Love's Entanglement Read online

  “And make sure it’s not unimportant puppy love,” he said, not even as a question, but as a statement.

  “Hey, any kind of love is important, but I know that’s not what this is. I’m glad you trust me to know it’s not, but we’ve got all the time in the world to be sure. I’m not going anywhere, and if you do, I’ll just hunt you down. So there’s no rush.”

  He smiled at me, that brilliant smile that lit up his turquoise eyes. “I like that. No rush, just calm and loving each other.”

  “Yeah, I like that too.”

  “Well, all right then, we have a plan.” He slid his hand in mine and led me over to the table where he and Perfecta had been sitting. “I’m flying the plane home too.”

  I snorted. “Not a chance in hell, strudel. Not a chance in hell.”

  “Stick bitch?”

  “Oh yeah. You’re totally”—I realized how many people took notice of the term and were watching us—“copilot on the way home. You can always be my copilot. I’ll teach you everything I know and our camp will have another pilot which we sorely need with all these yahoos getting into trouble all the time.”

  “Amen to that,” Alexander mumbled from across the terrace. I met his eyes and he smiled at me. It might have been the first time Alexander gave me a true, personal smile, instead of joking around about something work-related and that tight, polite one.

  Huh, imagine that. Maybe I could be a real person after all. With Norris. As long as I had Norris, because he made me feel everything.

  He made me feel alive and what love truly was.

  The End

  Sneak Peek: Denver

  (The Enchanter 1)

  What daft wanker stepped in it now? That’s the first thing that goes through Dorian Devil’s mind when his phone rings, and he puts his own life on hold to fix someone else’s screw-ups.

  One call, that’s all anyone ever gets from this enchanter, and Dorian neither makes exceptions nor believes in enabling people not to protect themselves. In order to repair the situation, he must erase the client’s existence from everything. Friends, family, employment… Lovers. Heaven forbid any part of their life is complicated—Dorian doesn’t do complications.

  Fledgling vampire, Seth Kohler, on the run in Denver, makes his one call to Dorian, unsure of what will happen to him once he raises the paranormal 9-1-1. Turning everything over to Dorian, Seth has to trust in the powers of the Enchanter. Seth, not knowing who or what is hunting him, latches on to Dorian as his personal life support. Will Dorian be able to erase Seth’s existence from Denver or will someone keep on Seth’s trail before Dorian can safely get him to his new life?

  1

  I woke with a start as I always did before I received the call—one of the confounding calls that would inevitably throw my life into utter chaos for the next week or more. As much as I hoped I was wrong, I never was and I sighed when my cell chirped signaling an unknown number.

  “Yes?” I grumbled, my normal greeting.

  “Hi, yes, I’d like to—um, place an order?” a voice whispered on the other end.

  I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Young paranormals these days, I swore they were going to be the death of me. “Are you asking to place an order or are you unsure if you need an order?”

  “Oh, no, I need help. Big time. I need an order. The information I got about all of this wasn’t clear what kind of order I would need to place,” he rattled. “Please help me, sir.”

  It was his obvious respect that won me over and got him a rare showing of patience. The cocky ones could drown in their own messes for all I cared. “Okay, I’ll walk you through this then. Have you ordered before? This is a one-time service.”

  “No, sir. First time.”

  “Good. If you’re lying to me…” I warned, trailing off and letting him fill in the pieces. I found that was a much more effective scare tactic than actually telling them what I’d do to them myself.

  “No, sir, I wouldn’t ever lie to you. I need help. I will do whatever you tell me to. Please, just don’t let them kill me.” I heard the desperation in his tone and I kinda felt bad for him. I had a feeling this was the typical, all too common score I’d been seeing over the last couple hundred years.

  “Are you a pick up or delivery order?”

  There was a pause. “I don’t know what that means.”

  Now I had to choose my words carefully because people were always listening. Even if he called my encrypted cell, his line probably wasn’t secured. “Are you able to move about freely to meet me so we can discuss your order or do I need to come to you and escort you out of a situation?”

  “I’m thinking the second if I want to make sure I’m still alive tomorrow,” he rasped. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what was going on until it had blown up and—”

  “Keep your head,” I snapped, giving him the next best thing to a slap across the face before he went into complete hysterics. “Take a picture of yourself with your cell as you are in this moment and send it to this number. I will be there soon. Make sure it’s clear or I’ll end up standing in front of the wrong person and that will cost you valuable time.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

  “We’ll see if you thank me after you find out what goes into your order,” I grumbled before hanging up. Everyone always assumed it was no big deal to detach themselves from their lives as if calling me was like WITSEC.

  It wasn’t. There was magic involved, of course, but some of it was an art, and with the technology of the current century there was no way to get all the traces gone. There was always some cell phone or street camera or video surveillance that would have a hint of the person. Not to mention if there were a lot of printed photos of them.

  Social media alone had become the very blight of my profession.

  My phone beeped as I packed a travel bag, my other work bag with my potions and necessities for the job always ready to go. I pulled up the image and focused on him, getting first the feeling of a long distance between us before moving to the huge map I kept on my apartment wall. It took a bit more but then I knew it was Denver. Once I was in the same city, I could track him easily, but considering I was in London, narrowing it down to a city that fast, that far away was already impressive.

  I knew it was. I didn’t need people to tell me so.

  With a little bit of chanting under my breath, my bags already in hand, I appeared moments later outside The Ritz-Carlton in Denver. I smiled at the gentleman who held the door open for me, eyeing him over appreciatively and letting him see me do it. Then I made my way up to the front desk, focusing on their computers and messing with their systems for what I needed.

  “Good evening, checking in?” the young woman asked me.

  “Yes, Dorian Devil. My office confirmed my trip last week with the manager, Mr. Schuler. I assume my normal requests are ready and prepared for the Ritz suite?”

  Her face went pale as she blinked at me. “Mr. Devil, I’m so sorry, there seems to be some mistake. The Ritz suite is already occupied. I don’t have you on today’s schedule.”

  “My dear, I don’t get on a plane and travel from London without double checking my lodging plans,” I assured her, clucking my tongue. I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out the confirmation I magically forged. “I have to say, I am disappointed. This is not the first time this has happened to me and one does expect more from The Ritz after all.”

  “Of course, sir. Let me pull this up and I promise we will make this right,” she blubbered, looking completely flustered. I almost felt bad for that, but I saw it as adding some excitement to her life. Besides, I made it the big man’s fault, not anyone who could get fired or in trouble. She typed a few keys and then was looking at my reservation from the way she let out a harsh breath. “Let me get Mr. Schuler on the phone and find out what the mix-up was.”

  “I can always call the Four Seasons and see if they can accommodate me,” I hedged, playing the game. “They’re always so happy to
have me and never forget when I’m coming into town.”

  “No, no, please don’t do that Mr. Devil,” she begged, looking slightly panicked. “Won’t you please have a drink at the bar, on the house, while we work this out? I promise The Ritz-Carlton values your business just as much as the Four Seasons. It’s not an excuse but we recently had a systems upgrade and we’re working out some bugs. I’m sure Mr. Schuler will make it so you’re very glad you didn’t change your lodging plans.”

  “He is good at making up for things,” I agreed. I glanced at my watch and sighed. “I have a meeting though, my dear. I wanted to drop my bags in my room easy enough and settle in later. I must really be off.”

  “Mr. Devil, you know I will lock your bags in the vault while you’re at your meeting and we sort this out. I’ll even have our driver take you wherever you need to go.”

  “That’s not necessary. It’s close, but I will take you up on the bags.” I smiled at her as I handed them over. “No peeking though. I value my privacy.” They were enchanted anyways, so if anyone looked, they would immediately forget what was inside of them.

  Her face turned bright red as if being busted that she would be curious. “Of course not, Mr. Devil. I wouldn’t dream of it. Enjoy your meeting and this will be resolved by the time you return.”

  I glanced at her name tag and gave her a wink. “Thank you so much, Janet. I know this isn’t your fault. You give your boss a stern talking to on my behalf. He really dropped the ball on this one. If you hadn’t been so sweet, I wouldn’t have chosen to stay and I plan on telling corporate that unless he makes this right.” I reached out and raised her hand to my lips, biting back a smirk when her blush deepened.

  Humans were so easy sometimes.

  When I walked out of the exit, I saw the handsome doorman again and slowed my pace, leaning into him. “Once they figure out what suite I’m in, you should come by after work.”

  “I’m straight, but thank you, sir,” he murmured.

  “Darling, that’s what they all say, and they all go right back to saying after I show them the night of their lives,” I purred, using my magic so his dick went hard. “You can be straight and try something different because one person intrigues you. All I’m offering is a drink and to see if you’re interested in trying something new.”

  I let my gaze rake over his firm, slender body, focusing mostly on his flat stomach and tight ass I could see from his profile. Then I met his light blue eyes and licked my lips. His mouth parted slightly as his breathing came out labored.

  “A drink sounds good,” he finally conceded. “I just need to change and shower in the locker room, grab something to eat and—”

  “Nonsense. I have all of that in my room. Bring your clothes and you can use my suite. I haven’t eaten either. You can tell me what’s good and tasty, that I’ll want in my mouth.” I made sure my eyes were not focused somewhere appropriate when I said that.

  “I’m off at eight.”

  “Lovely. I’ll see you in an hour then.” I gave him a sly smile before letting my fingers graze his, adoring the way he shivered. Straight guys were my favorite to play with.

  Okay, fine, the curious straight ones who just needed a little push. Call it the devil in me or whatever, but it flat did it for me to lure a straight guy to my bed and show him what he’d been missing and would never have again because there wasn’t a human out there that could fuck like me.

  No, I never said I was nice. Even remotely.

  Once I was around the corner from the hotel, I pulled up the photo again and focused on my assignment. Seconds later I was in some shithole apartment, waiting for the stereotypical rats and cockroaches to come out and say hi.

  “Dear lord, why are you hiding here?” I grumbled, pissed that the stink of the place wouldn’t come off my suit even with dry cleaning.

  My assignment’s eyes were huge as he spun around so fast he fell on his ass. He scrambled away until he hit a grimy wall. “Are you him? I mean, is it you? Are you the Enchanter? How did you find me?”

  “It is as if I can do magic,” I drawled, pulling out my handkerchief and holding it up to my nose. “You said you needed a rescue before we start wiping your life. I’m here. Are you hiding in this squalor or is this your abode, god forbid?”

  “Condemned building,” he muttered, glancing around. “I’ve been hiding here for a day or two only. It’s not my place though my place isn’t that much better.”

  “Okay, then let’s begin and get you to your place so you can pack some things.”

  He jumped to his feet, a little unsteady, and I guessed that was from lack of food—and blood because he was most certainly a vampire. “No! No, we can’t go there. I barely escaped. That’s how I knew they were onto me. They stormed in when I was there and I—”

  “It’s okay now,” I whispered, patting his shoulder. “What’s your name?”

  “Seth Kohler, sir. Thank you for coming.”

  “No problem. Do what I say, exactly what I say, and I’ll get you through this. I’m Dorian.” He nodded, relaxing a bit. “Now, give me your address. They won’t see us. We’re going to get you some things. Then you’re coming back to my hotel to rest up, refuel, and tomorrow we’ll get started detaching you from your life and getting the hunters off your ass.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Dorian,” he whispered, practically collapsing with relief. Then he reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, and handed me his license with his address on it. I studied it a second and nodded before we popped into his apartment…

  Full of people.

  Seth’s dark green eyes filled with fear as he glanced between me and the exit. I grabbed his arm and shook my head, leading him into the bedroom. Then I yanked his smaller frame closer and pressed my lips to his ear. “They cannot see us, only hear us. Quietly take what you need utmost, we will be back, but know most of this you’re leaving behind.”

  He nodded, and I moved away, heading back into the tiny, tiny living/kitchen/nook… Thing.

  “How long do we think until this bloodsucker comes back? They always come back,” the one guy muttered, tossing a card onto the table.

  “Not always,” another bitched, shaking his head. I smiled, knowing that voice and face well.

  Agent Paul Lake of the federal government bureaucracy that hunted paranormals quietly in the Americas. It was all very hush-hush, not even other branches knew the name of their organization most times, it seemed from what I’d gathered.

  Humans overall, as in the general public, didn’t know about us. It was secret government groups that wanted us for testing or radicals that believed we should be slaughtered as abominations… Sometimes taking trophies because that made it completely moral then.

  “I think someone’s helping some of them escape,” Agent Lake continued.

  “Like a fed?” The first guy raised an eyebrow, totally not believing it.

  “No, a paranormal, one we’ve not come across yet or something. We’ve had half our cases go great and half go horribly wrong—missing evidence, changing perp descriptions, and whatnot. That’s too bizarre not to be some outside kind of interference.”

  “Come on, Paul, you’re talking crazy,” another guy snickered. “They’re bloodsuckers and dogs, not badass spies or something.”

  Oh good, they were still stupid and cocky. That always worked in our favor. They bickered on about possibilities and that they might not know everything out in the world as they thought they did while I focused on their memories and started altering them. Seth had dark green eyes so I made the guy they were looking for in their heads have blue. Seth was slender, I made Seth heavy to them. He had chocolate brown hair so I gave his new image blond hair.

  Now they wouldn’t see Seth if he walked right in front of them.

  By the time I was done, the real Seth stepped out of the bedroom and nodded that he was ready. I focused on the parking garage around the corner from The Ritz that I’d been using to appear and disappear from
because of the camera blind spot and we showed up there.

  With only me visible.

  “Why am I still unseen?” he asked me when I told him that.

  “Because you’re dirty, carrying bags like you’re on the run, and you’ll raise too many flags,” I muttered as I hurried him along. “I have a cover to maintain as well. So you’re going to accept my protection, my hospitality, clean that stench off of you, eat up, and think about leaving behind your life now that you’re safe.”

  He moved his hand to my arm and stopped me. “Wait—what? I’m safe now? For sure?”

  “As long as you do as I say and stick by me, yes, you’re safe now, Seth.” I patted his hand a few times and then hurried him along.

  “You said to think about it now that I’m safe. What’s the difference?” he muttered.

  “We’ll talk upstairs,” I hissed, knowing we were dangerously close to others hearing. I smiled at my date as he held open the door for us. “See you in a half hour, my dear.”

  “Yes, sir,” he agreed, blushing brightly. Oh, he was going to be so much fun.

  “Wow, he made a date on the way to rescuing me. Not like I was cowering for my life or anything,” Seth bitched under his breath once we were in the lobby. It actually made me smile. I liked spunky.

  As I stepped towards the check-in desk, a man I’d never seen before rushed over. “Mr. Devil, how good to see you again.”

  “You as well, Mr. Schuler.” In truth, I hadn’t been to Denver in at least fifty years. I had simply manipulated their systems to say I was a wonderful customer to get what I needed.

  Namely a comped stay so my credit card wasn’t tied to Denver when I was up to no good in town helping another paranormal.

  “I’m so, so sorry, Mr. Devil. I don’t know how this could have happened or the mix-up. If you would bear with us, we have a lovely Deluxe Suite ready to your specifications tonight, and I’m sure we can get you into at least one of our Luxury Suites tomorrow night and for the rest of your stay.”