lightning witch 02 - lightning legacy (23 page)

TRUE TO REID’S
word, I was out of the house with Troy in an hour and a half. I knew it was a dirty tactic to use sex against him, but I needed to get away for a time. Though I don’t in any way, shape or form feel bad about what had transpired between us. God, our chemistry was combustible. Every time we were alone, the fumes of our desire only seemed to build. It would only take one tiny spark to ignite it and then, boom went the goddamned dynamite and we would be completely engulfed. I loved him and the passion we shared. In a perfect world, we would be together for all time.

However, my world was anything but perfect. I was about to do something that he would grow to hate me for. I didn’t think I could live with myself if something happened to Troy or Monique, but I would refuse live with myself if something happened to Reid. I shook my head to try to loosen the doubt that was creeping in. I had to be absolutely resolute in this. I was protecting him. I was protecting all of them. I would go to Mitch and kill him myself. He had no idea I could kill him. Hell, I didn't think I could. There had always been some force stopping me.
I wonder if it had been me stopping myself the whole time.

“I know you did not drag me out here to go buy clothes. What’s going on in that head of yours, Delaney?” Troy asked, never taking his eyes off the road.

I sighed. He knew me too well.

“Troy, I just need more shorts. Reid keeps ripping them off of me. It’s either that or I’m going to have to walk around bottomless all day.”

He looked aghast and sped up, “Ew, don’t nobody want to see that!”

Gee, thanks
. He had no idea I was going to ditch him and head north. I was such a shit friend. The thought of Troy dead because of a choice I made caused my throat to tighten and my stomach to lurch painfully. I looked at his thin face. The fine bones were so feminine and nearing on delicate. He was anything but. I couldn't live with it. I just couldn't. So much had changed in the last few months. I died, was changed, then I changed. I know the last two things sounded the same, but they weren't. I was forced to change both into something physically and mentally different. I could have crumbled or adapted. I had to fight to get to Reid, and that's what I did. I chose to change and became what was needed. And now I would do what was needed again. I would protect my mate and my friends.

“Okay, fine, but can we class it up and go to Target? I don’t think my heart can take seeing the people of Walmart right now.”

“That’s fine. Oh, by the way, Mil left me a letter before she died and in it she wanted me to tell you …” I cleared my throat and in my best Irish accent said, “You’re welcome.”

He very nearly swerved off the Truman.

“Holy shit, man!”

“Girl, you have a real problem dropping bombs on me while I’m driving, don’t you?”

"Sorry, I guess I didn't think it was a bomb."

“That old hooker knew!” His knuckles went white on the steering wheel.

We both fell silent until he pulled into the Target parking lot.

“I loved her, you know. It’s just like the old bat to get the last word in,” Troy finally spoke.

“I know, and she loved you.”

OKAY, I’M GOING
to throw a ball of lightning at you and I want you to block it. Don’t worry if you miss, it will only knock you out, not kill you.” I hoped. Months ago, I would have never assured him of this. Since my change and accepting just what I was, it all seemed to click.

"Great … I'm feeling really confident about this whole idea," he yelled back sarcastically.

I couldn't say I blamed him. A bead of sweat rolled down my back and pooled at the base of my spine. I was nervous. I felt deep in my bones that I had full control now. That I was what I was always meant to be. I could do this and doubt would only hinder me. I pulled a small pulse of power from my core and focused it in my hand. I glanced up at Troy, who looked nervous. I threw it at him.

He threw his hands up and dove to the ground. I shook my head and called to him, “Well, that’s one way to dodge it.”

"Sorry, I panicked."

He got up and dusted himself off. He then reached for his hair and smoothed it down. He narrowed his eyes at me and called, "I swear to dear sweet little baby Jesus, you mess my hair up, and I'll break you like a twig!"

I rolled my eyes, a gesture I knew he couldn't see.

“You going to keep bitching or do you want to pull up your big girl panties and do this?” I called to him.

He put his hands on his hips and jutted a foot out. “If we are talking about your panties, then yes they really are big.”

He did not just say that! I pulled from my core and flung a small ball of lightning careening toward his head. He threw his hands up and screamed like a banshee. My ears were nearly ringing after that high-pitched wail. I think he hit a note that it would take most men a swift kick in the balls to achieve. He pulled on his core at the same time and deflected the ball of lightning with his fire.

“See, I told you you could do it!” I said, running toward him. He threw up his hands and the bastard sent a fireball hurtling toward me. I deflected it easily.

"What the hell?" I asked breathlessly.

“That’s what you get! Okay, it may have been an accident, but nothing more than you deserve.”

I shrugged. I could accept that.

“Delaney, what are you planning?”

I froze. There was no way he knew I was planning anything.

“Planning?” I scoffed nonchalantly.

He narrowed his eyes at me and didn’t say a word. He did this thing where he looked at me and just waited. It reminded me of when I would be in trouble with Mil. Normally, I would break out into sobs and confess everything. I bit my lower lip to keep from doing just that.

“I want to face Mitch alone.” As soon as the words fell out of my mouth, I wanted to stuff them right back in. I didn’t want to hurt him by lying to him.

Just what you are doing to Reid. Shut up, self!

“Oh, is that all?”

My mouth hung open in shock. “Uh …” Was all I could manage.

“Girl, I knew you would want to do some shit like that.”

"Uh, you did?" How could he possibly?

I heard a car pull up, and I whirled to face it. It was Monique and Reid. He looked pissed, even from this distance. I felt like a kid who had been caught with a hand in the cookie jar.
Shit.

“You didn’t have to call them,” I muttered to Troy.

"Yes, I did! You would have hit me with a lightning ball, knocked me out and taken my keys," he offered with complete confidence.

"Ah, I wouldn’t have done anything like that!" Yes, that's exactly what I planned. Holy hot sauce, Batman, was I that easy to read? I needed to make a mental note to myself that on my list of possible careers, nefarious mastermind was not one of them.

The passenger side car door swung open and the fumes spilling off Reid hit me before he even got out of the vehicle.
Well, shit.
Was this really that bad of an idea? I thought back. Going in alone to face Mitch and whoever was currently with him.

On a scale of Einstein to this year's Darwin Award winner, I thought this would fall at about a negative sixteen. I could hear Darwin weeping for me. I could kick myself. I didn't even need Reid to come lay into me. I got it just by the expression on his face.

Every step that brought him closer made it easier to see the anguish and pain on his face.
Oh, crap, way to F this up, Delaney.
I just wanted to keep everyone safe. I couldn’t meet his eyes.

“I just wanted to fight this fight alone. I wanted to keep everyone safe.”

My voice was small, because the excuse fell flat on my lips.

"Delaney, you thought going in against nearly ten, or more, adult male werewolves was a good idea?"

Well, when you put it like that ... I didn't respond to Reid's' question.

“Girl, I don’t know what you’re smoking, but sister you been holdin’ out and clearly it’s some good shit.”

Reid put his hand against my cheek and raised my head to look at him.

“Love, I know you want us safe. But let us help you.”

He was right. I knew it, there was still a part of me that wanted to go at this alone so if anyone got hurt it would be me.

“Hooker, we are in this. He hurt my best friend and killed our sister. I have power now. I will NOT sit here and do nothing.”

God, I love Troy
.

“I caused all of this.” Monique’s voice held so much shame it very nearly broke my heart. I saw a tear roll down her cheek.

“So many good witches died because I was careless. I refuse to let him get away with it.”

"Love, I'm beyond angry with you about even thinking of ditching us. But we are going to do this. We are going to finish this together."

Talk about a ragtag group.

I started laughing. I honestly couldn’t help it. They all just stood, staring at me, gaping.

“Sorry,” I could barely speak between whoops of laughter. I was on the edge of hysteria. “We are a bad joke. A drag queen, werewolf, witch and Druid all walk into a bar …” I was overcome by snorts and fits.

“Lord help her, she’s lost her mind,” Troy commented, trying to stifle a smile.

After the moment passed, I tried to center myself. Here we were, the four of us in an open field. This moment could be the last the four of us would even be alive.

"Tomorrow is the day. You will call him and we will do our part. This will be over soon," he murmured as he kissed the spot just under my ear. The feel of his warm lips on my soft skin caused a shiver to run the length of my body. He growled in response.

“Oh no! She trembles, you growl, I know what comes next. And nuh-uh. Not happening. Keep ya drawers on!” Troy chided.

I rolled my eyes at Troy, and Reid laughed low in his chest, sending a pleasing vibration through me.

Okay, so I guess it was settled. Tomorrow we would be heading north. Tomorrow was D-Day. Delaney Day. I hoped Reid’s plan worked. I mean it was iffy at best, especially since it hinged on Troy.

“Delaney, have you ever tried to shift with your clothes on?” Reid's question caught me off guard. I just blinked at him.

“Uh, no. I guess I just assumed that I couldn’t.”

“Delaney, our ability to shift is linked to the beast. Yours though, I think it's magical.”

Shit, if I could, it would be a huge game changer. I saw it in his eyes. He was thinking the same thing I was. How huge this would be.

“Well?” Both Troy and Monique called at the same time.

I took a few steps back. The loss of Reid’s physical touch and warmth was always something that had a profound effect on me. Those feelings alone spoke volumes about how much I loved him.

When I shifted, it never felt like shifting to me. It was more falling into this new form. My beast was there, but it was as though she were an afterthought now. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and fell into my form. I opened my eyes and squinted at the bright orange of the late-afternoon setting sun. It took my eyes some time to adjust.

In what had to have been the first time since I was turned, I didn’t feel like my beast was thrashing against its cage trying to beat its way out. I felt like I had total control. I felt like I could finally take an unrestricted breath.

I looked down and expected to be covered in clothes or at the very least have them pooled around me. But, there was nothing. I looked up to Reid.

“I had a feeling.” He smiled and crossed his arms over his chest.

“What, that she could change with her clothes on?” Troy asked.

He nodded and said, “That, but mainly that Delaney doesn't play by any of the rules.”

I fell back into my human self. I swayed a little on my feet. Two quick changes left me a little breathless and dizzy. I felt a strong hand on my shoulder ground me. Shifting with my clothes on, as silly as it may seem, really could be the biggest key in killing Mitch. It very well might be my ace up my sleeve.

We spent the rest of the daylight helping Troy and making sure he had a good grasp on what we needed him to do. He really was picking this up remarkably quickly. I told him how impressed I was. He brushed the praise off, like I knew he would, but there was a hint of a glow from him.

He had fireballs pretty well handled. A drag queen who could shoot fireballs. I could only cackle at the absurdity of the situation. He was even deflecting attacks from both Monique and me. Troy’s brow was covered with a sheen of sweat and he looked to be flagging.

He held up a hand and waved it in submission.

“That’s it, bitches. I’m done!”

“You did really well, Troy,” Monique commented.

“And you didn’t need me to threaten someone this time!” I quipped. I gave him my best saccharin-sweet smile. To which he flipped me the bird. Then his smile faded and a puzzled look fell over his face.

"So, I have a question." Lord only knew what was about to come out of his mouth.

“Should we brace ourselves?” I asked before he could continue.

“Haha, funny. But really.” He looked at Monique and continued, “If the inner circle of the Coven is looking for Delaney and they had a good idea where she was, based on Reid, then why aren’t they here yet? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they aren’t the cherry on top of this shit storm. But, why aren’t they here?”