Page 11 of Deadly Deception (Necromancer Tales #2)

Chapter

Eleven

Erasmus

“I’m so sorry about Lynn,” Franklin said for the fifth, maybe sixth time. Each time sounded more confused than the last. “I swear she’s channeling Glen. That man has changed Lynn and not for the better. It was Lynn’s voice, but Glen’s words.”

I wasn’t so certain. Sure, people were easily influenced by those around them, especially humans. I didn’t know Lynn well enough to judge. Honestly, I felt sorrier for Franklin than offended for myself. His disappointment was palpable. I could feel his hurt radiating through his words.

Franklin inhaled deeply. Since I was lying on top of him, my body rose and fell with the motion. We’d gone back to our hotel room where Franklin had stripped my clothes and methodically, slowly, and ever so gently driven me over a pleasure-fueled cliff. He’d kissed and licked nearly every inch of my body, touching me everywhere. My skin still tingled from his affections while my body buzzed with the kind of contentment only a good orgasm or two can cause. My man had a point to prove and he’d gone about his mission with a determination I could wholeheartedly appreciate.

I loved Franklin’s body. It was solid, comforting, and warm. Franklin’s skin felt good against mine. The bed sheets were soft and thick, adding to that luxurious feel of safety. Head resting on Franklin’s chest, I could hear the steady beat of his heart while Franklin’s fingers carded through my mussed hair.

“I think Ms. Violet did a fair job shutting Lynn down,” I murmured against Franklin’s skin.

“That she did,” he agreed easily.

“I don’t blame your sister. You know that, right?” I’d skated around that statement a few times. Honestly, I didn’t blame her. I wasn’t even mad. Sure, I was disappointed, but I was used to that feeling. Being a necromancer was tricky enough without bringing religion into it. Although sometimes I thought that was as much the issue with necromancers as the whole bringing the dead back issue. Priests and priestesses weren’t nearly so controversial, and I’d long ago decided that was because they didn’t deal in souls. Priests and priestesses reanimated the body, but the soul was long gone. While a lot of religions weren’t exactly in love with that idea, the flesh was different than the soul. The soul was a higher power’s purview. The soul was sacrosanct.

It was a difficult line to walk. I’d been raised on Pops’s religion and prayed to Gaia, not a Christian God. I’d made my peace with what I was and what I could do a long time ago. That didn’t mean the rest of the world felt the same, and it didn’t mean I should expect them to.

Franklin’s body tensed and he answered, “I know and honestly, I’m not sure if that makes this better or worse. A part of me would feel better if you were pissed off. I hate that it’s so common and expected.”

I patted Franklin’s chest before tangling my fingers in his chest hairs. “I think you might be mad enough for the both of us.”

“Damn right,” Franklin answered with a huff. “I expected more from Lynn. If I’d known she’d act like that, I wouldn’t have invited her.”

“I know.” And I did know. Franklin was exceedingly careful with my emotions. “You were right about Ms. Violet and Evan.” I grinned remembering Evan’s responses to his sister and my chest warmed at the answer Franklin’s nana had given Lynn. She’d shut the conversation down and Lynn had left soon afterward. Franklin and I would have stayed longer if I hadn’t started yawning. Turns out, hunting down corpses spread over a small city kind of took it out of you. Add on the overwhelming fear pervading DeWayne Foster’s soul and I was tuckered out. Evidently not too exhausted for some sexy times between the sheets, but Franklin had done most of the work. I’d simply basked in his tender care.

Franklin’s chuckle shook my body. “Evan will give Lynn hell. If there’s one silver lining to tonight, that’s it.”

“I think there are a lot more silver linings than that.” Scooting up Franklin’s body, I kissed the corner of his lips, my own lips wandering over his chin, up his cheek, and finishing at his temple. “Thank you for being you,” I whispered against the shell of Franklin’s ear.

I placed a silencing finger over Franklin’s lips and said, “Let’s get some sleep. It’s going to be a busy day tomorrow.”

I was by no means clairvoyant, but sometimes you didn’t need to be to know what was going to happen. While I might not have the exact details, I figured out the general direction the following day would go, and I wasn’t wrong. The morning started with dual texts to Franklin and my phones. I’m not sure why Sheriff Henson felt the need to text us both. Honestly, I was surprised he bothered with me and hadn’t just alerted Franklin. I got the feeling the sheriff thought of Franklin like the handler of an unpredictable animal. Henson would probably be disappointed if he ever realized I wasn’t all that interesting.

“Surprise, surprise, Henson’s asking you to bring back the souls of the other bodies that were found,” Franklin said, his voice husky with sleep.

“Your text must be nicer than mine,” I said after a wide yawn. “There’s not a lot of asking in my message.” There was a lot more telling .

Franklin grunted. “I was paraphrasing and trying to be kinder.”

“Yeah, I figured.” Lying on the bed, I stretched my arms, arching my back. Small pops and cracks sounded through the room as my body adjusted to the prospect of a new day. Arms flopping back to my sides, I stared at the ceiling. “I need to call Momma today. If I don’t, she’ll call me, and the timing will probably suck. Also, I want to try and get a hold of Agent Frost. I need to figure out a solution for Navarre before he’s turned back out onto the street.”

Franklin’s palm landed on my thigh and tingles raced up my spine and down to my cock. Groaning, I said, “I don’t think we have time for what you’re starting.”

Franklin’s chuckle was low, raspy, and sexy as hell. “You want the shower first?”

“You go. I’ll make phone calls.”

With a final pat to my leg, Franklin threw his covers to the side and slid out of bed. I had a lovely view of his taut ass as he rummaged around his suitcase for a fresh pair of clothes. I hummed appreciatively as Franklin’s thick thighs carried him to the bathroom. By the time the door closed, my dick was more than a little interested. Lifting the sheets, I looked down at my eager appendage and said, “Down, boy.” Unsurprisingly, my dick didn’t listen. It did care when I pulled up Momma’s phone number and hit send.

By the time I ended the call with Momma, my earlier issue had been soundly resolved. Leaning against the headboard, I considered how to get a hold of Agent Frost, aka Phlox. I’d kind of been hoping Aurelia might pop in and I could ask her if she’d be willing to pass a message along. I’d given that a fifty-fifty chance of Aurelia agreeing. However, my djinn shadow had been conspicuously absent since her impromptu visit last night. I was beyond curious to know how it was going with the kitten Peaches had foisted onto Aurelia.

Thinking of the pixie, I pulled up Peaches’s number and hit send. Virginia should be an hour ahead of my current location. Peaches answered on the second ring.

“Erasmus! How are you?”

Like nearly all pixies, Peaches was a happy soul. He was a little extra in the exuberance category, but I didn’t mind. Hearing Peaches’s voice nearly always improved my mood and put a smile on my face. Today was no different.

“I’m doing well,” I answered and realized that was a very true statement. “How are you and King Moony?”

I could practically feel the affection radiating through the phone. “Lucroy is wonderful. The sprites have gotten used to him and my trees greet him when he arrives and miss him when he leaves.”

For a bonded nature pixie, there was no higher compliment. “That’s good to hear.”

“It is. I was afraid staying at the orchard would be difficult for Lucroy, but his nest has adapted well. I believe my beloved’s nestmates are happy for him and accommodatingly adaptive.”

That was good on a lot of levels. Instability within a vampire nest, especially one as large as the Southeast nest, was never good. From what I understood, Lucroy Moony was a very tolerant and affectionate vampire king, at least by vampire standards.

I wanted to ask Peaches how Aurelia was doing with her newest ward, but I heard the shower shut off and knew Franklin and I didn’t have a lot of time today. “I have a favor to ask,” I said. “I would like to get in touch with Agent Frost. I’m not sure if you feel comfortable giving out his information or I’d be just as okay if you want to give him my number and he can contact me.”

“Oh, I don’t think Phlox would mind, but I don’t have his direct number. When I need to reach him, I call Dusk,” Peaches answered. “I can give you that number if you’d like.”

I could probably find it on the internet but said, “That would be great.”

Peaches rattled off a number that I jotted down.

“I hope everything is okay,” Peaches said, his voice now worried.

“Everything is fine. I’d just like his advice on something involving the Magical Usage Council.”

“That makes sense,” Peaches answered, cheer back in his voice.

“Thanks. I’ll talk to you later,” I said by way of goodbye before hitting the end button.

Franklin exited the bathroom in a cloud of steam. That was my cue, and I hopped off the bed eagerly, naked as the day I was born, and headed to the bathroom. Franklin snapped his towel at my ass as I walked by, making me jump and giggle.

Once I was clean and my hair was semi-dry, Franklin and I headed down to breakfast. I had two delicious waffles slathered in maple syrup while Franklin stuck with boring eggs, toast, and bacon. I couldn’t figure out how anyone could pass up a chance at maple syrupy goodness. Franklin obviously disagreed.

It was a little after nine thirty a.m. when Franklin and I climbed into our rental SUV and headed back to the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office. Along the way, I decided to call Dusk. Considering Dusk was a nightclub, I doubted they’d be open this early. I was right and left a message asking if Agent Frost could give me a call back. I was still torn on whether to call the pixie/shifter by his given name or the moniker he worked by. Since this wasn’t a social call, I erred on the side of using Phlox’s professional name.

“You had to leave a message?” Franklin asked.

“I did. Peaches didn’t have Agent Frost’s personal number, so I called the bar his beloved Leon works at and left a message. From what I understand, Frost is typically there too.”

Franklin shook his head. “I still find that pairing difficult to swallow. Pixies and vampires. Who would have imagined that combination?”

I couldn’t disagree. “Do you ever watch the show Interspecies Habitat ?”

“I’ve seen a couple of episodes.” Franklin chuckled. “I don’t want to even think about the physical logistics going on in some of those relationships.”

“They’re interesting, that’s for certain.” It was amazing where love bloomed. Eyeing Franklin, I considered that thought. Was I in love with the human beside me? No question. Was he in love with me? I thought he was, although neither one of us had said the words yet. I wasn’t going to lie to myself and say the words weren’t important, but Franklin showed me a thousand times a day, in a thousand and one different ways how he felt about me. It was in the way his eyes gentled when they landed on me. It was in the heat of his touch. It was in his careful words and even more careful handling of my feelings. It was in his respect and acceptance for what I was and what I did. It was in every fiber of his being.

That knowledge gave me a sense of peace. It filled up my empty spaces and strengthened my core. Everyone needed solid truths in their lives, knowledge they could fall back on and knew would be there when needed. I knew that Momma loved me. I knew that Pops did too. And now, Franklin O’Hare had landed in that same pantheon of unmitigated trust. My sphere of assurances had grown just that much larger, and it was everything.

“We’re almost there,” Franklin said with little enthusiasm as we passed the sign indicating our exit was only a mile ahead. The wind whipped against the side of the SUV, rocking the vehicle. Clouds flew across the sky, periodically blocking out the late fall sun. Halloween was fast approaching. Hopefully, we could wrap up the situation in LaPorte County within the next couple of days. I didn’t want to have to reschedule my upcoming customers. Some of them were very particular regarding the timing, and wouldn’t be pleased.

The exit approached quickly, and Franklin eased into the right lane. He slowed, coming to a stop at a light. There were two lanes that turned right, and we were in the farthest one to the right. A large, white truck pulled up alongside of us. I don’t think I would have paid any attention if their music hadn’t been turned up enough that their base shook not only their vehicle but ours too.

“I will never understand the need to listen to music that loudly,” Franklin said. “I’m not sure if that makes me old or simply normal.”

Laughter crept up my throat. “I think it makes—gun!” The word roared from my lips. I didn’t think, I acted. My pockets were stuffed with Pops’s charms. I knew the feel of each and every one of them and rapidly found the one I needed, activating it just in time.

Franklin threw himself my direction, trying to shield me, but Pops’s charm did the trick for both of us. After our shootout this past summer, Pops wasn’t content to leave my safety up to the fickle whims of a sometimes there, oftentimes not, djinn. He’d made me a very specific shield charm. Today was the first time I’d tried it, and just like all of Pops’s other charms, it worked like a dream.

The bullets hit Pops’s shield and didn’t bounce off so much as get absorbed into it, hanging in the air like a modern art installation.

Our vehicle was peppered with lead, or at least our attackers tried their best. Thankfully, their best was a damn sight worse than Pops’s.

Squealing tires and the roar of an engine pulled Franklin from the protective position he’d taken. Firearm swiftly following his rise, Franklin would have opened the door and charged out after our assailants if Pops’s barrier hadn’t still been fully activated. Turns out, it worked both ways. Nothing could get in and Franklin and I couldn’t get out. All new charms had learning curves.

Franklin’s pulse roared along his taut neck, muscles straining to get out and give chase. I watched Franklin evaluate our surroundings. We were hemmed in on all sides. The vehicles around us stopped and their drivers were understandably unsure what to do. Sirens sounded nearby. Given that we were only a mile or so away from the sheriff’s department, the response should be quick.

“Wh-who?” I stuttered, unsure what, exactly I was asking.

Franklin understood. “I don’t know, but I’m damn sure going to find out.”

My phone rang, Pops’s ringtone singing through the SUV. I ignored it and let Pops go to voicemail. My phone immediately rang again. This time, I answered.

“Pops, this isn’t a good—”

“Are you all right?”

“I…” I sat there, staring out the windshield as flashing lights grew closer. “I am. How did you know something was wrong?”

“You activated the shield charm,” Pops answered as if that explained everything. It didn’t.

“You’ve never called before when I activated a charm.”

“That’s because I don’t generally create them with an alert system in place. I assumed if you needed to activate this charm, the situation might be precarious. Was I wrong?”

No, Pops wasn’t wrong. I sighed, pressing my fingers against my forehead. It would have been nice to have a heads-up that Pops had added that particular feature. Then again, it wouldn’t have prevented me from activating it. Pops and I would need to have a conversation soon regarding privacy and boundaries, but that could wait. Besides, I figured I knew how that discussion would go and wasn’t eager to bash my head against an unmovable wall.

“Franklin and I are fine,” I answered.

“Franklin is with you?”

“Yeah. We were heading back to see the sheriff, but it seems like that will be a bit delayed.” Oh, we were still going to see Sheriff Henson, just for different reasons. “Looks like someone doesn’t want Franklin and me working on this case.”

Franklin stowed his firearm and said, “Ask Warlock Holland how long the barrier will last.”

“Franklin wants to know—”

“I heard him. The barrier should last twenty minutes.”

Officers surrounded our vehicle. Their eyes were wide as they stared at the bullets seeming to hang in mid-air. One officer pressed her fingers against the barrier, trying to grasp the bullets but failing to pull them out. It looked like the barrier had stopped the bullets about midway through, leaving their ends sticking out.

Franklin waved at one of the officers. The officer apprehensively waved back. “Can you put your dad on speakerphone?” Franklin asked.

By way of answer, I pressed the button and said, “You’re on speaker, Pops. Franklin and I are in the car.”

“O’Hare, what has happened to my son? You are supposed to protect him.” A hint of fear sang through Pops’s voice, edging out his anger.

Ignoring the question, Franklin asked one of his own. “Theoretically speaking, if the barrier the charm activated stopped a hail of bullets and said bullets were now stuck in the barrier, what will happen to those bullets when the barrier fades? Please tell me they won’t continue on their planned trajectory.”

Pops huffed and answered, “That would be a very poor barrier design. These theoretical bullets should fall to the ground.”

“That’s excellent news, Warlock Holland.” Franklin released a deep breath and his shoulders finally relaxed. “That is excellent news indeed.”

By now, the entire exit was blocked and there was a backup of cars behind us. Another police vehicle entered the fray and Sheriff Henson stepped out. He stood slightly behind his car door as another officer filled him in on the situation, or at least what was known of the current situation. Witnesses from surrounding vehicles were out of their cars, arms gesticulating this way and that as they gave their statements. Thankfully, it didn’t look like anyone had been injured.

Sheriff Henson’s eyes widened before narrowing in thought. His lips pinched and his cheeks flushed. Franklin and I silently watched as the sheriff pulled out his phone. Within a matter of seconds, Franklin’s phone rang. We didn’t need caller ID to figure out who was on the other end.

“Sorry, Pops, but I need to go. We’ll talk later.” I ended the call before Pops could answer. I’d pay for that later, but right now, I had more pressing matters. Pops was in California. Sheriff Henson was just outside our door, and a soon-to-fail boundary was all that stood between us. Proximity was everything in this situation, and Sheriff Henson had dibs.