Her gaze softened. “What is wrong?”
Bailey swallowed, torn between telling her the truth and saying nothing. But he couldn’t lie and claim to be fine when he couldn’t even get up. “I think I have the flu.”
That was a good lie.
She leaned in close and sniffed. “It’s not the flu.”
Bailey closed his eyes and went as still as rabbit aware that it was being hunted. His heart quivered, but like the rabbit it was already too late.
“You smell of magic. Why do you smell like magic?”
He kept trying to reach Kass through the bond, a thought, a sensation…anything. But he was gone, and if Kass was gone…
“I think I’m dying.” Aside from being weak, it didn’t feel too bad. It didn’t hurt. He was dying before he’d gotten laid. He’d never even managed to get sucked off.
Fuck.
He should’ve fucked a rando in a club and just got it done, but he didn’t want to be used and forgotten.
Gran tilted her head. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to put everything together. She was old, and frailer than she had been, but she was still as sharp as claws and just as deadly. “Why are you dying?”
He wanted to close his eyes and be left to die in peace, but that wasn’t going to happen. He could shrug and pretend that he was being melodramatic, but the bond was causing serious issues. It wasn’t for sharing lust and getting off. It was life and death magic. He should’ve said something the morning after it happened, but then he’d have missed out on the fun of getting to know Kass via their bond and he wouldn’t trade that for anything. But he had to say something now.
“I kissed a witch.” He knew he’d said it the wrong way as soon as the word ‘witch’ left his lips. His grandmother’s face shuttered, frozen with hate. “It was an accident. I didn’t know what he was.”
“He? The witch is a he?” Her lip curled in disgust. “What have you done?”
“I don’t know, but I think he’s in trouble and I can’t do anything.” He’d already tried to give him some magic, and that had left him weak and dizzy. If he’d given more, would Kass be alive? He’d failed him.
“Are you bonded with this witch?” She made the word into a slur.
“Maybe?” Definitely, but playing innocent seemed like the smarter way to go.
“I will get help.”
“No. The men can’t help. He’s not in the country.”
She muttered a few old curses. “You can’t have a witch control you like this. He is making you weak, draining you. That’s what they do. They use and corrupt. He made you kiss him, yes? This can be fixed though.”
He didn’t want it fixed. He wanted Kass. He wanted to feel desire radiating through the bond. Hell, he’d take pain and fear, anything to know that Kass was alive. “How?”
“We can bind the witch so he can’t hurt you.”
She picked up her phone off the coffee table and returned to the kitchen to check on dinner and call the men. They wouldn’t be able to help, but he was glad Kass was far away and out of their reach. He checked the bond again; it wasn’t any smaller. Maybe it had started this thin, like a strand of hair. He reached out for his phone and nearly fell off the sofa.
What happened? Are you hurt or dying?
He emailed and hoped he’d Kass would reply straight away. Or at least before the men turned up. When he couldn’t hold the phone any longer he dropped it onto his chest and closed his eyes. Gran’s voice lulling him to sleep.
She returned and brushed the hair off his face. “I won’t let the witch hurt you. You will be fine.”
For a moment Bailey believed she cared about him, not just how useful he could be. Behind her concern was fear, as though everything she’d run from had found her again.
“It was an accident.” He tried to reassure her. That was the truth, but he couldn’t bring himself to regret it.
“You should’ve told me straight away. Witches can’t be trusted. I can’t lose you too.”
Bailey closed his eyes. It was too late for that. He wanted to tell her that Kass had done nothing to hurt him. Something bad had happened to Kass. But there was no point, and he didn’t want to expose what they had. It was his, theirs, something only they could share.
She squeezed his hand. “Why were you kissing a man?”
Bailey forced himself to look at her. Her voice was soft, but her eyes were cold. He couldn’t tell her the truth.
“Do you always kiss men when you take their wallets? Is that why you steal only from men?”
Her grip tightened, crushing his fingers. “Do you like it?”
He swallowed. “What does it matter? Is it not enough that I steal for you? Can I not keep something for myself?”
She released him and turned away, but not before he saw the disgust in her eyes. If he’d been able to stand, he’d have walked out. As it was, he lay there staring up at the ceiling, drifting between asleep and awake. A vibration in the bond, and tendril of heat woke him. He held his breath, hoping he hadn’t imagined it. Then his phone buzzed, and he checked it, hoping it was mail. It was.
Had a situation. Can’t say much, but I’ll have a scar to show you later. I knew you were with me. Thank you. I hope I didn’t take too much.
Bailey smiled and closed his eyes. Then replied.
So you aren’t dying? I was a bit freaked.
Not dying. I didn’t mean to be dramatic.
Bailey bit his lip, knowing he needed to share what was going on. Then decided that he’d better come out with it so Kass could be prepared for the worst.
My family realized I was dating you and pitched a fit. They want to break us up. My uncles can be very persuasive. When you come home, we really need to talk.
When I get out of here, I’ll call. Give me your number.
Bailey sent Kass his number. This stuff should be dealt with in person, or at least over the phone.
Thanks : ) xx
Footsteps out the front made him look up. He logged out of his email, then out of his phone. He never used his fingerprint in case it was used to access his phone without his permission. He copped more than the occasional cuff on the ear for that. Gran had even told him outright it was rude to keep secrets.
It was fucking rude of them to pry.
Gran opened the door and two men entered the apartment. Gold Watch and Crooked Nose. As always, they were dressed like businessmen. From their car to their clothes, they were out of place in this suburb. Once, he’d wanted to be like them. By the time he was twelve and starting to feel the pre-shifting twitch, he’d seen through their helpful smiles and vowed to never be like them. But that was his expected career path. How many other off-the-grid shifter families did they ‘protect’?
Gold Watch sat on the coffee table, and Bailey’s stomach knotted. That little twist of fear travelled through the bond. It immediately returned with a burst of strength. Strength that Kass needed to heal.
One dead. Both dead. They had to work together.
Bailey forced himself up to sitting. The effort made him break out in a sweat, but he wasn’t about to show weakness. The man standing behind the sofa put a hand on his shoulder in a subtle hint that he’d done enough moving.
“I hear you have a witch problem,” Gold Watch said as though he cared.
Bailey held his gaze but didn’t return the dagger thin smile. “I have a witch. It’s not a problem.”
“Witches are always a problem. They take and take until one day you’re weak and almost dead, yes?”
The grip on his shoulder tightened.
Bailey gave a one-shouldered shrug. “Aside from all the fear-mongering and fairy tales, I don’t know much about the bond or how it works.” He hoped the lies spilling from his lips were believable.
“Where did you find this witch?”
“At one of those fancy clubs you sent me to.” He didn’t want the men to learn the truth. He didn’t want them to touch the one good thing in his life—and he didn’t care i
f it killed him. He shouldn’t have told Gran, but fear had gotten into his bones. Maybe some of it had been Kass’s. The bond between them seemed better now, brighter and stronger. So maybe it had only thinned while Kass was almost dying or getting stitched up or something. The lack of knowing might kill him, if these men didn’t find him first.
“And he approached you? Knew what you were?”
With each passing breath, he was stronger and more alert. “No. I saw him. Liked the look of him. Didn’t realize what he was, and he was just as shocked as me.”
“Why did he kiss you if not to trap you?”
Bailey licked his lip. “Because when two guys like—”
The slap snapped his head back, and he tasted blood in his mouth.
“Do not be smart with me.” Gold Watch had given up his pretend smile. “What is his name?”
“I don’t know. I freaked and ran.”
“You ran, like a coward. You are a snow leopard. A hunter. You will find this man and I will bind him, so he hurts no other shifters.”
“And what will happen to me?”
“You will be fine. You will be free of this abomination. We will find you a nice shifter wife and you will take your place.”
Or he could pack up and fuck off and get with his witch. Now wasn’t the time to say that. Never would be the right time. “How do I find him?”
“If you have a bond, it will lead you to him.”
That easy? He could find Kass, when he returned to Australia, through their connection? “What is the difference between the bond and if you bind him?”
“We bind him and take his magic. No more witch.” The man smiled, all teeth and threats, and Bailey had the feeling this wasn’t the first time the man had taken a witch’s magic.
“Does it kill him?”
Gold Watch nodded. “One less witch. An excellent outcome.”
Bailey nodded, even though every part of him screamed no. How could they break the bond without killing him? Kass had mentioned being able to break it. Maybe it was possible, but he didn’t want Kass in the hands of these men. He didn’t want to lose him, which was ridiculous because he didn’t really have him. Wanted him, though. There was a tight need in his gut, and he needed more than talking when they finally met again.
“Good. We will find this witch.”
“Now?” How could he tell them that Kass was out of the country?
“He might drain you tonight. Tomorrow you’ll be dead.”
An hour ago he’d have believed that, but not now. While the bond wasn’t back to how it had been, it was warm and alive and he liked knowing that it was there. That Kass was there. He played dumb. “How do I follow the bond?”
“You think of it. Do you not feel it tugging on you, drawing you to him?”
Oh…that’s what that was. “Maybe? Maybe I don’t have a witch problem and I have glandular fever or something.”
Gold Watch considered him for several heartbeats. The hope that he’d think Bailey was a dumb teen vanished as fast as it had formed. “I do not think so, Bailey. Your grandmother does not think so either. There’s witch magic on you, so do not lie to us.”
“I don’t think he’s close. Like it felt strong for the first week, then faded.”
“The familiar bond doesn’t fade.”
“Well, it feels weak.”
“Distance,” the man behind Bailey said. The weight of his hand making Bailey sit crooked.
“Did you steal his card?”
“No.” The lies were stacking up, but would they protect him or be used as ammunition?
Bailey’s head hit the back of the sofa; the thin cushion didn’t do enough to protect his head from the wooden frame. Stars burst in his eyes and he had to blink to clear them.
“Don’t lie.”
“Fine, I did.” But he hadn’t it to over to them.
“Good. Now we will get a location.” Gold Watch nodded at his buddy behind Bailey and the weight was removed.
Bailey rolled his shoulders but didn’t reach for the bump on his head or his cheek, even though he tasted blood. He’d assess the damage in private later. “How will you get a location?”
“You will use the bond to dowse for him.”
Bailey scowled, but there was no avoiding it. Crooked Nose left them sitting in silence and returned with a map. Gran provided the needle and a thread. She nodded and smiled like this was the obvious solution.
Gold Watch spread the map on the coffee table.
Bailey stared at it, trying to work out where Kass had been sent. The odds were good it was the Middle East. Though for all he knew there were other smaller wars or peacekeeping or something going on.
“What are you waiting for?”
Bailey glanced at the chatty thug. “Nothing, I don’t see how this will work.”
“Let the needle guide you,” Gran added. “As you think of him.”
Right, so wherever the needle went, he’d send them elsewhere.
Bailey held his hand out, and the needle dangled over Sydney. Then he conjured up thoughts of Kass—which were never far from the surface. A pain formed in his side, a dull throb, and he knew that Kass had been injured, possibly shot. The tug in his gut drew his hand north and west, over the ocean, over India, and when he wanted to stop over Afghanistan, he kept going all the way to Germany to throw them off course.
“Hmm.” Gold Watch had run out of words.
Bailey frowned and pretended that he wasn’t clued in. “Did I do it wrong?”
“Was he German?”
“We didn’t exactly talk.” He dodged the incoming backhand from Gold Watch and got a slap to the back of the head from Crooked Nose that reinforced the building headache. If he’d had the energy he’d have hit back. As it was, sitting and pretending he was fine was almost too much. If they didn’t go soon, they’d realize how weak he actually was. “I can’t help it if you don’t like the truth. What do you want from me?”
“Don’t kiss men.” Gold Watch’s lip curled revealing what he thought of Bailey. “Cut your hair. Be an adult. You are eighteen now. You come to work on Monday.”
“I have exams next week. For the certificate you want me to have.”
“Don’t worry about it. You will learn on the job. With your special skills there is plenty for you to do.”
He doubted his certificate in construction included anything these men wanted him to do. If he left school with nothing, it would be that much harder to find a job. “I want that certificate.”
Gold Watch grinned. “You have spirit. I like that as it gives me something to work with.” He leaned closer. “To break.”
Bailey dropped the needle and thread. “I don’t need you to give me a job. I’ve been applying, looking for something that interests me. I might even do more study next year.”
Crooked Nose yanked his hair, lifting Bailey half off the sofa. “You will cut your hair and come to work tomorrow. Clear?”
“Yes.” Like fuck. He’d be gone.
As much as Bailey had wanted to be up and gone before midnight, he knew that was stupid. He was too weak for a start and the men would watch the apartment, waiting for him to do something dumb—which he would do. But not tonight. He emailed Kass and let him know that things were going pear-shaped at home, then he tried to sleep. It was fitful. He was running and he could barely hear, and the walls kept exploding into the chunks of rock he ran past. He woke several times, sweaty and out of breath.
While it was a dream for him, that had been Kass’s reality.
His alarm sounded, and he got up as though it were just another school day. Although he had no exams that day, he was going to school to get out of this place, use the free wi-fi and make some plans. He pulled all the cash from under the carpet and stuffed close to five hundred dollars into his wallet. Too much to be carrying around any other day, but today was an exception.
He made himself a coffee and ate breakfast alone.
Gran shuffled into the kitchen as he
finished up. “What are you doing?”
“Going to school.” A bare lie, but he no longer cared. Had she ever cared, or had he been a burden dropped in her lap by her departed daughter?
No one had wanted him as a kid.
“Go to work. They will be waiting.”
If he went to work, then he was never getting out of there.
“Have you ever lived, or have you always cowered and let those men boss you around? Is this how you cared for Mum? Did you let them box her in until she was caged and tamed and no longer wanted to live?”
“Do not speak of your mother that way.” She sighed. “You are too much like her.”
Questions burned on the tip of his tongue, but he didn’t want to know if one of the men was his father. If there’d been love, or it had been something his mother had to do.
His blood was bitter like the black coffee. He put the cup in the sink. “I will start work after exams finish.”
He shouldered his bag, took one last look at his grandmother, knowing that he’d never see her again, and walked out the door.
There would be no last exams. He’d fall with the finish line in sight. Matt’s dad had always said finishing school mattered, so they didn’t end up like him, always taking shit jobs that paid poorly. He considered calling Matt but didn’t want to drag him into the mess.
He was on his own.
Except for the man watching him. Anxiety knotted his stomach, but he kept to routine, walking the same route. They’d have been told that he wasn’t coming in to work by now.
Could he lie low for a few days and front up for the exam?
Out the front of the school were the usual clusters of kids, delaying the moment they went in. Bailey slid behind a group and drew himself in tight. His skin chilled.
The car that had trailed him parked opposite the school.
Bailey waited, not quite invisible—unnoticeable was more the right word—for a bus to rock up and spit out more kids. The crowd was thinning when a bus finally showed up. The car hadn’t moved.
Warlords, Witches and Wolves: A Fantasy Realms Anthology Page 72