“Keep that up and your eyes will be full black by the time we get there, and your cover will be blown before we start.”
I didn’t need a mirror to know I was verging on demon-scary. “Can you blame me? In less than twenty-four hours I was conscripted into a magical covert mission without explanation, paired with a lover who walked away from me with barely a word, and told the operative enemy in this fiasco is the father who abandoned me as a child. How about we go back to don’t talk to me?”
“Linzie.”
I held up my hand. Most of this wasn’t Daniel’s fault, but I needed time to wrap my head around everything, and based on our timeframe, I had less than forty-five minutes to do so.”
We arrived at the dock in relative silence a little after one p.m. Vonny the demi-vampire pulled his sedan beneath a carport, and then cut the engine. “Boat leaves in ten minutes. Suck’em if you got’em.”
His fangy grin still gave me a slick cringy feeling, but I chalked it up to lack of people skills on his part.
“I think he likes you.”
I stifled an eye roll. “Not exactly a plus.”
Daniel opened the rear passenger door and then got out, turning to hold out a hand for me. “Vonny’s harmless. Besides, you’re under the Goddess’s banner, and he knows better than to play cat and mouse with that.”
We stood in suffocating shade, and I watched Vonny ready the fan boat wondering why the extreme sun didn’t seem to affect him.
“You sure he’s a demi-vamp?”
Daniel kicked at the loose paint on the carport floor. “Vonny’s a mut, so who knows?” He angled his head, squinting, but something told me it had more to do with nerves than sun glare. “I should’ve taken you more seriously, Linzie. Taken what we had more seriously. I walked away because that’s what was done to me. A foolish, cowardly kneejerk.”
I ignored my pinwheeling stomach, though his apology was salve on a scab I’d picked at for years. Still, I wasn’t about to process anything in a ten-minute layover.
“Originally we planned to set out at dusk, but Roy thought the extended daylight might give us an edge.” Daniel’s comment was a verbal throat clear since I hadn’t replied. He knew enough not to push.
We strapped into a set of mangey upholstered seats as Vonny took the raised driver’s spot above. It wasn’t long before fan-driven wind whipped at everything it touched. Hair, clothes, the skin on my face. A wall of noise made conversation impossible, so I closed my eyes. One, I wanted to preserve the health of my eyeballs, and two because speed had us barely touching the water’s surface.
A breakneck half hour followed by a sharp right that defied gravity sent my stomach into places it didn’t belong, but then Vonny throttled down, and we slowed to a crawl through a cypress forest.
Scalp to shins tingled, coupled with a wet sticky feel, and I ignored an ensuing shiver. It wasn’t long until crickets and cicadas deafened the swamp, and buggy replaced clammy along black water. Submerged plants twisted beneath the surface, writhing in warning for us to turn back.
“Wards?” I asked.
Daniel nodded. “My idea. Unsuspecting humans don’t bode well if they stumble into Bumfuck.”
Vonny cut the engine farther into the cypress. He used poles to push us through the marshy tangle, the ground making sucking sounds with each pull.
“Careful, Linz.” Daniel pulled my hand back from skimming the murk. “A gator can strike faster than you can snap your fingers. More than one demi has learned that the hard way.” He wiggled faux-stubbed fingers for effect.
I let myself meet his crooked grin with a genuine smile, and our ever-present tension eased to a bathwater-soothing familiarity, if only for a moment.
“Huh.” He leaned in, studying my smile for effect. “I wondered where that went.”
“You sound like you’re surprised I still have teeth.”
He snort-laughed at that. “You’ve got teeth all right. Sharp and snappy. Especially at me.”
“Then don’t make yourself…a target.”
I nearly said, so appetizing, but I squashed the words before they hit my tongue. It was time to change the subject. “It’s a wonder Vonny can navigate at all. The landscape changes every hundred feet or so.
The demi-vamp cast his eyes my way, and my creep-o-meter dinged again. “The bayou is life, cher. My gran-mere used to say the bayou belongs to the spirits, so it has to float free.”
“Your gran-mere,” I repeated. “So you’re swamp people?”
Daniel grinned at the look Vonny gave me. “The proper term is Cajun.”
“Been so for near on a century now.” Vonny nodded, his strange muddy red eyes scanning the surface. “The bayou creeps with danger as black as its water. You can get in, but you ain’t getting out.” He cackled a laugh. “Not without help, bebe.”
I followed Vonny’s line of sight. Gators three deep flanked us like an escort of reptilian tugboats. I moved closer to Daniel. The move wasn’t involuntary. I knew this devil, as opposed to the one in the fan boat’s driver seat. Better the one you know, right?
Heat and humidity drenched every inch and orifice at this point, and I worked up even more of a sweat swatting bugs big enough to ride flat-footed. Vonny pointed ahead to what looked like an abandoned camp on a hill of mud in the middle of the swamp.
Rundown with broken windows and a ramshackle porch, the only sign of life at the main building was smoke rising from a pipe through a makeshift hole in the roof.
I squelched my slack-jawed reaction, not wanting a mouthful of mosquitos. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Don’t let your eyes deceive you. Use your senses.” Daniel pointed ahead to a hollowed out cypress trunk.
The ground cover seemed an obstacle course of ferns, brush, and overgrown roots along with fallen branches, but when I sent my senses out, the landscape changed.
Bright white antebellum columns graced the front portico of a double-porched plantation house. Live oaks lined the path from the dock where weeping willows dipped branches to murky water, and the hollowed out truck was a lattice-covered gazebo.
The main house was large and pristine, with tall, shutter-graced windows thrown open to the outside. Unless they were air-conditioning the elements, that meant the house would be hot and sticky morning, noon and night.
“I know that wrinkle between your eyes. You only crease like that when you’re wondering about something you want to ask but won’t.”
He wasn’t wrong, and I couldn’t help a smirk. “It’s Africa hot and sticky, but they’ve got the windows wide open. I’m not into sweat-stains and fungal growth, so there’d better be ceiling fans at least or all bets are off.”
“Stop complaining. The place is spelled, so it’s comfortable. Besides, based on your outfit, I’d say you packed appropriately.”
“Really.”
“Yes.”
Vonny had fired the engine again, but kept an even pace. I hmphed and turned my attention back to the house as we fast approached. Spelled so it was comfortable. I slid my eyes to Daniel again. Comfortable for whom? Or what?
Carol suspected either vampires or demons behind the illicit trade, but if that was the case, the house and its surrounds needed more than just a comfort spell. There was way too much sun. If vampires controlled the island, then they did so from somewhere else. At least during the day.
Vonny pulled the fan boat toward the shore and up onto a sloped launch. I felt cold blackness creep across my flesh the moment I stepped down from the edge of the boat.
Ley lines crisscrossed the island, but their energy had been tethered. Dark Magic. It skimmed my own, and I nearly gasped at how it stroked the balance between light and dark with its pull. It was sexual. Insatiable. My mouth watered with untapped desire as it whispered to me. Roy was right. Succumbing was an addiction, and it was easy to see why with a promise of such power.
Daniel tightened his grip on my arm. “Ignore it, Linz… It lies. What you feel isn’t real. Its deceit is i
ts strength, and it grows with every inch of soul it wins.”
“You’ve been here a month. How can you stand it?” I asked.
He loosened his grip, but didn’t let go of my arm. “I knew you were coming.”
Chapter Four
My roller bag was offloaded, and Vonny steered the fan boat into the water and took off, leaving Daniel and I on the path alone.
“What now?” I scanned the main house, and the out buildings to either side.
Before Daniel could answer, a chubby demi-shifter hurried our way. “Welcome committee?” I asked, feigning a smirk.
“Sort of. More like a furry truth serum.”
I nearly laughed, but then caught his meaning. This furball was coming to give me a sniff test. “Seriously? We just traversed a swamp. Do they really expect daisy fresh?”
“He’s not going to stick his nose in parts unknown, Linz. He deciphers and vets blood mix.”
“So, a paranormal version of a drug-sniffing canine unit.”
“Kind of.”
I steeled myself. “If that bulb of a nose goes anywhere it shouldn’t, the only blood he’ll smell is his own.”
“I’d pay good money to see that.”
I plastered a smile on my face, turning toward the path’s upward slope. “And my cover is what again?” I asked, even though it hadn’t been discussed.
“You can’t camouflage blood, so no cover other than your name. We’ve got you as Ivy Green.”
“Green witch. Ivy. Cute.” I rolled my eyes.
“That was the Baba Yaga’s idea. She thought you’d get a kick out of it.”
A kick out of it? Nope. “And when people talk, and I don’t answer to Ivy? What then? As Tabitha would say, the babayostuckintheeighties didn’t exactly think things through.”
“So what do you want to do, then? We have about ten seconds before the demi-dog gets within sniffing distance.”
I held out my hand. “Linzie Green. It’s nice to make your acquaintance.”
I meant it as a joke, but Daniel ran his thumb across my skin as we touched. His eyes said it without words. It was like starting over.
Not quite.
I eased my hand back, but I admit the temptation to linger and let things happen was getting stronger by the hour. Was that another deceitful side effect of playing in the dark? I wondered, but deep down hoped it wasn’t the case.
Wolf shifters were usually lean and lightning fast. This demi-wolf was long in the tooth, and even my limited senses picked up on the scent of vice. What would Zelda’s mate, Mac, say about it if he knew? He was the Shifter King, and their answer to the Baba Yaga. My guess? Not happy at all.
“Ms. Green!” The demi-shifter sprinted the last twenty-five feet, wheezing. “We are so happy you chose to join us. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Neville Furpot, the island’s concierge.”
“Bumfuck Bayou has a concierge?” I had to stifle a laugh.
The shifter’s face puckered. “Please don’t use that name. It’s so unflattering, and we halflings are hard-pressed enough when it comes to earning respect.” His nose wrinkled, nearly twitching. Was he also part rabbit or was that just a tick?
“No,” Neville continued. “We much prefer THE BFB or BB Bayou.”
“Wouldn’t BF Bayou be more accurate?” I knew the question was bratty, but the furball wasn’t here just to be polite.
“I think Ms. Green is a little tired after her journey.” Daniel’s slightly pursed lips were an unspoken warning. Be me, but less so. I was about to argue the point when he cut me off. “Perhaps some rest would be best before she meets the staff and other guests.”
Neville inclined his head. “As usual you are the voice of reason.” The demi-shifter gave me a onceover, his sniff more like a deep nasal inhale. “I think Daniel is correct. We have drinks on the veranda promptly at sunset, that way the entire staff can attend. You’ll find The BFB a place to tap your inner strengths and hone your dominant skills, on whichever side they may lie.”
He lifted his cellphone from his hip and clicked a side button. “Leave your bags. I’ll have someone bring them to your room shortly. In the meantime, you’ve made Mr. Saint’s acquaintance, and I’m sure he’d be happy to escort you to the lodge.”
My eyebrow pinched slightly at the word escort, but Daniel tucked my arm into his elbow, pulling me with him after giving Neville a quick wave. “See you at sunset.”
Pinched brow met pinched face at that. “What’s with you?” A quick shoulder glance followed my whispered complaint, only to find the demi-wolf gone, but what he left in his wake was another story.
“Whew!” I lifted a finger to the base of my nose. “You get a whiff of that? Sniffy McSnifferson needs to GPS his nose inward rather than outward.”
The demi-shifter’s disappearing act reeked of dark magic. Acridly slick, bleach-burning my inner nasal cavities. I looked at Daniel for explanation, but got none.
“Linzie, for the goddess’s sake, can you dial it down? There’s a reason we are handling this Carol’s way. Not only because there’s shenanigans going on, to use the Baba Yaga’s word, but also because it’s dangerous.”
I followed him away from the stench, doing a Samantha-Stevens-Classic-Bewitched nose twitch the whole time. “Daniel, I know you smell it, too, so don’t deny it. That demi-wolf is in on those shenanigans for sure.”
“Linzie, you’re missing the bigger picture. The wards you sensed coming in don’t just throw off nosy humans. They’re like a jamming device for connected full-bloods.”
“Connected?” My voice snuffled from me squeezing my nose. “What do you mean?”
“Connected. Like Carol or Marge, or even Zelda, or Roy’s daughter, Sassy. Or anyone from Assjacket, really. They don’t want nosy parkers poking around, especially ones attached to the Goddess. The wards make it hard to call for help, so please, for both our sakes, cool it. Covert, remember?”
That said it all. I had been dropped behind enemy lines without a game plan. Daniel knew it, too. There was genuine concern in his voice. Not just for our mission, but for my well-being…our well-being. Was I being petulant? Sure. Was I enjoying having a slight upper hand? A bit. Still, Daniel was right. It was time to cut the crap and put the past aside for the greater good. At least for the time being. We weren’t kids, and I needed to stop acting like one.
My hand dropped from my nose, and I wiggled it again to let the blood flow. “You’re right, and I’m sorry. This is bigger than me or you, so I’ll rein it in.”
“Linz, you can still be you. One of your biggest strengths is your ability to cut through BS to what’s important.” His lip curled on one side. “I heard about Dallas Crowe. Classic Linzie.”
Watching the appreciation on his face, I loved that he still got me. “Well, he deserved it.”
“I know. Only one thing tops your cutting through bullshit, and that’s your loyalty to those you love.” He dropped his gaze to the ground for a moment. “Something I took for granted and threw away.”
I put my hand on his arm. “How about we…”
“I know, go back to don’t talk to me.” He exhaled. “I get it.”
Shaking my head, I had to laugh. “And you’re still trying to finish my sentences. Badly, I might add. What I planned to say is how about we table the mia culpas for the time being? I heard you, and I got it.”
He shrugged, and I squeezed his arm. “No, Daniel. I mean it. I heard you. I didn’t want to, and that doesn’t mean there’s nothing left to say, but you were heard. You made a very good point. We have a job to do, so let’s do that and then settle the past once the Goddess is satisfied.”
“You’re still an M-80. Tiny, powerful, and dangerous if handled wrong.”
“Well,” I shrugged, “I always knew how to make a big bang good.”
A slow sexy, crooked smile spread across his mouth. “Big. Little. Quickie or whatever…the bang was always good.”
Heat crawled up my face, and I had no choice but
to deal with the fact he made me blush. “So, are you going to escort me or what? I think we could both use a shower.”
One eyebrow went up over his gorgeous hazel eyes. “Is that an invitation?”
I almost said follow me and find out, but what my body wanted, my head and my heart were nowhere near.
“An invitation, yes. To cool off and de-sweat. We both stink.”
He clicked his cheek. “Just checking.
I didn’t comment, though Daniel’s sex-o-meter wasn’t wrong. If pheromones were a thing for halfling demon witches, my scent trails would be more redolent than anything dark magic could leave behind.
I walked beside him, the swamp’s wild beauty and inherent danger feeding the raw desire in my gut. Raw. For a second, I saw it plain. Clawing. Delicious. Feral. It carried the same punch that hit when I stepped foot on the island. Insatiable.
Was my desire real? Was Daniel’s? Or was whatever here playing us?
Chapter Five
My room was more like an old-timey suite, with an anteroom for guests and a set of double pocket doors leading to a private boudoir.
Daniel stood by the French doors leading out to the second-floor porch overlooking the back garden and the wetland marsh beyond.
“Well, at least the room’s cool,” I said through the open bathroom door. “And the water pressure was better than I expected.” I had showered and changed, letting Daniel wait while I towel dried my hair.
“Linz…” he turned, and the set of his jaw in the bathroom mirror triggered muscle memory in my own, but Daniel wasn’t walking away from me this time. Not without risking a pissed off Baba Yaga or a homicidal me. Probably both.
My guard was still up despite his pretty words, however genuine they tasted, and definitely despite the swamp’s strange sexual sway.
“I found something in my explorations. There’s a place on the far end of the island where the cypress roots make the marsh impassable. I can sense something there, but I can’t get close enough to be sure.”
I hung up my towel, letting the demony burn in my eyes fade. It was the equivalent of an exhale. I walked toward the window finger-combing my pixie cut. Following his gaze, I squinted against the light. “If you can’t get close enough, what makes you think I can? Is it a narrow opening of some kind?”
Demons Are Forever Page 3