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  Hand of Magic

  (#3 - Vampires)

  By

  Diane Moat

  Copyright © 2019 by Diane Moat

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. For more information, address: [email protected]

  Thank you to N.N. Light for editing and proofreading

  www.DianeMoatAuthor.com

  Chapter One

  Let’s have a picnic, he said. It will be fun, he said. And now we are going to die without having had after-picnic sex.

  Madison pulled her thoughts back to the battle in front of her. Her mate, and leader of the Spiros pack, Alex, tore the head off the nearest weresnake before the animal could get in a poisonous strike. At the beginning of the attack, Alex had changed from human to wolf, those few seconds allowing the first snake to get in a brief bite before Alex had destroyed him. It took all of Madison’s healing ability to clear the poison.

  Three weresnakes remained. Madison could feel the rest of her Hand—a magical group made up of a magician, herself, and werewolves—careening toward them from miles away. The battle would be over long before the reinforcements arrived.

  The serpentine movement of the snakes was too quick to allow her to shoot any of them. Madison pulled two blades from her back, then shifted her weight, ready to move closer to the fight when Alex gave a subtle shake of his head.

  At first, she thought her mate did not want her within reach of the snakes. While this was certainly true, she realized another reason for her to stay out of the fight.

  Alex was toying with the snakes. Dammit, that’s a good way to get hurt.

  Daniel—their magician—spoke in Madison’s head. It struck her as funny that he sounded out of breath in his thoughts.

  “I just need (pant) one left alive.”

  Annoyed with her mate for holding back, and uncaring if the snakes heard her, she spoke her thoughts out loud. “If we only need one, kill the other two and quit playing. Our picnic is already ruined.”

  At the sound of her voice, the head of the nearest snake whipped around to face her. Alex moved in a blur and Madison could not tell what he did to make the snake’s head explode. As blood and snake parts flew outward, Alex returned to where he had stood only a second earlier. The two remaining snakes looked back and forth, unable to follow what had just happened.

  The dead snake’s life ebbed away from his body as Madison closed herself off to the death pull. The barrier she threw up between herself and death had become automatic, and she barely felt the life drain.

  Alex took her demand seriously and his fangs gripped another snake below the head and pulled. Madison looked away as she again separated herself from the death.

  The remaining snake realized this had not gone the way the attackers had planned, and he lowered his raised head and began to slither along the frozen ground. The wolf leaped between the retreating snake and a nearby cliff. The rocky dropoff was where the snakes had appeared, and the snake no doubt believed he would have an advantage winding down the rockface.

  The wolf grabbed the snake by the tail, then hurtled the reptile away from both the cliff and Madison. Tail wagging, Alex bounded after the snake. Not needing—or wanting—to see her mate torment the snake, Madison followed slowly behind them both.

  #

  Fifteen minutes later, snake, wolf, and healer had traveled deep inside the woods. The snake, exhausted but mostly unhurt, lay in an open field as Alex circled the area.

  The day had started bright and unusually warm for this time of year. Madison had only needed a light jacket for the open picnic area, but the temperature now dropped at least fifteen degrees inside the overgrowth. A dusting of snow covered the ground and pine trees. Madison pulled her hands inside the sleeves of her coat.

  Thomas and Lana arrived first, both in wolf form. Alex’s sister took up guard on one side of the field as Thomas stood opposite her. Alex shifted back to human form as Daniel appeared. Sweating and panting, the magician waved his hand to the snake. The reptile had a moment of spasming, curling and uncurling, until it straightened and froze.

  Daniel flashed a small smile as he walked next to Madison. “He cannot move now.”

  Even though Madison saw their magician several times a day, her heart still broke a little every time her friend came into view. Since their battle months ago with the wizards, Daniel had changed both outwardly and at his core.

  The mage’s hair had turned gray from the trials the magician had undergone to rescue the prince of wizards from a curse. Later, over several battles, Alex had killed the prince and several wizards. Daniel had helped his Hand, but new and deeper wrinkles on his face had not softened over the past months.

  Always a bit closed off, the wall Daniel kept around himself had grown taller, with barbed wire now added to the top. He looked at the snake, and his blank face matched his expressionless tone. “Do you want him to return with a message, or die so they can all feel it?”

  Madison looked from magician to Alpha. “Wait, wait, we didn’t agree to this.”

  Over the past month, the snake attacks against the Hand had increased. The reasons for this were numerous and could not be changed. The remaining wizards had not only launched smaller attacks directly, but the Hand all agreed they had been egging on—even supporting—other battles. Madison had previously deflected a spell, which then hit the queen of the swans, killing her within seconds. The swans, usually peaceful, remained angry with everyone.

  Months ago, Madison had killed as well as healed. Killing temporarily took away her power to heal, and she was still not back to full force. Using this power was forbidden among others of her kind and had led to her being ostracized by all other healers.

  Daniel’s on-again, off-again (and currently off) lover, Raphael, had taken over leadership of the North American werewolves to take the heat off the other wolves. Unfortunately, this was seen as another sign of weakness for the Hand.

  Today’s strike had been the fourth overall and the second by the weresnakes. Over the past two weeks, the Hand had discussed how to deter further ambushes. It would not be long before innocent pack members were killed in the crossfire. Most of the Hand thought terror would be their best bet. Madison could not completely agree or disagree.

  Alex glanced at her, but then looked back at the immobile snake. His handsome face was unusually cruel, with his lips tight and his eyes small.

  “We agreed we had to send a message. It is only a matter of time until one of our enemies catches a Hand member alone.”

  He means me.

  “So we torture one of them?”

  Alex and Daniel nodded. Thomas, in wolf form, nodded. Lana kept her face turned toward the trees.

  Daniel asked the question Alex had asked her during earlier debates. “Do you have a better suggestion? What if we wait until a snake or wizard goes after a helpless member of the pack. Will that change your mind?”

  Madison winced at the direct hit. She anticipated the cutthroat behavior from her mate—his age and battle history would make him lean toward a stronger response, but she had not expected the vicious question from her friend. She asked her worry out loud. “What if it doesn’t work?”

  Alex held her gaze, his eyes flat. “It better work. If it does not, we take our next battle to them.”

  Madison pictured her mate hunting the snakes and wizards, and she shivered. The reptiles and magicians would be slaughtered. She nodded as she stared at the snake. “Okay then, we better be convincing.”

  Daniel nodded as his eyes became unfocused.

  “There we have it. We keep it alive and send it home with a story. He will tell a tale that makes our enemie
s think long and hard before they strike at us again. Madison, it is best if you do not stay.”

  She felt like the coward she was as she slunk into the trees, but she agreed she did not need to watch what came next. No one looked at her as she left.

  #

  Just because she could not witness the torment did not mean she could not hear or feel it progress. The healer in her wanted to repair the slow rents in the snake’s skin and the even slower burns. Sometime later, the snake's energy moved away from the forest until she could no longer feel it.

  Not long after, Alex approached her. He was in human form, naked, and completely wet. He must have found a river or stream to clean himself off. His smile was tentative as if he thought she might pull away from him. Knowing this, she did not hesitate but moved inside his arms and pressed her lips to his. “I’m sorry, my love. This will work, I’m sure of it.”

  Alex kissed her back and they began the return walk to their truck. “I am sure of it also. Let’s return to our pack.”

  #

  As it was late fall in the mountains, last week had begun a nightly frost. They had seen a light snow twice during that time, but the thin white layers had melted during the day. Though today had been a rare day of light and warmth, by the time they returned home, the sun had set and the temperature had dropped over twenty degrees.

  Without the wolves’ love of the cold, Madison dashed from the mechanical heat of the truck to the toastiness of the kitchen. The smell of pasta and garlic comforted her and told her the pack had eaten the spaghetti she had made them that morning.

  Alex entered behind her. As he closed the door on the cold, his phone beeped. He frowned as he read the message, then summarized it for Madison. “It’s Raphael. He is asking for a formal meeting.”

  “Good grief. What now?”

  Alex shrugged. “Who knows? He is asking as the leader of the North American wolves to meet with the Alpha of the Spiros pack, so he thinks his need is serious. The boy’s temporary title has gone to his head. He will be here in the morning. Is there any spaghetti left?”

  Chapter Two

  The next morning, Madison woke to the silence and clean non-smell of snow. Before opening her eyes, she could feel the hardness of Alex nestled between her butt cheeks. As she shifted, her mate’s hands tightened on her breasts. How he slept this way she could never figure out.

  Her nipples tightened as Alex rolled them between his fingers, proving he was no longer asleep. The rolling became a semi-painful pull and twist.

  “Hey—I’m awake, I’m awake!”

  Alex nipped her neck before he rolled her onto her back. Madison loved their early mornings. A month ago they had made an agreement they would start their day being intimate, and anything else during the day would be a bonus. So far they had followed their self-made rule 100% of the time. Sunrise now had a whole new meaning.

  As her mate nestled his hips between her legs, Madison wrapped her own legs around his waist and her arms around his back. She returned the bite to Alex’s neck as she spoke. “Mine.”

  Alex snorted. “Always. Mine.”

  This last was said as Alex’s cock poked at her softness, looking for the familiar opening. Madison slid one hand down to Alex’s butt cheek and smacked him. “Why does it always sound like I am saying mine about all of you, and you are saying mine about my sex?”

  Alex prodded her again until she shifted her hips. She was soaking wet, so Alex slid inside her, smooth and easy. Once he had settled himself to his satisfaction, he paused.

  “I’m a guy and a wolf. It’s as close to sentiment as I get.”

  She smiled and brought her hands up to either side of Alex’s face, then pulled his face to hers. They spent the next few minutes devouring each other with lips, tongues, and teeth, while Alex lay still inside her.

  When Madison could not stand it any longer, she shifted, a signal to Alex she needed more. Her mate slid his large hands under and up her back until his fingers curled around the top of her shoulders, his hands anchoring the top of her body. His heavy hips anchored Madison’s pelvis, so now she could only move her limbs. The healer sighed and relaxed her body in anticipation of the enjoyment to come.

  Alex shifted in increments. He pushed inward until he bumped the end of her, then pulled back an inch. In, bump, out. In, bump, out. Even with all the lubrication, Alex was always a tight fit.

  Their faces stayed next to each other, their gasps two out-of-sync songs. As was usual for early in the morning, it did not take long for Madison’s internal tightness to spiral upward toward a finish. Her gasps interspersed with mewling sounds, which Alex took as his signal.

  This time, when her mate pulled out, he paused. Madison curled her toes in anticipation of stronger thrusts. Instead, Alex pulled all the way out, bringing a different type of gasp from her.

  “Hey! What—ohhh, okay.”

  Alex slid down Madison’s body until his hands cupped both her butt cheeks and his face settled at her pelvis. He kissed his way down and inward. His tongue began at the top of her clit, then slid downward until it pushed into the opening his cock had just vacated.

  On the way back up, Alex used his teeth, lightly nibbling until her clit hardened like a stone. Madison tried to squirm, but immovable hands held her in place.

  Done with licking and biting, Alex began to suck on the hard button in front of him. With his teeth at one end and his tongue at the other, he could roll the small area and suck at the same time. Pull—roll—pull—roll.

  Her climax built until holding back became painful. One last pull did her in, as she lost her breath and her body spasmed.

  Before her quivering decreased, Alex lifted her hips and slammed himself into her. Two sharp thrusts were all it took for him to climax while Madison was still in the after-throes of her own orgasm.

  “Madison!” She held Alex close as he called her name. She would not admit it, but she treasured that moment even more than the sex itself. She held her cheek against her mate’s neck as his rapid staccato heartbeat slowed to a more normal speed.

  Alex broke the silence. His words were not the sweet-nothings she expected. “Raphael is here. He is being careful to ask permission to enter our land.”

  She sighed for many reasons.

  “I wish he and Daniel weren’t fighting.”

  Alex shrugged against her. “Raphael’s ego has gotten too big, and Daniel doesn’t like it. Plus, the mage’s first loyalty is to his Hand. That is how it should be.”

  Madison did not argue, but she thought there was another reason the couple stayed apart. Daniel had a longstanding fear of commitment, and Raphael had gotten too close.

  The mood broken, Alex pulled out, leaving Madison empty, sticky, and cold.

  “Do I have time to grab a shower?”

  “Make it quick.”

  #

  Not wanting to leave the boys alone for too long, Madison showered in record time. As she dried off in the bathroom, she could see the pant leg and shoe of someone sitting at the edge of the bed. The expensive pants and rust-colored suede shoes told her it was Daniel.

  He’s hiding from Raphael.

  They had all seen each other nude at some point, and Daniel had previously told her he thought women’s bodies were ‘soft and mushy,’ so she did not hesitate to walk naked out of the bathroom. After she pulled on jeans and a t-shirt, she sat on the edge of the bed next to her friend.

  “Are you okay?”

  Daniel shrugged and picked at a nonexistent cuticle on one of his fingernails. “I’ve never been good at relationships. As soon as the other person gets serious, I’m out the door. He wants more than I can give and it makes him angry.”

  Madison had no words of wisdom or magic wand, so she rubbed her friend’s shoulder.

  “I’ve got your back. Just give me a sign and I’ll kick his ass.”

  That got a smile from Daniel as they headed out to the living room.

  #

  Alex and Raphael st
opped speaking when Madison and Daniel entered the living room. Madison stepped to Raphael and kissed his cheek. “You look good, but serious. What’s up?”

  Raphael looked to Daniel and initially ignored her question. “Danny. How are you?”

  “Fine.”

  Daniel did not ask Raphael how he was, and after a moment of silence, Raphael answered Madison’s question. “As leader of the North American wolves, I have been asked to broker a parlay.”

  Rubbing his temporary title in Alex’s face was not a good idea, and her mate’s voice was terse. “Cut the formalities. Who came to see you, and what did they want?”

  Raphael took a deep breath. “Draugr. It was Draugr. And I don’t know what he wants, other than to speak with you.”

  Alex did not move, but his eyes lost their focus as if he were looking at something far away—maybe a memory. Daniel frowned and looked between the two wolves. He shrugged when Madison nudged him. “I don’t know. He says it like a name, but Draugr means ‘undead’ in Nordic mythology.”

  “How do you even know that? Did you cast a spell to make your brain bigger?”

  Daniel rolled his eyes. “I’m the brains and you’re the beauty. Don’t be jealous.”

  Their words were light, but they did not take their eyes off Alex—neither did Raphael. They all startled as Alex shook his entire body, the way a wet dog would remove water. He looked to Madison. “Draugr is a—yes, Nordic—family name. They were the original undead from that region. So it is both a family name, an individual name, and a category.”

  Madison could not help her excitement. A vampire!

  She had heard of the undead but had only seen them in fictional movies. Daniel shook his head. “Not so fast, Madison. You were excited about going to the land of wizards also, and remember how that turned ou—”

  “Madison will not meet Draugr, the Draugr or any Draugr, so there is no need for animation.” Alex’s voice was so heavy, Madison took two steps to stand directly in front of her mate. She searched his eyes but did not find an answer to his solemnity. Sensing thin ice, she spoke softly.