Witches Be Burned: A Magic & Mayhem Novel (3 page)

Haven snorted a laugh. “Apparently not.”

Nexi sighed, cooling the irritation inside. Anger would get her nowhere with Kyden, and would only put him on alert. “That caveman needs to get some sense smacked into him.”

Haven gave a leveled look. “He’s just worried about you.”

“I get that—and appreciate it,” Nexi replied with a bit of bite. “But being worried and shielding me completely are two totally different things.”

Sadness reached Haven’s eyes, leaving Nexi wondering if her soul-sister agreed with Kyden. Maybe Haven wanted Nexi away from the danger as well. It’s not that Nexi didn’t understand why Kyden’s macho behavior had increased this past month, because, well, she did.

While Kyden had a typical upbringing in his supernatural life, Nexi’s life had more of a dramatic flair. Twenty-five years ago, the power-hungry vampire, Lazarus, wanted to return Earth to the time when vampires were hunters instead of feeding off bagged blood or willing humans. To do this, he killed Nexi’s birth mother, Tillie, for the power within her blood—a task only obtained by drinking a witch to death. A large portion, or even half, of a witch’s blood wouldn’t have any effect, but to drain a witch to her last breath resulted in a transfer of powers.

When the power wasn’t enough for him to succeed in his takeover of the Council to rule the Otherworld, he went into hiding to avoid being hunted by the Council for his crimes. It was at that time that Nexi’s birth father, Drake, sent her into the Earthworld to live among humans for protection.

Then Lazarus devised his plan to return for Nexi to steal her unique power.

He and his pack of werewolves almost killed Nexi and Kyden in the process.

Yet there was one thing Lazarus never counted on:
Nexi.

He certainly didn’t see it coming when she ended his life—since her magic, as both guardian and witch, proved stronger than the vampire jacked up on Tillie’s magic.

She sighed at her thoughts and added to Haven, “I get that Kyden’s…
sensitive…
about it all, but he needs to stop protecting me.” Since that night with Lazarus, she hadn’t looked back. Of course, Kyden wasn’t seeing eye-to-eye with her on that point. With her witch magic now centered in soul, and with six months of guardian fighting behind her, she’d never been stronger—something that Kyden was choosing to ignore, and the reason why he hadn’t taken her out on an assignment yet.

Haven placed a comforting hand on Nexi’s arm and a dose of balmy love seeped into the bond. “Perhaps the problem is you’re both just guardians who want to protect what they feel is most important to them.”

Nexi pondered the thought and realized that Haven wasn’t wrong—Nexi felt obligated now to protect innocent lives. Kyden, while holding the same type of duty, likely wanted only to protect her. Maybe that was the problem in itself—was it too much to ask to have Kyden’s support of her and her capabilities as a warrior? “Perhaps,” she agreed, when a sudden meow snapped her head down. A familiar furry face looked up to her. “Not you again,” she muttered.

Twice now, the black fluffy kitten with the orange-tipped tail had found her in the Earthworld. Both times had been when Nexi went shopping. She began to think the kitty was following her.

Another loud—very impatient—meow had Nexi picking her up. She stared into the kitten’s bright green eyes. “Why won’t you leave me alone?” The kitten purred as Nexi scratched under the kitten’s chin. “And how in the hell are you able to find me all the time?”

Each time the kitten showed up Nexi had been in different cities. She wondered if the magical energy she sensed oozing from the kitten had something to do with it. Maybe she was a werecat with tracking abilities, but that didn’t explain why the kitten kept wanting to find
her.

“No wonder she won’t leave you alone,” Haven said, patting the kitten on the head. “She’s a familiar.”

Nexi scrunched her nose, never having heard that term before, but not surprised she hadn’t, either. Until six months ago she never knew supernaturals were real and weren’t just characters in scary stories told to children around a campfire.

She’d parted her lips to ask more about the familiar when the front door of the house opened, revealing her luscious, sexy guardian—all male and muscles. Dressed in the guardian gear of a brown leather kilt and scabbard across his bare chest, her heart fluttered in the way it always did when he drew near. The raw heat between them called her forward.

Intent not to lose her chance to join the assignment, she placed the kitten in Haven’s arms. “Take her home for me, ’kay? She is clearly
never
going to leave me alone, so I better accept she’s mine. I’ll come get her later.”

Haven’s eyes widened, a sense of horror roaring through their bond. “But if you bring her into the Otherworld, that means you’re keeping her, and if you leave her, she’ll—”

“I’ll be back soon. Promise.” Nexi dropped a peck on Haven’s cheek, then spun on her heels and ran—her sword banging on her back with each step as she made it across the street.

The vampire standing on the porch with Kyden noticed Nexi first. She’d never met him before, but that wasn’t a shock, either. The Council’s Guard was made up of hundreds of supernaturals. Though she recognized the tracker next to the vampire: Alazar. They’d worked together when they were hunting down Lazarus.

Kyden still hadn’t spotted her and said to the vampire, “I’ll get in touch if anything develops and I need you further on this case.”

The vampire nodded, taking his cellphone out from his pocket and then striding down the street, presumably to call in the murder to the human police so they could arrive and process the crime in the mortal way.

Arms crossed, and with a glare firmly fixed on her face, Nexi said, “
We.
You do mean if
we
need him on the case, right?”

Kyden stiffened before he turned around. His light brown hair hung messily over his forehead, and his tanned skin gleamed under the light coming from the porch light. Standing a good two heads above her, he pressed all her
on
buttons. This man was gorgeous—perhaps not classically beautiful, but rougher and edgier. Honed cheekbones, perfect lips, squared chin, he had that charm that bedazzled women. His light emerald eyes that always sent heat through her blazed in a way that might scare a weaker guardian. “
You
don’t need to be here. Go home.”

“Wow. Aren’t I the luckiest gal in the world?” she retorted with a loud snort. “You are such a romantic.”

Alazar laughed.

Kyden didn’t.

His frown was fierce as he crossed his arms over his squared chest. Nexi boldly inspected his delicious high pecs, noting how she wouldn’t mind tracing her tongue over them. She slowly lifted her eyes when he added in a steely voice, “We’ve got this handled. There is no reason for
you
to be here.” One determined brow lifted. “Besides, as the Elite Guardian, it is in my right to force you to go home.”

Nexi sighed, refusing to lose the staring contest. This
issue
between them wouldn’t go away. She knew that, and she also knew she had to lay the smack down soon. Yes, only three months had passed since Lazarus had nearly killed them, but enough was enough. If the Council thought she was ready to return to her job, then she was.

’Nuff said.

Ignoring Kyden’s dismay, she turned to Alazar. “What do we have?”

“Newly made vampire gone rogue,” Alazar replied, glancing between her and Kyden.

She responded to his clear unease with a smirk. “Well, now, don’t you know, rogue vampires are my specialty.”

A specialty she suspected Kyden wished she didn’t have. He might want her safe and protected in the Otherworld, but she needed a damn purpose to keep moving forward. Most of all, she needed to stop thinking of everyone she lost at the hands of an evil vampire and wishing she could somehow bring them back.

Six months ago, after her mortal family had been murdered, she’d left her human life behind to work for the Council’s Guard—which was fine and she accepted it. But Kyden needed to accept it, too.

“Are we going, then?” Alazar asked tightly, staring solely at the guardian in front of Nexi, exuding irritation.

She’d had enough of Kyden’s protectiveness. “Which way?” Alazar pointed to the left, and Nexi started walking. “See, this is us going.”

Kyden cursed.

She held back her chuckle and then embraced the silence that fell between them as they strode along Salt Lake City’s dark and dreary streets. Alazar eventually punched forward, leading the way, still in human form, sniffing the air. The only time a werewolf tracker shifted into his fur was when the scent was weak. Since Alazar hadn’t, that meant there was a good chance they’d find this vampire.

This part of the city was likely full of activity during daylight hours, but being two in the morning, the roads were almost empty, with only a few cars passing. Nexi decided then and there that she preferred the quiet. It meant innocent humans were safe. Though if a mortal were to pass by them right now, the human’s eye wouldn’t see the leather kilts and swords on their backs, they’d see typical earthly clothes. Only supernaturals saw their true forms due to a magical glamour placed on their clothing.

With each and every step, she shoved the rest of the annoyance away. Kyden might object to her being there, but he wasn’t stopping it, either. And she knew part of his objection was because she was so
new
to his world. She
had been
living as a human just a short time ago. Nexi had already had one vampire targeting her because of her uniqueness and the rich power in her blood. And it was more than likely she’d probably have to face that all over again.

Alazar darted down a few more streets before he finally stopped. He pointed to a building on his right. “The vamp’s scent is strong in there. I suspect he’s inside.”

Nexi looked at the Starbucks that had been long closed for the night. “He’s inside the coffee shop?”

“I believe so.” Alazar angled his head back and took a deep sniff of the dry air. “But I suspect that”—he looked to the sidewalk—“he’s in a basement. His scent is beneath us.”

Kyden groaned.

Nexi understood completely—if they entered the building, the alarms would sound. Mortal cops getting into the mix of a vampire in the throes of bloodlust was bad news.

“He must’ve gotten in somehow without setting off the security system,” Kyden said, voice tight, indicating that his annoyance at Nexi remained. “Let’s find out where and go in the same way.”

“Awesome plan,” Nexi said, disregarding Kyden’s gruffness. She wouldn’t tiptoe around this problem anymore.

Kyden’s long-suffering sigh slid through the dark night.

Alazar’s mouth twitched, clearly hiding his smile. “Call me if you need anything.” He retreated down the street in the opposite direction.

Nexi turned to Kyden and grinned, eyeing her sexy beast of a man, spotting the flares of irritation in his bedroom eyes. She knew he wasn’t angry with her but was fearful of losing her. Her heart warmed, of course it did, but even if their love was strong and solid, that didn’t mean she wouldn’t do her job.

“Ready?” she asked.

“I’m not sure how I can manage to both love and hate your willfulness, but that seems to be the case.” Kyden’s mouth flattened. “Let’s go.”

She blew him a kiss for that one.

Leading the way, he headed around the coffee shop and Nexi stayed right at his side. She couldn’t see any doors ajar. Nothing stood out to her as an entrance point. Moving farther toward the back of the building, Kyden approached the alleyway, and the stench of death hit tenfold.

He grunted. “It appears we’ll have more victims.”

“Unless there is a morgue nearby, I’m guessing you’re right.” She breathed shallowly to avoid the pungent aroma, scanning the back alleyway with the large garbage cans. A small parking lot was to her left, but the area was too dark to spot any threats. Not being able to see their killer left them in a precarious position and at a great disadvantage. Unease traveled through her, but she shoved the insecurity away.

Kyden cautiously stepped deeper into the alleyway before he squatted, dragging his finger across the ground. That’s when she noticed black liquid shining along the pavement. When he raised his finger, blood dripped off the tip, and he shook his head. “This vamp is reckless, messy.”

She didn’t argue with that, focusing on the trail of blood. Only a few steps forward, she discovered a small broken window located at the back of the coffee shop. Now it was her turn to grunt. “I’ll never begin to understand why vampires don’t just use the damn door like regular people.”

Kyden nodded in agreement. “In we go?”

“After you, my gallant hero.” She waved her hand for him to precede her.

He rolled his eyes at her dramatics before he knelt in front of the window, brushing away the remaining blood-covered glass shards. Then he angled his shoulders, placing one in first, and then eased the other through the small space before dropping down onto the basement floor.

“Come on,” he said, calling her forward.

Helping Nexi through the window, he gently pulled her down onto the concrete floor and her nipples puckered as she slid down his chest. He groaned. “Another reason for you not to join me on assignments. It’s…
distracting.
”

“Hey!” she blasted back, understanding the heat blazing in his features. His touch always ignited a similar burn. “It’s not my fault. Blame whatever idiot decided that female guardians should be half naked.”

“Now, that”—Kyden pressed her tight against him, revealing his tempting erection—“is not something I’ll ever complain about.”

Just as she allowed his heat to consume her, a low growl spun her around, and a loud splatter hit the wall in nearly the same second. A dull bulb glowed, giving off a little light at the back of the basement. The wretched metallic scent of blood and death became overwhelming.

Then she saw something that at one time in her life would have horrified her.

Near the boxes of coffee supplies the vampire sat, hidden within the shadows. The light in the room silhouetted him, and Nexi didn’t wait—she approached, with Kyden one step ahead of her. When her vision adjusted to the darkness, her fists clenched and heady adrenaline spiked her heart rate.