Nature of the Beasts (Spark of Magic), page 15
Sarah nodded in agreement. Sadness tightened her chest, and she looked to Dmitry with worry. “What if he finds the sheriff dead?”
“It’s unlikely he would be alive. In your studies, did you ever hear of any humans surviving?”
“A few, I believe. But with half a soul or less, it’s unlikely he would ever be the same.”
Dmitry reached across the island and covered her hand with his. She turned her palm, entwining her fingers with Dmitry’s. It didn’t feel as though the sheriff was dead, but even if he’d somehow survived the attack, what could they do for him?
* * * *
Dastan worked his way toward the area he thought the gunshot had come from. Using his honed sense of smell, Dastan zeroed in on the smell of a horse. He followed it, his paws hitting the dry ground, pushing him faster across the fields.
He knew the light of day was not the right time to be doing this, but he could cover more ground this way. Get to where he needed to go much quicker.
It didn’t take him long to track down the horse. Dastan came to a halt. His paws continued to slide across the ground a few more inches, and he dug in harder, forcing himself to stop. In the distance, he saw the horse.
Mike sat on the back of it but barely. He wobbled from side to side like a man drunk. Dastan changed to human form and jogged to meet the horse.
“Mike,” he called, then louder as he got closer, “Mike.”
Mike’s head bobbed slightly. He made eye contact with Dastan, but his eyes were glassy and distant. He doubted Mike even knew what he was looking at.
Dastan reached out and grabbed the horse’s neck, then took the reins from Mike’s limp hands.
“Dastan?” Mike murmured.
“Yeah. You okay?” he asked, even though he could tell by looking at him that he wasn’t.
Mike frowned, then nodded. “I, uh, I feel like I’ve had way too much to drink.”
Dastan snorted. “I’ll bet. What happened?”
Mike turned his frown toward Dastan. “I think…I was attacked, but by what I haven’t the damnedest idea.”
Dastan didn’t pressure him, but he did feel a bit of relief to notice that although Mike looked pale, he at least seemed to be coherent.
“What the hell are you doing out here?” Mike asked.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
Mike gave a nod. “Yep. I suppose you could.”
When Mike didn’t say anything more, Dastan twitched his lips in amusement.
“Do you mind if we head back to your place?” Mike asked. “I need to sit on something other than a weaving horse.”
Dastan grinned. It wasn’t the horse that was weaving.
“Yeah. We’re not far, but I think you should tell me what the hell happened.” Dastan began to lead the horse toward the house, all the while watching the area around him for any sign of Razeen. “I heard the gunshot. That’s what got me out here. I thought that maybe you were someone hunting out of season.”
When Mike didn’t say anything, Dastan glanced at him over his shoulder. The sheriff was staring off into space, a confused look on his face. “Mike,” Dastan said firmly.
Mike slowly turned his gaze toward Dastan. “Have you ever seen something you couldn’t explain?”
“Every day of my life.”
“Well, not me.”
“Tell me about it,” Dastan coaxed, hoping Mike would tell him how he’d gotten away.
“Something I thought was a man attacked me, but now…now I’m not sure.”
Dastan pursed his lips before asking. “If not a human, then what was it?”
“A wolf…a demon, if there is such a thing.”
Yep, there was such a thing as demons, but he doubted Mike would want to hear that right now.
“How did you get away?” Dastan asked.
“I shot him.”
Dastan peered back at Mike and couldn’t help but notice the blank, empty look in his eyes. Razeen had gotten at least part of Mike’s soul. The question was, what did they do now? How did they help him? Could they even help him?
This was out of Dastan’s realm of expertise. He didn’t know anything about succubi. Hell, he’d never even met one. They tended to keep to themselves, mostly traveling the human side of the dimension.
Damn Razeen! How the hell had he trapped a succubus in the first place?
The house appeared up ahead, and Dastan quickened his pace. Maybe Sarah would know what to do for Mike.
Chapter Eighteen
Sarah spotted Dastan out the kitchen window and rushed to the door. “They’re back.”
Dmitry gently pushed her aside and opened the door. Mike leaned heavily on Dastan as they made their way into the kitchen.
“He survived?” Sarah asked as she stared in awe at the sheriff.
Mike dropped into one of the kitchen chairs with a tired groan. He looked like hell. His hair was a mess from what looked like running his fingers through it. Whiskers covered his cheeks, and pieces of grass and twigs clung to his clothes. It appeared as though he’d done more than a little rolling around on the ground.
“Get him something to drink, Sarah,” Dastan said.
“A beer would be great,” Mike murmured. “I need alcohol.”
Sarah snickered. “Not this early, Sheriff. How about water?”
Mike licked his dry lips. “Water’s good.”
Sarah poured him some cold water from the jug in the fridge, then handed it to him. He reached out with trembling fingers and took the glass. Sarah felt so bad for him. The attack must’ve really shaken him up. He glanced up at her, and she couldn’t stop the gasp from slipping past her lips. His eyes.
He began to turn away, but Sarah gripped his chin and forced him to turn back to her.
“I guess I look a mess, huh?” Mike said, his voice slurring slightly.
She let go of his chin and raised her gaze to Dastan. “His eyes aren’t brown anymore. They’re gold.”
Dastan frowned. “I noticed that too.”
“I have gold eyes?” Mike asked, only really appearing to be half interested. “Huh.”
She ushered Dastan into the living area. Dmitry remained behind, talking to Mike.
“Razeen got some of his life force or soul,” Sarah said.
“He seems almost drunk. Is he going to be okay?”
Sarah sighed and shrugged. “I don’t know. That will probably wear off. My guess is that most of it is shock. The weakness is from the loss of life force.”
“What happens when both of those wear off?”
“It could be nothing, or he could be a completely different person. Everyone reacts differently. I think we need to bring in a succubus.”
Dastan raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“They would know how to help him.”
“And just where do you think we’re going to find one?” Dastan demanded.
“Easy,” she said, then grinned. “We call one.”
* * * *
Dastan stood back and watched as Sarah weaved the short spell using a small collection of herbs she’d found in the kitchen.
“Dastan,” Dmitry called from the kitchen.
He sounded alarmed, and the hairs on Dastan’s neck stood on end. He pushed away from his position by the fireplace and rushed to Mike’s side. Mike had fallen over and leaned heavily against Dmitry. His eyes were glassy and even lighter than before as they stared blankly toward the ceiling.
“What happened?” Dastan asked.
“I don’t know. His words became more slurred. Then he just fell over.”
“He’s getting worse,” Sarah said from behind Dastan. “Bring him to the couch. I’m almost done.”
Sarah returned to the living room to finish the spell while Dastan and Dmitry carried the sheriff to the sofa. They laid him out along the length and waited. He still continued to stare upward as though lost in his own world. Could he hear them? Could he respond?
“Mike,” Dastan called.
Mike did nothing, and Dastan’s chest tightened with worry. How the hell were they going to explain this?
“Okay,” Sarah said as she dropped the last herb into the glass. “Let’s hope this works.”
Pink smoke began to billow from the potion and fill the area around Sarah. Dastan tensed, unsure what he should be doing, if anything. As the smoke thickened, a shape began to take form. Tall and curvy, the shape began to darken and fill in until finally a woman stood before them.
Flowing flame-red hair framed an angelic face even Dastan could admit was stunning. But then he knew that about succubi. They were always stunning. Light ice-blue eyes looked from Sarah to Dmitry to Dastan until her gaze finally landed on Mike.
“I assume he’s why you called me here?” she asked.
“Yes,” Sarah replied. “He was attacked by a succubus. Can you help him?”
The woman frowned. “Who attacked him?”
“A man by the name of Razeen,” Dastan answered.
“I know of him. There are so few of us, we know when one dies. It was about eighty years ago when he took Merianna from us. We’ve been looking for him but have been unable to track him down. He’s here?”
“Yes. We’re not sure he’s still alive, though.” Dastan nodded toward the sheriff. “Mike shot him at close range during the attack.”
She walked toward Mike, studying him with interest. “If he was in the middle of drawing a soul, Razeen will heal. If he got enough, in a few hours he will most likely be back to normal.” She turned Mike’s face toward her and looked into his eyes. “The succubus got a lot. Maybe too much.”
“Isn’t there anything you can do?” Sarah asked hopefully.
“He’s very handsome,” the woman said as she brushed the backs of her fingers over his whisker-covered cheek. “Does he mean something to you?” she asked Sarah.
“He’s the local sheriff here and came to us for help. He’s a friend.”
The woman nodded and turned her attention back to Mike. “A sheriff,” she murmured. “I’ll need privacy.”
Dastan started to say something, but Sarah put her hand on his arm, stopping him. “Would you like us to move him upstairs?”
The woman glanced toward the second level. “No. I can take care of it. Which room?”
“There’s an unused room on the third floor.”
She nodded and took Mike’s limp hand in hers. As she turned to face them, her flowing black dress swirled around her legs, the edges teasing her tiny feet. “My name is Ari, by the way.”
Before they could respond, she was gone and had taken Mike with her. Dastan sighed and glanced upstairs. “What do you suppose she’s going to do?”
“Well, succubi have sex, so maybe she’s going to sex him back,” Dmitry replied. “It wouldn’t be a terrible way to be woken up.”
Sarah snickered and smacked Dmitry on the arm. Dmitry winked at her, making her smile. Dastan liked to see her smile. It made his whole body warm.
“With that said”—Dmitry tapped Sarah’s nose—“from what she told us, we probably only have a few hours. The hands are pretty much done with the roof. I’m going to get them over to the other side of the ranch and get them started on the fencing that needs to be repaired. We need to get them out of here before the shit hits the fan.”
Dastan nodded in agreement.
“Do you think he’ll come here?” Sarah asked.
“Oh, I have no doubt he’ll come here,” Dmitry replied, then leaned down to kiss Sarah on the cheek. “Stay safe, listen to Dastan, and remember I love you, so I want you in one piece when I come back.”
Sarah’s eyes widened slightly, and her lips parted as though she was about to say something, but she quickly shut them. Dmitry grinned in amusement and placed a kiss on her lips.
He straightened and looked at Dastan. “This is your fight. Do you want any help?”
Dastan shook his head.
“All right,” he said with a sigh. “I’ll be back anyway, just in case you change your mind.”
Dastan’s lips twitched as he watched his friend head out the front door.
* * * *
Mike could feel himself floating, his body weightless and warm. It felt so tranquil. Why couldn’t he just stay here? Where was here?
He opened his eyes and found himself staring at the most stunning pair of ice-blue eyes he’d ever seen. They were such an odd color. They were almost white, with just a hint of light blue. The exact color of the icebergs he’d seen on his trip to Alaska when the blue of the sky reflected in the ice.
Flame-red hair curled softly around her face and shoulders. Full reddish lips perfect for kissing smiled just a little as she moved to straddle his naked hips. Was he dreaming? How had he gotten naked? Who was this angel settling her naked body over his?
“Who are you?” he whispered.
“I am Ari,” she replied.
Smiling devilishly, she lowered herself so that her face was close to his. So close he could smell her rosy scent and feel her breath against his mouth as she spoke softly.
“I’m here to help you,” she whispered.
“I need help?” he asked. Fatigue made it hard for him to keep his eyes open.
The feeling of floating through the air still held him in its grip, so he was afraid to move too much. He was convinced if he did, the feeling would go away, along with the woman.
“Oh yes.” She brushed his hair back off his brow and smiled. “You need help.”
God, she was so beautiful. His cock hardened as she very slowly and very gently ground herself against him. “And I can help you.”
Mike swallowed as her warmth seeped into him, making him feel more than a little drunk. He put his hands at her knees, then inch by inch slid them up her thighs. Her skin was smooth, her muscles firm under his touch.
He should be asking questions. He should be demanding what she was doing to him and how he got here. More importantly, where was here? Whose bed was he in?
“Ari?” Mike breathed as she softly kissed his chin. “Where are we?”
She gripped his face and forced him to look at her. “Don’t worry about that,” she said in a firm but still soft voice. “Just let me help you.”
He swallowed again and stared into eyes so beautiful he could hardly look away. She held him in a deep trance, unable to move. What the hell was going on? Was he still lying unconscious somewhere on the ranch? Had he really been talking to Dastan earlier? He wasn’t sure. The little bit he did remember was foggy and disjointed like a dream.
“Who are you?” he whispered.
She smiled sweetly. Mike’s heart almost stopped at how incredibly pretty she was when she smiled. God, this couldn’t be real. She couldn’t be real.
“I am Ari, and I am very real,” she said softly as though reading his mind. She brushed her thumb over his lips. “I don’t normally do this. Normally I take. It’s what I have to do to survive. But you’re a good man. I can feel it in my soul. So I will give you some of mine so you’ll be whole again.” Her lips were light as a feather when she leaned down to kiss his mouth. “Because of this,” she added, “I will always be a part of you. You won’t remember me, but I will definitely remember you.”
Her mouth covered his in a kiss he felt clear to his toes. Mike dug his fingers into her upper thigh, moaning deep in his chest as her soft tongue mated with his.
* * * *
Sarah paced the den, swinging her arms as she went and periodically glancing through the window toward the fields behind the house. This waiting was driving her insane. She hated it. Looking toward the kitchen, she noticed Dastan watching out the window as well.
He stood with his legs wide and his arms crossed over his chest. He showed no emotion on his face, just a cautious watchfulness. Dastan had the patience of Job, but then he’d been alive for over a thousand years, so he’d had plenty of time to learn.
“Anything?” she asked as she walked into the kitchen to join him.
Dastan shook his head but kept his gaze focused out the window.
“Do you really think he’ll just walk up?” Sarah asked.
Dastan looked at her over his shoulder, and one side of his lips lifted in a small smile. “Razeen turned my pack against me and used them to try to kill me. The second time, he and two others caught me by surprise, almost killing me again. If he’s like he used to be, Razeen is pissed that he’s failing. I’m hoping that he’s pissed enough that he’ll act out of anger and not common sense.”
“We can’t just keep waiting around for him.”
He turned to fully face her. “What do you suggest?”
“What if I draw him here?”
Dastan frowned. “You mean pull him from wherever he is?”
“No matter what he’s doing or where he is, once I call him he’ll show up here. Now that we know who he is, it will be easy.”
With a nod, Dastan led her toward the back door. “Let’s do it, then. The sooner we get this over with, the better.”
Sarah walked outside and took a deep breath, then froze. She glanced back at Dastan and frowned. He stood just a few feet behind her, his eyes downcast, a look of deep concentration on his face. “You gave in too easy,” she said.
He opened his eyes and looked at her. “I need him here, Sarah. I need this over. I can’t do that spell, so on this, I concede that I need you. But understand that I will do whatever I must to keep you safe.”
Sarah licked her lips and studied him warily. She had a sinking suspicion that he was up to something, but wouldn’t force the issue. Like him, she just wanted this over.
She took a deep breath, drawing in the smell of animals, hay, and outdoors. Sadness filled her heart. She wanted this to work. The thought of leaving this ranch hurt her so much, there was an actual physical ache in her chest.
She stared at Dastan. He’d closed his eyes again. “Don’t let him kill you,” she whispered.
He opened his eyes and fixed his stare on her face. “Why?”
She frowned. Why? What did he mean why? “Why do you think?”
“I want you to say it, Sarah.”
She lifted her chin. Dastan was arrogant, cocky, and at times totally frustrating. He knew why. “Make it out alive and I will.”
