Ghostly Justice (Seven Deadly Sins, #2.5)(17)

Carter was watching their exchange with an odd expression. Rafe said, “Go, we’ll be there in a minute.”

“Whatever,” Carter shrugged and walked away.

“Are you okay?” Rafe asked Moira.

“Yes, but you—”

“I’m just seeing another side of you I haven’t seen.”

“I don’t normally act like a slut.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Just for tonight. It’s not like I’m going to do anything.” She touched his cheek, surprised and a little amused at Rafe’s jealousy.

“It’s not you. It’s all the men, and some of the women, in this room looking at you as an object. And it’s more than a little creepy that they are focused on your neck. I’ll dance with you.”

“You know that won’t work. When you touch me, all I feel is you.” She rose, but Rafe pulled her back down and kissed her with a raw passion she hadn’t felt from him in quite this way.

The song changed, the lighting dimmed dramatically and a red spotlight moved languidly over the crowd from the corner of the DJ booth. It was the perfect time for her to get out on the dance floor.

Rafe stood, pulling Moira with him, and turned her around, wrapping one arm around her waist, her back flat against his chest. He danced her over to the floor where Carter was doing a full-body dance with a leather-clad brunette in five-inch heels.

“Rafe, I don’t know—”

He whispered in her ear. “I’m not risking you. You’re going to deal with it tonight. Find a way. I’m not letting you go.”

She couldn’t explain that she was fine, that the magic wasn’t going to touch her. She was on full-alert now, every nerve hyper-sensitive. But none of her explanations would get through the new, jealous Rafe.

Carter almost didn’t notice them approach. “Excuse me,” Moira said to Ms. Leather Pants. “He’s with me.”

“He wasn’t when I found him,” she said, but stepped aside.

“What’d you do that for?” Carter asked.

“You’re not safe here,” Moira whispered directly in his ear. Rafe was right behind her, and she was sandwiched between the two men. Carter smiled at her and he took one of her hands, dancing them through the crowd toward the middle of the dance floor.

Carter leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Don’t be obvious, but there’s a woman standing next to the DJ. She’s been watching us since we came in.”

Moira didn’t know why she hadn’t felt someone watching, but she’d been so wrapped up in keeping Rex from casting a spell over her she must have missed it. She kissed Carter’s cheek, leaving a nice mark with her lipstick. Rafe tightened his grip. She made a point of looking all over the dance floor, until her gaze scanned the stage.

Recognizing the woman, she did a discreet double-take. The woman next to the DJ was in the camp photo with Amy and Beth.

Except, she looked older, maybe twenty-eight, not much younger than Moira. In the photo she had looked like a teenager. Had Grant spoken to her today? What had he thought? Why hadn’t he mentioned her age? Had she cast a spell on him so he only saw what she wanted him to see?

She couldn’t tell if the dark energy was coming from the woman, but it was all around the dance floor. She needed to get closer.

With her body, she backed up, directing Rafe toward the stage. Carter followed, but was pulled into another threesome. Moira was concerned, because even though there was a lot of partner swapping on the floor, Carter’s safety was her responsibility.

“I’ll keep an eye on him,” Rafe said.

They were almost to the stage when Rex tapped on Rafe’s shoulder. “May I?”

Rafe didn’t let go immediately, then he dropped his arms and stepped aside. Another girl took his hand and pressed her body against his while Rex took Moira’s right hand and put his other hand on the small of her back. He didn’t speak, but danced her away from Rafe and Carter, over to the edge of the floor.

A voice behind Moira said, “Thank you, Rex.”

The dark energy increased tenfold. Moira immediately put up her shields, but it wasn’t enough, nor fast enough. The blonde from the stage turned Moira to face her, then wrapped her arms around Moira’s neck and pulled her body close, swaying to the beat of the music. When she smiled, Moira saw the fangs. Her canines had been carved into sharp points, sharp enough to puncture skin.

“Let go,” Moira said.

The sudden vision was painful, evil exploding in her mind. Moira did her best to control her reaction, but the blonde knew. Blackness wrapped around Moira, choking her.

“What do you want?” the blonde asked.

“I came to have fun,” Moira said, each word excruciating as she tried to block the horrific vision of blood, screams and laughter.

“You’re lying to me.” The woman tightened her grip. Her lips skimmed Moira’s ear. To any observer, they were two women interested in each other. But Moira had to fight to keep the woman out of her mind. She felt Rex’s energy building a spell around her, the same command spell he’d failed earlier, and she wouldn’t be able to battle both of them in such close proximity.

“Don’t interfere with me,” the woman said.

Moira gathered the strength to push her away. The witch stumbled in her tall heels, and Moira said, “I’m out of here.”