Jayde stared at her phone, wondering if she should visit Lamar. He was being watched, everyone knew it. With glamour, no one had to know it was her, but she couldn’t figure out why the slimy prick would call her anyway. He had no need of healing, and if he had, one of the Council mages would do that for him, probation or not.
Then again, she didn’t have anything better to do. It was best to go find out. Worst case, she could disappear, and take a vacation somewhere sunny. The dreary Seattle weather was getting to her.
Pulling on her jacket, she stepped in front of the mirror. Her appearance changed to what she envisioned. Short spiky platinum hair replaced the long chestnut locks, and her hazel eyes darkened to nearly black.
She ran down to her Ecosse Heretic and fired it up before pulling her helmet on and making the drive.
With the Dales out of the picture, no one was prying information from the worm. At least no one she’d heard of, and with her profession, she made sure to know everything that was going on.
Luckily it was still early enough that traffic wasn’t an issue. She parked her bike several blocks away and clipped the helmet to the seat before walking the short distance.
Jayde felt eyes on her as she knocked on the door.
Lamar answered quickly and pulled her inside, trembling so bad she almost turned around and left.
“Down… do… downstairs. He’s wi… willing t-t-to p-pay whatever your p-p-price.” The words were barely out of his mouth before he fainted.
Frowning, Jayde pulled her blade and silently made her way to the basement. Her breath caught in her chest as her heart slammed against her ribs. A burnt husk lay in a heap on the rug, his chest rising and falling as pained whimpers escaped. He didn’t have long to live.
Her skin crawled, and she had a feeling whoever the bastard was deserved the state he was in. Lamar was scared shitless—not a good sign. Leaving seemed the wisest decision, but her feet carried her toward the man.
Heal me, and whatever you want is yours. Safe passage to Faerie, money, anything. He spoke directly to her mind, and his words chilled her to the bone. She stopped in her path, now recognizing the wretched creature.
She could leave and he would die, but it wasn’t enough. He needed to pay for his crimes. He was in pain, but clearly not sorry for anything he’d done.
“Aeremaius. It’s a pleasure to see you this way.” She didn’t bother hiding the sneer.
He groaned. “Heal me, and anything you want is yours.”
She heard a knock and her chance to flee was gone. Killing wasn’t in her nature. Watching someone suffer without action wasn’t either. The best option, for both herself and justice, was to take the skill Remus relied on to get away.
A cruel smile lifted her lips. “I’ll take what I want and be on my way.” Afterward, she’d make a phone call. Question was, who to contact? It was no secret the Silver Council was watching Lamar for betraying their secrets. And everyone knew both the council and Elder guard wanted him for the same crimes.
Two birds, one stone no matter which she chose. Toryn and Preston were working together. The mages and the fae.
Attempting to glare at her, Remus feebly gestured. “Very well. Get on with it.”
Her brow arched. What does he think I’ll take?
“I will be whole, or you will pay dearly.”
She didn’t think she would, but that gave her an idea. Rumor was, Toryn unmanned Remus with a fiery grip before he escaped certain death. Closing the distance, she knelt beside him. “Whole?”
He nodded with a cry of pain as puss oozed from the newly cracked blister. Jayde looked down at him and took in the damage. He was naked, the burns were crisp in places, oozing in others. No inch of him was unmarred.
This is going to hurt like a bitch. Is disabling his escape worth it?
She thought about it until she heard the door burst open upstairs.
Jayde laid her hands on his chest and grimaced as she felt the blisters burst under her touch. She reached for his ability to blow away on the wind. Finding it, she pulled the thread of magic into herself and transferred his injuries to her, healing him.
Her skin blistered, a deep burn settling through her as she sucked the damage out of him, careful to leave his piping dysfunctional. Helping him violate another person was something she wouldn’t do.
The door leading into the basement slammed open. She dispersed and wisped up the stairs and out of Lamar’s house.
* * * *
Remus cried out in relief when the pain was pulled from him with brutal force. As his skin healed, the damaged tissue sloughed off in sheets, new skin replaced the old. Blood rushed through him so hard he couldn’t hear over the sound.
Then the pressure of Jayde’s hands disappeared and he felt a breeze. His nerves were still oversensitive, his skin healed but the new flesh raw and tender. So sensitive he could feel the fibers of the rug beneath him digging into his back.
He lay perfectly still, afraid to move and make the sensation worse. Holding his breath helped, until his lungs burned for air.
A lovely raspy voice washed over him. “Freeze asshole!”
Just what I need, he thought with glee.
He closed his eyes to disperse, but nothing happened. He forced himself to air… and nothing.
Fucking bitch! You’re going to pay for that, Jayde.
The woman stalked toward him. A petite, delicate mage had her hands out. Magic flowed around her, though he couldn’t see any obvious spell.
One last time, he tried to turn to air, only to find himself solid. Time for plan B. He rolled to his feet and grabbed the mage’s shoulders, shoving her to the ground. Fisting her hair, he slammed her head into the concrete floor beyond the rug once, twice, and once more, until her eyes slid shut.
A vicious smile spread on his face as he stared down at her lush curves under tight black clothes. It seemed like forever since he was able to take a woman, but if there was one mage, it wouldn’t be long before another showed up.
He stood and threw the unconscious woman over his shoulder, casting a spell to keep her under until he got where he was going. He was sure he’d given her a concussion, but wanted to guarantee she’d remain out for the duration of the drive. Once safely in his hideout, and she locked securely in a cage with fae shackles, he’d play.