Rush of Pleasure

“You would have known if you’d opened the bloody letters!”

“You expect me to open every piece of mail that comes to the bar?” Jessie shuddered, as if the idea were revolting. “Do you have any idea how many people send me letters?”

Willow’s nostrils flared. “You know, Jessie, if you don’t like reading mail, then get a bloody telephone. Or at least have one put in at the bar.”

Jessie sniffed, then turned her attention back to Noah. “There’s something else I want to know. Why didn’t you send one of your friends? There was no reason for you to come here yourself. One of the others could have done it just as easily.”

Shoving his hands in his pockets, he gave her the truth. “They don’t know … what Sienna used to be like. After the things she’s done, I didn’t want to take the chance that I would be putting any of you in danger.”

“You haven’t told them about her family? About us?” she asked with surprise.

He shook his head. “They’re aware that I know her, because I called her by name. But I’ve refused to tell them anything else about her.”

Willow gave a short, bitter laugh, as if the idea of him doing something honorable was funny, but Jessie simply smiled. “So you came yourself to protect Si and her family? I appreciate that. And I find that admirable, even if you are a Winston. But what about your own skin?”

CHAPTER THREE

HIS OWN SKIN?

“What about it?” Noah hedged, wondering where this was headed.

“Your family is one of the strongest Casus bloodlines,” Jessie murmured. “During the thousand years that the Casus were trapped within Meridian, they turned to shades, requiring a human host when they managed to escape and return to this world.” Jessie was clearly demonstrating just how much she knew about the Casus and their history. “If the big guy is free with his right-hand men,” she added, arching her brows, “aren’t you worried?”

His laugh was harsh. “It would be stupid not to be.”

“Very true,” she agreed. “Why do you suppose none of your family has been taken as hosts before now?”

Noah rolled a shoulder. “Who knows? Rumor has it they were saving us for last. But I don’t know what will happen now. The few shades that got away with Calder, if they still need hosts, will probably come after us. But we haven’t seen any sign of them yet.”

Thanks to the Watchmen, he had sources all over the world keeping an eye out, but so far there’d been no sightings of Calder or the Casus shades that had escaped with him—and while he wasn’t eager for a confrontation, Noah hated not knowing what the holdup was. He’d thought the bastard and those who’d followed him through that portal would strike hard and fast after the battle in Meridian, but weeks had gone by and there’d been nothing. No sign of them. No attacks. But his gut told him not to lower his guard until the monsters had been found and killed.

As if Jessie had been reading his mind, she said, “Well, whatever this Calder and his men are up to, I don’t think you and your family are off the hook. As far as the Casus leader sees it, you’re living on borrowed time. I’ve heard Calder wants you, specifically.”

Noah’s eyes narrowed. “And where did you hear that?”

The corner of Jessie’s mouth curved with a wry smile. “I listen to voices, Noah.”

Christ, any minute he expected her to spout some line like I see dead people. And why the hell hadn’t these voices told her about Sienna? If he were Jessie, he’d be having a chat about what they considered pertinent information.

Willow walked over and nudged him in the shoulder. “What does she mean about Calder wanting you?”

He ground his jaw and ignored her, refusing to answer.

“What about your brothers?” Jessie asked. “Where are Jackson and Bryce?”

“I’ve had them placed in protective custody. One of the Watchmen units has taken care of it.”

The older woman laughed, making the rabbit on her head jiggle. “I bet that went down well. When this is over, they’ll likely be on my doorstep, eager to purchase a spell for some payback against you.”

He winced, thinking she just might have it right. His brothers were probably cursing him to hell and back at the moment, but he hadn’t had any choice. Now that Calder was free, he needed to make sure they were as safe as possible.

“Actually,” Jessie said, “I’m surprised you didn’t come here on behalf of your family.”

Noah frowned. “What do you mean?”

“For my help with the Casus.”

She’d caught him off guard with that one, and he was sure that it showed. “If I thought you could help us,” he said, his voice low, “I’d have come here a long time ago. But I don’t see how you could do anything.” Which wasn’t exactly true. Jessie’s talent with spells was legendary, as was her knowledge of the occult. He just hadn’t thought she’d be willing to raise a finger to help a Winston—or that she’d actually offer to help out with Calder.

The smile she was giving him said she knew exactly what he’d thought … and she was enjoying proving him wrong. With a soft spill of laughter on her lips, Jessie moved to her feet and headed across the room toward a tall, weathered chest of drawers, the bells at her ankles tinkling as she walked. If not for the rabbit skin on her head, she would have been a beautiful woman, and Noah found himself wondering if the strange getup with the rabbit was her way of scaring off interested males. There’d been rumors when he was younger that she’d lost the love of her life in a tragic accident when she was only twenty-one, and the surge of sympathy he felt took him by surprise. He couldn’t help but wonder what Jessie had been like before her heart had been broken.

When she turned back around, she was holding something small in her right hand, the papers he’d handed her still clutched in the left. As she headed toward him, she asked, “Why aren’t you wearing the Dark Marker that you’ve brought with you to Sacred? The one you left in the truck you parked back at the bar.”

His eyes went wide again, but he didn’t ask how she knew about the Marker. If you were around Jessie long enough, you came to accept that there were just some things you couldn’t hide from her. The powerful cross he’d left in the truck was obviously one of those things.

The Dark Markers were ancient crosses that acted as talismans against the Casus. They were also the only known weapons that could destroy a Casus’s soul and send it to hell. Noah and his friends had spent the past year collecting the twelve Markers needed to break into Meridian and destroy the Casus shades. After the battle, they’d taken the crosses back to England with them, to the ancient manor house where they were currently living.

Answering Jessie’s question, he said, “I brought the weapon to kill Calder, in case I run into him. But its powers aren’t going to protect me from him, if he tries to make me his host. So I didn’t see the point in wearing it.”

“Well, it’s foolish to take chances. You should make full use of its protection. Now lean down here so that I can reach you.” He shot a worried glance toward Will, who seemed to be enjoying his discomfort, then did as Jessie said and leaned forward a little. She lifted a small leather pouch dangling from a black cord and slipped it over his head. “If you’re smart,” she told him, “you’ll keep that on. It’s a special charm of mine that should prevent Calder from getting inside you.”

Holy shit. Noah wondered if he looked as floored as he felt. “Can you give me some to send to my brothers?”

“Of course.”

He swallowed, and somehow managed to force out an awkward “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she murmured, patting his shoulder in a gesture that was almost … comforting. “Now, if you’ll excuse me for a moment, I’m going to step back into my office. I need to have some time alone with these papers you’ve brought me.”

Noah watched her glide from the room and shook his head, wondering if he’d slipped into some kind of alternate dimension. Rubbing his thumb over the strange pouch now hanging around his neck, he lifted it to his nose and sniffed. He could pick up traces of sandalwood and something … richer. Something strangely exotic. God only knew what it was, but at least it smelled good.

“I must be out of my mind,” he whispered under his breath, cutting his gaze toward Will. “Am I crazy for thinking this thing might work?”

“You should listen to her, Noah. Jessie’s an amazing woman.”

His laugh was soft and rough. “It just seems kinda strange, putting faith in a woman who’s wearing a rabbit on her head.”

Willow clucked her tongue. “Are you really that judgmental? Because you know what they say about people who live in glass houses …”

He brushed that off with a grunt and turned toward her, locking her in his hooded stare. For one dangerous moment, he had to fight the driving impulse to reach out and pull her close, locking her against his body, as well. But somehow he fought it down. “What’s going on with Sienna?” he asked quietly. “You can talk to me, Will. I want to help.”

“I … can’t. It’s too much.” Something tragic and aching flashed in her eyes, twisting his insides, as if the pain were his own. It was strange, how badly he wanted her to trust in him enough to share her secrets. There was no basis for the feeling. No logic, either.

“Have you had any contact with her?”

She shook her head. “I’ve been searching for her ever since she disappeared. That was late last year. But there’s been nothing. I’m starting to think she just doesn’t want to be found.” Her lower lip trembled with emotion, but she took a deep breath and hardened her expression. “After what you’ve told us, I guess I was right.”

He wanted to ask more, but knew she wouldn’t give him the answers he wanted. Not yet. The creak of floorboards announced Jessie’s return, and she came back into the room with a somewhat stunned look on her face, her odd gaze settling on Willow for a charged moment, before moving to Noah. She still held the papers in her hand, but they now looked singed around the edges.