Luca's Magic Embrace (27 page)

“You’ve done well, Rowan. He’ll help us greatly in our cause.”

“Your woman isn’t very faithful, wolf. She was about to touch my dangly bits; sometimes only a vampire can satisfy a woman,” Luca goaded. He was slowly gaining strength but continued to bide his time on the floor.

Sköll padded up to Luca and knelt beside him, grabbing his face with grubby strong fingers. “Brave you are, for a man whose balls are owned by a witch. You, my friend, will do as I say. The witch and I are business partners, nothing more. If she wants to fuck you when we’re done, she’s welcome to your sorry ass. Hell, I may join her.” Sköll roamed his hands over Luca’s chest, admiring the slave. “But first, you will go to war.”

Disgusted by the wolf’s touch, Luca batted his hand away. “War?”

“Marcel will pay for refusing my brother his bitch. Now, I’m gonna take his pack. And you will help me.”

“Kat? What in hell makes you think I’ll do that? Besides, you’ll never win. Marcel knows this land blind. There’s no way an outside pack could take over.”

“I have an insider who’s going to help me, vamp. As far as fighting for me, with this amulet,” he fingered her silver chain, “you’ll have no choice. Rowan here, is going to train you real good to obey her. By the time she’s done you’ll be as compliant as a little lamb. Not only will you will fight for me, you’ll lick my balls if she tells you to.” Sköll clutched Luca’s cheeks in his hands and forced his closed lips against Luca’s. Laughing out loud, he walked across the room to Rowan.

Luca bared his fangs at the wolf, disgusted by the thought. “Fucking never, wolf. I will never help you or that bitch.”

He watched as Sköll took Rowan in a rough embrace. She writhed and purred against him like a cat in heat, then ripped off her clothes, decidedly aroused by the wolf. Falling to the floor, growling and mewling, they began to have sex. Luca watched in abhorrence and planned his attack.

Sufficiently engrossed in their coupling, Rowan and Sköll had inadvertently exposed their vulnerability. Luca patiently waited for the perfect moment. He needed to rip the amulet from Rowan’s neck. She needed it on her person to control him. If he could get the amulet away from Rowan, even for a second, he could escape.

When Samantha entered the foyer, she immediately recognized the extraordinarily good-looking vampire, Xavier. She felt relieved to see him, even though she’d only met him once in the dimly lit club. Sculpted, mocha-skinned muscles bulged from his black spandex tank top. Black jeans hugged every firm curve of his glutes; he looked like a Greek God.

He smiled at her as if he’d been expecting her. Extending his hand, he bowed. “Xavier Daigre, at your service, ma cher.” He took her hand in his, brushing his lips across it. “I understand mon ami, Luca, was taken earlier today.”

“I’m Samantha,” she replied, noting his old world charm. “I know we didn’t get a chance to talk at the club, but Luca mentioned you and Étienne. As for your question, yes, Rowan, from Ilsbeth’s coven, took both Luca and the
Hematilly Periapt
. It’s an amulet of sorts. It controls vampires but only someone of magic can use it and also only if they have the blood of the vampire they wish to control.” She lowered her head and shook it. “It’s my fault that she has him. I should’ve resisted her. She took it from me. Then she took Luca. You should have seen him.”

Xavier placed a firm hand on her shoulder. “We will find him, Samantha.”

Étienne walked in to see Xavier with his hands on the petite human woman who Luca cherished. Although he wouldn’t admit it to them, they’d both known Luca had been entranced by the witch as they’d watched him dance with her at Sangre Dulce.

“Hello Samantha,” Étienne nodded. “I’m Étienne. We met at the club but weren’t formally introduced. Léopold told us what happened. Xavier is correct. Luca is very old and strong.”

Samantha looked to Étienne who she sensed was a younger vampire. His dark-blonde hair was tied at his neck. Like Xavier, he was attractive and well-built. Wearing black jeans and a white polo shirt, he was casually cool and looked like he could have been in a GAP commercial. Samantha looked around to see if Léopold was nearby before whispering to them both. “What about him? Léopold. Can he be trusted?”

Xavier and Étienne passed a silent look between them. Xavier spoke first. “We are loyal to Kade. He sent us here because there is very serious trouble with Marcel’s pack that he must attend to. All I can tell you is that Kade would never have left Luca in such a predicament if he didn’t trust Léopold. Luca is his best friend and confidant. Kade explained Léopold’s role and said he’s more than capable of helping Luca. Being that Léopold is Kade’s maker, he is much more powerful and can help us retrieve our friend.”

Étienne nodded in agreement. “It’s true, Samantha. Léopold knows of the
Hematilly Periapt
. And he’ll be much stronger when we need the power of another vampire, but in the end, it’s you who is needed to destroy it.”

“But how?”

“When the time comes, I shall help you, Samantha.” Léopold strolled into the room. “Consider it on a ‘need to know’ basis.” A corner of his mouth lifted in a slight smile.

He was so smug, she thought. Dressed head to toe in black leather, he shook hands with Étienne and Xavier and began to discuss their plan on what vehicle and route they’d take to the location. Samantha tried to concentrate on his words but soon found herself lost in his aura. Léopold emanated authority and command; energy had reverberated throughout the room on his arrival. Samantha’s own magic started to hum in response, and she rubbed her arms up and down in an effort to ease the sensation. She was not only unsure of her magic, she was afraid. What if she accidently lit the place on fire?

Léopold stopped speaking to observe the small woman. She’d gone quiet, acutely aware of his vitality. He strode over to her and placed a calming hand on Samantha’s shoulder. “You’re okay, mon agneau. Breathe. Take deep breaths. You sense me, no?”

“I…I’m sorry. It’s just your power. My skin. I feel like I’m on fire. I’m new to my own abilities. For a minute there, I thought I might set something ablaze. It’s like I can’t contain it once the magic surfaces.”

“Save it for Rowan. You’re going to need every last bit of energy you’ve got. Okay, now?”

She nodded. Something about the vampire excited her nerves, but his hand calmed her. She hated being out of control and was anxious to get Luca back. She’d never been a violent person but knew in that moment, she could kill. Rowan was destroying her life. Luca was her future, and she was ready to unleash her fury to save them all.

They’d been riding in the car for an hour. Marshes, fields and bayou sprinkled the landscape along the way. At night, she couldn’t see much, but sensed they were in the country. “Léopold, how much further do we have to go? How do you know they’ll be there?” she asked.

“Rowan’s place is near Houma; we’re almost there. She’s got nowhere else to go. She inherited the antebellum several years ago, according to the records. What she plans to do with Luca is the big mystery, however. Ilsbeth and the other witches would have had the assistance of the vampires if they’d needed it. But then again, power is quite the aphrodisiac,” he surmised.

Aggravated and confused, Samantha rested her head against the window, staring out into the darkness. She didn’t care about why Rowan wanted the periapt; she only wanted Luca. Her stomach knotted as the SUV’s tires turned into a narrow driveway lined with Spanish moss-covered elm trees. An eerie feeling blanketed Samantha’s entire body. Quiet fog weighed onto the graveled road; the headlights pushed through the pale mist.

Léopold, in the front passenger seat, directed Xavier to park out of sight of the house. The thrum of the engine cut to silence. Samantha took a deep breath, knowing their battle was about to begin.

“Xavier, Étienne. Take the back of the house. Samantha. We’re going to enter the front door together. Now listen up, everyone. We can’t be sure who or what Rowan’s got in there. She could have wards. It’s even possible that she could have another vampire besides Luca. Not likely, but possible.” He caught Samantha’s eyes. “Samantha, I’ll try to take Rowan, but as she demonstrated, her gift of telekinesis is strong. If she spots me, she can shake me off with a hand. You need to go after her with your gift in kind. Call on the elements. Show no mercy, for she will not show it to you. Understand?”

“Yes,” she lied. Samantha nervously bit her lip. She wasn’t sure if she could take out Rowan, but she’d die trying.

As they got out of the car, a humid breeze blew hard against them. Lightning flashed in the distance. Within seconds, thunder roared and Samantha reacted by wrapping an arm around Léopold’s. She barely knew the lethal vampire, yet here she was holding onto him for dear life. She rolled her eyes silently in embarrassment but she held firm.
Better the devil you know.

Léopold smelled Samantha’s trepidation. He’d gone to war many times over his lifetime, accepting that battles seldom came without loss. But one thing he’d never done was knowingly go into a situation attached to a fragile mortal woman. If he’d had any other choice, he would have left her at home. But he knew damn well that he needed her to dispose of the amulet, for only a witch could demolish the diabolical object.

If Luca didn’t survive the attack, he’d pursue the beautiful girl, he thought to himself. He knew he shouldn’t think such things while on the brink of combat. He blamed it on the adrenaline coursing through his veins. Every sense was heightened, including his need for sex. He enjoyed the feel of her body tight against his and wondered what it would be like to bring her to climax.

Before climbing the staircase, Léopold shoved Samantha behind a tree. Her back pressed tight against the bark, the evidence of his arousal grazing her belly.

“What are you doing?” she whispered loudly, quite annoyed by his state.

“Patience, my dear Samantha. I’m listening.” He smiled ruefully, aware of his surroundings.

“Do you hear anything?” She tried to ignore the fact that a large, sexy vampire had her pinned to an elm tree, not to mention the inappropriate hardness in his pants.

“Lovemaking.” A broad smile broke across his handsome face. He leaned down to smell her hair.

“Excuse me?” It was obvious the man had sex on his mind. But Samantha couldn’t for the life of her fathom how he could talk about it when they were about to go on the offensive.

“Lovemaking. Sex. That is what I hear. Someone is getting it on, as Al Green would say. A perfect time for a party, don’t you think?”

Samantha’s stomach lurched. She’d die if Rowan made Luca do something sexual against his will. She’d seen firsthand the power the amulet had had over Luca back in the courtyard.

“Don’t worry, my sweet. We’re about to go in now. You ready?” he asked.

“As ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s do this,” she replied.

Stepping out from behind the tree, Samantha took in the sight of Rowan’s home. The once magnificent antebellum stood dilapidated before them. The gabled roof peaked with an uneven slope and paint peeled from majestic Grecian pillars. Fig ivy had nearly taken over the sides of the home and was creeping onto the porch.

Léopold placed a silencing finger to his lips and pointed at the stairs. Slowly they climbed up toward the door. Aside from the cicadas singing, she could only hear her own heartbeat in the darkness. She trusted that Léopold was correct about the sex; yet as they approached the door, she heard nothing.

Silently, Léopold traced a finger down her cheek, seeking her attention. It was time. He held up a finger. On the count of three, he’d enter. One. Two. Three.

Luca watched as Sköll lifted Rowan to position her over the sofa. The sight of Rowan’s pale ass in the air pointing toward him repulsed Luca. Sköll growled and looked over at Luca to make sure he was watching as he roughly entered her from behind. She screamed in delight and soon Sköll lost himself in his actions, ignoring his unwilling audience.

Luca breathed deeply as he steeled himself for attack.
Remove the amulet
; the words reverberated through his head. It was his only chance of breaking the spell. Lunging forward, burning agony tore through Luca’s spine. He had disobeyed Rowan’s command to lie still on the floor. His blatant insubordination was met with blinding torment. A thousand invisible knives pierced his skin; his head screamed for alleviation. Sucking in a breath, Luca charged onward into swift propulsion.

Immersed in passion, Sköll barely registered the danger before Luca sank his fangs into his shoulder. Energizing shifter blood rushed into Luca’s mouth as he held Sköll in place. Plowing his hand madly toward Rowan’s neck, his fingers felt for the periapt and slipped under the silver chain. A pop sounded as it snapped.

Luca saw the crimson amulet rattle across the floor. Instantly, the ghostly knives receded. Twisting herself round to look up at Sköll’s attacker, Rowan met Luca’s eyes with a clear understanding that the spell was shattered. Refusing to retract his fangs, he bit deeper into Sköll. Raging, the shifter jerked Luca upward, wildly attempting to dislodge his attacker. Sköll began to transform into a wolf, successfully bucking Luca onto the ground. Within seconds, the man turned wolf, and Luca renewed his assault, giving the beast little time to assume an offensive position. In the midst of the struggle, a loud crash sounded, distracting Luca. The vampire from the courtyard had erupted through the barricade, and his beautiful Samantha rushed directly into the skirmish.