Witches for Hire (Odd Jobs #1)(110)

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want the spell reversed. The original intent was to force me to commit suicide, but I was able to deflect part of it, and it morphed into a lack of inhibitions.” Jeremy grinned. “The curse took away my fears and guilt.” He tapped his chest. “I’m happy, and if you care about me, you’ll keep me this way.”

Clive stepped closer to Jeremy. “Listen to me. It might seem okay now, but it’s a curse, and they always go bad. If you were in your right mind, you’d never consider this.”

“I knew you wouldn’t understand. Which is why I’m going to kill you.” Jeremy snapped his fingers, and red translucent walls came down, separating everyone from Clive except for Jeremy.

Edarra threw her body against the wall. “I can’t break it.”

Mia drew her sword, but when she struck it, she had no luck either.

Clive moved his hands out to his side. “Jeremy, you don’t want to do this.”

“Like I said, I’m only capable of the true wishes of my heart, and I really wish you’d die.”

Clive’s eyes glowed. “I can’t say I won’t enjoy this, but you brought this on yourself.”

An invisible force brushed against Jeremy’s front, but it couldn’t budge him. Jeremy yawned. “Too bad your staff is in your office. That might be the only thing that could break my binding.” The knight came at him, and Jeremy twisted out of the way of a fist speeding toward his face. He smiled. This is marvelous. When Clive’s hand closed on his elbow, Jeremy entangled his legs between the knight’s and elbowed him on the side of his head.

Angry, Clive wrapped his hand around Jeremy’s throat, but a section of the red ward bent outward like a hand and burned Clive’s wrist.

“Sorry, but I don’t fight fair.” Jeremy punched Clive, filling the blow with his magic.

Clive recoiled and clutched his face, a green line of power edging the cut skin.

“Like I haven’t fought people like you before. Where I come from, the Council didn’t give a shit about people like me or Desmond. We either fought for survival or died. Not that I expect any….” Jeremy punched Clive again. “Noble like you to understand.” Clive tried to block his next blow, but Jeremy poured more magic into his hand. There was some resistance from Clive’s invisible shield, but it cracked away under Jeremy’s power. He hit Clive’s arm, and it broke. Jeremy grinned at the knight he had driven to his knees. Simone and Mia kept shouting while Edarra rammed her body at the ward over and over again. Mia and Raj stepped back from the barrier and started chanting. Jeremy looked down at Clive. “You have no clue what it’s like to be hunted for your magic and know that there’s no one to help you. Desmond and I were the ones who protected our neighborhood. That’s how he got the black aura. He killed a serial killer who murdered a child, but that means nothing to you.”

Jeremy looked at his blood-covered knuckles. “I even lied to myself and thought that’s why I left him.” He shook his head. “No. What really scared me is that Desmond killed him because he knew I would have done it. He always protects me. Just like he did when that fucker Perry tried to kill me.” Jeremy glared at the knight. “I won’t be that sniveling coward again!” He arced his leg wide and swung it toward Clive, the force of his magic sending the knight flying to crash through the lobby window. Jeremy stalked to the broken opening and stepped over the windowsill. “It’s my turn to protect him.”

Clive tried to climb to his feet, but Jeremy waved his hand and toppled the knight back onto the glass-strewn concrete.

“Stay down, dog. It’s almost over.” His switchblade felt so good in his hand. Why did I ever think working a nine-to-five job would fix me? Jeremy looked down at his suit. This has to go too. Light surrounded him, leaving behind white-blond hair in its wake, a chest barely covered in a red unbuttoned shirt that flapped in the wind and tight black leather pants that rode on his hips just beneath his tattoo. Jeremy inhaled the air as if he hadn’t breathed it for years. “Much better.” He focused on Clive again. “Where was I? Right, I was going to eviscerate you.” His knife shone in the streetlights. As Jeremy lunged for Clive, an arm wrapped around his waist.

“What have I said about these pent-up emotions?” Desmond whispered in his ear.

Jeremy shivered, basking in Desmond’s scent as he was held. “He has to die.”

“If he comes for us, so be it. But.” Desmond nibbled on the rim of Jeremy’s ear. “I want to fuck you all night, and that can’t happen if we’re being hounded by the Council.”

Jeremy pouted as he lowered his knife. “He was going to put me back the way I was.”

“Shhh.” Desmond’s hands cradled Jeremy’s face. “And you taught him a lesson. Now tell me what you really want, Angel.”

Jeremy turned so he could face his lover. Their lips met, and Clive became the last thing on his mind. When they broke away he said, “Fuck me.”

“As always, ask nicely, and I give you anything.” Desmond’s power closed around them in a black ball of energy, and the office and Clive disappeared.




“SENATOR RAGSDALE?”

The senator turned to see Jeremy’s coworker standing behind him. “How may I help you?”