Deadly Attraction

by Calista Fox

  His gaze shifted from Jade to the army in the clearing and then back. “I estimate fifty or sixty here. That means there are other garrisons about to appear in varying locations outside the boundaries of the village.”

  “And the king’s men aren’t in place yet.” A bone-chilling sensation gripped her.

  The demon said, “They’re on their way now. And the general’s men should be doubling back soon.”

  “Soon is not going to help us,” Tanner cut in.

  Of course, Darien’s warning for the slayers to stay in the village and leave the fighting to his troops flashed in her mind. But she and Tanner were already on the scene and they were the only available defenders at the moment.

  Why oh why had she let Michael come along? She could scream from her own idiocy.

  The second demon said, “We can’t allow the rogue force to enter the forest. We’ll lose the wraiths and the village will be under siege within minutes.”

  Jade felt sick to her stomach. She’d promised her neighbors no harm would come to them. But how the hell were the five of them going to stop the invasion?

  Thinking quickly, she said, “We have to stall them until the king’s army arrives.”

  “And how do you propose we do that?” Tanner asked.

  “Sadly, I have an idea.” Glancing over her shoulder, she told Michael, “Get down and stay back. Keep behind us, Michael, do you understand?”

  “Yeah, I hear you.” He hopped to the ground and took a few steps away from them. Jade moved forward.

  Tanner stayed positioned where he was and the two demons flanked Jade as she passed the last line of trees and entered the snow-covered meadow, which was about to become a battlefield.

  The fire wraith, sans flames at the moment, rode toward her, along with what she assumed to be his second-in-command. They stopped ten or so feet shy of Jade and her new compatriots.

  “Vampire,” the demon on her left muttered in warning.

  The presumed general and vampire spoke for the wraith. “Five against fifty is hardly worthy of our time.”

  She hitched her chin and said, “The king’s men will come.”

  “Will they?” the vampire demanded. “And how will they know we’re here in this spot, when we have a half-dozen other battalions about to surround your village?”

  “The king has scouts,” she countered. “I have faith in his ability to locate all of your factions.”

  “Then you’ll be disappointed to know that the scout in this area is dead. He never made it back to the castle to alert the king.”

  She swallowed down a lump of horror, but then remembered the patrolman beside her had said there’d been other scouts to witness the rogues’ gathering. No doubt one of them had reported back to the castle. She sent up a silent prayer that was the case.

  Hoping to buy more time, she said, “If the five of us pose such little challenge, feel free to wait for the king’s army to join us. Otherwise, if you’re confident you’ll have a swift victory over our small group, know that two are demons and three are slayers.” A fib, but who on her side was going to call her bluff when it came to Michael? “Oh and one of the slayers is also half-demon.”

  For their part, the two demons beside her didn’t react to her statement. But she knew they had to be curious, as were Tanner and Michael, most likely.

  “Needless to say,” she continued in a haughty tone, hoping to somehow keep the conversation going so the rogues didn’t attack for a while longer, “we’re our own force with which to be reckoned. That’s why there’s only five of us.”

  The general and his leader considered this as their steeds grew restless, pawing at the drift they stood in. She wondered if the demons were able to converse telepathically, because they seemed to be deep in thought.

  Finally, the general said, “A shifter on our side maimed one of your slayers. I don’t see him present.”

  “He’s still injured,” she told them, forcing her voice not to waver. “Two others were sworn in. The ink’s still wet on the king’s approval,” she added, in case they’d had any way to check the registry before they’d arrived, “but we are official. And deadly.”

  With the fire wraith’s army engaging them, she knew there’d be no dispute over Michael’s involvement in the fight, even if he were to kill a demon. She did, however, hope one didn’t get close enough to him to even require he lift his sword.

  In order to facilitate that, Jade knew she needed a solid strategy.

  Feigning nonchalance over the combat scenario—though she was brimming with nervous energy—she said, “I’m sure you’ve surmised the odds are significantly less in your favor now that you know there are demons prepared to fight you.”

  She glanced first at the one on her left, then the one on her right. With a smug look she had to force beyond her fear, she said, “I’m perfectly capable of holding my own. Now that I’ve learned your weaknesses.”

  She gave the fire wraith a pointed look, for surely he’d informed his second that she’d not been able to successfully defend herself against his two previous attacks.

  Unfortunately, Jade had not yet learned how to defeat a wraith, fire or otherwise. She hadn’t gotten that far in her lessons with Tanner. But no one knew that, so she continued with what her dear friend Lisette would call a poker face.

  Thinking of the villagers and the fact the five members of her small brigade stood between the demons and her people made her sit taller on the horse she’d borrowed from Walker, unbeknownst to him, of course.

  The wraith and the general appeared lost in telepathic thought again and Jade hoped the endless moments would continue to drag out, because every second spent in debate had to bring Darien and his forces that much closer. A theory she clung to, at any rate.

  But the deliberation came to an abrupt halt.

  His gaze sweeping over the miniscule army he faced, the general said, “We’d waste our time in battle here, when we could advance toward the castle.”

  He yanked the reins of his horse and the animal reared. When its hooves landed in the snow, the beast turned away from them.

  Jade suddenly thought of how both Morgan and Darien were convinced the fire wraith would never storm the castle. The force was much too large there and the wraith had divided his army to surround the village.

  Thus, the more likely scenario was that they would attack the band of five and advance into the woods to threaten the village, which would inevitably help their plight against the king’s men—regardless of what the second-in-command said. She’d stake her life on the fact they thought they could draw the king away from any faction he led, leaving him vulnerable, if she was in danger or if her village were at risk.

  In a split second, she made a decision based solely on instinct.

  In her hand, she still held the sword she’d unsheathed when the two demons beside her had arrived. As the rogue demon’s horse trotted away, she heaved the sword, end over end, with all her might. She aimed precisely at the spot on the demon’s back that mirrored the one Tanner had marked on the front of their burlap-covered dummy. She knew if the sword ran him through, she’d kill the vampire.

  She held her breath as her insides seized up. To her extreme relief, though, the blade penetrated the body and the demon slumped forward then dropped to the ground.

  The entire scene seemed to freeze, as shocked disbelief gripped them all. Even Jade gasped at how accurate she’d been and how brazenly she’d killed the wraith’s general.

  A minute or two must have slipped by, and then the fire wraith lit up the dusky sky in a fit of rage. His horse reared in equal fury, causing Jade’s steed to react. The two demons beside her lurched forward on their Arabians, coming together to protect Jade as she worked to get the horse under control.

  But the wraith surged toward the threesome, as did the first line of his army.

  Jade pulled back, but the wraith swooped in, a sword in his left hand, since Darien had hacked off the right one during the
fight at the church.

  She withdrew her second sword and swung it soundly. The wraith’s blade clashed with hers. She’d been prepared for the jolt the impact would cause and remained steady. Her two demon companions were instantly immersed in a fight, and Tanner charged in to join them.

  Jade fought the wraith while her agitated horse responded to the fire blazing close to it. Finally, the animal jerked and launched Jade from his back. She landed in a thick bank, thankfully with her sword still in hand. Leaving his own horse, the wraith moved in with forceful blows that jarred her to the core of her being. Yet she kept fighting.

  He opened his mouth and a fireball shot out, but she’d been expecting it this time and skillfully dodged the fiery orb. It exploded as it connected with the tree next to her and the limbs burst into flames.

  Jade kept her focus on the wraith. She received hit after hit against her blade but managed to deliver a few herself. Yet her strength waned. And the heat emitted from the wraith made her burn from the inside out. Perspiration dotted her hairline. Her heart thundered. Her pulse hammered in her head. The ache in her fingers from gripping the hilt so tightly flowed into her wrists and radiated throughout her body. But she didn’t give up.

  She caught Michael in her peripheral vision as he tried to assess the situation and seemingly find the best move to make in order to distract the wraith so she could better attack him.

  “Michael, no!” she yelled, wanting to keep him out of harm’s way.

  He didn’t have the opportunity to help her. The roar of the king’s army suddenly echoed all around them.

  Jade spared a quick glance to the north and saw at least five hundred of the king’s men charge toward the field. She knew he must have dispatched similar numbers to encircle the perimeter.

  In the distance, she also heard what she believed to be Morgan’s patrol.

  A sense of relief and renewed energy vibrated within her and she found the drive to put more power behind her swings as she continued to challenge the fire wraith. His attention was clearly divided, otherwise she likely wouldn’t have lasted as long as she did with him. Knowing this, she took advantage of the diversion when Morgan’s group descended upon the wraith’s army from behind.

  She swiped at the ghost’s midsection. He let out a near ear-piercing screech that sent her reeling backward. Jade stumbled, tripping over a tree stump buried in the snow. She fell on her ass again but kept hold of her sword. The screeching wraith pitched forward, his blade slicing the air, targeting her. With the agility she’d gained from her work with Tanner, she rolled away, unscathed.

  “Jade!” Darien called out.

  She could see his and Morgan’s men quickly reduce the wraith’s army. Only a few stood, and those rogue demons charged Tanner and Michael.

  Jade scrambled to her feet and raced toward her friend as a shapeshifting wolf lunged at Michael.

  “Stab him any place you can!” she implored.

  Michael was keen enough to raise his blade and penetrate the wolf’s chest. The animal landed on the ground and thrashed in pain in the snow, howling loudly.

  Jade tore her gaze from that scene to check on the wraith. Darien took him on once more, so she raced toward Michael. The animal was just getting to its feet when Morgan appeared and slammed his own body into the wolf’s. They grappled in the crimson-stained snow for mere minutes before Morgan had the shifter on its back. A heartbeat later, his fingers gripped the beast’s throat and he tore the flesh.

  Michael turned away in apparent disgust as blood spewed in all directions. Jade sighed with relief.

  “Thank you,” she said to Morgan, her breath coming in heavy pulls. “I wasn’t looking forward to doing that.”

  He nodded at her. “But you would have anyway.”

  “Yes.”

  Another shrill screech from the fire wraith made her whirl around. Darien ran the ghost through with his sword and it vanished, its cloak dropping to the ground.

  Still heaving, she asked, “Can you kill something that’s already dead?”

  Darien glared at her, causing a foreboding sensation to slither down her spine. “If you know where to strike.”

  He stalked toward her, lifted a hand and brushed his fingers over her cheek.

  “I’m glad you’re okay,” he said, his voice tight. Then he stormed off and addressed his victorious men. “Five of you pile the bodies and burn them. The rest of you, follow me.”

  There were other factions to conquer.

  Morgan said, “He told you to stay in the village.”

  Turning back to the general, she explained in her defense, “The wraith had arrived before his men. What were we to do? Sit and wait? Let them prey upon us without even fighting?”

  Morgan’s jaw worked vigorously for a moment, then he said, “Don’t go to the castle, Jade. He’s not going to be in any mood to receive you.”

  Her heart constricted at the dire expression on the general’s stony features. “Ever?”

  He did an abrupt about-face and marched off.

  Jade’s breath was still labored from exertion, but also from the emotional pain that suddenly lanced through her.

  Damn it. She’d defied him yet again…

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jade delivered Michael safely to his house.

  She said, “That’ll be the one and only time you accompany me—or Tanner—on such a dangerous excursion.”

  “Hey, I did everything you told me to do,” he insisted, his expression a strong and determined one, sparking more admiration for him on Jade’s part.

  She couldn’t dispute his ability to follow orders—or react quickly enough to save his own life. Because of her concern for his well-being, however, she reiterated, “Only once, Michael.”

  Riding off with a heavy heart over the entire convoluted evening, she thought of how her friend had abided her direction and how she hadn’t done the same when it came to Darien’s instructions—and the promise she’d made to him. Yet she still felt justified with her intention to keep demons away from the village.

  Unfortunately, a tremendous amount of guilt plagued her because—as Michael had pointed out—he’d done what she’d asked and had managed to stay out of harm’s way, for the most part. Jade could not say the same when it came to her and Darien.

  She could further concede that she’d been terrified something would happen to Michael—and Darien had to feel the same way about her.

  Therefore, she could understand how incensed the king was at this point.

  Jade had no doubt the alliance had swiftly put an end to the rebellion, yet her stomach plummeted further when she noticed a lone figure sitting on the bench outside her cottage.

  She slipped from the horse’s back. After patting his neck and collecting her thoughts, she walked over to the patio.

  Settling next to Sheena, she asked the vampire, “Been here long?”

  “Yes.” Sheena swept back strands of long, dark-auburn hair and then stared at Jade with piercing green eyes. “You were supposed to stay within the village. I came to keep you company, but you clearly had other plans.”

  Jade shook her head in astonishment. “What exactly is the range of your hearing?”

  Ignoring the query, Sheena said, “I’ve been waiting for you since the sun set. And when you didn’t return to your home, I knew precisely where you were.”

  She sighed. “I can’t seem to help myself. No matter how hard I try to do what I’m told, I constantly find myself in a bad position.”

  “Yes, well, I suspect you don’t help matters,” the vampire snapped. “I get the feeling you thrive on sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

  Jade’s teeth bit into her bottom lip but for a moment. She couldn’t hold back what she had to say on the matter. “Has it occurred to you I don’t wander into these messes, but that I’m somehow thrust into them? I don’t seek out trouble, Sheena. And as a matter of public record, I’m now one of the few who are supposed to counteract these h
azards.”

  Sheena crossed her arms over her chest, looking indignant. “You act impulsively, Jade. And look where it’s gotten you.”

  Jade stood. Facing her friend, she said, “I’m not injured. I didn’t do anything impulsively. I put a great deal of thought into my actions this evening in order to stall the fire wraith. In order to keep Tanner, Michael and I safe. In order to keep demons at bay until Darien and Morgan arrived. I didn’t do anything careless or premeditated,” she insisted.

  Continuing, Jade told her, “Tanner came for me when the wraith’s army began to materialize. I couldn’t let them penetrate the woods—that was well established between the slayers and the king. So instead of becoming a sitting duck, I took a stand. I won’t defend that anymore, Sheena. I did what I had to do. Plain and simple.”

  The vampire stewed. Jade permitted her to do so.

  Then Sheena got to her feet and demanded, “What about the king?”

  Jade had no idea what to say on that subject, other than, “I’ll deal with him when he cools down.”

  Spearing her with a sharp look, Sheena said, “There might not be anything with which to deal. And I wouldn’t expect him to cool down anytime soon. You constantly negate his good intentions when it comes to you. I understand you’ve basically raised yourself and find it difficult to answer to someone else. But Jade, there’s one thing you continually forget—you’re not in this alone. Not anymore.”

  She pushed past Jade and, in a blink of an eye, disappeared into the dark night.

  * * * * *

  Morgan delivered news to Jade a few hours later.

  “We’ve annihilated the entire rogue army,” he told her. “I can’t guarantee there aren’t other renegades out there. My guess is there are. But nothing like what we’ve just encountered. And I can’t imagine them rising up anytime soon. They won’t have the numbers to band with and they certainly won’t be inclined to take on the alliance following such a swift victory over those who moved close to Ryleigh, considering it a weak link.”

  “We’re not a weak link,” she said adamantly. “Tanner and I are determined to keep the peace, whether or not the king still accepts me as his ambassador.”