply holding hands and watching the river.

  “It can’t be Kallias.” Damian’s voice was harsh.

  Aria could see the self-hatred in Damian’s eyes. “I know what you’re thinking.” Aria tightened her hold on him when she felt his hand twitch. She didn’t want him to pull away from her.

  He spun around to face her, his eyes full of anguish. “If he’s really alive, I screwed up both of our lives for nothing! I lost the only person I’ve ever wanted in this life, the only one who ever mattered to me, over a lie! Do you have any idea what this is doing to me?”

  She knew he was lashing out, but this affected her, too. The ramifications of Kallias being alive would make almost everything that happened over the past centuries all built upon deceit. That angered her. “Yes! I do know! I’m the one you walked out on! I’m the one who agonized for months over why you left me!” Aria pulled her fingers from his. “If he’s still alive, then all the pain and devastation we’ve endured was based on nothing. I do know.”

  Damian glared at her, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “Go ahead! Blame me. This entire mess is all my fault! We weren’t together before because I was tricked into believing I had a blood debt to a killer. That I needed to leave you to protect you!” He turned to walk away, but she reached out with both hands, grabbing fists full of his T-shirt, keeping him in place.

  His breath was coming out hard, his nostrils flaring. “Let go of me!” His hands circled her small wrists to pull her off of him.

  “No. You need to listen to me! The past is just that… the past. We both need to move on and embrace the second chance we’ve been given. If we had married, we wouldn’t be here now. Who knows what would have happened.” She released his shirt and slid her hands up his chest to his face. He allowed her hands to leave his grasp. Her moist eyes were lost in his softening ones. “Now, you’re mine forever.”

  Damian crushed his mouth to hers as his arms brought her flush against him. “Forever.” He whispered against her mouth before devouring her again. Several passionate moments later, he pulled away to inhale much needed oxygen, touching his forehead to hers.

  Aria gulped in air as she tried to calm her racing heart. “We should get back, but I don’t want to.”

  Damian tightened his hold on her, his eyes closed, inhaling her scent. “Not yet. I need another minute to just hold you.”

  She laughed. “You held me all night.”

  His confidence was back. “That was before you admitted you were mine forever.”

  Aria stiffened for a second and then relaxed. “I said that, didn’t I?”

  Damian narrowed his eyes at her. “You can’t take it back.”

  Aria heard the command in his voice but could see the near panic in his eyes. “I’m not going to.”

  “Good.” He nuzzled her neck, leaving a kiss at the base of her throat, and pulled away. He laced their hands together. “We need to return.”

  They strolled at a leisurely pace until they arrived in the park. Leaning against one of the trees was Quintus.

  “Aria, may I please have a word?”

  Aria hesitated, looking at Damian. “If you have something to say, do it now.”

  Quintus could see her indecision. “I only want to apologize for my behavior, and I don’t want an audience.” He glared at Damian and their clasped hands.

  Aria took pity on him. She leaned closer to Damian. “I’ll just be a minute. Go find out where he is, and we’ll take him out.”

  Damian kissed her head. “Don’t be long. We have a killer to catch and some making up to do.”

  Aria smiled as she watched him walk toward Lucinda’s house, admiring the way his jeans fit his butt. As if he knew she was watching him walk away, his swagger became more pronounced.

  Pulling her eyes from her guy, she turned to addressed Quintus. “What do you have to say to me?” She wanted to hurry up and get back to Lucinda’s and her sexy Enforcer.

  Quintus’s smile became sinister. “Just that someone wants to see you.”

  Aria narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re the one working with the killer.”

  Quintus threw back his head and laughed. “Of course I am. He’s going to show me how to gain as much power as I want.”

  “He’ll kill you
once you stop being useful.” Aria taunted. She wanted to keep him talking.

  He growled at her. “I’ll be too powerful by then. No one will be able to take me out.”

  Aria had no idea how he became so unstable, but Quintus was worrying her. “No one is that safe.”

  “Enough! Don’t make me do something you’ll regret.” He attempted to grab her arm, but she escaped him. “You either come with me now, or I’ll kill your friend Julie.”

  Aria needed to decide if she would go with him into a trap or miss out on an opportunity. Sighing, she stepped closer to him. This might be their best chance to get close to Kallias. She could take care of herself and beat the crap out of anyone who tried to take her down. She was a trained guardian for Legacy.

  He grabbed her roughly, but she walked past him into the portal he had made when she was debating herself. The trees of the park vanished as New Orleans disappeared behind them.

  10

  Damian turned to wink at Aria, knowing that it would drive Quintus crazy, but instead of seeing her lovely face, he saw the portal close. “No!” he yelled and raced to the park with a burst of speed magic. He tried to trace the portal that just closed, but it kept failing. He couldn’t follow after Aria.

  Markos heard Damian’s bellow and rushed outside with Aedan, Julie, and Ember.

  Markos put a hand on Damian’s shoulder. “What happened?” He had to yell his question.

  Damian ignored him and tried to make another portal. It fizzled out immediately.

  “Dude! What are you doing?” Aedan asked worried.

  Julie scanned the area for her friend. Suddenly, it all became clear. “Where’s Aria?” she asked in horror.

  Damian’s shoulders dropped in defeat. “She’s gone. Quintus took her through a portal, and I can’t make one to follow it. She’s gone!”

  Markos cursed loudly with his fists clenched. He approached Damian carefully. “We’ll find her. We’ll get her back.”

  Damian bent over with his hands on his knees. He just nodded his head in defeat.

  Ember watched them, feeling sick. “If he’s working with Kallias, I know where they went. I can take you there.”

  * * *

  As soon as she stepped through to the other side, Quintus pulled her roughly to him. Aria struggled with Quintus, trying to pry his hands away from around her waist. He held her flush against his body, and she never wanted to be that close to him again. Why had she ever agreed to go out to dinner with him?

  “What is wrong with you?” she screeched. “Get off me!” She dropped her weight to the ground in an attempt to get him to release her. Catching him off guard, she twisted away from him, kicking out with her foot and connecting with his groin. He doubled over, and she kicked him again as hard as she could.

  “Damn it, Aria!” he roared. He sunk to the ground holding onto his private parts, groaning.

  Aria zapped him with a stunning spell and then pulled out her blade to make a portal to return to New Orleans. She had no idea where she was but didn’t care.

  Clap. Clap. Clap. The loud sound made her pause and glance around for the source. Her eyes connected with a man from her past. He had the same grey eyes and brown wavy hair as Damian’s brother. “Kallias.”

  “Lovely to see you Aria.”

  * * *

  “Very good, Len. You managed to flush out Kallias,” Pravus smirked. He might not have to kill him now. The dark mystic before him might be worthy of staying around a while longer. “The bastard has hidden from me in Fairy for years, gaining power.”

  “Why not just kill him?” Len asked, wiping a hand along his bald head. His arm was covered in multi-colored tattoos from wrist to neck.

  The old French colonial house they were staying in belonged to a group of dark mystics who had been excited to have Pravus staying with them. It had been easy to get them to follow along with any plans he had made.

  “We won’t have to. Damian and Aria will take care of that problem for me.” Pravus grinned in anticipation. He wouldn’t get Kallias’s power and magic, but it would be worth it. Pravus pulled at his collar, suddenly overheated, sweat running down his back.

  “Smart. Having the good guys take out your competition.” Len’s grin was sinister. “Is something wrong with you?”

  Pravus ignored him, wondering what was wrong. The feeling of intense heat running through his body had been occurring with more frequency. “I’m fine! Worry about finding us more magic.”

  Len frowned at him but chose to remain silent. With a last look, he stormed out of the house.

  Pravus watched him leave. He didn’t trust Len, but of course, he didn’t trust anyone. He would never let Len or the other dark mystics know everything he planned.

  Sitting back in a puffy arm chair, he rested his blond head against the plush back, closing his eyes. It had been a rush when Aria began draining him. He loved the feeling of his magic rushing into her and mixing with hers.

  Aria still had some of his magic inside of her. He could feel it. If his spell worked out, she would be craving more of his magic soon.

  * * *

  Ember stood straight under their scrutiny, proud of herself for not squirming. “I know where Kallias was staying. He wasn’t going to move again for another couple of weeks. It’s magically protected, so no one can go in or out of it directly. I can bring you close by.”

  Damian took a few steps closer, towering over her and using his size to intimidate her. “You’re going to take me there right now, and if you’re screwing with me like you do with Markos, I will kill you.”

  Markos pulled Damian away from Ember. “You’re not going to touch her. Do you hear me? Stand down. Now!”

  Damian and Markos stood chest to chest, glaring at one another. “I’m not going to risk your sister’s life with your ex-plaything’s crap.”

  Markos growled loudly and flew at his old friend. Damian found himself against a tree with Markos’s arm across his neck. “I know you’re upset, so I’m going to give you a warning. Don’t ever disrespect her again. Ember’s trying to help us, so calm the hell down! Aria’s my sister, and I want her back, too.”

  Damian gathered his magic and pushed Markos off. With a magical burst, he sent Markos flying into a tree that cracked loudly. Markos flipped himself up and began racing back toward Damian when Aedan tackled him to the ground. “Cool it!” Aedan yelled. “This crap isn’t helping.”

  Julie stepped in front of Damian with her hand up, magic ready. “Don’t make me stun your butt. You would be useless for hours.”

  Damian made an impatient sound but stopped moving toward Markos.

  Ember’s eyes had grown into huge orbs, and she was sure that her mouth had dropped open. Markos had defended her? Wow, she thought. All she could do was gape at the two guys fighting in the park. She had thrown up a camouflage mist to block them from view of humans. She wasn’t sure what people would think about the destruction of some of the trees around them when she finally let the mist dissipate.

  “We need to hurry. Kallias will probably not stay in one location long if he has Aria,” Ember told the group.

  Markos nodded and moved to her side, walking around Aedan, who let him pass.

  Ember leaned toward Markos. “That was really hot.”

  Aedan stepped over to Damian, who had bent over and put both hands on his knees. “We’ll get her back.”

  Damian took his time answering. “I had just left her a few seconds before.”

  Aedan nodded. “Don’t blame yourself.”

  “I’m not. I’m going to tear Quintus apart when I find him.”

  Markos turned to Ember. “Are you sure you didn’t see the supernatural from Legacy who was helping the guy claiming to be Kallias?”

  Ember frowned, disappointed that her moment of elation and surprise had abruptly ended with Markos questioning her word again. “I already told you I never saw who he was working with,” she ground out. “I’m going to make a portal that will open a
few houses down from where Kallias had been staying. He’ll know if we get too close. He’s very good at sensing portals and magic.”

  Damian, Aedan and Julie joined them while Ember pulled out her portal blade. Markos placed his hand over hers.

  “Before we step through, I need all of you to agree not to storm in there. We have to check out the house and gather information first.” He was addressing the group, but his eyes remained locked on Damian’s. “We can’t do anything stupid.”

  “I’m not going to put my girl in jeopardy.” Damian glared at Markos.

  “Both of you knock it off. Your fighting with each other isn’t helping my best friend. If you don’t stop now, Aedan, Ember and I will go in without you two.” Julie had her hands on her hips, feet apart, and hair flipping in the breeze. She was ready for battle. “Don’t make me zap you both.” She gathered a ball of magic in her hand.

  Both of them turned their heated stares from each other to her. Julie glared at them until they both nodded in acceptance.

  Julie motioned to Ember, who quickly made the portal, and they all filed through. They entered an older residential area with large Victorian style homes and towering maple trees.

  “He’s staying in one of these houses?” Julie asked, clearly impressed with the neighborhood but not able to picture a killer staying in one of them.

  “He took it from a group of vampires he killed. He purposely came to this area, looking for a new home,” Ember explained.

  “Whoever this guy is, he needs to be taken out,” Aedan commented.

  “Agreed.” Markos wanted to catch this guy badly. If Quintus was involved, he would make sure all of his magic was bound and his status in Legacy revoked. Some jail time would also be in order.

  Damian began pacing back and forth. He needed to keep moving. “Show me which house it is,” he commanded Ember.

  She didn’t like his tone, but she was envious of Aria having someone who wanted her back as badly as Damian did. Ember knew no one would tear things apart looking for her and doubted anyone would even miss her. “It’s the one with the porch swing.” She pointed down the street.