Magic Awakened: A Paranormal Romance Boxed Set

by K.N. Lee

  “Don’t yell at me, Felix,” I told him and felt like a fucking little bitch. “Just…I’m scared, okay?”

  He stepped closer and placed a gentle hand upon my cheek. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean it.”

  I nodded and lowered my gaze. “Please, walk with us?” I lifted my eyes to meet his and he nodded.

  “Of course.” He pointed to what looked to be an opening of a room. “I think we can walk through there and see what we can find.”

  “Felix,” Kai asked, “since we’re in this new world, do you feel your shifter magic?”

  “I haven’t thought about it since we crossed over, truth be told.”

  “Well, I don’t feel my demon. At all. Are we considered normal here? Like human?”

  We paused for a moment and Felix finally spoke. “I guess there’s one way to find out.” He stepped closer to me and nodded. “Angelica, try to scream, baby.”

  “What?!”

  “Not the best idea you’ve ever come up with, mate,” Kai told him.

  “I’m not going to scream! What if I open a rift between our world and this one? What if I release some sort of demon? What if I release all the demons I’ve ever killed?”

  Kai pulled her to the side and shook his head no. “No, I’m not testing this theory on her, not like this.”

  “Fine. Then if I turn into a fucking pussycat, don’t have me neutered.”

  Kai chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’m not going near your balls.”

  In the distance came a laughter. The three of us shut up quickly and listened. “You heard that, right?” I whispered.

  “Yeah,” Kai said first, then pointed. “It came from that direction.”

  The laughter happened again. “So, they turned against me?”

  It was that witch, Tabby. My blood boiled. We were here in this situation because of her. “Oh,” I started with a grin. “Someone is about to have her ass handed to her.”

  “You have to come find me first!”

  “HELP!” screamed a male voice.

  “Who was that?” I asked.

  “No idea,” Felix said and stepped forward, pulling us with him. “Fuck, we need more light!”

  As if someone flipped a switch, bright white lights suddenly came on. I dropped my candle and hissed. “Oh shit, shit!”

  “So bright,” Kai gritted through his teeth.

  As our eyes adjusted, we had an opportunity to take in our surroundings. I gasped. The place…it was like a scene out of Hell. The room was familiar; it was the club bar. Everything was in place, except not. The bar was there, but broken in places. The bottles of booze that normally would line the wall were bare or broken. The stools were in pieces on the floor. And the walls surrounding us…vines grew on them. They were not just any vines, though; they bled. They breathed. They…they were alive.

  “I think we’re in Hell,” I whispered.

  “Yeah, that is an accurate statement,” Kai said next to me. I stepped across the room and reached for one of the vines. My fingers touched it and I felt nothing but warmth. Drawing my fingers back, the tips were red with blood.

  “What is this madness?” I whispered.

  “It is the blood and souls of the victims of Hell.”

  We all looked up to find Tabby standing in a doorway. She smiled with a simple wave of her fingers. “Welcome to Hell, ladies and gentlemen!” Tabby seemed to be in her true form of red hair and the woman appeared to be older. Much older.

  I growled, “I can see now why you would cover your appearance. You are hideous! Like a witch!” I lunged for the bitch. She sidestepped me and I hit the floor in a thud.

  “Oh, you missed me!” Tabby giggled then looked up. “But that wasn’t very nice.” She tsked her tongue then gasped. “Oh my, aren’t you tall, dark and handsome!”

  “Don’t touch me, bitch.”

  Glancing around, it was Kai she was talking to. “Oh, fuck no,” I said and stood to my feet. “He is mine!”

  “Oh, is that so?” Tabby said with a grin. “We shall see about that.”

  As Tabby began to reach for Kai, I made to slap her hand out of the way, but managed to miss her…no, I was deflected. She had some sort of force around her and I could not touch her. How the hell was that fair?

  “Help me, please!” There was that man’s voice again.

  “Who do you have hidden here, Tabby?” Kai asked her. “A little play thing to amuse you?”

  She shrugged and touched his cheek. “Something like that.”

  Kai’s head threw back as if he were punched.

  I gasped, then screamed, “NO!” Looking around the room, Felix had left. Where the hell did he go? What do I do? What happened to Kai? “What did you do?” I yelled.

  “Oh, nothing. Let’s just say you’ll figure it out in a few days’ time.” She winked at me and took a step back. Holding her hands to her sides, she nodded. “I’m giving myself to you freely. You’re welcome to take me back to face my punishment.”

  I blinked. “Wait, what? That easy?” Something was off here. Who brought their enemy to Hell just to give themselves up without a fight?

  She touched Kai you idiot, I told myself.

  “What about Felix and his pack?”

  Tabby waved her hand in the air. “Oh, old news. I’ll lift the hex, but only if you do something for me.”

  “Anything!” Felix answered as he came back in the room, a man leaning on his shoulders. “Name it, just lift this fucking curse you put on us.”

  “Felix! Be careful—”

  “Done. Him,” she pointed to Kai. “I want him.”

  “Hell no!” I yelled. “You cannot have him or Felix. Ever!”

  She shrugged. “Not your decision, honey.”

  “Oh, you will not call me honey. I am not your friend and furthermore, I’m about to kill your ass so remove the hex now!”

  “Or what? You’ll kill me as you’ve threatened? Then what? Felix will still be cursed and you’ll never figure out what I did to Kai, will you?” She smiled and blew a kiss to Angelica.

  “Oh, I’m so…” I wasted no time. I was done. Charging across the room, I body slammed her against the wall, the splatter of the vines surrounding us. “Reverse the fucking spell and remove whatever you did to Kai. Now. Or I will summon every demon I have ever slaughtered and release them on you here and now. Do you understand me?”

  Tabby appeared to be scared and finally, I felt as if I was coming out on top…until she began to laugh. “You really think you have power down here? You think you can honestly hurt me in my house? You’re in my world, banshee. I can destroy you if I so choose.”

  “Do it then,” I threatened. “Do it and I guarantee you, you will not make it out of here alive.”

  She smiled and shrugged. “Fine.” She closed her eyes and mumbled something in a language I did not understand. She threw her hands up and yelled, “SO LET IT BE!”

  “Shit,” Felix yelled then coughed. He dropped to the ground, bringing the man he was attempting to rescue with him.

  “Felix!” Releasing the witch, I scrambled to the floor and took his face in my palms. “Are you all right?”

  He nodded. “Yeah,” he coughed, “yeah, I’m good.” He glanced up to Tabby. “What did you do?”

  She smiled and curtsied. “I released you from the spell.”

  I looked up to her, then back to Felix. “Let’s go, before she changes her mind.”

  He nodded and reached for the man. “Can you walk?” The man nodded and the three of us got to our feet.

  Glancing over to Kai, he touched his cheek and stared at the floor. Damn that woman to all realms of Hell for touching him. Damn her! “Kai?”

  He glanced over and nodded. “I’m…I’m okay. Yeah, I’m good. Let’s go.” Tabby started to walk past him and in a quickness I’ve never witnessed of him, he had her by the throat and against the wall.

  “You fucked up and shall not be returning to our world.”

  The voice was not his,
but that of his demon.

  “Oh my gods,” I whispered and looked to Felix. “His Oni!”

  Felix nodded. “We need to go. Matilda!”

  Not a second passed before the same door appeared. Relief passed through me. We’re going back. Thank the heavens we’re going back.

  “Kai! Let her go, come on! The door’s here,” I called to him.

  He glanced back to me and his eyes…they were red. They were of his Oni. I sighed and shook my head.

  “We cannot leave you here,” I whispered.

  “You won’t have to,” he told me and grinned. It was not friendly, but evil. I closed my eyes and lowered my head. As much as I detested the woman, I sent up a silent prayer for her for a quick death.

  She screamed and I heard a tear of flesh. She choked on what had to be her own blood. Then silence.

  “Let’s go,” he ordered in his demonic voice.

  “I thought we had no power here,” Felix whispered.

  “She touched him before you came back in the room,” I whispered.

  “That’s not good,” Felix said. We looked to the man who Felix rescued. “Well, what did she do to him?”

  He shook his head. “There is no telling. Spirit invite? Hex? Time will reveal her secret.”

  “Fantastic,” I whispered and reached for the door. I twisted the handle and gave it a push. On the other side were the coven. They glanced over and their eyes widened.

  “Tabby?” Matilda asked.

  “It is done,” Kai told her and stepped through. His red eyes faded and his voice, well, it returned to normal. “Next time, warn me before you ever do that again. I could have hurt them.”

  Matilda smiled. “I would not have allowed that. Thank you for destroying her.”

  He shook his head. “Not me, you.”

  “What?” I asked and looked between the two of them. “Did you leap into his mind?”

  “I did what I had to do to control our world and keep Tabby out of it.” She released the hands of the women she held onto, and our door disappeared.

  “Fuck you, you goddamned cunt!” I yelled out. “Do you realize the danger you put us in? Do you have any idea what shit storm you could have caused?”

  She smiled and ran her hands down her pressed skirt. “Yes, I know what could have happened, but it didn’t happen. You’re safe back home. Now, allow me to take this young man from your care. We’ll get him mended and back out into the world.”

  Felix and I both looked to him, and he nodded. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine.”

  I nodded and shifted my gaze to Kai. “You sure you’re good?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. Let’s get out of here.” He smiled. “We have some celebrating to do.” He glanced up to Felix and grinned. “We have some claiming to do.”

  I turned to face Felix and found him grinning like a damned Cheshire cat. It made me smile.

  We were safe. The curse was lifted. But there was a part of me that felt we were far from done. I glanced back to Kai and watched him for a moment. He looked the same, sounded the same, spoke the same and his mannerisms were, well, the same.

  I should have no reason to worry, but as I inhaled, something smelled…off. Could’ve been the stench of this place, could’ve also been the time I spent as my dual nature. Deciding for now it was most likely the former rather than the latter, I smiled and motioned toward home. “Let’s get out of here. There’s a bottle of Jack calling our names.”

  Chapter 11

  KAI

  The morning of the full moon was coming, and soon. I checked the time on my phone. 2 AM. My gaze lifted to Felix and studied him. His resolve did not appear to change, or hell, what would he do differently?

  Typically, the day or two leading up to his shift he would become more intense, his inner animal would become something of a sex magnet; any female he could fuck, he would. It was the drive of the animal. Hell, he could teach a certain incubus a thing or two during this time.

  As we settled in the house, I shut and locked the door. Turning to face my cohorts, I smiled, watching Angelica with Felix, the way she cared for him and the fierceness of her. She glanced my way and offered a wink, then motioned me over with her head.

  Oh, this will be interesting.

  Pausing mid-step, I glanced to my right, just over my shoulder. Had someone followed me in? It felt as if someone were right there.

  What are you waiting for? Go fuck her. I insist as much.

  I blinked and stood still. My demon never spoke to me, he just appeared. Why would he talk now? The Oni came and went as he pleased. If I lost control of myself, well, he was all for that. Ripping bodies and homes, hell, villages, it was his thing. He loved the fear he absorbed.

  But now? Talking to me? Nope. It has never happened.

  “Kai?” Angelica called to me. As I looked her way, her eyes softened and she took a few steps toward me. “Are you all right?” Her hand touched my cheek and I closed my eyes. Giving her a slight nod, I pressed my palm over hers. “I’m perfect.” Opening my lids, I stared into her eyes and smiled.

  “Good,” Felix said as he clapped my shoulder. “Who’s ready to get shit-faced and fuck?”

  Angelica laughed and I smiled. “Subtle, aren’t we?” she asked.

  Felix shrugged. “Go shower up, babe. We’ll join you shortly.”

  “Oh, promise?” she asked with a smile.

  “Go on, baby, I’ll see you in a minute,” I told her. Tilting her chin up, my lips brushed hers.

  Damn, she tastes good.

  My eyes closed and I pushed the demon down.

  “Kai?” she whispered.

  “I’m fine,” I said and opened my eyes. “I promise, I’m fine. Go.”

  She nodded and glanced to Felix, then back to me. “Okay.” She reached up on her toes and kissed my cheek. “I cannot wait for this, so please, don’t be too long.”

  I grinned and as she lowered, our gazes met. To say it was intense would be an understatement. Her pupils dilated and I smirked. She took a few steps back, gently brushed my cheek, then took off toward the bathroom.

  “Dude, you good?” Felix asked and took to my side.

  I nodded and watched as Angelica disappeared into the bathroom. “Perfect. Get the booze.”

  “On it.”

  A good hour passed. My stomach warmed from the whiskey. The large glass bottle it came in had already been half drunk. I picked it up and stared at it for a moment.

  “Are you going to chug it?” Angelica asked.

  I shook my head. “No, just thinking between the three of us, I’m a little disappointed we’ve only drank this much.” I tilted the bottle back against my lips as the liquid spilled down my throat. It burned and damn, it felt good.

  “Hey, save some for us!” Angelica protested.

  The bottle was jerked from my hands and a growl emitted through the dining room.

  “Did you seriously just growl at me?” Felix asked as he poured the whiskey into his glass. “Because that is a damn good reason for an ass whooping.”

  I stared at him for a moment, then chuckled. “Fuck yeah, I growled! You took my bottle!” Angelica snorted and I realized how that sounded. “Meh, my bottle is full of whiskey.” I winked and leaned into her. “But I’d much rather suck on that pretty tit of yours.”

  She chewed on her bottom lip and grinned.

  “Sounds like a perfect idea to me,” Felix said as he stood. “How about you suck on that tit while I lick her pussy?”

  I looked up to Felix and nodded, well aware the smile on my face was sadistic.

  Oh yes, I want to taste her honey on your tongue.

  I closed my eyes and pushed the demon down. Stop it, I told myself. Not now.

  “Come on, baby,” Felix told her and took her hand. He led her toward the bedroom and once they disappeared behind the door, I closed my eyes once again. My palms pressed against my eyes and I inhaled a deep breath, then slowly released it. I heard nothing, felt nothing.

  Sl
owly opening my eyes, everything felt…normal. Swallowing hard, I let out a long sigh and prayed to whatever god may be listening to keep this damn Oni at bay.

  “Kai,” Angelica called. “Where are you?”

  “Oh, baby, I’m coming,” I said and grinned. Removing my shirt, I tossed it to the floor and made my way into the bedroom.

  Angelica stood in her pajamas, pink silky thin-strapped top and bottoms. Well, they wouldn’t be on her for very long.

  “Come here, woman,” I motioned to her. “Let’s get you naked. You have too much on.”

  She chuckled. “I barely have anything on.” She raised her arms above her head as she crossed the room, her chest barely touched my own. Her nipples hardened. Glancing down, I had a desperation to suck on the taut mounds. A growl escaped but this time, it was to claim her and get her naked.

  Grabbing her top and yanking it off her body, I tossed it. Felix came up behind her and dropped down to his knees. His hands slipped up her smooth legs and grasping her shorts, he tugged them down her body.

  “My gods, you are beautiful,” I whispered.

  She smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Thank you.”

  Tilting her head up, I pressed my lips to hers. My tongue slipped across the crease of her mouth until she opened it. Darting inside, I sought hers for dominance…and she gave it willingly.

  Angelica gasped and her body shuddered. Her arms quickly found their way around my shoulders and she held on tight. Breaking the kiss long enough to glance down, Felix moved her legs apart and had his face pressed against her ass.

  Lucky bastard.

  “It’s time we move this to the bed,” I told her. She nodded and reached for Felix.

  “Come on, lover, allow me to lay down for you.”

  He stood and swiped across his face. “Hmm, she tastes like pure honey, my friend.”

  I smiled and took her hand. “Come on, I’m going to sit behind you.” Positioning the pillows, I removed my shorts and sat naked, cock harder than steal.

  “Oh, do I get to ride that?” she asked with a smile.

  “Soon, baby, soon. For now,” I motioned to her, “come sit between my legs. I get to play while Felix feasts.”