Sweet Evangeline (Moon Magic Book 2) (12 page)

“Maybe the witch was just too tempting.”

“I want her. She has a power that I don’t have in my collection.”

“Weather.” Black Eddie smiled.

“Yes, I need a storm magnet, a lightning rod.” Maurice Duvalier’s mind raced. What he could do with power like that.

“Listen to me, Frenchman, I have a plan.”

* * * *

Aimee held Zak’s hand. “It’s too dangerous. I can’t let you risk yourself like that.”

“But I know where she is.” Zak insisted. “Clark’s shallow mind was easy to crack.”

“If I can get to Evangeline, she can get to your mother. You know I can’t go to New Orleans, there are too many eyes, but Austin is a different story. With Clark out of the way, the field is wide open. I can do this. Black Eddie doesn’t understand what I know, what I can do. I don’t know how you have done it, Aimee, but you have built a hedge around me. Your love has protected me. I never knew my own mother, but I can’t imagine her loving me more than you do.”

“I do love you, sweet boy. There’s a bond between us, I don’t understand it. Maybe, one day we will know why our hearts and lives are entwined the way they are, but for now—we work as one.” Aimee was so tired. She was weak. They kept both of them on short rations, anything to tamp down their powers and keep them controllable. But they had underestimated her Zak. Big time.

Zak continued, “They only value me for my ability to spot the casino winners and to know which slot machines are about to pay off. They have no idea what I’m capable of. They don’t know I can leave this place any time I get ready. They don’t know I can slide through time and space.” He knelt close to the woman who had become his family.

“And we don’t want them to know. Rest, now. Give me time to think.” Aimee spoke solemnly.

* * * *

Before the family left, Eric took Nanette out into the hall. “I don’t want her to be by herself. The summer session is over, so she won’t have to go to class. If only I didn’t have to work for a damn living.” Eric was frustrated, wanting to be in two places at one time.

“Settle down, son.” Nanette calmed him. “Angelique and I will come back. There is plenty of room and Phillipe will be here tomorrow. We’ll help you watch out for her.”

“I want to stay, too—when I’m not on duty.” Eric watched the older woman’s face to see how she would react. What he was saying was,
‘
I intend to sleep with your granddaughter.’

“Don’t worry, baby. I want you in her bed. You’re a bodyguard extraordinaire.”

“Thanks, Nanette. I knew you’d understand. I can’t leave her.”

“She wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Convinced that Evangeline was going to be fine, the family dissipated. When they were finally alone, Eric didn’t just stand by her or sit on the bed. He climbed in next to her. “We need a bigger bed,” he fussed in jest. Evangeline scooted over to give him room, almost going over the side. “Come back here,” he caught her before she fell onto the floor. Being mindful of her IV, Eric scooped her up and slid under her, so that he was lying on the bed and she was nestled on top of him.

Immediately, she sighed, “Oh, this is much better. I can’t imagine the nurses will approve.”

“They’ll just have to deal with it.” He hugged her close. “Are you in pain?”

“Not much, I’m just really sore and my head is sort of achy. But being in your arms makes everything all right.”

Eric rubbed his hand over her soft hair, over and over. “I heard you call me and I came as fast as I could.”

His touch was soothing and comforting; Evangeline closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his chest. “I cried out for you when I was being attacked.” Evangeline remembered how scared she was. “I didn’t say it out loud, I cried for you in my head.” Eric caressed her face, tracing her brow, her nose, her lips.

“Babe, what happened? Did you have any idea he wanted to hurt you?”

“No. Clark was always quiet. He was on the soccer team. He had asked me out a couple of times and invited me to parties at his house. He was very popular; I was never suspicious of him.”

“Tell me how it happened.” His hands continued their exploration of her body, as if he needed assurance that all was well.

“I thought everyone was gone. When I was cleaning up my station, he grabbed me and held me down.” Eric’s arms tightened around her. “He said that he had seen the bronzes and he hadn’t realized I was such a slut. He told me if I had needed a man that bad, why didn’t I just come to him. He said he knew exactly what I was.”

“I should have never let you walk to class alone.”

“Stop it,” she put a finger over his lips. “We didn’t know. I’ve walked back and forth to class alone a hundred times. This is not your fault, besides, there has to be more to it than just sex. I’m just not that attractive.”

“Not attractive, my ass. You’re incredibly sexy, lusciously hot, and down-right spectacular looking.” Eric appeared ready to argue the point.

“Yea, you would say that,” she assured him. “You’re still under my spell.”

Gently, he pulled her up till he could reach her lips. “Forever. I want to be under your spell forever.” Their lips met in the lightest, sweetest of kisses. He was so very careful of her; she was sore and still badly bruised. She, on the other hand, had other ideas.

A slight whimper escaped her throat. Holding his face with both hands, she deepened the kiss. Her tongue rubbed against his. She toyed with his lips, nibbling with her teeth.

He held himself back, letting her take what she needed. He was willing to wait; she was way too fragile for his passion. “Eric,” she grumbled. “Kiss me back.”

“No, witch.” He laughed at her consternation. “There’ll be plenty of time for that when you’re feeling better.”

“But I need you now. Just a little.” She pleaded. “For a few seconds, before I blacked out, I thought I was going to die. When he kicked me in the head, I was sure that was just the first—all I could think about was you. I wouldn’t miss breathing. I wouldn’t miss walking and talking. I wouldn’t miss this world or living in it. What I would miss is you. You were my very last thought. You.” Tears were flowing down her cheeks and he caught each one of them with his lips.

“Don’t cry baby. Don’t cry.” Giving her what she needed, he captured her lips, feasting on them, telling her with his kiss that his life began the moment he first saw her.

“That’s better. Thank you.” Eric kissed her on her forehead as she laid her head back on his shoulder, exhausted.

* * * *

When she fell asleep, Eric gently slipped out from under her and took up a vigil by her bed. The doctor had been in and was rightfully amazed at her progress. Nanette had called and checked in, but the news he had most wanted to hear came in person. Just before visiting hours was over, Tyler Garrison tapped on the door.

“Hey. How is she?” Eric pulled another chair up near the bed and they spoke in whispers.

“She seems to be doing well. The doctor said I could take her home in the morning.”

“How much did you know about the family before today?” Tyler asked with an amused expression on his face.

Eric leaned back in his chair, stretched his long legs out in front of him and looked at the detective. “Evangeline didn’t come out and tell me everything right away, but she never hid anything. She said she had power and then she began to show me.” Eric smiled remembering what had happened in the bathroom. “But today, I understood that she hadn’t been kidding, about any of it.”

“No, they’re for real.” Tyler looked at him seriously. “And they’re good and kind and compassionate. You can trust them with your life. I’ve seen them do things you can barely wrap your brain around. When the woman and the little girl came up missing in Wimberley last winter, I watched Angelique walk through a wooded acre and precisely pinpoint the graves of four murder victims. Initially, I was a skeptic. But, it didn’t take me long to realize that this world is a much more complicated place than I ever envisioned.”

“I’m beginning to understand that.” Eric agreed.

Then as if remembering why he came, Tyler leaned forward and lowered his voice even further. “Clark Laurence is no longer a threat. It was the weirdest thing. He was on I-20, just like Elizabeth said. But when the units spotted him and began to pursue him, he drove his car straight into the wall of an overpass. Never slowed down, he must have been going ninety. There wasn’t enough of that red car left to assemble a toy fire truck.”

Eric breathed a sigh of relief. “I never would wish anybody dead, but I can’t say that I’m sorry he’s no longer a threat to Evangeline.”

Tyler rose. “I’m headed back to
Wildflower Way
. I understand Nanette and Angelique are going to be bunking with you and Evangeline for a while.”

“Yea, Elizabeth seems to think there is more to this than just Laurence. I’d rather Evangeline not be alone. Although, I’m having a hard time seeing how two little old ladies will be much protection.”

“Don’t sell those two short. Nanette can throw up a magical ward that can keep out a grizzly bear.” At Eric’s confused expression, Tyler tried to explain. “The serial killer that Jade killed at Enchanted Rock lived right next door to
Wildflower Way
. Nanette built a magical barrier or a ward around Arabella’s property. She put a line of red brick dust on the ground, she buried witch bottles every few feet, and then she physically walked the perimeter raising power. I don’t completely understand it, but Lyle Sessions couldn’t put a foot across that line. Evangeline saw him try. She had chased one of her cats into the woods and Sessions went after her. If it hadn’t been for that ward and whatever magic Evangeline did herself—I’ll let her explain that to you—we wouldn’t be sitting in this room with her tonight. Evangeline would be dead.”

At those words, Eric rose and walked to the hospital bed looking down at the woman who had come to mean the world to him. “So, what do you think we’re up against?”

“I have no idea. But, be ready for anything—that’s my plan.”

When Tyler left, Eric returned to his chair by the hospital bed. When he sat down, he was surprised to find Evangeline’s navy blue eyes wide open and looking at him.

“Explain to me why Elizabeth thinks there is more to this than Clark.”

“You have nothing to worry about, babe.” Eric assured her.

“I’m not worried about me. Now, explain,” she urged him.

“She said she smelled magic on this, something dark and evil. I don’t have a clue what she meant.” At those words, Evangeline tried to sit up. Eric stood and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I need to sit up.’ He helped her sit on the side of the bed. “I was just tangled in the IV cord, I feel fine.” Actually, she did look better. But Eric wasn’t ready to take any chances with her. “If there is danger, Eric, I need to keep you safe. Perhaps, you should go back to your place until we know what we’re dealing with.”

Eric couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He chuckled, thinking she had to be kidding. “Aren’t you confused? Trying a little role-reversal? Who is in the hospital bed?”

“Eric, if we’re talking magic, normal rules don’t apply.”

“You don’t think I can protect you?” All of a sudden the conversation turned serious. His eyes searched her face, trying desperately to understand.

Evangeline held her arms out, reaching for him. He went to her. “My love, you are strong, powerful, brave—but if it’s magic, you have no defense.”

“I’ll die trying.”

“Eric, I couldn’t live without—”

He cut off her words by covering her mouth with his own. “Not another word. You are precious to me. Whatever you’re involved in, so am I. That’s just the way it is.”

The night passed. Eric intended to sit up all night, but one of the nurses took pity on him. She had seen Eric lying in the bed with Evangeline and the sight had tugged at her heartstrings. “No one’s going to come in here but me, why don’t you crawl back up in that bed and hold her. Maybe, you both can get some sleep.” Gratefully, he followed her advice. After he had her stretched out on top of him, every part of her body touching some part of his, he breathed a sigh of relief. Now, he could rest.

* * * *

“I can walk, Eric.” Evangeline protested as he carried her in and sat her down on the couch.

“Humor me. I enjoy taking care of you. What do you feel like eating for lunch?”

“Let me come and see. I think I have some Grilladas in the freezer. We can warm that up and make a pot of rice. I think you’ll like it.” Evangeline got up and started to the kitchen. She wanted to be in the same room that he was.

He saw her coming. “Why can’t you be still?” He picked her up and sat her on a kitchen stool. She managed to kiss him three or four times before he turned her loose.

“Are you feeling better, love?” He was so relieved. Her bruises had not made it to that ghastly black stage; in fact they were fading fast. Magick was pretty good medicine, he had to admit.