Angels of Bourbon Street (26 page)

Ian stumbled back, appearing frustrated and lost at the same time. I waved him over. He stared at me, his lips pressed together and his jaw tense.

Kane sat on Bea’s coffee table, leaning forward, talking to Pyper in a low, calming tone.

“Ian,” I demanded in a whisper, “come here.”

He glanced back at Kane and Pyper, shook his head, and retreated to the kitchen.

“What happened?” I forced out, ignoring the ache in my stomach from being near him. Memories overtook my mind, but I shoved them aside. I had to get through this.

He scoffed. “You were there. Camille bounced from Kat, to you, to Pyper, and I was Camille’s boy-toy.” He spat out
boy-toy
with no small amount of disgust. “Just like this afternoon.” His entire face went red with what I’d bet my last dollar was shame, and he took two steps back.

“I realize that.” I poured a tall glass of orange juice and struggled to keep my arm steady. Being near him was making me sweat. My hands trembled, and my heart raced.

Stay calm.
I sucked in the cool air, trying to disassociate my own panic so I could understand exactly what was actually happening to Ian. “What I mean is, what happened to you? Start with last night at The Herbal Shop.”

He ran an unsteady hand through his shaggy blond hair. “I don’t even know.”

Just breathe.
“Can you try to describe what was going on in your mind?”

He let out a frustrated huff. “That’s just it. I remember everything, but I wasn’t in control of my actions.”

Blood rushed to my head. “You mean…you might’ve been possessed?” Jesus effing Christ. Were there two ghosts?

He shook his head. “No. As far as I know, I’ve never been possessed before, so I don’t think so. More like I was compelled.”

“Like you were spelled to kiss me?”

He nodded slowly.

Over his shoulder, I caught Kane’s steely gaze. He rose, his fists clenched. I shook my head and gave him a pointed stare.
Not now
, I mouthed.

Ian spun, and Kane glared at him.

“Oh, dammit.” I ran in front of Ian and pushed him deeper into the kitchen. Then I strode over to Kane. “Cool it, okay? I’m finding out what happened.”

Kane put a possessive hand on my shoulder, the weight of it practically pinning me to my spot. “I don’t want you anywhere near him.”

I shifted and grunted as I pushed his hand off me. “Understood, and I normally wouldn’t either, but I saw a distinct shift in his personality while we were outside. I think it doesn’t have anything to do with him and everything to do with Camille. I need to find out what happened.”

Kane’s nostrils flared.

I had to bite back a chuckle. He was trying so hard to stay calm, but he was losing the battle. I placed a hand on his chest. “It’s okay. I’m fine. I promise.”

He gazed down at me, eyes going soft. “You’re sure? It might be better if Bea talks with him.”

I nodded toward Bea, who was across the room, digging through her spell books. “She looks a little busy. Really, I’m fine. I’ll yell if I need anything.” I grabbed the glass of orange juice and slipped my other hand into his and led him back to Pyper. “Hey, you.” I handed her the glass. “You look like you could use a pick-me-up.”

A bit of color had returned to her face but not much. The orange juice sloshed in the glass as she brought it to her lips. I gave Kane a worried glance. He frowned and took the glass after she took a few sips.

“Thanks,” she said to me and slumped back into the couch. “How do you survive this?”

I grimaced. She did look a lot worse than I usually felt after a possession. I glanced at Kat. She was also a little shaken, but not as bad as Pyper. “I bet it was Bea’s magic that caused this. She had to do something to keep Camille from running off with your body.”

Pyper groaned.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure one of Bea’s herbal pills will do the trick.”

“Or three.” She sent me a weak smile.

My heart lifted. A joking Pyper meant she’d be fine. I left her in Kane’s capable hands, my heart warming at the attention he gave her.

I joined Ian in the kitchen, still keeping my distance, taking note of the jealousy etched all over his face as he watched the two of them together. “They really are just friends.”

He flinched. “I know that.”

“Then why the face?”

Ian shook his head. “He has a piece of her she keeps hidden. That vulnerable place deep inside. At first, I thought she never let anyone in, but when they’re together, I see it.”

His obvious pain made me almost want to reach out for him, but the day’s events slammed into me and I held back, fearful of the anxiety making my head spin. Instead, I cut a piece of Bea’s carrot cake and passed it over. Hey, comfort food always worked for me.

“They’re like brother and sister. Neither of them really has any other family they can count on.”

“Except you,” he said, not looking at me. He turned his back to me and clutched the counter. “Jade?”

“Yeah?” I shoved a piece of carrot cake in my mouth.

“I apologize for today.” His kept his voice low, yet loud enough that I could hear him and the regret behind the words. “I don’t even know what happened. One minute, I was in the bar, the next, I was out of my mind, practically mauling you in that hotel room.”

The carrot cake turned to sawdust in my mouth. I tried to swallow, choked, and spit it out in a napkin.

He turned to look at me.

“Sorry. Got caught in my throat.”

He nodded and went back to studying the granite pattern on the counter. “I don’t expect you to forgive me. But I do think I was under a spell of some sort.” He shook his head, slowly and deliberately. “I had to be. I was supposed to be monitoring that room for ghosts, not…I’m sick about what almost…could’ve… Fuck.” He hung his head.

I pressed my back to the opposite counter, trying to disappear without having to move. I appreciated his apology and even though I already knew he must have been enthralled by Camille, my insides hadn’t yet got the memo. My pulse was racing, and I had to clutch the counter to keep from running. I cleared my throat. “I know, Ian.”

His head popped up, but he didn’t turn to look at me. He nodded once and moved across the room to settle quietly in a chair as far away from everyone as possible.

I frowned. He needed help, but I couldn’t be the one to help him. We had a much more important matter to deal with. I glanced at the stairs. Mom and Meri were gone. They must’ve retreated to the guest bedroom again to discuss Goddess knows what. I let out a frustrated grunt and stalked to Bea’s side.

“She’s going to be just fine after a few healing pills,” Bea said, flipping through one of her witch’s tomes.

“Good, glad to hear it.”

“Here.” She handed me a book. “Do me a favor and look for a banishing spell.”

I took the book but didn’t open it.

Bea bent to rummage through her bookcase, but when I didn’t move, she glanced up. “What is it, dear?”

“I want to do a finding spell.”

“Who’s missing?”

“My father.”

Chapter 24

She straightened and eyed me. “Your mother doesn’t know where he is?”

I shrugged. “I have no idea. She won’t even talk about him, let alone tell me who he is. All I know is, the man I thought was my father isn’t. I will not put Pyper and Kat in danger again. The solution is to find my father, whoever he is, and convince him to help fix my soul.”

Then we could worry about whatever it was Camille was up to before she possessed someone else.

Bea cast her eyes toward the ceiling. “She isn’t going to go along with this.”

“No, she won’t, not if her recent behavior is any indication, but I can’t afford to wait any longer.” I glanced at Pyper, still shaken from her possession, and Kat, who was wide-eyed and nervously picking at her fingernail polish. “What are we going to do, stay here forever?”

“Maybe not forever.” Bea gave me a small smile. “But it’s not a hardship to watch over you girls.”

My heart swelled and suddenly I was overcome with sadness. Why couldn’t my relationship with my mother be as comfortable as the one I had with Bea? At one time, Mom had been that kind of mother. Or so I’d thought. In reality, she’d lied to me my whole life. I shook my head. There were more important things to focus on.

“Can we do the finding spell in here, or do we have to go outside?”

“Outside,” Bea said. “We really need that circle.”

I let out a heavy sigh. “Okay, but please don’t make me go get Meri. If Mom finds out what we’re doing, she’ll never let me out of that room.”

Bea turned to Kat. “Can you retrieve Meri?” My mentor frowned. “And keep Hope occupied for about fifteen minutes?”

Kat sent me a questioning glance. I gave her a reassuring smile, moved to her side, and whispered the plan in her ear.

“Yeah, okay. The sooner we’re no longer Camille-bait, the better.”

I kissed her cheek. “Thank you.”

She waved me off, and not even a minute later, Meri descended the stairs, glancing around. “Kat said Dan was here.”

I hid a soft chuckle behind a cough. Kat had found the perfect excuse.

“Sorry.” Bea grimaced. “I wish she hadn’t said that. We need you for a spell that Hope isn’t going to like, but it’s imperative we do it as soon as possible. Would you mind joining us in the circle outside?”

Meri’s face fell, a mixture of disappointment and irritation. “I really don’t want to get involved. They have enough to work out because of me.”

I slipped my arm through hers. “This has nothing to do with you, other than that I need you to keep me safe. We’re doing this either way.” I met her eyes and cast a pleading look. “Please, Meri. I can’t have anyone else getting hurt. Mom’s been keeping secrets for years. I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

“You’re doing the finding spell, then?”

I nodded. “Do you know who my real father is?”

She took a deep breath. “Actually, I don’t.”

Kane looked up from his spot next to Pyper. “Really? It sure seems like you know more than you’re telling.”

Meri bit down on her bottom lip and chewed as if she was deciding how much to say. Then she turned to me. “I knew Marc wasn’t your birth father. I also know where he lives and works, but that’s all. I’ve been trying to get Hope to open up. I know how awful this is for you. And since she won’t budge, if you need my help, you’ve got it.”

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “Let’s do this.” I met Meri by the door, and we waited together for Bea.

With her spell book and a candle in hand, she grabbed a ceramic dish and her ceremonial knife from her mantle and handed them to me.

Laughter spilled down the stairwell. I tensed with frustration. What the heck was Kat laughing at? There wasn’t anything funny about what was going on.

Bea shook her head, mildly amused. “Kat’s been a little punchy all day. That’s to be expected after the coma. After a few days of sleep, she’ll be good as new. As for now, she’s a walking giggle. Let’s hurry before she runs out of material.”

She was punchy? I hadn’t noticed. Crap, had I been that caught up in my own drama? I glanced at Pyper. Probably. Hadn’t she said as much the night before? I needed a crash course in observation, stat.

Meri pulled the door open, and together, we stepped out into the rapidly cooling night. I wrapped my arms around myself and shivered.

“It’ll be warmer once we activate the circle,” Bea said.

My heart thundered with anticipation. Magic. My limbs ached to feel the heady spark coursing through them.

Once on the lawn, Bea raised her arms to the heavens and called, “Coven of the Crescent City, heed my call, fill the circle with your will.”

A pentagram lit from the ground, shining through the lush grass. As soon as the three of us formed a small circle in the center of the pentagram, the light winked out.

I snapped my attention to Bea. “What happened?”

She shook her head. “Nothing, dear. Since it’s just the three of us, we’ll need a boost. Evoking the circle at the same time as the candle will spread our reach.”

“Meri.” Bea passed her the white pillar candle. “You hold this. When I give the command, you and Jade light it at the same time. Got it?”

The one time I’d done a finding spell, my range had only been two hundred miles with the coven helping me. Bea was going about this much differently. Why? I couldn’t resist asking, “How far will our range be?”

She glanced at the knife. “With your blood, that won’t be an issue. The DNA will act as the unifier.”

“Oh. Great.” My stomach flipped over about three times. As soon as Bea cast the spell, I was going to know who my real father was. My heart pounded rapidly, and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead. I wasn’t ready for this. Would he know me? A tiny bit of fear crawled its way into my being. Why didn’t Mom want me to know him?

“Take a deep breath, Jade,” Meri said. “You can deal with all that emotion later. Right now, this is about protecting your friends and yourself.”

Deep breath in, deep breath out. I repeated the motion a few times and my heartbeat slowed to a manageable rhythm. She was right. I’d do just about anything to protect my friends.

“Your loyalty is remarkable.”

I gaped at Meri. “Look who’s talking. You ended up in Hell after sacrificing yourself for Philip. Loyalty doesn’t run deeper than that.”

She shrugged. “I’m not the same person I was then.”

“No? You’re here, aren’t you? If that doesn’t say loyal, I don’t know what does. You haven’t left my side for over forty-eight hours, and we both know it hasn’t been a picnic.” God, had it only been that long? It seemed like a week since I’d slept.

She smirked, then her lips settled into a small, pleased smile. “No, but it turns out you’re not quite as annoying as I once thought. I think we might even be able to be friends…once we get your soul in working order.”

I laughed. “Yeah, I think a friendship could be arranged.”

“Ladies,” Bea scolded us. “It’s time to concentrate.”

I buttoned my lips but couldn’t help my own private smile. We’d just had a breakthrough in our relationship. Who would’ve thought I’d end up friends with an ex-demon, soul-stealing angel?