Demons Are Forever Read online

  He shook his head. “What I sense is strongest after dark, but high tide floods the area, and I can’t get closer to check. I thought maybe if we both went, we could sense more.”

  “Tonight?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, when?”

  “I think we should go now. It’s perfect timing since there’s six hours of daylight before Furpot’s sunset soiree. Plus, you just got here, so it’s natural you’d be curious about the place.”

  My stomach growled, and I spared a glance for the large nylon backpack I insisted on taking. Roy only agreed if I let Marge pack snacks just in case, and this definitely qualified.

  I slipped on my sneakers, and then the backpack. “Okay, Magellan. Lead on.”

  “You look like a Sherpa with that thing on your back. We’re going on a hike, not climbing the Himalayas.”

  “I was a Girl Scout, so I’m always prepared.” I adjusted the backpack between my shoulders. “Besides, I haven’t eaten since I left Boston this morning. I’m starved, and this pack has enough Cookie Witch provisions to last a week.”

  Daniel slipped a hand under one of the thick black straps, easing the pack down and off. “There’s a full kitchen and dining room downstairs. Lots of demi-witches means big appetites. We can eat and then go. It’ll give you a chance to look around and maybe catch a vibe or sense something.”

  “I hate that we’re winging this.” This was not the time to stifle misgivings. “Maybe we should talk about a real plan of attack.”

  “Agreed, but not here,” he replied. “I managed a small ward on your room to throw off eavesdroppers, but it won’t last.”

  “Why not?”

  “You won’t like it.”

  “Daniel.”

  His smirk said enough. “You didn’t.” He pulled something similar on a weekend cruise years ago. Warding the cabin so people in the corridor heard loud, obnoxious sex as they passed.

  “Food isn’t the only thing you can get twenty-four/seven around here. Lots of hook-ups on this island. Must be something in the water.”

  “Wow. TMI, but thanks for sharing.”

  Mouth open, he hesitated. “Linz, I didn’t mean me.”

  “And? It’s not like we’re together anymore. You do you.”

  Daniel’s mouth tweaked to a slightly embarrassed curve, and he ran a hand over his hair. “If you knew how often that happened while thinking about you, you wouldn’t be so cavalier.”

  It was my turn to stare open-mouthed. “Your sex life is none of my business, but telling me you’re hooking up while thinking of me blows big time! Not cool.”

  “You misheard what I said. I’m not hooking up.”

  “I don’t care if you are, so drop it.”

  “No. You said, you do you, and that’s what I’m doing…me…as in solo.” He lifted his right hand, pumping it provocatively.

  “Ew. You can stop right there, thank you.”

  “You used to think that was hot. Watching me as I watched you.”

  I pushed past him for the door, but he caught my arm, pulling me toward him until we stood toe-to-toe. “Linzie, I know you feel the same. I can sense it. Even with a three-year ocean to cross, you can’t deny the pull.”

  He was right, but I wasn’t about to let him know. Daniel leaned in, letting his lips brush mine. No push. No urgency. No demand. Just promise.

  Eyes closed, I stood holding my breath as his kiss lingered, soft and hovering. Erotic images surfaced from our past, knocking to be let in, but I kept that door closed tight. For now.

  “Uhm…food,” I interrupted. Was I a coward or just being cautious? Honestly, a little of both. Was I gun shy? Yes. Would I take the lead and turn things around on my terms? Eventually.

  Daniel stepped back, nodding. Disappointment etched his face, but he would have to deal. He left on his time. Now he wanted back in, and that was on mine.

  I ran the back of my hand over my forehead. Even with sunglasses and a stupid bucket hat, the sun was unrelenting. We looked for Vonny after lunch, hoping he could shed some light on the area Daniel pinpointed, but he was nowhere to be found, making me think even demi-vamps ran for cover today.

  We hiked firm ground for about an hour, pushing through brush and raised roots. The bugs were next level, and I was relieved my half-demon side was so unappetizing to the little bloodsuckers. I hoped it would be the same when we got to the bottom of whatever Carol suspected of the vampires, but my gut doubted that was the case.

  I reached in my pocket for the sandwich I swiped from the lunch buffet, unwrapping it from its napkin. “You want half?” I asked.

  Daniel looked at the turkey and swiss in my hand. “You can’t possibly be hungry.”

  “Demi-witch, remember? Don’t judge.”

  “I’m not, but even your demon side is susceptible to spoiled food in this heat. Take it from me.”

  He made a pukey face, and my appetite bolted. I was never sick, but watching Tabitha hug the porcelain at times gave me a healthy respect for the possibility.

  “Right. Better safe than sorry.” I tossed the sandwich into the trees, pocketing the napkin. I hoped animals liked luncheon meat and ciabatta bread.

  “It’s not much farther,” Daniel said over his shoulder. “We’re almost to the edge of dry ground.”

  The air was denser and wetter the farther we walked, and the carpet of dead foliage turned into a soggy loam. Our footfalls squished at this point, and the narrow path thickened to an Indiana-Jones-we-need-a-machete level.

  I didn’t need Daniel to tell me x-marked-the-spot. Dark magic skimmed over my skin, prickly and electric. The feel was sensuous, forbidden, and made me look at Daniel like he was something to eat.

  He stopped at an enormous bald cypress. It sat sentinel-like at the water’s edge. It’s strongly buttressed base, and horizontal roots sent pointed woody projections above the waterline. Thick ribbing along its trunk spread like webbed fingers reaching into the murk, with a root system coiled snake-like, almost waiting.

  “This is what you weren’t sure about?” I asked, my visceral reaction making it hard to believe Daniel hadn’t had similar.

  “I’m a warlock with demon blood. I’m not as sensitive as you. When it comes to Goddess-blessed magic, the feminine definitely has the advantage.”

  A breeze swirled at that, as though the Goddess agreed. “So what should we do? Combine strengths and see what we sense?”

  “That was the plan, or why would I drag you into bug central?”

  Fact. I nodded, holding out my hand. I hadn’t tapped into my witchy side in ages. Roy had given Tabitha and I pointers on how to resist the dark when it came calling, but I didn’t pay much attention. Something I regretted at the current moment.

  Daniel and I needed a touch spell. A spell augmented by combined essence. Spell writing wasn’t a forte. I usually left that to Tabitha, but maybe Daniel had something up his sleeve.

  He took my hand and I waited. “Well?” he asked.

  “Well what? This is your find, not mine.”

  “Linz, when have you known me to craft anything other than a beer?”

  I frowned, cocking my head. “I don’t do spells, Daniel. I didn’t three years ago, and I don’t do so now. I’m untrained. A fact that hasn’t changed since you walked out on me.”

  “Then why didn’t you tell me that when I suggested the two of us might sense more?”

  Head still angled, I let my eyes narrow. “The subtext I’m hearing is, hey…I found something, but since you’re a witchy chick, I’ll let you do the smart work.”

  He let go of my hand with a shove. “This is not a male female thing. You’re more in touch with the Goddess by virtue of your sex.”

  “So it is a male female thing.”

  “Linzie! For cripe’s sake.” He dug in his pocket, dragging out a crumbled piece of note paper. “I tried, but it has no oomph. It needs a witch’s touch.” Shrugging, he held the scrap out to me. “Or a demi-witch, since that’s the b
est we’ve got.”

  Bristling, I snatched the note from his hand and scanned the wording. True or not, saying demi-witch that way felt like a tiny dig.

  “Well?”

  I made a non-committal face. “It’s not bad, actually.” Truth was, it was pretty good. I looked up from his words, nodding. “This could work. It just needs a little zhush.”

  I extended my hand again, waiting for him to get over himself. Then again, who was I to call him out on being butthurt when I went back and forth myself?

  “Maybe combining both a male and female essence will confuse the thrall, and we’ll see what we’re dealing with.” I wiggled my fingers for him to take my hand.

  He looked at me, almost assessing. “Are you doing this on the fly, or do you want to talk first?”

  “I’ve been at Tabitha’s side more often than not when she casts, so I think I can wing it. If not, we can try again.”

  “It’s not that simple, Linz. We get one shot.” He lifted an index finger. “If we cast and fail, this place will be warded worse than hell itself. It’s now or never.”

  I gripped Daniel’s spell in my hand, and the paper warmed. My palm tingled, but not with a brush of dark magic. I glanced at his scribbled words, and they seemed to shimmer and realign. I could do this. The Goddess had my back. I wasn’t sure how, but I was certain.

  “Take my hand. I got this.” I waited for his leap of faith, and as he slid his hand into mine, that tingle grew so even he felt it.

  “Is that who I think it is?”

  I nodded, but put a finger to my lips. Whoever set these wards needed to know this spell had the Goddess’s stamp of approval. Squeezing Daniel’s hand, I cleared my throat…

  In this time, at daylight’s high,

  We invoke the elements earth and sky,

  Male and female stand alone,

  Command united, the unseen shown.

  Unmask the path of dark magic near,

  Reveal the source our enemies wield.

  Goddess wise, Goddess tough,

  Send this spell into the rough.

  For our eyes only, let us see,

  For you we do, so mote it be.

  A snapping sound pierced the buggy din, and the roots seemed to rise like bent knees from the water. Daniel took a step back, taking me with him. Was it a kneejerk reaction? Maybe, but I wasn’t about to argue.

  The water crackled, and the hair on my arms rose with static electricity. Sparks caught, speeding across the surface in a yellow flash. There in the Goddess’s own shimmering gold were ley lines. A magical power grid crisscrossing the water like a web straight through the island’s core.

  “No wonder they picked this place.” Daniel whistled, squinting to follow the depth and breadth of the lines. “It’s like its own Bermuda Triangle.”

  “I’d bet dollars to donuts it’s even wider and webbier than we think.” I let go of Daniel’s hand, and squatted for a closer look at the shimmering lines. “I wish there was a way to see this from above. That way we could pinpoint the power apex.”

  “I think I may have a way to do that, but it would mean you flirting with a shifter.”

  I pulled a face. “Just not the Furpot furball.”

  “Would I do that to you?” He grinned, cracking open a bottle of water. “This guy is avian. He’s got no real game when it comes to women, so he uses this Beastmaster schtick to help him hook-up.”

  “Beastmaster,” I repeated, not recognizing the term. “Is that a fringe BDSM thing?”

  Daniel spewed a mouthful of water. “Jeez, Linz! Where the hell is your head? The Beastmaster? The 80s classic where the hero can see through his hawk’s eyes?

  “Nope. Never saw it.”

  Daniel shook his head, taking another sip. “BDSM. Do I even want to ask?”

  “You can,” I shrugged, “but I’m not sure you’ll like what you hear.”

  He stopped with his water bottle halfway to his lips. “Forget I even brought it up.”

  “Three years is a long time, Daniel. I had to do something to get over you.” I paused, thoroughly enjoying his disbelief. “So who’s this avian? You should introduce me to him at the cocktail party.”

  I hummed Rihanna’s “S&M,” listening to Daniel grumble under his breath. “What?” I feigned innocence.

  “Nothing. Maybe this avian isn’t such a good idea after all.”

  “Why? Jealous?”

  Hmmph. “What do you think?”

  “All’s fair in love and war, Daniel. And these ley lines are our front lines. Think of this as taking one for the team.”

  He shook his head again. “You’re not the only one with a demony side. This could get out of hand.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  He looked at me with a face I’d never seen before. “When it comes to you, it’s a promise.”

  Daniel watched as I waved my hand, whispering a few words to close the spell. Close not end. If this avian idea worked, I’d need to see the lines again. His gaze felt heavy, but I told myself it was just concern over my safety.

  “We should head back,” I said, not meeting his eyes. “I want to pick my outfit carefully. Like Carol said. I’m bait.” The crisscross lines vanished except for random sparks that looked like ordinary sun shimmers.

  “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

  His tone was annoyed. I’d probably be as well, but I wasn’t the one who walked away.

  “Daniel, what did you imagine this to be? A vacation? We were both brought here for a reason, and whatever our personal history, the job has to come first. If anyone should be put out, it’s me, and I’m over it. For now. I meant what I said when I asked that we table things for the time being.

  He half acquiesced. “Yes, but I thought we—”

  His short exhale said more than he wanted, but there it was. He thought I was playing games, both with him, and my role as undercover demon GI Jane.

  Was I? Not really. I stopped mentally fighting the Baba Yaga for sending me here, and decided to do the job. As for Daniel, did he really think I’d come running because he had a personal epiphany? Not likely, but that didn’t mean there was no chance. We took the first steps. He was impatient. And it was that same impatience that spurred him to leave in the first place. So no. I wasn’t leaping romance-novel-style into his arms. Been there. Done that.

  “We should head back,” he said, finally.

  I nodded, watching his face mask of let’s-just-get-through-this fall into place. “Dude, this conversation isn’t over.” He looked at me. “Three words. Patience, my friend.”

  “Friend,” he repeated the word like it had four letters.

  “Exactly. Friend. Not friend zone. Think of the space between us as no man’s land.”

  He scoffed. “A place with land mines and barbed wire.”

  “Or neutral territory. A place where treaties are signed.” I shrugged. “It has to do with how you look at it.”

  I took the lead back the way we came, feeling his eyes on me as we walked. He got my point. The question remained, what would he do with it? Set tripwire or bring along a ballpoint?

  Chapter Six

  A slim gilded line was all that remained in the distance, as guests and staff mingled on and around the back veranda of the plantation-style house. Drinks and nibbles were set afternoon tea style on a table situated between sweeping French doors.

  I caught my reflection in one of the windows and did a double take. To say I didn’t recognize myself was an understatement. A strappy, white summer dress hugged my frame. It was cut on the bias, with a vintage flare at the bottom.

  All that was missing was a veiled fascinator, a pair of gloves, and an unlit cigarette. Like the femme fatale that walks into the seedy private investigator’s office in a film noir.

  The perfect ruse. Summery and innocent, but like that femme fatale, I wasn’t all I seemed and had an agenda.

  I pinpointed the avian even before Daniel pointed him out. Not that it was hard
to figure. Hooked beak of a nose, beady eyes, with eyebrows that curved feather-like, and a laugh that sounded like a caw.

  Watching from across the veranda, it was clear Daniel was right. The man had no game. No less than three women made their excuses after a minute or two of conversation. Whether he was just dull or a chauvinistic ass remained to be seen.

  Daniel gestured from where he sat talking with Vonny on the veranda steps. We agreed it was best not to be joined at the hip for this meet and greet. At his nod, I turned my sights toward the avian, and took a step in his direction when a weighty gaze hit me square. I glanced past my shoulder and stopped short. Eyes the same shape and shade of blue as mine stared back.

  It was him.

  Hux Hellborne. Sperm donor subpar. A.K.A. my father.

  It took all my resolve not to set my jaw. I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of recognition. Deadpan, I broke eye contact and continued across the veranda to introduce myself to the avian.

  Daniel filled me in on the man. Kyle Featherbutte. Arrived on Bumfuck Bayou two weeks ago from Texas. A demi-kestrel, he carried himself loud and proud, embodying the everything’s bigger in Texas mantra. Considering kestrels were the smallest bird of prey in the Americas, it made his Beastmaster schtick a little silly.

  “Kyle.” I extended my hand, batting my lashes in a way that threatened to trigger a demony burn. It was either that, or the fact Hux’s gaze followed me.

  I ignored the urge to turn and bare my teeth, keeping my focus on the task at hand. To be honest, I was surprised Hux looked as good as he did, considering his inner darkness.

  Demons were repulsive creatures, and few if any had a chance at altering their base nature. Hux did so for a while. I was proof of that. Still, his humany-appearance, and the fact he had two blue eyes instead of multiples across his face and head, left a question mark. Why was he here on Bumfuck? If Carol was correct, it wasn’t for the betterment of demi-demons.