Ruby Shadows

  “Familiar?” Addison’s eyebrows went up. “Where had you seen it or felt it or whatever it is you do, before?”

  “Unfortunately it was back when I was working on that spelled trap that Taylor gave me—you know, the one that was found on Victor’s land?”

  “The one that nearly bit his poor paw off!” Taylor said indignantly. “He’s still got a scar from that on his wrist. Are you telling me that the same magic that made that trap is what’s shielding Eryn right now?”

  “I’m afraid so.” I shifted uncomfortably on the leather sectional.

  “So you’re saying that your spell sent a sweet, innocent angel to him? To the man who was helping that bitch Celeste try to drain all of Taylor’s blood and powers?” Addison demanded.

  “I didn’t do it on purpose!” I exclaimed, jumping up and starting to pace across the expensive Persian rug. Everything in this house was expensive but Laish seemed to take it as a matter of course. Apparently though he had given up his status and standing in Hell, he’d retained quite a bit of wealth to keep us comfortable in the Mortal Realm.

  “Well it was your spell that sent her,” Addison pointed out.

  “I know, I know…” I ran a hand through my hair. “You know, I should have known it was Shadowlock. The Mirror of the Eye showed me him right after it showed me Eryn.”

  “You’re sure it was him?” Taylor asked. “I mean, you couldn’t have gotten a very good look at him that night—everything was such a mess.”

  “It was him all right,” I said grimly. “I’d know him anywhere—I couldn’t make out his face.”

  “I couldn’t either even though I was riding in a car not three feet from him part of the time after Celeste kidnapped me,” Taylor said. “How does he do that? Is it some kind of spell?”

  I nodded. “An obstruction spell. It’s usually used to keep someone from being able to read documents or books that are off limits. But I’ve never seen anyone use one on their face before.”

  “Why is he doing it?” Addison murmured. “What is he hiding?”

  “Maybe he’s a criminal who escaped from jail and doesn’t want to be caught and brought back?” Taylor guessed.

  “Or maybe he’s a well respected businessman and he doesn’t want anyone to know he’s a warlock on the side,” Addison said thoughtfully. “Whatever the reason, that poor little angel!”

  “She wasn’t that little, actually,” I said, remembering Eryn’s lush, plus-sized figure. “She was shaped kind of like an hourglass, a very full hourglass. Not very angelic—or not what we expect to be angelic, I mean. I always thought angels were supposed to be these slender, sexless creatures. But Eryn didn’t look like that at all.”

  “She doesn’t sound like the typical angel,” Taylor said. “But then again, who knows what the typical angel looks like? Well, I mean apart from you, Gwendolyn—since you’re with an ex-fallen angel.”

  “Eryn might not have been a skinny-minny but she was very pretty.” I sighed. “I just hoped Shadowlock isn’t abusing her in some way.”

  “I thought you said the spell was to protect the innocent,” Addison said. “Surely it wouldn’t send her to someone who would hurt or molest her? Would it?”

  “I hope not.” I couldn’t help the stirring of unease inside me. “I just wish it would have sent her to someone else—someone we know is a good guy.”

  “I don’t know.” Taylor sounded thoughtful. “How do we know he’s such a bad guy?”

  “Taylor, how can you say that?” Addison sounded shocked. “I mean, that jerk tried to kill you.”

  “No, Celeste tried to kill me. She just hired Shadowlock to help with the magic part of it,” Taylor said firmly. “And he really didn’t like her—he told her off to her face. I got the feeling it was just a business transaction to him—so maybe he’s not such a bad guy after all.”

  “You don’t understand,” I said in a low voice. “Witches and warlocks are both born with their powers. With witches, they manifest with puberty. But with warlocks…”

  “With warlocks what?” Addison urged.

  I sighed. “With warlocks, their powers are latent. And they stay that way until they do something to release them.”

  “And by something you mean…what?” Taylor looked apprehensive.

  I ran a hand through my hair.

  “They have to do a sacrifice, all right? A human sacrifice. Witches call it ‘killing the hornless goat.’ Without that, their power can never come out.”

  “Oh my…” Taylor put a hand to her mouth. “I remember him saying something like that when Celeste was talking about killing me—he said he’d killed the hornless goat more times than he could count. I didn’t get it then but now…”

  “Now we do.” Addison looked at me. “We already knew that he practiced dark magic. And on top of that he’s a murderer—probably many times over.”

  “Probably.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. “Goddess, I just can’t understand why the spell would have sent Eryn to him.”

  “Maybe because she is in need of a very strong protector indeed.” Laish came into the room, carrying a tray with a bottle of expensive wine and some glasses, one of which was filled with juice for the pregnant Taylor. “Forgive me, mon ange,” he said as he handed around the glasses. “I hope you do not mind me intruding on your conversation.”

  “Not at all,” Addison answered for me, taking a glass of wine and smiling at him. “Anyone who comes bearing wine is all right in my book.”

  “And it was so thoughtful of you to remember I can only have juice.” Taylor smiled and took a sip of her OJ. “But what did you mean that Eryn needs a strong protector? I thought the demon who captured her and wanted her back—that Dru..Dri…”

  “Druaga,” I told her.

  “Right—the pig-headed one. I thought he was dead?” Taylor asked.

  Laish sighed. “He is. Unfortunately, certain events have come to light that make it clear he was not the only threat to the little angel’s safety.”

  “What? What do you mean?” I’d been about to take a sip of the wonderful smelling wine but now I put down my glass, disturbed. “I thought Eryn was safe now that she’s out of Hell.”

  “I wish I could say that she was.” Laish shook his head. “But I have been speaking to a contact in the Infernal Realm. Apparently, Druaga wasn’t holding Eryn for his own purposes. He had been contracted to capture and hold her for a much more powerful entity—a demon called Azaezal.”

  “Azaezal?” I frowned. “I don’t remember you mentioning him.”

  “That is because it is not wise to speak his name aloud in the Infernal Realm lest you wish him to appear and rend you limb from limb,” Laish said grimly. “Azaezal is the overlord of the Abyss. His power eclipses even my own—or the power I had before I gave it up to stay here in the Mortal Realm.”

  “That doesn’t sound good. At all.” Addison said, frowning.

  “It is not.” Laish frowned. “Azaezal is the strongest of Hell’s overlords, save Lucifer himself. He even has dominion over the Ancient Ones who live in the Abyss.” He looked at me seriously. “We were very lucky that he wasn’t there when we were closing the door you opened into his realm, mon ange.”

  “But what does he want with Eryn?” I asked. “I mean, she’s gone from Hell now—beyond his reach. Wouldn’t you think he’d just try to capture another angel?”

  “First of all, you must not assume that because Eryn is now in the Mortal Realm that she is beyond his reach,” Laish said, taking a sip of his own wine. “And secondly, if he wants Eryn, there must be something different about her—something special.”

  “But what?” Addison asked.

  Laish shrugged. “As to that, who can say? But it sounds to me as though Gwendolyn’s spell knew that the little angel would be in grave danger. It sent her to one of the only mortals in the world who might possibly be able to defend her from such a demonic threat.”

  “Will we ever f
ind out what became of her?” I asked. “Should I try to find Shadowlock and warn him? Do you think he’ll really protect her?”

  “I think, mon ange, that if he is using such a strong spell to hide her, he is already aware of the threat and taking steps to combat it. As to protecting her, I do not believe your magic would have sent her to him otherwise.”

  “But he’s a murderer,” Addison protested. “He’s evil.”

  “So was I, before Gwendolyn gave me a reason to change,” Laish said quietly, taking my hand. “Perhaps Eryn may do the same for Shadowlock.”

  “I hope so.” I said, squeezing his fingers. “I really do but poor Eryn…I just want her to be all right.”

  “As to that, we will have to wait and see.” Laish squeezed my fingers back and leaned down to give me a small kiss. “There is nothing more to be done for the moment.”

  Wait and see? I didn’t like the sound of that. I still wanted to find my angel friend and make sure the warlock was treating her right. Treating her right and respecting her boundaries. I couldn’t help thinking of how she’d shivered when I just touched her shoulder, where her wings had been hidden. Then I thought of how big and muscular he’d been when he appeared in the Mirror of the Eye.

  Would Shadowlock treat her right? Would he protect her without hurting her? Was there a decent human being buried somewhere inside him, behind that mask of a spell that kept anyone from seeing his face?

  I didn’t know but I hoped for Eryn’s sake there was. I really hoped so.

  End

  If you have enjoyed this book, please take a moment to leave a review for Ruby Shadows . Read on for a taste of Targeted, the next book in Evangeline's Brides of the Kindred series as well as a sneak peek at Cardinal Sins, the sequel to Ruby Shadows, coming soon in the Born to Darkness series.

  Targeted, Brides of the Kindred 15, coming Summer of 2015

  A warrior sworn to kill or die trying…

  A woman going through a deadly transformation…

  Can they reach safety together?

  Or have both of them been Targeted for death?

  Excerpt…

  Tragar’s vehicle skidded to a halt in front of the little domicile shielded by the lush tropical vegetation. He’d been held up on a one way street by a slow, elderly driver he couldn’t get around which seemed to be a very common problem here in Emily’s part of Earth. Normally the delay wouldn’t have bothered him but by the time he finally got around the slow driver, he was nearly frantic with worry.

  She’s just a target—it doesn’t matter what happens to her, he tried to tell himself. But he didn’t believe the lie for a moment. The knot of tension in his gut just kept growing every time he remembered the tears in her eyes and the way she had rushed away from her school. Not to mention the blond male who had been following her. Who was he, anyway? Tragar had been casing her school for days and had thought he knew all the instructors and support staff. But who was this bastard and why had he affected Emily so deeply?

  Could it be another hunter? Another assassin out for her blood? The thought made him even more uneasy. When he had taken the job, the Dark Kindred named Two had hinted that he might not be the only one hunting Emily. Though Tragar had assured him he could take out one lone female—no matter how dangerous—with ease, he seemed the type to leave nothing to chance.

  “I will give you ten solar days from the time you take the contract,” he’d told Tragar, those metal teeth of his gleaming. “No more. After that, others will be dispatched with the same goal as yours—to kill the girl. “I mean to see her dead, Verrak, and it must happen soon…”

  Tragar tried to push back the disturbing memory. When he finally parked his vehicle and made his way quickly but silently up the lawn, staying well hidden in the large leafed plants, he saw what was clearly a bad situation happening right in front of Emily’s front doorway.

  The male with the blond hair and pale eyes was advancing on Emily, speaking to her in a low, threatening tone. Tragar’s first instinct was to jump out of the bushes and knock the bastard flat with one punch or maybe even kill him outright with a single shot of his sonic rifle. Eliminating people other than the target during an operation wasn’t exactly forbidden by the Verrak but it was certainly strongly frowned upon. In this case, however, Tragar was more than willing to take whatever chastisement might come his way for killing the son of a bitch.

  But something stopped him. It was a scent—a scent in the air he’d never smelled before and yet one he instinctively knew. One he would recognize anywhere though he would never have expected to smell it here on Earth, so far away from his home world of Rageron.

  What in the Seven Hells?

  He had to be wrong—there was no way. It couldn’t be. He sniffed the air and scented it again—was it really coming from Emily?

  Hidden by the screen of vegetation, he breathed deeply and watched the scene in front of him unfold.

  “It’s just…I’ve never forgotten that night we spent together,” the blond male said, taking a step towards Emily. Tragar could only see him from the side but he didn’t like the look on what he could see of the male’s face. It was greedy and lustful. “I’ve been with so many women since then but none of them could compare to you, my dear Emily.” His eyes gleamed. “You were so tight.”

  Tragar felt a low growl rising in his throat but Emily’s reply left him mute.

  “That’s because I was a virgin and you raped me you bastard!” she cried, glaring at the blond male. “I asked you to stop—I begged you to stop. But you wouldn’t!”

  Every fiber of Tragar’s being howled in protest. Raped her? This fucking scum had dared to take her against her will? If she was what Tragar’s nose told him she was—what her scent proclaimed her to be—there could be no worse crime. To take any unwilling female was shameful and disgusting—the act of a coward who deserved nothing but death. But to take a Khalla—

  Things were happening rapidly now. The male had her by the wrist and was squeezing hard. Tragar lifted his rifle to shoot—not to kill—that was too good for this bastard. He just wanted to wound him and he would finish the job later. Slowly. But then something else happened—something that confirmed his suspicions.

  Emily ripped her wrist from the male’s grip and her eyes began to glow. They changed from the no-color blue they had been to a pure, fiery gold. And then she pounced.

  Seven Hells! Tragar rushed forward but he wasn’t sure what to do. On one hand, it was her right to exact justice for the wrong which had been done her. Taking the maidenhood of a Khalla against her will was a sin punishable by torture and the most painful and prolonged death possible. But if he allowed her to kill this slimy male it would surely throw her body into complete Tenrah and shortly after that, the breeding heat would be upon her. At that point it would be either breed or die. He couldn’t allow that to happen.

  “Stop!” Grabbing her by the back of her garment, he pulled her off the male as carefully as he could. He didn’t give a damn if it hurt her rapist but he didn’t want to damage her.

  At first she fought him, trying to reach the male who had scrambled away, holding a hand to his bleeding throat and moaning.

  “Emily!” Tragar took her by the shoulders and shook her as gently as he could but she kept struggling. He wished he knew her Kit’tara’s name—that would have gotten her attention—but the name of a Khalla’s hidden or second self was a secret known only to herself. He put his face into hers and tried to catch her eyes. “Emily,” he demanded. “Emily Barnes, see me!”

  Finally she focused on him. Her eyes were still fiery gold and her ripe scent filled the air. When she spoke, her voice had a strange double echo.

  “Who…who are you?” The golden eyes reflected his image back to him—tall and dark and menacing. “Who are you and what do you want?”

  “Relax,” Tragar rumbled, trying to sound reassuring. Apparently he failed.

  “Let me go!” She began to struggle again and this time her pure
gold eyes were filled not with fury but with fear. “Let me go, I won’t let you!” She glanced at the blond male who was still moaning and nursing his wounds. “I won’t let you do it! I won’t go through it again—I won’t!”

  Tragar felt his heart fist in his chest. Gods, she thought he was a rapist, no better than the bastard that had ripped her maidenhood from her and taken her against her will!

  “I’m not what you think,” he said more roughly than he intended. “I didn’t come to rape you, Emily. I was sent to kill you.”

  Cardinal Sins

  Born to Darkness book 4

  Coming Soon

  Even angels have to get a little dirty sometimes…

  Pure as the driven snow, Eyrn is an angel, captured from the fields of Heaven and held by an evil demon who plans to defile her. She escapes from Hell with the help of a friendly witch and a protection spell. But the magic backfires and she finds herself thrown literally into the lap of a man she has never met before.

  Jake Shadowlock is a rancher in Southeast Texas—or at least that’s what he’d like to be. Unfortunately, ranching is expensive so he has to make ends meet in other ways—like by using his warlock powers for clients across the world who want dark magic done. Jake specializes is the most evil spells imaginable so he can’t understand why he has been chosen as Eyrn’s protector. After all, the little angel is sweet and good and pure—pretty much his exact opposite. How is he supposed to keep her safe from whatever is stalking her?

  He doesn’t have long to find out. For Eryn is special among her kind—a unique angel with abilities no other celestial entity possesses. And there is a Prince of Night and Shadows stalking her, intent on dragging her back to Hell to despoil her purity and plunder her innocence.

  Can Jake protect her from the Demon’s lust? And will Eryn be able to keep her purity, especially with all the new, strange feelings blossoming inside her for her grim and mysterious protector?