The Devil’s Kiss

by Stacey Kennedy

  He smiled. “As you heard, he believes she is too young.”

  “Oh I get it,” I nodded in understanding. “He’s suffering from Daddy syndrome.”

  Kyden arched a brow. “Daddy syndrome?”

  “Yeah, you know, can’t let his little girl go.”

  Kyden’s brow lowered as he gave a soft nod. “Thor is being patient. Isla, on the other hand, is pushing for him to get over it.”

  “I just bet she is.” My mind drifted to the handsome wolf that was her mate. I’d be raising hell, too, if I wasn’t allowed near him.

  Suddenly, Valor growled low. Kyden threw me over his shoulder and rushed forward. He made quick work of the ground beneath him as he ran to catch up to Valor.

  When he stopped, he set me down and I gave his shoulder a little punch. “That wasn’t necessary.”

  “Didn’t want you to slip, Álainn.” His voice was serious, but the glimmer in his eye conveyed his amusement.

  My fist clenched to give him another punch, but when Valor shifted, my hand eased as I stretched it out. Jerk!

  “He is in those caves there.” Valor pointed next to him.

  My gaze followed the movement and noticed a small entrance to a cave that was no bigger than our living room. The ceiling was rigid and drips of condensation splattered down on the stone floor. “We have to go in there?” I whispered to Kyden. “There could be bats.”

  “You’re afraid of bats?” he asked, intrigued.

  “Just so happens that I am,” I lifted my chin a little, trying to save a little pride. Vampires, easy and crazy witches, easy. But rats with wings, not so easy.

  “No better time than the present to face your fears,” Kyden pulled me toward the entrance.

  Oh Jesus!

  Good thing our vision is superior because the place was pitch-black. Even better, the cave was very shallow. The second we stepped through, the wolf appeared, his eyes glowing as he snarled at us.

  “Oh there you are.” I shook my finger at him. “You are a very bad doggy.”

  He growled lower and deeper. His eyes were wild as he flew toward us. Kyden pushed me out of the way and kicked out hard, sending the wolf flying out of the cave.

  Moments ago, he may have irritated me, but I could never ignore just how sexy he looked when fighting. The man exudes power and I may have sighed a little as I watched his muscles flex.

  The wolf growled again and broke my ogling. I could have used the Fire element to disintegrate him. However, I made it a rule that unless I was fighting witches, I kept to my Guardian roots. It kept me true to my both halves.

  “Come on,” Kyden raised his hands, calling him forward.

  The wolf lunged and Kyden reciprocated with a hard punch to the wolf’s snout, which sent him flying twenty feet away. The wolf roared, lunging back toward him. In the moment of his lunge, I shot forward and kicked his side, causing him to crumble to the ground.

  The wolf didn’t really have a chance. One of us could kill him, both Kyden and I were strong fighters. With the both of us together, he was as good as dead.

  He snarled, glancing up at me. I gasped out a breath upon seeing his eyes. They were so dark, so viciously cruel. Nothing of a good wolf remained here. Only one thing could cause eyes like that…Black Magic. But why were these wolves turning to such darkness? They had families, their pack¯what would the magic give them that they didn’t already have? None of which I had answers to. The only thing I did know was that this magic was making them crazed and dangerous. It meant they had to die.

  Kyden drew his sword. When the wolf lunged toward me, he sliced sure and swift. The wolf’s head flew in the opposite direction of his body as blood arced through the air.

  When the body dropped to the ground, I glanced at Kyden. “Nice teamwork.”

  He winked at me.

  I glanced back at Valor. He was sitting on a rock, looking thoughtful. “You okay?” I asked, as I approached him.

  He raised his eyes to mine. “You think I am being harsh on Isla?”

  That was unexpected. “Valor, I don’t think it is my place to…”

  He interrupted. “I am making it your place.”

  “Total honesty?” I asked.

  “Nothing less.”

  I quickly glanced at Kyden. He gave me an encouraging nod. I let the zipper open, sent my lips a flapping. “Well, she is grown and…” I hesitated, searching for the right words. “Now having Kyden, I couldn’t imagine life without him. He has made me so happy. If Isla has something this wonderful available to her and she can’t experience it because you are withholding her…” I put my hands on my hips. “Well, that just seems wrong in my books.”

  He rubbed his face. “These are the times I miss Hanna the most.”

  “Isla’s mother?”

  “Yes. She died while giving birth to Isla.”

  “I didn’t know about her death, I’m sorry.” Valor gave me a little nod. Suddenly, I realized why he was talking with me about this. He desperately needed a female’s input. I knelt beside him and got right to it. “Okay, what’s the problem?”

  He got a little teary-eyed. “If she is not in my home, I cannot keep an eye out for her.”

  “Thor is a strong Alpha,” Kyden said. “He will protect her.”

  Valor rubbed his face again. “I trust Thor with her safety. It is just Isla is…well…much like you, Nexi. She acts on impulse, makes quick decisions that endanger her life.”

  “That doesn’t sound much like a compliment,” I said, a bit grim.

  He laughed quietly. “It is what it is.” Then, his smile faded. “Thor cannot always be by her side and as Alphas we are always presented with danger. As you saw tonight, her impulse to save him might get her killed.”

  I sighed, understanding his concern, but I also knew how to ease him. “I’m assuming Alphas are possessive in nature?” He nodded hurriedly. “Well then, you have nothing to worry about. Thor will guard her with his life.” I gave Kyden a knowing look following that statement, since I had a protective fool of my own.

  He just grinned and winked.

  Isla had better kiss me for what I was about to say. “You’re preventing her from being truly happy.” I grabbed Valor’s hand. “It’s time to let her go.”

  He actually wiped away a tear. “It is not so easily done.”

  “Of course it isn’t. You’re a good father to her, but really Valor, she’s twenty-four. Her hormones are probably eating her alive.” I said, then instantly regretted it. I shouldn’t have gone there.

  He grimaced. “That is my biggest concern of all.”

  Oh god, now we were about to have a sex talk. Get me the hell out of here. I glanced at Kyden, who grinned devilishly, seeing me squirm.

  But like the protector that he was, he took the wheel. “Thor will be gentle with her, Valor. You know this.”

  “I do know this, but…” He cringed a little.

  “It doesn’t make it any easier.” I finished for him.

  Valor gave a soft smile. “No, it doesn’t.”

  Chapter Seven

  The next night, I was glad I could give myself a jolt of energy, or I’d need a double shot of espresso to get my butt in gear. I was zonked. The past few days had been a bit of a whirlwind. I was still getting used to non-vacation mode. As Kyden and I entered the Council’s Hall, the tension in the room was so thick we needed a pair of shears to cut through the air.

  When I saw Sabi sitting on the floor with her head bowed, I understood why. She’s a classic witch all the way. Long dark hair, tight but fine features, eyes almost cat-like. Presently, she was having a premonition. It was her gift—she could see parts of the future—trouble stirring within the darkness. The only thing was that it came just minutes before, so action was needed quickly.

  Just as we reached Sabi, she gasped loudly and her head shot up. “Black Magic Witches are doing a ritual. A wolf is with them.” Her voice sounded exhausted
—premonitions always left her a little weak.

  “Where are they?” Zia asked urgently, as she placed her hand on Sabi’s arm to give her boost of energy.

  Seconds later, Sabi jumped to her feet, revived. “Come, I’ll show you.”

  “Nexi, come with us,” Zia shouted, and ran past us. Kyden started to follow behind, but Zia quickly spun around. “No. You cannot come.”

  “I will go with her,” he spat.

  Zia scowled at him. “We do not have time for this. It is not safe for you there.”

  I grabbed his arm, willing him to hear her. “Listen, she is right. You could be killed,” I begged him to understand. “Please stay here.”

  He glowered as I pulled away from him, but he didn’t follow. I ran, following Zia. I could hear Kyden pacing the room behind me. He always had trouble allowing me to fight, especially when I went without him. It was never easy for him.

  Just as I reached the door, I yelled back to him. “Don’t worry, I have Willow.”

  If I was in danger, Willow would protect me. She had chosen to be my protector. She probably didn’t realize what a full time job that would be. There wasn’t much she could do about it now though. Once chosen, there was no going back.

  It was doubtful that knowledge would appease Kyden, but hopefully, it would keep him from acting foolishly. He had no protection against magic. If he went up against a Black Magic Witch, he would lose.

  Once we reached the portal in the Council’s Foyer, Sabi, Zia and I grasped hands and stepped through the door. A flash of light shut my eyes. When my vision came back to me, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

  Four Black Witches stood, circled around a black powered pentagram. It looked like any normal pentagram I’d seen, but experiencing it in use was scary as shit. Breathing was almost impossible. The air was thick and darkness surrounded us entirely—practically sparking off the wind.

  The witches chanted in some odd language as a wolf lay in the centre, howling in pain. “Er…why are they not attacking us?” I questioned aloud.

  “They are entranced,” Zia answered. “Given up to the dark spell they have cast.” She glanced at Sabi. “Go quickly, get the others.”

  Sabi nodded, then vanished immediately.

  “We will need more than the three of us to defeat them,” Zia told me, worriedly.

  “They don’t feel as strong as Astoria did.” She was the only bitchy Black Magic Witch I had the not-so-great pleasure of encountering.

  “These witches are not in Magnus’ guard,” Zia answered. “They just live in his realm. They are not gifted with such a strong force.”

  The witches continued to chant as the wolf continually writhed and howled in complete agony. Suddenly, the wolf began to shift forms quickly, changing back and forth from wolf to man repeatedly.

  He screamed and when he shifted, my heart plummeted. “Dante,” I screamed, and rushed forward.

  Zia grabbed me, her arms wrapped around my shoulders, forcing me still. “Don’t.”

  “That’s Dante,” I shouted, trying to break free. “We must do something.”

  “We can’t.” Zia held me tightly. “He is lost now. Look at him. Look at his eyes.”

  I squinted, noticed that Dante’s eyes were now clouded over with shadows. Then, like a smack in the face, the answer laid before me. This wasn’t the wolves’ doing at all. Dante would never accept the darkness. He was the essence of good. What was he doing here? How had someone done this to him? The last I knew, he was off telling the Alphas of this situation. Now he was knee deep in it.

  “This is so horrible,” I managed in a whisper.

  “Very,” Zia replied.

  “What have they done to him?” I asked.

  “They are doing a Black Magic ritual. They have used black ash and blood to draw that pentagram there. It is summoning the darkness to steal Dante’s soul. Do you see the markings in the ground?”

  I followed her gaze, and saw serpents drawn together in a weaving pattern, which sat around the edges of the pentagram. “What is that?” I croaked.

  “That is an offering ruin.”

  “An offering to whom?”

  “Magnus,” Zia replied with a little growl.

  “Why would they do that?”

  She shook her head slowly. “I have no idea. This offering ritual here is how Black Magic Witches welcome a new one into their realm. They are offering Dante’s soul to Magnus—offering him to the dark realm.” She glanced back to Dante. “Never have I heard of this ritual being done with one who didn’t want it.” She looked back at me. “Ever.”

  “Ever?”

  “Think of how you feel about them.” She gave a nod when my face grimaced. “That is how they feel about you.” She glanced back at the witches. “They would never force someone to come into their realm, just as we wouldn’t them.”

  “But it’s Dante, he’d never…” I started.

  She stopped me, raising her hand. “Exactly, which makes this all the more peculiar.”

  I gave my head a little shake trying to make sense out of all this. “Not only that, but why are they making the wolves kill humans?”

  She shrugged, completely unknowing. “That is what we need to find out.” She nodded toward the witches. “I am afraid these witches are not going to be so willing to tell us though.”

  “Yeah, I kinda figured that,” I grumbled.

  So far, I hadn’t even gone on a witch assignment yet. My Guardian role was the only one that kept me busy. This was a hell of a first assignment as a witch. Going up against four Black Magic Witches wasn’t my idea of fun. “Can we get his soul back?” I asked, hopeful.

  She cupped my cheek, deep sadness lay in her eyes. “It is not an easy task. Let us get through this first. Keep your mind clear of anything and everyone else but these witches.”

  Just then, Sabi reappeared with seven other witches including Haven.

  She came up to my side and whistled. “Jumping jellybeans, there’s some bad witches.”

  Jumping jellybeans. Oh, Haven. Only she could take a dark situation and make it light. “You’ve got that right.”

  “By the way,” Haven said. “We better make this quick, Kyden is about ready to tear the hall apart. I’m pretty sure he has already worn out the floor with all his pacing.” She glanced at the wolf who was still flashing between forms and her brows furrowed as she focused on him. Then, her eyes widened. “Oh no,” she gasped, and raised her hands to her face in horror. “Dante!”

  Sabi came up beside us, her voice filled with regret. “I wish I could have seen this earlier. It might have given us more time to save him.”

  “You saved a lot more lives by seeing it at all. We will help him. He’s going to be okay.” Was that for my benefit or hers? I wasn’t quite sure. I could only hope I was right.

  Zia interrupted, bringing the focus back on the task at hand. “They need to close the circle before we interrupt this. If they don’t, demons can be released into the Earthworld.” She sighed, and met my gaze. “This is not something we want.”

  “That’s for damn sure.” I stated.

  Demons—I shivered. Coming face-to-face with one wasn’t on my wish list. I glanced over at the Black Magic Witches who slowly walked in a circle, continued to chant, but this time it was softer—quieter.

  Dante had gone silent as well and remained in his wolf form. Dark fog drifted along their feet. The snakes drawn within the ruin slithered about, moved quickly in sync with their chants.

  “It’s closing,” Zia warned us. “Be ready.”

  Suddenly, there was a loud bang. The witches’ gazes shot to us, practically frothing at the mouth. With as much force as possible, I drew on my powers and threw fire at them. It crackled loudly as it blasted straight for them.

  From that point on, it was complete chaos. Magic was everywhere. Fire, Air, Water—all types of fury unleashed. My shield held strong against it, which made
me one lucky witch. I had an added protection from Spirit that no one else did—a blessing for sure.

  Just as a blast of thick air hit my shield, Willow shimmered beside me. A calming sensation washed over me as my big black panther stood before me.

  “Being your protector is becoming somewhat tiresome,” Willow stated.

  “Got that right,” I drew on every strength that lived within me. Every reserve of power I stored, I threw at the witches. My magic connected and as the Fire blasted the witch, Willow shot forward and ripped out her throat.