The Banshee's Embrace (14 page)

             
"Who are you really?" Jacqueline struggled to stay focus, to fight the effects of the Derek's spell.

             
"I am the guy that killed your husband." Gabe leaned in closer to her. "You were right when you said that the first time you saw me. I was there to stop Eric from hunting Derek and myself, but you got in the way. See, Derek here is on the outs with his hoity toity family. He's the black sheep who pissed them off royally a while back. Your husband was helping them find Derek. Who knew that almost killing you would turn out to be such a bonus? You're just what Derek needs to get back into his families good graces."

             
"That's enough." The harshness in Derek's voice made Jacqueline flinch even though her heart pounded with fear and rage. Energy began to from around her. "Jacqueline, calm down."

             
And she did. Immediately, her heart rate slowed and the rage lessened. She longed to hear Derek speak again.

             
"None of what this man has said matters right now. You are a blessing that will make my father proud." Derek kissed her again. "And you will make me very happy, too."

             
"You've got her wrapped around your finger pretty good," Gabe said.

             
"It's the spell."

             
"Let's try her out, see what she can do." Gabe rubbed his hands together. "I want to see what we've been risking our lives for now that she is finally under our control. She almost killed me today, you know. All I wanted to do was wound her a little so she'd be easy to bring to you."

             
Jacqueline listened to them talk, her mind a whirl of emotions. She couldn't seem to keep up with the conversation though. Maybe it wasn't important to. Sitting quietly felt good and besides, it gave her a chance to listen to the soothing rumble of Derek's voice.

             
"Come with me," Derek said to her.

             
Obedient, she followed him up a set of stairs, past quiet rooms and out into the night air. The tombstones were illuminated by the full moon, and she had the strangest urge to move among them, to sing soft lullabies from a land she'd never even see. How odd. But she forced herself not to indulge in such pastimes. Derek hadn't given her permission to do that.

             
"Are you sure he's coming?" Gabe's voice was anxious.

             
"I didn't bother to hide where we are." Derek looked around the quiet cemetery. "I know he cares about Jacqueline. I'm sure he used a scrying spell and is on his way."

             
"I should stay out of sight then," Gabe said.

             
"Don't you want to see the death of your father?"

             
Jacqueline frowned. What were they talking about? Gabe's father was coming? If only she could get her head on straight…

             
But before she could give it more thought, a light flickered to the left of where they stood. The wind picked up, carrying with it a bitter chill and a scent…something familiar and warm to Jacqueline's mind. Instinctively, she moved towards the wind, curious. The light drew closer to them until it bobbed and weaved amongst the tombstones.

             
"He's here," Derek announced.

             
"Who?" Jacqueline glanced at him, noticing that there was no sign of Gabe now.

             
"Your old friend," Derek said.

             
The light twisted and grew until it became the solid form of a man.

             
"I know him," she said, softly.

             
"Get away from her!" The man's loud voice echoed in the cemetery, and the wind continued to surge around them, as if somehow reflecting his feelings.

             
"Now, now, Toby. You must calm down. It's been a long time since we've seen each other." Derek stood close behind her and lowered his voice so that only she could hear. "In a moment, you must go with this man. Tell him whatever you want about our time together, but do not tell him I put a spell on you."

             
Jacqueline nodded.

             
"Derek, I know what you're up to," Toby said. "Jacqueline isn't going to help you reclaim your ties to your family. You lost those long ago."

             
"Oh, I think she might help. Power is, after all, always a commodity."

             
"Is that what you told yourself when you betrayed your sister Gabriella?" Toby's eyes flashed with anger and the wind gusting through the old cemetery felt strong enough to knock even the heaviest tombstones over. "Were you thinking about power then?"

             
"Gabriella was a whore. The whole family knew. You should be glad your child died before it could take a breath. Otherwise, you would have been saddled with my sister and a mutant child that the Brotherhood would have hunted down anyway." Derek spat the words at him.

             
"Shut up!" Toby threw a fire bolt which Derek easily dodged. Jacqueline felt Derek shove her Toby's direction as he shielded himself from the assault.

             
She fell to the ground and crawled a few paces away, hiding behind one of the larger tombstones. She could hear the men shouting curses and chants, but none of it seemed to matter. Her head felt muddled and she only wanted to curl up into a ball that no one would take notice of.

             
What is wrong with me?

             
After a few minutes, the noises died down. Still, she couldn't bring herself to move from her spot.

             
"Jacqueline?" Toby squatted next to her. "You okay?"

             
"Toby?" She peered up at him.

             
"Come here," he said and pulled her to him. "It's over. He's gone. You're safe now."

             
But even as she fell into his warm embrace, Jacqueline knew something wasn't quite right. She just couldn't quite remember what made her feel that way.

             
"Take me home," she whispered, closing her eyes.

*****

             
Toby watched her sleep. She seemed so right, nestled into his bed, surrounded by the clutter of his bedroom. It was a place that he didn't often bring women, preferring to keep it as his private sanctuary. When he had physical relationships with women, it was usually at their place or some other location that didn't mean anything to him. Less complications that way. But right now, seeing Jacqueline lying there in what appeared to be a troubled sleep, it just felt right.

             
He sat in the recliner by the window waiting for her to wake up. It was still night and she'd only been asleep a few hours. Thoughts of what Angela was doing to his bar crossed his mind, but he tried not to worry about it too much. Jacqueline was more important.

             
He smiled at the realization. Jacqueline was more important than his work or anything else. When the hell had that happened?

             
Her eyes opened and he leaned forward, anxious.

             
"Jackie?"

             
"Toby," she murmured. "That you?"

             
"Yes, I’m here." He moved to the bed, sitting on the side. "How do you feel?"

             
"I don't know." She rubbed her head. "Sort of hung over. What happened?"

             
"Derek Spark." Toby watched her expression change to one of distaste. "Do you remember him?"

             
"Yeah. We were at the restaurant, and he told me that he wanted me for his personal weapon. He put a spell on people at the bar so that it seemed like time stood still and then…I don't know what happened. I woke up in a morgue or something."

             
"That's where I found you. At
Harrington
Cemetery
's funeral home. Do you know why he brought you there?"

             
Toby had been asking himself the same questions while she slept. It had been too easy to get Jacqueline back. Something else was going on.

             
"I... I don't know. There was another man there." Jacqueline's eyes grew wide with the memory. "He was the one that killed my husband. He told me so!"

             
"Who was he?"

             
But she couldn't get the words out. Instead, Jacqueline began to cry, deep sobs that broke Toby's heart to hear. He put his arms around her, saying nothing. After a few minutes, she calmed down, but he couldn't bring himself to let her go. The smell of her hair, the warmth of her body, the curve of her against him--it was intoxicating.

             
She looked up and he could see the desire in her eyes. Gently, he wiped away a stray tear and then lowered his lips to hers. She returned his soft kiss, but the heat between them began to ignite, and her hands gripped his body as if she were drowning.

             
God, she felt so perfect in his arms. The taste of her kisses was sweet, like an exotic whiskey he could have survived on for days. She broke away from his embrace, and then pushed him so that he lay on the bed as she straddled him. For a moment, Jacqueline studied Toby and he thought there was just a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

             
"Don't think," he whispered.

             
With a grin, she slipped the shoulder straps of her green dress down. He reached up and ran his hands down her neck and over her bared skin. It was nothing to yank the dress down so that her breasts fell free of the fabric. Unable to stop himself, he touched the silky skin, delighted when her nipples grew hard.

             
She gave a low moan and the sound ripped through him, turning him on, stirring his desire. Not caring what she thought, Toby flipped her over on to her back on the bed, and slipped the rest of the dress off. The sight of her in nothing but green, lacy panties had him hurriedly ripping off his own T-shirt and pants.

             
She giggled a little as he fumbled to remove his clothes.

             
"Slow down," she teased. "I'm not going anywhere."

             
"No, you're not." Toby ran his hands along the length of her legs. Soft and smooth, just like he'd imagined. Her stomach quivered beneath his touch as he stroked and caressed her. When his mouth connected with her nipple, she gave another one of those moans that drove him crazy. Eagerly, he suckled at her while his hands roamed where they pleased.

             
The dampness he felt between her legs enticed him, causing him to move lower.

             
"Remove," he whispered and the panties disappeared. He grinned at the perks of being a wizard and he slowly, gently began to taste her. His tongue flicked at the most delicate part of her, causing her breathing to grow heavier. She twisted her pelvis as if to break away, but his strong arms held her firmly while he let his mouth suck and pull until he could feel her shudder with pleasure beneath him.

             
"Toby!" she cried out, arching as an orgasm burst through her, turning her skin a soft shade of pink.

             
"Shhh…" He soothed. "I'm not done with you."

             
Toby covered her body with his own, and she clung to him, desperate and wanton. Her hands on him were almost enough to make him lose control as she guided him into her waiting chamber.  When he entered her, he could have sworn the room lit up with electrical energy. Or maybe that was just how she made him feel--like together they created a current of power that felt too good to turn off.

             
Jacqueline wrapped her legs around his body, forcing him to go deeper still, to touch the core of her being.
Sparks
sizzled off their skin as their magic united, blending them together. It felt almost as if they were floating, and Toby became aware that they actually were. Locked together, their bodies had lifted off the bed.

             
"Whoa," he whispered.

             
"No," Jacqueline said. "Don't stop."

             
She surprised him then by taking control of the magic and somehow pinning him against the wall above the bed. Now she held the power, riding him, kissing his skin, fanning the flames of the fire, until they both found release in an explosion of passion that shook the entire house.

             
Panting, Toby carefully willed the magic to float them back to the bed. Jacqueline wrapped her arms around him, her head nestled to his chest as they lay on the rumpled sheets.