Demon Wolf

by Bonnie Vanak

  Taking her by the elbow, he escorted her to his truck while the men continued examining the creature in the sack. Dale folded his arms across his chest. “Details. Now.”

  She clenched her fists and gulped down a deep breath. “I didn’t want to share this in front of your men.”

  “What I know, they know. They’re the best and most highly trained at hunting demons. Go on.”

  “Jimali is not a what, but a she. She’s a minion, a scout sent by specific demons to find the target they’re searching for. Easily sacrificed if necessary, very expendable.”

  “It looks almost human.”

  “She was human. Not anymore.” Keira locked her gaze to his. “This is what I didn’t want your men to know. She must have been sent by Centurion demons. They’re sending out scouts to search for you, and they’re narrowing in. Unless you regain your powers and eradicate the darkness inside you, they will find you, and when they do, they’ll kill you.”

  Chapter 14

  Dale didn’t scare easily.

  As a commander of the finest SEAL team in the U.S. Navy, he prided himself on being a levelheaded, confident leader.

  Hearing that Centurion demons were on his heels didn’t frighten him.

  But the news sure as hell scared Keira.

  Sweat trickled down her brow. He could pick up threads of her increasing heartbeat and even if his hearing wasn’t ultrasensitive, the way her hands shook clearly indicated fear.

  He wanted to bring on the Centurions, lead them straight to his house and he’d be waiting, not with guns and bullets, but everything he had. She was right. He needed all his powers at top performing levels.

  And he needed to know why these particular demons scared her so much. The woman had calmly confronted imps, Geldsens and ectoplasmic demons, evil creatures that would send a strong man into shrieking hysterics. And now, with the news about the Centurions, she broke a sweat.

  Why?

  “If you eradicate the darkness tainting me, will all my powers return? What must I do to regain all my lost magick?”

  Keira scrubbed her palms against her skirt. “The healing sessions will help. I’ll have to ramp up the intensity and work faster, because it’s usually a slow process.”

  “Let’s do it. Right now.”

  * * *

  Dale lay on the table in the spare bedroom, watching Keira arrange her crystals in a row. Downstairs in the basement, his men guarded Jimali, now imprisoned in a steel cage as Keira had instructed. If she succeeded in restoring Dale’s powers and ridding him of the demon sig, Jimali would grow confused, like a hound that lost the fox’s scent.

  Right now, the creature was snarling and snapping to be free. It had Dale’s scent and wanted at him, to mark him for her masters and then share in the prize of slowly torturing him to death.

  He wondered if Jimali were the demon wolf he sought. Keira had been evasive when he’d asked if the demon could also be a wolf. But the thing’s scent was too foul. No way in hell would he find himself attracted to it.

  Unlike the demon wolf that had shifted into a lovely human woman, whose scent made his cock grow rigid even as his blood dripped to the floor.

  “Like humans, paranorms have chakras, entry doors to the person’s aura. But unlike humans, the more powerful the paranorm, the more protected the chakra. It’s tougher to heal a paranorm than a human, and you’re a Primary Elemental Mage. Your body naturally protects itself against anyone tampering with your aura and your powers.”

  “Then how did the Centurions strip away my powers and invade my aura?” he asked.

  “They targeted specific areas by testing you to see your greatest fears and then used those fears against you, ramping them to extreme levels and opening you up to being invaded. Like an enemy army striking down all a country’s defenses first before taking the offense.”

  She gave him a serious look. “I thought couching it in military terms might help offset your suspicion of woo-woo crap. Because if this is going to work fast, you’re going to have to trust me, and believe it can work.”

  Keira picked up a clear crystal, the glowing stone emitting a low hum. “Luminaires use a crystal infused with their own natural white light, combined with elemental energy, to divine what chakras need cleansing.”

  She passed the stone over his body. At his scalp, throat and heart, the crystal’s serene white glow faded, becoming cloudy and pulsing weakly. “Your crown, throat and heart chakras are unbalanced, but not that weakened.”

  Next, she passed the stone over his solar plexus and it glowed white, the hum becoming louder and the light more strident. “Your sacral chakra is fully functional. It’s tied to your creativity and sexuality.” Again, the charming blush. “No problems there.”

  Dale agreed. He never had trouble in either of those areas, just not enough time to indulge them.

  She passed the crystal over his body and hovered at his groin. Her perfume teased his senses and his cock gave an appreciative twitch. Dale tried to concentrate on something else, anything else. Baseball. Home runs. Sliding into home plate...sliding into a woman’s soft, wet core. Score.

  Then he imagined the Centurions, their thick, eerie giggles each time the demon wolf shredded his already raw flesh and he screamed....

  Dale breathed deeply and looked down. The crystal had turned jet-black.

  “Your root chakra. The sig pattern is here. This is the gateway they used. Root chakras affect fear and can be weakened from several things. Being tired, career troubles...”

  He sat up. “When the demons lured me into the trap, I was exhausted, two days without sleep, worried about my men and that damn mission in Honduras. Kept thinking I should have gone with them instead of staying in the office, dealing with bureaucratic bull.”

  “That’s it. You were restless, anxious and your guard was let down, and the demons only had to prey on your fears to slip their mark inside your aura. This is why you’ve been irritable and tired, and resisting any kind of change.”

  She went to the table and selected three vials of oils and poured them into three separate dishes. The pleasing scents of cedarwood, sandalwood and patchouli filled the air. Keira brought over a flat, round black onyx stone with runes carved into it. She placed it on his groin.

  “Now for the hard part,” she murmured.

  “Actually, it’s soft right now,” he joked.

  She looked sympathetic. “I know this is difficult for you, because it goes against what you’re conditioned to believe. I know you’re scared, too, because it is different. Trust me. Remember your origins, and remember a time when you weren’t in the military, when your life was taken up more with music and creativity and you opened yourself up to other belief systems, to trusting others and yourself.”

  Keira picked up his hand and stroked her fingers gently across the back. “You were trained as a classical pianist and became a military man because your heart suffered to see such evil in the world. Your musical talent was set aside to focus on the physical because while your playing brought joy to others, it didn’t bring you joy. Not while there were bad men out there who wanted to silence the joy for others forever.”

  So true. He’d traded his Steinway for a pistol.

  “When we’re finished, you’ll be able to play again, because you’ll have balance. You’ll remember how to center yourself with both work and leisure. Now close your eyes and breathe deeply, as if you’re getting ready to dive into a deep, warm pool.”

  He didn’t know what to say. Dale closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

  “We’re going to use music to help you focus. Think of a time when you were happiest playing the piano.”

  He did, remembering concertos and notes and the joy of losing himself in the music.

  The low, lyrical sound of her chanting voice drummed a soothing vibration in his ears. Her notes corresponded with each inhale and exhale. Harmony and melody, he thought, concentrating on holding the image of himself sitting at the keyboard, stro
king the keys to coax the music into life once more. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20. As he imagined the final movement, working up to the final cadenza, her chanting became louder and more urgent as he played faster and faster.

  The chords of the concerto became more frantic and resonated with energy.

  At the crescendo, a thrilling D-major finish, the music in his mind became loud and brilliant and fierce. He heard Keira grunt, felt something yank, hard, out of him and then an odd but fulfilling emptiness, as if a heavy weight had lifted from him. He felt energized and filled with vitality, stronger than he’d been in weeks. Hell, no. Months. A low, vibrating frequency hummed in his body. His powers.

  And then a loud, shrill scream split the silence. Dale opened his eyes and sat up, staring in dumbstruck disbelief.

  Keira lay on the ground, tussling with a large, white-and-black-striped snake about seven feet long. Not a snake, not with those segments and the blind, searching head.

  A worm.

  Keira screamed. “Help me! I can’t fight it off any longer.”

  Jumping off the table, he went to seize the worm, and remembered. Dale stretched out his hands. “Let go,” he commanded.

  Releasing the worm, she rolled away. Using his telekinesis, he yanked the wriggling creature away from her, flinging it against the mirror. It hit the mirror with a mighty crack, shattering a glass pane, and slithered downward. Still alive. Still writhing and hissing.

  Dale gave a cold smile. “Come and get it, bastard.”

  Gathering his powers, he sent a current of pure white light singing through the air, aimed at the worm now sliding toward Keira, who was gasping for breath as she crawled on her elbows away from the creature.

  The energy ball hit the creature, sizzling along its scaly skin, and the worm screeched from its gaping mouth filled with rows of sharp teeth. Then it burst into a froth of white goo. Even as it burst, he sent another energy current toward it, burning the white gelatinous mess into ash.

  Particles settled over the floor, lightly dusting the hem of Keira’s dress.

  He ran to her side, smoothed a hand over her sweating forehead. “You okay?”

  She nodded.

  He glanced at the ash-strewn floor. “That thing, that worm, it was inside me?” His guts churned at the thought.

  She nodded again.

  “It’s what made me bad-tempered and out of balance, draining my powers,” he offered.

  “Worms tend to do that to people.” Keira gave a shaky smile. “But it’s gone now. You did it. You got rid of the demon sig. You’re on your way to healing now. It will take a little while to get all your powers back, but now you’re no longer blocked. And I bet you’ll have better control over them, too.”

  “We did it. Together. We make a good team.” Dale, now filled with a wild energy and joy, helped her to her feet.

  Unable to resist the softness of her skin or how lovely she looked, despite her tousled curls and a smudge of ash on her cheek, he drew her into his arms and kissed her.

  She stiffened and planted her palms against his chest, but then made a small whimper he knew was pleasure, as her body relaxed and her arms wound around his neck. She tasted like ripe berries and sharp wine, and her mouth was soft and warm and pliant.

  His cock gave an eager jerk upward in response. Never had he been aroused this quickly or wanted a woman this badly. Even making love with Kathy hadn’t been like this, searing and intense, a kiss that struck a deep chord inside him, leaving him hungering for more.

  Too long the joy had vanished from his life. Dale intended to make up for lost time, and Keira would play a part. His accompanist, who had returned his life to him.

  When she sighed into his mouth, and her tongue darted out to meet with his, he nibbled at her lower lip. With tremendous reluctance, he broke the kiss. Dale smiled down at her.

  Such a brave, strong soul, this Keira Solomon. Never had he imagined an unorthodox Luminaire, with her unconventional magick, would cure his soul.

  “Now all we need to do is find those Centurions and that damn demon wolf.” He rubbed a thumb along her cheek. “And fry her to ashes, too.”

  * * *

  Dale wanted to fry her to ashes. Keira sucked down a breath, and put a trembling finger over her kiss-swollen mouth. He was filled with energy, his powers almost fully restored.

  Hers were nearly diminished. After pouring everything she had into the crystal, and then yanking away the psi worm from his spirit, she had nothing left. Vulnerable, weakened, she didn’t dare say anything because in this state, she could very well spill her secret.

  His sexual energy thrummed and sent vibrations of pleasure echoing in her feminine core. Drained of all energy and power, her female self responded to his pure masculine force, aching to be filled. If she didn’t balance her own chakras and restore some semblance of internal harmony, she’d surrender to desire and tumble into bed with him.

  Bad idea.

  Dale rubbed a thumb along her lower lip. “You look like you’ve been kissed and kissed well. Let’s take a minute before going downstairs?”

  Keira tried to gather her scrambled thoughts. “Downstairs?”

  “The basement. My men are there, watching Jimali. Remember?” He kissed the corner of her mouth again. “You smell like honey and fresh lavender.”

  “Maybe I should meditate, try to restore myself first. I’m a bit shaky.”

  “Meditate later. I’ll even light the candles for you.” Dale tugged her hand. “I don’t want to spend another minute with a damn demon in my house. Right now I feel I could fry an army of them.”

  When they reached the basement, all four SEALs stood around an empty cage, a circle of wary, frowning men. Keira’s heart pounded harder.

  “Curt! It vanished. Poof!” Sully snapped his fingers.

  “More like a slow fade-out,” Dallas amended. “First it stopped snarling, and looked confused and then this black slit appeared in the air and Jimali was yanked inside.”

  “Because it lost the scent, and whoever is holding its leash recalled it before anyone could poke and prod and discover who sent it.” Keira flexed her sore fingers. Holding onto the worm that she’d pulled from Dale’s aura had drained her.

  He told them about the worm, and his men’s faces tightened. “That thing was inside you all this time? What do you want us to do, Curt?” Dallas asked.

  “I want a full search of every restaurant, bar, cathouse, doghouse, any house either I’ve been in, or any of you have visited in the past two months. Need a full electromagnetic scan for dark energy forces, specifically demon.”

  “Stephen can help us. He can scent demon blood a yard off. Vamp’s a real hound dog about demons,” Dallas stated.

  “I’ve assigned Stephen to finding the bolt-hole used by the Centurions and that hellhound wolf.”

  “That demon wolf. When you find her, let us have at her, Curt. We’ll all take turns doing to her what she did to you.” Dallas growled and extended his long fingers. Claws erupted from the tips.

  Draicon werewolf. Shifters who held the power of changing and other psi powers. All the SEALs nodded grimly.

  Oh, gods. They’d kill her. Simply kill her. Show her no mercy. Keira pasted a smile on her face, hoping no one heard her rapidly pounding heart.

  Dale paused and glanced at Sully. “We may need to bring your sister in on this.”

  Blood drained from the young SEAL’s face as the others chuckled. “Ah, hell, Curt, don’t do this to me.”

  “Cassandra’s a pure Mystic Witch. She’s got years of skill flushing out demon energy.”

  Dallas elbowed Sully. “Your sister’s going to have a good time, looking through all those nasty places you’ve been to, Sul. All those skanky beds—”

  “Enough,” Dale interrupted. “Sully, you team with Cassandra and search all the restaurants. The family ones.”

  Sully looked relieved.

  “The rest of you, cover the others.”

  But befor
e leaving, the SEALs nodded at Keira. “Thanks, Miss Solomon, for saving our Curt’s hide from that thing. We owe you one,” Dallas said.

  A shaky smile touched her mouth. Remember that when you find out what I really am, okay, fellows?

  When the men left, Dale turned and lightly gripped her upper arms. “You okay? You’re pale and sweating.”

  “I hate basements. And violence.”

  His thumbs slowly stroked over her bare skin, streaking the thin layer of ash left by the exploding worm. “I know. But this is a necessary violence that can save lives.”

  “Got it. Listen, it’s been quite a day. Think I’ll shower this gunk off.”

  Gray gaze searing into her, he stood a breath away. She wondered what it would feel like, to be subjected to his intense focus in bed, his hands stroking over her bare skin. Dale had a smoldering male sexuality she found irresistible, a promise of molten pleasure. Images flared: a naked Dale covering her, all slick, hot maleness as he pushed slowly into her untried body.

  “Now you’re blushing,” he said softly.

  Keira put her trembling hands to her face. “All these demons, zinging straight out of hell, no wonder. It’s too hot. I can’t stand the heat.”

  Dale picked up her hand and thumbed her knuckles. “There’s also a good kind of heat, the type stemming from passion. The flush of a woman’s skin, indicating her desire.”

  “Best remedy for that is a cold shower. Real cold.” Keira smiled and stepped back, breaking the connection. She did not want to bond with this man, emotionally or physically.

  “Don’t be afraid of me, Keira. You restored me. I’m in your debt.”

  “I take credit cards,” she said lightly.

  He laughed, but as she turned and fled up the stairs, she felt the heat of his burning gaze watch every move.

  She’d removed the demon sig from his aura and saved him from turning into demon prey. And now felt like a deer stalked by a hungry wolf. Not demon prey.

  His prey.

  Chapter 15

  Sunday, Keira awoke early and donned her oldest clothing, and tackled the yard. Planting gave her great pleasure. Feeling the dirt slip between her fingers grounded her to the earth.