Blood Flame (Flame 1)

Connor knew it would make no difference at all, but he said it anyway. “Killing Heather destroyed something inside me. I want you to know that. She was anguished when she died, emaciated because her handlers had her strung out on blood flame. But her last words hurt the worst.” He didn’t say what they were.

Evan’s footing slipped slightly, his eyes widening. He regained his balance, making use of levitation, to once more stand on the metal railing of the bridge. “Her last words? None of my extensive research turned up any such thing. You’re lying.”

“I was the one there, Evan. I had to look into her beautiful, despairing green eyes. I heard each word she spoke.” He slapped a hand against his chest. “They live in here. They always will.”

“What did she say?”

Connor debated telling him. If Evan was motivated to hear his wife’s final words, that could work in their favor. “I want you to forgive Iris for her failure to keep Heather’s case alive. From what I understand, she worked tirelessly to find your wife. Others above her shut the case down. They’re to blame. Iris was just doing her job. So, let her off the hook, then I’ll tell you.”

A hot wind blew suddenly against his back and Iris’s arm tightened around his neck. He felt it as well that Evan’s witch was making her presence known.

Connor continued. “Your friend doesn’t seem to like the idea. Is this really up to her?”

Evan’s gaze shifted away, his lips turning down.

Iris whispered, “She’s communicating with him.”

“How?”

“Telepathically, I think.”

“Is that something you can do?”

“No. That is. I’ve never tried. Never even thought about it.”

Evan’s shoulders had lost their straight edge and his nostrils flared. His lips turned down as he addressed Connor. “Fuck Heather’s last words.”

“Just as I thought. Pussy-whipped by a witch.”

The hot wind slammed so hard into his back he lurched forward, lost his levitating balance and Iris slipped off his boot.

He caught her quickly around the waist, holding her against him, then levitated straight up going as fast as he could. He had one intention, to get Iris the hell out of there.

But he didn’t get far. The spell stopped his ability to think in its tracks. He barely knew where he was. He began to descend slowly and the more he did, the clearer his mind became. He attempted a lateral escape, but the same thing happened. The witch had them penned in.

There was no escape now and there would be no reasoning with Evan, no more bargaining, nothing. This would be a battle to the death.

Iris loosened her hold on him and leaned back. She glanced at Evan then back at him. “You do what you’ve gotta do.” She then pushed hard enough to disrupt his hold on her waist so that she fell away from him, letting go of him completely.

“Iris,” he shouted, as she fell backward. He started after her, but the hot wind was a wall now and wouldn’t let him get to her.

Just as Iris would have hit the side of the ditch, she righted herself in the air. Holy shit, she’d levitated. A few of the more powerful witches and other species could do the same, but it was rare. Or maybe it was her connection to Connor, the mirror-effect she’d talked about earlier.

“I’m okay,” she called to him, dropping to balance herself in the rocky dirt. “I suggest you take this asshole out. Evan used to be a good man, but he’s no longer here.”

Connor didn’t have to think twice. He drew his gun and fired repeatedly. But Evan waved a hand and the bullets appeared to fly around him. More witch power, but how was he doing it? How was a vampire accessing the witch’s abilities?

Connor holstered his Glock then moved in swiftly, flying to the bridge and dropping down on the pavement. He drew his short-sword from its sheath. Evan’s lips curled back in a grimace. He rotated his shoulders and lost his duster. He was lean, but bulked up.

He grabbed his own sword, lowered his shoulders and knees, a smile forming on his lips. “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”

“Then you never thought Iris and I would die from the blast?”

“There was a chance, but my woman said Iris was special and didn’t have the usual prejudices against vampires that most witches do. She was right. And it’s made the game a lot more fun.”

“What’s your witch’s name?” Maybe if he knew who he was battling, he could figure out how to beat Evan.

“None of your business. Besides, she’s a very private individual. She wouldn’t want her name known.”