Shadow's Soul

by Jami Gray

  “They were dating for a while before Brett’s death. They were young and in love.” Ash’s head lay in Tala’s lap. She scratched his ears and leaned back in her chair. “What does Jenny have to do with any of this?”

  Exactly how to answer that? Telling Tala they were going after the Chavezes was not a healthy move. “Rio mentioned her when we spoke to him.”

  Tala scowled. “Why?”

  “She went to see him.” Gavin sat across from Raine, his legs sprawled, his hands linked behind his head. Despite the deceptively lazy pose, his attention was focused on the witch.

  Tala tucked her flash of confusion away, but not before Raine noted it. “Did Rio say why?”

  “She wanted to know how to bring Brett back,” Raine said.

  This time Tala wasn’t fast enough, her shock obvious. “Excuse me?”

  Raine watched the witch closely. “Who was she to you?”

  Tala’s spine stiffened and if looks could kill, Raine would be a smoking pile of ash. “We share a grandfather a couple generations back, she’s my second cousin, once removed.”

  Gavin dropped his hands. “Was she a strong witch?”

  Tala shook her head and looked down at Ash. “That branch of the family never produced particularly strong magic users.” She buried her fingers in the wolf’s ruff.

  Raine picked up on the tell. Every time Tala was uncomfortable she reached for her pet. “So you don’t think she’d be able to raise a Soul Stealer?”

  It was hard to see the woman’s face. “No, I don’t think Jenny could do that.” Raising her head, she met Raine’s gaze head on. “Most of the family members married humans.”

  Gavin sat a bit straighter in his chair. “But she was still a witch.”

  Tala flicked a wary glance his way. “Yes, she was.”

  Raine’s fingers drummed an absent rhythm on the tabletop, as she stared unseeing out the patio door behind Gavin. A young witch with little power, grieving over her lost boyfriend, could try something desperate but, without the power behind the intent, it wouldn’t happen.

  “A witch and a shifter,” she muttered to herself. Her fingers stilled. “That could not have been a welcome announcement to the Chavezes.”

  Tala’s lips thinned and her arm tensed as she clutched at Ash, but she remained stubbornly silent.

  Oh yeah, not welcomed at all. Time to push. Raine let her lips curl. “Considering how deep prejudices run down here, I can’t think the alpha pair liked the thought of their only son dating a witch.”

  No matter how much Tala fought to keep her face blank, Raine knew she scored a hit. If Tala’s spine stiffened any more she’d snap in half.

  “The alpha felt his son was too young to be dating,” Tala confessed. “But he was wise enough to let it run its course. He felt, given enough time, their relationship would go the way of most first crushes.”

  And from what Raine read between the lines, Tala agreed with him. “I’m guessing it didn’t?”

  Tala let go of Ash with a sigh. She wouldn’t meet Raine’s gaze as she played with her mug of tea. “Jenny came to me about a week before Brett was killed and told me they were considering eloping.”

  Only one reason for that event. “Was she pregnant?”

  Tala shrugged. “She wouldn’t say, but probably.”

  Gavin let out a low whistle.

  Tala grimaced. “I asked if they were planning on telling their parents.” She stopped.

  “And?” Raine prompted.

  Tala’s restless movements stilled, and she raised her head. Sorrow and anger were etched into the skin around her mouth and eyes, aging her. “She said they would, after they were wed. That way no one could separate them.”

  “Poor kids.” Gavin’s quiet mutter turned both women to him. He frowned. “What? Every hormonal teenager thinks love will conquer all until reality cold-cocks them.”

  His words wrung a faint wry smile from Tala. Raine shook her head, ignoring the small ache of being left out of their little moment of understanding. Fighting for her sanity and training for revenge left little time for things like crushes. “So it wasn’t just Brett’s parents that didn’t approve?”

  Tala shrugged. “It was just Jenny and her mom. Her dad passed away when Jenny was little.” Tala’s shoulders slumped. “Erin, her mom, worked long hours so Jenny pretty much raised herself. I don’t think Erin had any idea of what was going on in her daughter’s life.”

  “If she had?” Raine asked.

  “I don’t think it would’ve mattered.” Tala grabbed her cup, pushed up from the table, and took it to the sink. Ash stayed by her chair, but his attention solely on his mistress. “Jenny was a good girl, a great student, and her mom trusted her to keep a level head.” She set the rinsed cup on the draining board and rested her hands on the counter, keeping her back to Raine and Gavin. “When she disappeared, it broke Erin’s heart.”

  “Did anything happen before she disappeared?” Gavin asked. “Something that would trigger her to run away?”

  Tala turned and leaned against the counter’s edge. “I’m not sure.” Folding her arms across her stomach, she frowned at the floor. “At Brett’s funeral, when Jenny showed up, Lizbeth got angry. Said some pretty vicious things.” She paused. “Brett was Lizbeth’s pride and joy. That boy meant everything to her. She had big plans for her son, and Jenny wasn’t a part of them.” She shook her head. “Grief can make strangers of those you know, and grief had a tight fist on Lizbeth.”

  “What did Jenny do?” Raine did her best to keep her question non-confrontational, needing Tala to keep talking.

  “Nothing.” Tala straightened. “There was nothing she could do. She took the verbal beating Lizbeth gave her and when Tomás dragged his wife away, Jenny stayed.” She dragged a hand over the back of her neck and rubbed. “I tried to talk to Jenny afterwards, but she…she wasn’t really there.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It was as if she had shut down. I knew this girl and if anyone went after her the way Lizbeth had, she would’ve given as good as she got. Instead, she just stood there and took it.” Frustration and confusion shimmered in Tala’s voice. “There were no tears, no anger, nothing, and it was heartbreaking. It was as if Brett’s death had broken her spirit. A week later, she was gone.”

  Gavin leaned forward, bracing his arms on his knees. “Does anyone know where she went?”

  “No. Her mom tried to report her missing, but the police said Jenny was eighteen and if she wanted to leave, she could.”

  “No body, no worries,” Raine muttered under breath. It was an attitude she’d run across more than she’d wanted to over the years. Gavin must have caught her words as he sent her a pointed look. ‘What?’ she silently mouthed back.

  Turning away, Gavin shot Tala a new question. “Do you think Jenny is alive?”

  Tala’s restless movements halted and she stared at Gavin. Her mouth opened but nothing came out. Her eyes narrowed as grim resignation turned her expression from shocked to mutinous. Raine watched Tala pull her Magi-mask in place. “I have no proof.”

  “But you have no proof she’s dead, either,” Raine countered, pushing her chair back. She didn’t want to sit anymore. It was time to move things along.

  “Do you have proof of her death?” Tala’s question was hard enough to make Raine reconsider the words sitting on the tip of her tongue.

  “You said you used a necromancer before you called Cheveyo down,” Gavin said. His response clearly indicating he didn’t share Raine’s concerns.

  Tala pressed her lips together so tightly they became thin, pale lines under her flared nose. She gave a short jerk of her head and nothing else.

  He stood, and something in his movement had Ash scrambling to his feet. “We need to go see your necromancer.”

  “Why?”

  It was Raine’s turn to antagonize the witch. “Two reasons,” she started. Standing, she took her time pushing her chair back in place. “One, we’d like to
make sure your necromancer isn’t the one behind the Soul Stealer.” She leaned a hip against the chair back and propped a hand on her hip. “Two, we think it might be worthwhile to see if we can reach Jenny. She might be able to give us a little insight into what’s going on around here.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Mulcahy’s phone call to Gavin delayed their trip to the necromancer’s house. After changing into something more practical than sweats and a blanket, Raine moved down the hall tucking her knives into place as Gavin’s cell rung. She stepped into the kitchen and leaned against the entryway, waiting for him to finish his conversation.

  “I understand.” Gavin’s phone was pressed between his ear and shoulder as he shrugged into his battered leather jacket. “No, we’re just getting ready to head out and check in with Tala’s necromancer, Nati Alcaina.” He moved the small phone to his other ear, listening. Catching sight of Raine, he mouthed, “Mulcahy,” and pulled out a set of keys from his front pocket. The soft jangle of metal on metal was cut off as they disappeared into his fist. “So she’s alive?”

  At his terse question, renewed tension sang through Raine. She moved closer, needing both sides of the conversation. She gave him a mental nudge.

  He flicked her a frown and lowered the phone.

  “According to Vidis.” Mulcahy’s explanation sounded tinny as it emerged from the small phone. “He can feel her through the pack link, but something, or someone, is making it so she can’t respond.”

  “Can he tell where she is?” Gavin tucked his keys back into a pocket.

  “No. Whoever, or whatever, has her did something to weaken the bond she shares with Vidis and the pack. He did what he could to strengthen it before he left.”

  A sick feeling churned in Raine’s gut as she stared at the phone in Gavin’s hand. “How much time does she have?”

  There was a pause, filled only by the quiet static, then, “Vidis is on his way down. He’ll be arriving in a couple of hours. He already called Chavez and demanded the Southwest Alpha be there to meet him.”

  “You’re ignoring my question, Mulcahy.”

  His sigh was slight but audible. “Because I don’t have an answer.”

  His response left her gritting her teeth in frustration. Xander was tough. She had to be. You couldn’t make it to Xander’s level without being one tough bitch, but still…Flashes of the Stealer’s attacks ran like some badly wound film reel. The thought of Xander being picked apart, piece by piece, made Raine want to rend something limb from limb, with as much pain as possible. Preferably the Stealer.

  “Maybe we should skip the necromancer.” Her hands curled into fists, driving her nails into her palms. “We should go to the Chavez’s ranch and tear it apart.”

  “No!” Mulcahy’s sharp reprimand pulled her up short. “You and Durand go find out what Ms. Alcaina knows. Vidis will keep Chavez occupied. If either Alcaina or Chavez have Xander, they won’t be able to do anything more without being caught. The last thing I need is for you to try to take out the Southwest Alpha based on suppositions. We’re going to have enough explaining to do if Vidis slips his leash and takes the fool out.”

  Frustration and worry coalesced into a simmering brew, stringing Raine’s nerves taunt, but she kept her mouth shut. Fine. She’d go talk to the necromancer. No one said she had to be nice about it. She spun around to stalk out, but Gavin’s hand locked around her wrist, holding her captive. She twisted, trying to escape, but he didn’t budge. She gave him a silent snarl, which he returned with a raised eyebrow. Damn him!

  “Where are Chavez and Vidis meeting?” There was no sign of their silent argument in the question he directed at Mulcahy.

  “A private airfield just north of Chavez’s ranch.”

  “Is he coming alone?”

  “Yes.”

  Gavin frowned at Mulcahy’s answer. “That’s not wise.”

  “He has no choice. He’s invading another alpha’s territory without permission. If he brought in reinforcements, Chavez would be within his right to forcibly keep Vidis out.”

  “Coming in by himself isn’t safe if Chavez is in league with the Soul Stealer,” Gavin said. “What’s to stop Chavez from doing whatever he did to Xander to Vidis?”

  “Vidis will eat him alive,” Raine snapped.

  Mulcahy’s short bark of grim laughter came through the phone. “She’s right. I wouldn’t worry about Vidis. Chavez will have his paws full if he picks that fight.” The muffled sounds of movement filled the airwaves. “Go see the necromancer. If it’s not her, make sure you’re at the ranch when Vidis and Chavez return.” He didn’t wait for their terse, “Yes, sirs,” before the line went dead.

  Gavin slipped his phone into his pocket and finally released Raine’s wrist. She shook her hand out. Not that his grip hurt, but she was trying to ignore the tingling of her skin from his touch.

  “You lied to me.”

  The words whipped through the kitchen. Raine turned to face Tala who stood in the entryway. To say the witch wasn’t happy, was a vicious understatement.

  “No, we didn’t.”

  Raine was impressed at the calm, unruffled tone of Gavin’s voice.

  The fury riding Tala was a living thing and Raine didn’t trust her in this mood. Since Raine was ignoring Gavin’s subtle touch to move, he stepped to her side. When she kept her body between him and Tala, she got a sharp smack on her butt. She lovingly stomped on his foot in response.

  Oblivious to the by-play, Tala charged, “I heard you. You’re going after Tomás.”

  “No,” Raine corrected, commandeering Tala’s attention. “We’re going to pay Nati a visit, then we’re going to the ranch to meet up with our alpha.”

  “Cheveyo doesn’t have the luxury of waiting while you two go chasing after the wolves,” Tala sneered, color staining her skin a dusky red. Her eyes narrowed, and even though Raine could see the underlying exhaustion and worry, it didn’t lessen the impact of Tala’s next verbal assault. “Your job is to protect your magi, Raine McCord. Have you forgotten your duty or are the rumors true? Are you really nothing more than Mulcahy’s pet weapon? He aims and lets you loose on his enemies.”

  She didn’t give Raine a chance to respond, her temper fierce. “I’m not letting Cheveyo be his next victim. You promised me you’d find the Stealer and get Cheveyo’s magic back. You’re going to keep your promise.” She brought her hands up, and Raine could feel the magic amassing around her. Before she could react, Tala’s hands opened, releasing her spell to wrap around Raine.

  It didn’t hurt. That realization penetrated Raine’s momentary shock at the unexpected attack. The next was that she recognized the spell. A geas. Tala had just linked Raine’s life with the return of Cheveyo’s magic. Unfortunately, thanks to her tie with Gavin, if Raine failed, she wasn’t the only one paying the price.

  A tidal wave of rage and resentment washed through Raine, scouring her soul. She was so tired of being used by those around her. She may have given her life into Mulcahy’s service, but she wasn’t a mindless weapon. Threats aimed only at her were allowed, but to include Gavin? Oh hell no.

  “Pet weapon?” She stalked forward, backing a stunned Tala through the door. When Ash darted between the two women with growl, Raine didn’t even stop. Flicking a predatory glance to the snarling wolf, she hissed a warning as her leopard surged to the surface. Ash’s ears flattened and he backed away, keeping his body between Raine and Tala.

  “I am no one’s weapon, Magi.” Raine forced herself not to reach out and shred Tala’s skin until it was nothing more than bloody ribbons over bone. “It wasn’t me who called the man I loved into a situation without telling him all the facts. It wasn’t me who put Cheveyo in danger in the first place. I wasn’t the one who too scared of looking weak to be honest when I went looking for help. I’m not the one unable to protect my people.”

  Blind with rage, she had the witch pressed up against the wall now. She was careful to make sure she didn’t touch Tala b
ecause one touch would break the fragile chains holding her back. She leaned in until only a breath separated them. “I have never forgotten where my duty lies. That honor is all yours.”

  “You promised,” Tala whispered, chest heaving as she pressed her spine against the wall, keeping what distance she could manage from the fury facing her.

  Raine snapped her teeth in Tala’s face, causing the witch to flinch. “Take it off.”

  “I can’t. It’s done.”

  The urge to obliterate Tala surged until Raine’s pulse pounded in her ears. Violent tremors wracked her straining body leaving her afraid to move for fear her tenuous control would snap with devastating consequences. Strong arms caged her, pulling her back and she broke.

  Throwing back her head she screamed, giving voice to the fury, anger, and fear, as wave after wave of violence tore through her. She struggled against that which held her from her prey, and when those proved useless, she focused inward, shattering the locks holding that wild, twisted magic deep inside.

  Her magic rose like a silent hurricane, dragging her along even as it gained strength from her chaotic emotions. The now-familiar light show of the magical world flared into existence. For a timeless moment her world held its breath and everything turned crystal clear.

  The geas was a limited binding that tied together two magics until the given purpose was completed within the set timeframe. She could see the exact pattern Tala used to set the spell, but if she changed the weave like so, a dark whisper taunted, she could turn it back on the witch. Savage satisfaction roared as she re-worked the magic.

  Vaguely she could hear someone shouting at her, but their voice was too far away to understand. She didn’t stop, couldn’t stop until the change was complete. She couldn’t negate the impact on her and Cheveyo, but she’d be damned if Gavin was going to get sucked into Tala’s little tantrum. Raine set the last of the magic in place triggering a silent explosion. Her surroundings snapped back in a flood of sound and frenetic movements. When her vision cleared she realized she was no longer in the kitchen. Where was she?