Warlock: A Fae's Vengeance: A Shawn Moore Novel 03 Read online

  She looked uncomfortable and added, “He’s also been ranting about you Shawn, something about stopping you from taking what’s his. He’s… lost it.”

  Malina growled the name in her scary fallen angel and greater demoness voice, “Elissa.”

  Korrina nodded slowly, “I agree, sounds like someone tried to control him, and snapped his mind instead. Very sloppy.”

  When we all looked at her she shrugged defensively, “It’s true. I’m glad of it, we have some forewarning, but Elissa should have done a better job, she must have been in a rush and tried to do it all in one session. Fae magic is subtler than that, and she used it like a hammer.”

  I shook my head, kind of glad the fae had a bad work ethic, and asked Susan, “What about the other alphas, will they ignore him, or follow him?”

  Susan frowned thoughtfully, “Technically by shifter law he can’t declare war like this on his own. His job is to represent the shifter packs, not lead all of them at a whim. While that’s true, he’s also the strongest shifter in the city, and shifters tend to submit to those more powerful. I think I can say for certain Katie won’t be joining them, but as for the rest I don’t know. It could go either way, because he’s obviously insane.”

  “Why not Katie? I mean, I’m glad she won’t be fighting me, but why?”

  Susan sighed, “Because she’s a lion shifter, she’d kick Darren’s ass and he knows it. She could have been head alpha but passed the job by and didn’t fight for it. For one, most of the other shifter races don’t respect a cat shifter. For two, even at her age, it would be hard to get respect from the joint magic council if she kept trying to fuck the male members which makes her unsuited for the job. Third, she didn’t want to leave the unmated cat shifters alone… in case someone got too far out of line.”

  I clenched my teeth and tried to ignore that last part. Shifter assholes.

  “Can someone tell me about the fae? I get the idea they’re more powerful than the other races, but less powerful than angels. But do they have weaknesses? Will they attack with the shifters?”

  Korrina answered, “They are powerful, but they’re also horribly arrogant. They also don’t fight a head on fight. If I had to guess this three-pronged shifter attack is simply a diversion to keep our eyes on the shifters. The fae probably won’t join them during the battle, but they may shield the shifters from magic, kind of like how you do for Lilliana and Susan.

  “Just because they like being sneaky and coming at you sideways, doesn’t mean they aren’t extremely powerful. As for the reason they don’t fit in, they don’t really belong in this world. I couldn’t tell you why, or how, but they fled their own world for some reason and settled on this one. Like an alternate universe, not a dimensional one.”

  I frowned, “What’s the difference?”

  Malina explained, “Earth is the mortal realm, heaven and hell are separate dimensions, but all are part of the same universe, our universe. The fae come from a different universe altogether, another mortal realm. In the end, shifters, humans, mages, and even vampires are all human, and with the exception of vampires can have kids together. A fae can’t conceive from a human, they’re literally a different race.”

  I sort of got that, but decided to just think of them as aliens, “So, if a mage gets their magic from this realm, and you get it from the infernal, and Korrina gets it from here and the celestial, where does fae magic come from? And what can they do with it? Do they have a weakness?”

  Lilliana shrugged, “They don’t use their magic much so I’m not sure what their limits are. I know they can cast protections like a mage, but their magic is generally not based on the elements. Their spells effect the body, mind, and life. I suppose you could call it the magic of nature. As for the weakness or where they get their magic…” she trailed off and shrugged helplessly.

  She looked around for a moment and continued, “I guess we have no idea.”

  Krystal spoke in a warm loving voice, “Iron. It isn’t as big a weakness as in the human tales, it doesn’t make them helpless, but it does short out their connection to magic and can break through a spell. The trick is, it needs to be pure iron, a mix of metals would not do anything. As for where they get their magic, the fae can harness the natural magic of this world with the help of a piece of their own world. Usually a piece of jewelry, or something similar that they brought with them.”

  I was a bit surprised at Krystal’s knowledge, but even more surprised when I realized she’d been talking to everyone, not just me. It was obvious, because they all looked surprised, except for Susan. I wondered how Krystal knew all of that, but I also knew the sword was ancient, so she’d probably just run into the fae a few times before.

  I sent her a mental hug, which she returned with a fervor that almost made me blush.

  Krystal could read my mind, but I said it out loud anyway, for everyone else’s benefit.

  “Do you know how the elves got here?” I asked softly. I wasn’t sure if that really mattered, but I was curious, and it might help to know.

  Krystal replied breathily, “They were fleeing their own kind. A civil war of sorts between clans. Maybe I’ll tell you the full story someday, but it won’t help you fight them, it’s just history.”

  I simply nodded and then thought about what to do as we ate lunch.

  I decided I needed to man up despite my sensibilities, and take care of the third pact for another Moore child, to keep the pacts three for three. Just in case something went wrong. I guessed that we probably had at least a few hours while Darren tried to get the other alphas in line.

  If I was going to do that, I decided I’d just take Lilliana with me. I needed to keep those pacts a secret from Susan, I cared about her and she did me, but she was also a spy, and that was the one thing I needed to keep an absolute secret.

  I’d take Malina with me too, except I needed her to do something for me.

  “Okay, I’m going out with Lia for a little while. Lina, can you contact Karen and Dion, and make sure they know what’s coming so they can prepare for it? Let them know what we know. Also, if you could offer Dion a treaty just between us. A three-way treaty sounds good in theory, but in this case it will lead to new problems once it’s broken by Darren.

  “Then we can pursue separate treaties with the shifters as well, once this passes. It just makes more sense that way. At least Darren’s betrayal, when it comes, won’t affect our treaty with the mages. I don’t think Dion would take advantage of this, but I’ll feel better if I have a treaty that says he won’t. Susan, while we’re gone keep in touch with Katie, and find out what you can? If you’re comfortable with that?”

  Korrina asked, “What about me?”

  I smiled and said, “Just sit there and look pretty.”

  I laughed, and said before she could get upset, “Last I checked we’re friends, and I don’t get to give you orders. You can do whatever you want and I’d be grateful for any help.”

  She smiled coyly, “I’ll have to give that some thought.”

  We chatted a bit over the rest of lunch, and then I cast the divination spell for the next target for a pact. I felt guilty already when I got the information, but I’d need to get over that. Still, this was my least favorite thing about being a warlock, but it was an important part of the pact and I’d really no choice.

  Lilliana and I left the others, I didn’t think it would take all that long. One way or the other…

  Chapter 5

  With just the two of us, we took the smaller normal full sized car, and I sat in the front. Just in case we ran into trouble I’d casted the partition spell, and had all the usual inherent abilities and spells active. My connection to Malina, magical detection, the general shield, and then for the spells, protection from physical harm, general magic, and then one spell for the four elements.

  Just because I had the capacity for it, I casted the protection spells on Lilliana as well.

  Lilliana asked, “Where to?”

&nbs
p; “Northwestern memorial hospital.”

  Lilliana nodded, and we headed south into Chicago.

  I held back a smile when she took my hand.

  “So what’s the situation?” she asked curiously.

  I replied, “Amber Carlson. Bad heart. Her time is running out and she’s too far down on the transplant list. Just turned nineteen, should be in her second year of college. No living relatives, so we’ll need to give her a package. She’s got long curly strawberry blonde hair, brown eyes, and a cute heart shaped face. She’s short, just around five foot three, and has a tight little curvy body with pert B cups, at least right now. She doesn’t eat well and has lost weight. Still very attractive though, and a healing would help with that.”

  Lilliana squeezed my hand, “So… that seems fair to me. Another sixty years plus of life if she raises your child.”

  I shrugged.

  Lilliana was right of course, nothing was free in this world, and no matter how tempting it might be to heal her with no strings attached, I had my thing to get done as well. I couldn’t go around just healing people, it would expose our world at some point. However, miracle recoveries were just common enough that I could get away with one or two on occasion, as the need arose.

  Assuming she said yes of course. So far they all had, but this was only my third, and I wondered how it would go.

  “Do you need anything Lia?”

  She smiled, squeezed my hand, and glanced at me for a moment.

  “I’ve got everything I need or want already.”

  I smiled, “Be careful, you might give me a big head.”

  She snorted, “I’m not worried about that. Besides, it works the other way around too you know. You treat me very well.”

  I smiled, “You make it easy,” and then I said teasingly, “Although you do seem to enjoy beating me up a little too much.”

  She laughed a little wickedly, “Maybe you should punish me master.”

  She was still smiling widely when she said, “I do enjoy it, but not for the reason you think. I’m happiest when I’m serving you. So down on my knees giving you pleasure, or riding you, or throwing you against the wall when you let down your guard. It’s all serving you. Yes, I do like the sex better for the added bonus of pleasure, but I’m happy whenever I have your attention and focus, and can serve you by making you stronger at the same time.”

  I didn’t get that mindset at all, but I understood what she was saying clearly enough. Her whole life, including her happiness centered around serving me. I hadn’t quite made that connection during our bouts, I’d just noticed she about liked to kick my ass as much as fuck me.

  Until now I’d no idea why.

  Instead of giving me a big head however, I felt humbled by it. She was an amazing woman, my companion, lover, servant, and teacher all rolled up into one. Incredibly loyal to my family line, and clearly in love with me as an individual.

  “I love you Lia,” it just slipped out.

  She beamed, “I love you too master.”

  I cleared my throat meaningfully.

  She giggled, “Master, Shawn, it all means the same thing to me.”

  “I’ll have to spank you later.”

  She smirked, “I certainly hope so, after I went to all that effort to get myself in trouble.”

  We bantered a bit more, and she really did distract me, but the reason for our outing came back clearly when we pulled into the hospital parking lot and into the visitor’s lot.

  She followed me out of the car, and explained when I gave her a look.

  “This isn’t just a house with me right outside. I won’t enter the hospital room with you, but I’m going to be in the waiting room on the same floor you’re on. I’ll also make some arrangements and get things ready in case she says yes.”

  I nodded, there was no point in arguing, master or not there was no way I was going to send her away or not take her advice. It seemed to me that the Moore warlocks usually died when they started to do that, and went insane.

  Something to look forward to in a few hundred years.

  We went up to the heart care floor, and I took a deep breath as I left Lilliana in the waiting room and went to Amber’s room. I recited a spell in my mind as I opened the door, it was just a very minor concealment spell that would make humans look away from it, and forget why they wanted to go in the room in the first place.

  I didn’t want to be interrupted.

  Amber looked beautiful, if a little pale and tired as she looked over at me with a smile. She looked surprisingly upbeat, almost cheery, considering her situation.

  She said in an exaggerated flirty voice, “Well, hello there handsome. You’re probably in the wrong room, but you’re more than welcome to stay and keep me company.”

  I couldn’t help but return her smile, and I said, “Hi Amber, I’m Shawn,” as I sat down in the chair next to her bed.

  Her eyes widened, “So you are here to see me then? There is a god…”

  I was a little flustered by her forwardness, and she smiled wider.

  “Don’t mind me, I lost my brain to mouth filter when I found out I only had a few days left to live. Doesn’t seem to make much sense not to tell a hot guy he’s hot is there?”

  I laughed, “I suppose not, and thank you beautiful. I might be able to help you with that however.”

  Her eyes narrowed, “I’m too far down on the transplant list.”

  I nodded in agreement, “This is different. I come from a line of people with magic. The problem is I have enemies, some that would prefer my line became… extinct.”

  She looked at me for a minute and asked the room in general, “Why are all the hot guys fucking crazy or assholes?”

  I sighed, “Try not to panic, I’m going to prove it, I just don’t think it a good idea to startle you, considering.”

  She rolled her eyes, “Alright, show me something magical,” she said in a sarcastically teasing breathy voice.

  This time I just channeled a very small amount of balefire to my fingertip, the green flame was about the size of a lighter flame. Her eyes widened a bit, but her heart didn’t race so I let it grow a little, until she could be sure it wasn’t sleight of hand or some trick. Toward the end my whole hand was wreathed in flames.

  She nodded a little weakly, “Right, magic, enemies, family line. What’s next on this crazy ride?”

  I smiled, “One of the ways my family combats this problem is to have children we have no contact with, usually we make a deal with someone, a woman in need, to have a baby and raise the boy. It usually includes enough cash to both help with child expenses, and get the woman started in a new life, as well as a place to stay. Unfortunately, there can be no contact after that, or it would put the woman and baby in danger.”

  I decided to use the theoretical approach, and talk about it in the third person, maybe if I didn’t say it directly about her it would have a lesser impact. I knew already that women usually got very emotional at this point, and the last thing I wanted to do was give Amber a heart attack.

  Amber frowned, “So what are you looking for, advice? It sounds like a good deal, but I’m kind of dying here.”

  I shrugged, “If the woman accepted the deal, it wouldn’t just be money and a place to stay. Just that isn’t a good deal at all. My family also would give them something they wanted very badly, or needed. So in the case of someone dying, they’d be healed.”

  Amber shook her head in disbelief, “You really are cute you know, but are you saying you’d heal me, put me up, and give me cash, if I let you impregnate me?”

  I nodded cautiously, “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

  Amber smirked and looked me up and down, “So I get to live, and fuck your brains out? Where do I sign?”

  I laughed, “If you mean that, just shake my hand. Just a warning, the magic will exact a price worse than death if you renege on the agreement once I’ve healed you.”

  She reached out without hesitation, and took my
hand. The infernal magic bound us in a pact.

  Chapter 6

  After I healed her, we made our way out of the hospital, and Lilliana was driving us to her new home. She was literally laying against me in the back seat, with her head on my shoulder. She was all smiles, and excited about the second part of our deal. More the fucking than the child part, but either way this thing was going well. I had my arm around her shoulders, and was playing with her soft silky hair.

  She was gorgeous too, and had a genuine smile.

  “I feel wonderful, thank you Shawn,” she gushed.

  I smiled, “You’re welcome, but I’m getting something out of it too.”

  She kissed my cheek, “I know, I can’t wait.”

  Lilliana smiled and shook her head in the rearview mirror, she obviously found this amusing.

  The car pulled over, and Lilliana said, “Here we are, number four o’ six.”

  I nodded, and Amber followed me out of the car, and into the condo building. A different one of course, on the other side of town. I couldn’t have them all in the same place. She was quiet, but still smiling as we went up to the fourth floor. I put my hand over the lock, and a quick few words of Latin in my mind and it popped open.

  We went in.

  Amber asked, “Umm, this is really mine? Don’t you have a key?”

  I explained, “A lawyer will be here tomorrow, he’ll be a normal human so don’t mention anything about our deal. But he’ll have the keys, some bank cards, and a number of things for you to sign. Until then there should be enough dry food stocked in the kitchen to get you through until tomorrow. Soups and such.”

  She smiled, “Good,” and then kissed me eagerly, and passionately.

  I hadn’t ever read of this reaction before, but Amber seemed even more eager than I was to get to the sex part of the deal, and started to strip off my clothes right in the foyer.