Incubus of Bourbon Street
Page 22
“Just a couple of months.” She placed a napkin over the bib of her overalls and then bit into one of my chocolate cream cheese cupcakes. Her curly gray hair bobbed as she nodded her head in satisfaction. “Dang, Jade. I forgot how good these are.”
“I know, right?” I broke a piece of the cupcake off and popped it in my mouth. “Two months? Isn’t that a little fast to get engaged?”
She shrugged. “They were married for almost seven years. It’s not like they don’t know each other.”
“True. But a lot has happened since then.” Like the fact that she’d kept me from him, lied to me about who my real father was, and then spent fifteen years in purgatory. They might have a few issues to work out.
“Try to be happy for them, Jade,” she said gently. “They’ve both lost a lot of years. Sometimes it’s better to just live than to be cautious.”
Her words made me glance at Kane over her head. He was staring at me with an odd expression and then he nodded. “She’s a smart lady, your aunt.”
I turned to look at my parents, caught the love shimmering through them, and said, “Yes, yes she is.”
***
There’s nothing worse than waiting for something when you have no idea how long the wait is supposed to be. It had been twenty-five hours since we’d left Lailah and Pyper in the angel realm. And I’d taken to pacing.
“Jade, you’re not helping,” Gwen gently chided.
“I can’t help it.”
“Do you want to get out of here? Go get lunch maybe?”
I shook my head. “No. I need to be here when they get back. But you should go. Take Mom and Marc out. Get gumbo and hurricanes. Have some fun.”
“Gumbo?” I heard Marc say from the other room.
“Yes,” I called. “Go eat. No need for everyone to wait around here with us.”
“What do you think?” I heard him ask my mom. Then there was a giggle.
Oh, jeez. Please go, I silently pleaded.
Gwen laughed and touched my arm. “Don’t worry, we’ll get out of your hair.”
“Thanks.”
Ten minutes later, the three of them were off for a day in the French Quarter while Kane and I settled in for the wait. But just as we started a movie, the front door burst open.
“What did you forget?” I asked absently, fiddling with the volume.
“Just my manners,” Pyper said as she flew across the room and landed on the loveseat in between the two of us.
“Pyper!” I let out a happy squeal and wrapped my arms around her at the same time Kane did. The three of us sat there in a hug for a long moment, laughing and crying. Well, Pyper and I cried. Kane didn’t.
When I finally let go, I fixed my gaze on Lailah, who was standing in the middle of the room, shaking her head at us.
“I told you I’d take care of her,” Lailah said, smiling.
“And so you did.” Pyper beamed at her. “And thank you.”
“Best soul guardian ever.” I got up and gave Lailah a hug.
She stiffened, but when I didn’t relent, she finally hugged me back.
“That wasn’t so hard,” I teased, “now was it?”
She rolled her eyes at me. “No. But don’t get used to it.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I tugged her over to the two chairs that faced the loveseat. She sat in one, and I sat in the other. Kane and Pyper were across from us. “Okay, now tell me everything.”
Pyper’s smile fell and she glanced away. “Can we maybe talk about it later?”
Every instinct in my body screamed to demand that she give us the details, but I refrained. She’d tell us when she was ready.
Kane frowned in her direction, but didn’t push her either.
“Of course,” I said, “But first, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m totally fine. I just don’t want to relive the experience right this moment, if you know what I mean.” She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.
“I do. No explanation necessary.” No doubt the soul extraction had been painful. The last thing I wanted to do was make her talk about it. So I turned my attention to Lailah. “How about you? Are you going to tell us what that was all about when you took responsibility for that angel?”
Lailah shrugged. “I’m Pyper’s guardian. I couldn’t let Chessa keep her in the realm.”
“And?” I raised my eyebrows expectantly.
“What makes you think—”
“Lailah. No one puts their life on the line and willingly goes into Hell unless they have a damned good reason. Now spill it.”
She grimaced and then sighed. “I needed a reason to have access to Chessandra and everything she’s been up to. She’s been doing strange things for a while now. First she tried to close the demon portal and ended up causing her sister to get trapped in the void world. Then she sent a bunch of angels into the shadows all at once, which isn’t the way things normally work. And worse, I believe she ordered Avery to check on the shadows when she knew it was dangerous. All of this was done without informing the council. She’s been going rogue, and I want to know why.”
“You think she’s engaging in some dirty dealings?” I asked, taken aback.
“Maybe. I don’t know. What I do know is that she’s keeping a lot to herself. Not to mention there’s been some really strange demon attacks on angels in the last few months. Ones that seem completely random. My gut says something’s off. And I’m going to investigate before something worse happens.”
We all stared at her, not sure what to say. It was no secret I wasn’t Chessandra’s biggest fan. She was a bully and cold-hearted, but I always assumed she was that way for the greater good. But what if she was just an angel all out for herself and willing to roll around in the mud to get whatever she wanted?
“This is extreme fight club, obviously,” she added.
“Understood,” I said. Pyper and Kane nodded their agreement. The information would never leave this room.
She stood abruptly. “I need to get home and then get to work. Pyper, let me know if you need anything or feel anything odd at all. I’ll be around.”
“Sure.” Pyper walked Lailah to the door. “Thanks for everything.”
Lailah smiled. “My pleasure.”
“That was…interesting,” I said after she left.
“And frightening,” Pyper added as she took her spot next to Kane. “I get the feeling Lailah thinks Chessandra’s dealing with demons.”
Kane leaned forward. “Well, if she is, you can be damned sure we’ll bring her down.”
I couldn’t imagine what kind of epic battle we’d have to engage in if Chessandra turned out to be one of the bad guys. But Kane was right—if she was dealing in evil, we’d take her down one way or another.
“Jade?” Pyper called.
“Yeah?”
“Can you come sit over here for a minute?” She was smiling like she had a secret.
“Sure.”
Kane patted his lap and held his arms out to me.
I slid onto his lap and wrapped my arm around his shoulders. “Okay. What’s up?”
Pyper was staring at the chair Lailah had been sitting in, and after a moment she nodded. Turning back to us, she said, “So, about this medium thing…”
“Is it true?” I asked, intensely curious. “Can you still see spirits now that you’re back to only having your soul?”
“It’s true. And yes, my guides are still with me. I’m told that since I’ve invited them into my life, they’ll be there as long as I wish.”
I met Kane’s eyes and saw the same awe I felt reflected back at me. “That’s cool.”
She nodded. “But I have something cooler for both of you right now.”
Kane gave her a curious look. “And what might that be, Pyps?”
“Mamaw is here,” she said. “Right over there.”
Kane and I both stared at the chair across from us. The look on his face went from mildly interested to heartfelt and gutted. “
Mamaw?” he asked.
“Yes.” Pyper positively glowed with happiness. “She wants you to know you picked a good wife and she can’t wait for grandbabies to watch over during the night.”
“Grandbabies?” I blurted out.
Kane grinned at me. “I’m certainly willing to practice.”
Pyper cut her eyes to Kane. “Mamaw says if you’re gonna be disrespectful, she’s gonna smack the back of your head.”
I laughed, and Kane sobered.
“She’s really here,” he said.
“Of course she is. I said she was, didn’t I?” Pyper patted his arm. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t think so.” Then he gazed at the chair she’d indicated his grandmother was occupying. “Damn, Mamaw, I miss the hell out of you.” The words came out hoarse and full of emotion.
Tears filled Pyper’s eyes, but she laughed. “She’s cursing you for making her cry. And she says she misses your hugs most of all.”
That rendered Kane speechless.
I bent and whispered in his ear, “You do give the best hugs.”
“And Jade?” Pyper added.
“Yes?”
“Mamaw says she knows you’ll take care of her boy and that she loved your wedding. Especially the minister.”
Laughing, I nodded toward the chair. “I’m very glad you were there. Kane missed you.”
“I’m always here when you need me,” an older wobbly voice said from the direction of the chair.
I let out a small gasp as Kane’s head shot up. “Mamaw?” he asked.
Pyper shook her head. “She’s gone now.”
“But I just heard her. You did, too, right?” he asked me.
“Yes. I did.”
Pyper stood and smiled down at us. “It was her gift to both of you.” She bent and gave Kane a kiss on his cheek and then did the same to me. “I’m going home now.”
I caught her hand. “You can’t. You just got back.”
She moved to the front door. “I can. And I need to. All I want is a hot bath and my own bed.”
“Take care of yourself, friend,” Kane said.
“You, too.” Pyper blew us a kiss and slipped out the front door.
I stared down into the face of my overwhelmed husband. “Looks like it’s just you and me for now.”
His arms tightened around me as he buried his head into my neck. “I can’t believe I heard her.”
I stroked my hand through his hair. “She loves you.”
He shuddered a tiny bit at my words. Then after a moment he started laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
He looked up at me. “I was just wondering how often she’s here watching us.”
“Oh, jeez. Don’t go there.”
His grin widened. “She’s gone now. Pyper said so.”
“Stop. That’s not right.”
“She did ask for grandbabies.” He waggled his eyebrows at me.
I shook my head. “If you think—”
His lips caught mine and the next thing I knew, he had me wrapped in a powerful kiss. Everything left my mind except him and the incredible connection between us. Power flowed from him to me and filled me up, made my heart almost burst from joy. And when he pulled away, I whispered, “I love you, Kane Rouquette.”
“I love you, too, Mrs. Rouquette.” Then he picked me up and without any more words, he took me to our bedroom and laid me on our bed. “You’re the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen,” he said, carefully unbuttoning my cotton shirt.
I said nothing as I watched him undress me.
When he was done, he stepped back and eyed my naked body. “Gorgeous.”
I smiled up at him. “Your turn.”
His eyes glinted as he pulled his shirt off and then pushed his jeans down his hips.
“Glorious,” I said when he was finally finished. Long and lean and muscles everywhere.
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” he murmured, lowering himself over top of me, his lips finding my collar bone. I turned my head to give him access to my neck and noticed the small potion bottle sitting by itself on my nightstand.
It was the same one I’d seen at Bea’s shop. The fertility potion. For some reason, seeing it didn’t strike me as odd at all, even though I knew neither Kane nor I had put it there.
And as Kane’s lips moved gently over my skin, for the first time in my life, I started to wonder what it would be like to have a child. To my surprise, a peace settled over me and a longing I’d never felt before took up residence in my chest.
There was no denying it. I wanted Kane’s child.
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About the Author
Deanna is a native Californian, transplanted to the slower paced lifestyle of southeastern Louisiana. When she isn’t writing, she is often goofing off with her husband in New Orleans, playing with her two shih tzu dogs, making glass beads, or out hocking her wares at various bead shows across the country. Want the next book in the series? Visit www.DeannaChase.com to sign up for the New Releases email list.
Other Books by Deanna
The Jade Calhoun Novels
Haunted on Bourbon Street
Witches of Bourbon Street
Demons of Bourbon Street
Angels of Bourbon Street
Shadows of Bourbon Street
Incubus of Bourbon Street
Book 7, Jade Calhoun Series (May 2015)
The Pyper Rayne Novels
Spirits, Stilettos, and a Silver Bustier (March 2015)
The Coven Pointe Novels
Marked by Temptation (a novella)
The Crescent City Fae Novels
Influential Magic
Irresistible Magic
Intoxicating Magic
The Destiny Novels
Defining Destiny
Accepting Fate
Shattered Souls (Fall 2015)
Table of Contents
Incubus of Bourbon Street
Incubus of Bourbon Street
Copyright
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
About the Author
Other Books by Deanna
Table of Contents
Incubus of Bourbon Street
Incubus of Bourbon Street
Copyright
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
> Chapter 27
Chapter 28
About the Author
Other Books by Deanna