Visions of Vengeance: A Paranormal Romance (The Gypsy's Curse Book 2)

by Meg Anne

  “Fine, let’s go get some coffee then, because I don’t want to be anywhere you aren’t.” Lucas linked his fingers through hers, and Skye let herself be led through the house and into the kitchen.

  By her guess, and since there was no coffee already brewing, James and Lizzie were still asleep. Lucas started to head for the coffee pot, but she pushed him toward the table instead. “You sit; I’ve got the coffee.”

  “I won’t argue with that,” he said and yawned again.

  “Lucas, you really need to sleep.”

  He shook his head. “You’re awake and I want to be near you.”

  “Stubborn ass,” she muttered, but couldn’t keep the smile from her face.

  “You love me,” he rebutted. “So what does that say about you?”

  Skye paused what she was doing to wink at him. “You aren’t wrong, and it says that I’m a glutton for punishment.”

  He rolled his eyes, and she chuckled, turning back to the task at hand. After a few moments, the scent of coffee permeated the air.

  “So, tell me about your morning,” she said as she slid into the seat beside him.

  Lucas stretched an arm over the back of her chair, and Skye instinctively leaned into him. The movements were so smooth, anyone watching would have thought they’d known each other for years rather than only a few weeks.

  “Not much to tell. I called Cap to check on Lucy—who’s enjoying her vacation, by the way—then grabbed the book and did some memorizing. I remember now why I paid those kids to do my homework for me. I hated school.”

  Skye laughed. “I loved it.”

  Lucas groaned. “Of course you did.”

  She shoved his side. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing at all,” he answered with a laugh, pulling her close again and kissing the top of her head.

  The coffee pot stopped percolating, and Skye pushed back out of her chair. “What’s on the schedule for today?” she asked as she prepped two mugs for the coffee.

  “I was thinking maybe we go into town. I’d like to hit up the library again, if it’s been reopened to the public after the murders, and possibly swing by the police station to see what I can find out about them.”

  Her brow wrinkled. “I don’t think they share that kind of info freely, even if you are a detective in the States.”

  Lucas shrugged. “It couldn’t hurt. Worst case scenario, I email the captain and ask him to pull some strings.”

  Skye returned with two mugs, the unicorn for Lucas, of course, and a simple black one for herself.

  “Really?” Lucas asked, getting a look at it.

  “What? You seemed incredibly attached to it.” She took a sip, enjoying the heat of the liquid as she swallowed. “I may stay behind today, if that’s alright. I want to go back through my Gran’s journals. Now that I know what I’m looking for in regard to the curses, maybe something new will pop out at me.”

  “Curses?” Lizzie asked as she and James walked into the kitchen.

  “Eavesdrop much?” Lucas asked, but there was no heat in the words.

  “Always. So what was that about curses?”

  “Apparently Skye and I were always meant to be together,” Lucas answered, his eyes never leaving Skye’s face. She blushed and took another sip of her coffee.

  Lizzie let out a laugh and turned to Skye. “Seriously, though, what curses?”

  “If my dreams are correct,” she started, looking at Lucas. “Then one of your great, times probably ten, grandfathers cursed one of my ancestors to only See visions of death.”

  “Woah, wait a damn minute.” Lizzie held up her hands. “I thought Seeing death was, you know, your thing.” She used air quotes around the word ‘thing,’ and Lucas’ arm tightened around her.

  “I guess they weren’t always.”

  Lizzie sat down heavily in the seat beside her. “Great, so the men in my family have always had a tendency to be raging assholes.” She blew a kiss Lucas’ way, and Skye shook her head.

  “Love you, too, sis.”

  “The curse went both ways,” Skye continued. “My ancestor cursed the O’Leary line as well.”

  “So we couldn’t fall in love,” Lucas explained.

  “O’Leary?” Lizzie asked, her eyebrows wrinkled in confusion.

  Skye shot a glare at Lucas. Had he seriously not told her either?

  He shrugged in response and turned toward Lizzie. “Apparently we were once O’Leary’s. Somewhere along the line, our family name was changed.”

  “How do you know all this?” she demanded, obviously pissed to have been left out of the loop.

  “The book you found comes from the O’Leary line. I would never have been able to inherit my power from it had I not been one of their descendants.”

  “Is that why the blood set it off?” James asked, pushing a steaming cup of coffee in front of Lizzie as he sat down.

  Lucas shrugged. “Who knows. Druids have a thing for blood as it is. Could be a Druid thing as much of a ‘proving the bloodline’ thing.”

  “Are we ever going to know who the hell we are or who our family is?” Lizzie asked, frustration heavy in her voice.

  “We’ll get it figured out,” James promised, covering her fisted hand with his. “Just chill.”

  “If you tell me to chill again, I’m going to lovingly throat punch you,” Lizzie responded with a saccharine smile.

  James held up his hands. “Noted.”

  Turning her attention back to Skye, Lizzie asked, “How long have you been having these dreams?”

  “The last couple of nights, but I wasn’t sure they were real until last night.”

  “What was different about last night?” James asked.

  “Lucas explained the O’Leary connection.”

  Lizzie shook her head, looking at Lucas.

  “It’s the first time she mentioned the name to me. I hadn’t told her about the message in the book, so she had no idea,” Lucas explained.

  “Glad I’m not the only one he doesn’t tell things to,” Lizzie muttered.

  Skye snickered.

  James smiled at Lizzie’s tart words, but focused on Lucas. “So, what’s the deal with these curses?”

  “We think they’re partially broken, or at least we’re on the way to breaking them.” At Lizzie’s confused expression, Skye added, “I’m starting to See things other than future deaths, but I want to see if I can find anything else out.”

  “Makes sense.” James took another sip of his coffee.

  Lizzie nodded finally and lifted her own mug. “So? What about you? Any plans for us?” she asked Lucas.

  He told her about his plans to go into town, and Skye let her mind drift off. If she could find a way to break the curses and Lucas could defeat Oliver, they might all have shots at a regular life, one that wasn’t filled with death or psychopaths.

  Well, other than those Lucas and James would face working in Chicago.

  She may never again have to watch someone she loved die, and the idea of that alone thrilled her.

  Maybe she’d be able to have a family, a husband and kids to share her life with. Both things that had seemed impossible before. Especially since she hadn’t wanted to risk Seeing their deaths. Knowing that kind of loss was hard enough once, but having to go through it over and over? There was no way she’d willingly put herself through that kind of agony.

  Skye looked around the table at the three most important people in her life. The future they could build together dangled just out of reach, theirs for the taking. All they had to do was stay alive long enough to grasp it.

  Lizzie and James waited outside, chatting animatedly while Lucas hung behind.

  “The sooner you go, the faster you’ll be back,” Skye teased.

  He scowled. “You know I don’t like the idea of splitting up.”

  Skye sighed and leaned against the doorframe. “I’m twenty-seven years old, Detective. I don’t need a babysitter while I finish my homework.” />
  His eyes darkened. “That’s not what this is, and you know it. He’s here, Skye. The only time I know you’re safe is when I’m with you.”

  Her heart twisted at the words. “Lucas, if he wants to find us, he’s going to. Whether we’re together or not.”

  Deep brackets appeared on either side of his mouth. “Are you sure you won’t come with us? Even if only to ensure my peace of mind?”

  “It will be easier for me to find what I’m looking for without the added distraction of you all staring over my shoulder. This is what we need to do.”

  Lucas sighed, his eyes dropping to his booted feet before lifting back to hers. “Fine. But stay inside, okay? And check in with us regularly.”

  She was about to protest further, but the tight expression on his face told her this is as far as he was willing to budge. “Fine. I promise.”

  Some of his tension ebbed, and he nodded. “Alright. I’ll be back before it’s dark.”

  Skye smiled. “Looking forward to it.”

  His grin took on a wolfish cast. “Don’t study too hard. I have plans for you when I get home.”

  Her heart sped up in her chest as a wave of heat rolled through her. “Oh?” she asked, trying to keep her voice light. “Care to enlighten me?”

  “Nope. The suspense is your punishment.”

  Skye laughed. “Why can’t you just spank me like a normal person?”

  Lucas’ eyes flared hot. “Because when I spank you, there’s no way in hell you’d think it was a punishment.”

  Fuck me.

  “Are you coming, or what?” Lizzie shouted.

  Lucas waved a hand in her direction. “Time to go,” he said to Skye.

  “Hurry back,” she stuttered, brain still muddled from his earlier promise.

  He smirked. “I’ll be back soon.”

  Skye nodded. He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. Skye wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his. Lizzie and James whistled loudly, and she pulled back with a flush.

  He brushed a thumb over her cheek, studying her a moment longer before stepping back.

  “Lucas?” she called when he was only a couple steps away.

  “Yeah?” he turned back to look at her.

  “I love you.”

  Her heart damn near burst at the smile that broke out across his face. His twin dimples flashed and his eyes crinkled adorably.

  “I love you, too. Now get inside and lock the door.”

  Skye rolled her eyes, but did as she was told. She rested against the door for a moment, savoring the memory of Lucas standing in the dappled sunlight, looking happier than she had ever seen him. It was a perfect moment. One she’d hold close to her heart until the day she died.

  She smiled and pushed off of the door, heading into the room she’d shared so briefly with Lizzie. Most of her belongings were still in here, including her Gran’s journals. Not wasting any time, she picked all of them up, along with a notebook she’d been using, and headed back into the living room.

  Settling into the couch, she curled her legs up and flipped open the first of the journals. She quickly lost track of time, flipping through pages and jotting down any reference to a curse or the name of a person Gran had helped.

  Startled by the distant ring of the telephone, Skye jumped, one of the thin pieces of paper slicing through her finger.

  “Ow,” she hissed, putting her finger in her mouth and sucking to stem the flow of blood.

  The phone rang again. Glancing at the clock, she stood quickly—she must have missed her first check-in. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and she clutched the side of the couch, swaying in place. Awareness shot through her, and Skye let out a low whimper as a tingle raced up her neck.

  “Not now,” she groaned as a wave of black filled her line of vision.

  But it was too late.

  Her knees gave out, and she fell to the floor with a loud thump. Somewhere in the house, a phone continued to ring.

  Chapter 31

  Lizzie

  Lucas clicked the phone off with a scowl.

  “Still no answer?” Lizzie guessed, frowning in sympathy.

  “She promised she would stay in touch,” he muttered, his face a mix of frustration and worry. He looked like he was about three seconds from bolting to run back and check on Skye.

  If he did that, he’d break some of that newly forged trust he’d built with Skye. She was an incredibly independent person who’d spent the better part of her adult life taking care of herself. She wouldn’t see his popping in to check on her for the thing that it was: his need to protect. Skye would see it as a lack of trust in her own ability to protect herself.

  Their relationship was still so new, and they’d only just given in to their feelings for each other. A desire to protect them both from the unnecessary blow-out had Lizzie cautioning her brother. “Listen, it hasn’t even been two full hours yet. She probably just got sucked into whatever she was doing.”

  “Or so bored she passed out on the couch,” James offered.

  “Yeah, exactly. Just reel in the He-man stuff for a little while longer, alright?” Lizzie asked, squeezing his hand.

  “He-man stuff?” Lucas asked, lifting his brow.

  Lizzie puffed out her chest and cheeks. “Me Lucas. Me big and strong. Take care of little lady. Grrrrrr.” She slammed a fist against her jacket for good measure.

  James sputtered with laughter, but Lucas was not amused. He scowled. “I do not act like that.”

  Lizzie raised her brows, a perfect mirror of his own expression. “I beg to differ.”

  Lucas let out a frustrated breath. “I’m just worried. Something has just felt off ever since we left the house.”

  James went still, eyeing his partner. “A feeling like the ones you get back at home working cases?”

  Lizzie’s eyes flicked back and forth between them.

  Lucas scratched the back of his neck. “A little bit, yeah.”

  “Maybe we risk Skye’s wrath and head back then…” All of James’ earlier amusement had vanished.

  She could tell just by Lucas’ body language what his answer was going to be. Years of trying to convince him to change his mind had taught her exactly what that mix of grim determination and stubbornness meant. “We’ll give it another forty-five minutes. If we don’t hear from her, we head back.”

  The trio nodded. They had just packed up, deciding that none of the books they’d originally found in the library were useful. Other than a village map that told them where a nearby stone circle was located, they hadn’t found anything remotely helpful. And since the section of the library where the murders had taken place was still roped off, there was no new insights to be gleaned there either.

  “Did you still want to check in with the police?” Lizzie asked.

  Lucas huffed. “I’m not sure what good it will do, but that’s still my first instinct.”

  “What can they tell us, that we haven’t already witnessed firsthand?” James asked, not unkindly. He’d transitioned into that easy back and forth they’d always had while working together. Lucas had explained it to her once. They would intentionally poke holes in each other’s theories to test their soundness. It kept them from chasing shallow leads, and it was better to have an explanation worked out before they ever needed it.

  Lizzie adjusted her scarf, suddenly overheated. “I’m going to get some fresh air while you two finish cleaning up.”

  “No, absolutely not.”

  She scowled. “Grow up, I’m going to be right outside where you can literally see me.”

  Lucas’ jaw was clenched so hard, a muscle ticked. “I’m on edge enough as it is. Can’t you just hang on two more minutes and walk out with us?”

  Had they been back at home, Lizzie might have told him to fuck off. But given everything going on she didn’t think that was a particularly wise response. “Fine.”

  Her brother’s relief was palpable. He shifted his focus back to
James to answer his earlier question. “Probably not much. And we don’t have the professor’s handy map this time to give us any indication of where the Druid is going to strike next, either.”

  “Not that it did us much good.”

  The men continued with their back and forth, completely engrossed. She tapped her foot impatiently, tired of standing still. Lizzie glanced down at her watch. It had been well over five minutes and they looked no closer to leaving.

  Restless, Lizzie wandered over to the closest stack, her fingers lightly trailing over the leather spines. After she’d made it to the end of the row, she looked up, checking to ensure the men were still deep in their conversation. They hadn’t even noticed she’d left the table.

  “Figures,” she muttered, turning right to continue her perusal of the books. Lucas said she had to stay inside, he never said she had to stay put.

  She lifted a red book off the shelf and scanned the title. “Farming, Famine, and Plague,” she recited. “How lovely.” Somehow she’d ended up in the medieval agriculture section. She glanced to her left, surprised to see just how far she’d wandered. The lights above her flickered and a shiver of unease had her sliding the book back. Suddenly, hovering beside her brother and boyfriend didn’t sound quite as boring.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  Her blood turned to ice, and she spun toward the hooded figure just beside her.

  Lizzie opened her mouth and screamed.

  The Druid lurched forward, slamming a hand over her mouth and cutting her off mid-scream. “Now, now. Is that any way to say hello, granddaughter?”

  Chapter 32

  Lucas

  A scream ripped through the otherwise quiet library. Lucas and Matthews shared a panicked look before frantically searching for Lizzie who had snuck off without them noticing. She was nowhere to be seen.