Bewitched, Bothered, and Bitten (3 page)

“Honey, you don’t know if that’s what happened. And, if it is, would you rather know or torture yourself with whatever scenarios you can concoct in that brain of yours?”

I could practically hear Ricki thinking before she conceded with a frustrated sigh, “Yes.”

“I’m always right,” I answered, laughing when she snorted. “Okay, I have stuff to do before I drive back to Dallas, so I need to get up and get moving. I’ll see you tonight.”

We said our goodbyes and I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. I hadn’t thought about this last night, but Finn would probably be at the party. After the insanity on my porch and the exquisitely pleasurable dream I’d had, I wasn’t sure I could manage to stand in the same room with him, much less look him in the eye and talk. Finn wasn’t just a vampire, he was an extremely powerful practitioner of magic. I wasn’t certain, but I believed he may have been a Druid before he was turned. He’d never outright stated it during our nocturnal conversations, but certain things that he said and did hinted at his origins. If that was the case, it would be child’s play for him to see into my thoughts and exploit my weakness for him to his advantage.

Feeling tension returning to my body, I threw off the blankets and shivered when the cold air hit me. I didn’t hesitate, though. I rolled out of bed and headed straight for the fireplace downstairs. Once I had a fire burning, I would shower before putting together an amulet for the party tonight. Something that would strengthen my mental barriers. I would need every defense I could muster to keep Finn out of my head and likely my panties as well.

*     *     *

At seven that
evening, I pulled up in front of Conner’s palatial home, feeling the shimmer of nerves in my belly. I was always on edge around other supernaturals. Witches and vampires had a long, bitter history of mutual loathing and shifters considered us little better than humans. Despite the fact that both species were susceptible to a witch’s magic, neither was willing to acknowledge the elemental strength of witchcraft. Probably due to the fact that most witches sought to prevent harm and to heal. All practitioners knew that magic carried a price. Evil begets evil and black witches usually died an early, excruciating death, which is why they were rare among our kind. I had only witnessed it once when I was still a child and the taint of that followed me throughout my life.

I yanked myself out of my thoughts. This was not the time to allow painful memories to overwhelm me. I needed to have all my mental and magical defenses in place. While I trusted Donna with my life and had slowly allowed myself to relax around her vampire fiancé, Conner, suspicion of the fanged had been too deeply ingrained in me since childhood, and, tonight, I would be surrounded by bloodsuckers.

Still, I had to become accustomed to interacting with other supernatural beings. Conner and several other younger Council members were making an effort to establish a civil relationship with witches and shifters. It had been centuries since peace existed between the species. Distrust was still rampant among the coven and the MacIntire pack when it came to vampires, but things were improving.

I flinched when I saw a flash of black next to the passenger side window. My suddenly coiled muscles relaxed when I realized it was just the valet that had been hired for the evening. Shaking my head at my skittishness, I opened my door and climbed out of the car, accepting the ticket stub from the young vampire. Before I had a chance to give him a tip, he jumped in my car and zoomed off.

I climbed the steps to the front door, still feeling off balance. Before I pushed it open, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and released it slowly, focusing on exhaling all the tension in my body. Feeling slightly less stressed, I lifted my eyelids to find the front door open and Conner’s friend, Lex, standing in front of me with a smirk on his handsome face.

Alexander Dimitriades was another vampire I was gradually beginning to trust. He had fallen hard and fast for my friend, Ivie, so I saw him often. He did nothing to hide how much he doted on her and that alone softened my attitude toward him. Unfortunately, he read me like an open book and, like any typical male, decided to use my weakness against me and tease me relentlessly every chance he got. If I’d had siblings, I imagined an older brother would behave a great deal like Lex did toward me.

“Communing with fairies, witch?” he asked, dark eyes sparkling with humor.

“Actually, I was summoning a demon and here you are,” I quipped.

Lex laughed and grabbed my hand, pulling me into the house and a tight hug. His affectionate behavior surprised me. Though he strove to be friendly to all of Ivie’s friends, he rarely touched us except for a handshake or a peck on the cheek.

Awkwardly, I patted him on the back. “Down, boy. Don’t make me zap you.”

He released me with another chuckle, looking more relaxed and happy than I’d ever seen him.

I frowned at him. “Okay, this is just weird. Aren’t you supposed to be all dark and broody and sparkle in the sunlight?” When he merely grinned and shook his head, I sighed. “Fine. Tell me why you’re so happy.”

His smile widened until I was afraid his face would split in two. “Ivie finally agreed to a Claiming ceremony.”

I went still at the announcement. “Really?”

Lex nodded.

“How did you manage that?” When his grin became absolutely wicked, I shook my head. “Never mind. I think I know.”

He laughed and threw an arm around my shoulders. “All’s fair in love and war, little witch. You’d do well to remember that.”

Scowling up at his face, I allowed him to lead me toward the ballroom. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

His dark brown eyes were amused, but also gentle. “War and love are quite similar, Kerry. Both are full of battles and, sometimes, you have to fight dirty to win.” Lex looked up as we entered the ballroom, still smirking slightly.

Before I could ask him what in the hell he was talking about, an arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me away from Lex. I stiffened, knowing exactly who had just grabbed me. The smell of vanilla and spice assaulted me and I felt a hot, muscled body against my side.

I glanced up at Finn, fighting to keep my face neutral. “Why are you touching me?” I asked evenly.

He merely hugged me closer, leaning over to whisper in my ear. “You liked it when I touched you last night.”

Lex cupped my elbow, trying to tug me away. “Finn, leave the little witch alone.”

Immediately, I decided that I would never give Lex shit again, since he was trying to save me from this awkward situation. Anxiety filled me when Finn growled low in his throat and tightened his grip on my waist.

I elbowed Finn in the ribs sharply. “Knock it off!”

Suddenly, I was crowded between Lex and Finn, in danger of being smashed by two hard chests. Over my head, Finn hissed, “Stop touching her.”

Abruptly, I’d had enough. Taking a deep breath, I pressed one hand to each of their chests and gave each of them a nice little shock.

They leapt away from me, Lex rubbing his pectoral and Finn his sternum.

Finn grimaced. “What was that for?”

“Just a reminder that you should keep your hands to yourself,” I stated. I hoped my voice didn’t sound as shaky as I felt. My fingers tingled painfully where the charge had escaped.

“What about me?” Lex complained.

“That was just a bonus,” I answered.

With a little wave, I turned and headed toward the bar. It would be rude to get a drink before finding Donna to say hello, but I really needed one. I was sure she would understand.

A
n hour later,
I was feeling much more mellow. When I’d gone to the bar earlier, I’d ordered a shot of tequila and a glass of red wine. The bartender hadn’t even blinked, just smiled politely and gone about filling my strange request.

After I tossed back the shot, I took my wine, sliding a ten dollar tip across the bar and earning a genuine smile from the stone-faced bartender. Then I went looking for Donna. I saw her across the ballroom, looking radiant in a dress that was both blue and gray. The color looked fantastic on her. I made my way across the room, nodding politely to people as I passed.

Donna’s eyes lit up when she saw me. “Kerry!” She hugged me tightly. When she stepped away, she looked down at my dress. “You look great!”

The bad mood brought on by Finn’s earlier antics disappeared. “Thanks. You look beautiful.”

Donna smoothed her hand down the material of her gown. “Really? Conner picked this out.”

I had to laugh. She loathed shopping and avoided it at all costs. Conner usually had to blackmail or trick her into it. Many times, he would just buy her clothes and have them hung in her closet. She hadn’t liked it at first until she realized that, by allowing him to purchase her clothes and have them delivered, she could avoid shopping altogether. Now, I think she also enjoyed wearing things that she knew Conner would like. Donna jokingly called him her style fairy.

“He has excellent taste in clothing and women,” I answered, lifting my glass in a mock toast to her.

“Thank you, Kerry.”

The sound of Conner’s voice and that sexy Scottish brogue startled me. He kissed my cheek as he stepped past me to pull Donna against his side. I smiled a little at the picture they created. They fit.

Donna rolled her eyes. “Kerry, don’t let him hear you saying things like that. His ego is big enough as it is. Too many compliments and he’ll become an unbearably arrogant jackass.” She squeaked when he playfully bit at her neck in retaliation.

Conner lifted his head, raising a single brow. It was a sexy look. “For every compliment your friends give me, you usually have at least one complaint. I think I’m safe from the delusion that I’m perfect.”

I shifted my weight, intending to excuse myself.

“Kerry.” Conner’s face was suddenly serious. “Have you spoken to Belinda today?”

I shook my head. As the High Priestess of the coven, Belinda rarely had time to call me for a simple chat.

He frowned. “She’s here this evening and said it was important that she talk to you.”

A small kernel of unease settled at the base of my spine. “Okay. I’ll be sure to find her.”

Donna looked a little concerned, but Conner didn’t say more. They were distracted by another vampire, so I gave Donna a discreet wave and moved away.

I looked around as I made my way through the throngs of vampires and werewolves. There were a few witches from the coven here, but most chose to politely decline their invitation to the party. I knew that Belinda would have a hard road ahead of her if she wanted to convince other coven members that witches should form alliances with vampires and shifters and I didn’t envy her the job.

I was pleasantly surprised at how many vampires acknowledged my presence and spoke as I passed. After centuries of distrust and bad blood, it seemed a new generation of the fanged were willing to put all that aside.

“Kerry!”

My head turned when someone called my name. Shannon and Ricki were standing a few feet away. I changed direction and headed their way.

Shannon hugged me. “You look gorgeous.”

I smoothed down the skirt of my dark blue dress. “Thanks. You both look fantastic.”

Shannon wore black, which wasn’t unusual, and Ricki wore red. I had to suppress a smile because Ricki must not have realized that wearing red while attending a vampire function alone was akin to wearing a halter top and miniskirt to a bar. It was guaranteed to capture attention and maybe even inspire a few crappy pick up lines. Then again, the shifters and vamps were pretty suave, so the pick up lines might be decent.

Ricki leaned closer, whispering, “He’s here.”

Confused, I asked, “Who?”

“Calder!” she hissed. “He’s here and…” She trailed off and stiffened as someone walked behind her.

I glanced up and realized it was Calder. He smiled and winked at me. I also noticed that he trailed his hand across the bare skin of Ricki’s back. Then he disappeared into the crowd.

“Holy shit, what the hell am I gonna do?” Ricki asked me, her eyes huge. “Every time I turn around,
he’s right there
!”

“Are you afraid he’s going to hurt you?” I asked.

“No,” she muttered. She fiddled with the halter neckline of her dress and I saw a small scar where her neck met her shoulder. It was obviously a bite.

My body tensed when I saw it. I leaned forward and pulled the strap of her dress a couple of inches to the side. She’d been marked. Yet, Calder was still keeping his distance and Ricki seemed to want nothing to do with him.

“Kerry, what are you doing?” Ricki sounded annoyed but also a little anxious.

I released the strap of her dress and stepped back slightly. “Who bit you?” I had a strong suspicion and, if I was right, it would explain a lot about Calder’s behavior.

Her face flushed. “Calder.”

“What’s going on, Kerry?” Shannon asked, her eyes sharp.

I met Ricki’s eyes. “You need to talk to Calder, and you need to do it soon.”

“You’re starting to freak me out,” Ricki whispered.