by Anna Abner
“I don’t want to be responsible for other people,” he said, downing a glass of orange juice like a shot of tequila. “I have one job while I’m in this country and that’s to kill the bitch who murdered my family.”
“How did she get the drop on you? You’re so big and strong.”
“No more questions.” His plate scraped clean, Lukas straightened. “I need to get back out there.”
“No.” Surprising herself, she stood and put herself between him and the exit. “Wait. Stay for a while.” Racking her brain for an excuse, she added, “My healing spell might be temporary.”
Lukas ambled up to her, pausing mere inches from her body. Beneath her tiny tee, her nipples tightened at the proximity. All she had to do was lean forward the smallest bit, and her breasts would flatten against his taut abdomen. His arms would go around her, lift her off her feet as if she weighed nothing, and then her mouth would be on his…
“Why should I stay?” he growled at the top of her head.
“I have more questions.” She wet her lips. Was he imagining kissing her too?
“Then ask.”
She tilted her chin and stared straight into his blue eyes, blue as the Caribbean. “Who cursed you?”
“I don’t know,” he said.
“Where did you meet her?”
“Why?” he countered. “You think she’ll still be there? By a bush in the middle of the desert?”
“Are you telling me you don’t remember?”
“I’m saying it doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me.” Roz rose on her tiptoes to see better into his eyes, but the motion scraped her already erect nipples against his ribs. She shuddered and then thumped flat to her feet.
Lukas fell back a step. “Let’s go now.” He veered around her and opened the front door before Roz deciphered what he meant.
“You’ll take me there?” Of course, the witch was long gone, but maybe she’d left behind a clue or a trail or something.
“Isn’t that what you want?”
Coffee forgotten, Roz grabbed her phone and wallet and ducked under Lukas’ arm as he held the door for her.
“I’m guessing you can’t run,” Lukas said as they rode the elevator to the parking garage.
“Not like you can.”
“Then we’ll take your truck.”
Roz texted Connor, I’m borrowing the pickup for a while, and then drove them onto the street.
Lukas rolled down the passengers’ side window and leaned out until the air rushing past ruffled his shaggy blonde hair.
“Can you find the place by scent?” she asked over the roar of the engine.
“Nah,” he said, settling back against the bench seat. “I just like the wind. Take the freeway north to the edge of the city.”
Roz steered onto the on-ramp.
“Now, give me your phone.” Then, not waiting for permission, he grabbed her cell off the seat beside her.
“What the hell?” she complained.
“Unlock it.”
“Not until you tell me why.”
He harrumphed. “I’m giving you my number so you can text me when your team goes hunting.”
“Oh.” Without taking her eyes off the road, she opened the phone and stayed quiet while he tapped numbers into her contacts.
“Since we have a while to drive,” she said once he finished, “why don’t you tell me about the witch who cursed you?”
“She was a witch,” Lukas said, matter-of-factly. “What else is there to say?”
“What did she look like?” God, it was like pulling teeth. “Maybe we’ll run into her again.”
“She had dark brown hair,” Lukas answered grudgingly. “About my mom’s age. About my mom’s size.”
“What made her curse you?” Roz asked. “Did she get a taste of your sparkling personality?”
He scowled at her jibe, but answered, “I already told you. She was hunting the same vampire I was. I ran over a pile of rocks, tackled the vampire, and when I rolled off its body, there was a very pissed off lady staring down at me.”
“Do you remember the words she said?” Roz asked. How did a witch cast a hex? “Did she cut herself first? Did she change colors?”
“I don’t remember,” Lukas said. “The magic hit me hard. So hard, she escaped.”
Roz glanced his way. “You would have killed her?”
“She cast magic on me,” he said as if her death should be obvious.
“I cast magic on you,” she reminded him. “Are you driving me out to the middle of nowhere so you can kill me?”
“If I’d wanted to kill you,” Lukas said, “I’d have done it by now.”
“How reassuring,” she grouched.
“Take the next exit and go past the abandoned hospital.”
Roz did as he instructed, driving by the old St. Peter’s Hospital and continuing on narrow, two-lane roads until Lukas directed her to pull over near a line of rocks twenty feet high in some places.
They stepped out and stood at the base of the boulders. Without asking permission, Lukas swung Roz over his shoulder and started climbing.
“Hey,” she cried out, trying in vain to elbow him in the back of the head.
Lukas carried her to the top of the rocks, hopping from one to another, and then vaulted down the other side. “It’s easier this way.”
“I’m not a prop,” she complained. After being jostled around on his shoulder, she gave up trying to hurt him and clutched at his shirt instead. He was warm beneath her body and lithe. She jiggled every time he tensed and moved, so she simply held on and waited for him to find solid ground again.
One final jump, and Lukas set her on her feet, grabbing her waist to steady her.
“I got it,” Roz complained, swatting him away. “Jesus.”
With a grimace, Lukas left her among the sagebrush to point at a particular spot.
“Well,” Roz called, “is this where she cursed you?”
Rather than answer, he pulled the edge of his shirt up to check the spot the hex used to be.
Seeing his chest made her relive the rush of power she’d felt the night before. It had not only soured her stomach, but supercharged her nerve endings.
“Hex still gone?” she questioned.
He wouldn’t speak, so Roz dismissed him. Surely there was some remaining juju here from the casting of such black magic. Something in the soil or on the rocks. Since the night before she’d been able to call her power without words, and she wanted to do it again. Focusing her attention on her breathing, she called her power, shaking electricity into her fingertips. Without any further prompting, it rose up inside her. As if she was the power.
Which was very cool.
“Reveal,” she said, her gaze searching for something left behind. “Expose.” She swiveled.
“Do you see anything?” he asked.
Roz ceased casting. “No. Nothing.” She examined the area once more, turning in a circle. “It was a long shot.”
“You don’t have to say all your mumbo jumbo anymore?” Lukas asked as the whirlwind faded.
“No,” she answered. “Actually, it was your pushing yesterday that made me more powerful.” Ironic, considering how annoying he was.
Lukas had forced her further than she’d ever been, and she’d only known him five days. How he’d gained such an influence over her magic in such a short amount of time, she couldn’t fathom.
She usually wasn’t very social. She was usually brusque and aggressive on first meeting. Most people didn’t get her. Connor did. Ali was beginning to. So, how had Lukas wiggled under her skin so quickly?
“Me?” His blue eyes widened.
“When you forced me to heal your hex.” She exhaled, recalling the overwhelming flush of energy. “I’ve never accessed so much power before. I didn’t even know I could find so much inside me.”
“Great,” he grumbled sarcastically, “I’m empowering witches. Exactly what I wanted. Now, let’s get you ou
t of here.” Lukas reached for her, but she evaded his hands.
“You’re not leaving?”
The second time he tried, Lukas snatched her off her feet and tossed her over his shoulder. He started climbing before he answered.
“I smell blood,” he told her. “Vampires smell like blood. I want to chase the scent.”
“I can help,” she said, holding on tight as he crested the line of rocks and started down the other side. “I am a witch, if you recall.”
Lukas dropped her on her feet. “Go home.” He turned and sprinted back over the boulders.
There was no way she could catch him, even if she tried.
Chapter Ten
When Roz returned to the suite at the Le Sort, the living room was dark and quiet. Connor and Ali must have gone out.
“Great,” Roz grumbled. She changed into more comfortable lounging gear—leggings and a tank top. Pulling her long hair into a loose ponytail, she positioned herself in the dining room. Queuing up her research playlist full of latin instrumentals, she ordered dinner and texted Lukas.
Any luck finding the vampire?
But if he were hunting in bear form, he wouldn’t reply anytime soon. She’d barely set her phone on the table when it buzzed.
No.
Not exactly a wordsmith, was he? She flipped her phone facedown before opening her laptop and logging onto the Coven’s public website. She perused the application requirements one more time, pondering.
At a firm knocking, Roz pushed away from the table and swung open the suite’s door, expecting room service, but finding herself face-to-face with the redheaded witch, Sara.
“Hey, you,” Sara greeted. “I hope I’m not bothering you. I was bored and thought I’d come hang out.” When Roz hesitated to answer, Sara added, “You did say I could come over anytime, right?”
“Right.” Roz stepped aside, holding open the door. “Come on in.”
“So,” Sara said, standing in the center of the living room with hands on her hips. She caught sight of Roz’s open laptop. “Wanna start on your application?”
Roz closed the door before answering, Coven bullshit or no Coven bullshit, she’d been hoping to meet another witch, and she wanted to give Sara a chance.
“Okay,” Roz said, but then rushed to add, “I’m not ready to submit yet. I’m still thinking about it.”
“No hurry.” Sara sat in front of Roz’s laptop and typed a couple things. “Why do you want to hunt vampires?”
“Is that a question on the form?” Frowning, she leaned over Sara’s shoulder to investigate.
Sara laughed. “No, silly, I’m curious.”
“Oh.” Roz rocked back on her heels. “Well, Oleksander’s gone, but he left the horde running wild. They hurt people. They take captives. They kill with no remorse.”
“Don’t you think the Coven can handle it?” Sara asked, electronically checking boxes and typing in basic information.
They could obviously handle mailing angry letters. But wrangle the horde? Roz had her doubts.
“Do they handle it?” Roz countered. She honestly had no clue what the Coven did. Apart from their public statements about fostering young witches and protecting the Oracle, no one knew their true intentions.
“They’re definitely trying.” Sara’s gaze roamed the common areas. “Where’s Connor?”
“He and Ali went out,” Roz told her. “They should be back soon. Room service is on its way up. Do you want to stay and eat?”
“Sure,” Sara said. “Why don’t you fill out the box for why you want to be a witch?”
“I don’t want to be one,” Roz explained, taking over the laptop. “I was born one. I don’t really have a choice.”
“You could choose not to practice.” Sara made herself at home at the kitchen bar.
Roz didn’t respond, but that wasn’t an option, as far as she was concerned. She possessed enough power to be helpful and Connor needed her. She’d never forgive herself for not using what gifts she’d been given.
Instead, Roz took a chance and asked, “Have you read prophecy one thousand eight?”
“No, what does it say?”
“‘A witch from Miami will bring about a new age of magic in the Coven.’”
“No, sorry.”
She was lying. Roz wasn’t sure what tipped her off, but she could sense it in her bones Sara was concealing something. Or maybe a lot of somethings.
Clearing her throat, Sara asked, “So, you guys hunt for nonviolent vampires, right? How many have you found?”
Nice diversion. “None. So far,” she admitted. “But we usually run into the horde while they’re feeding. The ‘good’ ones probably aren’t out killing people.” Roz gave up on her application and closed her laptop.
“Interesting. So, where do decent infecteds hang out?” Sara mused.
“Exactly.”
Another knock on the door and a hotel employee set up dinner in the living room. Steaming chicken noodle soup and gooey grilled cheese sandwiches.
“I ordered comfort foods,” Roz explained. The last twenty-four hours in Lukas’ volatile presence had given her a hankering for calm and quiet. “There’s plenty to share.”
Sara helped herself to half a sandwich. “Thanks,” she said with her mouth full.
Dipping a fry in ketchup, Roz asked, pretending nonchalance, “Have you ever done a locator spell?”
“No. I wouldn’t even know how. The Coven sends me leads on where to look.”
“Oh.” So much for gaining a mentor. Sara was in the same boat with her.
Snatching another half a sandwich, Sara quietly chewed.
“Are you a hunter?” Roz asked. “Or an agent?” She chuckled uncertainly. “What does the Coven call you?”
“I’m an acolyte,” Sara replied, suddenly intent on her glass of iced water.
“They just text you stuff to do and you do it?” Roz asked. “Or do you live in the tower…?”
“I have my own place,” Sara hedged. “Do you have someone giving you orders?” she asked, turning the tables on their conversation.
“Uh.” They used to be guided by Anton and Natasha, but since the New Zealanders had gone radio silent, she and Connor had been trying to write their own script. She didn’t want Sara to know too much about anything they did, though. She still didn’t trust her, no matter how enthusiastic she was. “We run ourselves,” Roz said.
“Cool.” With nothing left to eat, Sara wandered into the kitchen and rummaged in the fridge.
“Help yourself to whatever,” Roz called, pulling a face. The girl did not stand on ceremony, that was for sure.
The door to the suite opened, and Ali swept in followed by Connor. And then, to Roz’s astonishment, Lukas strolled through the doorway.
“Oh,” she stuttered, hopping off a stool and wiping greasy fingers on a napkin. “Hi.” God, she looked awful. She was in yoga pants, her hair was falling out of a loose ponytail, and she was certain a little of her soup had dribbled onto her shirt.
Lukas, on the other hand, looked sexy as always. Track pants, running shoes, and a T-shirt stretched tightly over bulging pecs and biceps. His blonde hair perfectly mussed. And those eyes. Those Caribbean blue eyes evaluated everything, including her.
Connor glanced at Lukas and shrugged. “Look who we ran into downstairs.”
“What a coincidence,” Roz murmured.
Sara was much more welcoming. She bounced over and stood on tiptoe to give first Connor and then Lukas hugs.
“I was just explaining,” Ali spoke up, “to Lukas about my issue.”
Nice euphemism, Roz thought. Ali’s issue was going boom when she got angry.
While Ali spoke, Lukas pulled a well-worn tennis ball from his pocket and tossed it against the wall. It bounced from wall to floor and back into his hand. Like a nervous tic, he threw it until the sound of the rubber hitting tile and plaster seemed to contain a melody all its own.
Ali continued, “Sara may as well hea
r this too. You know about Ilvane the Oracle?”
Lukas nodded once, never missing a beat with his ball.
Sara answered, “Yeah. Of course.”
Ali took a deep breath. “I’m Anya from Nadvirna. Ever heard of me?”
Sara’s face paled. “You’re linked to Oleksander the Destroyer.”
“That’s not the worst part,” Ali said. “You see, I have this ability, a symptom of my unusual birth. When I get super pissed off, well, living things sort of go poof.”
“What she means to say is,” Roz added with a smirk, “she may look like a Twinkie, but she will dust you.”
“Cool,” Sara said. “I’d love to see that someday.”
“Hey.” Connor stepped into Lukas’ personal space and caught his ball on its return trip. “Bear boy. We need to go over some parameters.”
Lukas froze, only his jaw twitching. “I don’t like being called that.”
“Tough,” Connor returned. “We hunt the horde. We try to protect innocent people. If possible, we give reformed infecteds a second chance at life.” He glanced at Roz and then Ali. “We look out for each other. Is this something you can get behind? Otherwise, you’re a hindrance to what we’re trying to do out here.”
Immediately, Lukas answered, “I’m in,” then snatched his ball back and ricocheted it against the wall and floor.
“Are you sure?” Connor asked.
“I’m in full tilt, all the way. Where do I sign?”
Connor seemed suspicious. “Got something against the infected?”
“Yeah.”
“Why in the world would you want to help us?” Ali pressed.
“I don’t,” Lukas admitted, his ball counting seconds with every thwack. “I don’t give a crap what you three jerks do. No offense. I just want to get closer to the infected. So, if you’re hunting them, then I’m in. And for the record, I’m not any more violent or short tempered than you are. Those bonfire people found torn up bodies, trapped a bear, and put two and two together. That doesn’t mean it was me.” He shot Roz a glance and caught his ball without looking. “I thought we already settled that.”
“Fine,” Connor conceded. “We could use your strength, I’m not gonna lie, but I’ve been burned before. I won’t be again.”
“Hold up,” Sara interjected, pointing an accusing finger at Lukas’ healthy legs. “You healed already? That’s impressive.”