The rock inched backward.
Finally, it was enough. He slumped forward, resting his forehead against the entrance, panting heavily. Moving a metric ton was no small feat.
“Wow,” Ginger said from behind. “That was…impressive. I guess we won’t be needing this.” She held up the spell.
“Can you put that somewhere safe, so it doesn’t explode us to pieces?”
“Oh, this doesn’t blow people up,” she tsked. “Witches have built-in protection when it comes to stuff like this. Otherwise, stupid supes would be ticking time bombs with these in their hands.” Luke watched her slide the spell into her front pocket, frowning. She smiled. “Don’t worry. Once we get inside, I’ll put it back in here. I promise.” She held up the closed spellbox. She already had her backpack on and was ready to move.
He glanced into the darkness of the cave. The air was stale, and the dark was a huge contrast to the full sun of midmorning. “Did you bring any light with you?” he asked. “I can see pretty well, but once we start moving deeper, it’ll be extremely dark.”
“Yep, I have two flashlights.” She unhooked her pack from her shoulders and set it on the ground, along with the spellbox.
“What don’t you have in there? That’s the real question.” He chuckled.
She pulled out two small, industrial-grade flashlights. She handed one to him as she slung her pack back over her shoulders and picked up the box. “When I go out in the field, I usually stock two cars full of supplies. I’ve learned never to trust a supe who wants information. They say they want one thing, but they really want the opposite. And no one wants to pay my asking price. I’ve found you can never be too prepared. I actually feel naked with just one pack. But this is my brother, so let’s hope what I have is more than enough.”
“I hope so, too,” Luke said, moving into the cave. “But I’m assuming what holds true for your usual meets might hold true here, and we should expect the unexpected.”
Ginger’s eyesight was worse than Luke’s by far. But he had been a gentleman, and used his flashlight immediately. With the two beams, she could see just fine. The cave looked ordinary from the entrance, but they were still above ground. Once they went deeper the topography would begin to change.
As she followed, she tried hard to scrub their recent interlude from her brain. But the memory of that kiss, the way his lips felt against hers, both firm and soft, was stubborn. It replayed over and over in her mind until she felt like screaming.
She’d never been kissed like that by anyone. Ever.
As much as she wanted to hate the kiss—and him for giving it to her—she couldn’t. Even now she craved his taste again. It was making her crazy. She stared at his back. He was so confident. Nothing seemed to ruffle the man. She was fairly certain what had happened between them was normal for him. He probably kissed women passionately all the time.
“Do you smell that?” he asked, breaking into her thoughts.
She physically had to shake herself to get rid of the images of his mouth on hers before she could respond. She covered a small cough as she said, “Yep, it smells like water to me.”
“I can hear it too, but it’s far away. This tunnel curves up ahead, and we’re beginning to make our way downhill. What other intel did you get about these caves?” He kept moving, and she followed.
“Nothing I haven’t shared with you,” she said. “The inside hasn’t been charted very well, at least on the maps I had. But there should be a big chamber somewhere down and to the right.”
“That’s where I’m headed. So far I haven’t seen any offshoot tunnels, but once we get to some, we’re going to have to choose which way to go.”
They walked for a bit in silence, the tunnel weaving downward, the walls getting narrower. But no other tunnels merged with theirs. “Can you smell my brother?” she asked. “Can’t we just follow his scent?”
“I can detect him. But smells permeate small spaces, so his scent seems like it’s everywhere right now. But, don’t worry, if I take us down a wrong tunnel, we’ll circle back easily enough. We’ll find him.”
“Oh, I’m not worried,” she said.
“Watch out for that—”
She stumbled over an outcropping of rocks, but right before she face-planted, Luke’s arm shot out and steadied her.
“Thanks,” she said as she recovered. He didn’t readily drop his hand. The energy bounced back and forth between them, exhilarating her. She knew he felt it, too, and his goofy grin snapped her head clear. “You can let go now.” She yanked herself out of his grasp.
“Sorry,” he said, sheepishly, dropping his hand. They began to walk again. “You know,” he said after a moment, “I meant to tell you back there, after our…event…I really like how you feel.”
“You like how I feel?” She tried to keep the caustic disbelief out, but it wasn’t working. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s my very unsavvy way of telling you I like the feel of your magic.”
“By my magic, are you talking about my persuasion?”
“I dunno,” he glanced over his shoulder, “were you persuading me when I just touched you now? I don’t think you were, but I could be wrong.”
She had to think about it.
In the past, when she used her persuasion, it had always been a conscious effort on her part, like flexing a muscle. In order for it to work on her victim of choice, she had to make sure her thoughts were precisely directed. She’d never done that with Luke, not even when he’d touched her the first time in the car.
She bit her lip. She was glad she was behind him so he couldn’t see her indecision. “If I am, I’m not trying to,” she finally replied.
“What is it that thing when we touch? The current? If it’s not persuasion, what is it?”
Ginger wanted to be angry with him for prying again, or trying to get on her good side by being inquisitive. But her caustic feelings vanished. He’d asked nicely and without any guile. It was hard to be angry, which pissed her off a little, but for the wrong reasons. She swallowed and calmed down so she didn’t sound like an asshat when she replied, “I actually don’t know, to tell you the truth. That current…as you call it, has never happened to me before with anyone.”
“Is it because you’re so hungry?” The flashlight bounced ahead, and he didn’t turn around. “Watch out, there are more rocks in the pathway.”
She angled her beam down so she wouldn’t trip again. “Luke, I really don’t want to talk with you about this,” she finally said. “I’m not comfortable talking with you about succubus stuff.”
“Why not?” He stopped in the middle of the path and turned.
“Because…” she said lamely “…it’s personal.”
He snorted. “Well, if it’s never happened to you before, but it happens with me, I think this discussion might include me, too. Ginger, I—”
There was a sound ahead of them. It sounded strangely like a door slamming.
“Did you hear that?” she asked, her attention focused on the noise.
Luke took off toward the sound. “I heard it. I think it was a door, but there’s an echo.”
She hurried to catch up. “Why would there be a door here? That seems a bit…strange.”
“A lot of other smells are beginning to filter in as well,” he said. “I don’t think this is an ordinary cave.”
They made a sharp turn, and suddenly the tunnel opened up into a small cavern. It wasn’t the main one on the map, because it was only about twelve by twelve, and the one documented had been three times that size.
But this wasn’t an ordinary cavern, either.
It had stalactites hanging from the ceiling, but it also had four crude doors set in the rock in a semicircle.
They crept in quietly. “Do you think my brother is behind one of these?” Ginger asked.
“No,” Luke said, heading for the nearest doors. “There’s no movement coming from behind any of them.”
Ginger
followed him closely, aiming her beam on the handle so Luke could see. He grabbed on and twisted. Nothing. “Locked?” she asked.
“Yep, but these doors are so cobbled together, I can just—” he jammed his shoulder into it and it popped open, the wood on the door literally snapping “—break it.”
He stood back so she could join him as his hand pushed it open the rest of the way. They both shone their flashlights into the room. Ginger covered her mouth. “Oh…no,” she gasped. “Please don’t tell me that’s what this cave is used for?”
Luke’s face was as grim as she’d ever seen it. “It appears so.”
Inside was a crude bed—nothing more than a mattress on the floor. Crumpled, filthy sheets lay piled in one corner. There was a hole dug on the other side, and judging by the smell it was used for one thing. The last thing was a shelf carved out of rock, with a cup and what looked to be an old magazine sitting on top of it.
This proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that The Sumerians were people traffickers. Ginger knew, but seeing this was…abominable. Bile flew up her throat and she backed out of the doorway, dry-heaving next to the wall.
Luke’s hand settled on the small of her back, and for a single glorious moment she didn’t care if he touched her. Instead, she wanted to curl up in his warmth and bury herself in his chest so he could make this all go away. Regret about coming after her brother began to well in her chest.
“This particular cell didn’t contain a female, thank gods,” Luke murmured from behind her. “From what I can smell, it was a male supe of some kind. Hard to believe a supernatural being couldn’t break out of here, but I don’t see any signs of a struggle. No claw marks or any destruction whatsoever.” His hand continued to rub her back as she stood, wiping her mouth with the back of her forearm.
“It makes sense to me that there was no struggle. A supe couldn’t break out if they had a hold on his mind, and Mason excelled at that.” Ginger’s voice was a monotone. She felt devoid of all things. “Maybe with him gone, this entire operation will shut down because they won’t be able to keep—”
“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, dear sister.” A voice rang out of the shadows across the cavern. “There are many more ways to hold a prisoner than just mind persuasion.”
Luke shoved Ginger behind him as he whirled around to meet the threat. Damien had managed to surprise them by sneaking up an offshoot tunnel while they’d been distracted by the horrible prison cell. But before Luke could address the incubus, Ginger yanked herself out from behind him and moved forward.
“Damien!” she cried. “It’s so good to see you.”
“I wish I could say the same.” Damien’s voice was as cold as ice, and Ginger pulled up short.
Luke couldn’t let her do this alone, so he came to stand shoulder to shoulder with her. He could tell instantly this wasn’t going to be the meet and greet she’d been dreaming about all her life, and he readied himself to intervene if things got ugly.
“I’ve been hoping to find you, so we could talk.” She cleared her throat. “I…I want to help you…explain some things.”
“I don’t need your help, Ginger,” Damien replied. “I have no idea why you’ve continued to stick your nose in my business. I told you when I was sixteen, and I’ll tell you again now, I like my life. I chose this!” He jabbed a shadowy finger at the ground. “I certainly don’t need anything explained to me. I’m a big boy now, if you haven’t already noticed.”
“Ginger is talking about your father,” Luke interjected. “Maybe you can hear her out for five minutes instead of being an asshole?”
“I know what she’s talking about, shifter,” Damien spat. For the first time, Luke spotted something in the incubus’s hand, but he couldn’t tell what it was. Damien stayed partially in the shadows, but Luke could see he resembled Ginger. Same sculpted features, but his hair was dark instead of red. “I knew my dear old dad for who he was by the time I was five. He was a misguided bastard, mad at the world. I learned to tune him out by the time I was eight. Ginger’s the one who needs an explanation. Isn’t that right, sis? All those horrible fits he threw once you came into your own. All the late nights he accused you of doing the nasty with—”
“Enough!” Ginger shouted. Luke heard the passion in her voice and hoped like hell she was waking up to who her brother really was. This was no damaged little boy who needed help. This was a grown man. “This is not about me, Damien. Just like you, I learned to tune our father out at a young age. But you’re not being honest with yourself, because Dad drove you to this—” she gestured behind her at the doors “—this way of life. Without our father’s constant brutalization of what you were, you never would’ve sought out The Sumerians. And it was my fault for not stepping in to help you. But I’m here now. I want to help you. There’s more to life than this. You have options.”
“You came all this way to give me therapy about our shitty upbringing? To let me know I’m broken, but I can be fixed? This is brilliant.” He tilted his face up to the ceiling and laughed. “I have news for you. I’m not broken. In fact, I’m just the opposite. Once I figured out who our dad really was, I sought out better company—demons who understood our rightful place in this world. You heard me. In our very community, powerful incubi lived right under our noses. They taught me pride in my kind and myself. They sheltered me and gave me a new life. Sex demons are a superior race, and we should be treated as such! We’re above lowly shifters, like this one—” he sneered at Luke “—the one you reek of. Demons deserve to be at the top, and my organization works diligently to keep us in our rightful place.”
“You’re completely delusional,” Luke snorted. “I can see The Sumerians did a bang-up job on your upbringing. Your father stripped you bare, and you were ripe for their brainwashing.” Ginger placed her hand on Luke’s arm. The touch surprised him, but he knew she was warning him away. This was her battle, and she had a right to it. He took a step back to let her know he respected her wishes.
“Damien, you can’t be serious when you say these things,” she argued. “This is what keeps you on top?” She gestured around the cavern. “Kidnapping people?”
“They all serve their purpose, just as you will,” he answered as he took his first step into the cavern. “Incubi never have regrets. We take what we need, whether it’s emotion or power. We do what needs to be done.”
“Mason’s dead,” Ginger retorted in a flat voice. “He was the only incubus who could harness any power. Without him, there will be no need to kidnap and harm any longer. You don’t need to steal what you need. You can simply borrow from a willing soul. There are other ways to live. If you accept that, you can be rehabilitated. It will take time, but I know you can do it, Damien. I believe in you.”
“Is that what you do—borrow your food?” Damien’s voice held a bold contempt that Luke rarely heard in another. It was clear this man hated his sister—or what she represented—there was no doubt. “You were always meek, Ginger. Craving attention while trying to abide by all the ridiculousness our father decreed. You’re a pity to our race! A sex demon doesn’t ask for food. He takes it. Just like I’m going to do right now.”
Before Luke could register what was happening, he was struck in the chest by something solid. He glanced down to see a spell dart protruding from his sternum.
“No!” Ginger screamed, running in front of Luke before he could stop her. “Don’t hurt him!”
“It’s too late,” Damien said as he moved into the room. “You were stupid enough to keep coming after me, dear sister. This is nothing less than what you deserve. And just so we’re clear, I could’ve ended you a long time ago, but my family duty won out. I let you live. But now, we’re on my turf. The way this is going to work is the shifter dies and I drain you of all your emotions, and by doing so I survive until my flock finds me, which could take weeks. I’m counting myself a lucky man you were so clueless.”
Luke’s eyesight was beginning to blur. It took a major s
pell to bring a shifter down, but this one was doing the trick. Alarm shot through him. If Damien took all of Ginger’s reserves, she would die.
He couldn’t let that happen.
He roared a moment before he sprang.
“Look out, he has more spells!” Ginger yelled a second too late.
Luke knocked into the demon and sent them both flying back down the tunnel Damien just emerged from. They rolled, Luke growling in his face, trying to get hold of him. “No one is coming for you,” Luke hissed. “Your flock ran away at the first sniff of danger. They left you, Damien. You’re all alone.”
“Oh, they’ll come for me,” Damien sneered. “You lose, wolf.”
Luke felt pain and glanced down. Damien had stuck him with some kind of injector that held four spells. The needles were buried deep in his abdomen. Right before he lost consciousness, he brought his fist back and smashed it into Damien’s face.
There was a satisfying crunch as it connected.
Suddenly, Ginger was above him. The look on her face was sheer agony.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you,” was all he could manage before darkness consumed him.
Ginger fell to her knees beside Luke. She ripped the spells out of his stomach and flung them away. She’d never been angrier in her life. Her brother moaned on the ground beside her. His face was battered, his skull dented. But she knew he would recover sooner than later. Damien had told her all she needed to know about him, and she didn’t even spare him a second glance. She’d been such a fool to think her baby brother had needed her! Or that she could’ve fixed him this late in the game. If she’d known Damien had found The Sumerians as a child, she would’ve realized saving him had been a hopeless mission from the start. She couldn’t bear to think about all those years wasted—all the things she’d given up in order to get him out of an organization he’d belonged to since before puberty.
Sin City Collectors Boxed Set: Aces Wild, Ante Up, All in Page 30