lightning witch 02 - lightning legacy (20 page)

I placed a hand on Reid’s back, trying to calm him.

“Please, Mitch ... sent ... arg—” The man’s words were being cut off by Reid’s forearm that was crushing his windpipe.

"Reid, let him talk. Ease up, big guy. I'm okay. I'm here," I crooned to him, trying to coax him off the edge. After a few heartbeats, he eased off the man. His sand-brown hair matched his light-brown eyes. He stood a little taller than me, but shorter than Reid. My guess was five foot ten. He had a lean build. The man struck me as a surfer. Maybe it was the deep copper tan. He was cute in that, “yo dude,” surfer kind of way. He couldn’t have been more than twenty-two when he was changed. His eyes were darting around until they landed on me. His expression was so pained when he saw me he looked away quickly.

"You have only moments to explain before I let Reid have his way with you."

The man's hand flew to his red throat. He tried to speak a few times, but only coughing fits came out.

“Tyler. My name is Tyler.”

Reid stiffened and dropped his head.

“Tyler, damn it, you looked different." Reid's tone was ashamed.

My eyes widened at him. Did he know him?

“It’s okay, man. I can understand,” Tyler gasped, while rubbing his neck.

“Explain, please.” I was getting more than a little sick of not understanding.

“Mitch sent me here while he went north to find you. Now, he knows you’re here. I’m to watch you and report back on your movements,” he explained. Oh well, in that case ...

“So, why aren’t we killing him?” I asked, looking to Reid.

"Good question." Reid took a step closer, and Tyler's hands flew up to gesture in a halting motion.

“Whoa, Reid wait. Let me explain.”

Reid stopped.

"You know me, Reid. I need to explain everything. I helped Mitch break into the Coven. That's why he changed me. I’m an expert in nearly anything electronic. I thought at the time it wasn't a big deal, because, like most weres, I wanted to see the Coven destroyed."

He paused to gauge my reaction. I had none, as I was right there with him.

"Right after that, I left, because my job had me traveling to Saint Louis. When I got back, I heard of the murders. I swear I had no idea. Then everything with you happened."

He couldn't meet my eyes. He seemed ashamed. Good.

“None of this sat well with me. And the more I talked to others in the pack, the more they agreed.”

My thoughts slid to Anderson and the phone call. Had he been telling the truth? When Tyler spoke, he was emotional, and I could feel the honesty in his words. Anderson? There was something that made me pause in believing him.

"Look, I know Anderson called you. He is one of Mitch's little bitches. There are a number of us who would fight with you. I have a plan—and I'll do what it takes to get you to trust me. All I ask is that you kill Mitch."

Reid and I exchanged a look. We both nodded and heard him out. It was the only thing we could do.

THE WHOLE AFTERNOON
had started out pretty amazing; running and playing with Reid had eased me in some way. He calmed me. It was hard to explain just how he affected me, I just knew that he was my air. I needed him to breathe, for my heart to beat. Then the experience just after he changed had been intense, to say the least. Then there was Tyler. My gut told me trusting him was a good idea, but my history screamed to not trust anyone. The plan was pretty straightforward. It was all based on throwing Mitch off his center of balance.

The drive back had been uneventful, thank all that was holy. I had to talk Reid into stopping, so I could buy underwear. He may like the commando thing, but I, however, did not. I explained that he could rip them off like a present if he liked. He seemed to like that idea, so he bought me twenty pairs. That should last about a week.

When we pulled up to Troy's house, I heard Troy and Monique talking in the backyard. Okay, actually, I heard Troy bitching and Monique being exasperated. Yup, sounded about right. I bypassed the front door and went straight to the back of the house. The smell of smoke tickled my nose. It didn’t seem like things with Troy's training were going well. Just as I entered the yard, I heard Tory's high-pitched, excited tone just as a tennis ball-sized fireball whizzed past my nose. I stood frozen for a moment, then turned to face Troy.

I narrowed my eyes and put my hands on my hips. “Christ man! Are you trying to kill me?”

His expression was sheepish when he squeaked, “Sorry, it just slipped out.”

“That’s what she said!” I heard Garrett’s voice call from the porch.

Okay, I couldn’t help it. I busted out with laughter. I had to nearly hold my stomach from laughing so hard. Troy was nearly beside himself. Finally, after a few minutes, we were both calmed.

"I see training is going well." I flicked my gaze to Monique, who looked less than amused.

"He has so much power it's a little scary, but he can’t control it. Fire is such a fickle power. I'm trying though." She honestly sounded defeated.

“How about I tag in and give you a break?”

She smiled and nodded.

I turned to Troy and narrowed my eyes. "Okay, hooker, show me what you can do."

In response, he lifted up his hands and called his power to him. His palms glowed orange before two small flames appeared and flickered before going out. He, much like Monique, looked defeated. My heart ached for him, it also settled my resolve. I had to help him. I just had to break through his thick skull.

I walked to Garrett and leaned close to his ear and whispered, “I swear, no matter what, I won’t hurt you. Trust me.” I leaned up. He had a confused look on his face. I got up and walked to Troy.

“Come here, Troy. We need to talk,” I called to him, motioning toward me. He hesitated, but listened.

"Garrett, can you stand up?" I called to the tall man lounging on the porch. Troy would seriously hate me for what I was about to do, but it may be the only way to get him to focus on this. Garrett stood and took a few steps closer. I held up my hand for him to stop, and he did. I left my hand outstretched toward him and turned my face to Troy.

"You stand right there." I pointed to a spot just to my left. So Troy was only a few feet away on one side and Garrett stood several yards to my right, on the stairs leading up to the porch. I took a deep breath.
Please don’t hate me for this
. I pulled my lightning from my core to my outstretched right hand. Troy’s expression was confused.

Without taking my eyes off Troy, I said, "Garrett, don't move no matter what, do you understand me?"

Troy's eyes went wide with incredulity as Garrett replied, "Uh, okay." I winked at him, and he nodded.

I pulled harder on my power, causing pops and arcs of electricity in my palm. It set my nerve endings alight. I had a lot more control of my ability than Troy did, but that did not make me perfect. Right now, I had to be.

"Delaney, don't play like this," Troy warned, taking a step forward. As he did, I did as well. He paused, seeing I was very serious.

I flicked a finger, sending a small jolt to land about five inches in front of Garrett’s feet. Troy was getting pissed. I walked a little closer to Garrett. I flicked another small ball of lightning. Garrett jumped, but didn’t move.

"Stop me, Troy." I now stood in the middle of the two men, both of whom looked utterly terrified.

“Delaney, this isn’t funny.”

I flicked again. Troy jumped. I took another step toward Garrett.

"I know that better than anyone. I have lost nearly everyone. I refuse to lose you because you can't get your head out of your ass."

We had no time to ease him into this power. He didn't need to be perfect, he had to try though.

I took two steps this time and sent a larger ball of lightning to the ground about three inches from Garrett’s left shoe.

Garrett's eyes were pleading with Troy to try. Garrett knew just how important this was.

That look seemed to do something to Troy. His hands began to glow. He was ready to try. I flicked another bolt this time, hitting so close to Garrett it sent shivers through the large man. Troy‘s hands went up in reflex and a small fireball went wild.

I took a deep breath. I was one good leap to getting to Garrett. I turned to face Troy and pulled yet more power. The lightning was now climbing up my arms. The air grew heavy with the scent of ozone.

"Last chance, Troy." I knew I would pull my power in at the last moment, but I thought Troy doubted it. Especially after he witnessed my lack of control in my wolf form. I knew he could do this. I needed him to know it now.

I turned and leapt for Garrett. I heard both men scream right before I was slammed directly in the chest with a bowling ball-sized fireball. Thank God, at the last moment I shifted my hands and my power took the brunt of his attack. The force of his power sent me flying off into the brush of Troy's yard. My hands burned and the heat from the blast nearly singed my eyebrows. I lay in the yard a little dazed. I blinked rapidly and pulled the rest of my power to my core. I still smelled smoke, and the heat was getting unbearable. I looked down to realize my shirt was on fire. I rolled in the grass. Note to self: Stop, drop and roll ain't no joke. Had he wanted to hurt me, no stop, drop and roll would have worked, not with magical fire. The small flames were extinguished in short order with my flailing. It took me a few moments to get up, but I did manage it. The amount of power that took was astounding. I had no idea if Troy really knew what he had done.

I looked at Troy, who was hugging Garrett. It honestly made me happy that he found him. Then Troy released the bigger man and he stalked toward me. I braced myself. He was livid, and it radiated off him in heat waves. He had every right to be. I should have found a better way …

His arms wrapped around me in a hug. I stood there a little dumbfounded. I’d expected to be yelled at, slapped or even punched. Hell, I’d seen Troy dump so many drinks on people I half expected him to go into the house and pour one to dump over my head. But no, he was hugging me. I hugged him back.

“You’re so lucky I figured out how to do that or I would have had to kill you.”

“Nah, I pulled my power in. Thank God I had enough to take the full force of your power, because, Troy, that was a major power. And I swear Garrett knew I would never hurt him.” I glanced to the tall man and he nodded. Thank God he wasn’t a cash register, because if he were, his ass would be a melted heap of disaster.

“It just clicked. I think it was the fact that you have lost so much and here you were worrying about me.”

“Is he mad?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer.

He shook his head in negation and replied, "He saw you drawing your power in, and he said he trusted you. Me, I wasn't sure, honestly. Please never do that again."

We separated and Troy looked utterly pleased with himself.

“I’m badass.”

“Yeah, Troy, you’re pretty badass. But I would still keep an extinguisher nearby.”

He was about to give me some pithy retort I was sure, but his words were cut off by Monique's bright tone.

“Delaney! You have a package.”

I froze.

Who the hell could be sending me anything? Troy’s head tilted in confusion at me. I shrugged.

“You been doing some online shopping?” he questioned.

Monique trotted in the backyard carrying a large brown box with FedEx overnight stickers plastered all over it. She set it on the small table and I walked over. Reid soon appeared in the doorway of the house. My eyes flicked to him. He smiled, then frowned.

“Been doing laundry again?” His voice seemed to always warm my skin even from a distance. I smiled and detoured to him.

“No. Why ask?”

“Your shirt now matches several I have seen before.” His eyes went to my chest.

I looked down to see a number of small holes dotting my once whole shirt. Great. I stopped just in front of him and gave him a quick kiss. He inhaled a deep breath as I leaned in. He froze. He went completely rigid. Had I forgotten deodorant? I lifted my arm and sniffed. No, I was good.

“What?”

"I smell blood. Are you cut or burned?" His tone sounded as though he knew the answer but didn't want to admit it. I shook my head. His eyes were locked on the box. My heart stopped and dropped to my feet. Slowly, I walked toward it. I breathed deep and then I caught the scent as well. The air was thick with the metallic tang that was blood. My mouth watered in response. I hated that it had that effect on me, but this wasn't the time for self-loathing. I stood in front of the box but couldn’t make myself open it. We all stood around this package as though we were waiting for it to jump up and open itself. I didn't dare move. Maybe if no one moved, or did anything, we wouldn’t have to admit what was in that box.

Garrett shifted and I heard the click of a knife. He reached for the box and ran the blade along the seam of tape that sealed it. I swallowed the impossibly large lump that formed in my throat. I reached out and lifted up the flaps. There was a small white Styrofoam cooler with crumpled brown paper sounding it. Sitting just on top was a small white envelope with my name penned on it. I picked it up and slipped a shaking finger under the sealed edges. I pulled a small white card out. I spared a glance down at my chest. I could visibly see my heart beating, hammering my chest wall so hard. I took a deep breath and opened it.