Bounty Hunters and Black Magic

by Kristen Banet

  “I am.”

  “You’re here.” She gestured in front of her at his tombstone.

  “I know.”

  “You haven’t moved on!” She had a feeling she was getting a bit shrill.

  “Yes, that is a problem I’m currently facing.”

  She stood up slowly, considering him. He looked exactly like he had when he died. Not a day older. He didn’t bear the hole in his chest, thankfully. There was only one thing she could think of.

  I can’t bring him back. No matter what, I can’t.

  “You don’t expect me to raise you, do you?” she asked softly. Part of her, a good portion of her, wanted to. Really, truly did—but her better half reminded her that raising the dead never ended well.

  “Gods, no!” William shook his head, like she had just asked the craziest question. “No! Addy, we both know how wrong that could go! Necromancy is…You’re not thinking of it, are you?”

  “No. Not seriously, anyway.” She gave him a small smile. “William, your body has been decaying six feet under for a year. Necromancy only puts the soul back in the body. It doesn’t…repair the body. It keeps decaying. That’s disgusting. I love you, but I can’t fuck a dead man.”

  “Of all the reasons,” he mumbled, rolling his eyes.

  “How are you?” she asked softly, sobering after her small joke.

  “I’m fine. Tell me more about you. Tell me more about this trouble you’ve gotten up to.”

  “‘I’m fine’ is probably not how you’re feeling,” she retorted, now realizing she had the ghost of her late husband hanging out. It wasn’t some hallucination or dream. This was real.

  And a serious problem. Souls were supposed to move on, or they became twisted. Witches, warlocks, and others of their kind, like shamans, had a duty to make sure they moved on. She didn’t want to see William get twisted. He should have been enjoying a wonderful afterlife somewhere.

  He deserved it.

  “I’m fine,” he repeated. “Honestly, I’ve hung out here for the last year, just watching the horses. Most of the time, I don’t notice the time passing.”

  “Are you…okay being dead?” If he was, then he should have moved on. She didn’t know what sort of unfinished business he might have to stick around.

  “I’ve long accepted that I’m dead. I knew the risks of my job, and I succeeded. Redstone still stands. Hell wasn’t unleashed on Earth. Everything looks relatively normal, really. And I’m glad you seem to have accepted it as well.”

  “It took time,” she admitted. “I took the entire year to grieve.” And plot.

  And now she felt like she had a new reason to defeat Beelzebub. William hadn’t completely finished his last task. He’d saved Redstone, but the demon who killed him was still out there.

  “I know,” he whispered. “Tell me. I would love to hear it, but if you find it too weird to talk to me, that’s okay too. Really, I’m very interested in hearing about these two bounty hunters. Excuse me, your new deputies.”

  Heat filled her face and she had to look away. Oh, she had mentioned that. “Um.” She felt so guilty now. She slept with other men. She glanced back at him, biting her lip. “You don’t…care?”

  “Adalyn, do you remember our wedding vows?” he asked, grinning.

  “Sort of?” She had gotten embarrassingly drunk that day. It went down in history.

  “‘Til death do us part? Ring a bell?” He teased her.

  Of course my dead husband would tease me. Obviously. Just when I thought life couldn’t get more weird.

  “Death. It has successfully parted us.” He was still grinning as he jumped off his tombstone. “Plus, this is as far as I can go from my resting place. It’s not like I can go haunt you for being with other people. I’m happy to hear you’ve been with other people. Honestly, I’m surprised I died before you found someone else to love along with me.”

  “You never asked me for monogamy,” she said, remembering it.

  “You offered it to me.”

  She smiled, feeling easier by the moment, deciding to shift the topic to something lighter. “I’m now the sheriff.” She pointed to the badge on her chest. “Got any advice?”

  “Oh, loads, but maybe not tonight. I think there’s a…forgive me, I’ve seen him come and go from here over the last few days, but what is he?”

  “Remy? Oh, you won’t believe this.” She laughed and explained Remy. A hellhound shifter, completely unheard-of. Easton, the Nephilim, but not from a Fallen. As she kept talking, William only started to laugh with her.

  “You meet the most interesting people,” he muttered, shaking his head with a disbelieving grin on his face. “And they’re going to be your deputies?”

  “They are!” She threw her head back in laughter at the thought. “They also give you a run for your money.”

  “I hope they do,” he agreed, chuckling. “I’m dead. They don’t have to compete against much. Now if only I could finally convince you to talk to poor Tobias. You know, he’s been wanting you for years.”

  “No!” she gasped. “He’s my best friend! He would never think of me like that. Stop that!”

  “Stop what?” William asked innocently.

  “You’re trying to play matchmaker from the grave, aren’t you?” She crossed her arms, playfully glaring at him.

  “So what if I am? I just want to see you happy. Eventually, I’ll move on, and you’ll be with someone who loves you. Or someones. There are two bounty hunters. Oh, excuse me again, deputies. Men you’ll need to work with closely. Every day. Who live with you now.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her and she rolled her eyes at him.

  “I always knew you were a pervert,” she accused him.

  “Says my lovely wife, who I’ve caught many times in compromising positions with other men.” He raised his hands, as if to dare her to say he hadn’t.

  “I would have never!” She was laughing again, but he was right. Drunk, she was a notorious flirt. Valen had to put up with her hitting on him for years. Then there were times where she and Tobias would be working closely on potions. Or she and Maxwell on spells. William would just walk in, tease them, and move on.

  He’d never doubted her. By the look on his face, he never would. Now he was just giving her a hard time.

  “Tell me more about your recent adventures. Please. I want to hear about what craziness has led to you taking over for me. I have a feeling I’m going to get a laugh out of it.”

  She groaned and launched into the story. As she expected, he was glaring the moment she mentioned black magic, but he didn’t interrupt. Instead, he gave her a chance to explain her stance on it and tell him that she learned her lesson on trying to do it all alone. She told him about seeing Maxwell again, to which he did cut in.

  “Give him a chance. I won’t tell you why he missed being in Redstone that day, since I don’t want to meddle like that, but…give him a chance.”

  Well, I said I would if William asked me to from beyond the grave. I never thought it would actually happen. “I was planning on it. He’s going to make Redstone his home from now on. He’s got a trip back East, then he’s going to settle down here. Help me as sheriff, and the like.”

  “Oh really?” William smirked, and she had a feeling he knew more than she did by miles, but she didn’t pry. “Good to know…”

  “Would you like me to finish the story?”

  “Yes. Please. This is good. When do the bounty hunters come into play?”

  “Right at this part. They showed up the same day as Maxwell.”

  It felt like hours later when she finished, the waning moon high over their heads.

  “That…Wow, Adalyn.” He shook his head, a bemused smile back on his face. “I die and you don’t settle down. No, you get crazier. Of course. I’m glad you’re safe now. There’s that at least.”

  “I did some good things in all of that!” She felt the need to defend herself. “I’m only twenty-eight. I’m young enough to be allowed some mistakes, o
ld man!”

  “Hey. I died at thirty-four. You don’t get to call me old. You’ll be my age soon enough.” He wagged a finger at her. “Plus, Valen is nearly a decade older than you. Do you call him old? Or Tobias or Maxwell? They’re both in their thirties, too.”

  “Old man,” she repeated, grinning. This time, he rolled his eyes. “You can’t deny, I did pretty good with the demons in the mine.”

  “You did,” he agreed, lifting his hands in defeat. “I’m really proud of you. Not just for that, but…for what you decided to focus on after I died. I never saw you leave the house…I was getting worried.”

  “I needed the time alone. Now, it’s time for me to live again.” Even with my late husband’s ghost sitting on his tombstone. She shivered, realizing she never put on anything to fight against the chilly night.

  “Go inside. It’s probably chilly out, I can’t feel it, and as I was trying to say earlier, I think this Remy has been looking for you. I can see him wandering around the house.” He waved to the house, a sign that he wanted her to go. She sighed, looking at her candles, then vanished them back to their home in a little box in her work shed. “Adalyn, if you need to talk to someone removed from everything, I’m here. Just…don’t rely on me too much. I want you in the world of the living, and I want you to do your best to stay in it.”

  “I know,” she murmured, looking down at the earth. Underneath her was his body. In his grave. “I’m going to find a way for you to move on.”

  “That would be helpful. Oh, and I’m never going to show myself to anyone else. I have a feeling they might have a harder time with it. Plus, the guys? They’ll be fine without me.” He grinned. “Goodnight, Addy.”

  “Goodnight…William.” She found the words hard to say, in a strange way. He was her late husband, but more importantly, he’d been her best friend. Now, she had her most trusted man back in her life and it felt good. “I’m going to come back for advice about other men. I hope you know that.”

  “I welcome it.” She couldn’t see him anymore, but she heard something pleased in his words. He really did sound like he welcomed it.

  She went back inside slowly, feeling strange. She went to her bedroom alone and sat down on the edge of the bed.

  Most women would cry about now.

  Adalyn could only laugh. Hysterically, but laugh nonetheless.

  29

  Tobias

  Three weeks later

  Tobias rode back into Redstone, glad to be home. The trip had been hard on him. He had watched one of his mentors pass away. It had hurt. He’d gotten there just in time to say goodbye, hear one last piece of wisdom, and then his teacher was gone.

  He’d left the reservation with a heavy heart. That heavy heart only wanted one thing: the comfort of his friends.

  He didn’t stick around for many of the celebrations of life the tribe had put on. No, he wanted his own ride home, some privacy, and to see those who meant a lot to him.

  “Tobias!” Valen called, standing in front of the saloon. “You’re back!”

  “I am!” He clicked his tongue, getting Countess to trot a little faster towards the big Russian. “Tell me something. I saw Adalyn on my trip out, passing through Fort Lackey. How’s she been?”

  “Oh, that’s something you’ll have to ask her,” Valen replied, stepping down his front porch. “Are you going to talk to her about…?”

  “I’m really considering it.” Tobias chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. He didn’t bother to dismount, only stopping in front of Valen to talk. “I mean…years, Valen. And she’s had time after William. I’ve seen two good people die in the last year, year and a half. I don’t want to lose the chance.”

  “I think you really should.” Valen rubbed Countess’ neck, running his fingers through her dark mane. “She should know how you feel.”

  “I know.” Tobias had wanted to talk about this with his oldest friend. “Do you think she might like a night out? Or flowers?”

  Valen laughed, shaking his head. “I’m not helping you that much. You’ve missed a lot, too. Catch up with her. She’s come out of her grieving.”

  “You know things I don’t,” he said, realizing there was something afoot. “I’m going to go see her.”

  He turned Countess towards her house and Valen shook his head, tapping his leg.

  “Wrong way. You can find her in the sheriff’s office.”

  Tobias frowned at the Russian. Do we have a new sheriff? Did she get arrested? Why would she be there?

  “Okay…” he mumbled, turning Countess again and beginning a slow, scared walk to the sheriff’s office. He was scared of what he would find there. Here he was, hoping to proclaim the feelings he had for a witch he cared for, and she was in the sheriff’s office.

  And knowing Adalyn, it could be very bad.

  “And one last thing. Maxwell is on a trip back East, but he’s going to try and move permanently to Redstone. He also might be coming back knowing who I am.”

  Tobias pulled Countess to a hard stop at that, looking back at Valen again. Tobias knew. He was the only person who knew. “Who? And what, I’m guessing. How did that happen?”

  “He and I made a deal. He didn’t fully come out on the side of his half of the bargain, but I gave him a hint anyways. A sign of rebuilding the friendship.” Valen didn’t look worried, so Tobias didn’t let it worry him.

  “I’m glad to hear he’s coming back around. He’s been missed.” Tobias chose his words carefully. While no one else in town knew who and what Valen was, he did. He knew how the knowledge could change the people around him, even while they were desperately curious to know. So Tobias just let that drop, focusing instead on just having Maxwell back in their lives.

  If it weren’t for William being gone, they could almost be normal again.

  “Well, I’m going to let you go see the little witch. Your room is still ready above the saloon.”

  “Thank you, Valen.” Tobias inclined his head and continued to the sheriff’s office. He dismounted and didn’t bother to tie Countess to the post. She stood next to Dark Prince without complaint, and he knew she wouldn’t wander.

  Before he walked in, he had a rash thought, a crazy idea.

  I’m just going to tell her. Adalyn, I love you. How hard is that to say? We’ve been friends for a long time. She would understand. Right?

  He walked in, and stumbled at the sight of the orange-eyed man behind the reception desk. Tobias had no idea who he was.

  “I’m looking for Adalyn Lovett?” he said as the unknown stood up with an easy smile.

  “And you are?”

  “Tobias!”

  He jumped at the feminine voice and turned to the back hallway. There she was. Black curls fell around her face, making her blue-green eyes shine and pop. The color of the sea, those eyes. She was just as beautiful as she always was.

  “Oh, this is Tobias?” a third voice said. Tobias watched another man walk out from the back, his vest open, along with his shirt. There was a dark spot where someone had bitten him. The last man slid an arm over her shoulder in a possessive male way that made Tobias clench his jaw.

  “Tobias, you have so much catching up to do. First, I’m the new sheriff. Second, these are my two deputies, Easton.” She gestured to the one behind her. “And Remy.” She pointed to the orange-eyed one behind the desk. “They’re also my roommates now.”

  He sighed. Of course. He was gone for a few weeks and she found male roommates. He watched Easton lean down and kiss her cheek. Haunting sapphire eyes then connected to his across the room, almost a dare, a challenge. It only meant one thing.

  Of course she was sleeping with them.

  He’d missed a lot. He could only imagine Valen thought this was the funniest thing that ever happened. Maxwell was probably annoyed.

  Tobias was just a bit put out. He’d waited so patiently. He should have just listened to William while the man was alive. Admit the feelings early. If you put them off, you lose the opp
ortunity.

  He gritted his teeth and decided he was going to try anyway. Now he would just need to make it better than whatever her two new male friends had to offer.

  He opened his mouth to say something, anything, as the door opened behind him and guns began to go off in the distance. It nearly hit him and he had to jump out of the way as a small shifter ran in.

  “Sheriff, there’s a few humans loaded with silver bullets! They’re going after the werewolves! Something about grazing rights!”

  He didn’t have the chance to say anything as Adalyn, Remy, and Easton ran out, pulling their guns. He turned to watch them from the window as they jumped on their horses and tore off towards were land.

  “I guess I’ll need to talk to her tomorrow…” With a heavy sigh, he sat down on the reception desk. “Redstone. Home sweet home.”

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading!

  I hope you are all ready for an steamy, action-packed trip to the Wild West. Adalyn is so much fun for me and I can’t wait for everyone to continue to see what’s she’s up to with these men who care for her. How are things to play out with the new sheriff? I guess you’ll have to find out in the next book, Werewolves and Wranglers!

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  About the Author

  KristenBanetAuthor.com

  Kristen Banet has a Diet Coke problem, smokes too much, and cusses like a sailor. She loves to read, and before finally sitting to try her hand at writing, she had your normal kind of work history. From tattoo parlors, to the U.S. Navy, and freelance illustration, she’s stumbled through her adult years and somehow, is still kicking.