Book Read Free

Till Demon Do Us Part (Paranormal Wedding Planners Book 6)

Page 8

by Jones, AE


  “McHenry! Don’t!” Darcinda yelled.

  Jack and Connor ran into the room and separated them.

  “Dammit! Stop!” Connor growled.

  “He hurt her! What did you do to her?”

  The king yanked down his shirt and cleared his throat.

  “Talk!”

  “It’s a binding spell.”

  Spots floated in front of Darcinda’s eyes, but she forced them away by sheer will. She couldn’t lose it now.

  “Reverse it,” McHenry ordered.

  The king looked at her for a moment before glancing away. “I can’t.”

  “Take the cuffs off so he can help her,” McHenry barked.

  “We can’t do that,” Jack said.

  “Even without the cuffs, I can’t undo it.”

  “Why the hells not?”

  “It’s attached itself to her cells by now. I don’t have a spell to counteract it.”

  “Is it permanent?” Darcinda asked in a soft voice.

  He finally looked her in the eye. “No. But I don’t know how long it will last.”

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” McHenry growled.

  He hesitated for a moment before answering. “I shouldn’t have to tell you what a faerie can do. She was between me and my daughter. I was stopping her.”

  Stopping her from doing what? She wanted to scream. Instead she turned around and strode through the workshop and outside, trying to get away from all of them.

  “Darcinda! Wait.”

  She was exhausted. Mentally, physically, and apparently magically.

  “Are you okay? Damnation, that was a stupid question.”

  She couldn’t talk around the lump in her throat.

  “I’m sorry this happened. It’s my fault.”

  She couldn’t do this. “It’s not your fault. I’m fine.”

  “We’ll get you to another healer, see what they can do for you.”

  “I said I was fine!”

  His eyes flared at her raised voice. She never raised her voice.

  “I’m lying. I’m not fine.” Far from it. She felt empty. The power that normally pulsed under her skin was gone. She didn’t feel part of the energy she could normally tap into. Instead she was separate, walled away from the things that made her, her.

  He grabbed her shoulders. “We’ll fix this.”

  She didn’t know how he planned to do that.

  “Tim!” McHenry bellowed.

  Tim bolted out of the house like his skin was on fire. “What’s wrong?”

  “The demon king hit her with a bindin’ spell. Help her.”

  “McHenry, you barking at him isn’t going to fix me.”

  Tim held up his hands. “Let’s get you in the house and see what we can do.”

  Darcinda walked with Tim toward the house. Heavy footsteps followed and she stopped and turned to face the angry demon behind her.

  “I know you want to help, but I need you to give me some space. Please.”

  McHenry opened his mouth as if to argue, but then shut it and nodded.

  She walked with Tim into the house, turning at the last moment to look back at the normally scowling demon, who instead looked like a lost child.

  She knew the feeling.

  Powerless: without ability, influence, or power.

  Chapter 12

  McHenry watched Tim take Darcinda into the house.

  He wanted to smash something. This was on him. He should have insisted she leave days ago. He had never been able to control things outside of his small plot of land before, and he accepted that long ago. It was either that or go insane.

  But now he had lost control of his home. And that was unacceptable.

  And he was powerless to help her.

  Powerless. Damnation, the irony of that one word. He never wanted anyone else to experience what he felt. And now Darcinda suffered because of him.

  He had worried when his sister brought her sons to him that somehow the curse he lived under would hurt them. And his fears were coming true. First Jamie a year ago, and now the shitstorm Andrew was in for loving a girl whose father tried to kill them.

  He wanted to smash something again.

  Instead he turned around and strode back to the door of the workshop. A door that was now blocked by Connor and Jack.

  “I want to talk to him,” McHenry said.

  Jack shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Really?”

  Jack widened his stance. “You have to ask? He’s under arrest. He’s basically confessed to almost killing you. Plus what he just did to Darcinda. I’m not letting you anywhere near him right now.”

  McHenry couldn’t stop the growl from erupting deep in his throat.

  Connor held up his hands. “We get it, McHenry. But we have to follow the rules. You’ve already attacked him twice. We are not going to screw this up on a technicality. I know you didn’t want to press charges at first, but now you want him convicted, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “You can talk to him once the Tribunal is convened,” Jack said. “But you have to stay away from him for now.”

  McHenry swallowed down his curse. “When will the magistrates arrive so we can get this trial over with?”

  The twins exchanged a glance that had his alarm bells ringing. They seemed to be doing that twin-speak thing they did, and he didn’t like it one bit.

  Connor finally spoke. “Here’s the thing. I know you want this over and done with, but there will be nothing standard about this tribunal. Normally three magistrates would oversee the proceedings, but when a Royal is involved, a special hearing is called. Instead of Tribunal members, the magistrates will be leaders from the other supernatural factions. And you will be called to testify.”

  “And this will happen here.”

  “Yes.”

  McHenry didn’t swallow back his curse this time. “I’m goin’ to talk to Devin and find out more.”

  “Good idea,” Jack said.

  McHenry watched them both relax as he backed up. They had already yanked him off Roderick twice. They were probably relieved they didn’t have to do it again—for now, anyway.

  He headed back into the house to find Devin. The team leader was on the phone and held up his hand when he saw McHenry approach. He finished his call quickly, a serious expression on his face.

  “When will the trial start?” McHenry asked without preamble.

  Devin frowned. “The Tribunal is contacting the supernatural leaders now. They should arrive in the next day or two.”

  “What a mess.”

  “I know how important your privacy is to you, McHenry. I’m sorry it has to happen here.”

  He shrugged. He hated it as well, but he needed to be part of the trial, and he didn’t know how he would have explained not being able to attend the trial somewhere else.

  “Where is…everyone?”

  “Andrew took Selina upstairs. Charlie and Tim are with Darcinda.”

  McHenry’s hands balled into fists.

  “Hopefully they can figure something out. If not, we can call in some other healers.”

  McHenry cleared his throat. “I’m goin’ to check on Andrew.”

  He left without waiting for Devin’s reply, taking the stairs two at a time. When he got to the top, he walked down the hall, stopping when he heard voices. The door to Darcinda’s room was open just a crack.

  “Well?” Darcinda asked.

  “Physically, at least from what I can tell, you’re fine,” Charlie said.

  “And magically?”

  “I can sense the residue from the spell, but I don’t know how to reverse it. It’s not like anything I’ve ever come across before,” Tim said. “But that doesn’t mean we’re not going to keep trying.”

  McHenry’s stomach twisted as Tim continued talking.

  “I think we should get you to one of the other faerie healers.”

  “I’m not about to leave right now.
I’ll see someone in a few days, when everything has calmed down.”

  Oh hells, no. She was not going to risk herself by staying here. He wouldn’t have it.

  He backed away from the door, not wanting them to catch him eavesdropping. McHenry went downstairs and ran into Devin again.

  A few minutes later, Darcinda came downstairs and joined them in the kitchen.

  “How are you doing?” Devin asked Darcinda.

  “I’m fine.”

  She said that a lot. But McHenry knew it wasn’t true. “So Tim was able to reverse the spell, then?”

  Her expression shut down. “No. But you heard the demon king. It’s not permanent.”

  He wasn’t about to trust anything Roderick said. “You don’t know that. If Tim couldn’t help you, maybe someone else can.”

  She frowned. “You might need me here.”

  “We’ll be fine. Charlie’s a medic, and Tim can handle the magic side of things.”

  She flinched as if he’d slapped her. Damnation. He was mucking this up.

  Devin interrupted him. “Darcinda, you should see a healer. If this had happened to one of us, you would give us hell until we got checked out.”

  Her expression softened. Why hadn’t he thought to say that to her?

  She shook her head. “You know I can’t do that.”

  What is she talking about?

  Devin put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m sure you have healer friends you can trust, right? We won’t say anything to anyone unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

  “Thank you.” She gave McHenry a look. “Since you don’t need me here anymore, I’ll pack up my healer’s bag and go.”

  He nodded, and she headed back upstairs.

  Devin glared at him for a moment.

  “I know. I didn’t handle that well. I didn’t mean to make her feel like she wasn’t necessary.” He rubbed his hand over his beard. “Everything I try to say to her gets twisted. But right now she needs to take care of herself.”

  “You should have said that.”

  If he had said that, she would have dug in her heels and stayed. From what McHenry had observed, Darcinda put everyone’s needs before her own. If he had to push her out the door, so be it. He could handle being the bad guy if it meant she got some help.

  “What did you mean about not telling anyone what happened?”

  Devin sighed. “Faeries aren’t very forgiving.”

  He snorted. “No kiddin’.”

  “Being powerless can get you banned as a faerie.”

  Anger seethed under his skin. “Are you kiddin’ me right now?”

  “No. Alex hasn’t been accepted yet because she hasn’t shown any real powers except that one time.”

  “What a load of shite.”

  He strode out of the house to get some air. Closing his eyes, he tilted his head up and let the sun hit him square in the face. What a colossal mess he had on his hands.

  The front door opened and closed to his right, and he turned. Darcinda stood on the porch. She slung her bag over her shoulder and took a step off the porch.

  Tim came outside. “Devin says you’re heading home.”

  “Yep. Unless you need something before I go?”

  “We’re good,” Tim said.

  “Who’s takin’ you home?” McHenry asked.

  Her right eyebrow shot up. “I’m more than capable of going on my own.”

  He frowned. “I don’t like anyone travelin’ this forest alone. Someone can walk with you.”

  She opened her mouth and he held up his hand. “I know you’re fine, but it doesn’t hurt to have someone go with you. One of the twins can go. The wolves are used to the forest.”

  She sighed. “Okay.”

  “Good. Thank you for your help.”

  Up went her eyebrow again. “You’re welcome.”

  He cleared his throat, but nothing else came out. She stared at him for a moment before turning away and walking over to where the twins stood by the workshop.

  What was there left for him to say?

  If you hadn’t come to take care of me, you wouldn’t be powerless right now?

  You should stay far, far away from me so you don’t get hurt again?

  No, there wasn’t much left to say.

  Well, then screw them.

  Chapter 13

  Darcinda set her healer’s bag on the table in her small cottage. After being away for days, it should feel good to be home again. Instead she felt restless, like she didn’t fit in her own skin.

  She had stopped at the healing center to see Melinda. If anyone could figure out how to reverse the spell, it would be her. But after a couple of hours, they were no closer to figuring it out. Melinda promised to keep trying and to keep her secret, and Darcinda knew she would do anything to keep that promise.

  She craned her neck to the side and felt a crack. Release. She had to let the tension go. Tension and emotions were not normally something she allowed in her life. Or rather, she sent them packing. Much like McHenry had sent her packing. Enough!

  She had left her boots, muddy from trekking through the forest, outside. Now she padded into her bedroom, stripping before drawing a bath. She poured lavender and a few other dried flowers into the tub before stepping into the warm water.

  Lying down, she took a deep breath and murmured a simple spell to light the candles around the rim of her bathtub.

  Darkness remained.

  It had been a reflex to cast the spell. Her stomach clenched and she had to blink back the sting of tears. She didn’t cry, not since her mother.

  Her magic was as much a part of her as her mind and spirit. But her world had changed, and she needed to embrace it or she’d drive herself crazy.

  The lavender invaded the space as she took another deep breath. This was what she needed. To get back home and as far away from that cranky demon as she could get. How could he be so stubborn?

  As a healer, she worked with plenty of stubborn beings. No one wants to hear that they need to change their life in order to be healthier. Everyone is a creature of habit. Including McHenry—especially McHenry. But it didn’t mean that she wouldn’t try to get him to see the light.

  What was it about this particular male? She had never been at a loss for words before. If anything, words got her into trouble because she didn’t bother to filter them. But with him? She was constantly surprised, and she wasn’t sure whether it was a good or bad thing.

  She had wanted to stay and help, but she didn’t have much of an excuse, especially since McHenry basically showed her the door.

  And what was with all his animosity toward faeries, anyway? McHenry had plenty of secrets. Were they secrets that involved the demon king? She thought so, and her instincts were usually right. Not that she would be able to get the truth out of him. She probably wouldn’t see him again anytime soon.

  And for some reason that bothered her.

  More than it should. Hadn’t she just said that emotions weren’t allowed? There would be no more emotions associated with McHenry.

  She made a point of never letting anyone close. Sure, she had friends, and she cared about them, but true love? No. She wouldn’t, couldn’t risk that. Because with true love came true pain. Pain she had experienced as a child, and she refused to experience as an adult.

  She closed her eyes and rested her head on the towel she had folded on the lip of the tub. It was time to clear her mind of everything, including the cranky demon.

  She wasn’t sure how long she rested there, but now the water was lukewarm, just on the edge of cool. She stood and toweled off before standing in front of her mirror. Her blue highlights were so last week. Normally she would chant a spell and run her hand over her hair, changing it to whatever color came to mind. Now she’d have to keep the blue or go to an actual store to buy some new colors.

  Darcinda put on her Faeries Are Fearless T-shirt and yoga pants, deciding to burn her Dalmatian pants. She tucked her feet into her ladybug flip-
flops and headed toward her kitchen to see what she could make for dinner. Since she had been gone for days, she wasn’t too hopeful that she’d be able to find anything to whip up for a fresh meal.

  Before she could rummage around in her pantry, someone knocked on her door. She wasn’t expecting anyone, but a healer’s job was 24-7.

  She opened the door.

  Alex stood there with JT on one arm and a bottle of wine in the other.

  “Hello. I come bearing gifts.”

  Darcinda swept the baby into her arms and he giggled. “Hi, big boy.”

  “I meant the wine, but you can play with JT while I open this for you.”

  “Aren’t you going to have some?”

  “Still breastfeeding, so no.”

  “I can’t drink a full bottle of wine.”

  “No worries, backup is on the way. Sheila’s bringing Mexican food for dinner.”

  So Charlie’s wife, Sheila, was coming over. “Who else is coming?”

  “Olivia and Maeve.”

  Darcinda wasn’t surprised to hear Connor’s and Tim’s mates were coming over as well. The teammates’ females had formed a tight bond.

  “How did you know I was home?”

  “Jack. He’s spending time with Julia tonight before heading back to the Burrow in the morning. I figured you’d need some food since you haven’t been home, and female company since you’ve been surrounded by men.”

  “Maybe I do need the whole bottle of wine. What do you think, JT?” Darcinda blew a raspberry on JT’s tummy, and he laughed.

  Alex held up a glass of wine. “Ready to trade?”

  Darcinda nodded, so Alex set the glass on the counter and held out her hands to her son, who reached for her.

  Taking a sip of wine, Darcinda sat just as another knock sounded at her door.

  “Stay there. JT and I will get it.”

  Sheila and Maeve came in with a couple of bags.

  “Hope you’re hungry,” Maeve said.

  Olivia walked in shortly after with a pastry box. “I stopped at the bakery for churros. Thought I would stick with the Mexican theme.”

  “Thanks, gals, for bringing dinner…and even more important, company.”

 

‹ Prev