by Tena Stetler
“If Tristian doesn’t kill you, I may. Your mother’s upset and she’ll be difficult as hell to deal with now until she sees you and your mate. What is her name?”
“Angelique Shandie.”
“Her name is Angelique Shandie. Happy now?” His father relayed to his mother. “May I continue my conversation with your son?” There was a soft sound of ascent. “Now down to business. I’ve confirmed rumblings that have been circulating for some time. Apparently, you collared and spell bound a powerful demon known as Rezar, sent him back to the underworld. Correct?”
“Yes, I did, with Tristian and Paul’s help. He and Farier set up a trap that nearly killed Tristian. Tristian took out Farier, but we had to hunt down Rezar after he went underground.”
Andre took a deep breath and sighed heavily. “Well, he called in favors and found someone in the underworld to do a partial release of Tristian’s spell and he’s back, good news the collar is still in place. He’s weak and hiding in the Far East trying to regain his strength. Word has it he’s out for revenge. You and Tristian are his targets. He’s brought reinforcements.”
“Sounds about right. Paul died as a long-term result of injuries he sustained in that battle. Slow acting poison was responsible and unknown to us, until it was too late.” Bruce bit his lip, attempting to tamp down the rage that tried to boil over each time he thought about Paul. Rezar will get what’s coming to him, I’ll see to it. “Paul left behind a mortal wife and half witch daughter that I believe inherited his abilities.” Bruce ran his hand through his hair and sat down on the edge of the bed, taking Angie’s hand in his. Eyes full of concern, she wrapped her other arm around his waist and pulled him tight against her.
“You should have killed him outright,” Andre said flatly, allowing his irritation to radiate through the phone.
“I planned to but so many things went wrong in that battle that he escaped before I could finish. Not an excuse and like you say, bad decisions always come back to haunt you. I got it.”
“Not an I told you so, it’s serious concern. This guy’s bad as they come.”
“I am well aware of that. We’ll have to take him out now while he’s weak. I’ll take my best men with me, do it on his turf, not mine.”
“Exactly. If you don’t mind a suggestion, bring Angie down here to stay with us. You know she’ll be safe and you can devote your mind to the task at hand.”
“Won’t that compromise your cover?”
“Not a concern. A couple of other things. First, strengthen the bond between you and Angie before you return to work. Her strength and power as your mate will be of great benefit to you both. Then get this thing straightened out between you and Tristian. If you survive that, we need to talk.”
“If?” Bruce snorted. “After the situation with Tristian is settled, Angie will be there with you. Wait, strengthen the bond?”
“That’s why I want you to bring her to us. I’ll explain when you get here. Probably should have told you years ago, but we figured you’d never take a mate. Just play with those females who attracted your interest. You do know that you and Angelique are part of each other now.”
“Yes, I understand that.”
“Now I have to go smooth over the situation you’ve caused with your mother. Talk to you some time Thursday evening. That should give you enough time to straighten things out with Tristian and get a plan together. I don’t want my old position back, so you better make sure Tristian doesn’t kill you. We’ll prepare a comfortable place for Angelique.”
Bruce snorted. “Talk to you soon, and thanks.” He disconnected the call and looked at Angie.
“Trouble?”
“You could say that. We are going to have to face Tristian Tuesday afternoon or evening when we get back.” He kissed the tip of her nose and brushed a strand of hair from her face as he explained the situation in detail and his plans to deal with it.
“So we need to return to DC now?” She asked trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
“No, our plans remain the same. This will wait until we return Tuesday afternoon. Right now, I have just taken the woman of my dreams as my mate. I intend to spend the next seventy-two hours showing her just how much I desire and care for her, in hopes she’ll reciprocate.” He held up his index finger. “Right after I make this phone call.” He laid her back on the bed and slid between her legs, as he rested on his elbows he speed dialed Owen’s number.
“What are you doing?” Angie squealed as he pinned her effortlessly to the bed with his aroused body and slid the fingers of his unoccupied hand between her legs stroking her.
“Clearing up one thing so we can enjoy each other without interruption for the next few days. Any objections?”
“None.” She nipped at his neck with her teeth then soothed the bites with long wet licks of her tongue. Deliberately making it near impossible for him to concentrate on the phone call he was making.
“Ah, Owen, I need you to set up Tristian’s report meeting for Tuesday night in my office after the salon is closed. The staff will need to clear out early. You’ll be required to attend and I want Bobby’s team to wait downstairs. The first order of business is I inform Tristian that I have taken his sister as my mate. Second order of business is that Rezar is back.”
Owen cursed. “Tristian said he would be here when you arrived on Tuesday afternoon. I think he already knows about you and Angie. At least that you are seeing her.”
“All the better. Now for the rest of my time off, I don’t want any phone calls, unless the matter is so serious, you can’t handle it. Understand?”
“Yep. Got it.”
Bruce ended the phone call and turned all of his attention back to his sexy mate.
Chapter Fourteen
A feeling of dark foreboding, like storm clouds forming on the horizon before a violent storm, washed over Bruce as he maneuvered the SUV into the parking lot behind The Krystal Unicorn.
Tristian was already there and it wasn’t to give his report. Bruce could feel the fury in Tristian’s magic signature hanging in the air. A silver tipped arrow penetrated the windshield, split the arm securing the rearview mirror, and stuck in the headrest a quarter inch from Bruce’s neck. Blue liquid oozed from the tip and a stream of red mist escaped from the other end of the arrow.
“Hold your breath and don’t open the door or windows. The influx of fresh air will spread the poison.” He hissed though his teeth not daring to take a breath.
Air pressure inside the vehicle changed, Angie’s head felt like it was going to explode. Bruce. She whispered into his mind, a benefit of being mated.
I know, just a few seconds more, I’ve got it handled. His deep smooth voice floated reassuringly in her mind, as he reached over caressing her shoulder.
The pressure eased and the red mist sucked in on itself disappearing along with the oozing liquid. He pulled the arrow from the headrest, fingering the hole in the upholstery.
Through gritted teeth, Bruce growled. “His first mistake was that he missed me. His second deadly mistake was he risked your life. That is unforgivable.” Those two things also told Bruce that Tristian wasn’t thinking clearly, fury was coloring his judgment. That gave Bruce an edge, though the attack caught him off guard. He hadn’t expected Tristian’s attack to put his sister at risk.
The console between them lowered to seat level. He hoped to add fuel to the fury burning inside Tristian. Bruce put his arm around Angie’s waist and pulled her against him, his lips pressed against hers then gently covered her mouth as his tongue traced the soft fullness of her lips. He drew back, touched his lips to hers again trailing them down to the pulsing hollow of her neck and whispered, “You’re going into the shop now, Willow is waiting just on the other side of the door. Please stay there, you’ll be able to remain in my mind just don’t interfere. I need your presence there as a calming one. Willow can help you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know. There wasn’t
time to explain how everything works and I’m not exactly sure myself. Only that I can feel you in my mind and I assume you can feel me in yours.”
“Yes, it’s a weird sensation,” Angie said a tremor in her voice.
“We’ll learn together to use it to our benefit, now is as good a time as any to practice.”
She snorted, “Sure, our lives are on the line. No big deal.” She threw up her hands.
“That’s the spirit.” He grinned raising his head and cupping her trembling chin in his steady hand, not taking his eyes off hers. “Believe me when I tell you, I won’t kill your brother. Although he is making it damn difficult. Nor do I believe he will kill me. Though that is his intention, right now. So put those thoughts out of your mind, they won’t help either of us.”
The shop door opened a crack signaling Willow was ready. In a blur of movement, Angie was in his lap and they were out the passenger door. Willow reached out and grabbed Angie’s arm as Bruce shoved her though the door, closing it tight, adding a spell to seal it.
Just as Bruce turned, Tristian appeared dagger in hand and sank it between Bruce’s neck and shoulder. He fell against the wall of the building, sliding toward the ground and took a deep breath to control the pain. A white-hot electrical bolt surged from his upraised palm directly into the center of Tristian’s chest as he advanced. Tristian stumbled backward, giving Bruce a split second to dislodge the dagger and pull it free. Blood flowed freely from his shoulder, across his chest and stomach.
Bruce staggered to his feet, hand held over his head dripping with his own blood and lunged for Tristian driving the dagger into the small of his back and jerking it upwards. Tristian let out an anguished scream and crumpled to the ground in a pool of spurting blood. He struggled to the side, took aim, and released a final sliver tipped arrow from his wrist gauntlet before collapsing. This one hit its mark.
Bruce howled tearing at his upper thigh, stumbling back against the car, he slumped to the ground. It was seconds before he was able to yank the knife from his belt and slash his thigh hoping to slow the progress of the poison, but the spreading blue cast to his skin told him it reached the femoral artery. His last thought was for his mate. Angie, I will always love you, floated through her already panicked mind forcing her into action.
Angie and Willow rounded the corner of the building just as Bruce crumpled to the ground, unconscious. Angie stepped over Tristian, quickly assessing his injuries as she moved and knelt down beside Bruce. “Don’t you dare die on me. You promised,” she screamed angrily. “Willow put pressure on Tristian’s wound. Gotta stem the bleeding.” Angie put her hands over Bruce’s chest and groin. Closing her eyes, a violet glow emitted between her hands and the area of skin she laid them on. The flow of blood slowed and the blue tinge to his skin began to fade slowly as Angie diluted the poison with her own body.
A crack rippled through the air as Owen appeared at her side. “What the hell happened here?”
“Just what it looks like. Tristian attacked us. Go into the shop and get the jars in the healing herbs section behind the counter. Bring them here. Hurry.”
He was back before she noticed he’d gone.
“Open the jar with the olive colored lid, it looks like dried vines, sprinkle it over his wound. Then take one of those gauze packets and hold it tight against Tristian’s wound. Willow, faery dust over both of them, please.”
Willow eyed Angie and looked back at Tristian, blood seeping between her fingers from the wound. Owen kneeled down and replaced Willow’s hand holding pressure and the packet against Tristian’s injury. Willow jumped up and spread her arms wide over her head, turning in a quick circle. Sparkling faery dust floated through the air settling on the men disappearing into their bodies.
“Owen can you move these two into the shop? Lay Bruce and Tristian side by side so I can get between them?” Angie asked.
With a wave of his blood stained hand, Owen transported them all to the back room. Angie’s face drawn and white as a sheet, lay between them one hand on each chest, a very faint violet light glowed beneath each hand. She closed her eyes and let her body go limp, fatigue taking control.
After a few minutes, the violet glow was gone. Willow grabbed Angie’s shoulder and shook her gently. “That’s all you can do. Owen switch her to the couch, they can’t draw off her energy any more, or it’ll kill her.” Willow shook out the blanket infused with healing herbs her mother had given her and placed it over Angie.
Parting the crystal-beaded curtain, Owen strode across the room to the front window, and flipped the sign to closed. He turned back to Willow. “We can’t leave them here. You have to open for business tomorrow. No one can know about the dissention between Bruce and Tristian, nor that they’re both badly injured.”
Without hesitation Willow said, “If you’ll help me with Bruce, I can get Angie in the car and take them to our apartment to recuperate. It’s better if we do it without magic, there’s been way too much used today. Good and evil. It will leave a strong signature for others to find.”
“I agree, though the cleanup crew should be here any minute to remove all evidence of the battle and magic. Tobi will be here shortly to stay with Tristian, while I drive all of you to your apartment. She’ll also drop my car back there for your use and I’ll take the SUV. It wouldn’t be a good idea to advertise where Bruce is staying.”
The door chimes sounded as Tobi hustled in, parting the beads and surveying the scene. “I was afraid something like this would happen. How can I help?” She met her husband’s eyes and quirked a brow.
“We’re going to take Tristian to our home until he is well enough to travel. There are also loose ends to tie up before he leaves. Angie and Bruce are going to the girls’ apartment, Willow will watch over them there.”
“And who will watch The Krystal Unicorn? It will need to be kept open if we are to keep up appearances,” Tobi said her brow furrowed in concern.
Willow said over her shoulder as she reached for Angie, “We have a part-time girl, Autumn. She helps out on Saturdays. I’ll call her and see if she can come in tomorrow, after that Angie will be able to care for Bruce, and I’ll run the shop.”
Tobi nodded. “I can stop in and check on her tomorrow, we have a full crew at the salon and I have a light customer load.”
Owen helped Willow load Angie in the car and then started back to the shop for Bruce. “When Angie wakes up have her call me. Bruce called a mandatory meeting for tonight, stating he had important information to share.”
A wry smile tugged at Willow’s lips. “He’s not going to be sharing much for a few days. That poison causes severe muscle aches and fatigue for days in the most powerful of magic beings.” Willow frowned and shook her head.
“I know that.” Owen said curtly. “But I want to see if Angie knows what’s up, so I can be prepared if necessary. Bruce indicated it was urgent business. He requested security back up to be on standby. So I need to tell them something.”
“Understood. She’ll call you as soon as she’s able. I promise.”
****
Angie awoke with Willow hovering over her. “Thank the stars you are awake. Owen has been driving me crazy wanting to talk with you or Bruce.”
“How long have I been out?” Angie blinked her eyes and tried to focus on what Willow was saying.
“Eighteen hours, give or take.” Willow fisted her hands on her hips and studied Angie. “You look much better, your color is back and eyes bright.”
Angie struggled to sit up and rubbed her eyes, memories of recent events flooded back, making her head pound. “Have you been giving Bruce the pain killers and muscle healing herbs?”
“Of course. He’s healing quickly, but you know how long recovery will be, even for him.”
“I know, but trying to keep him down once he wakes up will be a formidable task.”
Willow shrugged. “Hey, that’s your problem. Right now, I need to get back to the shop, and you better call Owen. Something ab
out an urgent meeting on Tuesday that didn’t happen because of our little incident.”
“Oh shit, he doesn’t know.”
“Can you hold off heading to the shop? I think you’ll want to hear what I have to say to Owen.”
At her friend’s worried expression and serious tone, Willow sat down on the bed and handed Bruce’s cell phone to Angie. “Don’t overdo it yet, or you’ll be flat on your back again.” Willow drew her own cellphone from her pocket. “I’ll just call Autumn and see if she can cover today. We are going to owe her a bonus for being at our beck and call lately.”
Angie called Owen’s private number and filled him in on all the details Andre, Bruce’s father, had told him. Willow’s interested expression turned to horror as Angie laid out the details over the phone.
Willow tapped in Autumn’s number into phone and put the phone to her ear.
When Angie brought Owen up to speed, he said, “So after nearly killing each other, Bruce and Tristian have to work together to save each other. I’d better have a sit down talk with Tristian before we put those two together again.” Owen paused. “Angie, Tristian is asking for you.”
“He should have thought of me, before he attacked. Again, taking matters into his own hands, without consulting me.” Fury still swirled in her voice. “I’ll call him later. Don’t want to say something I’ll regret. How is he doing?”
“He is doing better, his balance is off, and the muscles in his back are slow to heal. It’s going to be a while before he’s battle ready. How about Bruce?”
Angie frowned and looked over at Bruce. “Hard to tell, we’ve kept him sedated so he’ll heal faster, you may want to do the same to Tristian. Even twenty-four hours will make a big difference. I’ll send Willow with the herbs. The lasting effects of the poison on Bruce’s muscles will be with him for a few days after he’s up and around and will be painful.”
“Tristian has been asking for someone named Hannah? He hasn’t had contact with anyone yet.”
“As far as Hannah—I don’t know anyone by that name, though Bruce did mention giving him some time off to get his personal affairs in order.” Angie paused wrinkling her forehead. “You don’t suppose a woman finally tamed him, do you?”