Blessed Hearts (Hearts Duology Book 2) Read online

  Edwina didn’t even offer a goodbye kiss or a last embrace. Is this how the trash feels when we leave it at the curb?

  I survey the open floor plan decorated in pastels—touches of Edwina’s humanity on display. This place, hidden away from prying eyes, has been like a second home for me. I wag my head side to side as I push my bike outside. Bottom line? I can’t make anyone want to be around me.

  There’s some unfortunate truth in what Edwina said. The vamp can only provide those things I don’t need in life—heartache, regret, and shame. No self-respecting incubus would endure an arrangement like ours. I must be slipping.

  Keep telling yourself that. Maybe you’ll believe it.

  Edwina and I first hooked up when I turned seventeen. We met when the fellas took me to the Temptation Club for a birthday surprise. Dante dared me to hit on the she-vamp. She laughed in my face. Called me a pup. Imagine my shock when she followed me out to the alley.

  “When ya are ready to man up, come find me,” she said. Her buttery smooth voice excited me.

  Later that night, I found her on Crucifix Island. My first time with Edwina, in a mausoleum on the isle, had me seeing the sun, the moon, and the stars. I learned and perfected my technique with her. Since she had once been a human, she was the ideal teacher—instructing me in the ways of pleasure. The women of Falls Creek owe a thousand thanks to Edwina.

  To be honest, she was the closest I’ve ever come to a relationship with a female. She was my best friend, outside of the fellas, and my confidante. Not having her in my life will leave a big ass void. She’d gotten me out of quite a few situations over the years. It wasn’t always about stroking our needs. Edwina allowed me to be me. If it weren’t for her, I would have never become a tattoo artist. She told me it didn’t matter what I was as long as I enjoyed my life. I’ll never admit it to anyone, but I’m gonna fucking miss her. Yes, I care about her. But that’s not love. It’s an emotion I feel for my family and the fellas. No one else.

  Edwina was a nice… distraction.

  Yeah. That’s what she was.

  Right.

  I twist the throttle on the Ducati and speed off into the hills with thoughts of a female I care about swirling in my mind.

  The golden rays of the sun wake me. According to my phone, it’s seven in the morning, and the selfish incubus stayed out all night. I hope it was worth satisfying his baser needs while disregarding my comfort.

  I swear as soon as I get these darned cuffs off, the officer and the incubus will pay. Maybe I shall make it difficult for the cop to shift ever again. That’s a bit harsh. If I remove his powers for a week, he might believe it’s forever. It’s a well-deserved punishment.

  What’s a fitting penance for a man-whore? I would find great delight in taking away his ability to attain pleasure. That act, however, would render him weak and he would die. I don’t want the death of anyone on my conscience. Continuing to torture his resolve shall suffice.

  I scroll through my phone and call Hadid.

  “It has not been twenty-four hours. You miss me so?” His guffaw echoes through the phone.

  “Stop joking, Hadi. I’m hungry. The foolish incubus spent the entire night—”

  “Did you say incubus?” His voice spikes upward. “Seriously?”

  I push my hair out of my face and exclaim, “Yes! I’m with an incubus! Don’t turn it into something it’s not. He helped me when I needed it.”

  My brother stifles his laughter. “Sure, little sister. I’m here to serve you.”

  “Thank you, Hadi!”

  I end the call, close my eyes, and picture the exterior of the dwelling, giving Hadid my location. Next, I imagine the kitchen table laid out with freshly baked pita bread, hummus, mortadella, labna, hard-boiled eggs, and fresh jam. There’s also a fragrant pot of white tea. A perfect breakfast reminiscent of home.

  While I wait for Hadid to deliver my meal, I inspect myself in the mirror. My hair is beyond tangled since I did not take care of it before bed.

  “Hadid!” I shout.

  The mess on top of my head instantly smooths itself. I’m tempted to ask Hadid to send me fresh clothing, but I recall the discomfort the incubus endured last night. His punishment will be another day of physical suffering.

  He won’t be the only one suffering.

  A bell rings in the distance—my food has arrived. Time to eat.

  The meal is magnificent, but it doesn’t erase my troubles. Perhaps I should fulfill my obligation to the family and Shedad. If I allow him to indulge his desires, I can do as I please.

  Problem is I don’t wish to enter a loveless arrangement. When I was a child, the Oracle foretold someone in my future intended for me. A male who would know my heart. My mark would claim him when I found this being. It’s an idea that has intrigued me for years. Do I not owe it to myself to find this person?

  I wipe my lips with the linen napkin provided. It was my hope Cash would arrive to help me finish this feast. It has been an hour, and he has not returned. I pick up my cup of tea, add a drop more honey, and go out to the living room to wait.

  Thinking about Edwina makes the ride to Victor’s house seem a lot shorter and a little less lonely. I park the Ducati in the rear and throw the duffel over my shoulder before fishing the house key out of my pocket.

  The first sight I see when I open the door is Qadira sitting on the sofa with a cup in her hand. Food smells, all foreign to me, tickle my nose while the sight of her in that T-shirt stirs my dick.

  “A pot of tea is on the stove. I do not drink coffee much,” she says in her sing-song tone. “There is also breakfast.”

  How the hell? I guess Kelsie left something behind.

  “This is for you.” I toss the bag at her feet.

  She smirks over the cup. “Does my outfit bother you?”

  My stiffening dick answers the question for me. I find my voice and tell her, “You can’t go to the shop dressed like that.”

  Qadira places the cup on the coffee table and crosses her legs. My eyes drift up her well-defined calf and rests on her thigh. I imagine running my fingers over her golden skin. She bounces her foot, and I swear my dick pulses to the beat.

  “And why do I need to return to your business?” She crosses her arms.

  I clear my throat and push the image from my mind. “Just get dressed.”

  Her musical laughter follows me down the hall. I pivot on my heel and climb the stairs two at a time. A cold shower, the colder the better, is needed fast.

  An hour later, Qadira and I enter Wicked Ink. My morning is free of appointments, but I do need to meet with the fellas. They arrive as soon as I flick on the lights and load my music.

  The door swings open, and Dante leads the pack into the shop. “What’s up, Cash?” His voice is cheery and bright like he’s ready to party.

  I’m surprised to see Colt. What shocks me, however, is how he ignores the music. Usually, he hears a beat and starts gyrating to it. More proof of his father’s torment?

  “More incubi?” Qadira’s gaze rocks from me to the fellas as her lips curl.

  “Behave yourself. It’s too early for attitude,” I warn her.

  Colt steps around the fellas. His eyes lock on Qadira, and he freezes.

  I’m glad I convinced her to stick with jeans and a loose T-shirt, though. If I had a sheet, I’d toss it on her. There’s no way I want the fellas thinking Qadira is available.

  What? Where the hell did that come from?

  “Who’s the female?” Rocco asks.

  Might as well get this over with. “Alec, Dante, Rocco, and Colt meet Qadira. Qadira meet the fellas.”

  Oh, my Siren. Someone would think I placed raw meat before dogs. Dante’s eyes widen, and his lips part. Alec drapes himself over the back of the station chair and whispers in Qadira’s ear. Rocco moves closer to Qadira, and her face turns bright red. Colt, however, hangs back. He slips his hands into his pockets and looks ev
erywhere but at her. The blood drains from Qadira’s face.

  Something’s up.

  “Enough, guys!” I shout. “You’re making her uncomfortable.”

  “Not nearly as uncomfortable as I am.” Dante licks his lips and tries to hide his crotch behind the other station chair.

  “What did Cash say?” Colt snaps.

  I reach behind the chair and turn off the music. All eyes land on me. “Now that I have your attention, we need your help.”

  Rocco pouts and sits on a stool. “What’s going on?”

  “Qadira is djinn. A djinniyah to be precise.”

  Colt clears his throat. “She’s royalty.”

  My head jerks back. “How could you tell?”

  “A pure gold aura. Djinn normally have a little hint of pink or even orange in their auras.” Impatience shines in Colt’s eyes as he addresses Qadira. “How is Al-Qadir?”

  She swallows hard. “I suppose he’s good. I haven’t seen him in a few days.”

  He tips his head in her direction. “It’s been a long time, Dira. What? Five or six years?”

  Qadira bobs her head in a nervous nod. “Something like that.”

  Colt’s eyes lock on Qadira’s while she appears to be holding her breath. My gaze darts between them. I don’t know what’s going on, but I can feel something in the air between them. It’s pissing me off. “What’s going on here?”

  Colt sits in the other station chair. “Dira and I have known each other since childhood. Her father and mine are good friends. She’s a princess and the intended of Prince Shedad.”

  “You know about Shedad?” Qadira mumbles, her lip quivering.

  He responds quietly, “I’ve known about your match to him for a few years, probably for as long as I’ve known him.”

  Qadira asks, “And how do you know Shedad?”

  “We used to hook-up.” Colt smiles with the memory. “Stop worrying, Dira. I’m not turning you in.”

  She exhales. “Thank you.”

  Rocco jumps in. “Now that we’ve gone down memory lane, can we get back to why Cash called us here?”

  Thank Siren for small favors. The lecherous way Colt stares at Qadira drives me insane. I push Alec away from the chair and place my arm over the back of it. “We have trouble. Somebody’s killing humans. Possibly the same person who killed the girls the other night. Then, last night someone ripped apart a human in the alley by the diner. Hank showed up and found Qadira and me in the alley.”

  Colt points to Qadira’s wrists. “So, now she’s stuck in town. We need to clear her name.”

  “Exactly,” I say. “Do you have any ideas?”

  Before anyone can offer an opinion, the front doorbell sounds. All heads turn as Hank saunters in. “Perfect. Everybody in one place.”

  “Morning, Hank,” I say. “What do you need?”

  “Just a few questions.” He pulls out a small notebook from his pants pocket and flips up the cover. He removes a pen from another pocket and clicks it. “Let’s start with the female. Name?”

  Qadira looks at Colt and then me. I nod. “Qadira, fifth daughter of Al-Qadir.”

  Hank’s eyebrows lift, and his pen stops. “Al-Qadir? Who the hell is he?”

  “She’s royalty,” Colt interjects. “Her father is a king.”

  “So, why are you here, your Highness?” Sarcasm drips from Hank’s words.

  “Just a vacation,” she lies. “I have friends who mentioned a tattoo artist in this town. I thought I’d check him out. See if I wanted one of his masterpieces.”

  I’m impressed with Qadira’s ability to craft a story. Shit, if I didn’t know better, I’d believe it.

  The were-panther scribbles some notes. “And why were you in the alley?”

  “I lost my way. Usually I travel with bodyguards. They would have reported to my parents about the tattoo. I wanted no one to know of it until it was done.”

  Damn. Very convincing.

  “Okay. Why were you in the alley, Cash?”

  “I told you last night. Qadira’s a new client. She hadn’t shown up, and I was worried. Then I heard the screaming. I thought it could be her. I got to the alley and discovered the body. Qadira was tossing her cookies nearby.”

  She isn’t the only one who can make shit up.

  Hank scratches his chin. “I guess that explains things.”

  Qadira holds out her wrists. “Can you remove these?”

  He shakes his head. “Not until Council completes its investigation. The leaders will look into your story. If everything checks out, then I’ll remove them.”

  She rolls her eyes, stands up, and walks to the back.

  “Hank, do you need anything else?” I ask.

  He flips through his pages. “Alec and Dante, where were you two nights ago?”

  Dante laughs. “Seriously? You’re expecting a couple of incubi to remember where we were nights ago? I do good to remember where I was an hour ago.”

  Hank growls. “Try.”

  “The Mazrels had dinner with me,” Colt offers. “Is there a problem?”

  “A couple of girls are missing. Their friends say they were meeting up with Alec and Dante.”

  “Never happened,” Dante responds. “They chickened out at the last minute. That’s why we ate with Colt.”

  “Where’d you eat?” Hank asks.

  “The diner. Ask anyone. We had the blue-plate special,” Colt says.

  Is this a field day for liars? How the hell will the fellas prove they were some place they weren’t?

  Hank closes his book. “That will do for now. Just try to stay out of trouble. I’ll be in touch.”

  We watch the were-panther move soundlessly toward the exit. His feet skim the floor, and his head shifts side to side like he’s looking for something. The bell sounds as he goes through. In a matter of seconds, he’s gone.

  Colt says to Alec and Dante, “Don’t worry about covering our story. My father spoke with Agnes earlier. The lie was his idea.”

  Okay. That explains a lot.

  Colt continues, “As far as Dira is concerned, I’m sure Al-Qadir has sent his henchman for her. My father can contact Al-Qadir. Let him know she’s safe. Our family will use our resources to sort this out.”

  At the mention of her name, Qadira pokes her head through the black curtain. Colt stands up and holds his hand out. “Dira, you need to come with me. My family will protect you.”

  She faces me and stares blankly. Her mouth opens but no words come out.

  I realize this isn’t my fight, and I should stay out of it. The sassy attitude vanished. Qadira’s frantic gaze pulls at me, though, urging me to step in. And then I see the frown and subtle head shake.

  That’s it. She doesn’t want to go with Colt, and I’m not letting him take her away. “Qadira’s good with me. I have a place for her to stay.”

  Colt raises an eyebrow. “It doesn’t matter. My father’s lair is the most secure place in town.”

  I cross my arms and clench my jaw. “I said I won’t let anything happen to her.”

  Colt purses his lips. “Very well. But if my father insists, she must stay with my family.”

  “Not happening, Colt.” I place my hand on Qadira’s shoulder. “The Najex can deal with me.”

  “Make sure nothing happens to Dira. You don’t want to deal with either of our fathers...or me.” Darkness crosses Colt’s face as he stares me down for a too long minute. His mood changes, and he tells the fellas, “Let’s go, guys. There’s work for us to do.”

  “Thank you for your concern, Colt,” Qadira says.

  He winks. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Dira.”

  My muscles tighten, and I’m ready to explode. Colt’s statement unravels something deep inside me. I’m clenching my jaw so hard pain shoots through my face. Whatever this is pushing to the surface, I’m incapable of stopping it. All I know is a line is drawn, and my friend had better
not cross it.

  When the door slams behind Colt, I place a hand on my chest and breathe a sigh of relief. Cash flops back in a station chair. His eyes close, but I sense no peace from him. He wants information. Details I’m not comfortable giving. Decency mandates I should tell him about my past with Colt. Humiliation, however, seals my mouth.

  “Start explaining,” Cash says without making eye contact.

  “I don’t know what you mean,” I lie.

  Cash pushes himself off the chair and makes a beeline for the back room.

  I drag my feet behind him. While he prepares a cup of coffee, I sit on the sofa.

  “What do I need to know ‘bout you and Colt?”

  “I told you we knew each other as kids.” My voice cracks. “Nothing special.”

  The incubus brings his cup over and sits beside me. “Sorry. Not buying it. There’s more to your story. If you want my help, you need to spill it.”

  Good question. Do I want or need his help? Yes, on both accounts.

  Where did that come from?

  I lean forward and place my elbows on my knees. “Prepare me a cup, and I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

  “I thought you didn’t drink coffee,” he points out.

  I tap my fingers against my thigh. “On certain occasions, I do.”

  “By all means, have mine.” Cash gives me his cup and stands to make another one.

  “What is in this?” I ask, staring into the light brown mixture.

  “Cream and two sugars,” he throws over his shoulder.

  “How did you know that’s how I drink it?”

  He turns around and leans against the counter. “I didn’t. That’s how I take mine.”

  My breath catches. I swear I hear a latch click, like someone unlocked a door. Nonsense. I blow on the hot liquid and take a sip.

  How do I tell Cash what he wants? My heart rate kicks up a notch. No one, outside my family, knows what happened between Colt and me. “The Najex family used to visit us every summer. We were just kids who did not know better. And then one day things changed between us.”

  Cash keeps his distance. “Look, it’s none of my business. I’m willing to help you, but I don’t want any surprises. Colt used to be my best friend. Things haven’t been the same since my sister broke a promise to him.”