Leaning back against the house, I eyed the three children sitting near me, waiting for the fourth to finish with his bathroom break so we could be off. What’d started as one child needing the restroom turned into all four of them having to go. Every second we lingered put me more on edge, but these kids had suffered enough.
I could at least let them have this mercy.
Considering the pungent scent rolling off of them, I doubted their captor had allowed the dignity of using the restroom before. Another flash of vicious satisfaction curled through me. That spineless coward deserved every bit of pain I’d given him and more for what he’d made these kids suffer through.
Shaking aside the wrath boiling low in my veins, I focused on the present and the new problem I had to consider. I’d saved the children, as Seraphina wanted, but now what? I didn’t know the first thing about kids and these ones desperately needed to go home.
And for that matter, how was I supposed to return Tina to her grandparents when I didn’t have their number or address?
Was I supposed to hunt them down and drop the kids off before being on my merry way or did Seraphina have more errands for me to run?
Irritation with the lack of information leaked into the thought, before I shook it back with a sigh. No use getting snappy with Sera, better to just call her. With any luck she’d actually keep her phone near her and charged since she sent me on this little quest.
Tugging my phone out, I dialed, listening through the rings before finally Sera picked up.
“Julian, how is everything going on your job?”
As if she didn’t already know. But if she wanted to hear it… “Well, no one’s died yet, aside from those who were supposed to. I guess I have that going for me.” I snarked, Sera’s bark of laughter coming through clearly.
“Those are your standards?”
Dropping into the familiar banter, I responded. “You’ve known me how many years now, but you’re still surprised? Either way, that isn’t why I called. We have a problem.” One that I hoped she could solve easily, because I was just about done for the day.
Her answer was immediate and dripping with sarcasm. “No, you have a problem. I have an idiot who keeps getting into them.”
Pulling the phone back to glare at it as if Sera could feel my glower through the machine, I huffed. “Okay, rude. You’re the one who sent me into this so it could be argued this one is your fault.” Though there’d been plenty of times I’d found trouble all on my own, this wasn’t one of them.
Sera sighed. “Fine, what’s the problem this time?”
Glancing to the kids who’d imprinted on me, I whispered. “I came to where you said to go, almost got my ass burnt off by a testy Exitium mage, found some kind of child trafficking ring, and now I have four crotch goblins that’ve imprinted on me like ducklings who won’t leave my side.” I paused, letting that sink in before getting to the core of the issue.
“On top of that? I have no idea where to bring them.”
An amused snort came at the ‘crotch goblins’ comment, before Sera hummed. “That’s the problem? That you have to babysit until you find their parents?”
In other circumstances I’d be just as amused as she was, but as Tina latched onto my legs again–damn it all child, I’d already told you not to do that!–I couldn’t seem to find my sense of humor.
“Ducklings, Sera. I don’t like people in my space and they’re clinging to me. It’s your fault I’m here so stop laughing and help me, you bitch.”
Some of her amusement faded, though it lingered in her tone. “Language, ducklings remember? Now, as for the kids, someone should be by soon to help with that. Don’t bother hiding your magic from him either, he isn’t like most people. It won’t be a problem. In some ways, him knowing what you are will actually make things easier.”
Okay, just what in the seven hells did she mean by that? Before I had a chance to ask, Sera hung up. Staring down at the phone, I breathed slowly through my nose and grumbled. “This is why people don’t like you, not even a goodbye before hanging up to leave me in suspense. Mystifying bitch.”
My phone vibrated with a text, the crystal clear image of Sera’s middle finger dragging a tired laugh from me. Whatever vision she’d had, it must have shown me saying that…or she just knew me well enough to see it coming without her power.
Both were viable options.
When the last boy finally left the house, I shoved off the wall and nodded. “Great, now let’s get out of here.” I led them toward the trees around the house, but no sooner did my foot hit the edge of the property, the harsh squeal of tires cut through the air.
The kids cowered around me, hands once again gripping my clothes as Tina whimpered. “She’s back!”
Okay, so not my mysterious partner then. Cripes, had there been more than one kidnapper?
I didn’t have time for this. Shuffling the kids into the bushes, I pressed them down and spoke. “Hide here while I handle this.”
If one of the guards was a mage then the likelihood of both of them having magic was high. And for that matter, why had whoever kidnapped the kids hired magical guards? Not many prosaics knew about our community and I’d already scanned the kids for magic. Not a trace lingered. It was a lot of effort for ‘regular’ kids when prosaic guards would suffice.
Shaking the thought to the side, I focused on the now.
First and foremost, I needed to get ready. My next opponent might be smarter than the last. Gathering my magic until it pulsed beneath my skin, I whispered. “Celare.”
Like a blanket, it settled over me, blurring my form until even I couldn’t see myself. Just as the last of my fingers faded, a car came skidding to a stop not four yards away from me. Out from it jumped a fuming brunette, her hair cut to her shoulders with the painfully outdated robes almost all highborn families insisted on wearing.
It made them stick out like a sore thumb, not to mention making them easier to kill. The risk these people would go through for aesthetic of all things blew me away…
The woman bolted into the house, only to come out less than a minute later to shriek. “I know you’re out there! My barrier is broken and it wouldn’t have disappeared without outside influence!”
Barrier? I hadn’t noticed any barriers… Sure when I first walked up to the house there’d been a bit of tension in the air-.
Understanding hit and with it disbelief washed over me. That spider web like pressure had been a barrier? Dear Lord, how weak was this mage? To create such a pathetic spell either she didn’t major in Spectrum magic or she truly was just that weak. For the sake of caution I’d assume the former.
Before I could move to dispatch the woman from behind, she spun toward the road she’d come in from. “You. You must be the one who dispelled it!”
Swinging around to look where she was pointing, I froze. A blond man who had not been there when I looked last came into clarity. Either he had the ability to cast Festina on himself–which would make him an Auxilio mage like me–or he wasn’t human.
It wasn’t uncommon for half breeds or even full on creatures to take human form. Though I’d always assumed the rumors of dragons and the like were a myth. Considering my own oddities and the things I’d seen, maybe that was naïve of me.
Forcing my attention back to the present, I took in the newcomer. Short gold hair was combed back and swept to the side in an almost wave that framed a pair of honey eyes, sharp with alertness. His frame was lean without being twiggy, just a hair of muscle definition showing under the beige sweater and slacks he wore.
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When added to the five o clock shadow and his hard jaw line, he made for quite the heartthrob many women would drool over. Myself included.
Carnal interest heated my veins, something about him making me ache to lean in and rub myself against him like a cat in heat. The almost magnetic pull dazed me, until the air around him snapped me out of it. Pressure saturated the clearing, not magic but something, and whatever it was? It came from him.
Either the Spectrum mage didn’t feel that or didn’t care, because she spun to face him and snarled. “What are you, deaf or dumb? I asked if you were the one who dispelled my illusion!”
Jesus, was this woman serious? You didn’t question an enemy like that. Not if you wanted to live to see your hundredth year, at least. The spoiled brat of a woman was making me ashamed of my race. Ignoring that, I circled behind her until I could watch both of them easily. He obviously wasn’t with her, but then, who was he?
Perhaps, my new partner?
I could hope. My attraction to him aside, if he wasn’t a mage then he wouldn’t have reason to detest me on sight. That’d do wonders for our working relationship.
The air crackled with power, the hair on my neck standing to attention as the man’s face twisted into a scowl, his eyes darkening to a whiskey shade as he growled. “I am neither and should you slander me again it will be the last thing you do.”
Power rolled off him, his voice firm with command and deep enough to drown in. The haze from before brushed against me, my eyes fluttering shut for the briefest second before I snapped them open. Okay, he definitely wasn’t human.
As if to back that up, the Spectrum mage swayed, her face flushing pinker by the minute as shivers ran down her form. The power coming off him circled her like a predator, thankfully not twitching toward me.
The blond didn’t bat an eye, presumably used to the woman’s reaction. “Also, you did not ask me anything. You accused me–falsely, might I add–of breaking your barrier. There was no question to answer.”
Then those eyes landed on me and everything around us stopped. The birds, crickets and even the frightened whispers from the children. All quiet. My heart tripped before nearly beating out of my chest, those intense eyes sending tingling awareness through my veins with every second they watched me.
Wait…how was he able to see me?
Maybe it was a coincidence. Shifting a few feet to the side, I balked when his gaze followed. Then, as if to further prove that he could in fact see me, he pointed and said. “Perhaps she is the one you are searching for?”
The pressure around the Spectrum mage dropped and she swung around to face me. Damn it, whoever he was he’d thrown me under the bus. Tensing for a fight, I went to lunge, only for the Spectrum mage to look right through me.
I’d known she was weak but not that weak. Even the man could see me!
Despite the disbelief flooding my veins, she turned back to the blond and snapped. “Don’t try to distract me. No one’s here but you and I. Now what did you do to me before?”
Intense eyes dug into me, ignoring the Spectrum mage as he raised a brow in my direction. What, did he expect me to out myself to prove him right?
I bit back a snort. Yeah, that ain’t happening, sorry honey. I’d put up the spell to hide, not to be seen and I wasn’t about to change that for him.
He didn’t have a chance to say anything, the Spectrum mage lunging at his back with a shout. “Don’t turn away from me so casually!”
Seriously?! Did he not know to face all your enemies? Now I had to save his ass. Frustration sent magic vibrating through my veins as I slung it out, my voice cutting through the clearing just as the Spectrum mage spelled a curse.
“Clypeus!”
A see through barrier slammed into place between the blond and the spell, protecting him as what looked to be an acid lance bounced harmlessly off my shield. Before I could jump in and finish the mage, the power from before flooded the clearing.
Again the brunette swayed, her flush coming back as she clutched her head and groaned. Tremors wracked her as she dropped to her knees. “What are you doing to me?!” The frightened cry broke off on a moan, her hips gyrating against open air.
Okay, what in the seven blazing hells was going on here?
As if in response, the power circled me, sliding over my skin like a physical caress as a hard pulse started between my thighs. Biting back a moan of my own, I swept my magic out in a wave to dispel it. Thankfully, after a minute of highly uncomfortable arousal, it eased back.
Okay, so maybe he was some kind of lust demon. I hadn’t thought demons were a thing either, but at this point I couldn’t discount anything. Besides, hadn’t I thought about Big Foot coming out to hump my leg earlier? Maybe this was the universe’s way of laughing at me. Instead of him humping my leg, my gut clenched as if I’d be humping his.
Forcing down the urge to climb him like a tree, I sent another wave of power out, the stroking fading back, to my relief. It took a good bit of magic to dispel, but I could. That’s a good thing. It would have been beyond embarrassing if I’d panted after my potential new partner.
Focusing on the blond, I waited for his answer to the second rate mage’s question. He didn’t disappoint.
Turning his attention back to her, he spoke. “I take it this is your first encounter with an incubus old enough to defend himself? You guard children of my blood so you must know of our existence. Though I doubt you ever fought one such as myself. Cowards rarely choose an opponent who can fight on their level.”
Despite the slander, the woman didn’t get off the ground. Instead she continued writhing, shuddering under his power. While it was fascinating, my mind wandered to what he’d said.
An incubus. So he actually was a sex demon? At least that explained my urge to climb him. While I enjoyed a nice looking guy and I definitely appreciated a fine ass–proven by my interest in Vladimir and our occasional nights together–I’d never had such an instant and complete attraction to someone before.
If he was one of the lust demons of legend, it made sense. My hormones were still very much alive and kicking, despite how rarely I sated them, so of course I’d react this way. Backtracking over what he said, I swung around to face the children.
Incubi. These children were all of the same creature bloodline? For all of them to be kidnapped and held together–not to mention guarded by a mage–that couldn’t be a coincidence. But right now wasn’t the time to think on it. Looking at the blond still standing over the shivering heap of woman, I finally let my illusion drop.
“While I enjoy watching you put her in her place, there are kids that need seeing to. I’m assuming by your actions that you’re here for the same reason I am. To free them.”
He turned, not stopping his assault on the woman as he stared with eerie focus. “That is accurate, though I wonder who you are and how you came to know of these children’s location.”
Right back at ya pal.
Glancing to the kids hiding behind me, I huffed. “We can discuss that and everything else later. The children are our first priority and they don’t need to witness this on top of everything else they’ve already seen.”
For a minute nothing changed. His eyes never left mine as his power surge, coating the clearing. The stroking along my nerves made me twitch, before I snapped. “Could you not? That doesn’t affect me as strongly as it does her, but it’s not comfortable either and while you’re a very attractive man, I don’t make a habit of fucking random strangers. Especially under the influence of an unknown magic.”
Though, I could probably be convinced if it were him doing the influencing. I’d always been a sucker for a hard jawline and his stubble definitely did something for me.
His power faded away as he nodded. “You are the first person, male or female, who has been able to withstand my power.”
Great, so I was a freak even by a demon’s standards. Because that’s what I needed in my life. “Do I get a medal with that title?”
His lips twitched in amusement, before he looked behind me to where the children hid. I tensed, preparing for a fight I hoped wasn’t happening. For all intents and purposes, he seemed to be on my side and I didn’t have enough allies to be casually killing them off. But if he made a move for those kids…all bets were off.
After a long minute, he finally turned back to me, noting my tension with a small smile. “Neither you nor they have anything to fear from me. You said you were here to save them? Then we have nothing to quarrel over.”
Turning to the kids’ hiding place, he continued. “For now, we should focus on taking them to safety, as you stated. After the parents come to collect them, only then will we question one another on what happened here today.”
More than fair and to be honest, I preferred it that way. Discussing magic out in the open like this was a one way ticket to a lecture from the council. If at all possible, I’d prefer to avoid seeing their upturned noses anytime soon.
Nodding, I eyed the brunette on the ground. “You want me to handle her or will you?” I twirled my knife to punctuate that. In answer he stepped to the side, the open invitation unsaid as I moved forward. Finishing the woman, I looked up and paused.
The blond had moved to block the children’s view of what I was doing, raising him up a notch in my book. Shelving that for later consideration, I stood. “Alright, that’s one loose end down, onto the next one. Time to get the kids to safety.”
I moved back to their hiding place, waving for them to come out. “Alright ducklings, follow him instead of me. We’re heading out shortly so we can get you back to your parents-.”
Tina latched to my leg again, her tear streaked face wetting my thigh as I flinched. Apparently she’d already forgotten my earlier request for space. Patting her back awkwardly, I tried to think of something comforting to say.
Why was it that the world saw fit to throw damsels in distress–miniature ones, but still–my way? I was horrible with human interaction and now there was a most likely traumatized child wrapped around my leg. What on Earth was I supposed to do with that?
Was it too much to ask that the Lord didn’t throw these odd situations my way? Why not give me a good old ambush? I’m great at handling those! Before I could try to come up with something to say–probably something along the painfully awkward lines of ‘there, there’–the incubus’s power lurched out again.
This time my magic shielded me without a thought, instinct making me jump back with Tina clasped in my arms. Relief swept through me at not having to attempt to comfort the kid, my body moving to protect the gaggle of children behind me as I dropped into the familiar stance.
I loved it when the Lord gave me exactly what I asked for.
After the initial power flash, the blond jumped forward, seeming to remember my immunity to his power as he reached out. Before he could make contact with Tina, my knife pressed to his throat, the girl’s sniffles sounding from behind me.
Whether he was my new partner or not, he’d better have a fantastic reason for this or I’d be removing his head from his shoulders.