Warlocks & Warfare_A Grimmer Legacy novel Read online

  Avon smiled charmingly, it was a disarming smile that I hadn’t seen him use before. I had always known Grant to be the charmer but apparently, Avon also had a few tricks up his sleeve. “Pleasure to meet you.”

  They shook hands politely. Gordo sighed, “It’s such a shame they don’t approve of you,” he said thoughtfully.

  Avon smiled, baring his teeth. “Never in my life have I asked for anyone’s approval.”

  Gordo just smiled in amusement. This night was not going to go well.

  Chapter Seven

  Through the course of the evening, the argument turned from actual conversation to an annoying consistent buzz. I rose to my feet and reached up to tie my hair. The room went quiet. “Many of you have apparently fallen prey to the illusion that I often feed. I’m not stupid and I’m not weak. In fact, I could potentially destroy everyone in this room,” I declared.

  “A little full of yourself, aren’t you?” Tom smirked.

  I gave him a look. “May twenty-first two thousand seven.” I pointed to Amy “December twenty-fourth, twenty twelve.” Then I pointed to both Cas and Wes, “February fourteenth, two years ago.”

  Then I looked at my dad, “July, sixth, two thousand and five.”

  So maybe I had used my new superpower to remember the dates of the most embarrassing experiences of their lives so I could later blackmail them. I wasn’t perfect. “Now I could go on but I assume I’ve made my point.”

  “Kia,” said Raiden seriously.

  I crossed my arms and took a deep breath, “Too far?” I asked him.

  He nodded, “A little.”

  “Maybe, but have I dismissed the idea that I have placed myself in danger?”

  Jay nodded, “Nobody will say anything more on the matter,” he said, glancing sternly around the table. My oldest brother may not have the most experience but he sure knew how to take charge

  I smiled gratefully at him. Avon took my hand and raised it to his lips as I sat back down.

  “We have something we’d like you to help us with, Kia, if you’re open to it,” Jay said as his attention went back to his plate.

  “Sure, what do you need?” I felt I owed him for sticking up for me so I was willing to help out.

  “We need to form an alliance with the Griffins, there’s been some unrest in their territory and I’d like to get to the bottom of it.”

  I nodded and recalled all I knew of the Griffin clan, “You’re thinking of approaching Dutch, he has a young daughter so he’ll likely respond to me. He’s old-fashioned, born in the forties, I probably have an outfit that will appeal to the old man in him.”

  “Excuse me?”

  I blushed a little as I glanced aunt Jackie, remembering that half the people here were born around the same time. “I meant older man, as in older than me. Also, green’s his favourite colour and he likes the scent of citrus fruits, I can probably use those to subliminally manipulate him.”

  Jay raised an eyebrow, “You knew all that?”

  “It’s all in our files.” Which, now I thought of them, were rather extensive

  “When’d you read it?”

  “Amy had me read files on all the local clans when I was fifteen.”

  I was starting to feel uncomfortable, most eyes were on me, “Wait, are you surprised by the memory thing or the depth of thought I put into manipulating people? Because the latter really shouldn’t surprise any of you by this point.”

  “Explain the former,” said Jay.

  I bit my lip, “You’re not going to like the former.” I really didn’t like the former.

  Avon shifted closer, probably sensing my discomfort. He kissed my hand again, “It’s okay, little one, they need to know.”

  I was really glad he was there, it was nice to be with someone who I knew had my back so I leaned slightly into him. “It happened again.” My eyes were glued to the plate in front of me, though my appetite was completely gone.

  “What happened, Kia?” asked Jay firmly.

  “March thirtieth, two thousand and three.”

  “What?” demanded my mother, she knew the date as well as I did but It took the others a moment longer.

  “Kia, when did this happen?” asked Jay, his tone was much softer but I knew that if I glanced at him his eyes would be hard.

  I bit my lip, “Thursday.”

  Avon wrapped an arm around my waist and squeezed my hip.

  “That bastard! Please tell me you kicked his ass,” growled my mother. My mother and I may have our issues but she was still my mother, and a Witch besides,

  I pressed closer to Avon, though the action wasn’t deliberate this time, “He let me go.”

  That must have surprised her because the anger left her tone, “Why would he do that?”

  Avon cupped my cheek, “If it’s too much it can wait,” he assured me, his voice soft, meant for my ears alone.

  “It shouldn’t have to.” I raised my gaze to meet his and tried to steel my resolve.

  I took a deep breath, feeling a little panicky. “He’s why you freaked out when Tax put us in a cell,” he said suddenly. “That’s the only other time I’ve seen you get like this,” he added, by way of explanation.

  It was true, I got a little claustrophobic whenever I was behind bars as a result of the time Misha had kidnapped me as a child. It had gotten worse since the incident with Avon’s father, now even the thought of any kind of incarceration had me panicking.

  He leant his forehead against mine, “I can explain,” he offered gently.

  I couldn’t let him do that, it seemed cowardly. I straightened, “He let me go,” I repeated, my voice sounding small.

  Avon kissed my hair, “It’s okay.”

  “It’s not okay.”

  He scooped me up and carried me from the room before another word could be said.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” I chided as he placed me back on my feet.

  “I couldn’t watch you suffer like that. Maybe we shouldn’t have come,” he cupped my face and kissed me tenderly.

  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I wrapped my arms around him.

  He squeezed me tight, rubbing my back soothingly. “It’s okay, love, you’re okay,” he murmured.

  I heard the light click of the door and buried my head against Avon’s chest. I just needed another moment or two to collect myself.

  “You didn’t have to announce it like that if you told me first I could have run interference,” said Jay, resting a hand on my shoulder.

  Avon’s arms loosened around me and I turned to Jay, “They all needed to know.”

  He gave me a sympathetic smile, “This was supposed to be about them threatening your boyfriend, not upsetting you.”

  I hugged him briefly, “I’m sorry, I thought I was better.”

  “How could you be better when this shit keeps happening?” He cupped my cheek. “It’s fine, I shouldn’t have let them organise this, I know how uncomfortable it makes you.”

  I blinked rapidly. “They needed to know how I was doing, I guess now they know.” They probably hadn’t known how screwed up I was, but she sure would now.

  Avon stepped up behind me and rested his hands on my shoulders.

  “You’re doing very well, all things considered. Don’t be disheartened. If you want to leave now I fully understand,” said Jay seriously.

  “No, I couldn’t. I’m not so fragile,” I lied. Hadn’t I just been making a point that I was strong and then I go and have a meltdown? Super.

  “Still, if you wish the option is there, I’ll give you a moment.” He squeezed my arm before heading back to the dining room.

  I turned to Avon, “I made a fool of myself.”

  “No, love, nobody could believe that. Did you see their faces when you railed off those dates? They went pale as a sheet.” He bent down to nuzzle my neck, his lips curling up in the kind of smile that usually never failed to get a response.to

  I tilted my head up to kiss him. It wa
s a gentle throughout kiss that had me forgetting why I was upset, and where I was. When he broke the kiss he licked my cheek and I laughed, “What was that for?” I rubbed at the cheek, screwing up my nose.

  “You’re making me soft,” he accused.

  I smiled “You were soft when I found you.”

  He smirked. “I am a powerful Daemon from the Underworld, mortals tremble at the mere mention of my name.” That wasn’t even close to true, he did have a pretty badass reputation but I doubted he was known amongst the more civil members of society.

  I patted his cheek, “Okay, Demon boy. I think I’m good to go back in now.”

  He captured my lips once more, briefly. “Okay.” He laced his fingers with mine and smiled supportively.

  I raised my chin, took a deep breath and walked back out. As I took a seat Amber reached over to squeeze my hand. I could do this, I just needed a certain level of detachment. I was just filing a report.

  “He masqueraded as the mage Dante to lure me into a trap. He didn’t harm me in any way, it appeared as though he just wanted to talk. He seemed to think that if he could peak my interest he may be able to form an attachment.”

  “And did it work?” asked dad, his voice vibrating with anger.

  “Yes and no.”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “I feel no loyalty towards him, in fact, I still despise him. But...” I tried to think of the best way to explain but instead I went with the first thing that came to mind. “I was born of a Sunday, it was raining, in the car on the way home there was a George Michaels song playing, dad drove, Jay sat in the front, mum and nanna sat in the back, with me.”

  “She’s right,” murmured dad, his expression both thoughtful and shocked.

  “What did he do?” asked Gordo, eyes uncharacteristically serious.

  “You guy’s have always been somewhat surprised by my lack of power, and apparently I should be more powerful, it’s a simple a case of me unlocking my other abilities. Misha apparently unlocked my eidetic memory.”

  “Could there be other powers?” asked my mother, intrigued.

  “It doesn’t matter, Bonny, she’s not going anywhere near him again,” said dad seriously.

  “Well, he doesn’t seem to mean her any harm,” she pointed out.

  “Mum!” said Jay harshly.

  Avon’s arm tightened protectively around my waist.

  “I think she deserves to learn the extent of her powers,” she said reasonably.

  “That’s her choice, mother,” said Amy, frowning slightly.

  “She is perfectly fine, she excelled at her work even with limited magic. She was able to fool you with ease, isn’t that right, Damon Blood?” Gordo smirked.

  Avon smiled, “Indeed, although I don’t take it personally, she can be very convincing when she wants to be.” He tugged idly at a lock of my hair.

  I returned his smile, “Tax was easy to play, he had a superiority complex.”

  He huffed, “That was only one of his many problems.”

  Tax had been Avons brother and I strongly suspected that he had died at Avons hands after kidnapping me a second time. And I’d thought I had family issues.

  “See, she’s fierce enough as it is. We give her much more power and she’ll take over the world.” Gordo grinned.

  I raised a hand, “To be fair, if I wanted to I could totally have done it by now. I already have a six-step plan to taking over the world.”

  Jay smiled, “Only six steps?”

  “Yes, it starts with planting sleeper agents in Russia and China-”

  He raised a hand too, although for him the action was less for dramatic effect and more to stop me talking. “First of all, you’ve put way too much thought into that and secondly, keep the plan to yourself because I don’t want anyone else implementing it.”

  “It’s not a question of whether I could do it, more a question of when does it stop being morally acceptable to bend people to my will.”

  “Would you bend everyone to your will?” asked Tia, my other sister.

  “No, but I would implement laws and my own belief system. I’d also higher the standard of working conditions in second world countries, make sure everyone has access to an education and medical care, but that’s like step six.”

  “How much thought have you actually put into this?” asked Gordo with amusement.

  “Coming up with a plan to rule the world doesn't really take as long as you’d imagine. The trick would be to change them from the inside and plant people I find agreeable where they can rise to power.”

  “You really must stay out of the hands of bad men, in case you encourage them to take over the world,” said Avon, raising my hand to his cheek. His smile widened, “And then overthrow them.”

  “That is absolutely something I would do.”

  They were all working to distract me and I couldn’t help but love them for it.

  “I feel like if I were to rule the world I’d do something much more impractical, like make a Disney world based on comic book characters,” said Tom.

  I smiled, “You’re such a geek.”

  “That’s rich coming from you. At least I have good taste in comics.”

  “You just like the ones that have been shoved down our throats in the media, at least I have formed my own opinion.”

  “Your favourite ones are about a psychotic anti-hero,” he accused.

  Avon raised an eyebrow at me with a thoughtful expression, “Deadpool?”

  I blushed a little, “In my defense, I like him before it was cool.” Okay so maybe I was a geek.

  Chapter Eight

  I was panting for breath. A blow connected with my shoulder, making me gasp. I threw out a combination, the first he blocked but the second caught him in the stomach. “Cute,” he grinned.

  We’d been at this for a while now and I was having no luck. He was toying with me, the way a cat might toy with a mouse before eating it. I wondered if he was really giving it his all or if he was just trying to tire me out. The thought irritated me and I resolved to try even harder to best the bastard.

  I swung again but he stepped into it, too fast for me to counter. He grabbed me from behind and caught me in a headlock. He span, still holding me, and pressed me into the wall, my back to him. I moaned, I could barely breath. He rubbed his body against mine and it became very evident that he was enjoying himself.

  “Not bad for a human,” he murmured, his voice rough but not as breathless as it should have been. Damn his supernatural endurance.

  “Let me go,” I growled.

  “Hands against the wall,” he ordered.

  Reluctantly, I did as I was told. He let me out of the armlock and his hands came down to squeeze my ass. “Hey!” I protested.

  “I win, surely I can claim my prize.” He kissed my neck. I smiled and his hands slipped beneath my sports leggings. I moaned softly.

  “You had an unfair advantage,” I accused, waiting in breathless anticipation to see what he intended to do next.

  “That’s why I took it easy on you.” He bit down on my neck gently. Then he guided the leggings over my ass and down the rest of my legs. My breathing sped up as he encouraged me to step out of my clothing. After a moment he grasped my wrists and held them over my head.

  “Bastard,” I gasped, even as excitement had my heartbeat thudding so hard I could feel it.

  “Mmm, I love it when you talk dirty,” he purred and I could hear the smile in his voice. He proceeded to claim me right there against the gym wall and it was a slow and incredibly. Halfway through he pulled out and spun me around, lifting me against him as he kissed me. I melted against him, resting my forehead on his neck as I rocked against him.

  Afterwards, we ended up lying on the mats together. He kissed his way up my body. “We should be training,” he informed me.

  I took a deep breath, “I think the idea of training went out the window.”

  He pushed the shirt higher up my body as his tongue
teased my skin. “I like the way we train.”

  I murmured something incoherently. My phone chose that moment to buzz.

  He kissed my stomach, “I’ve got it.” He squeezed my hip and rose to his feet. I sighed softly and readjusted my legging to make sure they covered my butt. “You have an appointment with Lucy,” he told me, bringing the phone to me and showing me the reminder that had popped up.

  “Oh, I forgot. I should get going.”

  “Or you could stay and we could train some more,” he teased.

  “You need to go home, your mother is probably missing you.” I raised my hand and he grasped it before pulling me up.

  He kissed me hungrily. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Mmm. Okay.”

  “Have a good day.” He kissed my cheek before heading to the showers.

  I hurried up the stairs after grabbing my jacket. I was going to be really late.

  LUCY WAS MY COUSIN, she was Gordo’s biological daughter and a trained psychologist. She was tall, with a curvy figure, deep brown eyes, and fiery red hair. I didn’t know her all that well but I had gone to see her a couple of times recently. Jay had encouraged me to do so but I hadn’t told him that I’d actually taken his advice.

  She smiled, “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m still feeling off. Much better than before but it creeps up on me sometimes.”

  “What’s changed?”

  I lay back on the sofa, resting my hands loosely on my stomach as I let my gaze wander the room. “I’ve been seeing Avon.”

  She gave me an encouraging look, “That’s good, it’s been awhile since you’ve really hung out with anyone.”

  I wondered if she meant ‘hung out’ as a euphemism. Probably, after all, she was Gordo’s daughter. “It is good, really good. I’m just worried I’m going to start relying on him too much to make me feel normal.”

  She nodded thoughtfully. “Have you started working again yet?”

  I nodded, “Although, the last job didn’t go all that well. It’s complicated but I’m taking another one today, this one should be easy and Jackie and Tom will be with me. Usually, I work alone but I’m really glad they’re going to be with me.” That was probably a sure sign that I was turning into a wuss, I thought, pursing my lips.