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DAMIEN’S SISTER
An Evil Bonus Scene
CHAPTER ONE
“You’re Damien’s sister, right?”
Since we were juniors, and since Damien was the ‘big man’ on campus, or one of them once he joined a fraternity, this was not a shock to me. Damien was also in the most popular fraternity on campus, or so he told me. I tended to believe him because this was a weekly occurrence.
Everyone knew Damien.
What was different about this question was because I wasn’t being asked by a human.
She asked the question as we were leaving class, and I stopped in the hallway, giving her a once-over.
Yep. Not human.
Humans didn’t give me the zing she was giving me, and I sensed into her, shifting around--witch. Then, just as quick, an image flashed in my head. Her, and her coven, doing some ritual. They were dancing around a fire, half-naked. Their arms and heads raised to the sky, and smack in the middle was my half-brother. I didn’t normally have a problem with witches. If they noticed me, they avoided me. If Kellan was around me, they ran like a bat out of hell.
The problem I was having was that Damien had been pinned to a stake and he was bleeding right next to the fire.
You will leave my brother alone.
She sucked in a breath, her eyes bulging out from the invasion in her head. I could get in her head. She just couldn’t get in mine. Because of that, she was scrambling backwards literally and metaphorically.
I didn’t. I mean—he’s cute. That’s all.
I glared at her, starting to walk her back to a more private hallway. Not the right answer. I saw what you and your coven are going to do to him.
What?! I’m not in a coven.
Then there were more images. Her. Her laughing. Her friends. Them talking about college, about courses, about cute boys...about spells. Them practicing spells.
I got to the last image. A love spell.
Are you kidding me? You’re going to bleed him so he falls in love with you?
Omg! No! I’d never do that to him--
I showed her the image I saw of her, him, the fire, the naked dancing.
Blood drained from her face. She was quaking at the sight of what I showed her.
A flicker of doubt sparked then.
I was seeing the future. Maybe something was wrong here?
We were now in a different hallway, one way more private. No one was coming past us. She stammered out, her gaze skirting around us, “I—I’d never do that to him. Not willingly, I mean. I have a crush on him. But that, what you’re showing me—” She stopped, frowning at me. What are you? I can’t—I can usually feel a werewolf or a vampire.
I snorted.
“I’m a little above your pay grade.” And so is my brother, by the way.
I glared at her again.
I might not have met my half-brother under the best circumstances, but since then and since his family had taken me in, I was protective of him. I wanted to ground my teeth because me showing her that image should’ve changed the future’s course.
It didn’t.
It was still there. I saw it firmly rooted in her timeline.
I sighed. “It’s Halloween. We’re in college. You know there’s an Alpha Mu party tonight because it’s a fraternity. They’re always going to throw a party. Now, because of you, I’m going to have to go.” I shifted closer, making sure she heard me real clear. “And I’m going to be bringing my boyfriend.”
Her eyes widened again.
I felt her air whoosh out of her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and I felt that too. The air around us picked up in electricity, because if anyone was plugged into the supernatural scene, they knew who my boyfriend was.
And they avoided him.
“Kellan Braden,” she whispered. “That’s who I’m picking up on you.” She was taking me in, all new now. The blood just kept draining from her. “He’s all over you. He’s—I thought it was a ridiculous rumor that he was here.”
Going to school was putting it mildly.
His name was in the system.
He attended what classes he had with me. The registrar kept putting him in classes that weren’t mine, because he declared a degree and they’re trying to make sure he graduated on time. To them, he was a normal student. To Kellan, he could care less what classes he was in. It wasn’t like he was going to use the degree. Damien and I, we were the gung-go college students. We were the ones who were hoping to get degrees and then careers.
Every class that I wasn’t in with him, he used his power on the professors and their TAs. He was given good scores across the board so he only showed up when I had class. Those classes, he sat with me, he listened with me, and he took the tests with me. He did the projects with me. If he was put in a different group, someone always magically insisted on switching with me so we were in the same group.
So, Kellan being a student here was a slight exaggeration.
But he was here, because of me.
And he was known to the supernatural world. To the non-supernatural world, girls only whispered about him because he still was hot, dangerous, and mysterious. But mostly, in that world, Damien was the big stud, and bless my brother’s heart, but he cared about it. Kellan didn’t.
Kellan cared about me.
And I loved him for it.
“You’re going to tell me everything that your ‘friends’ might be planning. Got it?”
She moved her head in a quick nod. “Got it.”
CHAPTER TWO
The Alpha Mu’s house was filled with humans.
Lots of humans.
College humans.
Drunk humans.
Scantily clad humans.
Kellan had been called for a meeting of the demon-variety, so the plan was that he’d meet me here as soon as it was done. Because of that, I walked inside by myself. I’d made a few friends from university, but since I knew we’d be attending a witches’ brew later tonight, I didn’t want to have anyone with me that I’d have to ditch later on.
It was the messenger side in me.
Booze, perfume, and sweat were the smells that hit me first once I was inside. I wasn’t counting the rap because I’d heard it outside. The bass had been thumping.
At seeing me, two of the brothers dropped their jaws. “Hey—uh—you’re Damien’s sister.”
There was that title again.
“Where is he?”
The one guy didn’t like me being there, and he switched to glaring right away.
The other one gestured upstairs. “In his room.”
I started for the stairs.
The scowling guy grabbed my arm—or he would’ve.
I turned, feeling the movement in the air and I shot into his head, Do not touch me. It was a warning only for him to hear. The other guy didn’t know anything happened except that his friend started to reach for me, and didn’t.
“Uh. He’s got company, if you know what I mean.” The nicer one’s smile was a bit more tentative.
I separated from my body, moving upstairs and looking through the rooms.
The first room, a guy was playing video games.
Second room, a guy was eating licorice.
Third room, he was masturbating.
The next three rooms were couples having sex.
Room five and six were empty.
Damien’s room was at the top, so I kept moving.
He felt me coming, sensing me.
I felt him meet me, speaking to me, What are you doing here?
I pushed forward, going into his room.
Stop!
Who are you with?
Someone. Stop it.
Is she the witch?
I felt his surprise before he growled in my head, Stop, Shay. I’ll come down in a second--
I pushed the image of him bleeding into his head and then the rest of my encounter with the witch today.
They have a coven.
They’re harmless.
I pushed that image again. You’re dead in this event.
He was quiet, and I could hear him audibly sigh. I’ll be right down. I’m not with that girl.
I began retreating, returning to my body, but there was a tingle on the back of my neck. I needed to see who the girl was.
Damien growled, feeling me still coming.
I said no!
I shoved through his wards, destroying them and I saw her. He was already rising, pulling his pants on. He halted, feeling me in the room.
Get out! Now!
I looked at the girl. She was panting, her face all red. Her hair was sweaty, and her lips were parted. She liked him, liked him a lot.
She was human. That was my first feeling.
I started to pull back, but that tingle started again.
I had to know…
I shoved into her head.
SHAY!
A roar in my head from him, and I could hear him. He was on his feet, sprinting down to me.
I was inside of her, going through her mind.
Her blood, though.
Her blood was calling to me.
I could taste it even though my body remained just inside the house.
He was thundering down the stairs, snarling as he pulled his arms through a shirt. “I said to get out of her head! That’s a violation.” He shoved past his two brothers, and at his words, those near us froze.
I was still in her head, or her blood to be more exact.
She’s a born witch.
He growled in front of me, his hands curling into fists.
She doesn’t practice.
Her ancestors are strong. Demonic.
Those are old old ancestors.
I pulled out of her now, coming back to my body and staring at him.
To the two gaping brothers, we were staring at each other.
We have a practicing coven on this campus, and you have a born witch in your bed. You do the math.
He growled again. They’d have to have a superior skill set to do what you’re insinuating. I’m a half-messenger. I wouldn’t go down without a fight. He softened. And you’re here now too. They’d be taking on two half-messengers.
He wasn’t adding the last bit. They’d be taking on a full-blooded demon as well.
“Hey! It’s Damien’s sister.” An arm came down around my shoulders. I was jerked back to a sweating chest. A hand holding a beer was attached to that arm. “D, I forget every time how hot your sister is. Why don’t you bring her around more? You partying with us tonight?”
One of the other guys let out a strangled laugh. “Uh, Pete, aren’t you forgetting about—”
Damien’s tone was frosty. “She has a boyfriend. Get your arm off of her, or he will rip it off. Trust me.”
That was when I felt them.
They’re coming, I said to Damien, already turning for the door.
They were out there, and they were spreading out.
Damien moved to stand next to me. They’re going to surround the house.
I wasn’t feeling a new coven. I was feeling power, old power.
I sighed. “They got someone with that skill set.”
He cursed next to me.
They began moving forward.
“We have an entire house of humans.”
The guy whose arm was around me tightened. “Humans? What the fuck you talking about, bro?”
I forgot him and shoved his arm off me by force.
I never touched him, but the air blasted him and he fell backwards a few steps before steadying himself. “Whoa. What was that, man?”
The chanting started after that.
CHAPTER THREE
“Where’s Kellan?” Damien yelled at me as we both charged out to meet them.
“He’s at a meeting.”
“A meeting? On Halloween?!”
“Oh cool! It’s a show,” someone said behind us.
A guy pushed past us, and a crowd had formed.
The witches weren’t just college aged. There were older ones. A few ancients. Some boys and girls who could’ve been in high school. Most of them were harmless by themselves. Together, I felt their power zapping us.
Damien did too, cursing.
“Is that girl your girlfriend?”
He shot me a look, his eyebrows pulled together. “You want to have this talk now? We have to fight off a coven of witches, and somehow keep my cover intact.”
“Kellan can wipe their minds.”
“Kellan’s not here!” he snapped at me, just as the witches began to raise their hands.
The chanting got louder with it.
“Cover.” I pffted at that. “You talk like you’re a cop or something.”
“A what?!” From one of the fraternity brothers.
“He’s not.”
The guy didn’t look like he believed me.
Damien cursed under his breath. “Where the hell is your boyfriend?”
More people came outside, spilling out so probably half the house was on the front lawn, and still drinking. A few of the girls were eyeing the witches, their noses wrinkled up.
“When did we book talent for the party?” Another of the fraternity brothers stepped out, coming over to Damien. “When have we ever booked talent for any party?”
Do not tell him the truth.
Damien shot me a look. I’m fully aware. I’m not an idiot.
You’re sexing with a born witch. You do the math.
You’re sexing with a full-blooded demon. You do the math.
Children, no fighting. Please. Kellan’s soft chiding and amusement slid over our connection. No matter what Damien might say, he was relieved to have that full-blooded demon on our side, and here.
Where are you? I asked him.
Coming, and coming in fast. I have things to tell you.
Damien snorted. Let me guess. Your meeting was to warn you about an uprising of witch activity in the area?
Child. Patience. I know you’re eager for me to save your ass, but I’m coming as fast as I can.
Damien flushed. “I hate it when he does that to me.”
“Does what?”
“You know.”
“What the fuck are you two talking about?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Dude.” The guy scowled at Damien, jerking his thumb toward the witches. “And what the fuck is happening there? I’m starting to feel things, and I don’t feel emotions unless I’m fucking. What the fuck’s up with that?”
Damien muttered a curse. “We have to handle this.”
“I’m here.”
I heard Kellan the same moment I felt him. I felt him inside of me, a dark throbbing in my chest, and then our connection became crystal clear. That happened when we were in the same room. He materialized out of black vapor next to me, and someone screamed.
Thud.
The screamer fainted.
Someone saw you, Damien growled to Kellan.
Kellan shrugged before he grinned, moving closer to me. He dipped his head down, moving past me next. A slight graze of his lips on my shoulder. Tingles trailed from the touch, but then he was moving forward to the witches.
The fraternity guy scowled at Kellan, then the fainter. “I think I’m going to go back inside and pull out my CBD pen.”
“You do that, Crowman.” Damien nodded at him. “We’ll handle crowd control out here.”
“Yeah. You do that, bruh.”
“Bruh.”
More and more people were becoming aware of Kellan.
Authority rolled off of him in waves, along with a dark and deadly vibe. His presence was already affecting the witches. They felt his power, and with a flick of his hand, his power began permeating out of him in a more concentrated dose.
The chanting grew. Getting louder and louder. Their arms were at shoulder length, now moving upwards of the shoulder. Their palms were angled upwards to the sky.
The leader witch locked eyes with Kellan, frustration tightening her facial features. Her hair was blowing in the air. All their hair was blowing in the air. Each witch wore different clothing, but they were loose-fitting and they were billowing from the force of the wind.
Shay.
It was Kellan.
Yes?
I’ll need your help for this.
I heard the whispering then.
He was commanding the humans to go back into the house.
One by one, they followed. Some were fighting the pull. Some went willingly, not knowing why they were going into the house. A few had blank expressions. A couple guys were frowning, their confusion emanating from them. They didn’t know what was going on.
Go inside. Forget you saw this. Go inside. Forget you saw this.
It was Kellan sending out that command, over and over, in a low push to them all.
“Stop, Demon. We know who you are, and you do not deter us.” The leader witch stepped forward, her hair now whipping furiously around her. Her chanting got even a louder, a deep baritone echoing around us. Her arms were almost all the way to the sky.
Damien stepped next to me. “Wonder what happens when they’re fully pointing upright?”
It felt like a last click.
The pressure had been building, rising, and like the hour hand and minute hand on a clock became aligned, both pointing upwards too.
Whatever was going to happen, we were about to find out.
CHAPTER FOUR
Shay.
Kellan spoke in my head, but I didn’t have time to react. His hand shot out to me, and I was pulled forward. I flew through the air, until his hand was on my stomach. It was hot, pressing in, but then I felt my power coming out of my body. He was using it, connecting to his, and then sending a black and white thread that looked like rapidly moving little particles. They were twisting around each other.
Both our powers were going to the witches, to each one individually.
He was knocking them out.
Kellan. What are you doing?
I’m removing each of their individual power source. They’re trying to use the source of a witch inside the house. The one Damien was with.
You were eavesdropping too?
I’m connected to Shay.
That was Kellan’s explanation, but contrary to what he was insinuating, we were not in each other’s heads on a constant basis. So, he’d been eavesdropping.
I shot him a grin. Kellan saw and matched it, then he pulled more power from me. The white was starting to consume the black. It was becoming more and more bright, blinding to the witches.
The girl who had approached me on campus came from around the house, her hands back to being low and held out in front of her hips. Her hair was blowing in the wind, but it was also changing colors. Black. White. Silver. Red. Orange. Yellow. Blue. Green. Purple. It just kept changing, and then her voice grew.
I could see her own power. It was rippling up from the earth, moving into her and she was sending it out to her other coven members.
I was wrong.
She was their leader.
As if sensing my realization, her voice dropped even lower and it was booming now.
They’re speaking their own language.
I growled. Witch language.
I hated witch language. It sounded like a mix of Russian and German.
“Damien?” a soft and tentative voice came from behind us.
We turned. It was Damien’s girlfriend/maybe-just-a-hookup. Kellan and my power were circling around her, but there was an invisible string coming out from her stomach. I could see our power around the string, and it was pulling her toward the leader.
“What’s happening to me, Damien?” Her voice hiccuped. She was visibly trembling.
“They’re tapping into her blood, and using her ancestors’ power.”
I was glad Kellan knew, because I had no clue.
Neither did Damien, judging by his blank look that he sent me. “Can you stop it, Kellan?”
Before Kellan could reply, the leader girl spoke again, her voice even deeper. She had moved so she was directly in front of the house, and in front of us.
“You cannot. Our power is fierce. Our power is strong. Our power—”
“Your power is starting to give me a headache.” Kellan moved toward Damien’s girl, and he reached out for the invisible cord. His hand closed around it, and he looked back to the witch leader.
I knew my soulmate.
He’d been in a good mood until now. He’d been chilled and relaxed. This wasn’t anything to get worked up over, but that was gone. The witches had fought enough where he was annoyed, and as I was seeing this, his face was darkening and the witches (those not unconscious) were clueing in too.
Their chanting started to break off. They started chattering, their voices raised in high pitches.
The leader ignored them, and she thrust her hands out, yanking on Damien’s girl. “No! You will not—”
Kellan closed his hand over the string. With his eyes locked on the leader’s, he taunted, “You’re saying what now?” And just like that, he destroyed their connection to Damien’s girl.
The image of my brother being tied to a pole around their fire vanished. I was watching, and it was instead being replaced with Damien’s fraternity house being on fire.
“She’s going to burn the house down!” I cried out because that was something to worry about. We got all the humans inside.
Damien cursed, now comforting his girl-whatever-she-was.
“You!” A feral scream came from the leader to Kellan. She was enraged, actual fire in her eyes. “You will not stop us. You cannot stop us. We were many. We are eternal. We will never stop—”
Kellan rolled his eyes and raised his hand in the air. In one snap, he released my power and sent his to surround each witch. It happened in two seconds.
His power completely overtook them, and then he snapped his fingers.
The witches were gone. Poof. Just like that.
I reeled around to him. “You killed them.”
He sighed. Some particles left over flew past on the wind, and he raised his finger, sending the wind away from us. Then he rubbed his hands clean. “Well. Yeah. I’m a demon.” He smirked. “This is my Christmas Day. Happy Halloween to me. I got to kill some witches.” He came over, leaning in to kiss me.
I was too shocked to do anything.
I wanted them stopped, not killed.
He said against my lips, grazing me, “They didn’t have souls, Shay.” His hand came up and wrapped around the back of my neck. His thumb spread up, further holding me steady. “No matter what side you’re on, a human without a soul is dangerous. These were witches without them. They’d already sold them to a different demon for their power source. They were weakening, that’s why they had to use the born witch. They were going to try to use hers to tap Damien for the rest of his messenger power. I had to kill them.”
“Oh.”
I relaxed, letting the usual love and warmth take over me whenever Kellan was near. He pressed his lips back to mine, and desire raced through me. I surged up, my arms wrapping around him as I opened my mouth for him and his tongue slipped inside.
Damien coughed, clearing his throat. “Seriously? Right here? I was hoping to introduce you to Sacha.”
Kellan ignored him, tilting his head for better access.
My hands were splayed out, pressing into his neck.
I couldn’t get enough of him.
“Um.” A timid cough from her. “Hi. I’m Sacha.”
“She’s my girlfriend.” Damien’s voice was flat.
Then the door burst open.
The music from inside grew louder, clearer, and a distinctive aroma sailed outside to us. All the while, Kellan and I kept kissing.
We’d come a long way.
Kellan enjoyed killing, but he didn’t like murdering. There was a distinction to him, and he just killed thirty witches. Or I was guessing on the number. I didn’t take the time to count them, but his hands were growing more demanding and I knew it was a matter of time before we needed to be alone.
Kellan pressed against me.
He was showing no indication of stopping.
I moved my face so I could see Damien.
He was watching us with his eyes bugged out, glaring. “Really? Now?”
I sighed, feeling Kellan wrap his arms around me. He was getting ready to portal us away.
There’s a human here. From Damien.
Your girlfriend doesn’t count. From Kellan as his tongue was sliding against mine. He was making my insides ache and throb.
I’m not talking about her. Crowman is right here.
Who’s Crowman?
If you’d stop trying to eat my sister’s face, you’d see my fraternity broth—
I closed my eyes, stilling in Kellan’s arms. He shouldn’t have said a word because as soon as he did, Kellan lifted his head. He looked at Crowman, who was swaying and holding a beer in his hand. His eyes were wild and dilated. He was sweating and had pit stains under his arms leading halfway down his shirt.
He’s drunk.
So?
Kellan rolled his eyes, then tightened his hold.
We were going anyways.
I smiled at the girl. “It’s nice to meet you. Is that your friend coming out?”
She turned to look.
Kellan portaled us out of there, and as we went, we heard:
“Who?”
And from Crowman, “Dude. You’re human, right?”
Then we were back in our room, on our bed, and Kellan was on top of me, pressing into me.
I rested my head back on the pillow, smiling at him as he rose over me. His eyes were dark and hungry.
“Happy Halloween.”
His eyes smoldered, and he leaned down to me again. “Happy Halloween right back at you.”
He began to move down my throat, lingering just above my chest.
That’s when I remembered his meeting.
“Wait. What happened at your meeting?”
He took my hands and pinned them beside my head. “I got the orders to take down a soulless witch coven. They reneged on a deal with their demon so they were going anyways. I was just able to have more fun this way. Now.” He pressed firmly against me and moved up, grinding on me. “Are we celebrating Halloween naked this year? Or in costumes?”
***
I hope you enjoyed this very short bonus scene from Evil!
If you haven’t read Evil, you can grab it here.
For more stories, head to:
www.tijansbooks.com/my-books.com
An Evil Bonus Scene
CHAPTER ONE
“You’re Damien’s sister, right?”
Since we were juniors, and since Damien was the ‘big man’ on campus, or one of them once he joined a fraternity, this was not a shock to me. Damien was also in the most popular fraternity on campus, or so he told me. I tended to believe him because this was a weekly occurrence.
Everyone knew Damien.
What was different about this question was because I wasn’t being asked by a human.
She asked the question as we were leaving class, and I stopped in the hallway, giving her a once-over.
Yep. Not human.
Humans didn’t give me the zing she was giving me, and I sensed into her, shifting around--witch. Then, just as quick, an image flashed in my head. Her, and her coven, doing some ritual. They were dancing around a fire, half-naked. Their arms and heads raised to the sky, and smack in the middle was my half-brother. I didn’t normally have a problem with witches. If they noticed me, they avoided me. If Kellan was around me, they ran like a bat out of hell.
The problem I was having was that Damien had been pinned to a stake and he was bleeding right next to the fire.
You will leave my brother alone.
She sucked in a breath, her eyes bulging out from the invasion in her head. I could get in her head. She just couldn’t get in mine. Because of that, she was scrambling backwards literally and metaphorically.
I didn’t. I mean—he’s cute. That’s all.
I glared at her, starting to walk her back to a more private hallway. Not the right answer. I saw what you and your coven are going to do to him.
What?! I’m not in a coven.
Then there were more images. Her. Her laughing. Her friends. Them talking about college, about courses, about cute boys...about spells. Them practicing spells.
I got to the last image. A love spell.
Are you kidding me? You’re going to bleed him so he falls in love with you?
Omg! No! I’d never do that to him--
I showed her the image I saw of her, him, the fire, the naked dancing.
Blood drained from her face. She was quaking at the sight of what I showed her.
A flicker of doubt sparked then.
I was seeing the future. Maybe something was wrong here?
We were now in a different hallway, one way more private. No one was coming past us. She stammered out, her gaze skirting around us, “I—I’d never do that to him. Not willingly, I mean. I have a crush on him. But that, what you’re showing me—” She stopped, frowning at me. What are you? I can’t—I can usually feel a werewolf or a vampire.
I snorted.
“I’m a little above your pay grade.” And so is my brother, by the way.
I glared at her again.
I might not have met my half-brother under the best circumstances, but since then and since his family had taken me in, I was protective of him. I wanted to ground my teeth because me showing her that image should’ve changed the future’s course.
It didn’t.
It was still there. I saw it firmly rooted in her timeline.
I sighed. “It’s Halloween. We’re in college. You know there’s an Alpha Mu party tonight because it’s a fraternity. They’re always going to throw a party. Now, because of you, I’m going to have to go.” I shifted closer, making sure she heard me real clear. “And I’m going to be bringing my boyfriend.”
Her eyes widened again.
I felt her air whoosh out of her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and I felt that too. The air around us picked up in electricity, because if anyone was plugged into the supernatural scene, they knew who my boyfriend was.
And they avoided him.
“Kellan Braden,” she whispered. “That’s who I’m picking up on you.” She was taking me in, all new now. The blood just kept draining from her. “He’s all over you. He’s—I thought it was a ridiculous rumor that he was here.”
Going to school was putting it mildly.
His name was in the system.
He attended what classes he had with me. The registrar kept putting him in classes that weren’t mine, because he declared a degree and they’re trying to make sure he graduated on time. To them, he was a normal student. To Kellan, he could care less what classes he was in. It wasn’t like he was going to use the degree. Damien and I, we were the gung-go college students. We were the ones who were hoping to get degrees and then careers.
Every class that I wasn’t in with him, he used his power on the professors and their TAs. He was given good scores across the board so he only showed up when I had class. Those classes, he sat with me, he listened with me, and he took the tests with me. He did the projects with me. If he was put in a different group, someone always magically insisted on switching with me so we were in the same group.
So, Kellan being a student here was a slight exaggeration.
But he was here, because of me.
And he was known to the supernatural world. To the non-supernatural world, girls only whispered about him because he still was hot, dangerous, and mysterious. But mostly, in that world, Damien was the big stud, and bless my brother’s heart, but he cared about it. Kellan didn’t.
Kellan cared about me.
And I loved him for it.
“You’re going to tell me everything that your ‘friends’ might be planning. Got it?”
She moved her head in a quick nod. “Got it.”
CHAPTER TWO
The Alpha Mu’s house was filled with humans.
Lots of humans.
College humans.
Drunk humans.
Scantily clad humans.
Kellan had been called for a meeting of the demon-variety, so the plan was that he’d meet me here as soon as it was done. Because of that, I walked inside by myself. I’d made a few friends from university, but since I knew we’d be attending a witches’ brew later tonight, I didn’t want to have anyone with me that I’d have to ditch later on.
It was the messenger side in me.
Booze, perfume, and sweat were the smells that hit me first once I was inside. I wasn’t counting the rap because I’d heard it outside. The bass had been thumping.
At seeing me, two of the brothers dropped their jaws. “Hey—uh—you’re Damien’s sister.”
There was that title again.
“Where is he?”
The one guy didn’t like me being there, and he switched to glaring right away.
The other one gestured upstairs. “In his room.”
I started for the stairs.
The scowling guy grabbed my arm—or he would’ve.
I turned, feeling the movement in the air and I shot into his head, Do not touch me. It was a warning only for him to hear. The other guy didn’t know anything happened except that his friend started to reach for me, and didn’t.
“Uh. He’s got company, if you know what I mean.” The nicer one’s smile was a bit more tentative.
I separated from my body, moving upstairs and looking through the rooms.
The first room, a guy was playing video games.
Second room, a guy was eating licorice.
Third room, he was masturbating.
The next three rooms were couples having sex.
Room five and six were empty.
Damien’s room was at the top, so I kept moving.
He felt me coming, sensing me.
I felt him meet me, speaking to me, What are you doing here?
I pushed forward, going into his room.
Stop!
Who are you with?
Someone. Stop it.
Is she the witch?
I felt his surprise before he growled in my head, Stop, Shay. I’ll come down in a second--
I pushed the image of him bleeding into his head and then the rest of my encounter with the witch today.
They have a coven.
They’re harmless.
I pushed that image again. You’re dead in this event.
He was quiet, and I could hear him audibly sigh. I’ll be right down. I’m not with that girl.
I began retreating, returning to my body, but there was a tingle on the back of my neck. I needed to see who the girl was.
Damien growled, feeling me still coming.
I said no!
I shoved through his wards, destroying them and I saw her. He was already rising, pulling his pants on. He halted, feeling me in the room.
Get out! Now!
I looked at the girl. She was panting, her face all red. Her hair was sweaty, and her lips were parted. She liked him, liked him a lot.
She was human. That was my first feeling.
I started to pull back, but that tingle started again.
I had to know…
I shoved into her head.
SHAY!
A roar in my head from him, and I could hear him. He was on his feet, sprinting down to me.
I was inside of her, going through her mind.
Her blood, though.
Her blood was calling to me.
I could taste it even though my body remained just inside the house.
He was thundering down the stairs, snarling as he pulled his arms through a shirt. “I said to get out of her head! That’s a violation.” He shoved past his two brothers, and at his words, those near us froze.
I was still in her head, or her blood to be more exact.
She’s a born witch.
He growled in front of me, his hands curling into fists.
She doesn’t practice.
Her ancestors are strong. Demonic.
Those are old old ancestors.
I pulled out of her now, coming back to my body and staring at him.
To the two gaping brothers, we were staring at each other.
We have a practicing coven on this campus, and you have a born witch in your bed. You do the math.
He growled again. They’d have to have a superior skill set to do what you’re insinuating. I’m a half-messenger. I wouldn’t go down without a fight. He softened. And you’re here now too. They’d be taking on two half-messengers.
He wasn’t adding the last bit. They’d be taking on a full-blooded demon as well.
“Hey! It’s Damien’s sister.” An arm came down around my shoulders. I was jerked back to a sweating chest. A hand holding a beer was attached to that arm. “D, I forget every time how hot your sister is. Why don’t you bring her around more? You partying with us tonight?”
One of the other guys let out a strangled laugh. “Uh, Pete, aren’t you forgetting about—”
Damien’s tone was frosty. “She has a boyfriend. Get your arm off of her, or he will rip it off. Trust me.”
That was when I felt them.
They’re coming, I said to Damien, already turning for the door.
They were out there, and they were spreading out.
Damien moved to stand next to me. They’re going to surround the house.
I wasn’t feeling a new coven. I was feeling power, old power.
I sighed. “They got someone with that skill set.”
He cursed next to me.
They began moving forward.
“We have an entire house of humans.”
The guy whose arm was around me tightened. “Humans? What the fuck you talking about, bro?”
I forgot him and shoved his arm off me by force.
I never touched him, but the air blasted him and he fell backwards a few steps before steadying himself. “Whoa. What was that, man?”
The chanting started after that.
CHAPTER THREE
“Where’s Kellan?” Damien yelled at me as we both charged out to meet them.
“He’s at a meeting.”
“A meeting? On Halloween?!”
“Oh cool! It’s a show,” someone said behind us.
A guy pushed past us, and a crowd had formed.
The witches weren’t just college aged. There were older ones. A few ancients. Some boys and girls who could’ve been in high school. Most of them were harmless by themselves. Together, I felt their power zapping us.
Damien did too, cursing.
“Is that girl your girlfriend?”
He shot me a look, his eyebrows pulled together. “You want to have this talk now? We have to fight off a coven of witches, and somehow keep my cover intact.”
“Kellan can wipe their minds.”
“Kellan’s not here!” he snapped at me, just as the witches began to raise their hands.
The chanting got louder with it.
“Cover.” I pffted at that. “You talk like you’re a cop or something.”
“A what?!” From one of the fraternity brothers.
“He’s not.”
The guy didn’t look like he believed me.
Damien cursed under his breath. “Where the hell is your boyfriend?”
More people came outside, spilling out so probably half the house was on the front lawn, and still drinking. A few of the girls were eyeing the witches, their noses wrinkled up.
“When did we book talent for the party?” Another of the fraternity brothers stepped out, coming over to Damien. “When have we ever booked talent for any party?”
Do not tell him the truth.
Damien shot me a look. I’m fully aware. I’m not an idiot.
You’re sexing with a born witch. You do the math.
You’re sexing with a full-blooded demon. You do the math.
Children, no fighting. Please. Kellan’s soft chiding and amusement slid over our connection. No matter what Damien might say, he was relieved to have that full-blooded demon on our side, and here.
Where are you? I asked him.
Coming, and coming in fast. I have things to tell you.
Damien snorted. Let me guess. Your meeting was to warn you about an uprising of witch activity in the area?
Child. Patience. I know you’re eager for me to save your ass, but I’m coming as fast as I can.
Damien flushed. “I hate it when he does that to me.”
“Does what?”
“You know.”
“What the fuck are you two talking about?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Dude.” The guy scowled at Damien, jerking his thumb toward the witches. “And what the fuck is happening there? I’m starting to feel things, and I don’t feel emotions unless I’m fucking. What the fuck’s up with that?”
Damien muttered a curse. “We have to handle this.”
“I’m here.”
I heard Kellan the same moment I felt him. I felt him inside of me, a dark throbbing in my chest, and then our connection became crystal clear. That happened when we were in the same room. He materialized out of black vapor next to me, and someone screamed.
Thud.
The screamer fainted.
Someone saw you, Damien growled to Kellan.
Kellan shrugged before he grinned, moving closer to me. He dipped his head down, moving past me next. A slight graze of his lips on my shoulder. Tingles trailed from the touch, but then he was moving forward to the witches.
The fraternity guy scowled at Kellan, then the fainter. “I think I’m going to go back inside and pull out my CBD pen.”
“You do that, Crowman.” Damien nodded at him. “We’ll handle crowd control out here.”
“Yeah. You do that, bruh.”
“Bruh.”
More and more people were becoming aware of Kellan.
Authority rolled off of him in waves, along with a dark and deadly vibe. His presence was already affecting the witches. They felt his power, and with a flick of his hand, his power began permeating out of him in a more concentrated dose.
The chanting grew. Getting louder and louder. Their arms were at shoulder length, now moving upwards of the shoulder. Their palms were angled upwards to the sky.
The leader witch locked eyes with Kellan, frustration tightening her facial features. Her hair was blowing in the air. All their hair was blowing in the air. Each witch wore different clothing, but they were loose-fitting and they were billowing from the force of the wind.
Shay.
It was Kellan.
Yes?
I’ll need your help for this.
I heard the whispering then.
He was commanding the humans to go back into the house.
One by one, they followed. Some were fighting the pull. Some went willingly, not knowing why they were going into the house. A few had blank expressions. A couple guys were frowning, their confusion emanating from them. They didn’t know what was going on.
Go inside. Forget you saw this. Go inside. Forget you saw this.
It was Kellan sending out that command, over and over, in a low push to them all.
“Stop, Demon. We know who you are, and you do not deter us.” The leader witch stepped forward, her hair now whipping furiously around her. Her chanting got even a louder, a deep baritone echoing around us. Her arms were almost all the way to the sky.
Damien stepped next to me. “Wonder what happens when they’re fully pointing upright?”
It felt like a last click.
The pressure had been building, rising, and like the hour hand and minute hand on a clock became aligned, both pointing upwards too.
Whatever was going to happen, we were about to find out.
CHAPTER FOUR
Shay.
Kellan spoke in my head, but I didn’t have time to react. His hand shot out to me, and I was pulled forward. I flew through the air, until his hand was on my stomach. It was hot, pressing in, but then I felt my power coming out of my body. He was using it, connecting to his, and then sending a black and white thread that looked like rapidly moving little particles. They were twisting around each other.
Both our powers were going to the witches, to each one individually.
He was knocking them out.
Kellan. What are you doing?
I’m removing each of their individual power source. They’re trying to use the source of a witch inside the house. The one Damien was with.
You were eavesdropping too?
I’m connected to Shay.
That was Kellan’s explanation, but contrary to what he was insinuating, we were not in each other’s heads on a constant basis. So, he’d been eavesdropping.
I shot him a grin. Kellan saw and matched it, then he pulled more power from me. The white was starting to consume the black. It was becoming more and more bright, blinding to the witches.
The girl who had approached me on campus came from around the house, her hands back to being low and held out in front of her hips. Her hair was blowing in the wind, but it was also changing colors. Black. White. Silver. Red. Orange. Yellow. Blue. Green. Purple. It just kept changing, and then her voice grew.
I could see her own power. It was rippling up from the earth, moving into her and she was sending it out to her other coven members.
I was wrong.
She was their leader.
As if sensing my realization, her voice dropped even lower and it was booming now.
They’re speaking their own language.
I growled. Witch language.
I hated witch language. It sounded like a mix of Russian and German.
“Damien?” a soft and tentative voice came from behind us.
We turned. It was Damien’s girlfriend/maybe-just-a-hookup. Kellan and my power were circling around her, but there was an invisible string coming out from her stomach. I could see our power around the string, and it was pulling her toward the leader.
“What’s happening to me, Damien?” Her voice hiccuped. She was visibly trembling.
“They’re tapping into her blood, and using her ancestors’ power.”
I was glad Kellan knew, because I had no clue.
Neither did Damien, judging by his blank look that he sent me. “Can you stop it, Kellan?”
Before Kellan could reply, the leader girl spoke again, her voice even deeper. She had moved so she was directly in front of the house, and in front of us.
“You cannot. Our power is fierce. Our power is strong. Our power—”
“Your power is starting to give me a headache.” Kellan moved toward Damien’s girl, and he reached out for the invisible cord. His hand closed around it, and he looked back to the witch leader.
I knew my soulmate.
He’d been in a good mood until now. He’d been chilled and relaxed. This wasn’t anything to get worked up over, but that was gone. The witches had fought enough where he was annoyed, and as I was seeing this, his face was darkening and the witches (those not unconscious) were clueing in too.
Their chanting started to break off. They started chattering, their voices raised in high pitches.
The leader ignored them, and she thrust her hands out, yanking on Damien’s girl. “No! You will not—”
Kellan closed his hand over the string. With his eyes locked on the leader’s, he taunted, “You’re saying what now?” And just like that, he destroyed their connection to Damien’s girl.
The image of my brother being tied to a pole around their fire vanished. I was watching, and it was instead being replaced with Damien’s fraternity house being on fire.
“She’s going to burn the house down!” I cried out because that was something to worry about. We got all the humans inside.
Damien cursed, now comforting his girl-whatever-she-was.
“You!” A feral scream came from the leader to Kellan. She was enraged, actual fire in her eyes. “You will not stop us. You cannot stop us. We were many. We are eternal. We will never stop—”
Kellan rolled his eyes and raised his hand in the air. In one snap, he released my power and sent his to surround each witch. It happened in two seconds.
His power completely overtook them, and then he snapped his fingers.
The witches were gone. Poof. Just like that.
I reeled around to him. “You killed them.”
He sighed. Some particles left over flew past on the wind, and he raised his finger, sending the wind away from us. Then he rubbed his hands clean. “Well. Yeah. I’m a demon.” He smirked. “This is my Christmas Day. Happy Halloween to me. I got to kill some witches.” He came over, leaning in to kiss me.
I was too shocked to do anything.
I wanted them stopped, not killed.
He said against my lips, grazing me, “They didn’t have souls, Shay.” His hand came up and wrapped around the back of my neck. His thumb spread up, further holding me steady. “No matter what side you’re on, a human without a soul is dangerous. These were witches without them. They’d already sold them to a different demon for their power source. They were weakening, that’s why they had to use the born witch. They were going to try to use hers to tap Damien for the rest of his messenger power. I had to kill them.”
“Oh.”
I relaxed, letting the usual love and warmth take over me whenever Kellan was near. He pressed his lips back to mine, and desire raced through me. I surged up, my arms wrapping around him as I opened my mouth for him and his tongue slipped inside.
Damien coughed, clearing his throat. “Seriously? Right here? I was hoping to introduce you to Sacha.”
Kellan ignored him, tilting his head for better access.
My hands were splayed out, pressing into his neck.
I couldn’t get enough of him.
“Um.” A timid cough from her. “Hi. I’m Sacha.”
“She’s my girlfriend.” Damien’s voice was flat.
Then the door burst open.
The music from inside grew louder, clearer, and a distinctive aroma sailed outside to us. All the while, Kellan and I kept kissing.
We’d come a long way.
Kellan enjoyed killing, but he didn’t like murdering. There was a distinction to him, and he just killed thirty witches. Or I was guessing on the number. I didn’t take the time to count them, but his hands were growing more demanding and I knew it was a matter of time before we needed to be alone.
Kellan pressed against me.
He was showing no indication of stopping.
I moved my face so I could see Damien.
He was watching us with his eyes bugged out, glaring. “Really? Now?”
I sighed, feeling Kellan wrap his arms around me. He was getting ready to portal us away.
There’s a human here. From Damien.
Your girlfriend doesn’t count. From Kellan as his tongue was sliding against mine. He was making my insides ache and throb.
I’m not talking about her. Crowman is right here.
Who’s Crowman?
If you’d stop trying to eat my sister’s face, you’d see my fraternity broth—
I closed my eyes, stilling in Kellan’s arms. He shouldn’t have said a word because as soon as he did, Kellan lifted his head. He looked at Crowman, who was swaying and holding a beer in his hand. His eyes were wild and dilated. He was sweating and had pit stains under his arms leading halfway down his shirt.
He’s drunk.
So?
Kellan rolled his eyes, then tightened his hold.
We were going anyways.
I smiled at the girl. “It’s nice to meet you. Is that your friend coming out?”
She turned to look.
Kellan portaled us out of there, and as we went, we heard:
“Who?”
And from Crowman, “Dude. You’re human, right?”
Then we were back in our room, on our bed, and Kellan was on top of me, pressing into me.
I rested my head back on the pillow, smiling at him as he rose over me. His eyes were dark and hungry.
“Happy Halloween.”
His eyes smoldered, and he leaned down to me again. “Happy Halloween right back at you.”
He began to move down my throat, lingering just above my chest.
That’s when I remembered his meeting.
“Wait. What happened at your meeting?”
He took my hands and pinned them beside my head. “I got the orders to take down a soulless witch coven. They reneged on a deal with their demon so they were going anyways. I was just able to have more fun this way. Now.” He pressed firmly against me and moved up, grinding on me. “Are we celebrating Halloween naked this year? Or in costumes?”
***
I hope you enjoyed this very short bonus scene from Evil!
If you haven’t read Evil, you can grab it here.
For more stories, head to:
www.tijansbooks.com/my-books.com
You know that group of people in school that everyone fears? Popular. Beautiful. The in-crowd?
That was my family. Kind of.
We were above that group. We held court over everyone else. We were the best looking. We were the mysterious and elusive ones. Most of the girls wanted to (and did) date the guys, but they didn’t want to be one of us. They couldn’t be. They were our prey.
We were the feared.
But like every family, nothing is as it seems. That was my truth.
Kellan was in his own league. He was our leader and he was the one no one messed with. No one dared. He was ruthless, powerful, and no one could match him…
Except for me.
I was about to find out just how different I was from my family.
**Evil is a full-length paranormal romance stand-alone.
That was my family. Kind of.
We were above that group. We held court over everyone else. We were the best looking. We were the mysterious and elusive ones. Most of the girls wanted to (and did) date the guys, but they didn’t want to be one of us. They couldn’t be. They were our prey.
We were the feared.
But like every family, nothing is as it seems. That was my truth.
Kellan was in his own league. He was our leader and he was the one no one messed with. No one dared. He was ruthless, powerful, and no one could match him…
Except for me.
I was about to find out just how different I was from my family.
**Evil is a full-length paranormal romance stand-alone.
For more paranormal or Halloween stories, try these:
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