by Deanna Chase
“Heather Welsh?” I asked, astonished.
He nodded, not saying anything.
“I thought she passed away in a car accident years ago… or did you mean her doppelgänger works there?”
“Not her doppelgänger,” he said quietly. Then he moved so close to me he was clutching my arm tightly. “My Heather did not die. She ended up here somehow, and it’s why I crossed over in the first place.”
I let out a small gasp. Heather Welsh had been his girlfriend when he’d been training at the Void. But then disaster struck. Or at least I thought it had. “She’s here?”
“Yeah and… I asked Allcot to get her out.” His expression was pained, and I wondered if it was because the love of his life was tied to a whorehouse or because he’d still been searching for her while married to Pandora. Probably both.
“Is he going to do it?” I asked, more than a little curious.
“Yes.” He sucked in a breath. “But he did say that if I ever hurt Pandora, he’ll rip my head off, so there’s that.”
Of course he had. Even in this universe it was easy to see that Allcot had feelings for her. It was all in the way he looked at her. There was a wistfulness that didn’t exist when he looked at me… thank the gods. I didn’t want him anywhere near me. “I’m not sure what to make of that, big brother,” I said, worry for him pushing out my annoyance. “Is that going to be hard to deal with? You have Pandora now.”
He just shrugged. “Does it matter? I can’t leave her there either way.”
That was my brother—the one who always had to save everyone. “Can I ask you something?”
He gave me a weary look. “Yeah, I guess.”
“Why did it take you so long to rescue my doppelgänger from the Red Door?”
He took a seat on a trunk near my closet and ran a hand through his thick dark hair. “You have no idea what it was like for me when I got here. There were enemies, debts, lies. You name it, I had to navigate it. And all I wanted to do was find Heather. But she was long gone, and I…” He gave me a little shake of his head. “Pandora came along. She helped me navigate a shit ton of bad situations, and we ended up together with Lex on the way. It took me a long time to get to a place where I could help, Phoebs. Then I went to work for Allcot, and he was the first chance I had to do anything.”
“She doesn’t love him, does she?” I asked, just to fulfill my own curiosity.
“I think she wanted to, but she’s in love with Dax and Allcot will never set him free. Because of that, she hates him.” He held his hands palms up. “I did the best I could. I know it wasn’t enough.”
I believed him. He wouldn’t want me working in such a place, and it would be hard to watch my doppelgänger there. “Did you know your counterpart promised Dax he’d find a way to release him from Clio?”
“Yeah. He said something about it once. More like sneered at me. But I swear to God, there has been nothing I could do while also keeping Pandora and Lex safe.”
I patted his arm. “I know. You’re a good guy.”
“I’m not sure about that.” He stared over my shoulder, lost in his own thoughts.
I cleared my throat. “Seth?”
“Yeah?”
“You still need to go back to our world. Bring the other Phoebe here so I can go home.” That pained look came over his face again, but I wasn’t having it. “I’m not kidding. I can’t stay here. I don’t belong here. If you don’t do this for me, I’ll find a way to get back there. A curse, a hex, a potion, a summoning. Hell, I don’t know, but I’ll visit every voodoo practitioner, shaman, and witch in this state until I get what I need.”
He blanched. “No! You can’t do that. It’s too fucking dangerous, Phoebs. Promise me you won’t even try.”
I shook my head. “Forget it. You promised me you’d go get the other Phoebe.”
A muscle pulsed in his jaw, but finally he gave me a curt nod. “Fine. I’ll leave first thing in the morning.”
“Not after dinner?” I pressed.
“No. I need a night with Pandora and my son.”
It was then I saw the anxiousness in his expression. “Is it dangerous for you to hop worlds?”
“Always,” he admitted. “I’m dead in that world, remember? When I just pop up out of nowhere, people start to ask questions.”
I winced, knowing my tenacity to find him hadn’t helped him any in that regard. “Sorry, big brother. You should’ve just told me what was going on.”
“I was trying to protect you.” He gave me a gentle smile.
“And I was trying to rescue you.” I chuckled. “We make some pair, don’t we?”
“We sure do.” He got up from his spot and pulled me into a bear hug that only Seth could deliver. “I love you, Phoebs. And I’ve missed the hell out of you.”
“I love you too,” I said, sniffing back tears.
“Be careful while I’m gone, all right? You might be married to Allcot, but he’s still dangerous.”
“I’ve never been afraid of that over-cocky vampire,” I said.
“Maybe not. But he’s just as big of an ass in this reality as he is in ours. Maybe more so. He has less to lose.”
That was the cold hard truth. In our reality he had a major corporation and had unprecedented influence over the city of New Orleans. He also had Pandora. In this one, he had a pain-in-the-ass wife and an organization that got the job done, but it wasn’t a multibillion-dollar company either. “I see what you mean.”
“Good. Now let’s eat before Pandora chews us both out.”
I looked down at my dress and smoothed the material. It was far too fancy for a lasagna dinner, but when we reached the dining room, Allcot’s eyes lit up with approval and his shitty demeanor vanished.
Score one for the exposed cleavage.
14
Light shone from the long front windows of the Greek Revival house Phoebe shared with Willow and Talisen. Dax pulled his Trooper to a stop out front and blew out a long breath. How was he going to tell Phoebe’s best friend that he suspected Phoebe was the witch he was looking for?
The front door opened, and Willow poked her head out. “Dax? Is that you?”
It was time to face the music. He hauled himself out of the vehicle and gave her a small wave.
“Any news?”
He nodded, and when he reached her he frowned. “It’s not good news.”
“Oh goddess,” Willow said, pressing her hand to her throat. “Is she… all right? Tell me she’s all right, Dax.”
“She’s not hurt, as far as I know anyway.” The physical pain in his chest made it difficult to breathe. “Listen, can I come in? We need to talk.”
“Of course.” She stepped back and opened the door wide for him. Her wolf, Link, was in his cute shih tzu form and came running up, yapping away.
“It’s me, Link,” Dax said, kneeling down to pet the gold-and-white pup. He wiggled his body, excitement taking over as he jumped up on Dax, giving him a big wet kiss on the cheek.
“He’s happy to see you,” Willow said with a smile.
At least someone is, he thought. He patted Link on the head and stood, jamming his hands in his pockets. “I saw Phoebe today.”
“That’s good,” she said but sounded cautious. “Where has she been?”
“At one of her safe houses.”
Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Dax glanced up, finding Willow’s husband Talisen.
“Dax, hey man. Good to see you.”
“You too,” Dax said with a nod and watched as he kissed Willow on the cheek. The pair just radiated love. Both of them practically glowed when they gazed at each other, and Dax felt a sudden pang of jealousy he’d never experienced before. Where the hell had that come from? He chided himself, but he already knew. He wanted that with Phoebe, had secretly thought they were on that path, but now… He shook his head.
“What’s wrong, Dax?” Willow asked, her blue eyes full of concern. “You look like you’re ready to come right o
ut of your skin.”
He felt like it too. “Sorry. It’s been a long day.”
“Let’s go upstairs to the kitchen. I think I’ve got just the thing you need.” She crooked a finger, beckoning both men to follow her.
“After you,” Talisen said.
Dax’s limbs were heavy as he hauled himself up to the second floor. This wasn’t the conversation he wanted to be having. All he wanted was his partner back, the sane, kick-ass woman who didn’t take shit from anyone but had a heart of gold. The one he’d been with earlier in the day had been a stranger.
“We had a visitor today,” Willow said as she pulled three bottles out of her refrigerator and placed them on the table.
Dax took a seat and raised an eyebrow. “Was Phoebe here?”
“No, unfortunately.” She walked back into the kitchen and opened her cookie jar. After arranging some on the plate, she returned to the table and placed them in front of Dax. “Her brother Seth showed up looking for her.”
“What?” Dax felt the blood drain from his face. “That’s not possible, is it?”
“Why not?” Talisen asked, opening his bottle of Mocha in Motion. It was a mocha-flavored energy drink that Willow sold at her shop in Uptown.
“Because Phoebe said… Oh God.” His stomach churned, and he suddenly felt like he might vomit.
“Dax, what is it?” Willow asked. “You look like you’re going to be sick.”
He was going to be sick. That meant that Phoebe’s story didn’t add up. She’s said the Mastersons killed her brother, even showed her pictures of his death and told her they were going to kill her. Self-defense. Reasonable cause. But if she was lying… “I’m… fine.”
Willow and Talisen continued to stare at him, waiting.
Dax cleared his throat. “I saw Phoebe today. I think she killed Maci Masterson.”
Willow blinked at him. “Okay. I’m sure she had her reasons.”
“She must have,” Talisen agreed with a nod.
Dax’s jaw tightened as he tapped his fingers on the wooden table in agitation. “That’s what I thought too. But now… her actions don’t add up. And I can’t find any evidence that Maci Masterson did anything at all other than exist. No struggle, no crime, nothing but the death of one ordinary shifter.” He picked up one of the cookies but didn’t take a bite. “Phoebe said the Masterson pack killed her brother and were going to kill her too.”
Willow and Talisen were silent as they let Dax’s words sink in. Finally, Willow cleared her throat. “Seth is alive. I saw him today. Why does she think he’s dead?”
“She said they showed her pictures,” Dax said, knowing there could still be a reasonable explanation for why Phoebe killed the girl. He was just having trouble formulating it.
“That could’ve been forged,” Willow insisted.
“You’re right. It could’ve been.” Dax rubbed his forehead, trying to ease the tension above his eyes. “Nothing adds up. She didn’t tell either of us what was going on. Instead of using Void resources, she went to a safe house. The only reason I found her is because I had someone in tech track her credit card and was able to get a lead. She’s must’ve ran out of cash, because today is the first time she used it. And then when I showed up at her safe house, she ran. Why would she run from me?”
Talisen and Willow shared a worried glance before Willow turned back to Dax. “I don’t know. You’re right—it is suspicious. But if she thinks her brother is dead, maybe she’s having some sort of episode?”
“Maybe,” Dax said, his heart sinking. “But whether that’s true or not, I still have to bring her in, don’t I?”
“He’s right, Wil,” Talisen said softly. “If Phoebe isn’t thinking clearly, she’s dangerous and needs help.”
Willow stood up abruptly. “I just don’t believe it. Phoebe would never kill someone unless it was self-defense.”
“That’s what I thought too,” Dax said, feeling defeated. “But then today… I’m telling you, Wil, she wasn’t herself.”
Willow sat back in her chair, looking just as upset as Dax felt.
“Has she been here at all?” he asked her.
“Not that I know of, but I guess she could’ve come while I was at work.” She glanced at Talisen. “Have you seen any signs of her?”
He shook his head. “I would’ve said something. But I also haven’t exactly been looking for signs. Has anyone checked her room?”
Willow and Dax both shook their heads.
“Well, that’s easy enough to do.” Talisen got up and left the kitchen with Link following behind him.
Willow let out a long breath. “I just can’t wrap my head around this. Are you really saying that you think she killed someone in cold blood?”
“No. I’m saying none of it adds up and now I’m in the fucked-up position of investigating my girlfriend.”
Willow chewed on her bottom lip, closed her eyes, and shook her head. “I can’t believe that. I won’t. That’s not Phoebe.”
Dax stood. “You know, Willow, I agree with you. But what else am I going to do?”
A pained expression flashed over her face and she shook her head. “I don’t know.”
He grabbed the Mocha in Motion, downed the liquid, and said, “Thanks. Let me know if you hear anything.”
“You too.”
Dax left her at the table and went downstairs to join Talisen.
The fae was sitting at Phoebe’s desk, an empty safe box in front of him. He glanced up, his green eyes full of worry. “This is her cash box.”
Dax glanced at the empty metal box. “It’s empty.”
“All except this.” He held up a bundle of papers. The top sheet had the corner ripped off.
“What is it?” He took it from Talisen and scanned the paperwork. It was a trust that listed her assets—including all her safe houses. The paper that had the torn corner was the safe house she’d been staying in the past few days. He frowned, still not able to make sense of anything. “So she took her emergency cash and couldn’t remember the address of one of her safe houses, so she wrote it down?”
“That’s what it looks like,” Tal said. “Only Phoebe never forgets anything, especially something like this. Are you sure the woman you were with today was our Phoebe?”
God how he wished he’d been mistaken. “She sure the hell looked and sounded like her, Talisen.”
“Spelled maybe?”
“I did have that thought. Either way, does it matter? I need to get her into the Void before she’s hurt or she hurts someone else.”
“Yeah.” Talisen stood. “Let me know if you need any help, man. We love her too.”
“I will.” Dax shook the man’s hand and took off, unable to spend another moment in Phoebe’s space. It hurt too much.
Just as he was climbing into his Trooper, his phone buzzed. Leo’s name flashed on the screen. He’d left Leo back at the Void that day to do more research on the Masterson pack. “Yeah?”
“We have a problem,” the younger shifter said.
Dax turned the engine over and put the vehicle in gear. “What did you find?”
“Nothing. But we just got word there’s been another attack. His name is Lincoln Frost, and he barely avoided a witch attack.”
“Fuck. A death spell?”
“He doesn’t know for sure, but he’s in the infirmary due to a poison made with wolfsbane.”
Wolfsbane. That’s was one of the ingredients Phoebe had purchase that morning at the herb shop. “Are you there now?”
“Yes. Want me to meet you somewhere?” Leo asked.
“No. I’m on my way.”
15
Allcot stood in the doorway of my studio, his gray eyes practically stalking me. I hid the betony wood behind my back, not wanting him to see I was experimenting with different herbs.
“Eadric. What can I do for you?” I asked, dropping the sprig on the worktable.
“I want you to come to bed,” he said, keeping his eyes locked on mi
ne.
“Do you think I’ve just forgotten how you manhandled me the other day?” I asked, my voice suddenly cold.
“No.” He walked into the room and closed the door behind him. “I’m here to apologize.”
“Some apology. I don’t think I ever heard an ‘I’m sorry.’ The only thing I heard was that you wanted to get laid, so now you’re doing whatever it takes.”
He let out a low chuckle. “I love that fire, Phoebe. It’s the reason I agreed to Seth’s arrangement for us all those years ago.”
I clamped my lips together, acutely aware that our sparring was foreplay for him. Why hadn’t I realized it before?
He stopped right in front of me and cupped my neck with his big hand, trailing his fingers over my pulse. It sped up and I silently cursed my body. I hated that his touch had that effect on me. There was no scenario in which I wanted Eadric Allcot, except when my body was betraying both my heart and my head.
I took a step back and sucked in a breath. “I’m not interested.”
“Yes you are,” he said, but he didn’t make a move to invade my personal space again, thank the gods. “But I can see that you’re still angry with me. How can I make it up to you?”
“Are you being serious right now?” I asked tentatively.
“Yes. I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t mean it.” His gray eyes were intense, studying me.
I wanted to tell him to free Dax from the curse that bound him to the Red Door. But I knew that was a bad idea. Who knew what he’d do to Dax if he thought I cared too much? Instead, I said, “Let me work at the Red Door.”
His eyes widened in surprise, and then he gave me the strangest look. “Now you’re the one who can’t be serious. No wife of mine is going to be sell herself to anyone, ever. Got that? If you want to pleasure someone, I’m the one you’ll be getting on your knees for.”
“Holy fuck, Allcot!” I straightened my entire body, lifting my chin in righteous indignation. “You think I want to sell my body for money? Have you lost your ever-loving mind?”
He frowned. “What else are you going to do there?”