Only Skin Deep: Paranormal MMM Romance, page 29
Luca paused, swallowing the lump in his throat. When he looked up at the mourners gathered, he noticed Mrs. Stephenson seated in the chair he’d left empty between his mates. A beautiful smile graced her lips, her hands clutched together under her chin, while her eyes shined with tears.
“She was a beautiful soul and gave so many a piece of herself.” He pressed a palm to his heart, holding her gaze as he fought tears. “I keep my piece with me, always. You will remain here forevermore, Mrs. Stephenson.”
Luca left the podium. Mrs. Stephenson rose and walked toward him. He stopped when she was inches from him… but she continued and walked through him. Glancing over one shoulder, he didn’t see her behind him. Tears stung as the scent of jasmine swirled around him.
“I’ll miss you,” he whispered before returning to the row where his mates sat.
He’d said his piece and saw her one last time. He nodded, urging them to go, more than ready to get the hell out of the cemetery.
They marched out silently, flanking either side of him. Protecting him. From what, they truly had no idea.
Yet the ghosts were still gone. Thankfully.
Midway to the car, a hand clamped onto his shoulder and whirled him around. The fine hairs at the back of his neck stood and cold washed over him, the remembered attacks near the forefront of his mind. When he turned, it was Mrs. Stephenson’s old coven. The witch who’d stopped him was of equal height, with graying hair at the temples.
There was something familiar about him, but Luca couldn’t determine what.
“We understand she owed you a debt,” he said, eyes hidden behind his mirrored frames.
“She owed me nothing,” Luca replied. He glanced to the side, and Ash and Colby were gone.
“Our kin owed you a debt. One she can no longer repay. That debt falls now to her family.”
“Her family?” Luca asked, sarcasm lacing his words as he lifted a brow. “You’re not her family.” Luca attempted to move around them, but they refused to allow him to pass.
“The cost of that magic has left its toll on you,” one witch said. “It’s draining you even now.”
Luca cocked his head to the side. He’d assumed giving everything to Colby had been the cause. “No, it was magic I did after.”
“The drain had already begun before you assisted your mate,” another witch said. He surveyed the others. “He has little time left.”
Little time left?
“We cannot allow the debt to go unpaid,” their leader said.
“As I said, she ow—”
Before Luca could finish the sentiment, the entire coven surrounded him, pushing Ash and Colby out of the way. Anger flared as each slammed a hand onto him, grasping and pulling. He opened his mouth to roar—but was struck with power unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. It pulsed through him, like a heartbeat of its own, raging through his body.
Magic coiled throughout his body, unfurling, and filling every space within. Light so bright it nearly burned his retinas shot from his eyes, riding the edge between pain and pleasure as it swelled through his body. He wanted to scream, but no sound poured from between his lips.
As fast as it started, it was over.
“Her debt is paid.”
Luca collapsed to his knees, drunk on magic, the witches scattering.
In a flash, Ash knelt beside him, dragging him closer. “Luca? Luca? Are you okay?”
Colby knelt in front of Luca, lifting his chin and eyeing him. “Say something.”
A smile curled the corners of Luca’s lips upward. “I’m more than okay.”
Ash and Colby both sighed with relief.
“What was that?” Ash said. “They shoved me out of the way… and then it was as if you were…”
“In a bubble,” Colby finished.
“Yeah,” Ash replied, nodding to Colby. “We couldn’t get through.”
“They repaid her debt, even though I told them she owed me nothing,” Luca answered.
Ash scoffed. “Why would they do that?”
“I can’t answer that,” Luca said. He glanced over Ash’s shoulder just in time to see them disappear through a portal. Once they were out of sight, he lifted his hand, summoning magic into his palm.
His normal ball of light glowed gold and was twice as large.
“Luca?” Ash asked.
Luca grinned, eyeing his mates. “I think I might be ready to break some curses.” He eyed Colby. “We need to redo your tattoo. Now.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Ash said, glancing over his shoulder at the humans not too far away. He all but yanked Luca off the ground and urged them through the cemetery.
A few ghosts wafted their way. Luca coiled magic in his palm, and the light seemed to hold them back, thankfully. When they arrived at the car, Nix was leaning on it. No ghosts in sight.
“What do you want?” Luca demanded.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were a necromancer?”
Luca frowned. “I’m not.”
“That bevy of ghosts hounding you? I saw them.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. All I saw was you graverobbing and the ghosts hounding you.”
“Don’t bullshit me, man. They were chomping at the bit to get to you.” Nix searched his face. “I bet you’ve seen ghosts all your life. Maybe even been attacked by them a time or two.”
Luca glared.
“Yep,” Nix said, grinning. “You’re a necromancer.”
“I’m not. I’m a healer.”
Nix chuckled, the sound morose. “So is a necromancer if you get down to it. They heal death.” He lifted his hip off the car.
“Necromancy is outlawed by the Council.” Luca narrowed his gaze. “I always sensed there was something off about you. You deal in death.”
Nix lifted his chin. “Studying the Art of Necromancy is outlawed by the Council. Natural necromancers… well… we have little choice in the matter. Ghosts find us.” Nix drew in a deep breath. “We should talk sometime soon. Just you and me.”
Not likely.
“I won’t bite. I promise,” Nix said, closing the gap. He grinned before turning and walking back into the cemetery, ghosts returning to swirl about him.
Ash stared, as did Colby, both with questions in their eyes.
“Necromancy?” Ash asked.
“What is necromancy?” Colby asked.
“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Luca murmured, reaching for the door.
“Necromancy is the ability to raise the dead.” Ash pushed in front of him. “Ghosts? Do you see ghosts?”
Luca sighed. “Sometimes.” Catching movement from the corner of his eye, he assumed it to be another. He turned and noticed Mrs. Stephenson’s granddaughter on the fray instead, waiting for him. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she whispered. “I was wondering…” She swallowed, her face pale. “Maybe I could come talk to you sometime soon?”
Luca nodded. “Yeah, sure. Brittney, right?”
She nodded.
“What did you want to talk about?”
Brittney glanced over both shoulders before she lifted her hand and a tiny zip of power appeared in her palm, and quickly fizzled out. “What is this, Luca?”
He walked closer, and she attempted again, the magic lasting a few more seconds.
“It started after Grams died.”
Luca grinned. “Seems you have a little of magic in you.”
“No shit,” she said, lifting her gaze to him. “Those people… the ones who crowded around you. They’re my family, aren’t they? The witches that kicked Grams out?”
“Yeah. They were.” His gut wanted him to scream for her to stay away from them, but what right did he have?
“Any family that would kick someone as awesome as Grams out is shitty. I don’t want their help,” Brittney said. She examined her hand, and another tiny ball of light formed. Stronger than the last two. When it faded, she looked to Luca. “But… I thought…”
“That I might help?”
“Yeah?”
“Come by the shop anytime. I’ll let the front desk know you’ll be coming and to call me, okay? You’ll be safe there.”
Brittney nodded, appearing relieved. “Okay.” She smiled. “I better get back to my folks.” She wrapped her arms around Luca’s waist and squeezed. “Thanks.”
Luca hugged her back.
She pulled away without a backward glance and raced back toward the service. When Luca turned back to his mates, he saw adoration in their eyes. A smile curled his lips as it mirrored the love in his own heart.
“And our family grows by one more,” Ash said. “We’re gonna need a bigger place.”
Luca snickered. “Yeah, maybe.” He pointed to the car. “Enchanted Ink. Now.”
“You just got your power back, Luca,” Colby said. “I can’t take it from you again. I won’t.”
Luca moved closer, caressing the scarred skin in one hand. “I can break it now.”
“No,” Colby said. “You saved my life, Luca. That was enough. I won’t take your gift from you again.”
“You took nothing from me,” Luca assured. “I gave it.”
Colby frowned. “No, Luca, I won’t. I live, and that’s all that matters. It’s enough.”
Luca frowned.
“I care. Okay? I care for you, and I’ve spent the past days terrified that I’d broken you. Ruined your ability to do magic. I understand losing the thing that makes you you. I lost the ability to create, and I won’t rob you of your magic again.”
Luca shook his head. “Colby—I’m stronger than I’ve ever been. I can break this curse—I know it in my bones. And it won’t rob me a second time.”
Colby searched his face. “Are you sure? Absolutely, one-hundred percent sure? Because I won’t do this unless you are.”
Luca was maybe eighty percent sure, but that was close enough in his book. “I’m sure,” he fibbed. Lifting his gaze to Ash, he saw doubt in his familiar’s gaze. “I’m sure.”
Both were silent a moment, appraising him. With a whip of his hand, the car doors swung open, and the car ignition fired. “Let’s go.”
“Show off,” Ash muttered under his breath before they all slid inside.
Chapter
Twenty-One
Colby slid onto the cool leather of Luca’s tattoo chair, stomach down and shirt off. Ash sat beside him on one of two rolling stools, holding his good hand in a tight grip as Luca prepared his equipment. Luca hummed a familiar melody, his back to them. Colby focused on that sound versus the thundering of his heart in his ears.
It grew harder to breathe the longer he lay there. He refused to sacrifice Luca over a few scars.
“Are you sure about this?” Colby asked. “You just got your power back. Maybe you should rest before using it again.”
Luca turned from the counter where various vials of inks and trays of tools rested. “I’m good, Colby. Don’t you want to break the curse?”
“Not at your expense.”
Luca sat on his rolling stool on the other side of the chair. “You can’t live like this, Colby. You shouldn’t have to. I want you to return to the life you know.”
“But I can’t. Not now,” Colby said. “I have no kiln, no tools, nothing. It can wait. If you need time to allow all this new power to settle… I’m good. I can wait.”
Why fear took hold, he wasn’t sure. Only that it was directed at Luca more than himself.
Luca glanced past him to Ash and back. “I don’t want you to wait a second more than you have to.” He brushed a lock of hair off Colby’s forehead. “I don’t want this evil holding you in its grasp for a second longer. You deserve to be freed.”
“And I can be,” Colby said. “In a day or two… once you get your footing back.” He lifted a bit. “Or we wait until Solstice, as planned, and let the whole coven do this together. It would be less of a drain on you.”
Ash smiled slyly. He squeezed Colby’s hand. “Luca says he’s ready, so I will trust him to know.” He gazed past Colby. “Because if he does this before he’s ready, it could kill him.”
The dimly lit room grew bright. Luca was surrounded by supernatural light, swirling about him like wheels of a gyroscope. “They gave me my power back… and more. I’m ready to do this.”
Ash captured Colby’s gaze, using a thumb to drag his chin. “I’d say he’s ready.”
Colby smiled wanly, gripping Ash’s hand tightly. “Then I am, too.”
The light diminished, and Luca rose, returning to the counter to collect his tools. When he sat again, hands covered in latex, he drew the medical-style light down to illuminate Colby’s back and started work. He cleaned the area before turning on his tattoo gun.
The studio door swung open. Colby looked over his shoulder. Atlas and Delilah stood in the doorframe.
“Stop!” Atlas cried, lifting one hand.
Luca glared at Atlas. “Why?”
“We may have found a means to break the curse,” Atlas said, marching closer, a roll of parchment in his hands. “Delilah and I want to assist.”
He handed the roll of parchment to Luca. Studying it, Luca noted Atlas’ handwriting—along with smudges of a black sludge that he sensed was of evil means. He lifted his gaze. “Where did you find this?”
“I went to dark places looking for a curse breaker, Luca.” Atlas lifted his chin. “Very dark places… but I found it. This will work.”
He re-read the instructions in Latin and inhaled. A hint of sulphur came to his nose. “Are you sure?”
“Between your souped-up power and these instructions, it will work,” Delilah stated.
“How did you kno—” Luca paused. Delilah always seemed to know.
“Souped-up power?” Atlas asked.
“He’s gone nuclear,” Delilah mentioned, grinning.
“How?” Atlas asked.
“Repayment,” Delilah whispered throatily. She narrowed her eyes. “From family?”
Family? Luca frowned. Well, Mrs. Stephenson’s family.
Atlas opened his mouth, more questions looming from the looks of it.
“I can explain later. Let’s get on with this,” Luca said.
Ash rose and allowed Atlas a seat. Delilah manifested her old broom, something she jokingly rode on Halloween to fascinate human children. She hopped on it sideways, her legs dangling from one side, and drew closer to Atlas.
The pair chanted the words a few times, their volume growing. Luca joined in on the third revolution and added his voice to theirs. Coils of light traced over the walls of his studio—runes and other shapes Luca was unfamiliar with. He picked up his gun and went to work on Colby’s tattoo. Once again, he poured his power in, darkening the faded lines of the tattoo.
His newfound power rose within, their curse breaker adding even more juice to his. Time ceased to exist. The words whispered from his lips without conscious thought. The tattoo glowed brighter with every new line laid.
When it was complete, he rose from his stool and surveyed Colby’s back. For long seconds, nothing happened, and he doubted himself and the curse-breaking spell.
“It didn’t wo—”
Inch by inch, the scarring suddenly faded, revealing perfect, unmarred flesh underneath. A sigh of relief hit, and Luca helped Colby rise. Luca observed the front clearing just as the back had. He drew Colby off the chair and to the mirror behind the door.
Ash moved in beside Luca at their human’s back, and they watched as Colby’s face cleared in the reflection. He lifted his arm, and the scarring continued to clear. His fingers healed, and Colby stretched them, sighing with relief.
The scarring returned to the space where the cursed tattoo had been—a faded tattoo remained there, two evil-looking people.
“Ugh,” Colby said, lifting his arm. “This was supposed to be my parents.”
Luca pulled magic into his palm and laid it over the ugly tattoo. In a matter of seconds, it was gone.
“Thank god,” Colby murmured. He turned to Luca. “Thank you.”
Luca grinned. “Don’t mention it.”
Colby slapped a hand where the curse had been and screamed in pain.
“What is it?” Ash asked, but Colby only screamed louder.
Luca gripped Colby’s wrist. “Let me see!”
When Colby removed his hand, Luca saw the mate’s mark appearing where the curse had been. The three swirls connected as one.
The runes and figures on the walls shone more, brighter than the sun itself, near to blinding. A crackling sound hit, hurting Luca’s ears—and a shot rang out, and the runes were gone.
Silence fell over the studio. Luca’s eyes struggled to re-acclimate to the dimness of his space. When they did, he lifted his gaze to Colby. “It’s done. The curse is broken.”
Colby released a shuddering breath. “Yeah… I don’t feel it anymore.”
Luca offered his forearm, showing Colby the inside where the exact mark resided. Ash lowered his arm, too, showing him. Colby looked between them. “My mate’s mark?”
“Yes,” Luca whispered.
Colby stared at it for a few seconds before running a reverent fingertip over the surface of it. He lifted his gaze. “I guess this makes it official?”
Ash chuckled, drawing Colby into a hug. “Only if you want it to be.”
Luca met Colby’s gaze. “Do you want it to be?”
Colby didn’t answer at first, and worry grew within Luca.
“I’m willing to see where this goes,” Colby replied. “I accept we’re bound by Fate, whatever that means.”
Luca leaned closer, slanting his lips over Colby’s, stealing a kiss. As soon as they parted, Ash did the same.
“I think we should leave and allow the happy throuple some privacy,” Delilah announced loudly. “Come on, Atlas. Let’s get out of here.”
Delilah pushed past them, grinning sweetly as she moved. She caressed the side of Colby’s cheek before she departed. “Glad we got you back to yourself.”
“Thank you,” Colby said. “And you, too, Atlas.”
