Page 32 of Brave Spirit (Bound Spirit #6)

Callie

I t’s cold, but thankfully dry, or as dry as the Pacific Northwest gets, the night of the homecoming dance. Twin Cedar Pass is too small of a town to support any kind of limo service, so to be fair, I told the guys I’d drive myself to the dance.

I feel like a fairy princess in my pale pink, strapless gown and matching slipper shoes that have ribbons tied up my shins.

My hair is expertly pinned on top of my head with cascading curls framing my face.

Small, pink roses with baby’s breath are tucked into one side of my thick locks, adding to the feeling of being from another world, because all of this is so different from my normal. I’ve never felt so feminine in my life.

Holding the long box that contains Kaleb’s birthday present, I make my way toward the front of the school auditorium, my skirt swishing prettily with each step.

A smile blooms across my face when I see the guys huddled in a straight line, dressed in well-fitting suits, clearly looking for me in the bustling crowd funneling into the dance.

Connor and Nolan are the first to spot me, their eyes widening as their jaws drop open.

Their weird behavior catches Donovan’s and Kaleb’s attention.

When they follow the others’ line of sight to me, Donovan develops a crooked grin, while Kaleb gives me a look so full of heat, my mind immediately goes to the night we shared.

My skin tingles as I recall his skillful mouth and hands on my body.

A blush burns across my cheeks, and a warm glow fills my chest from witnessing their reactions to me all dressed up.

I know they think I’m beautiful no matter what I’m wearing, but it’s nice to be appreciated when I’ve put in so much effort.

Collectively, we walk toward each other as if we are made of magnets, except one of my magnets is missing.

“Where’s Felix—er, James?” I ask once we’re within hearing range.

Nolan pulls his phone out from his pants pocket and thumbs through his text messages. “We don’t know. I’ve tried texting him, but I haven’t gotten a response.”

“He’s probably driving here and is smart enough not to text back,” Donovan reasons, but there’s a tightness around his eyes that has me wondering if he believes it. “If his driving is anything like Callie’s, then he’s probably barely doing the speed limit. No offense, angel.”

“Nothing wrong with safe driving,” I quip, repeating what Felix said to me leading up to our last driving lesson.

A flash of heat sizzles through my veins as I remember that night with him under the stars. It was perfect, and afterward, I felt so happy and safe. Felix was the first friend I ever had, and I’m so grateful our romantic relationship has only strengthened our connection.

Connor, sensing my emotions through the mate bond, slides up behind me. His hands rest on my waist, and he leans down to nuzzle my neck. “You look beautiful, mi reina .”

“Thank you,” I reply softly, tipping my head to one side to make it easier for him.

There’s sharp awareness in Nolan’s gaze, and as if he can’t resist me any longer, he tucks his phone back into his pocket and closes the short distance between us. As Connor kisses and nuzzles my neck and shoulder, Nolan grabs my hips and kisses me with an intense hunger.

Gripping Kaleb’s present like a lifeline, I drown in the cacophony of sensations—Nolan’s deep, penetrating kiss, and Connor’s tender lips against my skin as his hands begin to wander.

We only break free when Kaleb puts a heavy hand on Nolan’s shoulder and clears his throat. “Remember tonight is my birthday, and we agreed to share.”

Donovan scoffs as Nolan stops and blinks like he’s only now realizing other people outside of me even exist, let alone are around us in public.

Nolan runs a thumb over his lips, smirking when his finger is stained with pink lipstick. “Sorry, birthday boy, she’s hard to resist any day.” His gaze slowly glides down my body. “Looking like this, it’s fucking impossible.”

Connor hums his agreement, not bothering to move from behind me, and instead buries his nose in my hair.

Kaleb sighs, resting his hands on his hips. “I didn’t say you couldn’t kiss her.” Then, in a surprise move, he hooks his arm around my waist and steals me out from between them. He cups my face with that same fire in his eyes. “I just said that we needed to share.”

Kaleb leans down and brushes his lips over mine.

Like a conductor with his orchestra, he expertly leads me in a dance of lips and tongues that leaves me breathless.

The sounds of the world fade away, and I’m lost in his all-consuming kiss.

Lightheaded, I feel the world sway beneath me, and it’s only Kaleb’s touch that keeps me tethered to the ground.

When we finally break apart, it’s my turn to blink dumbly as my surroundings come back into focus. I’m also pretty sure all my lipstick is gone, and I forgot to bring it with me. Oh well, maybe Mei will have some lip gloss I can borrow.

Donovan stares at Kaleb like a pod person has taken over his body. “What was that? Who are you?”

Kaleb wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me against his side. He smiles down at me. “I’ve decided it’s time to start focusing on what I want and not what others expect of me.”

“Fucking finally,” Donovan cheers, a grin that promises shared trouble taking over his features.

“Speaking of what you want,” I interject, holding up the now slightly mangled box. “Happy birthday.”

A curious gleam fills Kaleb’s eyes as he steps away so he can take the box from me.

It’s tied closed with a red ribbon, which he slides off the end, and then he lifts the lid.

He looks up at me with a tender gaze, his smile genuine as it crinkles the corners of his eyes. “Is this what I think it is?”

I nod, beaming with pride. “It seemed appropriate.”

The other guys look into the box to find a familiar broad sword and matching dagger, the blades now shimmering with an indecent sheen under the glow of the surrounding lights.

“It’s just like Donovan’s katana, spelled with all the elements of magic, plus my spirit magic,” I explain, pointing at the broad sword’s blade. “There’s nothing that will…”

I’m cut off by sudden shrill screams coming from the auditorium over the loud music. They aren’t shouts of excitement or surprise, but outright terror of a crowd of people trapped with the promise of death.

We immediately race toward danger, while innocents try to flee, only to have their necks snapped by a dozen undead vampires. With bloody smiles, they grin wickedly at Donovan before speeding back inside.

Donovan and Kaleb fall back on the training they’ve had since childhood, reaching for weapons they always seem to have on them. Donovan pulls two daggers from their sheaths tucked into his boots and hands one to Nolan. “Don’t drop it this time.”

“I’m never living that down,” he grumbles, handling the dagger in a way that shows he’s practiced since his last life-or-death situation.

Kaleb, with his spelled broad sword in one hand, tosses the matching dagger to Donovan. “We don’t have time to get your katana out of the truck.”

He nods with a grim expression, holding one dagger with the blade down and the spelled one blade up—one to hook, and the other to stab.

Kaleb lifts his pant leg to pull out another dagger strapped to his shin and readies himself like the warrior he was always meant to be.

Connor half shifts, his teeth and claws elongating into deadly weapons as the whites of his eyes turn black.

None of them are dumb enough to suggest I should stay away, even though my magic can be explosive. I’m determined to stay in control so the others can focus on the demons and not keeping me from destroying the entire school—or the town, for that matter.

Without a thought toward their own safety, my guys rush forward as fast as they can.

Nolan is gone in a flash, Connor running after him with his ridiculously long legs.

Donovan and Kaleb summon their wings, the feathered limbs bursting through their dress shirts and suit coats.

They spring into the air, soaring toward the skylights on the roof of the auditorium so they can get a drop on the invaders from above.

With a frustrated huff, I pick up the skirts of my dress and start running toward the entrance now littered with bodies.

Each empty-eyed stare makes my stomach sick, and I have to take controlled breaths to stop myself from succumbing to the frightening depths of my magic.

Tears burn my eyes as new confused souls gather among the carnage, gazing at their motionless bodies dressed for a night of carefree fun.

Suddenly, a figure hidden in the shadows grabs me by the arm and pulls me to a stop. My magic lashes out, lifting the figure off the ground and away from me. When the body hits the ground with a sharp cry, I realize it’s Neva, and she has a letter clutched in her hand.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I shout, marching over to her crumpled form.

The Neva I’m familiar with is gone, replaced by a terrified woman with tear tracks down her cheeks. She holds out the crumpled letter in her hand and sobs, “He has Gina. He’ll kill her if you don’t come.”

An icy fear floods my body as I take the letter from her hand.

I try to reason that it can’t be him, that he’s safely locked away in prison, but all hope dies when I read the painfully familiar handwriting.

My father has Felix. If I want to see him alive ever again, I’m supposed to follow Neva’s direction to a secluded location that he doesn’t specify.

He says that Felix will die if I tell anyone or don’t follow his directions exactly.

“I thought he was a member of the council,” Neva states through her tears as she gets back to her feet. “He said he needed our help, and he’d give us our magic back.”

“It was severed for a reason,” I snap, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her toward the parking lot.

I look over my shoulder at the auditorium, the sounds of battle a stark contrast to the warbled dance music, and I pray to the goddess that my guys will be okay without me.

Every part of me screams not to leave them, but I know none of us would be able to forgive ourselves if I left Felix to whatever fate my father has in store for him.

“You had no right,” Neva protests, though there is no fight left in her. “He said you were sick, and that your magic was stolen from other witches.”

My fingers dig into her flesh as we hurry toward the senior lot. “Sounds like the bastard said a lot of things, and you were stupid enough to believe him. He’s a liar, and you’re his idiot stooge.”

“He had proof he was from the council,” she claims, but again, there’s no fight in her words, just a defeated woman desperate to save her daughter.

We march in silence for several minutes before I can bring myself to ask, “What did he ask you to do?”

“Observe you and report back everything we saw,” Neva answers in an almost apologetic tone. “Gina was responsible for most of it since she had better access to you.”

Bile climbs up my throat as I recall all the times I felt like I was being watched, and all the times I dismissed Gina’s glares as nothing to worry about because she no longer had any power. I felt the warning signs and ignored them, and now my guys and the whole student body are paying the price.

When we reach my car, I nab my car key out of my bra, unlock the doors, and shove Neva inside. Sliding into the driver’s seat, I grab my phone from the center console and call Mildred.

She picks up on the second ring, worry already invading her words. “Darling, are you okay?”

“No,” I answer truthfully, my voice cracking as what I have to do and whom I must face sinks in. “Demons are attacking the school dance, and we need help.”

“I’m on my way,” she responds immediately, her tone confident and compassionate. Her voice promises I’m not alone, and she’ll protect me, but no one can protect me from this.

“I’ll see you soon,” I lie and hang up before the full truth spills from my lips.

As I start the car and peel out of my parking space, Neva grips her seat and looks at me in confusion. “Why didn’t you tell her about your father?”

The tires chirp as I gun it out of the parking lot. I grip the steering wheel hard enough for my knuckles to turn white. “Because if anyone is killing that bastard, it’s going to be me.”