by Lia Davis
Bastards.
Wes didn’t have time for this shit.
The male in the center of the group stepped forward. “You are trespassing on our land.”
“Fuck you. This is neutral territory. Rogues aren’t granted land-claiming privileges.” Wes grinded his molars and released a warning growl.
Rolan and Carter flanked him on either side. In a calm but deadly tone, Rolan said, “Wes, go get your mate. We’ll handle the dumbass and his band of idiots.”
Wes paused for only a moment before nodding and rushing back to the truck. He trusted his brothers to take care of the rogues but there were five of them. Picking up his phone, he texted Aric Wolfe with the location of the rogues and asked for backup for Wes’s brothers.
He pocketed his phone and with his supernatural speed, ran in the direction Carter said the farmhouse was. His heart hammered. Hang on, Pepper. I’m coming for you.
***
Pepper’s whole body hummed with dark magic. When she woke moments ago, she heaved everything she ate in the last twenty-four hours. The new powers were making her ill and her head spin.
At the moment, she lay on her back, staring at the ceiling, not caring that the floor was caked with dirt and the gods knew what else. She just wanted the world to stop spinning.
“Pepper. Don’t fight it.”
“Mom?” Tears filled her eyes. Great. I’m going insane and hearing voices.
“I’m here, sweetie.” Her mom’s face appeared in her line of sight. Beautiful, like she looked like before she fell ill. “Don’t fight the magic. You have a pure soul and love everyone around you. Don’t let him take that from you.”
“What do I do?”
She smiled and a ghostly hand touched her cheek. The sensation was light and cool. “Open your heart, accept the power. Own it. Only then can you defeat him.”
“I’m afraid,” Pepper admitted.
“That is what he wants. Don’t let him win.” Her mom drifted back. “I must go. I love you.”
Then she was gone. Pepper sobbed and covered her mouth with her hands. “Love you, too, Mom.”
The lock rattled on the door. It was her father getting her attention. She ignored him and rolled to her hands and knees, her long red hair hung in her face. Fury stirred the magic, making the dizziness turn her stomach. She breathed in and out, each breath deeper and longer until the nausea passed.
Closing her eyes, she focused inward. She searched for the source of her power and willed it to command her and brought it the center of her core—her heart. Carter worked dark magic and was still good. She could, too.
The door to the cell opened and she snapped her gaze up and froze. She stared into the fierce gaze of a wolf. Her heart melted.
Wes rushed to her, touching her all over before framing her face. “What happened?”
She stood, bringing him with her. “Dear ole Dad unlocked my powers.” She wobbled and Wes caught her by the elbow. She shook her head. “I’m not used to the power.”
“Let’s get out of here.”
Pepper halted and shook her head. “No. He won’t stop coming after me.”
Wes stared at her, his blue eyes searching hers. “What are we going to do?”
She smiled weakly. “I’m going to kill him so he can’t come after me or my family again.”
A chuckled sounded at the door. Both she and Wes turned to glare at the demon. Her father stepped inside the room. “You are no match for me.”
Want to bet? Her mother told her to focus and open her heart. That was what she was going to do. She gathered the magic inside her into a ball and forced it to her hands. Before she could raise her hands and blast him, he took the first shot. The dark energy bolt hit her in the chest and she flew backwards, hitting the wall and crumbling to the floor. Pain rocked through her head and her stomach churned again.
Breathe, damn it. He will not win.
She lifted her head at the same time Wes charged the demon. A screamed ripped from her throat, but she was too late. The demon blasted Wes with a stream of dark power, sending Wes flying to the other side of the room. He crashed into the wall and slid to the ground.
Fear gripped her lungs and her heart skipped several beats as she waited for him to move. Oh, please, no. Get up.
Just then, the demon grabbed a hand full of her hair and jerked her to a stand. “Your mother was a fool for trying to kill me. She thought she could protect you.”
“I don’t believe she married you willingly. She probably came to her senses and saw you for who you were: a lying, bastard demon,” Pepper snarled. Then images from a time she hadn’t remembered flashed in her mind.
Her father, the demon, stood over her mom, hands fisted. Pepper looked from him to her mom and sobs shook her. Mom’s face was swollen and bloody.
“You beat her.” Things started to click into place. How Pepper got physically ill when she was around people fighting and how every noise startled her. Then there was the ability to block out emotions, so she couldn’t feel fear and pain. Or at least not show them.
A growl ripped through the small room and Wes shook, his hands balling into fist. He lifted his hands and uncurled them. When he did, vines shot from his palms and wrapped around the demon.
Pepper scrambled to her feet. Wes gave her the distraction she needed. Thrusting her own hands forward, toward her father, she released the power she held. It slammed into him, stunning him. She didn’t waste time and spoke the words she hoped would banish him from ever returning to this realm. “You are not wanted here. I banish you to Hell, never to return to the human realm or any other. Be gone. I will it so.”
The demon roared at her as he faded into nothing.
She stumbled, suddenly feeling exhausted, almost drained. Wes caught her before she fell to the floor and lifted her in his arms. “I’m taking you home and giving you a hot bath.”
“Hmm. That sounds wonderful.”
“Then I’m holding you captive in my bed until I deem it safe.”
She chuckled and snuggled into him. “Even better. My mate.”
He stilled in the hallway and lifted her chin with a finger. “You agree to the mating?”
“I think we can come to an agreement.” He bunched his brows together as if confused. She laughed and kissed him, allowing her lips to linger on his for several moments. “Yes, I give my heart to you. If you can stand to be mated to a demon.”
“I don’t know. If you start getting wild on me, I’ll have to punish you.”
Her pulse spiked at the sexy, teasing tone. “I might have to be a little wicked from time to time.” She sighed, her heart filling. “Take me home.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Epilogue
Pepper sat on the loveseat on Wes’s back deck, reading a sappy romance Ruthanne lent to her. A box of tissues sat on the small round table next to her. The afternoon was perfect, the first warm day of spring.
The scents of rosemary, lavender, mint, and a few other herbs filled the air. Wes was a better gardener than she was, especially since he possessed the ability to grow things by touch. He learned to control the curse she accidently placed on him the night they met.
Since her demon father unlocked her abilities, Pepper had to learn to deal with all the power. With Carter’s help, she found it easier to perform spells of all complexities. Many she could do with a single thought.
She could even reverse Wes’s curse, but her lover said he’d grown used to it and no longer turned everything he touched into plants unless he wanted.
“There’s my mate.” Wes’s smooth tone drifted from the sliding glass door.
Putting the book down, she glanced at him and smiled. His sandy blonde hair had grown to brush the tops of his shoulders and looked rustled. The way she loved. Wild and unruly.
Unleashing her demon half had given her a naughty side.
“Did you lose me?” she teased.
His wolf flashed in his eyes before he advanced closer. He sat be
side her and held out a small square box. “I hope you like it.”
It was too big to be a ring box. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“I know, but I saw it and thought it was perfect for you.”
Her heart filled as she opened the box to reveal a triple moon pendent. Each of the crescent moons on the ends had a stone in the center, one ruby and one amethyst. Her sister’s and mother’s birthstones. In the center full moon was a wolf howling. Tears filled her eyes, blurring her vision. Her hand shook as she lifted it. “It is perfect.”
She framed his face and kissed him. “I love you.”
He beamed. “I love you, too.” He took the necklace from her hand and put it on her. Then he pulled her into his lap and hugged her close.
She smiled and snuggled into him. Her mate, her life partner.
Life was good.
THE END
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About the Author
In 2008, Lia Davis ventured into the world of writing and publishing and never looked back. She has published more than twenty books, including the bestselling A Tiger’s Claim, book one in her fan favorite Ashwood Falls series. Her novels feature compassionate yet strong alpha heroes who know how to please their women and her leading ladies are each strong in their own way. No matter what obstacle she throws at them, they come out better in the end.
While writing was initially a way escape from real world drama, Lia now makes her living creating worlds filled with magic, mystery, romance, and adventure so that others can leave real life behind for a few hours at a time.
Lia’s favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers, but it’s her home and she loves it!
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