Magic Resistant (12 page)

“Oh damn, I should’ve thought of it earlier.”
He snapped his fingers and pushed off from the table. “I'll call
Sylvia. She’s a werewolf friend, an Enforcer as well.”

Each major power in the Coterie had their own
team of Enforcers except for the Demons and Fae. They had no say in
policing Earth as this wasn’t their plane of existence. The
Enforcers helped to control the supernatural populace and carried
out the rules of the Coterie.

Thirteen ruling members of government made it
difficult sometimes to figure out which team of Enforcers to send
when a citizen went rogue. It depended on the race of the attacker
and the victim. However, majority of the time, the powers-that-be
concerned themselves with their own race.

He grabbed a burner phone from his back
pocket and dialed her number from memory. A few days had passed
since they’d spoken.

“Hey, it’s me.” Positive they’d tapped her
phones, he avoided using his name.

The squeal bursting from the phone almost
made his ear bleed and he pulled it away to lessen the noise,
staring at it in confusion.

“Sylvia, what in the nine hells is going on?”
Her exceptional hearing would pick up his words with ease. Was she
in trouble too? Bubbly and laid-back, she rarely freaked out. She
hadn’t batted an eye when he poured out his crazy tale to her the
night of the demon killings. Calm and with a smile, she helped him
hide, laying a false trail for him.

“Oh my goodness, oh thank goodness, you’re
okay. When news reached me about the clean-up crew, I was so
afraid.” Words tripped over themselves, almost impossible to
understand and he placed the phone next to his ear again.

“Calm down. I need to know what’s happening
and you’re talking so fast you might hyperventilate.” Adrenaline
raced through his body causing his heart to painfully thud against
his chest. He paced the room, trying to work it off.

“I’m okay. Just worried about you... and your
friend. A warning on the bodies told us to stay away. You’re both
under the protection of Revenant.”

“What?! Revenant?
The
Revenant?! Are
you serious? Oh shit, that can’t be good.” Again his fingers raked
through his hair as he tried to grasp the implications of
Revenant’s involvement.

Julia snickered a little, drawing Jackson’s
attention to her.

“Revenant? Honestly, he’s calling himself a
ghost? Who is this person? I hope the Ghostbusters don’t find him.”
She laughed again, but quieted at his haunted expression.

“Revenant is no joke. He’s the most feared
person in the underworld. Trained killers quake at the thought of
him. He has single-handedly brought down several crime
organizations because they encroached on his territory. He has
destroyed untouchable people because they openly mocked him. And
now his attention is on us. How have you never heard of him?” He
stared at her, amazed at her ignorance.

Everyone spoke about Revenant in hushed tones
from the Coterie leaders on down to the lowest of Enforcers.
Someone not knowing about him, truly mind boggling. He shook his
head briefly and brought his attention to the issue at hand.

“Sylvia, tell me everything you know,
please.”

“Well, I didn’t get the initial instructions
since it was only for the clean-up crew.” A polite way of saying
werewolf assassins.

All the messy pack work went to the assassins
(many of whom are unknown by the other members) and considered
untouchable as they followed orders by their leader. Much of the
pack communication occurred over the telepathic link established
and bridged through the pack alpha. He then controlled who got a
message through that link.

“After they found our members in the alley
way, everyone in the pack received notice to leave you two alone.
The message left on the bodies heard only by us werewolves.”

Jackson interrupted, “Wait, what do you mean
bodies? They were alive when we left them. One was bleeding from a
gut wound, but he would have healed from it.”

“They weren’t alive when the police arrived.
Their throats torn out and the bodies left in the open, I presume
for them to be found quickly. We’re thinking it was Revenant since
he left a message with them. You are now
persona non grata
with the pack. No one is to talk to you, help you, or engage with
you. I could get in a lot of shit just for talking to you. But,
that also means the pack is no longer tracking you. From what I’ve
learned, no one was able to find you two, so they asked our
clean-up to track through scent. They broke into your home, took
your scent and then stationed themselves all across the city and
have been for the past two weeks. They hired mages to set traps as
soon as they detected you. Although the plan wasn’t death, just to
capture you.”

Sylvia sighed, the sound carrying her worry
for Jackson. “Then, from what I’ve gathered, about two days ago,
those instructions changed and you’re kill on sight. Again, the
message only went to our clean-up and I’m hearing all this
secondhand. I don’t know who sent out the message though. Derek is
denying it.”

The pack leader for the Ontario region, Derek
lived in Toronto and not much happened in his territory without his
permission. Either he was lying, or it went higher than him.
Another Top Alpha could piggy back on the pack link although
difficult to do and hard to hide. One of the Werewolf Coterie
leaders could also use the link as they had a connection to every
werewolf in the world.

“Holy shit.” Jackson muttered. It explained
the lone werewolf at Union Station. They rarely ever travelled
alone, preferring to stay in small groups. “I guess that clarifies
how they trapped us so damn fast. Look, Sylvia, thanks for the
help. Now forget you ever talked to me.”

“Hey, I don’t think so! I’ve been in this
since day one. No way am I backing off. The appointment is still
set.” Her tone unyielding and familiar. Arguing would be useless.
Sylvia appeared sweet and docile, but her backbone was unyielding.
She had to be tough in order to survive as a Werewolf Enforcer.
Their training focused on physical strength and the ability to
withstand pain. Some days, he thought it bordered on torture.

“Okay, fine, I know how stubborn you are, so
I’ll shut up. And thank you.” He ended the call, no closer to any
answers. It made no sense for Revenant to protect them. He never
helped Jackson before.

Revenant was a wild card, an unknown that
worried him. What was his end game? Who was he trying to protect
and why?

As he tried to puzzle this out, he gazed over
at Julia and stifled a gasp. Bruises were forming on her shoulders
and upper arms. He winced at a particularly large one turning a
bright shade of purple and blue. The thought he could have lost her
gnawed at him. At the same time, her calm acceptance of the whole
situation amazed him.

Not once did she become hysterical or burst
into tears. She kept a level head and figured out a way to safely
arrive at the hostel while he had an uncharacteristic anxiety
attack. The adrenaline rush combined with his worry over Julia had
caused his brain to short-circuit.

Now admittedly, the women he usually dealt
with were hysterical from a demon attack. And
maybe
that
skewed their normal reactions under pressure. Demons running amok
weren’t a normal occurrence, as most of the incompetent summoners
found themselves eaten as punishment. Yet, enough of them slipped
their leases, warranting in a special division of mages.

He had a feeling a demon wouldn’t faze Julia.
Cool and calm, smart and resourceful.

Unable to stop himself, he crossed the room
and lightly ran his hand down her arm.

“Let me heal you. Those look nasty and soon
your arms will be too stiff to use.” She nodded and closed her
eyes. Several healing sessions made this a familiar routine. He had
no idea why she needed to concentrate when he was the one
channeling the magic. Perhaps for comfort?

Her skin soft and warm under his hand, he
gathered the energy needed, just a small amount as it was a small
spell. The magic twisted and swirled within him, trying to release
itself. He shaped it into the desired effect. The effort required
to create a simple healing spell was more taxing than a complex
destructive spell. It’d always been this way for him.

Magic on its own wasn’t good or evil; however
the intent of the wielder influenced the energy. Healers were
generally gentle souls and their healing magnified by their desire
to help. Jackson dealt with rogue demons. There was no gentleness
left in his soul.

Warmth poured from his fingers into Julia’s
flesh and her bruises vanished immediately. Well, that was a first.
Desire to sooth away her pain must have boosted his feeble healing
spell.

“How does that feel?” He ran his fingers
along her arm and up to her shoulder. Her mouth parted and a
wistful sigh escaped. Those lush lips begged him, enticed him.

Her eyes drifted open, dazed and dreamy, and
she smiled. “Fantastic. Thank you.”

Pleasing this woman was an addiction. He’d do
almost anything for that smile.

Unable to stop himself, his head dipped down
and he captured her mouth, taking advantage of her parted lips. A
moment’s hesitance before she stroked her tongue against his.

Hands tightening on her shoulders, he pulled
her in close, savouring the feel of her softer curves pressed
against him. Lower, his hands drifted to grip her ass, squeezing
and kneading.

Tearing his mouth from hers, he trailed
kisses down her neck. He inhaled deeply, his senses full of her
jasmine and strawberry scent. “You are so damn amazing.”

Gasping, Julia brought her hands up and he
thought she would push him away. He braced himself for the
rejection. If she did so, he’d release her without protest. It
might kill him, but he’d do it. He’d rather cut off his own arm
than hurt her.

When had she become so important to him?

Relief coursed through him when she twined
her arms around his neck, encouraging him to continue. Grabbing the
hem of her tank top, he inched it upwards, giving her time to stop
him. He nearly laughed when she grew impatient and yanked it
upwards, tearing it off. She tossed the material over her head.

Any thoughts of laughing fled his mind as he
stared at the pale flesh encased in a dark purple bra. Reverently,
he cupped her breasts, watching them plump up before lowering his
head. A kiss, lick and nibble, adoring her.

A surprised grunt escaped him when her
breasts bounced against face. Confused, he drew his head back.
Julia gave him a wicked grin as she finished shimmying out of her
tight shorts.

“Sorry, someone decided I should wear painted
on shorts.” One final bounce and she was free. Disappointment
warred with pleasure. Watching her breasts jiggle could easily
become his favourite pastime. If he asked nicely, would she do it
again?

He grinned back. “Oh, that person should be
punished. A spanking?”

He yelped when Julia followed up on his
teasing and smacked his ass.

“Oh poor darling. Should I rub it better for
you?” She kissed his chin. Her dark brown eyes gleaming with
excitement and desire, flecks of molten gold dancing amongst the
chocolate. A flush stained her cheeks bright red, her lips pouty
from his kiss.

It took all his control not to strip her
naked and burying himself inside her. He wanted to take it slow,
worship her delectable body.

“I’d rather you rub something else better.
Perhaps a kiss or two for soothing.” He waggled his eyebrows at
her, delighting in her throaty laughter.

“Only a kiss or two? Sure you wouldn’t want
some licking or sucking? I heard that can be soothing as well.” She
demonstrated on his neck. By the time she made her way to sucking,
he was grinding his hard erection into her. This woman would be the
death of him and he was going out with a smile on his face.

“That…” He said as he spun her around, his
tongue flicking her ear. “Was not soothing at all. Arousing, hot,
sexy as hell, yes, but definitely not soothing.”

Chapter Nine

LUST, BURNING HOT,
consumed Julia. Teasing Jackson was incredibly erotic as was his
tenuous control. She wanted to push him over the edge. His chest
pressed into her back. Hot hands gripped her bare arms. One hand
swept her hair over to the side and his breath burned the back of
her neck. She shivered, goosebumps covering her exposed flesh.

Lightly brushing her skin with his lips, he
asked “Are you sure? I don’t want you to regret this.”

“Yes. Oh, yes.” She almost begged him. Weeks
of torment, of watching and wanting him overwhelmed any coherent
thought.

He closed the gap between her neck and his
mouth and she moaned in bliss. A nip of his teeth, sensual and raw.
Her nipples hardened, begging for attention. Hands now behind her,
she grabbed his butt, digging into his taunt flesh.

Lifting his shirt, her greedy fingers skimmed
across his flat stomach, that sexy stomach she’d fantasized about
touching and licking. Would he find it odd if she dripped water on
him just to lick it off? Beads of water sliding down his flesh had
kept her awake and needy more nights than she wanted to admit.

Grasping his hips, she drew him closer, the
hard ridge of him solid and unyielding against her lower back. He
rotated his hips and her knees weakened.

His hands drifted lower and played with the
edge of her thong. A finger slipped under and gently stroked her
heated flesh while the other hand moved back up and cupped her
breast. Squeezing and teasing her nipple through her bra.

Turning her around, Jackson kissed her,
invading her mouth. She burrowed her fingers into his hair, the
thick strands silky against her skin. He bit her lower lip, sucking
on it. Cupping her bottom, he brought her close, spreading her
legs. She rubbed against his hard erection, shuddering at the force
of desire flooding her.