Paranormal After Dark

by Rebecca Hamilton

  He groaned, grabbing her by the elbows and pulling her up. “If you keep doing that, I’m not going to be able to stop.”

  Ever’s eyes sparkled, the purple one almost glowing in the lamplight. She reached behind her back and her bra dropped to her feet. “I don’t want you to stop.”

  Cade licked his lips, stunned into silence by the sight of her naked torso. He slid both palms over her breasts, reveling in the milky soft skin around her pink nipples. He brushed his fingers over the latter, his breath hitching in his throat as they pebbled beneath his thumbs.

  In one swift motion, Cade lifted Ever, her legs wrapping around his waist instinctively as they renewed their kissing. He lowered her to the covers, settling his body over her, nothing between them but the thin satin of her panties and his cotton sweatpants.

  The thread of connection felt painful in his chest. They rolled on top of the covers, hands, teeth, and lips on bare skin. When he couldn’t stand the pain anymore, he worked her panties down her hips, his gaze drinking in the sight of her absolutely naked beneath him.

  “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice thick. “Stop me now if you have any doubts.”

  She touched her solar plexus and then his own. “I don’t know what it is, but it’s meant to be. Make love to me, Cade.”

  The innocence coupled with need in her voice was his undoing. He stripped off his pants and settled between her legs. Then her warmth enveloped him, and the light of their magicks flared to life around them.

  He caught her gasp with his lips, moving his hips slowly, relishing the way he fit inside her. It started slow, two people getting to know the feel of each other, but as the pleasure built, and the magick sparked higher and more powerful than it ever had before, Cade couldn’t hold back.

  He felt Ever’s body begin to tremble, and she caught his face between her hands to look him in the eye. Her orgasm rolled over her, her moans intensifying. The sight of it pushed Cade over the edge into his own pulse of pleasure.

  Cade felt the moment it was sealed. The hollow beneath his ribs, the seat of his power, snapped firmly into place with Ever’s. The thread was no longer just a thread, but a living energy between them, a pulsing entity uniting them.

  Chapter 31

  EVER

  SATURDAY DAWNED BRIGHT and clear with a cloudless sky and a brisk wind. Cade kissed Ever goodbye and left to see his mother. She and Nah loaded up the car for the yard sale.

  “Evie!” Jerome boomed, opening his arms for a hug as they walked into the firehouse. She walked right into his embrace; she loved his burly man-hugs.

  “Hi, Jerome. Fight any fires lately?”

  He chuckled, his big, full beard scratching Ever’s forehead. He gave her one last squeeze — complete with sound effects — and stepped back. “You know how it is around here. Always fighting fires.”

  Jerome was huge; not fat, just large in size and stature. He wore overalls and a Coalhaven Fire Department t-shirt. He had little hair on his head, but lots on his face, and his dark eyes were always full of mirth. He kissed Nah on the cheek. “Missus. Always a pleasure.”

  Ever loved seeing Nah blush over his little displays of affection. It was easy to forget Nah wasn’t just a grandmother, but a woman with the same urges as any other hot-blooded female.

  Ever grabbed a box from the trunk, her own face flaring as she thought about “urges.” Cade had still been in her bed early that morning, his warm legs entwined with hers and his arms wrapped around her in a circle she thought would never end. They’d made love again for what must have been the third or fourth time, only slower and lazier, the way a Saturday morning should have been. Then she’d kicked him out before Nah caught on. He’d kissed her senselessly, as if he didn’t want to leave her any more than she wanted him to go.

  Now, an hour later, she still felt him. Even though she’d showered, she still smelled him on her skin. The knot in her torso where his magick had set up shop moved like a separate soul inside her. She could feel his emotions: his happiness to see his mother, and the loathing that burned inside towards his father. Whatever had happened in her bed last night had connected them as perfectly as puzzle pieces.

  Ever spent the next hour helping her coven set up, directing the firefighters who had offered to help carry tables, chairs, and merchandise wherever needed.

  The first couple hours flew by; what seemed like the entire county showed up to peruse their wares. Ever was so busy counting money and answering questions that she didn’t have time to notice the ache of being separated from Cade.

  Just after eleven, the tables had been half-emptied, and there was a lull in clientele. Ever dropped to a chair beside Meagan and grinned.

  “I’d call this a success,” she said.

  Meagan gave her two thumbs up. “Totally. Great idea, boss lady.”

  Ever pointed to where Nah chatted with Jerome and some of the other firefighters. “I can’t take any credit. This was all Nah. Though I’m pretty sure she just wanted to empty the house of meaningless possessions.”

  They shared a laugh.

  “I’m glad it warmed up. It’s nice to be outside when the weather is like this.” Meagan picked up her can and shook it, then made a face. “I need a new soda. You want?”

  Ever shook her head.

  She closed her eyes, basking in the sunshine the way a cat would. Her cat nap was interrupted as Ollie took Meagan’s recently vacated chair.

  “There’s something different about you, and I can’t put my finger on it.”

  Ever opened one eye, staring at her friend.

  Ollie wore a pair of blue jeans and a Coalhaven High sweatshirt, vastly different from her usual dress and boots. Her make-up was done, and her blonde curls were in a ponytail. She looked casual and beautiful, like a prom queen on her day off.

  As soon as their gazes met, Ollie gasped. “You didn’t!”

  Ever jerked upright, narrowing her eyes. “I didn’t what?”

  Ollie bounced in her seat, cackling. She leaned over, lowering her voice. “You slept with Cade. That’s what’s different.”

  Ever shushed her, glancing at Nah who was hugging Jerome. “Don’t say it so loud. How the heck do you know that?”

  “There’s just…” Ollie shook her head, pressing her fingertips to Ever’s stomach. “There’s something here. It’s in your aura.”

  Ever thought about asking Ollie about her powers. Just a simple question: are you a real witch with real powers? An easy question she would either answer in the affirmative or with a disbelieving laugh.

  To be silent, Nah always said.

  It had been different with Cade. Even if she hadn’t witnessed his spell on Donovan in the courtyard, the moment their lips touched, she would have known.

  Now wasn’t the time or place to question Ollie.

  “Something happened. I’ll tell you about it later, okay?”

  Ollie nodded, her face curious.

  Ever glanced up to see Meagan returning, and, over her shoulder, a black car with deeply tinted windows easing up the road to the firehouse.

  Ever expected someone destined to shop get out. Instead, the windows rolled down in unison, and five familiar faces suddenly appeared.

  Emily, Greg, Marie, Donovan, and Allie. BlackMags.

  Donovan drove, his eyes on the road. Ever had a moment of confusion: first, that he was still hanging out with the rest of the BlackMags. Second, that his coven members were glaring out the open windows at the yard sale, but he wasn’t. Thanks to Cade’s spell, he couldn’t see Ever’s coven.

  Ever and Ollie stood, gazes riveted, as the BlackMags began to launch eggs at the yard sale. Allie popped out the passenger window with a huge soaker gun and let loose a stream of red liquid.

  Ollie and Ever jumped under the tables for protection, and behind them, the firefighters began to run towards the car, shouting.

  Then Meagan dashed forward, launching her full soda can at the car. Her aim was true: it sailed through the driver’s w
indow and crashed into Donovan’s head. He flopped over like a rag doll, and the car squealed to a stop. Allie’s soaker gun hit the pavement as the BlackMags rushed to get someone else in the driver’s seat.

  Before Jerome or the rest of the firefighters could reach the BlackMags, Allie hit the gas, and the car squealed away from the curb.

  Meagan picked up a piece of broken asphalt from the road, racing behind the car on her long legs. She chucked the asphalt at the car, and the back windshield exploded.

  In the stunned silence that followed, Meagan burst into tears.

  * * *

  CLEAN-UP TOOK several hours. They hosed off what merchandise they could, and chucked anything not salvageable into the dumpster.

  Afterwards, Ollie and Ever drove an eerily silent and subdued Meagan home.

  Shopping the day before had been fun. Meagan had seemed like her usual self, laughing and joking around as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Ever couldn’t help but think something else was going on, something that was drawing out this anger inside her.

  Ollie parked on the street in front of Meagan’s house. She and her mom lived in a single-story ranch near the old fire station. The house was new, having been built only a couple years ago, after the F5 destroyed their old one.

  And killed her dad.

  “Something is going on that you aren’t telling us,” Ever said as the engine ticked. She swiveled to stare at her best friend in the backseat. “You’re so angry. All the time. And it’s no longer about protecting me or upholding the honor of the coven. Whatever it is, it goes way beyond that. Come clean. Now.”

  Meagan let out a breath. It went on for so long, Ever thought she might not have any air left in her body. Then she said, “Mom has ALS.”

  Ever felt as if she’d been shot in the chest, which was nothing compared to how Meagan must have felt. “Lou Gehrig’s. When did you find out?”

  “A few weeks ago. She didn’t want me to tell anybody yet.”

  Ollie reached through the seats and took her hand. “What happens now?”

  Meagan shrugged, gazing at her house. “We wait to see what happens. The docs say it doesn’t affect everybody the same. She could live for a really long time, or it could progress fast enough to kill her in a few months. We won’t know until it happens.”

  It made so much more sense to Ever now. Meagan had always been strong: a tough girl not afraid to talk back. But she’d never been violent. Her behavior lately had everything to do with her inability to protect her mom.

  Ever reached around the seat and took her other hand. “Whatever happens, we will be there. If you need to let go of some stress or figure things out, talk to us. Don’t get in trouble trying to right wrongs just because you think it’s the only thing you can do.”

  Meagan sniffled, tears spilling over her cheeks. “Is it okay if I still want to punch Donovan?”

  “Baby, you knocked him out cold with a soda can,” Ollie said, laughing. “If that doesn’t make you feel better, I don’t know what will!”

  Chapter 32

  CADE

  CADE WAS ON the couch playing on his laptop when Ever stormed in the front door.

  He watched, confused, as she dropped a red-splattered soaker gun onto the coffee table in front of him.

  “What’s that?”

  Ever’s face was guarded. Her white sweater was spattered with red that was, thank Goddess, too pale to be blood. “Do you have any idea where your coven was today?”

  Cade’s heartbeat sped up. “No. What did they do?”

  “They did a drive-by on our yard sale with eggs and red-dyed water.” She motioned to the gun.

  “Gods… Even Mitch?”

  “No. Allie, Emily, Greg, Marie, and Donovan.”

  “Donovan isn’t part of my coven anymore.”

  “Apparently he is!” Ever hissed, shoving the gun off the table towards him. It landed on his feet. “What kind of fucking leader are you? Where the hell are you when your coven needs direction?”

  Cade shot to his feet, hurt and anger a boiling soup inside him. “I’ve had other things on my mind. Do I have to remind you I spent three days in the hospital bleeding internally?”

  “Because your father beat you up!” Ever screeched. “What kind of man does that? And what kind of man comes from that?”

  Cade stilled. “What are you implying? That I’m like my father?”

  “I don’t know, Cade. Are you?” She looked small but strong as she stood before him, red dye painted across her neck. Cade thanked the Lord and Lady it had been just water instead of real bullets.

  “Are you like your dad, Ever?” Pain flashed across her face, and he felt instantly guilty. He hurried on. “No. You’re nothing like your father, and I’m nothing like mine. If I were, do you think I’d be staying here?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean? What’s wrong with my house?”

  “Nothing is wrong with your house, Ever.” Cade sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I love it here.”

  “You have to give your coven leadership,” Ever said, her tone clipped. “You can’t sit around and play on your computer and let them do whatever the hell they want. They’re bad people, Cade. You have to keep them in line.”

  “I’m not their guardian!” Cade snapped. “For someone so strongly against black magick, you sure have a low opinion of the strength and resiliency of other people. You act like your coven is nothing but a flock of sheep that needs a shepherd.”

  Ever squeezed her hands into fists and pointed to the door. “Pack your bags and leave.”

  Cade stared at her. “Where am I supposed to go?”

  With three words, she broke his heart. “I don’t care.”

  * * *

  CADE COULDN’T GO home. There was no way. Not now, not in a pissed-off, broken-hearted state of mind. He would do something stupid like challenge his father to a duel or punch him just to prove he could.

  He slammed his car door and threw his duffel bag in the passenger seat. He slammed his fists against the steering wheel, cursing as loudly as possible, wishing the steering wheel were Rémy’s face, or even Donovan’s. Both were rot in his life.

  He picked up his new cell phone and sent out a group text to the coven: Meeting. Coalhaven Cemetery. Now.

  He shifted the car into gear and peeled down the driveway, glancing in his rearview mirror one last time. Maybe it was hope that made him see Ever’s face in the window.

  * * *

  THE CEMETERY HAD always been one of their fall-back ritual spaces when Cade’s house wasn’t an option. But they hadn’t met there in almost a year.

  The forty-acre plot was old, with unreadable tombstones dating back to the late eighteen hundreds. An enormous gazebo sat in the center of the landscaped graveyard, overlooking a row of tiny white Army crosses and a line of above-ground tombs.

  Mitch was already there when Cade arrived. He shut down his phone and stood as Cade mounted the stairs. “What’s going on?”

  “Did you hear what our coven did this morning?”

  Mitch shook his head.

  Cade told him what Ever had said about the yard sale.

  Mitch sank to the bench, shaking his head. “Those idiots.”

  “I’ve decided it’s time for an intervention. You got my back?”

  Mitch cracked his knuckles and grinned. “You know it.”

  Emily and Greg came first, arms around each other and smiles on their faces, followed closely thereafter by a sullen Allie.

  She tossed her purse on the ground and threw herself on the bench, splaying her combat boots on either side of the bag. “Marie’s at work. What the fuck we doin’ here? We don’t have ritual till Monday.”

  “I heard what you did today. With Donovan.”

  “Yeah, and now he’s in the hospital!” Allie shook her head. “That Meagan bitch needs to be behind bars.”

  “You need to be behind bars,” Cade snapped. He gazed around the circle: Emily and Greg, both silent
and attentive; Mitch, giving him a nod of encouragement; and Allie with a look of anarchy on her face. “You destroyed public and private property. I kicked Donovan out of this coven, yet you continue to stand behind him. Even when he intends physical harm to other people!”

  “People who don’t matter!” Allie shot back, stomping her boots on the concrete.

  Cade held a palm up and sent a bolt of pure energy at Allie’s purse. The brown leather handbag disintegrated, leaving behind a pile of ash.

  The entire coven froze where they stood, mouths open and eyes wide. He’d never revealed his powers to them before. He’d never trusted them enough to do it.

  “This is getting out of hand,” Cade said dangerously, letting his magick dance around his fingertips. “I don’t care if you disagree with the Fluffs. I don’t care if you’ll never agree with them. But the violence will stop, or I will make it stop. And you don’t want to know what else I’m capable of.”

  The smirk on Mitch’s face and the looks of shock amongst the rest of his coven were worth exposing his powers.

  Cade extinguished his magick and sat on the bench opposite his coven. “Now. Let’s discuss CircleEarth. I’ve already bought our tickets.”

  Ever couldn’t avoid him forever.

  Chapter 33

  EVER

  “HONEY, WE NEED to have a chat.”

  Ever was on her stomach in bed, reading an assignment for her English class. Nate sat in a chair at the end of her bed, his feet propped up on the mattress as he read the same book for a different class period.

  Ever glanced up to see Nah’s serious face; it wasn’t an expression she ever liked to see. Nah wasn’t good at the disciplinary part of parenting, so anytime she felt the need to lecture Ever, she got the same look.

  Nah smiled sweetly at Nate. “Sweetie, would you please excuse us?”

  Nate gave Ever an apologetic look, and then left the room.