Bitten By Magic (15 page)

Wilhelm moved toward the deep bed of earth, but as his foot sank into the dirt she moved. Her naked body, darkened from the dirt clinging to her like a favorite dress, leaped up out of the dirt, sending dust up three feet high in front of him. Wilhelm quickly covered his face with an arm to protect his eyes from the flying debris.

“What the—” He blinked at the Witch before him. Alexa’s long black hair was flying about her face and shoulders as though it had a life all its own. Within the ebony locks framing her elfin face her eyes were closed. The dirt shifted around her body, moving like a living snake over her soft skin. As he watched, the dirt changed, shimmered, and turned into black silk. Two strips of fabric wound around her body in a tight dress, finally coming over her shoulders to wrap around her outstretched arms.

Wilhelm stood up straight, his body ready to defend against a Witch who was obviously a powerful being. One he wasn’t sure he wanted to see unleashed anywhere near his Hive.

“Alexa.” Wilhelm addressed her with the calm tone he used when dealing with timid Poppets. His muscles flexed in reaction as her head jerked upwards, pure black eyes zeroing in on him as her lips parted and a hiss of warning echoed through the stone walls of his underground lair. “You don’t need to be afraid of me. I won’t harm you.”

“Liar.” Her voice was a whisper of pure threat as her body rose, her bare feet leaving the stone floor to hover above it a few inches. The hair on the back of his neck rose as he felt the build-up of energy all around him.

Wilhelm knew what it felt like to fight a Witch. He had destroyed more of them than he wanted to count during the Dark Ages. Back then, he was defending his right to exist. They were his mortal enemies, still were to a degree. The woman before him felt stronger than any being he’d ever been challenged by. This one wasn’t just any Witch he needed to destroy. She was his wife.

“Alexa, you don’t want to do this. I won’t let you harm my people. Calm down and we’ll talk—”

“Did you want to talk when you sent her to that room with O’Mallery?” She blinked slowly as her head tilted at a questioning angle. The fingers on her right hand twisted in a slow circular motion.

“I...” Wilhelm gasped as green vines broke through the walls on either side of them. His legs and arms were wrapped up in the tight vines in a second as he struggled to break free of them. He cursed loudly, his eyes flashing to bright red as the demon within fought to free itself from the living plants.

“Should I listen to you, Vampire?” Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she studied the angry way he was thrashing against the vines. Wilhelm would break through one vine only to find another taking its place. “Struggle. Fight with all your might. I want you to feel how futile...how pathetic your efforts are. Feel the fear you’ve placed within the breasts of your victims.”

“I do not fear death,
felesage
.” He relaxed his arms and legs, allowing the vines to continue to wrap around his body freely. “I do not fear you.”

“You should,” she hissed, narrowing her eyes as she watched the vines working their way up around his throat. Soon his air would be cut off, not a problem for an undead. No, his end would come when the vines tightened enough to detach his head from his body. “She might not wish you harmed, but she is a weak-hearted fool to want to trust in you.”

Wilhelm immediately had an idea of what was happening to his wife. The Keeper was pulsing with a strong magic. It was an instinctive means to protect her mortal body from the agony of pain that had been inflicted upon her. There was no holding the magic back as the Keeper of the Treaty’s sense of justice whipped through her body, keeping the weaker conscience of Alexa Carver Chambers in the dark cocoon of sleep. The Keeper perceived him as a danger to her, one easily taken care of with just a little pulse of power.

Wilhelm forced a smile as the vines crept up his shoulder to wrap around his neck like a hangman’s noose. He had to defuse the situation quickly, as he felt the dangerous plants moving in for the kill.

“I can end the torturous movements of the ivy. One thought, one motion of my hand and this life will end in a fiery flash of sunlight. It is as easy as breathing for me to create the light. Alexa uses her magical talent all of the time to keep her calm in the dark.” He must have looked surprised, for she grinned maliciously. “Ah, you don’t think Alexa has fears and worries? The things this vessel takes on as her own concern would muddle your mind. That is why she easily ignored the slow poisoning of her body. She thought it was ulcers or cancer.” The Keeper shook her head slowly.

“She was being poisoned?”

“Oh, yes. Being locked away in that room was the best thing for both of us. Not that you meant us any kindness.” Her dark eyes blinked several times and then closed. “One soft word, one whispered endearment, how she longs for these things? Silly vessel. I do her a great service in getting rid of you.”

“Open your eyes and look at me, Keeper.” She obeyed him with a snap of her dark lashes. The vines were fully covering his neck and tightening. “If you are so intent on taking my life, then I want you to watch.”

“So brave when you have seconds to exist.” She moved then, coming to stand toe to toe with him, except hers still weren’t touching the ground. “You should make your apologies to the Goddess for those you have harmed. Do so before it is too late.”

“Seriously? There isn’t enough time in the world to make up for what I have done in this life, nor would I want to. I’m a Vampire Elder. I do what I do. Your Goddess has no power over me,
felesage
.”

“I am the Keeper—”

“You are my wife first!” he yelled back at her, his throat aching as his air supply was cut short. “If I’m to perish here at your hand, then I prefer the last face I see to be my wife’s.” His words, soft as velvet, sent a shiver down her back. Her eyes blinked rapidly as she seemed to be weakening. His Alexa was fighting to take back control.

“You meant to torture and kill me. I am, after all, a Witch.” Her long nails dug into her palms, her feet stretching for the cold stone floor and her resolve dissolving.

“True. You were my enemy.” He flinched as the vines cut deep within the flesh of his throat.

“I’m still your enemy, Vampire. You are everything I’m against.”

“Yet my people are protected under the Treaty, just like everyone else. Way to stay impartial, Keeper.” His words hit her like a bucket of icy water. Black eyes blinked in shock as her mouth opened and closed. The vines stilled as her body trembled before him. Dark brows drew together as she tried to decipher the importance of his words.

“But...you have waged war upon us.”

“I brought you into my home, married you in a pact that will protect your cousin. I have kept my word...”

“You built that room!” The walls all around him trembled, sending dirt sliding down to the stone floor.

“I built it to secure you. It was a precaution to protect my people from your powers should you decide to act against us. I did not invite O’Mallery here. I did not know he was here or what he intended to do to you.” Truth had a smell and a texture. One she had to be recognizing. He wasn’t lying to her.

“You are not without guilt, Elder. The marriage was forced upon me—”

“This marriage was your idea, Alexa.” His eyes held hers as he moved in for the kill. “And you didn’t exactly protest when I claimed you. As I recall you begged me to take you. I made you scream out in pleasure, remember that? Or should I refresh your memory right now?”

“You’ll pay for that,” she hissed, black eyes widening in rage.

“You are mine, Keeper. You pledged yourself to me while I was pumping into you. You belong to me; even in death you won’t escape me.”

If he meant to piss her off completely, his plan was working. A small smile formed on her lips and she tilted her head in a way as if to say, “Wanna bet?” Her face moved closer to his until he could feel her hot breath against his cold cheek. Holding her gaze was daunting.

“You don’t own me, Elder quite the contrary. Tell me, how much blood have you taken since you licked my palm in the Wolven Forest.” Her dark brows rose as her words hinted at a problem he’d only just recognized. His teeth gritted as he remembered puking in a potted plant and his rejection of the beautiful woman who laid herself out before him like a banquet. Her hand moved to cup his cheek, her soft fingers caressing his roughened jaw as she focused on his lips. “Poor Vampire. You thought you could only be cursed once in this existence. You were wrong.”

“Damn you,” he growled at her.

“That’s you, darling; damned to exist with a thirst for only one kind of blood. Mine. You belong to me.” She moved slowly, her eyes closing as her lips gently brushed his. His fangs instantly snapped at the soft flesh of her lower lip, his tongue flicking out quickly to capture the small drops of blood before she could yank her head back.

“Get away from her!”

Both their heads turned toward the threatening voice of the brunette who was running down the stairs. A hiss escaped him as Wilhelm instantly recognized the little Witch who was the cause of all his current problems. If Allison Carver had kept her cute little nose out of his business, then he wouldn’t be cursed with her cousin as a wife. He’d be tied to a sedate little human who would have done his bidding without the slightest hitch.

“Get out of the way, Alexa. I’m going to rid the world of this abomination.” Allison, her dark brown curls tied back over a slim shoulder, held a sharpened piece of wood in her hand. Wood he recognized as ash. A surefire way of killing the undead. Oh, ho!

“Perhaps the two of you can flip a coin to see who kills me first.” His dry humor had both women giving him strange looks. Alexa’s black eyes blinked at him as if she was just seeing him for the first time. Green flecks appeared just as she turned back toward her cousin.

“You shouldn’t be here, Cousin.”

Wilhelm wasn’t the only one surprised when Alexa angled her body to block him from Allison’s line of attack. Her feet touched the floor, allowing him to look over her dark head at Allison, who was gripping the stake tightly.

“I came to help you. I felt your pain. What is going on with you, Alexa?” Allison stepped to her left, angling for a path to allow her to throw the stake at him.

“I’m not sure.” Alexa’s voice sounded shaky, but her movements were obvious as she stepped back in her cousin’s path. “I think my magic was coming to my aid just fine, though a little too late.”

“What did this...thing do to you?” Hate filled Allison’s amber and blue eyes as she glared at him over Alexa’s head.

“It wasn’t him. O’Mallery was up to his tricks, again. Look, put down the stake and we will talk. This is a misunderstanding.”

“I don’t think so. He’s got you under some kind of thrall—”

“He’s my husband.” Alexa’s voice was calm and rational. Wilhelm watched Allison’s head jerk back as if she’d been stricken. He took pleasure in her shock, but it didn’t last, as Alexa reached back and shoved him with a wall of air. He hit the far wall with a bone-jarring thud. “I don’t want to fight you, but I will to protect my oath to him.”

“What are you talking about? Alexa, I came here to save you from him. You’re married to him? What is going on? What did he do to you?” Allison’s dark brows drew together as she struggled to understand the defensive stand Alexa took.

“Throw down the stake and we will talk. I love you, Alley Cat.”

“Alexa...” Allison turned as Jaxson and Warren ran down the stairs. Hell broke loose around him as Allison sent them both flying back. His Enforcers took stock of the situation and went for the kill. Wilhelm felt the strength of Alexa’s blood coursing through him as Alexa flung a hand back to release the vines.

He moved faster than normal, catching Warren’s fist seconds before it would have delivered a punishing blow to Allison’s neck as she ducked Jaxson’s kick. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Allison as her hand deftly captured Jaxson’s boot and tossed him across the floor.

“Enough!” They all seemed to freeze at his echoing command. “Stand down. There’s been enough bloodshed this night.” He released Warren’s fist and turned to look at the ashen face of his wife and her startled cousin. “Allison Carver, you are welcome in my home. All I ask is you obey our rules and put away the stake.”

“What?” Allison blinked up at him like a small, confused child.

“Wilhelm, we were coming to deliver news. Your headset was deactivated.” Warren didn’t move his eyes from Allison or the stake still in her hand. Alexa was his main concern as she crossed her arms over her stomach, a flicker of pain in her moss green gaze as she looked down at the floor.

“Alexa, you need to sit down.” Her small nod worried him as she moved to sit down on the rock ledge of the hot springs. Allison glared at him, tucked the stake in her belt, and went to her cousin. He waited until they were whispering on the other side of the room before he gave his men a nod to continue.

“Should we be worried?” Warren nodded toward the women.

“Probably.” A small smile tugged at Wilhelm’s mouth as Alexa turned her head to look at him. She’d felt his gaze, he was sure of it.

“The Mistress looks a whole lot better than the last time I saw her. How is she?”

“Healing remarkably well. O’Mallery is enemy number one now. I want that bastard alive and conscious when I get my hands on him.”

“We may have bigger problems bearing down upon us. There are far more Wolven at the gates. I don’t think they are here to borrow a cup of sugar, either,” Warren gritted out through his teeth.

“How many?” Wilhelm crossed his arms over his bare chest as he spread his legs to assume his leader stance. Wolven had never come so close to the Hive. They kept their distance as his Enforcers stayed far away from the Wolven Den. The Treaty would be broken the instant a Wolven entered Vampire territory uninvited.

“At least thirty that we could count. I don’t know how many are in wolf form and harder to spot. The Alpha is standing at the gates demanding to speak with you. He doesn’t appear to want to take “no” for an answer.”