Beyond The Veil: A Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set Read online

  The goblin screeched as the massive columns converged upon it, dragging it away to face the high angels and the ultimate judgment. It would have to defend its actions in the earthly realm, and once judgment was passed, would have to live with the punishment for eternity.

  Chapter Four

  “Was that what I think it was?” Jay looked at her, then back to the spot where the goblin had disappeared. “What the hell are you? You’re no ordinary witch, that’s for sure.”

  Libbie flinched, not knowing what to expect, but when she looked at him, he was smiling wide. Even with his mussed-up hair, he looked good enough to eat. She swallowed a groan. Using the magic always left her with an excess of energy. Most of the time, she could go for a long run and burn it off, but with Jay so close, and power still clinging to his skin, all she could think of was ripping his clothes off. Taking a deep breath, she turned away. “You’re covered with goblin dust,” she said, rather than respond, or worse, give in to her impulses.

  “So are you.” Jay’s voice sounded right behind her, his breath ruffling her hair by her ear. She wanted to bask in the heat rolling off him, drown herself in the power still clinging to him. It tormented her, making her breath catch in her throat. “Let me get him into a cab.”

  Unable to face him, Libbie only nodded. The moment he stepped away, she missed his warmth. She followed the sounds of his footsteps all the way back to the street. A sharp whistle cut through the air, and then he was coming back. She finally got up the courage to look at him as he hoisted Kurt up off the ground. He half carried, half dragged the drunken man to the waiting cab. Rifling through Kurt’s pockets, Jay found what looked like the man’s wallet. He gave directions to the cabbie, before sticking it back into Kurt’s pocket, and then pulled some money from his own wallet before closing the door.

  Libbie had yet to move an inch from where he had left her. He came back, slowly, his head tilted down a little, yet his gaze never leaving hers. He was the hunter, and she was the prey, but she had no desire to run. In fact, she had the distinct impression that if she did run, he would give chase, and there was no doubt in her mind who would win.

  Jay didn’t stop until he was directly in front of her. He didn’t speak, didn’t break eye contact, then with a low moan he crushed her lips with his.

  Libbie melted against him. She met the thrust of his tongue with her own, grinding her hips up against his. His hands tunneled in her hair as he held her in place, ravaging her mouth. She didn’t even realize they were moving until her back met a hard brick wall. His hand in her hair cushioned her head as they made impact. She brought her hands down his chest, lingering for a moment on the planes of his chest on her way down to the edge of his shirt. A nasty alley was the last place she would choose to be intimate with anyone, but she couldn’t help herself. She wanted to touch every inch of him, taste him—take him—and from the husky growl rumbling in his throat, he wanted it as much as she did.

  It took everything she had to tear her lips from his. “We can’t do this here,” she protested even as she slipped her hands up under his shirt, smoothing her palms over the hard ridges of his chest, finding his nipples drawn into tight peaks.

  He nipped her jaw, then her neck before grazing his teeth along the sensitive flesh. “You’re right. We can’t,” he said as he nuzzled her.

  His hot breath sent a fresh wave of need pulsing through her. No longer caring where they were, she lifted his shirt, revealing the muscles she’d known she’d find. She dipped her head and flicked her tongue over one taut nipple, then did it again when he threw his head back and moaned.

  The fingers still grasping her hair tightened. “Libbie…”

  Grinding her hips against him, she moaned when she found him hard and ready. Dipping her hand lower, she stroked the hard bulge in his jeans before bringing her fingers to the snap and popping it open. “My place is forty minutes away.” Never had she regretted buying a place on the outskirts of the city more.

  “We can make it to mine in fifteen,” he growled.

  Jay pulled her back up for another hard kiss. She’d barely slipped the tips of her fingers behind his zipper when the sound of high-heeled footsteps tore them apart, both panting.

  “There you guys are. For a minute there, I thought you’d deserted me,” April drawled. She looked from her to Jay and back again, then grinned. “Looks like you got your hair a little mussed up, and you might want to touch up your lipstick, Libs. But not you, Jay, no you have plenty on your lips. Funny how it matches Libbie’s.”

  “You have no shame, April. None at all,” Libbie accused with a laugh. She wouldn’t apologize for what had almost happened—what she wished was still happening.

  “Hey, I’m all for you guys hooking up, but I haven’t been out with you in ages, girlfriend. Your little bump and grind will have to wait.”

  Jay just grinned and shook his head. Angling himself away from them, he readjusted this clothing and took a long, deep breath before coming to stand between her and April. “Shall we head back inside, then, ladies?”

  Chapter Five

  Libbie leaned against the back of her door and closed her eyes. Had it not been for April showing up, she would have had sex with Jay right there in that nasty alley. She smiled and wrapped his jacket tighter around her, taking a deep breath, and his scent, into her lungs. In a true courteous manner, when April had announced she was ready to call it a night, he had insisted Libbie take the jacket to keep warm on the way home. She wouldn’t have gotten cold in April’s car, but the little flash of heat she’d seen in his eyes told her he wanted an excuse to stop by, which suited her just fine. She wasn’t looking for a relationship, but there was something about Jay that pulled her to him. There was no harm in seeing him again, even if it was just to give him back his coat.

  Once settled into bed, the evening’s events rolled through her mind. Libbie tossed and turned, unable to get Jennifer out of her mind. She had no way of knowing if the ghost was okay, or if she would ever see Jennifer again, but the fact that she hadn’t reappeared didn’t bode well. No one deserved to go into the afterlife the way she had. If Jennifer were lucky, her soul had found her in the shadow world before she went to judgment. If not, she’d spend eternity in limbo. She would remain torn between the two worlds, escaping an eternity of punishment, yet denied entry into the heavenly realms.

  Groaning, she punched her pillow, turned over, and grabbed her cell. Three o’clock. She still had to see Kurt in the morning to find out what, if anything, he remembered. Had she not been so hot and bothered, she might have remembered to erase his memories before Jay sent him on his way, but the thought hadn’t even crossed her mind. Sticking her earbuds in, she pushed play on her meditation app. She’d used the same meditation techniques for months after the incident, and they’d truly helped. If the waves hitting the shore didn’t lull her to sleep, nothing would.

  Libbie woke with a start, earbuds still in. She blinked hard against the bright sun streaming through her window. The smell of fresh-brewed coffee reached her nose just as her feet touched her cool wood floors. Leave it to April to come bearing life in the form of caffeine. “Who let the riffraff in?” she asked as she bounded into the kitchen.

  Libbie skidded to a halt when she noticed Jay leaning against the counter not far from where April was. He glanced at her, his smile transforming his face. Damn but he was pretty to wake up to in the morning. “Hey, Libbie. Sleep well?”

  “Not particularly,” she said as she crossed over to grab a muffin—her favorite carrot orange, she noticed—before realizing she wasn’t decent.

  Jay’s gaze drifted down her body and up again. His pupils dilated, and a small choked sound rumbled from his throat. Not expecting anyone but April, she hadn’t tied her robe, or even bothered to make sure all her bits weren’t showing. Thankfully, her thin sleep shirt covered everything if only just. Turning away from him, she pulled the edges of her robe together. “Can I have a word with you?” she asked April
when she whirled around again, dragging her into the hallway.

  “What’s he doing here? You could have given me a heads-up.” Libbie reached up, trying to tame her hair, groaning at the tangled mess she found.

  April shrugged. “You’ll have to ask him that. He was walking up to your front door when I showed up this morning, so I figured you had invited him. To be honest, I was a little surprised that he wasn’t already here after the way you guys were going at it in the alley.” April pursed her lips, looking at her over the rim of her glasses.

  “We can’t talk about this now.” Heat rushed up her cheeks. “Besides, you dropped me off. You knew he wasn’t with me.”

  “I know, but he could have come by after I dropped you off. I’m just saying. So, what did you think? You guys seemed to hit it off.”

  April was bouncing on the balls of her feet, her excitement contagious. What did Libbie think of him?

  “He’s…hot.” Libbie fanned herself, then poked her head into the kitchen, ducking back when she found him looking right back at her. “Really hot,” she admitted, “and nice.”

  “So, I did good, right? You’re not mad for the setup?”

  “You did so well, and no, I’m not mad. I may even have to buy you lunch sometime.” She didn’t pretend disinterest. It wouldn’t matter. April knew her better than she knew herself. Lying would only prolong the conversation.

  April’s eyes shone brightly. “I’m so glad.” She pulled Libbie in for a quick hug, sniffling a little.

  “Hey, what is this?” Libbie hugged her back. “Why are you misting?”

  April pulled away and blinked back the moisture from her eyes. “It’s nothing. You’ve just been so sad and withdrawn since that night, and I worry about you, that’s all. I want you to be happy again.”

  Libbie didn’t know what to say. Had she been so reclusive that her friends thought she would do something to hurt herself? “I’m fine. I promise you.”

  ***

  Jay sat at the breakfast bar trying hard not to listen to what the women were whispering about in the hallway, but with his sensitive ears, it was impossible. Hearing that Libbie thought he was hot pleased the wolf, but now it was agitated, itching to get out and hurt whatever or whoever had brought the sadness into her life.

  After more than a century of looking, he had all but given up on finding his mate. Seeing her for the first time at The Witch’s Brew had been a sensual assault he was still reeling from, not to mention the passion they shared in the alley. The tightening in his groin had been instantaneous. It had taken everything in him not to go to her, grab her and take her home. He’d tried to play it cool, getting close enough to take her in without seeming creepy, but when he did, the sweet smell of her arousal had tortured him. He could have kissed April when she’d suggested he accompany Libbie outside, because like it or not, he was going with her, and having her ask him to go made it seem less stalker-like.

  April was a sweet girl, and a great friend, but when he’d seen her pull up to the house just as he was stepping up to the door, he’d struggled not to growl. His wolf wanted to spend time with its mate. He had gotten a taste of her, and it hungered for more. He wanted to get to know her and let her get used to him. Tempting as it was, he wouldn’t jump her the moment they were alone, but he’d enjoy her nearness just the same. The wolf was ready for the bond, and if he were honest with himself, he’d be happy to bite her and make her his in every way. But he’d give her time. She deserved that.

  “So what brings you here, Jay? And how did you find me?”

  Jay jumped at Libbie’s voice so close to him. “I looked you up online. I swear I’m not some creep or anything. I thought I could pop over and grab my coat, and maybe see how that guy is doing this morning.” He looked at April, then back to her before peeling off the wrapper from one of the muffins and taking a bite.

  “It’s okay, we can speak in front of April.”

  The bite he took caught in his throat, making him cough. “She knows?” He grabbed the nearest cup of coffee and took a huge swig. Humans didn’t have knowledge of the witches or witch practices.

  “Of course, she knows. We’ve been friends for years.” Libbie took a bite of her muffin, closing her eyes and moaning at the taste of her favorite treat. “It was hard to hide when we were kids, and since she never blew my secret, I let her live,” she kidded.

  “You’d miss me too much if I were gone.” April batted her eyes at her then turned to Jay, taking the coffee from his hand. “Keep your paws off my coffee, Magic Boy,” she said as she stepped away.

  That was the last thing he expected to come from her mouth. “How did you know?” He rounded on Libbie. “You told her?”

  April rolled her eyes. “She didn’t tell me anything. I know because every time you’re around, I can feel your magic touch. Not in a creepy sexual way, but in an ‘I know it’s there’ kind of way. There’s a little bit of extra sizzle in the air when you’re around. Most people, even other witches, can’t feel it, but I can. It’s one of my gifts.”

  “We’ve known each other for a long time. You never said a word.” He shook his head. “Are you a daemon, too?”

  “I wish. It would be pretty cool, but no. I’m just a plain old witch. You never mentioned anything, and I figured if you wanted people knowing, you’d tell me in your own time. No biggie.” She shoved her long bangs from her face. “So, what are you two doing this morning?”

  “We aren’t doing anything. I am going to speak to the guy I delivered a message to last night, and Jay is going to do whatever it is that Jay does when he’s not here. There were a couple of goblins out last night, and we dispatched them. Drunk as he was, I’m hoping Kurt won’t remember what he saw. Otherwise, I’m going to have to wipe his memories. Speaking of which, I have to jump in the shower and get ready. I don’t want to chance him leaving before I get there. You guys go ahead and finish your breakfast. I’ll talk to you later, April. See you around, Jay.”

  “But—

  “But nothing, I work alone.” She took one last bite, and smiled at him, before dashing out of the kitchen and back up the stairs. And just like that, he’d been dismissed.

  Chapter Six

  Libbie half regretted telling Jay to leave. She needed to find out more about him, but having him so close was wreaking havoc on her senses. Each time he looked at her, her heart rate spiked and her whole body itched to get closer. She wanted to walk up to him and lick whatever exposed skin she could find, and then find the rest with her tongue. Sure, she’d been drawn to other men before, but nothing like this. It was potent, powerful, and a little frightening. There was a wildness in him, something primal, and whatever that was, it drew her like nothing else.

  Toweling her hair dry, she pulled it up into a messy bun. It was already past nine, and although Kurt had had too much to drink, who knew how long he would sleep. She had to get there and check to see what—if anything—he remembered from the previous night. It was one thing for Jay to know about the shadow world, but for a human, that knowledge was forbidden.

  More than anything, she wished she could pretend like all was fine. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have thought twice about erasing a person’s recollections, but Kurt’s pain was still too devastating. There was no exact science for the removal of memories, at least, not for a daemon like her. Once she cast the spell, they would be lost. If she went too far, he would have to relive Jennifer’s death over again, and by the way he was still grieving, he wouldn’t survive it a second time around.

  She had almost made it out the door when she spotted Jay’s coat draped over the back of her couch, just where she had left it. Grinning, she walked over to it and slid her fingers over the soft leather. So he hadn’t taken it back. Good. If it weren’t such a desperate thing to do, she’d wear it until he came back for it. With a sigh, she held it up to her nose for a second before putting it back. There would be plenty of time to moon over Jay later. For now, she had to get across town
before the heavy moisture in the air turned into the downpour it promised.

  Libbie made it halfway before she had her wipers working double time just to see a few feet in front of her car. The trip that should have taken less than half an hour ended up taking the better part of an hour. She parked in front of a well-manicured lawn, her mouth gaping open. This was where Kurt lived? She had a hard time reconciling the man she had met with this neighborhood. She didn’t know what she expected, but the cute little bungalow with pretty flower beds in front of it wasn’t it. Her thoughts went to Jennifer, and her heart sank. This had been her home. A home she had made with the man who still mourned her loss. Cutting the engine, she looked up at the dark storm clouds. The rain wouldn’t let up anytime soon. Had she been using her head, she would have brought an umbrella, but she’d been too flustered with her morning run-in with Jay to think straight. Hoping against hope, she twisted in her seat, trying to find something—anything—she could use to keep herself from getting drenched.

  When a soft rap came at her driver’s side window, Libbie jumped and cried out. Rain poured down her window, making it impossible to see anything but a large dark shadow. She took a steadying breath before lowering the window a couple of inches.

  The first thing she saw was a huge expanse of chest covered by a navy blue T-shirt that hugged every muscle, the same T-shirt she’d seen in her kitchen earlier that morning.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I’d apologize, but I’m not sorry for coming.” Jay took a step back, holding his umbrella over her door so she could get out.

  “You’re getting all wet. You’ll freeze,” she chided, but she couldn’t lie, the small act of chivalry made her heart sing just a little. His body heat wrapped around her, and she wanted to close the small distance between them. He licked his lips, then swallowed, his gaze dipping down to her mouth. A shiver rushed over her, and she took a small step closer before realizing what she was about to do.