Demon Storm: Belador book 5 (37 page)

Jo must have picked up the track of his thoughts. “If you’re thinking of calling in backup at this point, you better reconsider unless you want Lambert to use the spell on VIPER agents as well.”

She had a point, but he knew that wasn’t her real concern. “You’re just worried VIPER will pick up Lambert before you do.”

“True, but what if you call in agents, and he unleashes the spell? Svart trolls got any old scores to settle with Beladors?”

Mostly in Europe, but Devon doubted a Svart would pass an opportunity for payback regardless of where they found a Belador. “I’ve thought about that,” Devon admitted. “But even with my intel I can’t just assume it’s only a hit squad and that Lambert is only after the Ansgar family. We have to cover more area than that.
And
we’re not sure how long the spell will last now that Lambert is using it.”

She hissed something that sounded like a curse. There was that look on Jo’s face again, like the one she’d had right before she clued Devon in on exactly what a truly powerful fixation spell could do.

Devon needed whatever she could tell him about the spell and she needed a nudge, so he said, “What?”

When glaring at him had no effect, she finally said, “A Noirre fixation spell of that type, which can be used in volume, has a short shelf life. The spell must be contained in a way that allows Lambert to release it as needed, but he wouldn’t have wasted activating it unless he planned on using the spell again within twenty-four hours. Even if you call in VIPER, you still can’t prove Lambert took the Noirre spell from Coldfinger
and
you put your teams at risk.”

Hellfire, she was right and Devon believed she knew her stuff with spells. He’d love to find out exactly what Joleen
was
and not just because she held an encyclopedic knowledge of black majik details. Nothing about her fit the gutter profile of Dakkar’s usual bounty hunters.

Devon snapped his fingers. “That confirms my timeline for the parade tomorrow.”

She nodded then pointed at Coldfinger. “That was a message for anyone who tries to cross Lambert. The spell’s probably been working about twenty minutes because we’ve been here half that, and Coldfinger’s blood has started congealing.”

Devon glanced over his shoulder. “Got what he deserved for dealing Noirre with a troll.” He swung his gaze back to her. “Any ideas on how to find Lambert?”

She pondered her answer too long, as if debating once again on how much to share. “He’ll likely position himself in a safe place to use the spell. Knowing Lambert, he won’t risk being with the other trolls in case something goes wrong or VIPER rolls in.”

Devon had to contact Tzader, but without Jo knowing or she might disappear. And beyond needing her help, dammit, he didn’t want her to vanish. “Our best use of time is figuring out the most advantageous place for Lambert to release the spell tomorrow morning.”

Anyone watching Jo would think she might just be staring off as she processed information, but Devon could feel energy building that had to be coming from her. Energy she worked to keep contained.

What was she? Besides hot and dangerous?

Her lavender-blue eyes fluttered back to life, and that oddly interesting gaze met his. “You know the parade route for tomorrow?”

He lifted his smart phone up for view. “I can pull up everything we need. It starts on Abercorn Street near Forsyth Park.”

“Then that’s where we start.” She walked off and Devon let her lead the way.

What man wouldn’t want to follow something that fine?

He also took the opportunity to text Tzader a message. Not much for typing to begin with, Devon just punched in two words.
Call me
.

As one of the stronger telepaths among the Beladors, Tzader could reach across two hundred and fifty miles from Atlanta. His rumbling voice entered Devon’s mind.
What’s up, Dev?

Devon didn’t have that level of ability, but once Tzader initiated the contact, Devon could respond.
Have a situation we need to handle carefully
.
A troll got his hands on a Noirre fixation spell
.

How’d that happen?

Devon explained about his investigation to this point. He finished by saying,
Lambert got the spell from Coldfinger.

You bag the leprechaun?

No. Lambert tested the spell on him.

Joleen glanced back at Devon with a questioning look about his lagging behind. He smiled and held the phone sideways as if busy working on the parade route that he already knew.

She shook her head and kept walking.

Tzader said,
Call me when you contain Lambert. I’ll send a team to transport him
.

If only it was that easy. Devon added,
One problem. I’m pretty sure Lambert plans to use the spell during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Why?

Devon went through how the spell functioned, adding,
Got some help from a bounty hunter. She knows her stuff.

She?

Hellfire. Tzader wouldn’t like this. Devon said,
Joleen Mac.

What’s she doing there?

This is where things got tricky. Devon wasn’t sure how any of this would play out, but he still owed Jo big time and didn’t want her marked as a VIPER target for interfering.
Jo was hunting one of the trolls. We intercepted the deal in progress at the same time. She’s agreed to help.

After a brief silence, Tzader said,
I’ll bring in every available agent by tomorrow morning
.

That could be risky without knowing where Lambert plans to release the spell. If the team is too close they could be compromised.

We’ll stay a hundred yards away. You find Lambert.

The connection died just as Devon reached Abercorn Street.

Jo waited for him on the sidewalk. “Lambert wouldn’t be down here on the streets even with a Svart team. He’d be up there.” She pointed to the rooftops.

“Then that’s where we’re headed.”

By the time Devon had walked Jo across every rooftop on the parade route, twice, Jo finally agreed with Devon on the best place to expect Lambert to show. They’d passed that spot the last time a mile ago.

The plan was to hunker down on roof of a building next to the one where they expected Lambert.

On the way back, Devon picked up a succulent meal from the Sapphire Grill. Who knew when he’d see the sexy Joleen Mac again? Looked like a good spot for a rooftop picnic. He’d like to also squeeze some information out of her, but pulling gold out of a troll’s fist would be easier. And she sounded exhausted from tracking Lambert for two days.

Plus, too many questions might snap the thin commitment of this short-term alliance.

When she finished eating, Jo frowned. “Lambert won’t arrive until he’s ready to unleash the spell...unless he comes by early to scope the location.”

“Sounds right to me.” Devon got up and stretched, taking in the city lights coming to life beneath a blanket of darkness. A yellow glow hovered over River Street where tourists and locals would soon be enjoying Savannah’s nightlife.

“You got first watch,” she ordered and leaned back, closing her eyes, not waiting for his agreement.

He considered settling down beside her to keep watch, but that might end with her waking up in his arms. Which could end in one of two ways—with him finishing that kiss they’d started the last time, or getting his head handed to him.

If he didn’t have to watch for a murdering troll, he might just risk it to taste that mouth again.

#

S
even hours later, crowds packed the sidewalks on each side of the parade walk below. For six of those hours, Devon had debated on how he could keep Jo out of danger’s way. If he so much as suggested it, she’d laugh in his face.

But that didn’t stop the bad feeling creeping up his spine.

Jo stepped up beside Devon, who leaned forward against a chest-high parapet. She looked over the edge to the lower roof of the next building. “You sure about this?”

“Sure about the location or making that thirty-foot leap the minute Lambert shows his ugly mug?”

“The jump.” She straightened and faced him. “Or aren’t you concerned about breaking both of your legs?”

Did that mean
she
was worried about
him
? He shouldn’t be enjoying this, but he liked the possibility that Jo wouldn’t like to see him hurt. That’d mean he was right to think she’d enjoyed their kiss as much as he had, but he’d like a refresher kiss to add to his collection of Jo memories.

Since she was waiting on a reply, Devon shrugged. “I can handle that jump.”

She must have read something in his face, because she scowled at him. “Is making a death-defying leap another boy thing like kicking in doors?”

Devon lifted his hand slowly and rubbed his knuckles along her cheek. “I won’t let you get hurt.”

She cocked an eyebrow at him. “I’m not the one in danger of ending up crippled.”

“So you can fly?” Would he finally get to see just what kind of power she had?

Ignoring him, she shifted her gaze toward the direction of the approaching crowds.

Marching band music and crowds cheering surged from a distance. The thick of the parade would be right below them in another couple minutes.

“Where’s Lambert?” Jo wondered out loud.

“Right here, Jo baby,” Lambert said from behind them.

Dammit. Right idea, wrong rooftop.

Devon noted how Jo still leaned her arms on the short wall in front of them, but moved her fingers inside her jacket and slid out a short stick she kept hidden before turning around.

She gave Lambert a disgusted look and warned,  “You’d be making a big mistake to use that spell on us.”

“That’s what Goldfinger said.” The glamoured troll produced a glowing pocket watch in one hand, thumb resting against the clasp, ready to pop the cover.

Devon considered their options. Would a field of kinetic power shoved at Lambert do anything against the Noirre majik controlled by that watch? Only one way to find out. He started to lift his hands.

Jo sighed and whispered, “Don’t.”

Did she have a better tactic? One that would stop the troll from freezing them? Or was this part of her plan to snake her bounty out from under Devon?

Decision time. He wasn’t sure he could stop Lambert on his own and his gut said to trust her. He whispered, “Okay. I’ll back you up.”

Lambert asked, “Any last words, Jo?”

She smiled. “Never assume all opponents are equal.”

“They are when I hold this. Admit it. I beat you.” Lambert lifted the pocket watch higher.

Devon tensed, fighting the urge to use his kinetics.

Jo moved so quickly Devon barely caught the motion. In the microsecond that Lambert’s thumb moved to the clasp release, Jo pointed a pencil-sized length of carved wood at him. It lengthened as she rattled off a chant.

Power met power halfway between Lambert and Jo.

The backlash of energy hit Jo and Devon. He caught her arm just before she’d have flipped over the wall and used his kinetics to shove them forward.

When the power cleared, Lambert stood frozen with a mask of shock.

What the hell? Devon stared at Jo. Wizard? Mage?

Jo walked over to Lambert. “He didn’t get a direct hit of the Fixit spell when it backlashed. Might not hold him long.”

She pulled a titanium shackle from inside

her jacket and snapped it around Lambert’s neck.

He roused, muttering, “Bitch.” 

Devon clubbed the troll with his elbow, knocking the slimy bastard to the ground. Once he clamped a pair of titanium cuffs on Lambert’s wrists, Devon smiled, ready to offer Jo a celebration meal.

Then lost his grin.

She held the closed pocket watch that was still loaded with the Noirre spell.

Ah hell. “Don’t, Jo. If you freeze me long enough to snatch Lambert, I’ll have to report you...oh. Guess I won’t remember.”

“No, you wouldn’t.”

With powers like hers, what was a woman like Jo even doing with Dakkar? The answer hit Devon between the eyes. She didn’t need money, but she did have to deliver a quota to keep Dakkar happy, which meant Dakkar represented a safe zone.

Jo was hiding from something or someone.

She walked over to Devon, hand extended, offering the watch. “I would never use the dark arts. Just wanted you to know I
could
have.”

His chest eased with relief. He took the watch from her and shoved it in his jacket pocket. “Fair enough. Lambert’s yours.”

Her voice lit with suspicion. “What about VIPER?”

“I contacted Tzader last night.”

That narrowed her eyes. “Figures.”

He shrugged. “My duty to protect comes first. I’m telling Tzader that you single-handedly got the Noirre spell back and once I had that in hand, your bounty took precedence.”

Surprise brightened her exotic gaze. “Why would you...?”

“Not bring in VIPER? Because then I’d have to tell them about your powers.” He smiled. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

Appreciation relaxed the delicate muscles in her face until she paused. “So you’re going to let me just walk away with Lambert?”

“Not exactly.” Devon stepped closer and slipped his fingers into her hair. He gave her a chance to back off as he lowered his head, but she lifted up and met him half way with a kiss of pure torment. His mouth fit hers as if there were only two in the world that matched.

The longer her kissed her, the more he wanted, but he had to let this one walk away. For now.

His body wouldn’t let him forget
that
kiss any time soon.

He plunged in for one last tormenting taste.

Sinfully sweet and without a chance of satisfaction.

She nipped his lip before stepping back, eyes sparking with challenge. “You think giving me Lambert pays off saving your hide from that demon.”

“I know better.” He didn’t want to wipe out that debt too quickly or he might not see her again. “There’s always next time.”

# # #

T
he Beladors are part of a powerful coalition of nonhumans who protect humans across the world from supernatural predators, even though humans don’t know they exist. You’ll meet Devon again in THE CURSE (book 3) and Joleen in future books, but the series is based on the lives of Belador best friends Evalle, Tzader and Quinn.