by Vella Day
Jackson nodded. “Let’s nail Brother Jacob first before finding out who this dealer is.” Jackson picked up the crystal, leaned back in his chair, and looked off to the side for a moment. “Maybe Anna would be willing to touch the stone and tell us.”
“Anna?” She was mated to Dalton, but he hadn’t been told she had any special talents.
“When Anna touches sardonyx, it makes her ill.”
While unpleasant for her, Anna’s talent could be useful to them. “If Brother Jacob spent fifteen thousand dollars for it—assuming what Vinea said was true—I’ll bet this is no fake.”
“That’s assuming she really did follow Brother Jacob to California. She could have created the sardonyx. She is a goddess, you know.” Jackson handed him back the stone. “As for the money, she might have been in on the heist.”
His gut clenched. “I thought that too.”
She’s telling the truth, his wolf whimpered. Did she sound like she was lying?
No.
Jackson waved a hand. “See what Connor says. We need to make sure we can trust her.”
He could hear his brother now. The man would be skeptical of anything Vinea said or did. On the other hand, it might do Devon some good to talk with him. Connor might be able to knock some sense into his thick skull.
“You’re right. I’ll let you know what he says.”
Devon left Jackson and headed straight to Connor’s office. When he walked in, Devon waved the huge stone. “Special delivery.”
Connor jumped up and stepped around his desk. “Where the hell did you get that?”
“Sit down. It’s a long story.” He went through the entire conversation with Vinea once more, including how he’d invited her to dinner to see if he could catch her in a lie. “If she is telling the truth, then maybe she can remember a few more details about who this dealer is. I can’t recall if she said she followed him to his home or not. If she did, we might be able to locate him.”
“That’s smart thinking. See what information she has. And you said the serial numbers matched?”
“At least one did.”
“Son of a bitch. The problem is that we have no proof that the money came from Brother Jacob. The fact that Vinea basically stole the money from this seller means it won’t hold up in court.”
“True. Jackson suggested that since she was a goddess, she might have made it.”
“I wouldn’t put it past her. Shit. I wish we could ring up her sister and ask if goddesses are capable of manufacturing stones.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice? I’m having a hard time with trusting her too. I do know that with a swipe of her hand, she can change her hair color and its length. Hell, she can be wearing a dress one minute and shorts the next. Why not be able to recreate a stone?”
“Damn,” Connor said. “So even if we prove the stone is real, we won’t know for sure if Jacob purchased it from someone in California. I don’t suppose she showed you her airline ticket.”
Devon’s heart was sinking fast. “She flew, but not in an airplane.”
“You do realize that she could basically destroy us if she created sardonyx for the Changelings.”
“Yes, but let’s not jump to conclusions. If she is working for them, then there is nothing we can do to stop her. If she did learn about the purchase and went out to Los Angeles, we’ll know soon enough.”
“How? She deceived all of us before!” Connor’s anger rose.
“Just calm down and listen to me for a minute. If the Changelings robbed an armored car and then spent the entire sum on the stone, only to have it stolen, they will be furious. They’ll have to try another heist soon. If they do, we’ll know Vinea was telling the truth.” Relief poured through him at that thought.
“Hmm, you might have a point. Did you know Vinea was going to follow Brother Jacob?”
“No! The last time I saw her was right before our meeting, which apparently she was listening to—from inside the room!”
“I knew she could teleport, but she has invisibility power too?” Connor asked.
“Yes.”
His brother slammed his hand on the desk. “Unless we can invoke a soundproof spell as well as one that prevents invisibility, we all need to be careful around her. You are right to want to ask her more questions. You know the old saying about keeping your enemy close?”
“I hear ya. When I meet with her this evening, if she’s guilty, I’m hoping I can catch her in a lie.”
Devon was torn. He didn’t trust her, but he didn’t want to believe he’d been duped again. Having the sardonyx implied she was trying to help him—unless she’d made it. The stolen money was another matter. She could be in possession of the money because she was in on the heist. How he was going to find out the truth was anyone’s guess.
“Good luck,” Connor said. He tapped the stone. “I’ll hand the sardonyx over to Rye. He’ll check the authenticity. If it’s legit, he’ll stash it in a special place.”
“Let me know.”
“I will.”
*
Vinea was nervous. She was going out on a real date with Devon McKinnon. Yes, it would be wonderful to sit across from him and just talk, but she wasn’t hundreds of years old for nothing. The man would not be flirting with her. Even after she had handed over the sardonyx and the stolen money, she could see his wheels spinning, clearly questioning whether to believe her or not.
Sure, she could have returned to his office to see what he told the others, but that wouldn’t have been right. As of six months ago, Vinea Summer didn’t break the law or lie or cheat anyone—and she especially didn’t want to upset the man who haunted her dreams.
Did she believe in fated mates? Hell yeah, she did. She believed in them so strongly that she became obsessed with wanting to be the one to pick and choose who was paired with whom. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be. When Naliana, her younger sister, was chosen instead of her, Vinea saw red. Somehow the jealousy had turned her so evil that she’d been kicked out of the light realm to repent. And now she had, only she doubted anyone noticed or cared.
Truthfully, she hadn’t expected them to. It had taken her too long to change. If Devon hadn’t dunked her in Silver Lake, she might never have seen the light. Even after he tried to cleanse her, she’d rebelled and lied to him, saying that only Changelings could be cleansed. In truth, she’d had no idea what the pink quartz would do to her. It wasn’t until the next day that the truth revealed itself. She’d held that knife over Zane Hunter’s head and realized that she couldn’t go through with killing him. It was why she’d run.
Bottom line, Vinea needed to move on and stop blaming others for her problems. She needed to face what she’d done, and if Devon refused to be convinced that she was a different person, then she’d have to deal. Of course, it would kill her to lose him. After all, he was all she thought about. Hell, his image was the one that helped her cope with all the adversity. While she deserved the pain, at some point, she’d like to find happiness—with Devon McKinnon.
But happiness would never come if she didn’t get ready for this date. This was another chance to convince him she was no longer the evil goddess. If she dressed too provocatively, he’d think she was only interested in seducing him for her own gain.
If she tossed on a pair of baggy jeans and a loose T-shirt, she’d be throwing away her one advantage of appealing to his wolf side. Even though Devon acted as if he couldn’t stand her, she hadn’t missed the signs that he wanted her—or at least his wolf half did. In her heart, she wanted to believe they were fated mates.
The only problem with her theory that they belonged together was that never in a million years would Naliana allow it. Would her sister ever pair a goddess with a shifter? Ugh. Vinea hated not knowing.
Even when she was part of the dark realm, the moment Vinea had spotted Devon in Vermont, her body had gone crazy with need. At first, she hadn’t understood what that meant, but the more time she spent on earth, the more she recognized th
at emotion as lust mixed with love. Admittedly, she didn’t know Devon that well, so love seemed ridiculous, but she certainly loved his noble ways. Plus, him being an incredibly hot and sexy man certainly didn’t hurt either.
A knock sounded on her trailer door. Damn. She wasn’t ready. Seductive or unattractive? Quick, decide. To hell with it. With a swipe of her hand, she opted for straight-legged jeans, knee-high leather boots, and a soft peach sweater that outlined her breasts quite well—the perfect blend of sexy and sweet.
“Coming!” she called.
Now that Devon was here, she wished she’d told him that she’d meet him at the restaurant. Men like Devon probably had never stepped foot in a run-down trailer, and he might judge her poorly.
She pulled open the door and drank him in. Wow! He looked so hot in his white button-down shirt, dark blue jeans, and highly polished boots that she wanted to jump his bones right then. Her body sent so many sparks of need throughout her that she thought she might combust.
In the dark realm, sex was a means to an end, not something that one enjoyed. But here on earth, the right man could change her life.
“Hey,” he said. His hands were stuffed in the front pockets of his jeans, and he was looking past her as if he was curious about her place. He finally returned his gaze to her face. “You look nice.”
Those kind words melted her and gave her hope. “Thanks. Come on in, but enter at your own risk. I’ve tried to scrub every surface, but some grime even I can’t get rid of. My goddess powers only go so far.” Devon actually chuckled, and the tension in her shoulders relaxed.
He glanced around. “It seems livable.”
That was a nice way of putting it. “Let me put on my jacket.” Vinea swiped a hand over her body, and suddenly, she was covered in a long wool coat.
“I hope you’re careful who you’re with when you do that. I bet a lot of people would freak out if they saw that display.”
She smiled. “I’m careful. Trust me.”
“Ready?”
Not at all. “Sure.”
She crossed her fingers, hoping that EmmaLee’s superstition worked.
Chapter Six
‡
Not only did Devon smell divine, his truck had that new leather scent she found pleasant.
Devon glanced over at her before starting the truck. “During dinner we need to remember that the walls have ears.”
Vinea thought she detected a hint of humor coupled with the warning, which to her implied kindness. “I promise not to say the words Changeling, sardonyx, or armored car heist.”
He smiled then fired up the engine. “Good. You warm enough?” he asked as his fingers hovered over the heater knob.
“I could use a bit more warmth.”
“Don’t tell me the dark realm really is as hot as hell?”
She laughed. “No. For centuries humans have fabricated what they imagine their version of hell is—heat, brimstone, and men with horns running around. I can assure you, none of that is true. It’s far worse, but I don’t think discussing the various realms at dinner would be wise either.”
He flashed a grin, and butterflies tumbled in her body. She had to stop reacting so viscerally to him. She’d end up saying something like she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, and then he’d run for sure. Until Devon trusted her, she couldn’t chance even bestowing a kiss on him. It would kill her to wait when she wanted him so badly, but she had to be patient.
A few minutes later they arrived at the Lake Steakhouse. At night, the restaurant appeared almost glamorous with its rope lights bordering the door and windows. “It looks so festive.”
He stopped in front of the entrance. “It’s the best Silver Lake has to offer. While I park, how about waiting in the lobby where it’s warm?” To punctuate his comment, a few snow flurries kissed the windshield.
That was considerate of him, but she didn’t want him to think she was delicate. If she had any chance of a new start with Devon, he needed to see her as someone worthy of being with him—an equal more or less. Regardless of what life had dealt her these last six months, she was a survivor, and Devon McKinnon deserved someone who wouldn’t crack under pressure or adversity. “I’m good.”
“Suit yourself.”
They parked in back and by the time they rushed down the back alley to the front of the restaurant, her nose was nearly frozen. It would take a few winters for her to get used to the chilly air.
Lit candles sat on each table, making the restaurant romantic, and the paneled walls and shelves lined with glassware and artwork created an upscale vibe. The hostess gushed over Devon and then sat them close to the bar. Apparently, the name McKinnon held a lot of weight in this town. Vinea could only hope that if they did mate, the town accepted her as well. It was what Devon deserved.
While she’d been on a few dates in the last six months, in the back of her mind, Vinea always believed she’d end up here—with Devon. It was why she never even considered a serious relationship with anyone else.
He helped her off with her coat and then slipped off his. Once seated, he unfolded his white napkin, removed the steak knife, and then placed it next to his plate. The waiter rushed over to take their drink orders. While alcohol didn’t affect her much, she opted for coffee. Most likely she’d be up all night anyway going through the conversation they were about to have, so she might as well enjoy the caffeine.
“So tell me,” Devon said. “How did you end up in Silver Lake? I would have thought this would be the last place you’d want to return to.”
“I told you. I needed to apologize to you. I hurt you and your friends, and I wanted to make amends for the pain I caused.” Vinea waited to see if he believed her.
“Why else?”
While she’d expected the doubt, she was hoping for a different outcome. “That’s it. My life has changed dramatically since we last met.”
“How so?” His hand curled around the knife handle. That wasn’t good.
Even though she’d practiced what she’d wanted to say to him for so long, her brain was moving too fast to remember much of it. “After I set up Zane Hunter, I was about to kill him when my life passed in front of my eyes. It’s clichéd, but it’s the truth. Trust me, I didn’t like what I saw one bit. I was so upset that I ran. I know now that I should have stayed and tried to help him, but I think Missy was just as happy that I left.”
“I imagine she was. Where did you go?”
“With no destination in mind, I jumped into my stolen car and headed south.” He flinched at the word stolen.
“Why not fly somewhere?”
Now came for the embarrassing part. “I would have, but my powers had taken a nosedive. After the cleansing, nothing seemed to be working. Even the force field I had erected in front of the cave couldn’t remain active. It was how Missy was able to escape and toss that powder-like substance on the demon. How it killed him I have no idea.”
“I heard something like that had happened. Were you scared?”
“Scared of seeing a demon melt or of losing my powers?”
He chuckled. “I was referring to the loss of powers, but I imagine seeing someone turn to dust would be disturbing too.”
“The dust thing was actually cool—or at least I thought so at the time. The demon deserved to die.” Devon acted as if he cared about her state of mind. “As for losing my powers, I was petrified. Our life down there is defined by our abilities. Take that away, and I became nothing. Fortunately, some of my powers have returned.”
“That’s good, I guess.”
She glanced off to the side and inhaled. “You want to know what really scared the crap out of me?” He nodded. “It was my sudden concern for others.”
“Like when you tried to kill Zane?” he said, his lips thinning and his brows pinching.
Shit. This wasn’t going as well as she’d hoped. “No. As I said, growing a conscience didn’t come on suddenly, but rather in bits and pieces. I felt it building, bu
t I wasn’t sure how to handle it. Hell, I didn’t even know if I could deal with the ramifications. Remember, I spent almost my entire life being cruel. Realizing what I had done all those years was wrong, really tore at my very soul. When I had that knife in my hand, the truth of my actions hit me squarely in the face. I couldn’t kill him.” Devon said nothing. “You don’t believe me, do you?”
“On Earth, we judge people by their actions and not by how much power they have or by what they say they’ll do.”
He didn’t answer her question, but hopefully he’d judge her by the fact she dropped the knife instead of using it. “I get it. Words mean nothing if my actions don’t back it up. It’s why I want to help you—to show you I’m serious.”
“I’m glad.” From the way his jaw tightened, he was trying to placate her.
She leaned forward. “I know it’s hard to understand, but remember I was a goddess of the dark. Without my evil thoughts, who was I? It’s scary having your entire world turn upside down.”
“I imagine that’s true. Have you figured things out now?” Each word came out controlled and rather forced.
Wasn’t that what she’d been trying to explain to him? “Yes.”
“And you want nothing to do with your old life?”
“No.” What more could she do to convince him?
“Let me ask you this. Could you return to your former home now if you’d wanted to?” This time, his words held more curiosity than anger.
“Perhaps, but I have no desire to return.”
Devon adjusted his placemat and silverware, and she let him think. He finally looked up at her, his eyes nearly black. “As long as you’re baring your soul, why did you target Sam Pompley? I’ve always been curious how you found out about his abilities.”
His bitterness ate at her, but it was what she deserved. “The second question is easy. His powers are legendary. Just because I’d never been to Silver Lake before then—at least not in my human form—doesn’t mean other gods or goddesses of the dark haven’t been here. One goddess in particular, Darinda, was the one who discovered his abilities. She was playing around with some of the Changelings and actually watched the guards walk away from their bunker—a bunker they were supposed to protect. I believe the Changelings had stolen some Wendayan magic and Sam was helping to get it back, right?”