“Come in.” I grabbed her backpack and ushered her in, closing the door against the rain and cold.
Derek brought her a towel. “You can dry off with this, and we’ll get you a room set up.”
She snatched the towel, staring at Derek, her body stiff. “Thanks. I hope it’s okay I’m here?”
I wrapped my arm around her. “Of course it is.” Looking at Derek, I arched my eyebrow and hoped I hadn’t overstepped my bounds. “Right?”
Derek nodded. “Of course.”
Tammy huffed, arms crossed over her chest. “How do we know we can trust her? She stayed with the coven, with Rainbow, after they attacked us. She helped them get the roses.”
Jasmine dropped her head. “I’m sorry. I know that’s not enough, but I didn’t know how bad she’d gotten. I was scared.” She sought my eyes. “Mother’s been acting weird. Talking about blood magic and claiming the power of the roses. She even… she talked about a sacrifice. I think human.”
We, of course, already knew that. Blake had told me that Rainbow needed a human sacrifice to seal the deal. It was going to be me, but when I left, Jasmine was the next in line. Did she know who Mother intended to kill?
“You were right," Jasmine said. "I never should have stayed. It’s just not easy to defy her; you know that. At least you had Derek and Ocean. You’re an adult. I didn’t have anyone.” She shivered again and I led her upstairs to the room Lauren had prepared for her.
“You’ve always had me and Ocean.” I put her backpack next to the double bed. “This is your room. There’s a private bathroom attached. If you need anything, Derek and I are just down the hall. So is Ocean.”
Ocean came in and hugged Jasmine. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Derek stood at the door. “I know you’ll want to get cleaned up and in dry clothes, but we need to learn where your mother and Blake are. Where the roses are.”
“We were staying at an abandoned warehouse near the harbor, but they were about to move again when I left. I don’t think you’ll find anything.”
Tammy had joined Derek, still scowling. “So why leave now? What changed?”
“I just told you, it started getting creepy.” Jasmine looked like she was fighting back tears. “Mother turned dark, angry, messing with things she shouldn’t be. I realized you’d been right all along and came to find you.”
“Can you write down where this warehouse is? I’ll take a crew over to see if we can track them.” Tammy still didn’t look happy about having Jasmine around, but at least she had a new lead. They had some hope.
Jasmine wrote down the directions and handed the paper to Tammy. “I hope you find her.”
Tammy nodded sharply and left. Derek reached for my hand, squeezed it in unspoken support, and followed his sister out.
While Ocean went to ransack her own closet to bring Jasmine some dry clothes, I walked her to the bathroom and started a bath. It had been so long since Jasmine and I had talked, that I found I didn’t know what to say to her anymore. She’d become a stranger to me and that broke my heart.
“How’s Blake?” It was all I could think to ask, and as angry as I was for his betrayal, I also knew that the demon he’d become had been more a friend to me than the real Blake had ever been. He’d spared our lives and given us vital information about Rainbow’s plans.
Plus, the memory of my time with him, of the attraction I’d felt, still lingered. I loved Derek and would never want to be with anyone but him, but that didn’t mean I’d stopped caring about Blake entirely.
“He’s having a hard time. He and Mother argue a lot. It gets pretty violent. I think he misses you.” She stood, towel in hand, bath ready.
I took the hint and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m glad you came, Jasmine. I was so worried about you.”
Closing the door behind me, I thought about how much our lives had changed in such a short period of time. I still missed my dog, Sandy. She’d been my constant companion, one killed by a fire when the old Blake had burned down Derek’s family cabin. I missed the day-to-day routine of coven life, the familiarity and comfort of that community. And, if I was being honest with myself, I missed my own innocence and ignorance. It weighed heavy on me, facing how evil Mother truly was. Seeing my whole life through new eyes, I didn't want to go back to the past, but I mourned its loss nonetheless.
But having Jasmine back made everything so much better. My new life with Derek and his family and Ocean had almost been perfect, but for worry over my sister. Now that I knew she was safe, a weight of worry fell off my shoulders, even as other worries replaced it.
Ocean brought an armful of clothes and dropped them on the bed. “That should get her by for awhile.”
“Thanks, Ocean. I could have given her some of mine, though.”
Ocean made a gagging face. “Don’t you think the girl has been through enough, without subjecting her to your wardrobe malfunction on top of it?”
I laughed and swatted her arm. “You over exaggerate. I’m not that bad. Derek hasn’t complained.”
“From what I hear, you aren’t wearing much of anything when he’s around.”
Blood rushed to my face, burning my cheeks red.
Ocean giggled at my embarrassment. “For all your kink, you’re still such a shy school girl. Get over it. Embrace it. You certainly deserve it.”
“Thanks. Things are going well with him.” Understatement of the year.
“Seems so. You two are absolutely adorable together. Now, about tonight… ”
My face fell. “I’ll have to cancel, now that Jasmine’s here.”
“I knew you’d say that, and I forbid it. You need this. Derek needs this. I'll keep Jas company and make sure she gets settled in. You are not changing your plans, you hear me? By the way, I laid out some clothes for you as well. They’re on your bed. You’re welcome.” She sauntered out, hand on hip, and I thought once again how blessed I was to have such an awesome best friend, even if she did treat me like her own personal Barbie Doll.
With some trepidation, I left Jasmine to her bath and went to see what new torture Ocean had planned for me.
FOUR
As a Man
BLAKE
But I must also feel it as a man
— William Shakespeare, Macbeth
"WE HAVE TO leave. Now.” Rainbow stood with hands on hips, a frown where others had laugh lines.
I reached for my duffel bag and shoved my few personal items into it, looking around the warehouse we’d squatted in for the last couple nights. “Where’s Jasmine?”
“The little bitch betrayed us. Went running to her cunt of a sister. She likely sent the dogs sniffing around this place, so quit messing with your shit and let’s get out of here.” She left her bags for me to carry and lifted the rose bush, caressing the multi-colored petals as if making love to them. “Soon, we can stop running and claim our rightful power. Soon, those dogs will bow to me.”
Rainbow’s delusions of grandeur had destroyed what little sanity she’d had left. She wavered between loud bursts of anger and unrestrained egotism, scaring even me, at times. My desire to stay in this form, to remain free from the demon world forever, had taken a few hits as I saw more and more the kind of person who would have access to the Druid power after the ritual was complete. I warred with myself, but couldn’t give up. I couldn’t go back to that hell. No matter what the cost, I had to make it work, even if I never had a chance to get Rose back.
“Who will you use as the sacrifice now?” She’d run off the entire coven, including her daughters. We were running out of viable options to complete the transfer of power.
“Don’t you worry about those details. I have things well in hand. Bring the car around. We need to relocate and plan the next phase of our attack.” With a face scuffed with dirt, clothes that had seen better days, and a body stinking of the mattress she’d slept on the night before, Rainbow had unusual ideas about what constituted an attack.
To me, this felt lik
e retreat, but I was just glad Jasmine had gotten out. The girl had been far too influenced by her mother for my liking, and I didn’t want to see her or Rose suffer and die for this mission. They’d crawled into my heart, each in their own way, and I’d come to care about their futures—a new experience for a demon.
In the end, we didn’t need to face the Druids head on again. We didn’t even need Rose or Jasmine to complete the ceremony. We could find someone else, someone I didn’t have such a strong desire to protect.
Best to just lay low until the solstice arrived and we could be done with this. After that, I’d figure out how to deal with Rainbow.
I fingered the sphere in my pocket, hoping Beleth didn’t need it back anytime soon. It could help me against Rainbow when the time came. For now, it kept me stronger in this body and allowed me to function more effectively until the possession was made permanent. Despite my need and hunger, I hadn’t been able to feed yet on the lust of a woman, sucking her dry as I made love to her. All I could think about was Rose. Her smile, the softness of her skin and taste of her lips. The way she’d looked our last night in her cottage, fire dancing in her eyes.
I had to be with her again. Had to find a way to make her mine.
Lugging our bags with me, I left the warehouse and unlocked the minivan, stowing our belongings in the back.
As I walked around the side of the car, a low growl from behind me made the hair on my neck stand on end.
I turned and faced a large wolf, golden green eyes glowing in the night. And it had friends.
FIVE
The Taste of Fears
DEREK
I have almost forgot the taste of fears;
— William Shakespeare, Macbeth
"WON'T YOU AT least give me a hint about where we're going?" I snuck a glance at Rose, who sat with her back straight in the passenger seat, one long leg crossed over the other, exposing far too much thigh for our driving safety.
She grinned and shook her head. "You already have a hint. The address is a pretty big hint."
"Like I have every address in Seattle memorized?"
"Not my fault you don't know your directions."
She'd worn a short black skirt and see-through pink blouse with a tank top under it. I wanted to tear all of those layers off, but there'd be time for that later. She shifted in the seat, revealing more skin, and I knew she'd done it to deliberately torment me.
Two could play at that game. Using my left hand to steer, I dropped my right hand to her thigh and traced a line up her leg to the tantalizing silk panties beneath her skirt. With my middle finger I pushed against the edge of the silk, moving my way deeper to her center until I felt her warm, wet flesh part for me.
She shivered and swatted my hand, pulling her skirt down. "You're being far too naughty, and we've only just begun our date. You need patience, Mr. O'Conner."
"You're being a tease, but you're well worth the wait."
As we drove through the dense fog on our way to Seattle, my thoughts drifted to my family and the fate that awaited us all if we couldn't retrieve our roses in time. Rose had left everything she knew to join us and be with me, but would we even survive the next few weeks to get to our happily ever after? I was starting to worry we wouldn't. I hoped Tammy found something to help us tonight.
Guilt plagued me for not going with her to track Rainbow, but Rose had been planning this night for days, and I didn't want to disappoint her. Pushing aside all the drama, I focused on the woman by my side. Despite everything she'd learned about herself and her family, Rose had held it together. She not only kept up her own spirits, but had been a light for my family as well. If I hadn't already been head over heels in love with her before, I'd sure as hell be by now.
"What if I guess where we're going? Will you tell me then?"
She pretended to consider. "Fine. I'll tell you if you guess. Maybe."
"Maybe? That's no fun. How will I know if you're telling the truth or not?"
"Guess you'll have to use your super shifter senses, huh?"
I kept the smile plastered on my face, afraid to ruin the mood by telling her that those super shifter senses were fading fast. Instead, I considered our options in Seattle and threw out some guesses. "Is it a restaurant?"
"We can go to one after, but that's not the main attraction, no."
"Fishing?"
She laughed. "In this dress? No."
"Race car driving?"
"Nice try, but no." She shook her head in mock sadness, a dark wave of hair falling forward to hide her face.
"I know! We're getting matching tattoos."
"That would actually be super cool, but no, not tonight."
I turned to look at her. "Would you really get matching tattoos with me?" That would be so hot.
"Yes, I would. It would be sexy. And sweet."
"Just like you." I laced my fingers through hers and put my eyes back on the road. My GPS told me to turn right, so I did. Then left. We headed down a highway parallel to the water, straight toward downtown.
"Okay, pull into the parking lot, then close your eyes." A wide smile spread over her face, and she bounced in the seat like a little kid.
I did as instructed, and she tied a scarf over my eyes. "Wait here, I'll come around and guide you."
After helping me out of the car, she wrapped one arm around my waist and the other around my arm and guided me down a street. Her soft breasts pressed against me, and I could smell her lavender perfume.
"Careful, we're crossing here." A few people honked at us, in anger or encouragement I couldn't tell and didn't care.
Shortly after we crossed, she stopped me and stood on her toes to undo the blindfold. "This may not be the most exciting thing ever, but I thought it would be romantic." Above us towered a giant Ferris wheel. "It's the World's Largest Ferris Wheel so we can see all of Seattle at night."
The chill in the air nipped at us, and I pulled her into my arms for warmth and contact. She looked up at me, a half-smile on her face, waiting for my reaction.
I leaned down to kiss her. "I love it. I've heard of this place, but never been."
The ticket line stretched down the pavement out into the sidewalk, whereas the actual line for the ride was much shorter.
She led us toward the ride and whipped out two tickets. "Already printed them online. We go straight to the ride."
"You're a planner. I like that."
"I thought you were more into the seat-of-your-pants kind of girl?"
Did she still worry that I would want anyone else but her? "You're my kind of girl. My only kind of girl. Got it?"
A small tear stuck in the corner of her left eye as she nodded. "I love you. I'm just so sorry about everything I've put your family through."
We stood in the line, heat blowing into our faces from the heater to our left while a cold breeze froze us on the right. I cupped her face in my hands, astonished that she could ever think I blamed her for any of the mess her family had caused. My struggle to be with her hadn't been her fault. I didn't want to be disloyal to my brother and family. But they showed me just how foolish that was. Even from the demon dimension, Dean had pushed me to follow my heart. I kicked myself for giving her any cause to doubt my love.
"Rose, you are my heart. My life. My everything. I'm nothing without you. My family loves you, and we will protect you and fight your mother with you. You're not alone in this, and none of it is your fault." I reached for her left hand and pulled it to my lips, kissing the diamond ring I'd given her when I'd proposed. "You're my soul mate. It's like the story Aristophanes tells. In the beginning, humans were both male and female, but the gods feared their strength and so Zeus tore them apart, leaving them dying until Apollo stitched up the broken pieces. Since then, men and women have wandered the earth searching for their missing half. Most never find it. Whatever else happens, Rose, I'm so glad I found my other half in you."
The line moved forward, and Rose gripped my hand, huddling close to me. "I'm
so scared that I'll lose you. Everything seems stacked against us. My powers… "
We'd found a way to contain them, but she'd been demanding more pain, more rough sex to keep it at bay. I was fine with it all, as long as she found pleasure in it, but I feared crossing the line into real pain. Despite those fears, my cock hardened at the memory of our time together last night, the way her body responded to my touch, the way she tasted and felt.
Rose giggled, her hand brushing against my raging hard-on until my cock pushed painfully against my jeans.
"Thanks for that," I said, adjusting myself. "I'm sure our ride will be really comfortable now." She pressed her body against me, and I swatted her ass. "Better watch it, love. I might find some ways of torturing you, as well."
She moaned against my lips as we kissed, pulling back when someone cleared their throat.
The man running the ride rolled his eyes and held open the door for us to get in.
The car swayed as we took seats side-by-side. Glass and metal locked us in a bubble, protecting us from the elements, but offering a full view of the bay and Seattle's downtown lights.
Night closed in around us, the stars blanketing the sky as the Ferris wheel jerked forward, moving inch by inch to allow new passengers aboard. Rose's head settled on my shoulder, the scent of her strawberry shampoo filling me. I kissed the top of her head, so glad we could touch, even if we still had to be careful. I'd been lost without her and knew no matter what I'd never let her go again.
As the car gained altitude, the downtown lights came into view, flickering like alien stars. The Seattle Space Needle, while not the tallest building, had the most distinct shape and stood like a strange beacon in the distance. Behind us, the dark waters looked sinister, as if they waited in the night to consume all those who strayed too far from the lights.
Seduced by Power Page 2