Enchanting Wilder (18 page)

Breathing for the first time, I think, since I heard the clash, I take a step forward, my gun still aimed at the creature. It shrills a high-pitched noise, grabbing at its leg and whips its head toward me, red eyes blazed with fury. The demonic man staring at me with hatred doesn’t calm my anxiety at all, but at least I have the upper hand. His teeth snarl, but he stays put on the floor, deep maroon blood seeping from his leg.

It takes me a moment to get my bearings, but the second I realize he’s got red eyes like the demon in my dream, I cock my gun again.

“What are you doing?” he seethes, closing his eyes in discomfort. “I’m here to help, you heathen.”

My eyes narrow and I step toward the man, struck odd by its use of language. Able to get a good look at him, he’s definitely a demon, but maybe something else?

Unlike any demon I’ve seen before, his face is—oh God—it’s almost beautiful. It feels weird to say that about another man. But there’s no other way to describe him. He’s got high cheek bones and perfectly styled strawberry blonde hair. Dressed in all black, he looks like he takes care of himself. Showers and keeps clean. Nothing like any other demons I’ve seen. The light dusting of freckles on his face make him appear youthful but his red eyes cancel out that notion. I shake my head. “What the hell does that mean? Who are you?”

He swallows and sits up, uttering something under his breath. I hold my stance, not allowing it to go any farther. “My name is Kai. I’m from Beneath, and I’m here to help you.” He stands up, his hands in front of him in surrender, his tall body towering over me a good five inches. “Listen, there isn’t much time,” he pauses to fully stand on his injured leg. It’s then I notice the gunshot wound has healed and the ripped black denim from the bullet has somehow mended itself. Wood bullets don’t do a lot of damage, but it definitely wounds.

My brows furrow. I’m stunned, but more than anything, ready for him to lunge. That’s what monsters do. They wait for their opportunity and go for the kill. I’m out of my element, here. I place my hand on the trigger and take a good look at his disconcerting red eyes. The iris glows ruddy and his black pupils dilate.

“What are you?” I ask, feeling a little out of breath.

He puts his hands up in submission and takes a deep lungful of air. “I’m a Thayan.”

That word doesn’t mean anything to me. “Explain.”

He huffs. “I’m a demon, but not just any run of the mill demon. Thayans are demons morphed into other things. Bred, I guess is the better word.” He moves his hand to wipe the sweat away from his forehead and my eyes widen, cautious as to what he might do. “I’m not going to attack,” he promises, knowing the thoughts running rampant through my mind. “I’m a demon and a witch.”

That information doesn’t put me any less on edge.

“Yes, I’m a Thayan, and yes, I was made to destroy just like the others, but look?” He gestures around us. “I’m merely here to help.”

“Then what were you doing down here?”

He moves his hand to his front pocket and I step forward, the gun making a clanging noise as I move closer to him.

“It’s just a prepared spell.”

My eyes zero in on the little leather bag in his hand. “Why? What’s inside?”

His mouth turns to the side. “The skull of a bird, a couple of dead men’s teeth and lavender.”

“You’re cloaking us,” McKenna says from the stairway, her voice echoing in the space around us.

“Go back upstairs, McKenna,” I urge, not taking my eyes away from Kai. What the hell happened to her staying in the damn closet?

“No,” Kai blurts. “Don’t go. You’re the reason I’m here.” He steps toward the empty space between him and McKenna, but I block him. “I’ll stay still. Sorry. But, I’m here because there’s a movement going on in Beneath and I felt the need to warn you. As well as offer my assistance.”

McKenna huffs, and I break my eye contact with Kai to look at her.

“Why would we trust you?” she questions, her arms folded over her shirt now. Her eyes settle on me for a moment and she pleads with me to understand her reasoning for not listening to me. I nod and turn my attention back to the demon, witch…thing. Thayan dude.
Christ, this is a whole new level of weird for me.

Kai’s unruly eyes soften. “You do remember me, don’t you?”

McKenna’s mouth falls open and she shakes her head, unbelieving. “From my dream?”

Kai nods.

“I do remember you. How did you do that?” She looks to me with concern. “Were you in Declan’s dream, too?”

Kai smiles and, for a guy with demonic red eyes, he almost looks—mortal. “I didn’t know about Declan’s dream. I only know of yours, but the simple answer is I’m a lot like you in some ways. I’m a brethren, I guess you could say.”

“You’re…” she stutters, looking to me as if she doesn’t believe it. “You’re a witch?”

“Or warlock. You choose.”

“Does that mean you’re a Strix?”

This time Kai laughs. “No. I’m not a Strix.”

“Then how were you able to manipulate my dream? I thought only Strix could do that.”

Manipulated her dream? What? Why is this the first time I’m hearing about this?

“They were,” Kai says. “Until we were made. And about the dream, anything is possible with the correct ingredients.”

“How many of you are there?” I ask, skipping over the whole dream thing.

“Hundreds? Thousands? I don’t know.”

Thousands?
“Who’s your creator?”

Kai’s eyes downcast. “That’s the ultimate question, isn’t it? God? Lucifer? No clue. Whoever runs Beneath, I guess. But we’ve never met him—or her.”

“You don’t know your own creator? How is that possible?”

“There’s a lot you don’t know—there’s a lot I don’t know. I’ll tell you all I can, but can you put the gun away? I’m betting you have more wooden bullets in there.”

He’d be right.

I pop out the bullet in the barrel and push it in my pocket, switching the safety on. Kai hasn’t hurt us yet and by the looks of him, he could if he really wanted to. I’m choosing to go on faith here and trust him for the time being.

Shoving the gun in the back of my pants, I meet McKenna at the end of the stairs and wrap my arm around her. “You’re, uh, you’re not wearing a shirt, Declan,” she whispers and I look down at my bare chest.

Shit.

McKenna grins, the rose still present on her cheeks.

“I’ll go upstairs…”

“No need.” Chanting low under her breath, McKenna says, “Soa, rie, niet.”

A black shirt similar to Kai’s appears on my body and I decide to go with it. If she can dress me with a few simple words, I’m not going to complain.

“All right,” Kai says. I’m still taken aback by his different appearance from all the other demons I’ve met. From his head down, he looks like a normal guy. Simple black jeans, a worn black shirt and black boots. His skin’s blemish-free, and there are hints of freckles on his snowy white arms. It’s almost as if he needs to sit out in the sun a bit more to broaden his tan. He’s a good looking dude, but it’s hard to get used to because his eyes—they are something I’ve only ever seen in my dreams.

“There’s word that armies from all over are assembling to bring in a Strix with multiple powers,” Kai informs.

McKenna’s grip on me tightens and I feel the chill radiate in her body.

“I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s you.” Kai points to McKenna.

She says nothing in return.

Grim, he utters, “Thayan armies have been circling your house all week.”

“What?” My anger flares and I step forward, ready to strike.

He puts his hand up to stop me. “Invisible, remember?” He gestures in a circle above his head. “We’re all loaded with magic. You wouldn’t have been able to see them.”

The vein in my forehead pulses and my jaw tightens.

“They couldn’t get in, obviously. You’re protected against almost any supernatural creature. The markings on the doors and windows of the house secured your safety.”

“Then how did you get in?” McKenna questions.

“Someone had to have messed with the markings. The one on your back door was smudged and I was able to walk right in.”

“But if we’re protected inside, and no one can get in, how was it smeared? I obviously can’t see them.”

“First of all, dear.” My blood boils at his pet name. “You can’t see them because you didn’t put them there. Lucky for you, I did. Only the witch or warlock who cast the spell can see them. The moment the orders came in, I had this odd feeling in my stomach and I knew I needed to protect you. Thayans know of your presence in this town, but not the exact location. All of that is to say, the moment the markings are tampered with, all creatures are attuned to their power. You’re fortunate tonight was my night for guard duty. We have Thayans posted all over the city. You’d probably be dead had I not come tonight. Someone would have come in, the pull of your Strix magic so strong, and it wouldn’t have been pretty. But, I restored the markings so we should be okay. No one will notice a difference.”

I stop him. “Wait, let me get this straight. You put these markings on the house out of the goodness of your heart?” I scoff. A monster with a conscience?

He shows no emotion. “I cannot tell you why I did it. I heard her name and something inside me told me to protect her.”

I shake my head, totally unbelieving. I’m just supposed to consider fate now?

McKenna sniffs. “A Thayan couldn’t mess with the markings, so who did?”

“Just because Thayans can’t touch them doesn’t mean we can’t have a mortal do it for us. The mind is easily manipulated. We can get humans to do pretty much whatever we want. Sure, whoever messed with the markings probably didn’t know what they were doing. They can’t actually see it, I assure you. It wasn’t a coincidence the markings—your markings—were toyed with.”

“Mortals?” I say in a monotone voice. “You have mortals working for you?”

“Surely. I know many who would like to become what we are. They earn their keep, build up the trust, then are turned. It’s simple enough.”

I sneer. Simple?

“As for the prepared spells,” he shakes the bag still in his hand, “I made them in hopes of entering. That’s what I was doing when you found me. I was placing them all over the house. The markings were doing their jobs fine, but the spells I supplied should cloak you altogether.”

“But won’t the other Thayans be able to see mortals coming and going?” I ask.

“No. That’s what the prepared spells are for. It’ll make the place look deserted to certain eyes.”

“You can do that?” I make sure. “That’s a thing?” I turn to look at McKenna who nods. “Damn.”

A hint of a smile crosses Kai’s face.

“When you say certain eyes, do you mean mean Thayans?” McKenna asks.

“Not necessarily. The spell is aimed to ward against any being, mortal or supernatural. If they have the intent to harm you or your coven, they’ll be affected by the contents of the spell.”

McKenna thinks for a bit and I decide to sit down at the table they have placed at the corner of the store. Kai and McKenna follow suit. McKenna next to me, and Kai across from us.

“How is it so specific?” I ask.

Kai shifts, appearing more comfortable now. His shoulders have slacked and his hands are limply sitting on the table. I eye him cautiously. Still, I can’t help but wonder what made him change sides.

“It’s all about the incantation and the heart behind the spell. Sure, the ingredients and meaning of words play a huge part in it, but it’s also the purity of the witch. You never learned this stuff?” He points to McKenna with a confused look.

McKenna shakes her head. “Never. It’s all textbook. Do this. Do that. That’s it. We follow orders and don’t mess with the status quo.”

Kai scratches one of his eyebrows. “There’s so much more to magic than following someone’s orders.” His red eyes light up with something—eagerness? Even I can’t deny I’m sort of interested in what he has to say. “It’s all about free expression. Following your heart and riding the waves.”

McKenna doesn’t seem so certain. “How is it a demon knows about following your heart? Aren’t you the epitome of evil?”

“I’m supposed to be, but there’s a flaw in my makeup, I guess.”

“You have a morality?” I ask, skeptical. I’ve officially seen it all.

“I do, and it’s a pain. The things they forced me to do…” He shakes his head, pulling at his blonde hair. “Having moral standards and being a monster don’t really go hand-in-hand.”

“Shit,” I mutter. If he’s telling the truth, I can only imagine the guilt he carries.

Kai’s eyes widen and he nods.

“So what are we going to do?” McKenna sighs.

“Well…” he begins, but stops when Candy comes barreling through the door, stumbling to a halt in front of us. She giggles but stops short when she notices Kai’s deep red eyes.

“Hona, bia…”

“Candy! Stop!” McKenna screams, getting up to rush toward her sister. She grabs hold of her arm. “Stop.”

“But he’s a…”

“A demon, I know. Listen, I need you to sober up.”