Page 12 of Cursed (Witchbane #8)

“Rowan said she gave you plenty of charms and protections and fundamental defensive spells,” Kinsley went on, “and that you knew how to use them. But I’m guessing you’re expecting bigger problems?”

Seth leaned against the counter while Evan poured still-hot coffee from a thermal carafe for both of them.

“Having backup means we have less trouble stopping the witch-disciple, as in, we don’t nearly get killed,” Seth told her.

“Magic and muscle both make a difference. Vernon’s going to have his coven, and they’ll be expecting to power up from the ritual, so they won’t take kindly to having it interrupted. ”

“What happens when you stop the sacrifice?” Kinsley asked.

“The witch-disciple dies, and his coven loses its power.” Seth didn’t try to sugarcoat the situation.

“You two play for keeps.”

“Gremory’s disciples have been killing people every twelve years or so for a century,” Seth pointed out.

“Including my brother and relatives, Evan’s family members, and more.

The ritual keeps them immortal, so the deaths would just go on and on.

Seems like offing an evil bastard and saving all those people is a good trade. ”

Rowan had thought Kinsley would be an ally, but if she was squeamish about the reality of the situation, Seth needed to know before they were in a life-or-death battle.

“Slow your roll,” Kinsley said. “I’m on board. Rowan and Cassidy laid it all out, and witches like Vernon give the rest of us a bad name. I just needed to hear it from you.”

“You’ll help?” Evan asked, looking hopeful.

“Yeah. I want that scum and his monster meat joint out of my city,” Kinsley replied. “I think I’ve got more witches and maybe some muscle to help out too. Plus a friend who’s a necromancer, if that would come in handy. Want to meet for breakfast and plan a war?”

Kinsley suggested a place run by a coven member’s family where she felt they could talk safely without being overheard. Evan noted the address as Seth repeated it, and they thanked Kinsley before hanging up.

“Well, that might be another piece falling into place,” Evan said.

“The sooner, the better.” Seth hadn’t been able to shake the feeling that the clock was ticking on an unknown danger.

Dispatching Vernon and leaving town couldn’t happen fast enough to suit him.

He didn’t share his sense of foreboding with Evan in case his imagination was running wild, although experience had taught him to trust his hunches. That meant being extra careful.

That evening, Seth cooked tacos while Evan scoured local media sites for anything about Vernon that they might have missed.

“I’ve come across a few articles praising Vernon for how he shuns the limelight and avoids the spotlight for his good deeds,” Evan reported in a wry tone.

“That hasn’t stopped him from insinuating himself into the restaurant industry in the city.

He turns up everywhere. He just manages to avoid photos most of the time, or makes them blurry. ”

“Hard to be a recluse and run a restaurant,” Seth replied without turning away from the stove. “It’s a people business.”

“More so in Vernon’s case maybe than for most,” Evan joked.

“Ew. Don’t spoil my appetite.”

“Sorry. Couldn’t help it.”

“Vernon’s got to have mortal helpers,” Seth said. “Is there any info on who runs the place when he’s not around? Or the head chef, business manager, ma?tre d’?”

Evan nodded. “Yeah. Teag and I found some info. Looks like a very loyal, small group that has been with the restaurant for a long time. Nothing that suggests they have supernatural abilities, at least nothing that would keep them from mingling with regular people and going around in the daylight.”

“No vampires.”

“Can’t guarantee that about the wait staff or the kitchen crew, but not the top people who usually deal with the media when Vernon ‘isn’t available.’” Evan framed the last few words in air quotes.

“I wonder if he has them under a compulsion or just won their everlasting loyalty by bailing them out of a jam,” Seth mused.

“Could be either,” Evan said. “I also texted Nash to see if he was free in the morning before the pub opens. I want to see if he and I could contact the spirits of Pax’s father and the other men who died from the witch-disciples.

Maybe they can give us some inside information to help Pax believe us. ”

“It’s worth a shot.” Seth put the finishing touches on the tacos. He carried plates to the table as Evan closed down his computer to make room.

“Those smell amazing. Maybe we should think of having a food truck when this is all over,” Evan joked.

Seth gave him a look. “No. Once we deal with the witch-disciples, I’m done with having to haul our home—or our business—around. We’ll pick a place, get a house…and go from there.”

It bothered Seth sometimes that they didn’t have a detailed idea of what to do after their quest was finished.

Part of him shied away from making firm plans out of a superstitious fear that doing so might jinx their odds of surviving the task.

Earlier in his relationship with Evan, he had worried that planning for a future together might be moving too fast.

Now that they were solidly a couple and had dispatched a majority of the witch-disciples, the possibility of an afterward didn’t seem so far-fetched.

Seth worked as a white-hat hacker for Milo and Toby’s security company when he wasn’t using his skills to break into the witch-disciples’ accounts.

Evan’s passion for photography and his talent for design led to starting his own graphics company, and helped with the occasional need to create fake documents for their hunting.

Evan’s graphic design and Seth’s computer work kept them busy between road trips and paid their living expenses. Getting vengeance on murderous witches provided satisfaction, but it didn’t cover the bills and often required expensive and arcane materials.

Their expenses were fairly minimal, aside from ammunition and arcane supplies, and they had been able to set aside a modest but growing nest egg. That cheered him on the nights he couldn’t sleep, worried about surviving their quest.

“Hey, don’t let your tacos get cold.” Evan broke Seth out of his thoughts. The glint in Evan’s eyes made it clear he suspected the direction Seth’s musings had taken.

“Sorry. Did you try them? Any good?”

“They’re great. I really like the mango salsa,” Evan said, and Seth noticed that he had already polished off one of his three tacos.

“I’m glad. I was in the mood to cook something different.”

“You keep me well fed,” Evan replied with a sultry look that let Seth know his partner had more than food on his mind.

“Hold that thought,” Seth teased, giving him a quick peck on the lips. “Let me clean up, and then we can have dessert.” He reached over to stroke Evan’s groin and felt him respond even through the denim.

They made quick work of the kitchen and headed to the living room since it was still too early for bed.

The couch was roomy enough for both of them to fit, and Seth turned on a favorite music channel.

Tonight, slow mutual hand jobs brought them to the edge and back several times before they came together, gasping for breath and glistening with sweat.

Seth cleaned them up with his discarded T-shirt. “Want to go again?”

Evan chuckled. “Tempting, but not tonight. That was…really good.” He leaned in to give Seth a long, lingering kiss.

Seth clicked on a sci-fi movie they had both seen before, and they snuggled on the couch trading lazy kisses instead of paying attention.

“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.” Seth held Evan close in his arms.

“I’d say the same about you—and not just because you saved my life,” Evan teased.

“At this point, we’ve saved each other multiple times, so I think we’ve got that covered.”

Evan gathered the discarded clothing and dishes while Seth made a final round to check locks and wards. They tumbled into bed together, and Seth felt the fatigue from being on high alert all day.

“Try not to think about the case. Get some sleep,” he said in a low, fond voice as Evan rested his head on Seth’s shoulder.

“You gonna do the same?” Evan kissed Seth’s neck and reached over to push a lock of hair out of his eyes.

“I sure intend to try,” Seth said. “We’re no good to anyone if we’re exhausted.”

“Night. Love you.” Evan sounded like he was already almost out.

“Love you too,” Seth echoed. But despite his caution to Evan, his mind spun with loose ends and next steps until the wee hours.

The dream came after he finally fell asleep.

Seth found himself back at the side of the road where he and Jesse had gone legend tripping the night Jesse was murdered.

Jesse looked just as Seth remembered him, so young. But where Jesse’s enthusiasm was a hallmark of his personality, tonight, he looked sorrowful.

“You didn’t protect me. I trusted you, and you got me killed.” Jesse’s gaze felt like it bored right through Seth.

“I didn’t know. Had no idea back then how to save you. I’m so, so sorry. I miss you so much.”

“You’re sorry. I’m dead. It’s all your fault.”

“Jesse—”

“You’re going to get Evan killed too,” Jesse went on, as sadness morphed into anger.

“I saved him. With what I learned after…we’re getting vengeance on all of the witch-disciples. Taking revenge for what they did to you,” Seth countered, feeling gut-punched by the accusations.

“Won’t bring me back—and you got Mom and Dad killed too. It should have been you.”

Seth blinked back tears. “Yes, it should have. I was the older brother. He took you by mistake. I would have gladly gone in your place if I could have made the choice.”

“Evan would be safer without you. You destroy everyone who loves you.”

“Jesse, please. Don’t say that. Jesse ? —”