Retribution (12 page)

“Twenty. And she likes being told what to do. Don’t you, sweetheart?”

The woman writhed under her own hand as she cooed an agreement, and Lynette yanked her wrist from Guthrie’s grasp so she could return to the bed. “See? All we’re missing is you. Now stop being so damn uptight and get over here.”

Lynette buried her face between the woman’s legs, and Guthrie watched while pulling Silestra from his sleeve and shedding his clothes. After sending the snake on its way, he approached the bed and looked down at the student’s face. She was nearing orgasm and probably wouldn’t be able to recall her own name, so Guthrie didn’t ask. He didn’t want to know.

She peaked, and Lynette emerged from her thighs, barely giving the poor girl time to recover before taking her by the hair and directing her mouth to Guthrie’s pleasure. Once the student was set to task, Lynette stood on the bed, her face slick and shiny as her eyes drew level with Guthrie’s. “How is she?”

Guthrie swallowed, his gaze boring into Lyn’s. “She’s good… and acting of her own free will about as much as we are.”

“You like it, though.”

“Her lips on my cock? Yeah. Your schemes? No.”

Tracing the tattoos stretching up his neck, Lynette leaned close and whispered in his ear. “This could be your life, Guthrie… every night… forever.”

She nibbled his earlobe as her friend took him deeper into her mouth, and he shuddered and closed his eyes. “You’re a succubus, Lyn.”

“No,” she softly disagreed, sending a chill down his spine. “I am the light leading your way.”

Chapter 7

Layla and Quin had no problem figuring out how to conceal their bonded lights. They'd succeeded on the first try, and while it was uncomfortable, it wasn't as bad as keeping their auras hidden. Having their auras pulled in resulted in mood swings, like they could emotionally explode with a nudge, whereas having their bonded lights trapped inside filled them with so much love, they thought their hearts might burst with it. Still an emotional feeling, but at least it was limited to pleasing emotions.

The worst part of hiding the hazes, they soon found out, was not being able to see each other's. Layla burst into tears the first time she saw Quin bereft of his aura and bonded light. Until that moment, she'd never seen him conceal his aura...
ever
. The only time she'd seen him without it since he first revealed it to her was when she hid it for him, and the two instances had only lasted a few minutes. His aura was as much a part of him as anything else; to see him pull it in was a complete shock. But that wasn't what pushed her to tears.

Bonding with him had been the most wonderful and life-altering experience she'd had, and the one thing she held most dear was his love for her, so when she looked at him and could no longer see visual proof of those two things, her heart protested. That mixed with the overwhelming love she held for him, and the fact that her aura and bonded light were clammed up, triggered a breakdown.

Quin was quick to soothe her, releasing his aura and bonded light as he took her in his arms. Then he distracted her with a kiss when he sucked the lights back in. Seeing him without them still stung Layla’s heart, but she didn't burst into ridiculous sobs.

Their strengthened powers made it easy to transfer their belongings to the house, and after donning their cloaks and saying a quick goodbye to Karena's best room, they flew from the rose-covered terrace into the night. He quickly pulled her against him. Then he held her there all the way home.

They landed in the middle of their deserted lawn around midnight, and they leaned into each other as they sighed. No matter how beautiful the suite was, it didn't provide that warm and cozy feeling that accompanied a family.

Keeping their hazes hidden, they walked to Caitrin and Morrigan's, eager to get the greeting over with so they could go home.

As Quin reached up to knock, the door swung open to Caitrin, who offered a relieved smile and moved aside, motioning for them to enter. The rest of Layla grandparents and Quin’s parents were seated in the living room, but Layla and Quin ignored them as they moved into each other and released their lights.

“That's better,” she sighed, vanishing their cloaks. Then she shamelessly touched her cheek to his bare chest.

“Yes it is,” he agreed, intently searching her aura.

Layla kissed his heart. Then she took his hand and moved further into the room. “Sorry we're so late.”
 

“Don't apologize, sweetie,” Morrigan insisted, rising from the couch. “Are you guys hungry? I can have something ready in two minutes.”

They were starving, but they didn't want to eat there. Layla met Quin's stare with a smirk, and he grinned as he forced his gaze away. “Thanks, Morrigan, but we'll eat when we get home.”
 

“How about coffee then?”

“Yes,” they answered, and Layla's cheeks flushed as she buried her face in Quin’s chest.
 

Kemble quietly laughed, and Morrigan's lips twitched with a knowing smile. “Have a seat,” she suggested. “I'll be right back.”

Quin and Layla obeyed, sitting beside each other on the couch, but she steadily moved closer as he steadily pulled her in. By the time Morrigan returned with their coffee, Layla was on his lap. “Thanks,” they replied, taking their mugs.

“Made any plans?” Quin asked, his lips alternating between her hair and his mug.
 

“Yes,” Caitrin answered, summoning chairs for Morrigan and himself. “But before going much further, we need to let the rest of the family in on the secret. We've asked them to be here at four tomorrow. If it's okay with you, they'll find out then.”

Quin found Layla's eyes then returned his gaze to Caitrin. “That's fine. The sooner they know, the sooner we can relax when we're home.”

“Will they be able to stay a while?” Layla asked. “I haven't seen all of them since Friday.”

Everyone smiled as Caitrin answered. “They'll stay for dinner.”

“Good. I miss them.”

“They miss you, too, sweetie,” Morrigan assured.

Quin's coffee was half gone, and he itched for his naked angel. “Have you made any other plans?” he asked, watching her lips part around the brim of her mug.

Kemble laughed again, tearing his gaze from Quin’s aura so he could pull Cordelia onto his lap; and the other mates reached for each other as Caitrin answered the question. “We've found a few possible locations to test your magic. We hope to settle on one by tomorrow afternoon.”

“We've also brainstormed ways to stall Agro,” Serafin added. “We want him to wait as long as possible before making his move, but there isn’t much we can do. The fact that we've moved some of our members out of the community is the best leverage we have, so we've told the locals to be honest about our family staying elsewhere should someone approach them for information. If we can keep Agro believing we're expecting him, maybe he'll give it more time before moving in. There’s no guarantee, though, so be prepared to flee if he comes.”

Layla straightened and scowled at her grandpa. “No.”

Then Quin scowled at her. “What do you mean
no
?”

“He'll kill them, Quin. I'm not leaving while everyone else stays and dies. I already told you that.”

“You haven't learned to protect yourself, Layla. If he shows up tomorrow and we walk onto that lawn, we’ll die. We need a plan and some help before facing him.”

“If we don't walk onto that lawn, everyone else will die. Then where would we be? Stuck with no help, that's where.” She gulped the rest of her coffee and sent the mug to the table. “I understand we need a plan before facing him, but we need a contingency plan in case he shows up before we’re ready, because I'm not leaving this community and hiding unless everyone goes with me.”

Quin grimaced at her then turned to Caitrin. “Do you know where he's camped?”

“We have a general idea,” Caitrin answered.

“We need someone watching him,” Quin insisted. “I know it sounds dangerous, sending one of our own to spy, but if Layla or I cast our concealment spells on them, they could fly right over the Unforgivables' camp without being noticed.”

“Yes, I suppose you're right.”
 

Layla twisted and looked at Quin. “If it's that easy, why don't I just conceal myself and go cut his throat in his sleep?”

Everyone gasped as Quin's face drained of color. “I don't like hearing you talk that way, Layla.”

“Well I'm not going to apologize. I know it sounds cruel and a little shady, but he's wreaked havoc on my life, and I'm tired of it.” Her jaw flexed as her eyes narrowed. “You feel the same way.”

“Of course I do. I wouldn't hesitate to cut Agro's throat, but I don't like hearing my angel talk that way. I’d do anything to keep his blood from staining your hands.” He took a calming breath. Then he swept his fingertips across her heart. “Besides, it would be impossible. Our concealment spells would keep the Unforgivables from seeing us fly over their camp, but if we moved closer the spells would break. They set magic around their settlement to keep people from entering undetected.”

“Oh.” Her shoulders sagged as her chest deflated. “Why didn't you just say that in the first place?”

Quin sighed as he softly tugged on her pucker. Then he looked at Caitrin. “If we have someone watching him, we can empty the community before he gets here. That way no one will have to face him until we're ready.”

Layla perked up. “I like that idea… as long as the spy stays safe.”

“It's better than walking out to an execution,” Caitrin agreed. “We'll speak with the coven and ask for volunteers. In the meantime, you
are
leaving if he shows up.”

“No,” Layla refused.

“Layla...”
 

“No,” she interrupted. “I'm being forced to face him with you beside me, so it's only fair you’re forced to face him with me beside you.”

Quin closed his eyes and tilted his head back. “Do we still have guards watching the community?”
 

“Yes,” Caitrin answered.

“How long is the warning time?”

“A little over a minute.”

Quin raised his head and opened his eyes. “A minute isn't long enough to get everyone out of the community, but we might be able to move away from the lawn. Then Layla and I can conceal everyone before going any further.” He reached up, taking Layla's chin and forcing her to meet his stare. “If Agro manages to locate us before we finish setting the spells, it's every man for himself and we flee. All of us. No one stays to face him. We'll conceal the slowest fliers first to give them a better chance, but that means no waiting for them.”

“Fine,” she agreed. “Where will everyone meet?”

“We believe his camp is northwest,” Caitrin noted, “so we'll gather on the east border of the lawn, behind Lann and Rhiannon's.”

Quin finished his coffee and vanished his cup. Then he hugged Layla close. “It's going to have to work for now. What about help?”

“We have a few people in mind,” Serafin answered. “There's a handful from our home state, and a few others scattered around the U.S. and Canada. There's also one in Nova Scotia and two in Mexico.”

Layla turned her face into Quin's chest, and he tucked his chin in, whispering as he drifted his lips through her hair. “You okay?”

“No,” she answered, “but I'm going to have to learn to deal with it, right? Don't stop the conversation on my account.” No one said anything, so she spoke again. “Just a few people, huh? Will that be enough?”

“No,” Quin answered. “We need more. The more we get, the better everyone's chances will be.”

“Naturally,” Serafin agreed, “but we have a problem.”

“What’s that?”

“You stipulated the volunteers be trustworthy, which severely limits our options. There are magicians all over this continent wishing they could watch Agro die, dreaming they could have a hand in it, but we don't know them, so we can't trust them.”

Quin contemplated this as he ran a lock of Layla's hair beneath his nose. “It’s dangerous to let strangers see what we've become.”

“Yes,” Serafin agreed.

“What about those we know?” Quin asked. “Where will they be staying?”

“Everyone we've thought of so far would be welcome in the community.”

Quin was undecided, and he was tired of thinking about it. “Go ahead and make the calls to those you know. Tally up how many will join us. We'll decide if we want to risk bringing strangers in once we see where our numbers stand.”

Serafin nodded. “We'll try to have them tallied by tomorrow evening.”

“The sooner the better. Is there anything else we need to discuss tonight?”

No one answered, but when Quin looked up, he could tell they had something on their minds. “What’s going on?”

Several of them exchanged hesitant glances. Then Kemble cleared his throat and answered. “We’ve been discussing the situation all afternoon, contemplating different theories, and we're curious what you two think of them.”

“You’ll have to be more specific,” Quin urged.
 

“Well,” Kemble replied, linking his fingers with Cordelia's, “we were discussing the possibility of a preordained union.”