Cursed Heart_The Siren Coven

by Kim Loraine

  "Izzy won't die at twenty-seven, that much is true, but she, along with her sisters, will eventually leave this world. When they do, they will be trapped until judgment day."

  "No. It can't be true," I say, my voice wavering.

  "It is." Helena's strong voice catches me off guard. Gabriel must've known she was there the whole time. The arse.

  "Now, love, how can you know?" I can't help myself, I have to touch her. My hand grips hers before she can pull away. "You're not a seer."

  Her face pales. "I'm not. But are you going to deny the messenger of God? He doesn't lie. He might be annoying beyond measure, but he only speaks truth."

  Gabriel scoffs. "I am right here, in your presence."

  "You are. And I'll do you the same courtesy of never telling a lie." She locks gazes with him and my brother nods.

  "You'll have to kill Calista in the end. There is no way to save your souls from purgatory without her death." Then, he vanishes, leaving us with yet another mess to deal with on our own.

  Her hand goes to her pocket and a slight frown creases her brow. "Right, then. If he's not going to be any more help, I'd better learn how to harness this thing's power."

  My gut clenches when she pulls out the black moonstone. "Helena, what are you doing with that? It's dangerous."

  "Stop it, Fallen."

  "Stop what?"

  She puts both hands on her hips and stares me down. "Telling me how to live my life. I've been through this time and again. I know how to handle myself."

  "Obviously not. You've died countless times. If you knew how to handle yourself, you'd have found Calista and killed her far sooner than now."

  "What do you know of it? You've spent your existence hiding from judgment with no loyalty to anyone."

  Anger burns in my chest. "I fell for the promise of love. Love that I didn't find until it was too late."

  "What do you mean?"

  I can't tell her, not everything. "I watched my soul mate die on the street before I could say a single word to her."

  "I…" she begins but doesn't finish. Her blazing eyes soften. "I wasn't aware."

  "Maybe if you cared for anyone other than yourself you'd have thought to ask me. My existence has been as long as yours, but I wasn't graced with the gift of rebirth and a clean slate. I live every moment of my life with the knowledge I betrayed my Father, my brothers."

  "And are you hoping to gain your wings?"

  Am I? No. But I am desperate for forgiveness and a promise of a future…with her. "I only want to do what's right."

  "What's right?"

  I've had enough of this conversation. She will push until I tell her everything if I let her. "Enough. I'm tired of this." Tugging her close, I press our bodies together and trail my free hand over the soft skin of her throat. "I'll need to feed again, soon. Are you prepared to provide me what I need?"

  She takes her lower lip between her teeth and flicks her gaze up to meet mine. "I was hoping you'd say that."

  3

  Helena

  Tamiel stares at me with hunger, but there's a fierce longing behind his eyes too. That comes from my siren song. I've seen it far too often to be able to ignore the familiar expression. Part of me feels guilt and a pang of loss. The poor angel doesn't even know I've bewitched him. I hate myself a little for wishing he desired me like that without magic driving his reaction.

  "Not now, Fallen." I wave a dismissive hand and step aside. It's too tempting to fall into bed with him and forget everything I've got looming. I’m on a deadline, and I need more power. I can't give him more of me.

  "I wasn't propositioning you, love." He reaches behind his head and pulls his shirt off in one smooth motion, those beautiful muscles of his abdomen flexing and moving under his skin with every stretch.

  My mouth runs dry and I have to swallow hard to clear my throat. "What are you doing, then?"

  He cocks a dark eyebrow and smirks. "There's this thing called the shower. Ever heard of it? People use them when they need to clean their bodies. As much as I loathe to wash the scent of you off me, I can't very well go out smelling like witch."

  Why not? I almost ask him, but don't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing I'd like my claim on him to be there. That the idea of him wearing me on him sends my blood singing with need. Oh, God, why do I feel this way? I need to get control of myself and stop focusing on the beautiful half-naked man in front of me.

  "Out? Where are we going?" I finally force out.

  "We? No, love. Me. I am going to meet with a contact I've got here. He's taken over my duties since your lot summoned me. Now that I'm here, I see no reason to leave him on his own."

  "What duties? You can't possibly have duties."

  The look in his eyes stops me cold. I shouldn't make light of anything he does. He's a fallen angel, one bent on redemption. There's no telling what he's been doing for Gabriel and the archangels since we locked Lucifer in his prison.

  "I do more than sit around pining for my soul mate, Helena. Since Sariel's redemption, I've been fighting the remaining fallen, but not only them. There's so much evil out in the world. You've no idea. The things I've seen and done."

  Shaking my head, I stride past him. "You think I haven't had my share of horrors? I've done things that should guarantee my place in Hell over my many lifetimes. You seem to forget, I'm one of the most powerful witches to ever walk this earth. Before we were cursed, Izzy, Gwen, and I could control and manipulate all the elements, create spells that were unbreakable, for God's sake, we hid an archangel from the eyes of his brothers and from God himself. We were nearly unstoppable."

  "Until the Flood," he mutters.

  My blood runs cold at that. Yet another thing we share. When God flooded the earth, we all lost. The fallen lost their soul mates and were forced to take the bodies of vampires in order to survive. The rest of us died. "Yes. Until then."

  "Nothing can stop an act of God."

  He's bloody well right. Taking a deep breath, I toss my hair back and lift my chin. It's been a long time since I thought of those days, but I'm not going to let him drag me back there. "Exactly, so let's not give Him reason to need to use another one. How long until we need to leave for your meeting?"

  He grits his teeth. "You're not coming along. Not on this and that's final. My contact isn't exactly a fan of yours."

  Pride wells in my chest. "Oh, so he's heard of me, has he?"

  "He's witnessed you in all your terrible glory, love. Let's just say, you're not on his Christmas card list."

  "Oh, now I have to know."

  A smirk twists his lips. "Not this time. Trust me, please? I'll need to ease him into the fact that I'm working with you three."

  I could enact my siren song's power on him again, but he's smart. The man will figure it out sooner if I continue twisting my spell around his heart. He has to feel like he's got some semblance of control. "Fine. But when you get back, we're going out. I need to see how New York has changed since I was last here."

  "You want me to take you on a…date?"

  The thought sends a rush of excitement through me. That is exactly what I want. "Is it too much to ask for you to wine and dine me, Fallen? It's not like I won't put out."

  "Won't you?" That damnable eyebrow cocks again and makes things low in my belly tighten with need.

  "In a manner of speaking. My body in the form of my blood." I trail a finger across his bare chest. My gaze runs down his torso. If I don't step back right now, we'll end up fucking against the wall. Which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. "And from the way your trousers are straining, it seems you know how worth it I am."

  Sure enough, he steps forward, his hips pressing me backward until I hit the wall. One large palm cups my nape and the tension between us should be causing sparks to fly. His breath is on my lips when he murmurs, "Every moment I've spent on my own is worth even one time with you."

  I shiver against him, needing to tear my gaze away but my body won't allow it
. "You're more…intense than I thought."

  "What do you mean?"

  I roll my hips, brushing his erection and allowing myself a hint of the friction I desperately need. "I thought, once we really started talking you wouldn't want me any longer. Your flirting and teasing would stop, and I'd be over wanting you. But I think it's made you even more tempting."

  His grip around the nape of my neck tightens as he presses our foreheads together. "You want me." His breath is a harsh rasp over my cheek. "Good," he says before his lips descend and claim mine.

  I'm lost to his kiss, the scent and feel of him overtaking everything else in my mind. It's almost as though he's got me under his spell rather than the truth of the matter. This isn't real. This is a connection forged by my siren song. I need to remember that. We can enjoy each other, stop Calista, and then I'll cut him loose. It's not fair to him to keep him any longer than that when his soul mate might be out there waiting to be found. Waiting for his love.

  "Join me in the shower?" His voice is a harsh rasp across my mouth. "I'll make it worth your time."

  Oh, I want to. More than he can know. "If I get in the shower with you, you won't make your meeting because we'll end up in bed together."

  He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. "You're right. I won't be gone long. Promise me you'll stay inside?"

  I nod. I've got plenty to do here before I can make any kind of move to find Calista. "I'll be ready and waiting when you return."

  He steps back, dragging his fingers through tousled dark hair. "You'd better be."

  The promise of punishment echoes in his words as he walks away, making me wonder just what he'll do to me if I leave. Do I want to risk it? The thought of him hovering over me, making me moan as he slaps my bare ass with his palm until it burns has my pussy clenching and my breaths going shallow.

  It might be fun to disobey.

  Tamiel

  As painful as it was to tear myself away from Helena's delectable curves, I somehow managed. But now I'm standing under the spray of icy cold water, desperate for release and unwilling to let myself come. I'm saving my orgasms for her and her alone. Who knows how long she's going to let me keep her?

  After my shower I find her sitting cross-legged in the center of the living room. She's got a mirror on the floor in front of her and candles lit.

  "What are you doing?" I ask.

  "Trying to find a nearby coven. Allies or enemies, they'll have information for me."

  Enemies? The thought of her having more people after her sends apprehension through me. "How will you know which they are?"

  "They all start out as friends. Calista was our best friend before she cursed us. Cain and Abel were brothers, and we all know how that ended."

  I shouldn't leave her. My gut says it's the wrong choice. "I don't like the idea of you being here alone."

  "Then you'd better hurry back before I get too bored."

  "Helena. You promised."

  "Yes, yes, I remember." She frowns. "But you're the one who got me all hot and bothered and then abandoned me."

  I can't deny how much I love knowing she wants me. "Do I need to restrain you in the bedroom until I return?"

  A fire lights in her eyes. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? Knowing I'm at your mercy."

  Yes, I fucking would. "Don't tempt me, siren."

  "Can't take a little tease?"

  I sigh when my phone buzzes, reminding me I'm already late for my meeting. "Don't get into any trouble while I'm gone."

  She straightens her shoulders and huffs. "I'm not a bloody child."

  Father help me, but I love her willful nature. "Then stop acting like one."

  The air crackles with electricity and the scent of lightning hits me. What has she done? A spell, that much is certain. "Helena?" I say, but she doesn't respond. "Helena? What have you done to me?"

  She still says nothing, then she turns her smiling face toward me and motions to her ears, mouthing, "I can't hear you."

  The witch has me blocked. The epitome of a magical cold shoulder. That's fine. She can stay silent for all I care. When I get home, I'll have her on her back, crying my name whether I can hear her or not. At that thought, my cock goes rock hard in my pants. It takes everything in me not to stride across the room, throw her over my shoulder, and take her to my bed where I can lock her up and keep her safe.

  Turning on my heel, I force myself not to look back as I head out. I've searched for her for lifetimes, and now that I've got her, it seems like the worst choice to leave her for even a moment. But if I don't continue my work, there's no guarantee I'll get to keep her. Everything I do is with her in mind. I'm going to make the world safer so she can be with me longer. She deserves a man who will shower her with love and devotion. I can be that man. I am that man.

  Opting to use vampiric speed rather than drain my angelic grace, the usual half an hour drive takes me under five minutes on foot, but I didn't beat Devin here. The tall, blond vampire is standing next to the entrance of Central Park with an unlit cigarette between his fingers and a look of pure annoyance on his face.

  "It's not like you to be late, Tamiel. What's going on?" His Southern drawl betrays his roots, softening him a little. But I know the truth. This vampire has been through hell. He's shared a body with one of my fallen brothers, been the prisoner of Lucifer himself, and seen the woman he loves die. He knows what we're up against.

  "I got…waylaid."

  "When Feathers came to see me, I was surprised to hear you'd come back to town so soon. I can't say I'm disappointed. I'm ready to go back to Seattle." I can't stop my smile. Devin is the only creature to ever get away with calling Gabriel by some sort of nickname. If I tried it, I know he'd strike me down.

  "Well, I'm back now. What's been happening around here? Any movement from the demons?"

  Devin shrugs his broad shoulders. "No more than usual. I took down a few of the fallen who'd clawed their way back to the surface. I thought they'd almost all been taken out, but they keep returning from wherever the fuck we send them when we kill them. Feather's won't give me a way to smite them forever. I think he still has hope some of them can be redeemed."

  "Faith," I correct.

  "What?"

  "What my brother has is faith that, like me, there are some of the fallen who've seen the error of our ways."

  He frowns. "So, you think they can be saved?"

  "It's possible. But I don't think it's realistic."

  The vampire steps closer to me and narrows his eyes. "You look…different." Then he takes a deep breath. "You smell different too."

  Bugger. I'd done everything I could to wash Helena's scent from my body, but her blood is another matter. "I fed."

  "On a witch. Her magic is all over you."

  Crossing my arms over my chest, I stare him down. "Is there a problem with that?"

  "Gabriel's been cagey about you ever since he sent me to take over. And, if I'm completely honest, I don't totally trust you."

  I feign indignation. "What?" Truthfully, he has little reason to trust me aside from the fact that Gabriel does.

  "You weren't exactly on the side of good until recently. And, if Gabriel thought you were on the right side, he'd have given you—"

  My palm twitches and grace collects in the form of blinding light as the sword of Michael manifests in my hand. "This?"

  "Holy shit," Devin mutters.

  "I can smite my fallen brothers, and I will if I have to. I need you to understand something about me. If I'd known Lucifer was pulling the strings when it came to the fallen's hope to get back into Heaven, I would never have been part of it. All I wanted was to find my own soul mate."

  "And have you?"

  This is where I should lie. But I can't bring myself to deny Helena. "I have."

  "She's a witch?"

  "Her name is Helena."

  His eyes widen. "Wait a second. Not the bitch who kidnapped Selah?" I bristle at his harsh words about her and open my mouth to p
rotest, but he continues. "Helena, one of the three witches who helped Sariel fall from Heaven. They are the cause of all this. Don't you know they were directly responsible for Lucifer's plot to kill Willow? My Willow?"

  "Well…" I draw the word out, hoping to bring him down a notch. "Technically that was Gwen's vision, not a vendetta against your woman."

  "You can't be serious. Those creatures are as bad as the fallen. They abandoned us as soon as Lucifer was caged."

  I cock an eyebrow. "But they didn't have to come to your aid at all."

  "I doubt they were trying to help. Are you sure she's meant for you? Sariel was wrong before."

  Closing my eyes against the anger burning in my chest, I take a long breath. "I've known it was her nearly three decades. I watched her die and thought I'd lost her. Devin, I need you to believe me when I say, this woman is mine and I'll do whatever I have to in order to keep her."

  He rakes a hand through his long hair and huffs. "You angels are the most devoted bunch of assholes I've ever seen." Then he trains his ice-blue gaze on me. "Feathers know she's yours?"

  "I think so. He sent me to them."

  "So, what are you there for? Why help them?"

  "They're part of something bigger."

  He rolls his eyes. "They always are. Can't we just have calm and normal for a while?"

  "Devin, you're a vampire. There's nothing normal about you."

  "Do you need anything from me?" he asks.

  "Not yet. I'll call if that changes."

  In the blink of an eye, the vampire is gone, and I'm left feeling strangely calm. The cards have been laid out on the table, as it were. Now, it's time to get back to my woman. I promised her a date.

  Impatience sets in at the thought of her, waiting, willing to take the next step with me. Letting me have her body so I can win her heart. I use my grace to transport myself to the front door of my apartment, not caring that I've expended too much of my power in a short time. I just need to be with her.

  A crash, followed by the sound of men shouting at each other has me swinging the door open so hard it dents the wall.