Seduced by Magic Page 17

  They were in San Francisco!

  Elation mingled with anger and fear, causing her chest to tighten.

  From the corner of her eye she saw Tiernan had gotten to his feet, his sword drawn, and fury etched on his features. Zeph had hidden himself in Copper’s hair, and she could sense the familiar’s own anger.

  “You might as well surrender,” Copper said. “You’re not getting away from us.”

  To her surprise Darkwolf began to laugh. He leaned his hip against the desk between him and the woman, and his expression was one of amusement. He folded his arms across his chest and kept his gaze on Copper, ignoring Tiernan. “You were almost mine before, you’ll be mine now.”

  Copper felt her strength wavering, and the glitter of her shield grew faint before brightening again. “I owe you big time.”

  He glanced at the woman on the other side of the desk. As she started forward, he held up his hand. “I’ll handle this, Junga.”

  Copper swore she heard a deep growl rise up from the woman’s chest.

  “Junga.” Tiernan had drawn his sword and had it gripped with both hands as if prepared to slice the weapon through the woman. “That bitch is the Fomorii leader.”

  “Queen,” the elegant woman said, and as she spoke her fingers started to change. They elongated, turned a shade of royal blue. The nails grew and lengthened into claws.

  Copper’s throat constricted. She stiffened and her control on her magic began to falter. “That’s the demon that murdered my mother?”

  “No.” The woman’s teeth began to lengthen and her voice deepened. Copper couldn’t control a shudder. “Kanji, your mother’s killer, died at my claws when I took my rightful place as queen.”

  “But you would have killed Moondust,” Tiernan said to the demon-woman in a voice filled with rage. “If you had had the opportunity you would have.”

  “I had plenty of opportunity.” The woman’s face was beginning to turn into something hideous, and Copper heard the crack and pop of bone. “I intended to use the witch, not kill her.”

  Copper stared in horror as the being shifted into a demon with a blue hide, needlelike teeth, bulging blue eyes, and an earless head. The creature had long muscular arms that reached to the floor, like an ape’s. The Fomorii’s claws were tipped with something dark, yet filed sharp. The nails glinted like polished metal in the recessed lighting of the library. The demon was enormous, three times the width of the woman it had formerly been, and much taller.

  Copper gagged as the stench of rotten fish filled the room.

  Without warning, the Fomorii bounded across the library, straight for Tiernan.

  At the same time Copper’s witchcraft faltered enough that Darkwolf’s next burst of magic shattered the shield’s hold on him.

  The Fomorii attacked Tiernan and his sword met the demon’s tough hide. He whirled in the confines of the enormous library and sliced his sword at the creature’s arm. Blood spurted, spraying Tiernan and everything around them. But the wound immediately began to heal even as Junga howled in pain and rage.

  He dodged and parried, barely avoiding the demon’s teeth and claws. Books flew across the room and shelves were ripped from the walls as they fought. Priceless works of art crashed to the floor and were crunched beneath his boots.

  Copper wanted to help him, but Darkwolf stalked her, the eye against his chest pulsating a furious red. Mouth dry and heart racing, she pointed her wand at him and a golden stream of spellfire shot from its tip. He merely flicked his wrist and the bolt slammed to the wood floor of the library, causing sparks to fly and the smell of burned wood to erupt. Apparently his magic worked a lot better when he wasn’t caught off guard.

  “You’ll need to do better than that,” Darkwolf said, as if they were conducting a casual conversation. “Like Silver,

  you ride that edge of gray and are so close to the black . . . Your magic is actually darker than hers, yet Silver is probably closer to converting than you are.”

  “Silver would never turn to black magic!” Copper felt the gray witchcraft building within her. It seemed more intense this time, far more powerful.

  He smiled, a sensual yet chilling smile, and held up his hand. Purple light began to emanate from him. “You have no idea how close Silver is to becoming mine.”

  “Ooooh!” Copper gritted her teeth and focused on pouring her witchcraft into her wand. She felt Zephyr’s power, but then the familiar shot from where he’d been hidden in her hair and straight toward the warlock.

  Darkwolf focused solely on Copper and she readied to counter his magic with her own.

  Before she could spell him, he cried out and slapped at his face, then his neck.

  Huge welts—ten, fifteen, more perhaps—began rising on his skin. Copper felt a rush of triumph as Zeph buzzed back to her and landed on her ear.

  Copper took advantage of Darkwolf’s distraction and blasted him with a bolt from her wand. Her power slammed into the warlock and he flew back, his head striking the wall so hard he dented the paneling and slumped to the floor. He shook his head as if to shake away the pain and dizziness and wobbled as he tried to get to his feet. The welts on his face distorted his features and made him look hideous rather than handsome.

  The entire time she and Darkwolf were going at it, Tiernan and the demon fought. Roars, shouts, and snarls continued to echo through the now decimated library.

  Copper heard more growls coming closer from the other side of the closed twin mahogany doors. With a flick of her wand she bound the demon Junga with gold ropes of power that caused the giant Fomorii to stumble forward and land on its face. Copper whirled and pointed her wand to the double doors and another rope of magic shot out of the tip and wrapped around the door handles to bind them shut.

  Something hard crashed against the door and wood splintered. Breathing heavily, Copper hurried to Tiernan’s side, where he stood beside the floor-to-ceiling window. Demons were attacking the doors with such ferocity that they would doubtless break in within seconds.

  “Let me finish this bitch off.” Tiernan started toward the demon that was bound on the floor by Copper’s magic, his weapon raised to slice off its head—

  The library doors burst open. Fomorii poured into the room.

  Darkwolf got to his feet, his dark witchcraft blazing.

  Copper threw up a magical wall between them and the warlock, and readied to create another in front of the Fomorii.

  Tiernan rammed the hilt of his sword against the safety glass with enough force that it shattered outward but also showered down upon the wood floor. Before Copper could throw up the second wall, he caught her by the waist with his free arm and jumped through the window.

  She screamed.

  A demon’s jagged teeth raked her bare foot just as they sailed through the window. Pain seared her like fire. Even the broken shards of glass that tore at her skin were nothing compared to the pain of the demon’s bite.

  Her stomach pitched as they fell from the top floor of the home.

  Tiernan unfurled his wings as they dropped and then they were flying.

  Flying over San Francisco.

  Fourteen

  Copper flung her arms around Tiernan’s neck as he soared higher and higher, and she almost lost her grip on her wand. Wind rushed through her hair and ruffled her vine-and-leaf dress, and Zephyr buzzed in her ear, sharing his own delight. Copper’s head spun with the magnitude of what had just happened, and the fact that they were back in her city.

  She clung to Tiernan as she stared at the sights below. The Coit Tower! The Transamerica Building! Chinatown! She could see it all from the height he had taken them to. The Golden Gate Bridge, the foggy bay, Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge, Market Street, trolleys, Union Square—her hungry gaze took in everything.

  And the air—it smelled wonderful! Even the pollution coming from cars and buses didn’t bother her. It was home. She was home!

  “Are you all right?” Tiernan held her tight as he pumped his powerful w
ings. He was heading in the direction of Golden Gate Park.

  Copper laughed. “I’m wonderful. I’m home!” She didn’t care about the blood trickling from the glass wounds or the blood running down her foot or the burn from the demon’s teeth. Adrenaline still pumped through her body and she felt high from it and from the excitement of being back where she belonged.

  Tiernan gradually lowered, circling the Haight-Ashbury district, then began his descent. “Where are we?” Copper asked, as he came closer to what looked like a large apartment building.

  “Headquarters is here,” he said as he touched down. When their feet met the rooftop of the building he kept his hands on her waist, steadying her. The roof was made into a little patio with lounge chairs and a small garden area near the stairwell. The flagstone floor felt cool beneath her bare feet.

  Copper’s head felt as if it might float off, but she also felt supercharged, as if she could do anything. Even her foot that was bleeding from the demon teeth didn’t feel too bad.

  “You’re injured.” He frowned as he looked down at her. “I must get you to the witches immediately.”

  Tiernan scooped her up in his arms and she gave a surprised cry. “I can walk. Really.”

  “I think not.” His tone told her this was one fight she wasn’t going to win.

  Instead she held on and pelted him with questions. “Is Silver here? What about the other witches? The Coven?”

  He opened the door to the stairwell. “All your answers lie within.”

  Zephyr tickled the curve of Copper’s ear as she let Tiernan carry her. She was so excited that had she been on her feet, she would have darted ahead of him—if she had had any idea where they were headed. Her heart raced, and as far as she was concerned Tiernan wasn’t moving fast enough. He opened a door to a hallway on the second floor and her heart beat even harder against her breastbone.

  Tiernan finally stopped in front of an apartment door at the end of the hallway, gently set her on her feet, and reached for the door handle. He paused and met her anxious gaze. From the other side of the door she heard muffled voices that sounded like they were arguing.

  He opened the door and she took a deep breath.

  Silver!

  Her sister was standing in the middle of the room, her hands on her hips, as she glared up at a man who stood well over a foot taller than her. The man was clad much the same as Tiernan, including a sword belt, but he had dark hair to his shoulders and a shadow of a beard. At their feet was Silver’s python familiar, Polaris, and he seemed to be glaring at the man, too.

  All Copper really cared about was her sister. Silver was as beautiful as ever with her long silvery-blond hair and her large gray eyes. She was wearing a silk blouse, short skirt, and high heels as usual. Her sister enjoyed dressing sexy when she wasn’t working with the Paranormal Special Forces. Copper was a more down-to-earth jeans type.

  All these crazy thoughts went through her mind in just a matter of seconds.

  Silver was jabbing one finger at the man’s chest as she was saying, “I am going and that’s—”

  She glanced at the doorway and her face went pale. For a moment she didn’t speak.

  “Copper?” Silver’s eyes widened as she dropped her hands to her sides. “Copper?”

  Tears came out of nowhere, rolling down Copper’s face as she nodded. She couldn’t speak. Instead, she ran toward her sister and flung her arms around Silver’s neck, almost hitting her with the wand, and held her tight. Zeph buzzed his annoyance at just about being crushed between the two, but Copper couldn’t begin to think about the little familiar.

  She felt her sister’s tears against her neck as Silver said, “I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!”

  “Goddess, I’ve missed you,” Copper said in a choked whisper. Silver still smelled of lilies, a scent that brought back so many memories and had a comforting effect. “I love you so much.”

  They pulled away but continued holding on to one another. “You’re really here.” Silver stared with amazement at Copper as tears continued to leak from her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re standing right in front of me! That I can touch you!”

  “Me, too.” Copper reached up and brushed Silver’s tears from one cheek. “It’s been so long. I’d begun to think I’d never get back.”

  Silver bit her lower lip and shook her head. “This is like a dream.”

  Copper rubbed her thumb along her sister’s cheek, wiping away more tears. “It’s real,” she whispered. “I’m real. You’re real.”

  While the sisters hugged and cried and laughed, Copper heard Tiernan explain about their ending up within the Fomorii lair and their escape. From the corner of her eye she saw the dark-haired man’s face harden and his jaw tense. “We must gather our brothers and sisters and go at once. Perhaps we can catch them before they escape.”

  Tiernan nodded. “My thoughts as well.”

  “You stay with Copper,” Tiernan ordered Silver.

  “Well, no kidding,” she snapped at him. Then, “Arrogant jerk,” as he closed the door behind them. Silver hugged Copper again. “I have no intention of letting you go. Ever.”

  Copper laughed. “Not even to go to the bathroom?”

  Silver rolled her eyes, then shook her head with a smile. “I’ve missed your sense of humor.”

  Polaris, Silver’s familiar, wrapped his body around Copper’s bare feet, just avoiding her injury, and she felt the mental warmth of his own pleasure that she was back. Zephyr buzzed from Copper’s ear and landed on Silver’s shoulder.

  “It’s good to have you back, too,” Silver told the little bee familiar.

  After another quick hug, Copper and Silver separated. Copper didn’t bother to brush away her own tears.

  Silver’s expression of mingled joy and shock turned to one of dismay as she noticed all the blood and scratches. “What happened to you? Are you okay? We need to treat these wounds.” Her expression was still one of disbelief as she looked into Copper’s eyes. “I feel like you’re going to disappear again.”

  “I’m fine, I’m here for good, and I’ll tell you everything that happened.” Copper stepped over Polaris and let Silver lead her to the kitchen of the apartment. It was bigger than the one Silver lived in before Copper ended up in Other-world, but not by much. The furniture and the décor were the same and that told her Silver lived here now instead of in the apartment above Moon Song.

  Zephyr landed on the edge of Silver’s pewter cauldron, that was perched in the middle of a table. Silver pushed Copper onto a chair beside it, then immediately went to the kitchen.

  Silver started rummaging through cabinets and pulling out small jars, a little bottle, and then grabbed a soft cloth and some cotton balls. “Where on earth have you been?” she asked as she returned with everything. The jars and bottle hit the table with a thump as she set them down.

  Copper managed a smile as she set her wand next to the jars. “I haven’t exactly been on earth.”

  Silver paused in the act of opening the bottle. “What?”

  With a shrug that was more casual than she felt, Copper said, “It’s a long story.”

  “I think we have time now for you to tell me everything.” Silver finished opening the bottle and Copper caught the strong scent of tea tree oil. “Well, time enough to get started.”

  Silver tended first to the foot the demon had bitten. Silver took the bottle of oil and poured the contents over the slashes on Copper’s foot. “This must hurt.” She glanced up at Copper. “What happened?”

  The tea tree oil burned and Copper flinched. “It was one of the Fomorii that Tiernan and I just ran into.”

  Silver looked stunned and horrified. “The Fomorii? Were you clawed by one of the demons?”

  Copper shook her head. “It bit me.”

  Silver breathed an audible sigh of relief. “Thank the goddess it wasn’t their claws.”

  Copper scrunched her eyebrows. “Why?”

  “A lot of them have tipp
ed their claws with iron,” Silver said with a sigh. “Iron’s deadly to Fae and Elves both.”

  “Huh?” Copper blinked. “Um, you’re not making any sense. We’re witches, not Fae or Elvin.”

  Silver bit her lower lip.

  “Tell me, whatever it is.” Copper hissed in pain as Silver cleansed one of the deeper gouges in her foot. “You’re either scaring me or pissing me off. I’m not sure which.”

  “Mother . . . Mother . . .” Silver took a deep breath and more tears spilled down her cheeks as her gaze met Copper’s.

  Copper’s own tears returned. “I know. Tiernan told me that she—that she passed on to Summerland.”

  “It was horrible,” Silver whispered. She wiped away some of her tears with the back of her hand and tried to compose herself. “Did he tell you she was half Elvin?”

  Confused, Copper stared at Silver with wide eyes. “What?”

  “I couldn’t believe it either.” Silver repeated as she reached for a jar and opened it. Copper caught the scent of yarrow. “A lot has happened. After she died, Father told me that Mother was half Elvin. That’s why you and I tend to lean toward gray magic.”

  “Really?” Copper blinked. “That means we’re a quarter Elvin.”

  With a nod, Silver put the yarrow cream on her sister’s foot. It soothed the pain and some of the tension left Copper. “It’s a long, long story,” Silver said, “but I promise to explain more.” She looked up at Copper. “First you’ve got to tell me where in the Goddess’s name you’ve been. And where Tiernan disappeared to and how you came back here together.”

  Copper gave the condensed version of her story while Silver tended to her foot. She started with the attempt at the ceremony on the beach and her spell hitting a shield, and moved on to her time in Otherworld. She explained how another spell had brought Tiernan to Otherworld rather than help her to escape. She left out the part about the wonderful sex with Tiernan and moved on to how they were able to break the barrier, freeing all the captive beings, and how they ended up in Darkwolf’s lair.