A Touch of Flame Read online

  He drew close once more and again she slid her hand around the side of his neck. She created a firm grip and held his gaze.

  The potion had warmed her all the way through, even to the tips of her fingers where she touched him. She added pressure just to the tips.

  Braden’s voice entered her mind. That’s it. I’m feeling something from you.

  Is it my killing power?

  No. Not exactly. But it has a similar quality. This is about control. You were controlled like this by Veyda, weren’t you?

  She thought back to that awful night, what she could remember of it. Then, just like that, another piece fell into place. I was. She was always behind me and she had her hand on my neck.

  What did she want you to do?

  To participate in the ritual.

  What was the ritual? Can you see into the past? Look hard. This is important.

  Someone’s screaming. There on the center platform. She’s screaming. She’s being tortured, but I can’t see her. The one covered in a dark mist. This was the first time she’d been able to remember the woman’s screams in her memories.

  She suddenly recalled Veyda’s voice next to her ear. She’d put more pressure on Maeve’s throat. “You were made for this, Maeve. You were created for extraordinary feats, like nothing you can imagine. But I can imagine for you until you’re ready. Let me train you, instruct you, be your guide. You’ll lack for nothing here in Five Bridges. You’ll be safe under the shelter of my wing. You’ll help me build a society worth having here in Elegance, in all of Five Bridges. Join me, Maeve. Pick up the blade and cut out the woman’s heart.”

  The memory was so stunning and so horrible, Maeve pulled away from Braden, her hands held up in horror. She glanced from one hand to the next. Had she done it? Had she killed the innocent woman that night?

  “What have I done?”

  “Maeve, what’s wrong?” Braden took hold of her arms. “Did you remember more about that night?”

  “Yes. Veyda wanted me to kill the victim as part of my induction. The woman was on a platform in the center of the room. I don’t know who she was or what I did. The mist keeps her cloaked. Maybe Veyda wanted it that way. I don’t know. The witches, the ones I killed, were doing something to her. The smell. It’s the poisoned paste, the one Veyda’s been using on Kiara. The woman was screaming in agony. But Veyda was trying to seduce me into murdering her. She kept talking about my potential and wanting to train me.” She shook her head back and forth. “She said we’d create a whole new Five Bridges, one worth living in. Braden, this woman can’t actually believe she’s doing good.”

  “I think a witch like Veyda would say whatever she felt she needed to say in order to get what she wanted. What interests me is that she must have needed to persuade you to do something against your will. She couldn’t force you. I think she used every weapon in her arsenal to get you to comply, but she failed. Your character won out over her dark spells and potions.”

  Maeve wasn’t convinced. There was still something horrible about that night she couldn’t remember. She might not know the details, yet, but something else had happened and it made her tremble.

  He released her arms and cupped her face. “Look at me. You are stronger than you know. That’s why you survived that night. What you’ve told me is that Veyda had to work hard to convince you to do something that I’m persuaded you refused to do. Then your killing power kicked in. Big time. You have nothing to feel destressed or guilty about.”

  She wanted to believe Braden. In her heart, she wasn’t a killer. Yet she knew she’d taken the lives of those two women. They were dead. The power she’d released from her killing hand had broken open their chests. She had committed murder. Maybe it was out of self-defense and maybe these women had deserved to die, but she’d become a murderer that night.

  While she struggled with her emerging memory, something else began to come through. She gripped Braden’s arm. She thought maybe this was it and she would learn the rest of what had happened.

  Instead, she felt Kiara’s presence as clearly as if she was in the room. She gasped. “Braden. It’s Kiara. She’s with me. I can feel her telepathic presence the way I felt yours earlier in my backyard.”

  “Okay. Good. Focus on her. You can deal with your memories later. Because I’m sensing she’s in trouble.”

  There it was again, how Braden was taking steps into her witch world in the same way she kept feeling wolf-howls form in her throat.

  The potion felt like lightning in her veins now. She pictured the last time she’d seen Kiara and how she’d looked, the terrible poisoned wound on her neck. She forced her telepathy wide open.

  At first, she didn’t understand what she was perceiving. Scattered words rolled through her mind. Pain. Can’t bear it. She’s coming. No. No.

  The sudden screaming Maeve heard made her cover her ears. Braden held on tight, so she couldn’t move. She couldn’t escape the screams.

  Then they stopped. I want to die. Please God, let me die. Now. Please. Please.

  Maeve had almost caught her breath when the screaming started again.

  Kiara was screaming and somehow it translated into a scream within Maeve’s mind.

  She shook, head to toe. She opened her eyes and met Braden’s. His snout was longer, his cheekbones wider, fur had appeared low on his forehead and along his jaw. He looked fierce.

  He growled. Sheba, now sitting on the sink counter once more, hissed, though not at Braden. She, too, must have understood the horrific nature of the situation.

  Maeve nodded. “Kiara’s being tortured right now. We have to go to her. She won’t survive the night. Veyda plans on killing her.”

  Sheba meowed her agreement, leaped from the counter then, as she’d done before, raced up the stairs.

  As he released her arms, his wolfness diminished. “Let’s go, but I’m bringing our wolves with us.”

  “Our wolves?” Now he’d said it, as though he already had a connection to the shifters.

  “The Landing wolves. Let me contact Greg.” As he grew silent and no doubt used his telepathy, he piloted her toward the stone stairs.

  She took his hint and flew up the spiral staircase in a whirl of levitation. When she reached the living room, she darted in the same way in front of the fireplace to the second stairwell.

  Once at the spell boundary of her apartment, she crossed without taking Braden’s hand. She turned back to offer her hand, but he didn’t need it. He simply joined her at her side. “Did you see the spell this time?”

  His brows rose. He glanced at his hand then hers. “I did. But you weren’t touching me, were you?”

  “No.”

  She wanted to explore how he’d done it, but the opposite doors across from the construction site opened. Greg and his six wolves entered the hall.

  Again, Maeve felt a howl forming very wolf-like in her throat. The men looked ready for war. Each was armed with AR-15s slung over their shoulders, sidearms and knives hooked to their belts.

  Braden moved to stand beside her as they waited for the wolves to levitate to them. She glanced up at him then back to her spelled line in front of her apartment. “How do you think you crossed the boundary?”

  “I’m channeling your witchness.”

  The wolves arrived hovering in place, levitating, amped up. Maeve felt their shared, warlike tension. They all looked at Braden. Each pair of eyes glowed.

  Braden waved them forward and, as though they’d practiced for years, they fanned out to form a semi-circle. Maeve saw some of the residents pour into the hallway, no doubt as curious as she was.

  Braden stated their mission. “Kiara’s being tortured as we speak. This has turned into a full-on rescue mission. Maeve will lead the way. You follow either her orders or mine. Stay sharp. We’re moving into dark witch territory with spells you can’t begin to imagine. You’ll experience confusion unless you stick close. We’ve got some real bad guys we’re after who torture their victims then
sell tickets to hard-core snuff killings.”

  Maeve thought his speech might cause some agitation. Instead, all she felt from the wolves was a tightening of focus and purpose.

  Braden turned to her. “Lead the way.”

  Maeve levitated and headed to the emergency doors. Once she was rising in the air and the team was with her, she was surprised when the wolves suddenly whistled and shouted.

  Startled, she turned to face them. She almost asked what was wrong until she realized they were honoring her most recent achievement. She could fly.

  She felt her cheeks warm up. She even smiled.

  Braden caught up with her, took her arm then drew her forward. “Come on.” But he was grinning.

  The sudden shift from excitement to shouted praise had a good effect on her nerves. She felt herself relax just enough.

  As she rose higher in the air, she addressed Greg telepathically and let him know where they were headed.

  We’re ready, returned in a strong, solid response.

  When Maeve reached the protection spell, she drew up and hovered midair. Turning to face the group, she saw in each intense pair of eyes how much they were with her.

  She saw a new possibility as well because of the potion she’d taken. She glanced at Braden, If I touch each of them, it will forge a connection that will help during the rescue, but I’m not sure your wolf will like it.

  She watched his eyes flare and a layer of fur appear in sexy lines along each cheek. I’d better be touching you at the same time, or I will tear them apart, one by one.

  She nodded. I feel it too. Get over here. Her lips curved as she held out her arm to him.

  The moment he surrounded her waist and pulled her close, everything she was lit on fire.

  You’re glowing.

  You do this to me, she responded.

  He looked deadly serious. There’s a lot here, Maeve. Between us, I mean.

  I know. We’ll talk later.

  She reverted her attention to the wolves. The recent interaction between herself and Braden had caused each of the men to sprout fur and elongate jaws and snouts slightly. She explained about the spell and what she felt was possible.

  Each wolf inclined his head slowly as she moved along the half circle. Braden tracked close, his body tense. She gripped the throat of each wolf and when she felt the connection form, she moved to the next. When she’d created the temporary bond, the wolves howled.

  She felt the same kind of howl form in her throat. This time, she didn’t hold back, but joined her voice with theirs.

  Braden howled as well and to her newly-formed wolf ears, the sound was exquisite with layers of resonance her witch ears alone could never have heard. Her heart swelled and a strange, single word formed in her head: Home.

  A few seconds later, the howling died away and her focus sharpened once more in Kiara’s direction.

  Greg called out. I can see the spelled boundary.

  At that, Maeve turned to Braden and smiled. He dipped his chin three times in approval. Let’s go.

  She flew forward and upward, crossing the security spell. She was almost ready to turn in the direction of Veyda’s compound when she sensed the warlock’s presence. Gammet was here.

  Instead of reacting as a witch and feeling a profound need to hide, she suddenly felt very much like a wolf. Battle was what she wanted. She now hoped he’d brought his team ready to fight.

  To Braden, she telepathed, I can feel him. Veyda’s warlock. He’s not far. I think we should engage his force in the Graveyard. We don’t want to be dealing with him once we’re at Veyda’s compound.

  I agree. Let’s do it.

  She addressed the team and explained the situation. She hated that they had to delay getting to Kiara even one second, but Gammet would stop them before they’d flown a hundred yards in the direction of Veyda’s compound.

  Among the wolves, she watched arms tense up and assault rifles shift about as each man strengthened his control of his weapon.

  “He won’t be expecting a force. We need to shut him down before we try to rescue Kiara. We’re heading into the Graveyard.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Braden stared hard at Maeve. He could feel the tension and excitement in her and it felt more wolf than witch. Her suggestion they go on the offensive meant something.

  He glanced at her and saw that her blue eyes were lit with a familiar, warring light. He’s tried to kill you again, Braden. This warlock needs a lesson. Just remember, he’s powerful.

  Braden nodded. I’m going to forge group telepathy.

  Go for it.

  Braden took a moment to establish the group communication. All the wolves fixed their attention on him. He explained about Gammet, and what they could expect. Let’s go in, guns blazing. Don’t hold back. These are a bunch of bad guys who’ve been doing Veyda’s bidding. Maeve will track him. Remember. If she gives an order, think of it as mine. Now let’s go.

  He released Maeve’s hand and rose into the air.

  The Landing backed up to the Graveyard so it was a short flight. Within seconds they were levitating above the no-man’s-land that separated all five territories from each other. It was a fitting place to confront the man who’d almost taken his life. Twice.

  The Graveyard looked like a torn-up war zone. As many as twenty bodies were hauled away at dawn by Tribunal Squads assigned to the task. Occasionally, bombs went off and carved out even more craters. Ditches filled with cacti, weeds and desert rock made for slow-going on foot or in a four-wheeler. Motorcycles fared better. Small makeshift bridges were the only way through, though they often gave out under the weight of the vehicles.

  Levitation helped a helluva lot.

  Maeve broke into the group telepathy. He’s not far. Fifty yards at most. To the north.

  I see him. Looks like he’s got a bigger crew this time. I’m seeing about a dozen. Fan out.

  With precision, the Landing wolves split off in a wide arc four to Maeve’s left, three to Braden’s right.

  Braden sharpened his wolf vision. In the distance, he saw them lined up and arrogant. Good. Let them think they had this.

  Braden channeled his growing spellcaster and sensed what Gammet had planned. To Maeve, he telepathed, At my command, shoot forty feet straight up.

  Got it.

  When the team closed within thirty yards, he used a sharp telepathic command. Split. Use evasive maneuvers. Now! Attack.

  Maeve rose swiftly into the air at the same time Braden did, just as he’d told her to. The wolves responded by levitating swiftly in opposite directions then by descending from all angles. They fired at the enemy at the same time.

  Gammet’s team on the ground returned fire, but Greg’s men never stopped moving.

  Braden told Maeve to stay high in the air and to alert him in case Gammet called in reinforcements.

  He didn’t wait for her to agree. He knew she’d follow his orders.

  He levitated above the battlefield and watched the Landing wolves in action. Greg hadn’t been kidding when he said he’d been running drills with his team. They were a highly disciplined unit. Through the group telepathy, he heard Greg call out one command after another. Each time, one or several of his squad would shift aerial positions or targets.

  Gammet’s crew on the ground had obviously relied on their numbers and ferocity to carry the day. There was no discipline to their movements and they were hunkered down behind whatever Graveyard debris they could find. Unless they carried a boatload of ammo, they wouldn’t be able to keep firing off that many rounds and not end up empty handed.

  When one of Greg’s wolves dropped in lopsided levitation from the air, Maeve’s voice entered his mind. I’ve got this.

  As she flew in the direction of the wounded wolf, he felt her contact her support staff at the Landing. He almost went after her to serve as protection, but he stopped himself.

  Instead, he fixed his attention on the warlock.

  Maeve, take care of the wolf. I’
m moving in on Gammet.

  Take him, Braden.

  He used group telepathy. Wolves, lay down some cover. I’m going after Gammet.

  Greg responded. I want everyone in the Z formation we worked on. Let’s come in from high in the air. When Braden finds his target, we’ll do the same. Let’s rock-n-roll.

  He watched the wolves levitate almost straight up, which stopped the ground fire.

  Braden pivoted in the air so that he was head down as he flew toward Gammet. His position made him the smallest possible target.

  Greg’s crew came in from all directions but at downward angles to avoid friendly crossfire.

  The warlock moved to the center of what looked like eight still-standing men in his squad. He appeared to be heating up his own killing power as he lifted his left arm toward Braden. But would he be fast enough to do some damage?

  Braden called out a command to the team. Converge. I’ve got Gammet.

  As he shot like a rocket toward the warlock, he saw movement all around his peripheral vision as the six remaining Landing wolves shifted tactics and began to dive in as well.

  Each had his own method for avoiding gunfire, but they flew like lightning toward Gammet’s hunkered down squad. At least five of the warlock’s crew suddenly took off running. Braden had seen this before. Those men would disappear into the night and never be seen again.

  Braden added some speed. Three – two – one.

  Just as Gammet tried and failed to fire his killing power, Braden slammed into the warlock. He knocked him backward against an abandoned car.

  The warlock, as big as Braden, grunted and tried to recover, but he was no warrior.

  Braden used his fists. He grabbed the front of Gammet’s t-shirt then powered in three quick jabs to his face. Blood gushed from his nose. Braden heard bones crunch.

  The warlock waved his arm. Braden felt the spell, but his connection to Maeve’s abilities gave him enough warning to release him. The moment he did, Gammet smiled and began to disappear.

  At the last second, when Gammet was completely invisible, Braden reached for him, but he was gone.