“Okay then.” I slid my phone in my pocket. “Let’s go check the wards.”
And with that, we trooped outside, into the night.
• • •
My property spread across what had originally been four lots. I had close to an acre of land, most of it sprawling in the massive backyard, unheard of in the city. But thanks to my years spent wandering the world, I had accumulated a hefty bank account, and I decided to plunge into the real estate market. I selected a residential area that had held a small, abandoned apartment building. The neighborhood was run down, but at the time I bought it, the vamps weren’t out of the closet, and the property values were low, given the rubble and disrepair the riots had left in the area. So I bought the land, tore down the building, and built my house. I’d encircled the entire place with stone. A friend had owed me a big favor and he had access to a quarry, so he’d built the fence to pay off his debt.
The stone wall was four feet high, and to that I had added a thin strand of silver chain encircling the area. It helped in protecting against the vamps, but I’d skimped on the entrance, a simple metal gate. To either side of the gate, on the inside, stood two pedestals. I’d planted garlic bushes around them. During the autumn and winter, I hung braided garlic around the house that I’d picked from them.
After the vamps had come out, and when attacks grew more daring, I began paying Dani to create the wards for my land, including the line of runic wards in the walkway leading from the front sidewalk up to the house. They would sound the alarm if a vamp tried to cross them, but their reach only rose up about ten feet from the ground. In mist form, a vampire could have avoided all the wards until they reached the house. I had long ago faced the fact that there was no way to fully prepare against their attacks.
“It’s too dark to look at the wards on the outer gates, but let’s check the house.” Dani examined the runes on the front-porch wall. “Damn it. I found the crack. Or at least one of them. He must have crossed the wards in mist form till he got to the doorway, because all of the sidewalk wards are still intact. But they end at the porch steps. The back-door ward seems tight. But here…see this sigil?” She pointed to one of the runes by the side of the front entrance.
I leaned in for a look. At first, it looked normal to me, but then I realized there was something amiss with it. The rune had been scratched, by something sharp and big.
“What happened?”
“Somehow, the rune got defaced. See this line here? It doesn’t belong there. Whoever carved it into the ward managed to disrupt the magic. This is why I recommended you have me make it in stone and affix it to the wood. It’s harder to alter.”
I thought for a moment. “But the vampire would have to still be in mist at this point, given the sidewalk runes are still active. If the ward had been intact, in order to deface it, wouldn’t he have to manifest in his physical form? To do that, the ward would have had to be damaged already, right? And could he even touch it?”
She scratched her nose. “No, he couldn’t have been the one to damage it. So that means that this ward has been out of commission for a while. There’s no telling how long, or who did it, but the fact remains that you’ve been a sitting duck for some time now. Hell, if some delivery guy was carrying a big package that had a hard edge, it could have scraped against it. Or it could be rowdy teens out to raise a little havoc.”
I frowned. “Then how did the vampire know he could get in, if the wards at the front are still effective?”
Nate was staring at the door. “My guess is that he wanted in bad enough to check all entrances. And he lucked out and found a weakness.”
Dani nodded. “Nate’s right. And didn’t Charles come to visit at one time? He knew where you lived, and he knew something about the layout of your house. Did you give him a tour?”
I flashed back to the one time I’d had him over to visit. I’d been so proud of my salon, and he asked if he could see the set up of the house. He said he was thinking of working out of his home at some point and wanted to see how I did it.
“Right. I had him over for tea.” I stared at the damaged ward. “If that ward hadn’t been damaged, he wouldn’t have been able to get through. And Tygur would still be alive.” I felt horrible. All wards came with the warning that you should check them once a week, but I had neglected to do so. Dani had been nagging me for the past three months to let her come over and recalibrate them if need be, but I kept putting it off, reassuring her that I trusted her work.
“I wonder who was messing around with my wards.”
“Kids screwing around. Somebody with a grudge against you…hell, it could have been a squirrel gnawing at the wood. Who knows? The fact is, it happened. I can’t replace it right now, but I can patch it. However, the ward will be weak and the magic will dispel within a day or two. Once I go home tonight, I’ll start in on the replacements. We’ll have to redo the entire network, because they’re all interdependent and matching the magical energy is difficult. Nate, we need to check your wards too.”
I glanced over at Dani. “Did Rebecca have wards up?”
Pale in the moonlight, she nodded. “Yes. But she and her husband recently renovated their place, and my guess is that it disturbed the magic and she didn’t think to fix them again.”
Nate glanced across the fence. “Is it safe to check my house now? Shouldn’t we wait till morning?”
Dani glanced at the sky, then nodded. “I agree. Let me tighten this ward up, and it should hold through the night. Tomorrow, I’ll come out and take a look at your place, Nate. I’ll check on mine too. Then we figure out what the hell to do.”
We kept watch while she worked her magic. I wasn’t sure just what she was doing, but a faint light began to emanate from her hands and flow into the wood surrounding the runes. I looked away, focusing on the surrounding area, hoping that she finished before the vampire came back. If it was Charles and he was after all of us, then we were in danger till he was caught. Vampires were predators, and once they set their sights on their quarry, they were like bloodhounds—grabbing the scent and keeping a firm hold on their target.
“Done,” she said after a few minutes. “It’s jury-rigged, but it will hold for the night. He won’t be able to get in through the upper floors either; I sent a shot of juice all the way around. But Lily, to make certain, with the new runes I should create a lightning rod—it will bathe your entire house from the rooftop down in protection.”
I opened the door and they trooped through. “How much will that run me?”
She shrugged apologetically. “Ten thousand, but it will last a good year or two at the very least. The components are pricey as hell and will take me a few days to gather, so we’ll have to keep amping up your wards till I can get the new set created.”
“How long will it take to make them?”
She dropped into the nearest chair, looking tired. “Three days to prepare. I need to cast it under the full sun, so I’ll have to catch a flight to someplace sunny for a weekend. That’s after I order the components. I figure I can have it up and running in a month at the latest. Hopefully a lot sooner. Until then, I suggest you buy premade wards for the doors, hang silver at every entrance, and cook a lot of Italian food.”
That made me laugh. After I caught my breath, I said, “I needed that. I’ll start a pot of spaghetti in the morning.” As I sobered, I let out a long sigh. “If you could start right away, I’d appreciate it.”
Dani pulled out her phone and opened her calendar. She stared at it for a moment. “I can start this week. Meanwhile, I think Nate should stay here tonight. It’s too dangerous tonight for him to go home, just in case there are problems.”
I flashed Dani a murderous look. I needed to feed and having a handsome, sweet human on the premises wasn’t going to help matters much.
She caught my look and gave me a subtle shake of the head. “Your pentacle is what saved you, Lily. Silver dragon scales? Strong enough to keep back most vampires. But dragons are scarce nowadays.
By the way, while we’re on the subject, dragon silver is so precious that I’d make certain you don’t tell anybody else what your pendant, knife, or wristlets are made of.”
“Yeah, I thought of that. I’d be the target of every person in the world who would either want to sell them to the highest bidder, or who’s so paranoid about vampires that they would want them for themselves.”
Nate, who had been listening to us without saying a word, chimed in. “I hope you don’t mind me crashing at your place. I don’t really have any other place to go and I don’t remember when I last checked my wards. I’m afraid I don’t keep track.”
“Doesn’t anybody understand that magical runes and spells have a life expectancy? That they can expire?” Dani let out an exasperated sigh.
I really didn’t want the temptation of having Nate within arm’s reach, but I couldn’t turn him out for the night, and I wasn’t about to send him home with Dani. If he slept here, I’d slap one of my wrist braces on him for the night to keep him safe. I’d tie it around his neck if I had to.
“You can stay, no problem.” Suddenly tired, my shoulders slumped, and I leaned my elbows on the table with a long sigh. The hunger was rumbling deep and I felt wiped out. The need for energy was starting to loom in my mind. Nate was looking better and better. When my hunger got the better of me, it made everybody seem more attractive.
Dani frowned as she watched me, her eyes crinkling at the corners. She motioned to Nate. “I need to have a girl talk with Lily. Go watch sports or whatever it is you men do.”
He amenably grabbed a handful of cookies, his tea, and headed toward the living room. As soon as he was gone, she stood and crossed to stand behind my chair.
“Okay, missy. When was the last time you fed? And I’m not talking about cookies and tea.” She leaned down, brushing my hair back as her hands rested gently on my shoulders.
I swallowed—hard. Dani was voluptuous and sexual in a way that I responded to. I turned my head to find myself staring at her boobs. Her cleavage was deep, her neckline low, and I fought the urge to reach out and stroke them.
“I fasted the past few days because Tygur likes it when I’m hungry. He paid for an extra-intense session, which meant I haven’t taken any other appointments the past two days. And the last client before Tygur was feeling a little run down so I rationed myself carefully.”
My voice felt husky, like when I was servicing a client. Then, I realized where Dani was going with this. She’d done this before, when I forgot to eat and was starting to lose it.
“No, I’m not feeding on you again.”
“You damned well better. If you don’t take the edge off, Nate won’t be safe around you. And you can’t go out tonight, dragon-silver protection or not. Not with the Souljacker out there. All it would take is a couple of thugs to hold you down and strip them off you.” Her eyes were so very inviting, and her lips shimmered crimson. I couldn’t take my eyes off them.
“You’re making this very difficult,” I whispered.
She lowered her voice. “As I intend. You know I can handle it. We’ve done this before.” She leaned closer, her perfume swirling around me in a tantalizing mist.
“I don’t feed off friends.” I had made that rule early on in my life, but over the centuries, I’d had to break it time and again in order to keep from losing control and going all succubus on the nearest stranger. Ever since I settled down, I’d managed to keep it from happening except for three times, and Dani had been there for me each time. “Dani, you know how I feel—”
“Yes, and how you feel is all too apparent right now. You’re about to go ballistic. When you do, the aftermath isn’t going to be pretty.”
Abruptly, she walked over to the kitchen door and peeked into the living room. Satisfied, she softly closed the door again and sauntered back over to me.
“Nate’s watching television. He won’t interrupt us. We have no idea when Archer Desmond will return your call. Don’t put Nate in danger.”
I knew she was right. I needed to eat, and I needed it now. And if she left me alone with Nate and my hormones raced out of control, I couldn’t guarantee his safety. Making my decision, I stood and stalked her back against the wall. She let out a low laugh.
Wrapping my arms around her, I caressed her butt, then leaned down to press my lips against the top of her breasts. She gasped as I opened myself up, letting my glamour run free. I slid one knee between her legs, the smooth folds of her dress making a swishing sound against my jeans.
Sliding her arms around my waist, she sought my lips and I crushed her mouth with mine. As my tongue gently darted between her lips, I began to feed, absorbing the essence of her arousal, radiating in the heat growing between us. The chi flowed from her in a steady stream, slaking my need. There was no need for sex—though I would have happily fucked her right there. Dani ran deep magic, and she was able to channel that magic into her kiss. My mind began to clear, and I realized I’d had enough to take the edge off the worst of my hunger.
Just then, the door opened and Nate entered the kitchen. The moment he saw us, he stopped dead in his tracks, staring. Then, raising one eyebrow, he skirted our tryst and headed over to the refrigerator, rummaging in it till he found a soda.
I broke away, stroking Dani’s cheek as I did so. “Thanks.” There was no way to make that one word convey how grateful I was.
She smiled, tilting her head to the side. “Not a problem, Lily. I’m running more than enough mana lately. Though I want some protein now.”
Energy, mana, chi…they all came down to the same thing: life force. Witches like Dani ran an extraordinary amount of energy through their systems and bodies and were particularly attractive to succubi and incubi.
I was about to attempt a fumbled explanation to Nate when my phone rang. Grateful for the interruption, I picked it up after glancing at the caller ID. Archer Desmond.
“Well, here we go. Let’s see if he can help us.”
Back to business, Dani soberly returned to the table as Nate handed her a slice of cheese. “Yeah, because we sure as hell need some guidance. And maybe a few prayers.”
“You can say that again.” And with that, I answered the phone.
Chapter 5
The next morning, Nate had already left for work by the time I came downstairs. A box of donuts sat on the table, and the coffee was hot and waiting.
I glanced out the window. We were safe until sundown again. I had made an appointment with Archer Desmond for five that evening—the earliest he could pencil me in.
Archer’s voice had been deep and something about it sounded awfully familiar, but I knew I hadn’t met him before unless he had been incognito. I made it a rule to steer clear of demons, and chaos demons in particular. They were few and far between, and chaos and mayhem followed them like pins to a magnet. The last thing I needed in my life was more chaos. But if Jolene said he could help, then I trusted her.
I glanced at my calendar. I had no clients today. I never scheduled more than three or four sessions per week, and I always left a day after my appointments with Tygur because he usually wore me out. He was one of the few who could. With a sigh, I realized I had better not schedule any more sessions until the new wards were in place.
I decided to call Dani and ask if she wanted to go shopping with me—a good excuse to make sure she was okay and that nothing had happened through the night. She had texted me when she got home safe, but still, I had slept uneasily.
“You want to meet me at White Tower Center? Tygur’s death notwithstanding, I have errands to run, and an appointment with Archer Desmond this afternoon. I’d love it if you came with me for moral support. Call me superstitious, but it feels safer to talk about a crazed vampire during the daylight hours.”
“I’ll meet you at Little Bart’s Food Court at noon. I might as well pick up some of the spell components I need that my own store doesn’t carry, so I’ll see you there.”
Making sure my necklace was hidden
beneath my turtleneck, and my dagger strapped to my thigh, hidden by a knee-length leather jacket, I headed out.
• • •
My car was an ecological disaster zone, but I loved the old gas guzzler. It cost me a small fortune to keep it running, but there was no way I was going to get rid of it. The Barrons Impanala was a two-door convertible—black with glittery flames streaking down the sides. Gaudy as hell, and it tore up the roads with gear-grinding speed, but an old friend had left it to me in his will. It was one of my few remaining links to the past.
The Overpass Trains were running at full capacity as I zipped past the stations. I hated the crowding on mass transit, but it had freed up the roads. As I sped along the expressway, I thought again about how much Seattle had changed since I first got here. I tried to limit my visits to the past—memory wasn’t always a welcome companion—but the Souljacker’s escape had brought it to land squarely in front of me.
I’d first arrived in Seattle in 1970. Of course, back then no one knew I was a succubus. I had been as in the closet just like everybody else who wasn’t human. Then, many years later, when we Fae and the Weres had made ourselves known, everything went to hell for a decade or so. And it wasn’t just in Seattle—no, the turmoil had been worldwide. Now, things had settled into a new normal, but the upshot was that the country felt composed of a thousand different kingdoms, each with its own petty ruler.
The Blood Night District extended over much of downtown Seattle. A mishmash, our district was a haven for those who really didn’t belong anywhere else. It was dangerous and gritty, but despite the decay and abandoned buildings, the area felt like it was thriving and alive. We were thrash in an elevator-music society.
As I pulled into the parking lot at the White Tower Center, I tried to shake away the gloom. I felt like a cloud was following me, and the image of Tygur sprawled on my floor had burned itself into my mind. With a shudder, I tried to wipe it away, grabbed my purse, made sure my car was locked, and headed to the market.