Guilty. I do have a thing for keeping things orderly, which Ive been told is also a means of control. She glanced around the room. Id show you my OCD magic, but this place is spotless. Too cold.
Yes, yes, so he didnt do the decorating thing beyond the few magical items on the wall he displayed from the stash hed acquired over the years.
I dont think I can trust you, witch.
You pronounce witch as if its an oath or curse word.
Now it was his turn to offer a shrug. Your kind and mine have never been friends.
I promise you I wont try to control you again, Ed.
Witchs honor?
She drew a cross over her heart, which gave him a shiver.
You know what it means when I cross my heart? she asked.
He shook his head. Something bad, Im sure.
When we witches cross our heart, it is the truest and most sealing bond to our word.
That didnt sound so awful. Rather noble, even. Hmm...
It would mean a lot to me, she said, if you would agree to answer some questions and let me, well...
Study me?
Not under a microscope.
Mercy, he didnt want this alliance. All his rational instincts screamedstay away from the witch! Yet the louder voice moaned in anticipation for one more kiss. Could he control her with seduction? Because he had to keep her under thumb to keep his risk low.
But, oh, the things on her hed like to feel gliding beneath his thumbs.
Fine, he said. So you agree to be the witch I need, if I agree to be the demon you need?
She nodded. Her high-voltage smile beamed to match those world-filled eyes.
You dont even know why I need a witch, he countered.
I assume its to cast a spell. Do you need me to clean this office?
Uh... He strolled the floor, walking slower as he passed beside her. She smelled like lemons hanging fresh in the tree, sweet yet spiked with a bite of sour that a man desired to lick purely for the tangy thrill of it.
How to ask for the magic he needed without sending her running? What witch would agree to work against her kind? He hadnt enough information on Les Douze to know if she would be open to his needs. What were his needs, beyond to destroy some dead witches? If they really were witches.
He had to work up to that slowly. Convince her that she wanted to stop those witches, and not because a demon had asked her to. How to do that?
She tilted her head. A lift of her brow not only took him in, but also teased. And a crook of her finger and a lick of her lips delivered the coup de grâce. Yeah, seduction. The woman was a master at it. And she hadnt to do anything more than quirk one of those luscious brows. He could kiss her again. Right now. Pull her to him by curling his hand around the back of her neck and bruising her mouth with his until she gasped for freedom.
The most powerful witch in Paris? Hed expected someone more...dark. And haggish, actually. Older, too. Although, he shouldnt judge by appearance. Paranormals who lived centuries had a tendency to age so slowly one could never know if the sexy young vixen eyeing him was in her third or fourth decade, or perhaps her third or fourth century.
But hed never get anywhere if all he did was make out with the woman. The way he could get her to help him was to keep it businesslike. Professional. And he had to check out her skills, make sure she was up to par.
Right, the murders, he muttered, grabbing the opportunity. Can you cleanse this office?
Thats the reason you kidnapped me? To ask me to clean your office?
He nodded. No sense arguing the kidnapping. It had gone down that way, and he wasnt proud of it. Like I said, my men can be indelicate.
Seems a rather dramatic effort for something so anticlimactic.
He could give her a climax if that was what she wanted Ah! No. He had to stay on point. Business, Ed, business.
I do like to clean rooms, she said. But Im not sure. It seems a little suspicious.
Because it was. Kidnapping a witch just to wave around a smudging stick and chant a spell?
Why such a powerful witch to do a cleansing? she asked. I mean, the room is tainted, but any witch could do this.
You yourself noted the previous efforts have been worthless. You must understand my need for someone with a bit more skill?
She bristled proudly, tugging at the ends of her lush hair. On the side of her littlest finger was another tattoo. Words. Probably a spell. Ed didnt try to read them. One never knew what horrors reciting an unknown spell could unleash upon his head.
Ask me something, he volleyed.
What do you mean?
Something you want to know about demons. Its a trade for your trust.
Oh. She wiggled her shoulders. The excitement that she exuded was like a natural pheromone, so effortless and addictive. He breathed her in as if he were the lucky observer of an exotic flower who only put off her scent a few minutes a day before closing up. Okay. Lets see... I know youre a corax demon. Can you shift to a raven form?
I shift to a conspiracy of ravens.
Oooo. When she made that sound, she pursed her lips deliciously. Ed squeezed his hands together behind his back. Can I see your horns?
No!
But those nubs at your temples. Thats where they come out?
He nodded. They grew to full length when he was angry. Or sometimes when he was aroused. He couldnt control the anger horns, but the other time, when he was having sex, was an option he employed if he wanted to heighten the experience. Because to have his horns touched? Oh, baby. Yet, sadly, hed attempted it only once before. Shed run screaming. Hed learned his lesson about what to reveal about himself when having sex with a human woman.
She pointed to his gloved hands. Why do you wear those? More horns?
Actually, thorns. The thorns on his knuckles grew when he got angry, and they were deadly sharp, leaving a poison in his victims cuts that could kill. The half gloves were a safety precaution because he didnt like to kill people. Not unless they deserved it.
Forget it, she said suddenly. I have to leave this room. Im not properly warded and this malefic aura is creeping me out.
Fine. Can you return later to cleanse it?
I can, she said, walking backward toward the door. If you promise well talk afterward.
Research and a cleansing? Its a date.
It is?
Uh, er...a business date. I mean, you know. Why else would I have you brought here?
Did you request me specifically or did those idiots grab any witch off the street?
They had grabbed a witch John Malcolm had deemed most powerful. Lucky for him it had been the one witch he wouldnt mind spending some time with.
Does it matter? Ive stated my need. Youve agreed to meet that need, as I in turn will meet yours by answering your questions. We are in accord.
Sure. She nodded and gestured toward the door behind her. Can I leave now?
Of course. Youre not my prisoner.
Will I run into your henchmen on the way out?
No. I promise. And again, I apologize.
Im not one to hold a grudge. I forgive you for your odd means to hiring a witch to clean this office. Thank you, Ed. Ill return later. Ten?
Sounds fine. Ill be here. Alone.
She raised a curious brow.
No henchman, he reassured her.
With a nod and wink, she left him standing there, watching her retreat. That sexy swing of hips and the brush of her long hair across her elbows was like poetry. A raunchy poem with a lascivious plot.
When she had turned the corner toward the elevator, Ed let out a low whistle. Now to win her trust, he muttered. And destroy some dead witches.
Chapter 5
Tamatha fixed her hair in the mirror and touched up with a little pencil to her right brow. Her hair was naturally white with silver tones, but she liked to soften her darker brows with gray pencil. A smooth of powder across her forehead and a touch of pale pink rouge to her cheeks. She never wore lipstick. Just a little lip balm. Because what man wanted to kiss a woman with greasy red lips?
And shed already got twono, threekisses from Ed. A man who fascinated her as much as he disturbed her. Because he had sent minions to kidnap her! But then hed kissed her. And then hed acted nervous and kind of shy, so she could hardly blame him for the rough stuff. She could certainly blame the minions. But not Ed. Right?
She, the most powerful witch in Paris? Hardly. Certainly there were many witches more powerful. While she had mastered all four elements, she was sadly lacking in the various -mancys and study of specific magics. Perhaps only a warlock or thousand-year-old witch might be so powerful. But if she had copped to the truth, he would have tossed her out in search of the real deal. And by all means, she wanted to work with him.
To learn about demons, of course.
It wouldnt be because she found him handsome and was intrigued by his many tattoos and didnt want to end what his hot kisses had only begun.
Maybe a little.
I have a date with a demon, she said as she spun into the bedroom to check her closet for an appropriate dress. Something sexy and yet it was a business date, so no lace and nothing too low cut. But always body-hugging.
A date with a demon who kidnapped me, she corrected herself, her enthusiasm wilting as her fingers slid over the red silk wiggle dress. What are you doing, Tamatha?
I should ask the same. Amberlee, a fellow witch friend, had stopped by an hour ago with some fresh rue and megabytes. Amberlee practiced tech magic. She wandered into the bedroom and plopped onto the end of the queen-size bed. Her bright red bob contrasted with her severely arched black brows, but both matched her red-and-black-striped dress. Youre talking to yourself, mon amie. Or are you working a spell? Am I interrupting?
No. Did you get the memory installed on my laptop?
Yes. Now you have ten times as much space to ignore on that tech device that always has dust on it.
Im not much for technology. I prefer paper and pen.
Then why the upgrade?
I do like to store the photos I take with my phone. The laptop serves as an excellent photo album. Id like to photograph my grimoire someday and keep that safe.
Let me know when you do that. Tech magic tends to distort grimoire text. The two magics clash. You wont know it until its too late and your valued grimoire has been completely erased. Youll need a spell to properly store any information.
Good to know.
Tamatha pulled out the purple velvet dress and held it before her. The fitted fabric would hug her slender frame and accentuate her cleavage with a sweetheart neckline. The black lace collar had skulls worked into the intricate stitching.
I adore that one, Amberlee said. Sensual with a touch of goth. So youve seduction in mind?
You think its too sexy?
Id do you wearing that dress.
Yes, well, youd do me, him and it, so I wont take that one personally. Who, or what, is your date tonight?
A werewolf from pack Conquerier. Sweet guy. Intense sexual appetite. He likes to howl.
Nummy.
Yeah, I like to howl right along with him. Especially when he hits the sweet spot with his fingers. What about your date?
Its not really a date. Im going to cleanse an office for a guy. A demon, actually. She caught her friends nod of approval.
Demons do it devilishly, Amberlee said. Or wait. Is this to do with your venture into diabology? Please tell me you dont intend to simply study this guy.
Yes, study is exactly what I had in mind. She pulled the dress off the hanger. I have already performed a binding spell on him, and he didnt hold that against me. Not too much. Maybe a little? I certainly wont hold the kidnapping against him.
Thewhat? Slow down, Tamatha. I seem to be missing something here. Some demon kidnapped you? And now youre going on a date with him?
Suffice, we had an interesting meeting. And tonight... She slipped into some high black Louboutin heels with purple tulle bows on the toes. After the business of cleansing murdered spirits is completed, I want to talk to him. Learn about him. This date is strictly for the purpose of furthering my demonic research.
Amberlee put up a palm as she shook her head miserably. Youre killing me, Smalls. You and your work ethic. Please say when such research is concluded then the dress will come off. Maybe show the demon a few of your tattoos?
Dont be silly. I never have sex with a man on the first date. Thats just gauche.
What about Love Often?
I do. But you dont expect me to love him after one rather curious meeting, do you?
I suppose not.
Besides, I dont know anything about him beyond that hes a corax demonthat means he can shift to ravensand hes an excellent kisser. And he did have me brought to him, so I can only assume hes got no hang-ups about the demon-witch thing. Although he does seem to say the word witch with more vitriol than anyone should. Hmm...
Amberlee rolled her eyes. You and your adventurous heart. Be careful, Tamatha. And dont forget your white light before you go.
Good call. I wasnt wearing it when his henchmen kidnapped me this afternoon. Best to go prepared.
Henchmen? Amberlee thrust up her palm. I wont ask. I know its wild, adventurous and your kind of weirdness. Im headed home to pack. The wolf is bringing me to the Rhône Valley for the weekend. He owns a castle. If Im lucky Ill get to have sex with him fully shifted. Fur and fangs, baby!
Tamatha did not disguise a shiver as her friend pranced out, en route for some kinky werewolf sex. Getting naked with a man shifted into animal shape was so not her scene. Shed never thought about sex with the familiar in his cat form. But she did like her men interesting.
And, apparently, with horns, she said to her reflection.
Unzipping the dress, she stepped into it and pulled it up. Purple velvet seduction? So maybe a little flirting could be allowed. After the business.
* * *
The air held the dry, sweet scent of sage and lavender long after Tamatha had finished the cleansing. Shed focused her energy toward the marble floor and walls where the vibrations of whatever vile act had occurred in this room lingered. Lives had been stolen. More than one. In hideous manner. She didnt want to know the details. It wasnt important. The spell captured those remnants, and with the use of her air magic, she sent them through the window and into the ether to dissipate.