Taste of Wicked

by Michelle Howard

  Toni tucked her hands beneath her arms and looked around for a weapon. Every breath pinched her chest as it squeezed and terror took hold. Simon helped Lacey to her feet but both of them appeared shaken and Lacey cradled her right arm to her chest. The only thing standing between Toni and the mountain of green was Drake. To make matters worse, Thomas poked at the wall with long claws and small rips caused it to flicker. His thick lips twisted into a cruel slant.

  “Not enough juice, warlock.” Thomas plunged his fist through the magic wall and the light blinked out.

  Simon, as a werewolf again, attacked. He clung to Thomas’ back with teeth and claws, bringing him down to his knees. Drake ran to Toni and grabbed her hand. “We have to get out of here.”

  Flashes of colored lights burst around them, swirls of smoke shooting from someone’s fingertips. None of it stopped Thomas as he slammed his back against a wall, crushing Simon. The werewolf let out a yelp of pain as the sheetrock caved beneath their combined weight. When Thomas moved, Simon lay sprawled on the floor, blood dotting his fur.

  Toni’s throat locked as she thought of Simon’s wife and kids. He couldn’t be dead. Drake hurried her along and they were almost to the door when Thomas tackled them. Drake’s hand was torn from hers and she slid across the floor and hit a bookshelf.

  “Antonia!”

  Books tumbled into her lap as Toni frantically climbed to her feet. Lacey yelled something and flowers rained from the ceiling. Thomas ignored the petals drifting about and snatched Toni up by the front of her shirt. She swung her fists as his chest but in this form he was much stronger than she expected.

  Thomas licked her cheek and Toni almost hurled. “The magic he left on you tastes good. Strong.”

  Toni slapped at his face but he didn’t budge as he drew her closer and banded his arms about her waist. Pressed up against his body, he added pressure on her ribs and she fought to draw breath.

  “Antonia!”

  Drake called out her name but spots floated in her vision. She refused to faint. Toni kicked with her legs but the puny blows meant nothing. As Thomas licked her once more, his heavy breath left her gagging.

  “Don’t do this, Thomas,” she pleaded.

  He hunched over her and stared past Toni’s head. “I could crush her in my arms, warlock. Break her neck with a snap. One moment she’s here and the next gone.”

  “What do you want?”

  Drake’s voice sounded confident but perhaps because she knew him, she heard the trace of fear beneath the question. Fear for her.

  ***

  Drake had never been this afraid. The goblin held the life of the woman he loved in his hands. He could kill her and Drake would be forced to watch her innocent life snuffed out.

  “You know what I want.”

  His magic. The goblin wanted to drain Drake for his warlock magic.

  “Don’t do it, Drake. You know he won’t stop there.”

  He didn’t need Lacey’s warning. The town was full of magical beings. This was a veritable feeding ground for the goblin and if he absorbed Drake’s magic, no one here would be strong enough to stop him. If only he could trust in his abilities. Defeating the goblin would have been nothing to Drake in the past but that was before Antonia. Before he’d fallen for a woman who gave her heart freely to a man she barely knew.

  But if it came to a choice of Antonia’s life and giving away his magic, Drake would sacrifice his abilities without a second thought. He cared for her more than anything in the world. He had no world without her. Magic was nothing if he couldn’t bask in her smile, her warmth and generous nature.

  “I guess you made your choice.” Thomas shifted his grip from Antonia’s waist to her neck.

  Horror dawned. “Don’t!”

  Staring at Drake, his eyes gleeful, Thomas jerked his hands with a sharp twist and Antonia’s struggling body went limp. It was over in less than seconds. No scream, no cry just a silence that echoed around the coffee shop.

  “No!” Drake fell to one knee, his hand pressed to his chest as searing pain burned bright.

  It wasn’t possible. Her dark hair hung about her face and Thomas dropped her to the floor as if she meant nothing. As if he hadn’t destroyed Drake’s entire world. Tears welled and he couldn’t swallow. His breath clogged in his lungs as he tried to draw air.

  Antonia.

  His soul called for hers but there was no answer.

  Thomas cackled. “I prefer to drain you as you fight anyway. Your misery will make the magic taste all the sweeter.”

  Drake couldn’t move. He couldn’t pull his gaze from Antonia’s limp form. She was gone.

  Thomas approached Drake, his expression lit with pleasure when Drake finally looked up.

  “Drake, you have to stop him.” Lacey edged closer from the opposite direction. “For Toni.”

  Drake tipped his head back and stared at the ceiling which blurred from his tears. He blinked and attempted to muster concern. Without Toni he had nothing. The oppressive grief bore down on him.

  “Come on, Drake. She wouldn’t want this.”

  He wished Lacey would shut up. She didn’t know what Antonia wanted. Thomas came within inches of Drake and bent over. “If it helps you any, the magic you left on her was delicious.”

  Drake reached out and grabbed Thomas’ ankle and called on his magic. It fizzled and popped beneath his skin. His hand sparked and Thomas shouted. Drake shifted his weight and shoved as he growled out a stunning spell. The goblin fell backward and Lacey waved at someone outside.

  Bracing his hands on the floor, Drake dropped his head, holding back his pain. Thomas morphed into his human form but wasn’t done. He groaned and rolled over to his front. When he lifted his head, Drake met a stare of pure evil.

  “Ignis cinis,” Thomas whispered. His smile held a touch of satisfaction.

  Small blazes burst from the floor, burning a path toward Antonia.

  “Diversion!” Drake yelled palm out but the flames continued in their greedy crawl for the body of the woman curled on the floor. Heart racing, Drake pointed his other arm toward Antonia. He snapped his fingers then closed them in a fist and prayed. Drake prayed to all the powers above as flames licked their way toward Antonia. “Away.”

  Magic bubbled to the surface. Her body jerked into the air and flew across the room. Drake raised his arms and caught her as Thomas jumped to his feet and ran for the door. He almost escaped. Would have gotten away, if not for the two dark-haired men stepping over the broken glass window.

  The first man caught Thomas by the throat and lifted him clear off his feet then used his other arm and plowed a fist through his mid-section. White light burst from Thomas’ mouth as he screamed in agony. The second man reached over and ripped his head off and tossed it onto the sidewalk.

  “Looks like you needed our help after all,” Ben said, throwing the goblin’s body next to his head.

  Kent wiped his bloody hand on the leg of the black slacks he wore. The twins entered the coffee shop all the way and a thin man dressed in an immaculate grey suit, white shirt and red tie followed.

  “This is not a way to relax, Drake. I knew this trip wasn’t a good idea.” The Fae doctor grimaced at the destruction around him.

  Lacey knelt beside Simon and helped him to shift. A purple welt marked the right side of his face. Simon rose to his feet and limped toward Drake, Lacey right behind him.

  They gathered around him, Simon parted his lips twice before he could speak. “I’m sorry, Drake.”

  Drake tucked Antonia’s face to his throat and swallowed. The scent of peaches filled his nostrils when he inhaled.

  “What happened?” Dr. Curran asked, his eyes going to Antonia’s limp body.

  Drake couldn’t say the words aloud. If he spoke they’d know. Hear the tears he couldn’t shed in his voice. Lacey answered for him. “The goblin broke her neck.”

  The Fae studied Antonia and frowned. “She’s covered in your magic.”

  “She was
my other half.” It took every bit of strength he had to choke out the confession. Saying it increased the pain of discovering what Antonia meant to him and losing her in the same day. It was too much and his arms trembled beneath the weight of his emotions.

  Ben and Kent fired off a round of curses.

  “I should have been here,” Ben declared, digging his hands into his short black hair.

  “May I?”

  When Dr. Curran reached for her, Drake clutched Antonia to his chest. “Brody, she—”

  “Trust me, Drake. Even though you didn’t listen to me about your magic my people really do know about healing.” Humor glittered from his eyes.

  Drake didn’t find anything humorous about this but handed Antonia over and immediately felt empty. He almost snatched her back but Brody was careful as he curled his arms around Antonia. The idea of another man holding her was so repugnant to him that Drake reached to take her back.

  Brody hunched his shoulder, blocking his efforts and bend his head low. His mouth was scant inches away from Antonia’s lips.

  “What the—?”

  Ben and Kent each grabbed one of Drake’s arms before he could kill his therapist. A trail of smoke flowed from the Fae’s mouth to Antonia’s.

  Chapter 18

  Toni blinked and opened her eyes. Her head hurt. She reached up to rub the spot but her hand was caught in a firm grip. Her eyes closed and she wanted to go back to sleep.

  “Antonia, wake up for me.”

  Drake. His fingers massaged the hand he held. She turned her head slightly and realized she lay on her side in her bedroom at the inn. Drake sat next to her, hips on the mattress.

  “What happened?” Her memories were fuzzy.

  “Your friend, Thomas, was a goblin and followed you here.”

  Thomas. Everything came back in a flash and she sat up abruptly. The room whirled and Drake had to catch her before she face planted on the floor.

  “He was going to kill me.” She placed a hand at her throat.

  Drake threaded his fingers through her hair. She couldn’t describe the look in his eyes. “He did.”

  “Thank goodness you stopped him.”

  They spoke at the same time. When Drake’s words sunk in, Toni fell back. “I’m not dead.”

  He braced his arms on the bed, caging her. “No, thank fuck, you are not.”

  Toni didn’t like the pain in his violet eyes. She touched his face, his jaw. “What happened?”

  “Thomas broke your neck.”

  Oh, no. Toni took a deep breath and let it out. She felt alive. “Am I a zombie?”

  Had Drake used magic to change her? She didn’t expect his booming laughter or the way he snatched her up in his arms. “You’re not a zombie. My therapist arrived and brought you back. Brody Curran is Fae.”

  “Fae like a fairy?” Toni figured she had a lot to learn about mystical creatures.

  “Not fairies and don’t ever say that to him.” Drake pulled back. “I had to promise to finish my therapy sessions with him in exchange for your life. A small price to pay.”

  “Do I still have your magic on me?”

  His smile contained an emotion she was afraid to identify. “Only a little. Most of it is already back in me.”

  “What about Thomas?” The fear rushed back and Toni clutched Drake to her.

  “Dead,” Drake spat, his gaze growing dark. “He’s dead and will never bother you again.”

  Toni pushed back. “Are we in trouble? Will the police arrest us?”

  Drake continued to smile. “No, sweetheart. This is Magic. Everything was taken care of.”

  She released a sigh and placed her head on Drake’s chest. The solid warmth and rhythmic beat reassured her. “You promise I’m not dead and you’re afraid to tell me the truth?”

  He kissed her temple. “I promise you’re not dead.”

  “I can’t believe he did all this,” she mumbled.

  “Magic is an irresistible draw to goblins. I didn’t realize what I was doing when my magic spilled onto you. I’m so sorry I brought that on you. I also had my assistant, Kent, check your phone and it seems like Thomas called you pretending to be me to confirm you were here.”

  Knowing Drake hadn’t stood her up weakened Toni.

  “What about secrets?” She asked suddenly. “Do you have any more secrets because I’m not sure I can take any more?”

  “Just one.”

  Toni groaned. “Tell me fast and get it over with.”

  He leaned close and whispered in her ear, “I love you.”

  Toni froze and reached up to tip his face down. “Do you mean it?”

  “Yes. I love you, Antonia.”

  “I love you, too, Drake.” Her heart wanted to burst with the love inside.

  Author’s Note

  This was a lot of fun to do. It was my first time in a Kindle World project and I owe much thanks to SE Smith for extending the invite. Also thanks to my co-authors of the Magic, New Mexico KW stories. Carol Van Atta, Susan Hayes, Geri Foster, Michele Callahan, Cathryn Cade, Evelyn Lederman, Donna McDonald and Sylvia McDaniel. They are a great group of ladies and a pleasure to get to get to know and work with.

  I hope readers enjoy our take on stories that happen in Magic. Now I’m back in the writing cave putting together my next release.

  Happy Reading,

  Michelle H.

  About the Author

  Michelle Howard like many authors dreamed of writing since reading her first romance novel many years ago. She loves paranormal and contemporary romances and is a fan of the classic romances by Judith McNaught and Julie Garwood.

  I love to hear from fans so please reach out to me. If the mood hits you, leave a review.

  Email: michellehowardwrites@gmail.com

  Twitter: @mhowardwrites

  Website: www.michellehowardwrites.com

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  Books by Michelle

  * Honor Bound (Book 1 Warlord Series)

  * The Overlord’s Heir (Book 1.5 Warlord Series)

  * A King’s Revenge (Book 2 Warlord Series)

  * Rise of the Shadow Warriors (Book 3 Warlord Series)

  *A Warlord’s Heart (Book 3.5 Warlord Series)

  * Project Genesis (Alpha Squad)

  * No Reason to Run (A Harmony Novel)

  * Mating Urge (cat shifter)

  * Torkel’s Chosen (A World Beyond Book 1)

  * Arak’s Love (A World Beyond Book 2)

  * Lindsey’s Rescue (A World Beyond Book 3)

  * Rylin’s Fire (dragon shifter)

  * Love Like No Other (sci-fi novella)

  Coming Soon 2016

  Kyele’s Passion (A World Beyond Book 4)

  Kavan’s Book (Book 4 Warlord Series)