MagicalMistakes (11 page)

“You’re wrong. If Ciar goes back to you after all this, I
may have to curse him all over again.” Mikayla pushed to her feet, not wanting
to be anywhere near the cold-hearted woman.

On the sand, Rouke twirled out of Ciar’s reach, narrowing
avoiding getting slashed with sharp nails. He leapt back from Ciar as he panted
harshly. Despite Ciar’s handicap, he was more than holding his own with his
cousin. The sight brought a smile to Mikayla’s lips.

But her joy quickly evaporated when Rouke growled several
words she’d never heard before. The air before him rippled as he reached into
the waving air to draw out a deadly looking blade.

Demon magic
, Mikayla thought. But this magic was more
powerful than whatever Rouke had done to Alina. Mikayla stumbled, nausea
clawing at her. The cloying darkness of the magic washed over her, raising all
the hairs on her arms. Pain burst through her temples and forced her to her
knees as she gripped her head in agony. The malevolence of the spell beat at
her. This magic was never meant to be cast in the human realm.

Ciar glanced back at her, hesitating when he saw her pain.

“Do it,” she yelled to him, knowing he needed to be on equal
footing with Rouke.

Regret washed over his face as he called up his own powers.
Mikayla saw her lover produce another blade from the air, but the tainted magic
swirling around her was making it hard to breathe. She’d never known how truly
disadvantaged she was around demons. Over and over she’d heard their kind
didn’t mix but she’d thought it was because of their penchant for violence.
She’d never known how deadly their magic could be to her. How easily Ciar could
have taken his vengeance on her these past days they’d lived together. That he
hadn’t showed her more clearly than words that he did care for her. But did he
love her?

The clash of metal against metal rang out over the park as
the two swords met. Ciar parried and ducked past Rouke’s guard, attacking from
the side. His movements were fluid and practiced. Mikayla knew she was seeing
years of training being put to use.

Flying past Rouke’s guard, Ciar thrust out. His blade cut
through his opponent’s skin with astonishing ease. Mikayla couldn’t help
flinching at the howl of pain that escaped the fallen demon.

Rouke knelt on the ground, his hand pressed against a
vicious gash on his side. Dark blood leaked through his fingers. Before him
Ciar raised his sword, ready to deliver the killing blow.

“Watch out!” Mikayla cried out as she saw a grin of triumph
twist Rouke’s lips.

Rouke grabbed a handful of sand and threw in into Ciar’s
face. While he was blinded, Rouke kicked Ciar’s legs out from under him. Ciar
crashed to the ground. The sword flew from his weakened grip, landing just out
of reach.

“Ciar,” Mikayla gasped, racing forward.

She had no idea what she could possibly do to help but she
knew there was no way Ciar was going to die in front of her. Not as long as she
had breath in her body.

With a roar, Rouke drove his sword toward Ciar’s unprotected
chest. He barely managed to roll out of the way in time.

“Mikayla, no!” Ciar yelled as the flames appeared in her
palms once more.

Mikayla hesitated. How much was she going to risk for this
man?

But looking at him dodge Rouke’s blade she realized it was
an easy question to answer.

Everything.

Mikayla threw the flames. The fire sailed through the air
toward Rouke. He ducked out of the way with a curse but the distraction gave
Ciar the time he needed to reclaim his blade. While Rouke was off balance, Ciar
attacked, sending his adversary to the ground. Rouke crashed into the sand and
froze when Ciar’s sword pressed sharply against his throat.

“Stay down,” Ciar ordered.

Rouke bared his teeth in reply but made no move to fight.
“Finish it,” he growled.

But Ciar didn’t deliver the killing blow.

“What are you waiting for?” Alina demanded, striding
forward. “You won the fight.” Her eyes flickered to Mikayla. “Mostly. No one
needs to know of her involvement. Kill him.”

“No,” Ciar snarled, staring down at his cousin. “If I kill
him, I have to become him.”

Alina smiled in agreement. “You two are the last of the
bloodline. If you refuse to replace him, it means civil war for us. You have to
come back with me, Ciar. There is no choice.”

Ciar turned his gaze to Mikayla.

She stood frozen. Here was his chance to go home and have
the respect and power his father and brother had once enjoyed. This was the
position he should have rightfully held all these years. Despite his protests
to the contrary, would he really pass up the opportunity? Especially when it
meant he could have Alina at his side?

“Ciar,” she said, knowing how selfish the words were. “Don’t
kill him.”

Alina snorted. “Why wouldn’t he?”

“Because he needs to stay here.”

Alina scoffed. Mikayla ignored her, focusing on her lover.
“You need to stay,” she said, taking a step forward. “Because there are people
who would never stop missing you if you left. Don’t kill him. You are not that
man anymore.”

Their eyes met and Mikayla wished she had the power to read
Ciar’s expressionless face. But her lover gave nothing away as he dropped to
his knees, careful to keep his blade pressed against Rouke’s throat. Leaning
over his cousin, Ciar studied his angry face.

Above him, Alina grinned in triumph. Mikayla hated her utter
certainty that Ciar would choose power over love.

But when he finally spoke, his words stole Alina’s smile.

“Listen to me well, Rouke,” Ciar said, his voice chilling.
“You are never to come back to this realm. The clan may be yours but this place
is mine. Return here and I will destroy you.”

Rouke narrowed his eyes but didn’t argue Ciar’s words.

“Go back to the demon realm,” Ciar told him. “Rule there and
leave me alone. I have no interest in your power.”

He pushed away from his fallen cousin before raising his
hand.

Mikayla gritted her teeth as demon magic once more flooded
the air. Before them a portal ripped through the air.

“Leave,” Ciar commanded.

Warily, Rouke rose to his feet. He glanced at the threshold
with mulish displeasure.

“This isn’t over, cousin,” he growled.

“It is,” Ciar replied. “I want nothing from your world and
you want nothing from mine. If I were you, I’d turn my attention to your
throne. I will be interested to see how long you can hold it.”

Rouke hissed in anger but rose to his feet. He cast a
hate-filled glance at Mikayla but she return the glare with cold distaste. He’d
been beaten. For all his pride, even he knew it. The only thing left was for
him to vanish from their lives. Hopefully forever.

With his head held high, Rouke stalked to the portal and
disappeared through the crack between realms.

Mikayla breathed a sigh of relief when he was gone. They’d
done it. They’d won.

“Alina,” Ciar said.

The name reminded Mikayla that while she might have won the
battle, it was no guarantee she’d win the war.

Alina had drifted to the edge of the portal, staring into
the swirling darkness.

“You don’t have to go,” Ciar told her.

Alina smiled bitterly. “What else is left for me, Ciar?”

“I can show you how to make a life for yourself here.”

“With the witches?” she mocked. “Living a life of anonymity,
revealing my nature only in the dark corners of a bar? That is no life. Not for
me.”

“There is no guarantee you’ll have anything more if you go
back to the demon realm.”

His words made her grin. “Oh my, Ciar, you have been gone
for too long. Have you forgotten bloodlust and betrayal are merely foreplay to
demons? I can handle Rouke.”

“Alina.”

She hesitated, staring at the portal and the dark world
beyond it.

Turning, she strode back to her lover. Mikayla expected
something dramatic, a declaration of love, a passionate kiss, anything. But
instead the woman raised her hand. She traced her fingers over his features in
a light touch, as if memorizing his face.

“I wish you had chosen differently,” she whispered.

Rising on her tiptoes she brushed her lips over his in a
chaste kiss before turning to stride back to the portal. This time she didn’t
hesitate when she reached the rip and strode boldly forward into the darkness.

When she vanished from view, Ciar twisted his hand in the
air. The portal closed with a last burst of magic that made Mikayla flinch.

The dark power gradually faded from the air but Ciar didn’t
move, staring at the spot where he had severed the last ties to his home.

Mikayla stepped forward until she was at his side.

“Ciar?” she asked, touching his arm.

With a sigh he tilted his head up to the sky, running a hand
down his face.

“I thought I told you not to interfere,” he told her.

Anger blossomed in her chest. “Sorry for not wanting you to
become a shish-kabob, you ungrateful bastard.”

Mikayla spun away, intent on leaving him. Ciar grabbed her
before she could take a step and spun her back into his arms.

“Thank you,” he whispered before his mouth crashed down on
hers.

He kissed her with burning desperation. All she could do was
grip his shoulder and try to weather the onslaught of his passion. He pulled
her close, crushing her in a tight embrace. The movement forced a cry of pain
from her. Immediately he released her, eying the bloodstains on her arm.

“You’re wounded.”

“We won,” Mikayla replied. “That’s what matters.”

He leaned closer to inspect her wound. “You’re quite the
warrior.”

Mikayla grinned, pride filling her at the compliment. “Being
around you tends to bring out the battle instinct in me.”

Instead of twinkling, Ciar’s eyes darkened. “Yes,” he
murmured but there was no happiness in his voice. “I put you in danger.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“My family is vengeful,” he murmured. “Who knows what other messes
I’ll drag you into.”

“I think I’ve done my share of dragging you into crazy
situations,” she replied. “We’ll call it even.”

“Yes,” he mused. “Why am I back to normal now?”

“I—” Mikayla hesitated, a blush staining her cheeks.

“You know what I think?” Ciar asked. “My ability to stay in
my true form was tried to my attraction. The more I felt, the longer I stayed
this way. And then when Rouke attacked, I changed completely. I think your
spell hinged on a far more intimate resolution than you let on.”

Mikayla swallowed hard. “Do you love Alina?” she whispered.
“You changed back when Rouke attacked her.”

“And you,” he murmured.

She nodded, hardly daring to hope. “And me.”

Ciar reached out to tug a wayward strand of hair behind her
ear. His gaze dropped to her arm once more. “What can I say, Mikayla?” he asked
her softly. “How can I tell you I’ve never been as enraged as I was when Rouke
threatened you? How can I say the words I know you want to hear when it would
be too cruel to speak them?”

“Why?”

He shook his head, regret in his eyes. “Because we can’t be
together. Tonight proved that.”

A chill settled over her. “That’s not true,” she tried to
argue. “We defeated Rouke. I think that proves we can handle anything that
comes our way.”

“Open your eyes,” he demanded. “I nearly got you killed
tonight. Do you think Rouke will leave me alone? I come with powerful enemies,
ones who won’t hesitate to use the people I care about to hurt me.”

“I can fight with you.”

“But I never want you to have to,” he growled to her. “You
deserve a bright, happy life with a man who won’t draw you into bloody battles.
I’m a demon, Mikayla. That will never change. My family, my heritage, hell,
even my powers are dangerous to you. Look how you reacted to my magic. You
should be running from me as fast as you can.”

“That will never happen,” she said.

“I could hurt you.”

“Never.”

“You don’t know the future.”

“I’ll take the risk.”

Ciar smiled at her determination but the expression on his
face broke her heart. Looking at him, she knew without a doubt this was not a
fight she would win. Despite whatever he felt for her, she wasn’t going to
convince him to stay.

“I won’t,” he told her. “Your life is the one thing I will
never gamble on.” He leaned down and kissed her. It was gentle but scared her
more than anything he had said. The tender touch told her goodbye.

He drew back and, with a last lingering look at her, turned
and walked away.

“Ciar,” Mikayla called, unable to believe it could end like
this.

But he never paused.

Before her eyes, he walked out of her life.

“Bastard.”

Wyn looked up from the teacup in her hands. “She’s muttering
to herself again.”

“Leave her alone,” Tamsyn sighed, easing into a chair while
careful not to jostle her bandaged hand.

Mikayla glanced at her sisters, remembering what she’d seen
when she’d come home three days ago. Wyn had been crumpled, unconscious, by the
stairs in a pool of blood and Tamsyn had fractured her wrist and broken two
ribs. Neither sister was happy with the fact Alina’s magic had overpowered
them.

“Damn demon magic. Why did no one ever warn us?” Wyn
complained.

“I’d imagine it’s a closely guarded secret, considering the
damage no forewarning can do,” Tamsyn, ever the voice of reason, pointed out.

Mikayla tapped her fingers on the chair’s arm, staring at
her sisters. The first night she’d come home she’d been desolate. But as the
hours had passed, her anger had grown steadily hotter.

“Well, I for one am glad our house is demon free,” Wyn said.

Tamsyn tossed a pillow at her. “She didn’t mean it,
Mikayla.”

“Did too,” Wyn muttered.

“He’s wrong,” Mikayla said, shifting to accommodate her
wounded arm, bound in its sling.

Wyn glanced at Tamsyn with an arched brow. “See? She won’t
stop the muttering.”

“Ciar thinks he’s too dangerous for me? I’ll fry him.”

“I think we need to reset her brain,” Wyn said with a sigh.

Tamsyn leaned forward. “Mikayla, you need a plan.”

“He doesn’t want me.”

“I seriously doubt it,” Tamsyn said.

“Stop helping her,” Wyn snapped.

“Be more supportive,” her sister retorted. “Kay, show him
you can handle him. Danger and all.”

Mikayla’s tapping sped up. “How do you expect me to convince
him I’m not intimidated by him? He won’t believe me.”

“Sure, when you told him,” Tamsyn pointed out. “Show him instead.”

Mikayla’s tapping fingers stopped. “I think I have an idea.”

Wyn dropped her head back on the chair’s edge. “Brilliant,”
she groaned. “This will end well.”

* * * * *

The Black Cat was more crowded than normal but Ciar barely
noticed the people milling around him. He’d come tonight to try to put the past
behind him. His lips curved in a self-deprecating smile. He knew well enough
that there was no putting Mikayla behind him. Not ever. But that didn’t change
the fact that he was a danger to her.

The memory of her blood-soaked arm filled his mind. Mikayla
might have tried to put on a brave front but he’d seen the pain in her eyes.
Pain he’d caused.

Ciar rubbed a hand over his jaw. He’d made the right call.
He knew his family would never leave him alone. Not completely. He refused to
put Mikayla in the line of fire just because he was selfish enough to want her
by his side. Walking out of her life was the kindest thing he’d ever done.

Who would have thought that he, a demon second in line to be
a Clan Lord, would be brought so low by a witch? A tempting, maddening,
irresistible witch.

I’ve got it bad
, he thought with a shake of his head.
And he had a sneaking suspicion this wasn’t an infatuation he’d grow out of.

“Maybe I should move,” he sighed.

The warlock at his side glanced at him with wide eyes, no
doubt worried that Ciar had been attempting to talk to him.

Ciar smiled coolly and the man slipped off the barstool
before disappearing into the crowd. Yes, that was how people
should
react to him.

It was his own fault he couldn’t stop dreaming of the one
woman who never had.

* * * * *

When Mikayla and her sisters entered the Cat she paid no
attention to the pressing crowd. There was only one man she’d come to see.

And there he was, leaning against the bar with an untouched
pint of beer beside him. She bit her lip as she watched him. He looked like he
always did. As if the events of the past week hadn’t touched him at all.

If they truly hadn’t, she was about to make a fool of
herself.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Tamsyn whispered.

“Because if you don’t, let’s head to the drugstore. I need
more painkillers,” Wyn added, wincing as she leaned against the wall.

Mikayla didn’t reply. Instead she steeled her resolve and
strode forward. She wove through the throng of merry dancers. Ciar’s gaze was
on the crowd and not once did he glance in her direction. Which was exactly
what she wanted. No use giving him any time to prepare.

When she appeared by his side, Ciar’s eyes widened in
surprise.

“Hi, Ciar,” she said.

Before he could reply Mikayla grabbed the beer by his side
and tossed it in his face.

The music died as everyone in the bar froze, their attention
on the beer-soaked demon and the witch who had dared to attack him in public.

Mikayla watched drops of alcohol trickle down his face. His
jaw clenched as the liquid soaked into his black shirt. Slowly he raised a hand
to wipe his face clean.

She tossed the empty glass to a startled werewolf. “Idiot,”
she charged Ciar before he could speak. “Imbecile, moron…I could go on.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Coward,” she finished, savoring the last word as it rolled
off her tongue. She grinned at the anger she saw burst to life in his eyes. The
rest of the bar shifted nervously behind her but she ignored them.

“What are you doing?” he murmured, his voice low.

“Angry?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” She put her hands on her hips. “What are you going
to do about it?”

He said nothing.

“Challenge me to a duel?” she mocked. “Call up some of your
freaky magic and force me to huddle in a corner?”

“I’d never hurt you.” The words were said
unself-consciously. Ciar didn’t care that every member of the bar was watching
them, no doubt waiting for him to extract vengeance on her.

“Exactly,” she breathed. “You don’t scare me, Mr. Big Bad
Demon. You think we’re too different? Give me a break. We work together, Ciar,
and you know it. So your family is dangerous. I dare you to mess with mine on
one of their bad days.”

“Gimme a week and I’ll pay you back for Alina plus
interest,” Wyn called from down the bar.

“It’s not your family keeping us apart,” Mikayla continued.
“I can handle them if I need to.”

“Demons aren’t—”

She cut him off before he could make more excuses. “Let me
tell you what I’ve learned,” she said, shifting closer to him. “Demons are
violent, but you have put up with my meddling and my mistakes without ever
retaliating. Demons care for no one but even weakened you took on your cousin
to protect me and my family.” She reached out to cup his face between her
palms. “Demons don’t love,” she whispered, leaning closer. “But the very fact
that you are no longer a poodle proves that belief a lie. You love. And so do
I.”

“Rouke won’t leave us alone.”

Mikayla rolled her eyes. “I’m not naïve. But if he comes
back, we’ll handle it.”

A smile curved his lips. “Mikayla, I know you’re brave but
you saw what my magic did to you.”

“You’re worth the risk. Every risk. Don’t you get it yet?
There is nothing you can say that will drive me away. I’ve waited for you for
months. No way in hell I’m giving up when I’m so close,” she told him. “I’ve
decided I’m not going to let you run and you know how stubborn I can be.”

“This is a bad idea,” he murmured, his hands rising to rest
lightly on her waist.

“Yeah,” she agreed. “But that doesn’t change the fact that
it’s one I want to make for the rest of my life.”

He leaned his forehead against hers. “You couldn’t have just
told me that?”

“Needed to prove my point,” she replied. “Plus, you left me
in the park and walked away. I’d say a beer in the face is the least you
deserve.”

“I left for all the right reasons,” he murmured. “You know I
did.”

Mikayla drew back slightly.

“I love you.” She said the words without hesitation. Now was
not the time to be cautious. When it came to Ciar, she was all in.

His face gave nothing away as he studied her.

“I love you,” she repeated. “Your reasons may be valid but
we can get through them together. I love you enough to take on your crazy
family and your dark magic. I can handle all that you are as long as I have you
by my side. So tell me you want to stay by mine.”

He shook his head, a smile on his lips. “Silly witch,” he
murmured. “You should know better than to tempt a demon.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and bent her backward as
his mouth covered hers. Mikayla smiled as she clutched his shoulders. His
tongue traced the seam of her lips, demanding entrance, and she was only too
happy to comply. He kissed her with the same desperation she’d endured since
their parting. Fire surged through her as it always did when they touched. If
they’d been home, she wouldn’t have hesitated to push him into a bedroom and
strip him for her pleasure.

But they weren’t home. They were in a crowded bar, everyone
currently watching their reunion in stunned silence. Not that it mattered.
Nothing was more important than Ciar. She slanted her mouth over his, deepening
the kiss. No matter what their future held, she always wanted to return to this
man’s arms. Bring on the chaotic demon drama. Ciar was worth it.

“I love you,” he confessed against her lips. “You changed
everything, Mikayla.” He pressed a last, lingering kiss to her mouth before
easing back.

“Have I finally caught you, then?” she asked with a grin.

He returned the smile, looking more carefree than she’d ever
seen him. “I can’t very well refuse. After all, who knows what you’d turn me
into this time?”

Mikayla punched his shoulder playfully only to have him
throw back his head and laugh, no doubt astounding their audience.

“God, I missed you,” he said.

She smiled as she tilted her mouth up to his for a kiss. As
their lips met, Mikayla knew this was one man she’d always fight to keep.

Together, they were pure magic.