HunterUndone Page 13

  “I need to see her, Ty. She has a spell recipe that induces visions and lets me control them, to a point.”

  His jaw tightened as he set her back. “What’s the side effect?” His large, muscular arms crossed over his chest, and one brow went straight up toward his hairline. “If there wasn’t a dangerous side effect, you would have mentioned this hours ago.”

  Not only did it require asking Phoenix for a favor that would torture Shay somehow, the spell wasn’t fool proof. Visions didn’t like to be tampered with, and there was a good chance that in the end, she’d be drugged and see nothing but weird dreams that wouldn’t help them at all.

  Too tired to lie or downplay it, when this was their only option at the moment, she told him the truth. “What looks and feels like a vision could turn out to be nothing more than just a vivid dream, and we’ll end up chasing shadows.”

  Grabbing her hand, he linked their fingers. Pulling her over to Ivy’s neatly made bed, he settled her next to him as he sat. “Have you used this spell before?”

  His dark blue eyes blazed into hers, daring her to lie to him. She shook her head.

  “No. I don’t ask Phoenix for favors, and I’ve never had reason to try to force a vision.” Shifting on the bed until she was facing him, she searched his face. “I have to do this, Ty. I have to try. She’s Ivy.”

  A low growling sound rumbled in his chest as he wrapped his arms around her again. “Deacon and I have some leads, but not enough to narrow anything down yet. And as much as my gut tells me not to let you do this— “

  She managed a small snort. “I wasn’t exactly asking.”

  He continued without pausing. “It might help us figure out where this fucker is.”

  Loud pounding started at the front door. Shay was up and moving before Tyler could stop her, but a second before she got to the door, Deacon caught her off her feet.

  “Let Tyler answer it,” he murmured.

  She very nearly kicked him, just for the hell of it. This was her house, damn it.

  Tyler cracked the door, and a voice she’d never heard before snapped out.

  “You asshole.” A sledgehammer-sized fist shot through the narrow entrance and slammed into Tyler’s jaw. “I’ll kill you.”

  “Ah, fuck.” Deacon set her on her feet and pushed her toward Garret before stalking to the door and throwing it open. Without a word, he grabbed the man by the throat and hauled him in, throwing him up against the wall next to the door. “Who the fuck are you?”

  “Let him go, Deke.” Rubbing his jaw, Tyler shut the door and laid his other hand on Deacon’s shoulder. “This is my partner, Leith. Leith, this Deke, the police chief.”

  Shay could only gape. While Tyler was tall and built like a Spartan, Deacon had him beat through the shoulders. Still, neither of them came near the sheer size of Leith. With the sleeves of his gray plaid flannel rolled up, she could just see the tattoos covering his forearms and hands. His dark hair hung to his shoulders she was surprised fit through her doorway, but it was the light blue eyes as much as it was the pale scar on his face that at once mesmerized and made her wary. While the scar added a sense of mystery, it was the coldness in the eyes that sent shivers through her bloodstream.

  When those eyes scanned her living room, locking on hers for the briefest instant, she was glad Tyler was close by. This dude screamed trouble.

  As quickly as he’d focused on her, she was dismissed, and his gaze narrowed on Tyler. “Tell me you have a lead on Malia, before I give in to the urge and peel your face off your skull.”

  Despite the bored look on Tyler’s face, Shay was certain Leith had the strength to do exactly what he’d threatened. Moving past Garret, she lifted Tyler’s arm and tucked herself under it before glaring at the newcomer.

  “You can try,” she snapped, “but I come from a long line of black magic gypsies. I promise you’ll live the rest of your life as a cockroach if you even lift another finger toward him.” When everyone gaped down at her, she shrugged, not at all feeling bad about the bluff. She may not have the power to turn him into a roach, but she had more than enough ingredients in her possession to make his dick shrivel up and stop working. “Now, if we’re done, I was just telling Tyler I have a way we might be able to find Malia and Ivy.”

  Tyler’s frown was black as he growled down at her. “I told you, you’re not doing it.”

  She shrugged. “And I told you, we don’t have a choice.”

  Not liking herself for what she was about to do, she took a deep breath and turned to face Deacon and Leith, filling them in on her plan to go to Phoenix. She prayed to the goddesses that Tyler would forgive her.

  When she was done, Leith just stared at her with that calculating expression, while Deacon whistled under his breath. “That’s a hell of a risk, Shay.”

  Snorting, Tyler let her go and started a slow prowl around the room. “It’s more than that. I can feel it. It’s wrong.”

  “I don’t disagree,” she murmured, her gaze flickering between all four men in the room. With Ivy missing, she wasn’t about to leave Garret out of the planning, or who knew what the hell he’d do. “But it’s not that big of a risk. If it doesn’t work, we won’t have lost anything except time.”

  Garret spoke up, his freckled face pale with stress. “What will Phoenix ask for the spell and ingredients?”

  Damn it. She’d been hoping no one would ask that. Blowing out a breath, she struggled to keep her body from tightening and giving herself away. “A favor. Whatever it is, it will be worth paying if it finds Ivy and Malia.”

  Leith surprised her by nodding. “I agree with her. Whatever the favor is, we can all pitch in and find a way to repay it. We need to at least try.”

  “I agree, too,” Deacon said. At Tyler’s savage growl, Deacon shrugged, every line of his body heavy with exhaustion. “We’re coming up with nothing from computer searches, police files, and background checks. One of us can run to the courthouse to get property reports and shit like that, but we can’t do any of that until morning. This way, at least we’re doing something.”

  While Shay knew this was the best option, she hated feeling like they were ganging up on Tyler. Without saying anything to any of them, she moved in front of Tyler, stopping him mid-prowl. His scowl was borderline savage, but she wrapped her arms around him anyway and just held on.

  “Come with me,” she said softly. “I’ll feel better if you’re with me.”

  His arms came around her with so much force she nearly couldn’t breathe. “Like you could stop me at the moment, gypsy.” Leaning down, he pressed his brow to hers, that madness swirling in his eyes closer to the surface than she’d ever seen it. He was fighting his own instincts, and it almost hurt to watch, because she knew it was because of her. His thumb brushed over her cheek, and he sighed. “You’re not allowed out of my sight until this fuckhead is dead. So until that happens, consider me glued to that sexy ass, Shay. I’m not going anywhere.”

  CHAPTER 18

  As Shay stood on the stoop of Phoenix’s trailer for the second time that day, she unlinked her fingers from Tyler’s and concentrated on securing her mental walls. It was something she’d been doing all of her life, because with a family like hers, she couldn’t afford any kind of vulnerability. They were psychic predators, preying on weaknesses, and she’d learned very early on the only way to survive was to never let them inside her head.

  While Phoenix wasn’t as savage in her quest for power as Raven, her grandmother wasn’t quite…normal. Underneath her harshness and secrets and flamboyancy, there were moments of genuine empathy and insight, causing Shay to wonder more than once what had caused her to become so hardened—or if she really had been born that way.

  Tyler’s strong hands on her shoulders pulled her out of her thoughts. Her heart stuttered—then expanded—at the banked fury burning in his bright eyes. Beneath the temper was soul-screaming worry. For her.

  Her eyes searched hi
s, and suddenly, she knew. Despite the miles of differences between them, despite the hurdles and obstacles, and despite everything barreling down at them in that moment, she’d never been more sure of her own safety. Nothing was going to get passed him to harm her, ever again.

  He growled low, his fingers tightening on her shoulders. “Tell me again why I’m letting you do this?”

  Not even sure if he realized he’d hauled her so close her whole body bumped up against his, she tilted her head all the way back. Releasing her tension was easier than anything she’d ever done, because it was replaced with absolute, complete trust. “Because it’s our best hope to find them.”

  “Not good enough.” Gruff frustration raked over his already graveled voice. “Not with you in danger.”

  She went up on her toes as his head lowered, their brows pressed together. “I’m not in danger. It’s just a dream.”

  A sigh escaped him, ruffling the hair that had escaped her headband. “Until Phoenix decides the price is your unborn baby.” A dark scowl had his brows pulling down. “That’s it. I’m reserving the right to pull the plug on this if her price is too high.”

  “You know what?” Pulling back a little, she kissed his chin. “I really, really like you.”

  He wrapped his hand around her hair and tugged her head back to brush his lips over hers, while his other fist reached over her shoulder to pound on the door. “Yeah, well, I like you, too. So please don’t make me regret this.”

  As usual, Phoenix took her time getting to the door. Nothing and no one had ever been deemed important enough for Shay’s grandmother to rush. But despite it being after dinner, she answered the door looking as immaculate as always. Her pristine white dress fit perfectly against her tall, slender frame, while her raven-black curls waved seamlessly to her bottom. Tasteful makeup only enhanced her aging beauty, while striking violet eyes missed nothing.

  Phoenix Evernight was nothing if not beautiful.

  “Ah.” Lifting her manicured hand, Phoenix tapped blood-red tipped nails against the doorframe of her Airstream, disdain in her eyes as she skimmed her gaze over Shay. “I was wondering when you would get here. It took you long enough.”

  It had been years since Shay had engaged Phoenix in an argument, but it never stopped her grandmother from trying to cut her off at the knees. It was always in the same vein—Shay wasn’t good enough. She certainly wasn’t good enough to possess the abilities Phoenix claimed to have.

  “Good.” Shay forced a smile. “Then you know why we’re here.”

  “Not really.” She sighed, her gaze shifting to Tyler. In an instant the disdain bled out of her eyes, replaced with calculating appraisal. She smiled and stepped back, allowing them to enter. “You must be the hunter I’ve heard about. Come in.”

  Tyler didn’t say anything as she closed the metal door behind them, but his hand curved around Shay’s hip, fingers digging in as if determined to leave his mark on her. When Shay tilted her head back to look up at him, though, that rugged face remained cool and impassive, almost bored.

  A smile curved her lips. It didn’t matter how much they tried to keep their emotion from her, Phoenix wouldn’t be satisfied until she broke them.

  “So.” Crossing the small room, Phoenix settled herself on the couch, stretching her arm out and patting the seat behind her. “Why don’t you come sit by me, Mr. Wade, and tell me about yourself.”

  Tyler didn’t move. “I’m good here. We need a spell.”

  She waved that away with an elegant hand. “Tsk. Shay knows I don’t do business before bed.”

  Shay managed to choke back the snort. She knew no such thing. As long as the price was right, Phoenix would sell her soul to the devil in a dream.

  “Grandmother, we don’t have time for games.” She looked up at Tyler, her fingers brushing over his still digging in to her hip, before she moved over to sit on the other end of the couch. “I need a spell to induce visions.”

  “Why?”

  Shay canted her head. “Does it matter? Just tell me what you want for it, and I can be on my way.”

  Phoenix tapped her nails against the back of the couch, studying Shay for a long moment. Finally, she uncurled herself from the couch and walked toward the curtained-off bedroom.

  Shay didn’t relax by so much as a millimeter with her out of sight. She could feel the attack on her mental walls, and while she didn’t think Phoenix had that kind of power, whoever did was close by. Which was pretty much all of her traditional family, none of whom she wanted in her head.

  Despite the worry gnawing at her heart, she kept all thoughts of Ivy and Malia out of her mind’s eye and focused on nothing but Phoenix’s trailer. She could feel Tyler’s unwavering gaze on her face, and just that dark intensity felt like a lifeline she’d never experienced before. When this was all over, she was going to owe him everything.

  She just hoped whatever price Phoenix was going to exact from her wouldn’t destroy them both.

  ***

  After thirty seconds of waiting, Tyler was ready to roar in frustration. After three minutes, he was ready to tear the goddamn trailer apart at the seams and find the fucking spell himself.

  Now that he thought about it, that didn’t sound like a bad idea. He was already working on a way to get Shay and her bat-shit crazy grandmother out of there so he could search when the old woman finally stepped out of her bedroom.

  His stomach almost revolted at the sight of her. She looked younger, prettier. He’d been around enough glamour spells in his life to recognize the magic when he saw it, and it pissed him all kinds of the fuck off that she was using it against Shay, because he had no doubt it was strictly for his benefit.

  Like there was some kind of magnetic pull between them, his gaze went back to Shay for the tenth time that minute, and his frown deepened. She sat so still, her hands folded in her lap, that she could have been made out of stone if it wasn’t for the subtle rising and falling of her breasts. Her whiskey eyes gave away nothing. She so amazed him, pride nearly cracked his chest open.

  Phoenix sent him a sly smile before settling on the couch again. Her artificially violet gaze immediate cooled when it landed on Shay. “The spell is exact. Do not try to shorten words or use contractions.”

  The knuckles on Shay’s hands went white.

  “I know how to cast a spell.” When Phoenix nodded and held out the small piece of yellowed parchment, Shay didn’t move to take it. “What’s your price?”

  “I want a drop of your blood.”

  Tyler jerked as if he’d been shot, the growl already forming in his chest, but Shay didn’t so much as flinch. “That’s it?”

  Fuck, no. “Shay— “

  She cut him off with a quick shake of her head, her focus never wavering from her grandmother. “I want your word that this spell is intact, and that it will give me the information I request from it.”

  “Of course.”

  Shay shook her head. “Not good enough. I want the words. And then, if the spell does what you say, we’ll do the magic reversal. Not before.”

  “Shay.” He pushed his hand through his hair and stalked forward, grabbing her arm. “We need to talk.”

  Phoenix ignored him. “You have my word.” With a thin smile, she held the parchment out. “You’re welcome to do the spell here.”

  “No. Thank you.” Shay stood. “You’ll have my blood after I’ve done the ritual.”

  “Agreed.”

  And that was it. Without a goodbye or anything, Shay slipped passed him and out the door, grabbing his hand on her way to pull him with her.

  Too stunned to speak, they were back in Shay’s driveway before he finally found his voice. “You are not giving that crazy-ass piece of work your blood, Shay.”

  “Yes. I am.” She popped open her door and slid out of his truck, the spell clutched in her hand. “One drop is more than worth it if we find Malia and Ivy.”

  “If,” he snap
ped as he climbed out and rounded the hood. “If we find them with it.”

  Her free hand wrapped around his as Leith pulled open the front door, looking like an inked up, psychopathic version of the Jolly Green Giant. “Well?”

  Shay nodded. “We’ve got it.”

  “Great. The price?”

  She shrugged, heading for her bedroom. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

  When Leith lifted a brow at him, Tyler snarled. “Do me a favor. Get me a fucking list of all the spells a single drop of blood can be used for.”

  For once, the big man didn’t argue. While Garret prowled the small space of the living room, Deacon sat on the couch, arms braced on his spread thighs as he tapped impatiently at his phone. Tyler followed Shay to her room and leaned against the door frame as he watched her.

  She spread an altar cloth on the hardwood floor, before placing fat blue candles in methodical intervals around it. When she was done, she sat cross-legged in the middle of the circle, the spell on her lap. She took her time studying it, before nodding and glancing over at Tyler.

  “You’re growling,” she murmured.

  “Can’t help it.” Straightening, he crouched in front of her, outside the consecrated circle, and reached out to grab her chin. Everything inside of him was pounding viciously, as if in protest of what he was allowing her to do. “Remember that conversation where I said I really like you?”

  Her tongue darted out to lick her bottom lip, as whatever she saw in his eyes caused her breath to catch. She nodded slowly before going up on her knees and leaning toward him, just slightly.

  “I remember,” she whispered.

  Slipping his hand under her hair, he wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck and pulled her brow to his. Even to his own ears his voice sounded raw, and he was closer to begging than he’d ever been in his life. “Good. Then remember it when you do this, that you’re going someplace I can’t follow, and I fucking hate it. I’ll be really goddamn pissed if something happens to you. So, protect yourself, damn it.”