“I could ask the same of you,” a menacing voice challenged. Discordant violent sounds followed: glass breaking, scrapes, and a heavy mass slamming into the voice. More voices joined the row. Panic filled me when I realized we hadn’t closed the door and the violence would probably find its way to us.
“The vultures are circling. Diehle’s death has been discovered.” Moving quickly, Cirrian grabbed the spellbook and handed it to me. “I’m taking you home.”
It wasn’t the request I asked for, but at least I had some idea of what was about to happen before the heat pulsed from the binding mark, revealing itself for a beat before I was plunged into darkness. Moments later, I was in the middle of my living room.
“You gave me the book,” I said, securing my claim to magic to my chest. He disappeared without answering, returning breathless with my pink bonnet. He grinned. “Not sure if it’syour favorite, but I don’t want any hair fibers used as a way to find you,” he said.
Cradling the book to me, I was reluctant to lose my hold on it. He smirked at whatever defiance was in my expression. There would be a fight if he even considered taking it away.
He dropped the bonnet on the closest table. “It is yours. The book spoke to you, so I’d like you to figure out how to respond. Are you willing to do that?”
There were no words to express how much I was willing to do for this book. I’d claimed it. Whether real or not, I felt a kindred bond with it. It was my book. My magic. Mine to protect.
I nodded.
“Good. Now, I’d like to see who claims Diehle’s estate. Bye.”
Before he could leave, I said, “We don’t need a demon in this territory.”
He flashed a grin. “There’s that darkness. It peeks its head out at the most peculiar times.” His intrigue was palpable. A blink, and he was gone to become an amused observer of the takeover. A new demon who would be the agent of chaos and the exploiter of desperation.
22
Isat on the sofa, my fingers running over the pages and making the messaging appear and disappear like magic. But that was the extent of what I had: parlor tricks. The only thing that hinged on power was the magic that pulsed from the peculiar book.
I’d found a magic book but had been plunged into social silence. Where I had been evading Corrine, Belham, and William, now they hadn’t returned my calls. The world could be devolving into shambles, and I wouldn’t know because the coven and the vampires were silent. Even my pet hadn’t returned. That was most concerning to me.
My small collection of spells was next to me as I attempted to pull from whatever magic was in the book to reveal a message. Without my own magic, I had nothing.
Leaning into the book, I kept my hand on the pages. “Reveal.” My confidence that it would work was zero, but it was worth a try.
“What are you?” I asked, and in response it warmed, and the magic felt sentient and familiar. Grabbing my phone, I looked through my contacts. The only person who could help was Amelia. I couldn’t even bring Rachel in without breaking myoath. Running my finger across my binding mark, I thought of Cirrian. I hadn’t gone this long without seeing him. Dismissing the idea that I missed him, I gave a shake of my head. If he had been gone this long, was it due to collections or his role as an amused spectator of demons vying for Diehle’s territory?
I wasted several hours searching for Darren and Jamillah. I wasn’t bold enough to ask for their contact information from William after having avoided him for days, even if he was now avoiding me. Waiting for my termination message and hoping for severance pay, I put on my running shoes and headed out the door. I needed to clear my head. Establish a plan.
Running along the trail, I noticed the warmth of the sun and my nervous energy had both been spent. My enjoyment of the rustling of the leaves from the trees surrounding me was interrupted by the lithe steps behind me of someone who clearly wanted their presence known. Whipping around, I extended my baton with a flick of my wrist and assumed a look of confidence to let my stalkers know I wasn’t a novice with its use. Recognizing them didn’t change anything. Sidled next to Terran was his Paddington Bear companion. He might have possessed the adorable look of the teddy, but there wasn’t anything cuddly about him. More grizzly than companionable stuffed animal. He was the essence of coiled violence as his long legs ate up the distance between us. Their menacing smirks made me grip the baton tighter. Terran inched closer with measured, stalking steps. Clearly his wolf half was in control.
“I’ve been thinking about you since our last meeting,” he admitted. Nothing flattering or salacious about the comment. It was cold, calculating, and curious.
“Okay? That sounds like ayouproblem?”
“But it’s not,” his companion’s thick British accent asserted. “We need to know what abilities you possess that had such an effect on our Alpha, Takara Bennett.”
Nothing good ever followed the use of my government name. I was being reprimanded for something that I had no knowledge or control of.
“When I get answers, you’ll be the first to know.” I continued to step back to maintain adequate distance between us to effectively use the baton if necessary. His swift movement was so unexpected that when I reacted to strike, he was close enough to grab hold of the baton. My knee shot up toward his groin. He shifted in time to prevent the blow but couldn’t avoid the explosive uppercut to his jaw. Stumbling back, he released the baton and shook off the hit. When he advanced again, I was prepared.
“Vincent,” Terran scolded.
“I need to understand it,” he responded in a desperate plea to me. “May I?” he added.
Assuming he meant he wanted to approach me, I nodded. Narrowed eyes scrutinized me before he ate up all the distance between us. Leaning in, his nose traced over the space just inches from the curve of my neck, then my face. He stood in front of me like I was fire and he was in need of heat.
Ever heard of personal space?From his inquiring look, it appeared that he wanted to move even closer. I wasn’t cuddling with another wolf. He tossed a quizzical look over his shoulder at Terran. I assumed it was because he was unable to replicate whatever had happened between Terran and me. It must have really freaked Terran the hell out.
Their heads snapped to the left at the same time, glowing eyes pinned on the new wolf stalking out of the thicket.
“Hey—” I stopped before I called him Wolfie. We really had to give him a name.
