Wickedest Witch (19 page)

Her cheeks blooming with color and her lipstick askew, s
he left with the first group through the portal that would take them halfway across the world in the space of a few seconds.

Fuck did he hate magic
and anything to do with Hell. He especially distrusted the demons provided by Satan to open the portals for the guests to arrive quickly and comfortably, but he had to admit it beat a stupidly long plane trip and having to put up with TSA thugs. But even more than his dislike of the wormhole type travel, he hated having Evangeline leave ahead of him.

His beast paced, anxious at the fact its mate—
our mate—
was so far from them. Knowing she could take care of herself didn’t alleviate his unease; rather, it amplified it, because he knew how much trouble she could cause. An endearing quality most of the time, but only so long as he could be on hand to help her out if trouble arose.

Finally, his turn arrived
, and joining the group of wedding guests that included Rumpelstiltskin and Tina, they went through the portal, the non-human magic working even for shifters.

Seconds later, emerging from the portal, Ryker blinked in the bright sunlight and gazed in begrudging admiration at the Catherine palace where the wedding would soon take place. Ostentatious, but definitely impressive. Having pulled the first round of nanny duty because, as his witch put it, he didn’t need to do anything to make himself look pretty, he followed a few paces behind Rumpel
stiltskin and his little girl.

Ryker still couldn’t believe he was attending the wedding of the anti-Christ, not to mention said man would be marrying
Evangeline’s sister.
What kind of family am I getting into?
It would sure make for interesting family get-togethers.

Speaking of family, his mother, when he’d returned to his house for toiletries and his suit, seemed resigned to his new married state. As a matter of fact, she’d seemed to have embraced it, gleefully making plans to introduce her new daughter
-in-law at the next full moon.

When Ryker questioned the wisdom of such an act, she’d grinned, in quite an evil fashion
, and said, “The more I think of it, the more I think I’ll like our new alignment with the witch. Do you know that your father’s security company has already gotten calls from the Russian coven asking them to do some protective detail?”

Word sure traveled fast.
Or at least his mother’s gossip did. But at least his dad was now talking to him again. A shame. He’d rather enjoyed the silence.

*

Inside the palace, ensconced in a room with too many women, Evangeline had to restrain herself from running even though her sister seemed determined to drive her to it.

“I look fat, don’t I?” Isobel said, twirling to look at her ass in the mirror.

“Your scrawny butt is still as skinny as the rest of you,” reassured Evangeline. “Would you untangle your knickers from the knot you’ve put them in?”

“Are you implying I’m nervous?”

“Duh.”

“Don’t duh me. I was just remarking that this dress is all wrong. I can’t go out in public like this.
”

“
Stop freaking out. You’re just anxious.”

“Maybe a little
. How do I know I’m making the right choice? I mean, look at who his father is. I’m not evil enough to be Satan’s daughter-in-law. How will I ever fit in?”

“
You love Christopher, don’t you?”

“Of course I do,” said Isobel
, blinking. “He’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a man.”

“Then shut
up about the dress. You love him. He loves you. Everything else will work out.”

Isobel let out a big breath and straightened her shoulders. “You’re right. It will.
Hold on a second. Did I hear you right? Did actually use the L-word?”

Evangeline shot her sister a dirty look.

“Holy fuck. You did. Interesting. So how are you and that hunky shifter of yours doing?” asked Isobel slyly, adjusting her neckline to deepen her cleavage.

“He’s not mine,” mumbled Evangeline.
Although, his beast did mark me as his. I just wish I knew how the
man
feels about me.

“Oh, please.
Anyone could tell the two of you are meant for each other.”

“
He’s an animal.”

“And? My soon
-to-be husband is the son of the Devil. Big whoop.”

“Big difference. I mean
, do you really think Granddad would go for it? Or Mother?” Evangeline actually didn’t care what her family thought, but she wanted Isobel off her back.

“Actually,
Mother likes him.”

“She
what?
” Evangeline just stared at her sister, dumbstruck.

“She had coffee with him when we were doing the dress fittings and she’s all for it. She just says it’s a shame you can’t make babies.”

“I don’t like babies, remember?” said Evangeline with a glower, not understanding why she felt a pang at the thought of never having a cute and sweet little boy that resembled Ryker with his vivid blue eyes.

And at that thought, Evangeline finally knew without a shadow of doubt.
It wasn’t just good sex. Or hatred. Or indigestion.
I love him.

Sitting down hard, something of her shock must have registered in her face,
because her sister rushed over and clasped her hands between hers. “What’s wrong? You’ve got the oddest look on your face.”

She spoke without thinking.
“I love him.”

“But that’s wonderful,” exclaimed Isobel.

Having said it aloud, she wanted to vomit. Evangeline’s brow knotted in confusion. “I don’t know if I’d call it that. Just saying it is nauseating me.”

“
Only because you don’t know how he feels. Just ask him. You’ll feel better.”

A violent shake of her head was her answer to that.
“Ask him? Are you nuts? Besides, I already know he doesn’t love me back.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Considering he had ample opportunity to declare it when he explained the whole mating thing? Yeah, she could definitely say he didn’t. “We’re just compatible in bed. Nothing more.”

“I think you’re wrong. Tell him you love him. Suck up pride, put on your big girl panties, and admit for once how you feel,” said Isobel, patting her hand. “I think you might be surprised at his answer.”

Admit my feelings? What if he rejects or mocks me? I can’t even turn him into a frog.
Nor did she think she had it in her to kill him at this point, now knowing how she felt about him.

There was a knock on the door and the wedding planner from Hell—literally—stuck her horned demon head around the jamb. “It’s time, ladies. Let’s get this show moving.”

Clutching a bouquet of blood red roses, Evangeline wore a scowl as she started her walk down the aisle created in the ballroom between the sections of seats. Her grimace, though, faded when she saw him.

Ryker stood devastatingly tall and handsome with the other groomsmen. When their eyes met, his lips curled into a
grin just for her. His blue eyes smoldered with appreciation and Evangeline couldn’t help the brilliant smile that burst forth. What a shame they couldn’t ditch this matrimonial circus and find a secluded closet somewhere, or even just a private corner.

Standing on the bride’s side, she couldn’t stop staring at Ryker, and even odder, he never took his eyes off her.

Mentally slapping herself, she reminded herself that they were still on a job, not to mention her sister was getting married. She flicked a look over at
little Tina, who stood beside her, waiting her turn to sing, then at Isobel who stared up at her prince of Hell with so much joy it made Evangeline sick.

Oh fuck, I hope I don’t
wear the same vapid expression when I stare at Ryker.

Finally, the ceremony came to a close, and the presiding hooded figure said, “I now pronounce you man and wife. May you live forever, and
a gruesome curse befall any who would rip you asunder.”

Those words were the cue for Tina to step forward
and do her thing. She might appear shy and frail, however, the voice that burst forth from her petite form would have made angels weep—if they dared show up at the wedding a step away from Hell. The child truly possessed a musical gift, and as she sang of love and commitment, Evangeline couldn’t help peeking over at Ryker. Their gazes met and she shivered at the burning expression in his eyes.

A last lingering note
by the youthful prodigy and the audience burst in thunderous applause. The ceremony over, people—and other beings not often seen on the mortal plane—began to mill. Evangeline and Ryker flanked Tina as they made their way behind the couple, stopping every few feet as congratulations echoed from all sides. Once they cleared the ceremonial room, they went off to the garden for photos while the rest of the guests enjoyed pre-dinner cocktails.

Personally, Evangeline would have skipped the whole photo session, however, her mother and sister had bullied her into agreeing to pose for a few. While Evangeline scowled at the camera,
Ryker hovered around Tina and her father. As soon as she could, though, she escaped and met up with Ryker and her patron.

“Okay, time to do this. Come on,” she said
, leading the way, tossing her bouquet at a startled nymph.

They went as a group to the dining hall
without mishap. Plates in hand, they browsed the varied foods set up on display as a buffet, a vast selection to tempt all kinds of palates—although Evangeline wondered who would want to eat the live frogs and worms.

Gazes watchful, senses on high alert, t
hey ate their meal. Tina sat tucked between them while Ryker pretended to down copious amounts of alcohol. Around them, beings of all kind talked and laughed. The guests ranged from human looking to demonic, with other fairy tale creatures in between. Nobody wanted to miss out on the event of the century. But who planned to use the commotion as a guise to kidnap or harm the little girl in their care?

So far, no one stood out.

The longer they sat without anything happening, the more her impatience grew. Yet, at the same time, anticipation and its accompanying rush filled her as the time for the execution of their plan neared.

Dinner done,
and the cutting of the cake accomplished, without bloodshed—how disappointing—the crowd flowed back into the ballroom for the dancing that would begin shortly. Evangeline thanked the fact her sister had vetoed speeches at her wedding, or else things might have gotten ugly considering the amount of alcohol being siphoned by the guests. While she dearly loved her grandfather, once he got a few glasses of vodka into him, he could get quite colorful, and easily riled.

T
he band from Hell—Satan’s Rockers—got the party going, and after Isobel, beaming up at her new husband, got her first dance, other people hit the dance floor. That was their signal. Evangeline threw a sideways glance at Ryker and nodded her head.

W
ith a smile meant to look drunken, but which she personally found rakish, Ryker grabbed her ass and squeezed. Evangeline let out a shriek and slapped him.

“You dirty shifter. Keep your fucking hands to yourself.”

“Admit it. You want me. I’ve seen you eyeing me.”

“Because I wondered who let the dirty animal in.”

“Dirty? I’ll show you dirty.” He grabbed his crotch, squeezed, and leered. She almost laughed.

“You are a pig!”

“And you’re an uptight witch,” he taunted back. “I’ve got something to fix that. Drop to your knees and I’ll give you the cure for free.”

“That’s it,” she exclaimed
, whirling to Rumpelstiltskin. “I will not work with this asshole any longer. I quit.” Turning on her heel, she stalked from the room and, in order to make it believable, went through a waiting portal away from the wedding.

Now came the sneaky, fun part.

Abandoned by his partner, all part of the plan, Ryker followed Tina to the ladies room and after taking a quick peek inside, let her in alone. He stood outside with his arms folded over his chest, waiting.

Several minutes later, Tina came skipping back out.

“Ready, witch?” he murmured in a low tone.

“Let’s nab some bad guys,” Evangeline replied in her new little girl voice.

Ryker hoped her plan worked. At least no matter what happened, Tina would be safe. Spirited away secretly to a place only Rumpelstiltskin knew of, Tina would spend the rest of the evening playing video games and watching television under heavy guard while his witch, under the cover of a glamor, took Tina's place and made herself the target.

Escorting her back to the ballroom, he saw Rumpel
stiltskin look over at them and he inclined his head slightly to indicate the plan was in motion.