Shadows of the Past (16 page)

He paused before going back to his host’s body that was hidden in his car. Zack
watched as Dacia pulled into the parking lot with a sneer. He relished in her anger, and could hear her clipped words from where he waited.

“
I’m not going to just roll over and let that little snot steal Hayden right out from under me. I plan to step up my game and bring Hayden home tonight. She can eat her heart out.”

Zack slid into the car
and breathed himself into Dacia’s mouth to temporarily wrest control of her body. It would leave her tainted after he left her body.

His consciousness slipped into hers and took over.
From her body he had access to all of her memories and all of her emotions. It took him a moment to settle in and feel out her power. There was a lot, some unfamiliar magic, but she had most of the Air Fae abilities he had always favored. Now this woman would make a good host when he needed a new body.

Thankfully
, while he was in her body, he retained her skills because he didn’t think he would ever learn to walk in the outfit she had crammed herself into. The skirt was constrictive and the shoes were nightmarishly high. He made his way into the bar and tossed her hair over her shoulder.

Zack stopped beyond the door and took a look around. His gaze was pulled by
Dacia’s desire and possessiveness. Her eyes landed on Hayden. He couldn’t help smiling as he sauntered over and draped her arm around Hayden’s shoulder. Zack took stock of Dacia’s thoughts about the man.

“Hayden,”
Zack purred with her most seductive voice. “What are you doing tonight? You know, when you leave here?”

“Sleeping.
Alone,” he answered hastily and brushed her arm away, but he couldn’t take his eyes from Amethyst.

“Come on now, don’t you crave flesh of your own kind?”
he murmured against Hayden’s ear.

“Get over
yourself, I’m not interested.”

A colorful string of curses littered his head, all coming from a very pissed Dacia still locked in her own body but without the power to control
herself. He gleaned a few choice thoughts and snorted. “Oh, please don’t tell me you want that little cosplay tramp. She’s what? Twenty-something? She couldn’t possibly know how to please a man like you.”

Amethyst was in the process
of walking to Hayden when she heard that. Betrayal and rejection flashed through her eyes as she turned and walked to the bar. Her disappointment and humiliation was the sweetest treat.

The ground rumbled lightly and the light fixtures swayed as Hayden growled.
“What is your problem? You are notorious for going after men who don’t want you. So why do you keep it up? I have never once given you any inkling that I might be interested, and you just made her uncomfortable. What the fuck is your problem? I have never given you a single reason to think I would be yours.”

Dacia’s instinct to back away
was strong enough that Zack did just that as he practically screamed. “Really? Her? Is it because I’m only half-blood?”

“It’s because you are a ruthless cold bitch. Now leave me the fuck alone,” he snarled.

Zack stormed away. That hadn’t gone at all like Dacia assumed, but he had a better idea.

* * * *

Preston walked into In 2 Deep from the back entrance. He paused at the end of the hall as he watched Amethyst flirting with Hayden just seconds before Dacia went over to start shit.

God, that woman was infuriating. As much as he wished
Dacia could take Hayden off the market so Amethyst wouldn’t have to deal with the prick, he knew better. The way the man got all protective of her may have earned the bastard a little respect in Preston’s eyes.

He watched as Amethyst’s smile fell and that same look of rejection filled her glittering eyes before she walked to the bar and took a seat.
Hayden didn’t stop Amethyst and that respect dried up instantaneously.

Preston snapped out of it and started toward Amethyst. He only paused to plant a quick
kiss on Jamie’s mouth. He then glanced over at Amethyst who slumped onto a barstool and dropped her head onto her hand.

“I know you want to protect her from the big asshole sheriff, but Hayden’s not so bad. He’s not going to brush Amethyst off for Dacia.”

Preston’s attention snapped back to Jamie. “I don’t want to see her hurt. Can you see that bastard doing anything but hurting her?”

“Honestly? Yeah, I can.
Either way, you have to let her make that decision herself.”

“I know,” he groaned. He reminded himself that he was
happy with Jamie, and that he had no claim on Amethyst. Was that it? Was he jealous? Shit, he might just be, but he clung to his old excuses. “It’s just that I’ve known her forever, and the thought of her with that ogre pisses me off.”

Jamie
brow arched and there was a hint of amusement in her pale blue eyes. “Yeah, but don’t forget, she’s not a kid anymore. She won’t appreciate you telling her who she can and can’t see.”

He knew that. “Look at her
, she’s crushed. I need to say something to her. I know what that look means.”

Her eyes went wide as she watched him.
One brow arched as she looked up at him. He had never told her about that day Amethyst had nearly seduced him. How could he? No matter what he said he still looked like the world’s biggest dick.

“Good luck, but I think Hayden will manage to fix it as soon as he figures out what to say.”

* * * *

“Hook me up with that Cherry Crush, again.” Amethyst sighed as she took a seat at the bar.

Jess looked over at their table and frowned. “Don’t let her get to you. I guarantee Hayden is trying to get rid of her. He can’t stand her, trust me.”

“Not my concern
.” Amethyst shrugged, feeling stupid. Hayden wasn’t interested in Dacia, but watching her slither all over him made her second guess herself and what he really wanted with her.

Maybe she’d put him on a pedestal already, and thought more of him than he deserved. Dacia was right. How could she compare to the stunning woman who was on an even p
laying field with Hayden.

Dacia was absolutely gorgeous with all that thick, silky dark brown hair. Her eyes were like Onyx, even similar to Hayden
’s. She was tall, and perfectly built. Amethyst was too short, too curvy, and had purple freaking hair and eyes. She wasn’t what Hayden should be with.

“
Ame, why are you moping?” Preston asked from beside her. She hadn’t even noticed he was there.

She shook her head and didn’t bother to look. She felt just
like she had after she had thrown herself at Preston and he had turned her down. Amethyst didn’t want any more humiliation.

He sighed. “You really like that troll, don’t you?”

“He’s not a troll,” she muttered.

“May as well be if he doesn’t realize you’re every man’s fantasy.”

Jess slid a glass her way with wide eyes but quickly turned to make her way down the bar.

“That’s funny coming from you.”
Amethyst took a long drink of her sweet yet potent cocktail. “Look, I’m not in the mood to discuss my lack of love life with anyone, most especially you.”

“Excuse me,” the brunette bimbo’s voice was like nails on a chalkboard, all high and scratchy. Amethyst ignored her, wishing she would leave her alone so she cou
ld drink herself into oblivion.

Besides, if Hayden wanted her, he would be there right then, getting rid of Dacia and taking her home. Maybe watching her swim turned him on, but he was only interested in the taboo. That seemed likely the more she considered it.

Maybe he saw her as a kid sister, just like Preston and Tomahawk. Oh, that hurt, her chest ached but she refused to cry. Maybe she’d move on down to Clint and ask him to dance. She could get lost in a little affection, and she was pretty sure Clint would comply.

“I said
, excuse me.” Dacia spun her chair and leaned down in her face. “What the fuck are you? What is with this hideous hair?” She motioned at Amethyst’s head.

Amethyst sighed and gave her full eye contact
. Bullies couldn’t rile her because she’d heard it all before. “Hi, Dacia. I don’t know what your problem is, nor do I care. By the way, I’m Amethyst, and my hair is real.”

“Was your mother a pixie?” she snorted.

Preston sighed. “Dacia, just leave Amethyst alone. She’s sitting here, minding her own business.”

Amethyst shot him a glare before turning back to Dacia with a sweet smile.
“No, I’m a nymph, and I can’t do much about the hair. I’ve tried. Unfortunately, I’m stuck with it.”

“I could get a bottle of bleach,” she snickered.

Amethyst snorted. “Been there, tried that, and still, I have purple hair. If you don’t like it, don’t look at it. But get out of my face before I get you out of it.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

She could feel the charge in the air and knew Dacia was an air fae, though her magic felt intertwined with witch magic, and something darker but familiar. Amethyst was willing to bet that Dacia would be insanely fast, but everyone underestimated Amethyst.

She pulled her arm back and punched Dacia square in the nose. There was a crunch
, and Dacia stumbled back.

Preston grinned. “That was a nice right hook.”

Amethyst rolled her eyes before turning back around.

Jess handed her
another drink. “This one is on me.”

“I should probably just go home,”
Amethyst muttered.

“Fucking bitch,”
Dacia roared and spun her back around. “You broke my fucking nose.” Then she grabbed Amethyst’s hair.

Amethyst
punched her again, in the same place and stood up.

“I don’t want to play games. I don’t know what your problem is
, but I want no part in it.”

“He’ll be mine, if you just leave
him
alone,” she snarled, picking herself off the ground as she held her face.

“Who?” she hoped playing dumb might work. There were plenty of men in the bar that had already showed her interest.

“You know who, or are you that stupid?”

“
Why would I know?” She managed a calm tone, but she was getting really pissed off, and mostly at herself because the longer this conversation went on, the more ridiculous she felt.

“Hey, Dacia, you’re causing a scene.” Hayden didn’t touch either of them, just glared at Dacia.

“Arrest her. The little cunt broke my nose.” Dacia scowled at her.

Hayden
growled, “You were in her face, and you know I won’t arrest her.”

Dacia launched herself at Amethyst, knocking her into the bar and
slammed her fist in her side in quick succession.

That hurt, but Amethyst dug her nails into
Dacia’s face when she tried to bite her. Her hand nearly froze at the contact.

What in the
Abyss was that?

Brody grabbed Dacia by one arm and
her hair. A growl rumbled deep in his chest. “Let her go, or Fallon is going to come beat the shit out of you. You know she will.”

“Or I will,” Preston butted in.

“Because this little pixie can’t defend herself?” Dacia snarled, trying to twist free, but Amethyst saw a shadow slither across Dacia’s face.

Didn
’t matter, she wasn’t going to let Fallon, Preston, or anyone else defend her, because she was perfectly capable of fighting her own battles, and she wasn’t playing games anymore. Amethyst shoved her back with all her might, and sent both Brody and Dacia stumbling.

Dacia landed on her ass, again. Amethyst moved as fast as she could
, and dropped to her knees on the woman’s chest to knock the wind from her. Wrapping her hands in Dacia’s hair, Amethyst slammed her head into the ground hard enough to leave her unconscious.

A black mist floated from Dacia’s still form
. Amethyst thought she imagined the way it tried to wrap around her before it changed directions and flew across the room and through the ceiling.

“Sorry
, Brody,” she mumbled as she looked up at him. She managed to get to her feet, but man, she was dizzy. “I just needed to prove that I don’t need to be protected. You were just in the way.” The room seemed to slide to the side and she grabbed onto her stool.

“No apology needed
, Ame. By the way, I’m impressed, but are you okay, sweetie?” he asked as she climbed back into her seat.

“Yeah,” her smile was weak as she turned around to finish of
f her drink. She closed her tab. Her side was really hurting, and gray spots danced through her vision.

Hayden leaned in beside her with one hand on the back of her seat and the other on the bar.
“Can I drive you home?” He was clearly concerned. She didn’t blame him but it was really depressing.