Taken by the Wind Read online

  “Right,” he said, watching Necron leave.

  That witch and her daughter had to be killed because they were part of the legacy of the aurai. The daughter would one day become a champion for balance between good and evil, and a threat to him just as her great-grandmother had been.

  “Then, we’ll capture her and take the bracelet,” Voltaire replied turning his attention to Tucker. “Your influence with the girl’s closest friend should afford us information on her weaknesses, her strengths, and her dreams.”

  “I’m working Callie, but pushing too hard for no reason would only create suspicion,” he said. “However, I’ve managed to win over others of her family who’ll be good allies against Silken Cord in the end.”

  Silken Cord Coven was an old coven built on the blood of powerful women. They were feared and respected. Their leadership had dealt the head of the underworld a humiliating and crippling loss a hundred and ten years ago. The demonic world still hadn’t fully recovered from it in terms of manpower.

  “We still have one problem you’re not factoring into all of this.”

  Voltaire went cold, brows lifting contemptuously. “And what do you think I’ve left out?”

  “The aurai,” Tucker replied patiently. “Some of them still exist and one of them is bound to play a part in the prophesy.”

  “What are you talking about, Tucker?” he demanded, frowning. He hadn’t heard of any prophesy concerning the once powerful race he and his grandfather had helped drive into obscurity.

  “The seer told me the cards portend the rising of the aurai like the phoenix from its ashes and even the Witch’s Congress is concerned about that happening. If they rise, they might seek revenge on the witches who brought about their downfall, good and evil.”

  The right word in the right ear had turned the good witches and wizards against the aurai and their consorts, the Knights. The Witch’s Congress, with the help of the dark Congress, had systematically exterminated those who’d help them cripple the Dark Congress.

  The factions of the underworld were still greatly divided. Not only that, their leader was believed to have been stripped of part of his power leaving him weaker than those he ruled due to the tenacity of the aurai.

  “I know some of them exist, but their numbers aren’t large enough to fear.” He didn’t fear the aurai he knew hid. He was looking forward to drawing them out and killing them.

  “The stones aren’t removable from Juliet. She has to willingly give them,” Tucker told him. “This has to be done during Mid-Summer as the stones’ energies are attuned to the south wind which rules fire and passion among other things.”

  This was another thing he hadn’t planned on, but it this was just another reason he tolerated Tucker. Tucker was able to get close to humans which allowed him to gain information he might otherwise not be able to.

  “Wind is about logic, but the holders are human still. Their trigger is partially emotional. She has to be made to believe she’s in love, to trust the man she gives the stone to.”

  That was just like a good witch to connect so much to love, but they were so infantile in their belief of good winning out over dark.

  “This will have to be done very carefully,” he said. “Trust and love aren’t easy to evoke.”

  “True, but we aren’t just the sexual creatures who feed off the sexual energy of women,” Tucker reminded him. “We have the power to seduce and the ability to twist both emotion and the mind.”

  Voltaire smiled. Those the incubi and succubae fed from and fucked, often became addicted to them and would do anything to have them in their beds again.

  He coveted that kind of control over humans, but he didn’t regret not having it. He’d merely learned well how to use those who did.

  “We can use a spell to nudge her in the right direction,” Tucker replied with a half-smile. “All we need is a lock of hair, blood or something that belongs to her to ensure the attraction spell is powerful enough to overcome any and all resistance on her part.”

  “Blood would be best,” Voltaire murmured rubbing his hands together. Blood magick was very potent.

  “I agree, so she’ll have to be attacked.”

  “Have Carrel follow her and obtain what we need tonight. I want that potion ready for the first date, and alert Morgan that he’s getting the call to romance her.”

  Tucker gave him a grin. “I’ve already put Carrel to work. I figure none of them would be suspicious of a woman.”

  He nodded curtly. The women of Silken Cord were strong, but their defeat along with any aurai that came to their aid would be quick and humiliating.

  Chapter Three

  The crowd at the Sand Bar and Grill was thinner than usual, but a good number of patrons filled the tables on both levels. The old brick building with its worn dark-wood floors was rather nice with reasonable prices. The atmosphere was warm and cozy with soft light drifting around the spacious floors that opened onto a wide patio on each level.

  “Have you heard about the recent deaths?” Andi Brees asked in low tones.

  Aria Brees took a sip of her whiskey and savored the burn as she glanced to the woman who was a sister for all intents and purposes. Her pale blue-gray eyes were filled with concern that annoyed Aria.

  “Witches are dying. It’s hard to miss, but that is the Witch’s Congress’ problem.”

  The Witch’s Congress had betrayed the aurai and the Knights more than two centuries ago. The Knights had been half-human sorcerers while the aurai had been wind nymphs with telepathic abilities as well as the ability to control the winds and storms. The aurai were the human embodiment of the air and storms.

  “We might not have a choice,” Andi told her with a shrug. “What’s going on is something we’ve seen before.”

  “Forget it, Andi,” she ordered. They had been friends for almost two centuries. They’d come of age during the darkest times of their race when witch civil war raged quietly behind the scenes of normal human life.

  Their race had been tricked and executed, but some had escaped, hidden. They’d quietly lived, regaining their strength and isolating themselves once again from humans.

  Andi glared at her. “I know why you don’t want us to get involved, but we can’t continue to do nothing.”

  She wouldn’t get involved in a war between good and dark witches. “Do as you will,” Aria retorted as her eyes fell on the dance floor again.

  Ginger hair cascaded down delicate shoulders to curl on the ends. The bow mouth in the heart-shaped face was pulled into an enticing grin.

  Gaze traveling down, Aria found a curvy little body with a short skirt swirled around her legs and hugging her hips. The cute little top was a delicate feminine-looking fabric of pink that made her skin glow.

  She was the woman from the deli, who’d been coming onto her in a very non-vocal way.

  Aria had seen Juliet several times at the club and been inexplicably drawn to her, but she hadn’t dared approach. She was a witch’s daughter and she had no interest in getting involved with a witch.

  That minor fact aside, Aria was surprised to see Juliet here, considering the girl was either with her mother and cousin at the club or on the arm of a man. It was always a different one, so Juliet was either promiscuous, hard to please, or gay and trying to be straight to avoid the displeasure of her mother.

  The only way to find out was to make a move.

  The woman dancing with the intriguing hottie, was Carrel. Aria had designed a dress for her a few years ago. She smelled succubae. The breed had an enticing musk smell. The dark ones weren’t all bad, but she trusted none of them.

  However, it was Carrel’s fingers stroking the gingered-haired woman’s small hip that snagged her attention. The contact, the body language, sent out the clear impression the other woman thought she was getting lucky tonight.

  The air gusted fast and hard through her mind in protest, eager to lash out, but Aria soothed it with a firm reprimand. The air was like an animal
, it was a part of her nature that could be vicious or kind as any creature.

  “I really need to blow off some steam,” Andi murmured. “But I need to get to work on that sculpture. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  Aria forced herself to look away when what she really wanted was to be alone with the red-head, getting to know her body better.

  “Not unless you mean after work,” she murmured. “I’ve got to finish up my new collection.”

  Andi rolled her eyes. “We’re both all about the work these days.” She sighed regretfully. “We’ll do lunch.”

  “Wonderful.” Aria flashed a brief smile and Andi returned it, but she saw the anger burning in her friend’s stare before she left.

  They’d been through so much at the hands of the Witch’s Congress all in the name of excising the impure—the offspring of the Knights and aurai, from their race. Aria had no plans to become a slave to a people that meant her no good no matter if they were dying at the hands of the dark breed.

  The song ended and Aria found and tracked the hot little number back to a table across the room with her eyes. Carrel was nowhere in sight, and Aria hoped she’d found someone else to hold her attention because Juliet was hers.

  Aria got up, deciding there was no need to waste time when hers was of a premium these days.

  ****

  Juliet saw her prowling toward her, weaving through the crowd of dancers now heading for the bar or tables. The music had been replaced by the murmur of voices and laughter—a little too loud—filled the room.

  Juliet’s throat was suddenly parched, and her bracelet warmed her skin while her body tingled. That single look across the room had had her stomach pulling taut and her heart beating fast. But Juliet didn’t move from her table where she sat, skin flushing.

  That heat was there again, urging her toward it like the sun pulling her into its gravitational orbit. She almost left but averted her gaze to break the intense connection, tangling her shaking hands in the soft folds of her skirt.

  “Hi.”

  Juliet turned her head to meet a pair of pale blue-gray eyes flecked with green. She leaned forward, her skin warm, her clothes suddenly too confining.

  Her lips parted to speak, but no sound came out as she refocused, taking her eyes from those beautiful eyes threatening to consume her to land on the royal blue splash of color beneath the black quarter length sleeve blouse. The top three buttons had been left open and a silver disc resting just below the hollow of her throat drew Juliet’s attention.

  “Can I buy you a drink?” Her voice was low and intimate as if she’d known her for years and this was a night out for them.

  Juliet shivered and cleared her throat as she tore her gaze from the disc with its intriguing flower and runic inscription. No, it wasn’t a flower it was a quadquetra.

  She had seen it somewhere before with a pink and green center with black veins making up the symbol and its circle.

  “Sure.”

  “I’m Aria.” She signaled the waitress and then held out her hand.

  “Juliet.” Juliet took her hand and fire sparked on her fingers to course through her hand. She was thrown back in time to a room in which she sat on a large bed with gold curtains on either side and a roaring fire just to her left.

  Her eyes beheld those of a woman with russet skin and a fall of thick black hair. Her pale gray eyes glowed as if backlit.

  “But my husband—”

  “He will die in battle in Crecy, but I’ll see you again in ten days,” Haven told her quickly.

  “What if I want to see you before then?” she asked, an ache of longing in her soul already.

  “My love, I can’t return before. Even we demigods have demands on our time.” She grinned and caressed her cheek. Eliza turned her head into her touch, her chest clenching from the tenderness of it. “Here. Just think of me when you look at this.”

  Eliza held out her hand and Haven placed something in it. Looking down, her gaze was ensnared by the gold flower broach with green and pink stones. They seemed like tiny blooms winking up at her.

  “The stones are formed from the salt and water of tears I shed when I am away from you. Wear them close to your heart, and they will confer great power upon you. Powers of heart fire.”

  “It’s so beautiful,” Eliza looked up at her. “What does that mean, heart fire?”

  Haven grinned and pointed to Eliza’s bare arm. “Look.”

  “Hearts in a circle?” she mused and touched the symbol drawn into the skin in black with the center being the same as the watermelon-colored stone.

  “The fire of our joined hearts,” Haven murmured. “Mine protecting you forevermore to ensure you will never be seduced away from me by any.” Haven kissed her softly and Eliza sank into her, wishing for her return already. “I must go, but I will always come back to you, my love.”

  Eliza watched Haven retreat from the bed of tangled sheets with love in her eyes. “I’ll await your return impatiently,” she murmured. Just as she always did.

  Eliza hated this war and all the death of good witches it brought with it. On the other hand, at least it would be good for ending her loveless marriage.

  Chapter Four

  “Are you okay?” Aria’s voice was a sexy throb that pulled Juliet forcefully from the vision.

  She blinked. Aria was in front of her stool, leaning in close, so close their lips almost touched.

  How had she gotten turned this way?

  Putting two fingers to her temple, Juliet shook her head, trying to shake away the confusion. “I—y-yes.” She rubbed her forehead.

  “Maybe we should dance instead of having that drink,” Aria teased. “How many have you had?”

  The words registered as clear as the fact that all she wanted was a taste of the curve of Aria’s mouth. Her lips were so close and looked so—

  “What would you ladies like?” the waitress asked giving them each a smile.

  “We’ll get back to you when we’re ready,” Aria told her.

  “Okay, yeah.” She sashayed away and the music started up again.

  “How about that dance?” Aria asked in that low tone of hers that was all sexiness.

  The song that drifted through the speakers was one of Juliet’s favorites. “I love this song,” she said more to cover her awkwardness than anything else.

  Aria’s eyes gleamed, seeming to glow in the dimness of the club. “Shall we?” She held a hand out to her and Juliet took it sliding to the floor.

  Aria’s gaze slid slowly down her body, making her feel as if she was undressing her with her eyes. Carrel, the woman she’d been dancing with had been giving her that look, too, but Aria made her hot rather than leaving her cold.

  Juliet led the way to the spacious dance floor and the crowd parted for them. Several pairs of eyes were drawn to Aria just the way Juliet’s were. Aria moved with easy grace and blatant sensuality.

  The tune, slow and catchy, poured through the speakers. The female singer crooned out a melody about bad girls and love that never lasted. The beat snaked through Juliet’s system, heightening her senses.

  Aria gave her a slow smile and wink as Juliet moved in time to the beat. A subtle heat swept over her, bending her to its will as it erased most conscious thoughts from her mind.

  Juliet’s hands slid over her hips, caressing over her midthigh-length skirt she had paired with heels.

  And Aria put a hand on her waist and tugged Juliet into her. Aria ran a finger down between Juliet’s breasts, the lust in her eyes making Juliet hotter. At her stomach, Aria left her hand to rest there while the fingers of her free hand curled around Juliet’s and spun her out and brought her back again.

  She brushed a kiss against her lips and Aria moved provocatively toward her, her scent soft and light as it overpowered the alcohol and bar food riding on the air.

  Juliet drew it in and rolled around in it even as she boldly countered Aria’s moves to create a picture of harmonic sensuality.

&
nbsp; Juliet tingled all over, her clit starting to throb as her nipples tightened in the cups of her bra. She rested her hand on Aria’s shoulder.

  Aria’s gaze was hungry on her and seared her to her core. Juliet wanted to look away, to run, but this was what she’d cast the spell for. This moment was why she’d lied to her mother about where she’d be tonight.

  She just wanted one night, maybe two, of passion so hot she got wet just remembering it.

  Her breathing grew fast, came out in shallow pants and Aria pressed her lips to Juliet’s in a soft kiss that sent jolts of electricity down her spine.

  Aria trailed her lips along Juliet’s jaw as Juliet breathed out hard and fast.

  “I can’t wait to get my fingers up your pussy and watch you coming apart,” Aria whispered in her ear.

  She shouldn’t have heard it over the music, but she had and the words wrapped around her, intensified her arousal. Their eyes met. Lips parted, Juliet’s stomach tightened, and her skin heated a fraction more as anticipation sliced through her like a knife through butter.

  The song came to an end melding into a faster beat that fueled the heat in her blood and the hunger rampaging through her.

  Aria’s hands slid to her hips. “Do you want to get out of here?”

  Her heart stopped and Juliet looked up into questioning dark blue-gray eyes filled with need that reached beyond the boundaries of the flesh into her soul.

  Juliet nodded. “Yes.” She had a feeling if she said no she’d lose something important, not just a chance for the passion of a lifetime.

  So, she backed out of Aria’s arms and turned, leading the way to the exit.

  Chapter Five

  Juliet wasn’t sure meeting a stranger in a motel was her best idea, but her body wasn’t listening. She was hot, and wet and needy.

  She knew this was crazy, but the ache with the need to touch and be touched, to be pleasured and give pleasure, and to be with someone just this one time without thinking about tomorrow overrode reason.