Bewitching the Beast

by Tamara Hughes

  Her mother patted her hand. “Tess, I’m not going anywhere.” She frowned. “You’re pretty quick to assume I’m heading out. Have I really been that bad?”

  “No. I’m just paranoid. This is all happening so fast.” She ran a hand through her bedhead hair. “I know I haven’t been very welcoming, but I can’t do this without you. Last night when we held hands, something happened. I felt stronger, more confident.” She looked into her mother’s eyes. “Gram told me she could reach me only when I’m relaxed and absolutely plugged into the world around me. You made the difference. I never would have received her knowledge without you.”

  “Trust yourself,” her mother insisted. “You could do it on your own with practice.”

  Tess placed the necklace back around her neck and pushed her plate away. “I don’t think so. I never felt the earth rotate before last night.”

  “Cut yourself some slack,” Ethan chimed in. “Last night you had a huge breakthrough. With your mother’s help and your grandmother’s spells, you’re well on your way.”

  His well-wishes made her hackles rise. “If I’m so wonderful and talented, why the secrets?”

  Ethan and her mother exchanged a look.

  “I heard you talking about a threat,” Tess pressed. “What is it?”

  “Nothing,” her mother piped up.

  “No more secrets, Mom. You think you’re protecting me, but you’re not. I’m a grown woman. You need to trust me.”

  Her mother made no move to explain anything.

  Ethan straightened in his chair and took a deep breath. “Last night I followed the man who turned me.”

  “I thought we agreed . . .” Her mother’s stern voice pierced the air.

  “When?” Tess asked him.

  “While both of you were on the rooftop.” Ethan’s gaze darted toward her mother. “We didn’t agree, you did.”

  “Stop,” her mother ordered him.

  He turned to Tess. “He threatened you.”

  Fear streaked through Tess’s chest. “What do you mean he threatened me?”

  “He told me if I didn’t kill you, he would.”

  Tess could feel the blood drain from her head. She’d known all along the bad beast would try to do her in, but now? So soon. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled an instant before the nerve endings throughout her body joined in. “Why? What have I done to him?”

  “It isn’t what you’ve done. It’s what you’ll do.” Ethan watched her mini meltdown with a sympathetic expression. “He believes you pose a danger to his species.”

  “In what way?”

  Ethan shook his head. “He didn’t say. We didn’t exactly have a long chat.”

  Not good enough. Ethan couldn’t lay a death threat on her without any details. “What did he look like?”

  “He was in the shadows. I didn’t get a good view.”

  Tess stood and paced in a circle. “So what do you know about him?”

  He leaned back in his chair. “The name of the human he possesses is Kade Rennick, and he has strong powers, really strong.”

  Her mother rose and headed for her purse. Time for the gum.

  “How strong?” Tess asked.

  “Somehow he froze my muscles without touching me. I couldn’t move.”

  “Oh, God.” That couldn’t be good. Tess paced faster, her heart going into panic mode.

  “All right.” Her mother strode over, the scent of Big Red on her breath. “I think we’re focused on the wrong thing here.”

  “Focused on the wrong thing?” Tess almost choked on the words. “The beast inside this Kade guy wants to kill me! Pretty important.”

  Her mother grabbed her arms, forcing her to stand still. “It’s more important we figure out a way to defeat him.”

  “How do we do that?” Tess asked, a tremor in her voice.

  Her mother faced Ethan. “I think we should channel the beast we have here.”

  Ethan tensed, then crossed his arms over his chest. “Channel him?”

  “Yes, talk to him. Find out as much as we can about these beasts. Who knows? Maybe he’s as unhappy stuck inside you as you are having him there.”

  “Doubtful,” Ethan muttered.

  Ignoring him, her mother focused on Tess. “First I need to collect my bags from the hotel, then we’ll cleanse your apartment. We can do the channeling this evening.”

  Tess scanned the small space, noting the cluttered bookshelf and the pile of mismatched gloves near the closet. Not bad. “I cleaned a few days ago.”

  Her mother dug through her purse for a paper and pen, then jotted down a few notes. “I meant cleansing in the magical sense, and you know it.” Her gaze rose to the ceiling. “We need to remove all negative energy from this place.” Snatching up her purse, her mother stuffed the list inside. “I see you put garlic in the corners of the apartment.”

  “Gram told me it would keep away ghosts.”

  Nodding, her mother grabbed her coat from the closet.

  “Do you care that Gram taught me these things?”

  “No. Magic was a way of life for her. She didn’t know any other way.” Her mother pulled on her coat. “Did you know garlic also keeps away memories?”

  “Then it’s been a miserable failure,” Tess grumbled. She thought of Matt all the time.

  Ethan stood. “The channeling is probably a good idea. In the meantime, we should find out more about Kade Rennick. The more we know about him, the better we can anticipate his next move.”

  “I’m going over to the hotel.” Her mother buttoned up her coat and opened the door. “I may also need to stop at a store for candles. Tess, do you want to come with me?”

  “I’d like to help Ethan research this guy.” And discuss another thing or two in private.

  Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t want you anywhere near Kade.”

  “I won’t be,” Tess insisted.

  “She won’t be.” Ethan’s voice almost drowned hers out.

  Indecision flashed across her mother’s face. “Maybe I should stay and help.”

  “I’ll be okay, Mom. Trust me.”

  Her mother pursed her lips but didn’t argue. “Make sure you’re here at noon. It’s important you start to apply what knowledge your grandmother gave you. We’ll begin with the cleansing.”

  “Sure thing, Mom.”

  After a last glance over her shoulder, her mother left, closing the door behind her.

  Tess turned to Ethan. Time to find out whose side this guy was really on. “You’re getting along well with my mother.”

  “You could say that.” Ethan moved out from behind the table. “Do you have a computer? We could check out Kade Rennick on the internet. See what we can find.”

  “Why?” she asked. “Why does my mother like you so much now?” Had they struck up other deals she should know about?

  His gaze softened. “Tess.”

  “Don’t ‘Tess’ me. I know how you got on her good side. It begins with ‘Whatever you say, Mrs. Edwards’ and ends with ‘never touch Tess again.’”

  “Tess, she’s right. I have no business starting anything with you, not with—”

  “I know that’s your take on things. I get it, but don’t you think decisions like that should involve my opinion instead of my mother’s?”

  Ethan came to stand in front of her, his piercing stare taking her in. “We’d already discussed it, and your mother is worried about you.”

  She threw her hands into the air. He didn’t get it. Her mother should have no say in their love life. “Whatever.”

  “Tess.”

  “Yeah. You want a computer. Too bad mine broke down a couple of weeks ago.”

  He heaved out a breath.
“No problem. I’ll use my phone.”

  “Or, we can take another peek at the business card you found in the alley where you were attacked.”

  “I’ll need to go back to my apartment.”

  “Not necessarily.” Smirking, Tess withdrew the card from her pocket. “I took it from your desk when you were in the bathroom.”

  “Why?”

  “It didn’t seem like you were going to do anything with it, so I decided to talk to him myself—and now I have a name I can ask him about.”

  Ethan tensed. “You had no right—”

  “My grandmother prophesized I would be killed by this Kade person.” She held up the card. “This is the only link I have to him. I have every right to try to find him before he finds me.”

  He plucked the card from her fingers before she had a chance to pull it away. “I’ll give him a call.”

  “No. It’s Monday. The bond markets are open, so he should be at work. We can visit him there.”

  Ethan pinned her with a questioning look.

  “What? It’s a lot harder to hang up on someone when they’re standing right in front of you.”

  “Makes sense.” He picked up his jacket from the couch and strode toward the door. “I’ll be back.”

  She followed him and snatched her coat from the closet.

  “Stay here, Tess.” His voice meant business.

  Then again, so did she. “No.” She made a move for the door, and he grabbed her shoulders.

  “You can’t go. Kade could be right outside waiting for you.”

  “So?” Tess jerked herself free. “What’s to stop him from coming in here once you’ve left?”

  His gaze softened.

  “I don’t want to sit on the sidelines anymore, Ethan. I’ve been living there too long already, letting everyone else make decisions for me. It’s time I get in the game.”

  A reluctant smile curved the corners of his lips. “I can respect that.”

  Snatching the business card from his fingers, she tried to ignore that smile and what it did to her. “Then let’s go.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Ethan followed Tess across the spacious lobby to the security desk at JP Morgan Chase. Her blonde hair, pulled into a clip, reflected the lobby’s overhead lights, and her exposed ears were pink from the cold. He resisted the urge to warm them between his hands.

  He was a damned fool. Like he could ever offer her comfort with one hand more like a claw and the other marked with a lethal brand. Her mother was right. He needed to stay away.

  The security guard behind the desk looked up as Tess approached. “Can I help you?”

  “Yes, I’d like to see Mike Bertrand, one of your bond traders.”

  “Chase Securities is closed today, miss.”

  “What? It’s Monday,” Tess argued, as if it would change the man’s mind.

  The guard shrugged. “New Year’s came on a Saturday this year. Markets are closed.”

  “Shoot. Can you call up anyway?” She shot a glance at Ethan. “You never know.”

  “Do you have his extension?” the guard asked, apparently not bothered at all by her insistence. Probably bored on quiet days like this.

  “Yup. I do,” Tess told the guy.

  “Then you can use this house phone.” He placed a telephone in front of her.

  She took the business card from her coat pocket, dialed the number, and waited. “Oh hi, this is Tess Edwards.” Excitement lit up Tess’s eyes. “I was wondering if I could talk to you for a few minutes.” She bit her lip. “Well, I’d like to ask you a few questions about Kade Rennick. I’d like to know if you’ve seen him lately.” Her brows drew low. “Um, I’m his sister. Yes, he does. I’m living proof.” She set the handset on its receiver. “He’s coming down.” Tess slid the phone toward the guard. “Thank you.”

  Ethan snagged her hand and tugged her a few steps away from the desk. “Why would you say he’s your brother?”

  “I wanted to make sure he came down.” Her eyes darted to the guard, who had already forgotten about them. “Who wouldn’t talk to a worried sister?”

  Her hand felt cold in his. He closed his palm around her icy fingertips. “Risky move. What if he knows damn well you aren’t this guy’s sister?”

  “So what? It’s not illegal.”

  An elevator dinged from a hidden area behind the security desk, and a man dressed in a dark-blue suit and white shirt rounded the corner.

  Tess moved toward him. “Mike Bertrand?”

  The man nodded. Up close, Mike looked tired, almost haggard, his immaculate comb-over not so perfect in the back, with a few wisps of hair hanging out of place. “You must be Tess.”

  “Yes, I am.” She slipped her fingers from Ethan’s grasp and shook the man’s hand. “And this is my husband, Ethan.”

  Ethan glanced at Tess, and she smiled brightly. Husband. Interesting choice.

  “Nice to meet you,” Mike said.

  “Likewise.”

  When Ethan presented his hand, Mike hesitated a second, probably wondering about the markings on his palm, before giving it a quick shake.

  “I’m so glad you were here,” Tess said, regaining Mike’s attention. “I had no idea JP Morgan was closed.”

  “I had paperwork to finish.” Mike fiddled with his wedding band, twisting it around his finger, a preoccupied look in his eye. “It’s good to get out of the house.” As if he said something he hadn’t planned to, he cleared his throat. “Coffee?”

  “Sure. Where to?” Ethan asked.

  “There’s a Starbucks down the street a block or two.” Mike led the way to the glass doors. “I don’t think there’s much I can tell you. I haven’t seen Kade in quite a while.”

  Tess hurried to catch up. “When’s the last time you saw him?”

  “Not since he quit. What’s it been, a year?” Mike held the door for both Tess and Ethan to pass through.

  “Yup, a year,” Tess agreed.

  Ethan hung back and let her do the talking. She was Kade’s sister after all.

  “Did you spend much time together?” Tess asked.

  “You could say that.” Huddling inside his suit coat, Mike jammed his hands into his pockets. “We’d play racquetball after work or go to a local bar now and then.” He stared at Tess a moment, his breath a puff of white. “Kade never mentioned a sister. He never talked about any siblings.”

  Tess didn’t miss a beat. “I’m not from around here. In fact, I rarely saw him.”

  “Really. Where do you live?”

  A trace of panic flashed through Tess’s eyes.

  “We’ve been living in Albuquerque, New Mexico,” Ethan supplied.

  “Although we haven’t lived there long,” Tess rushed to add.

  Ethan squeezed her hand. Keep calm, Tess.

  “I see.” Mike followed a crowd across the street. “What’s your mother’s name? I think I remember Kade mention her once or twice.”

  Shit. The hand in Ethan’s squeezed back.

  “Why do you ask?” Tess chirped, her voice higher than he’d ever heard it before.

  “Why don’t you answer?” Mike pressed.

  With surprise and a little awe, Ethan watched as Tess’s chin began to quiver.

  “Look, I’m searching for my brother.” Tears glistened in her eyes. “I’ve been out of the country. I come back, and he’s gone. No one has seen him or heard from him.” She wiped at the tears that slipped down her cheeks.

  Ethan suppressed a snicker and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “We should return to the hotel . . .”

  “Wait, I’m sorry.” Mike rubbed a hand over his face. “How did you know to contact me?”

  They entered the Starbucks, and Tess sniffed. �
��A long time ago he mentioned you to me. He said you were a good buddy of his. But it’s been a whole year since you’ve seen him?”

  “At least. From what I’ve heard, he packed up his things and disappeared a week or two after my father-in-law passed away.”

  Tess pulled a tissue out of her pocket and wiped her nose. “I’m sorry for your loss. If you don’t mind my asking, what did your father-in-law die of?”

  Mike stared up at the menu board. “A freak accident.”

  Ethan’s hackles rose. “What kind of accident?”

  “Plane crash due to a flock of geese.” Mike tugged his wallet out of his jacket pocket and produced his Starbucks card. “He’d been on his way to Egypt in a small cargo plane.”

  “Egypt?” Ethan pressed.

  “A venti dark roast, with room for cream,” Mike told the cashier before turning to Ethan. “He was an archeologist on a dig in Egypt. Leo insisted he’d found a lost species of dragons.”

  “You don’t mean Leonard Meade.” Ethan’s heart hammered an extra beat. Leonard Meade—the archeologist from the article.

  “You’ve heard of him?” Mike paid for his coffee and accepted his cup.

  “I’ve read about his findings. Coffee?” Ethan asked Tess.

  “A tall white chocolate mocha,” she said to the cashier.

  Ethan paid, almost giving the wrong amount as he listened to Mike.

  “No one in the scientific community believed in Leo’s work.” Mike added cream to his coffee, then sipped from his cup. “They thought he was a little nuts. Only a few attended his funeral.”

  Could Mike help him find a way to see Leonard’s research journals? Maybe the journals would give them a clue to destroying the beasts. Tess had been right. They never would have learned all this over the phone.

  “In fact, that reminds me,” Mike added with a glance at Tess. “The last time I saw Kade was at Leo’s funeral. He’d quit his job the day before.”

  Tess gave a sad smile. “It’s nice he came to support you and your wife.”