Influential Magic (24 page)

I hesitated, wanting to wrap my arms around him, but still wary. A lot had happened. I’d been so angry at him for leaving me, for keeping me in the dark, for not being honest. At the same time, I understood—at least partially—why he’d kept me at arm’s length.

He turned to face me, hands stuffed in his pockets, shoulders hunched. I couldn’t help but still care about him. I took careful steps and slid my arms around his waist, resting my head against his shoulder. “I don’t know what I would’ve said if you’d told me, but right now I’m okay with it.”

His arms circled around me and after a moment, he bent and gently brushed his lips against mine.

The pain and stress of the last week took over, and I couldn’t stop myself from sinking into the kiss. The chill of his tongue on my heated mouth stirred an unexpected response deep in my center. Everything fled my mind except the feel of him. My David, familiar and yet new at the same time. I was tired of being scared. Tired of being hurt. Tired of letting everyone else control my destiny. All I wanted was to feel something good. To feel his body against mine. I moaned and pressed closer.

“Willow,” he whispered.

“Hmm?”

“This is probably not a good idea,” he said as his hands worked their way into my hair.

“You’re thinking too much.” I clamped my teeth over his lower lip and nibbled.

His breath caught short, and a second later he lifted me in his arms, carrying me toward his bedroom door. I gave him a wry smile and buried my head in his neck as he crossed the threshold.

The door slammed as David pressed me against the nearest wall. His lips were on me, sucking and teasing as they moved to nuzzle my neck.

“Careful. You don’t want to get bit,” a soft voice said.

David froze.

I twisted and spotted Allcot. All the anger I’d possessed earlier in the garden came roaring back. “You bastard!” I spat at Eadric, struggling to untangle myself from David’s arms. “Let me down.”

David kept an iron grip, not appearing to be bothered by my attempt. “Did you need something, Father?”

Eadric leaned back against the doorframe and shrugged. “Not at the moment, but your girlfriend appeared to want an audience with me. I can see she found a suitable way to occupy her time.”

“David,” I warned. He loosened his hold, and I slid to my feet. I stepped in front of him, glaring at Eadric. “Using your son to get to me, Allcot? How do you live with yourself?”

“Wil.” David rested his hand on my shoulder.

“Oh, right. You’re not alive.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

A slow smile spread across Allcot’s stony face. “She’s perfect, Davidson.”

I spun to stare at David, then shuffled to the side until both vampires were in my view. “Perfect for what?” My words came out clipped, my tone dangerous.

David closed his eyes. When he opened them, he glared at Allcot. “Agent Rhoswen is an upstanding member of the Arcane. She deserves to be spoken to with respect.”

The unexpected display of support helped ease a bit of the tension strumming through my muscles. It was the first time David had displayed even a hint of defiance toward his father. Though I had a feeling Eadric spoke to everyone any damned way he pleased. He was that powerful.

Allcot chuckled, rolling up the sleeves of his black silk shirt. Dressed in wool pants and shiny black loafers, he was completely unruffled. No one would’ve guessed he’d just risen from a
ménage à trois
moments ago. “I doubt after today’s events, the Arcane agrees with your upstanding-member analysis.”

The muscle in David’s neck flexed. “You know what I meant.”

My gaze traveled back and forth from father to son. Allcot, still standing against the frame, kept his cocky, devilish smile in place. Only the clenching of his right fist indicated he was annoyed at David’s reprimand. I had no doubt if any other vampire spoke to Allcot in that tone, they’d be snail food.

David kept his head high, his eyes trained on his father. He wasn’t backing down. If Allcot challenged him, I’d be in the middle of a vampire smackdown. Again.

Allcot straightened and stalked toward David, his electric power making my skin itch. Although David’s broad shoulders and height gave him the advantage, his father’s very essence dripped with danger.

“Hey, now.” I jumped between them, holding my arms out as if I could stop either of them from ripping the other apart. Look what happened last time I got between two snarling vamps. “There’s no need for this. I’m certain we’re all capable of a calm, rational discussion.”

Neither spoke, but Allcot stopped his progression toward us, raising one curious eyebrow. “Your loyalty to Davidson bodes well for your survival.”

“Father,” David warned again.

I did a mental eye roll. The testosterone in the room was enough to complete a sex change. “Can we go in the other room to talk?” I pointed toward the door. “I’m sure we’ll all be more relaxed.” I would be.

Allcot took a step back, bowed slightly, and swept his arm in invitation. “Ladies first.”

Vampire balls.
Now I had to walk right past him. Gritting my teeth, I held my head high and strode through the door, praying he couldn’t sense the fear threatening to take over. The first rule of dealing with vamps: Never turn your back on them. Especially this one.

Allcot fell into step right behind me, close enough his cool breath chilled my ear. I shivered and kept walking.

Back in David’s bedroom, I heard the rustle of a wardrobe opening and prayed that meant he was putting a shirt on. As gorgeous as his chiseled chest was, now was not the time for distractions.

I headed straight for one of the armchairs. Settling into the soft, rich leather, I crossed my ankles and eyed Allcot. He lounged back on the couch, his foot propped over his left knee.

David emerged, dressed casually in jeans and a long-sleeved navy thermal shirt. The way he used to dress before he turned vamp. I bit the side of my cheek to keep from commenting. Memory lane was closed. He glanced between us and took the chair next to me.

I gripped the arms of the chair, waiting. “What am I doing here?”

Allcot glanced at David, his lips twitching.

“Did your brain freeze in a prepubescent state when you turned?” I huffed out a frustrated breath. “God, Allcot, you act like a twelve-year-old. Not everyone is totally consumed by sex every second of the day.”

David caught my eye, and I swear he had to hide a smile. Did he think I was being funny?

Eadric leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his cold blue eyes piercing me with his gaze. “I assure you, if I wanted you in my bed, you’d be there…willingly.”

Every muscle in David’s body stiffened.

I gave Allcot a blank stare. “What is it you want from me then, since clearly I’m not begging to join the harem in your bedroom?”

Allcot glanced at David and gave him the tiniest of nods. David unclenched his fists, visibly relaxing. Was that some sort of acknowledgment on Allcot’s part that I wasn’t destined to be one of his groupies? As if I’d ever be part of one of his undead lovefests. No way was I going anywhere near his freak show.

“Well?” I prompted, tired of the power play.

Allcot shifted forward until he was perched on the couch, staring me in the eye. “I have a proposition for you.”

I raised a skeptical eyebrow.

His lips turned up in that cold smile of his. “Considering your current predicament, you’ll probably want to consider our offer.”

Our current predicament, indeed. Phoebe and I
were
in a quandary. We couldn’t go home or to work. Maude would find us there. Then I’d be a test faery again. I had two options: listen to what Allcot had to say or run. New Orleans was my home, where my store was, and the only place I’d felt comfortable since Beau died.

I didn’t want to run. “I’m listening.”

The smile vanished. “We suspect one of Maude’s spies has infiltrated Cryrique. This is unacceptable. Cryrique is a privately held company with confidential research in many areas, including, but not limited to, vampire medications, creationism, and mind enhancers. Multi-million-dollar investments. You can see why we’d be concerned.”

The medication and creationism wasn’t a surprise. Vampires had long been studying the effect of their powers on humans. From healing to mind control to the turning. Certain vampires were reborn more powerful than others. If Cryrique could determine why, bottling their healing properties could be a big business.

But mind enhancers? Yeah, he was talking about drugs. The vampire community brushed that label aside, instead insisting their research was closer to the edibles I made. But the rumors implied something much more potent.

“Okay. Say Maude does have a spy. I don’t see how I can be useful,” I said.

Allcot brushed invisible lint from his trousers. “I’d like you to be our inside source at the Arcane.”

“What?” I stood, suddenly angry. “Did you miss the part where Phoebe and I are now fugitives? I can’t even go home, much less back to work.”

David rose and put a hand on my arm. “Hear him out, Wil.”

I cut my gaze to his hand resting above my elbow. “Let go.”

He hesitated, a flicker of frustration flashing through his eyes, then shoved his hands in his pockets. “Sorry.”

“This is why you’re the perfect person,” Allcot said, mildly.

I scrunched my face up in frustration. “What the hell are you talking about? I’m aligned with you now. Everyone will assume I’m working for you and your corporation.”

Allcot rose, shaking his head. “As it turns out, thanks to your partner, Ms. Kilsen, we have evidence of Maude’s illegal behavior concerning you and her attempt to contract us to do her dirty work. I suspect she’d be most eager to keep that information under wraps.” He swept his hand out, inviting me to sit once more.

I did so, begrudgingly, hating that he towered over me.

“You, my lovely faery, are perfect because your obvious disdain for us shines through, even when you’re trying to hide your emotions. No one will suspect you’re working for me. And you’ll have reason to meet with us since you’ve been assigned to work with Davidson.” He sank back into the soft leather and once again rested a foot over his knee.

I took a moment to consider his words. Working for him was suicide. If the Arcane found out, I’d be locked up for sure. If I pissed off the wrong vamp, I’d be dinner. A no-win situation. “If Phoebe captured the evidence, why should I submit to you? She’s more than capable of a little blackmail.”

“She could try. But are you willing to risk your friend’s life? How far do you think Maude will go to cover her tracks?”

Goddamn him. Maude wouldn’t hesitate to take Phoebe out. She’d make it look like an accident, too. I gritted my teeth. He’d used the trump card. “So in exchange for me working undercover for you, you’ll blackmail Maude to drop whatever bogus charges she’ll bring against me and Phoebe?”

“Yes. That is what I’m offering.”

I shook my head. “Not good enough. You’ll need to sweeten the pot. Working for you goes against everything in my nature. And it’s open-ended.”

Allcot’s lips transformed into something that resembled a satisfied smile. “Name your terms.”

I straightened, setting my shoulders back. “One, you’ll dedicate someone to investigate my brother’s death. And two, no one will ever ask about, study, or use me in testing regarding the effect I had on David. In other words, no one is to know the cause of his new sunwalking ability.”

Allcot stood again. “Done.” With a nod, he strode out.

I gaped. That was too easy. What had I missed? I twisted toward David. “What just happened?”

He smiled. “You negotiated a pretty good deal with the boss.”

“But why did he give in so easily? He has to be dying to try to exploit the sunwalking thing.”

David’s smile vanished. “Yes, I think he is. But I already requested he leave it alone. We don’t know if it’s permanent or if you can even replicate it.” He picked up a pen from the end table, fingering it absently. “We both almost died. Father knows that. He’s not willing to risk any of his people unless we have definite information.”