Magic Untamed Read online

  Henri shrugged. “They’re not all as bad as Etie and Bastien say. We just prefer the dark loa.”

  A shiver rippled over me. “Like Baron Samedi.” That didn’t help his cause one bit.

  He reached over to cut the air down, making me flinch. His dark gaze flicked toward me. “There’s no reason to fear me. I wouldn’t hurt you, Evangeline.” His hand returned to the steering wheel. “I came when Etie called to save you, didn’t I?”

  “You also know what I am.” I swallowed hard as ice trickled through my veins. “You could use me. You could have me steal powers for you or make yours greater.” Geez. Way to go, Angel. Let’s give the scary voodoo caster ideas.

  He shrugged. “I’m a bokor. I got enough.” Thanks to his sons. “Too much power can create problems you don’t want.”

  His ominous words sank through my chest.

  I shifted restlessly in my seat again. I understood that more than I wanted to. Marisol had it easy. Even if her powers were unbound, she’d never have to worry about someone plucking her from her life to enslave her.

  Henri cleared his throat. “Is this the first time the baron has threatened you since your soul was bound to my son’s?”

  I shook my head. “Last night I think I saw him in my bathroom mirror.”

  He made a humming sound and rubbed the thick, dark stubble on his chin. “He likes to communicate from the spirit world using mirrors.”

  “He wasn’t really there? He was calling me? Like a phone call?” That was kind of a relief.

  His gaze slanted toward me, filling with a warning. “Make no mistake, Evangeline. He can be in this world like that.” The snap of his fingers echoed loudly in the otherwise quiet car.

  I began gnawing on my nails, my brief moment of relief completely shattered.

  “You tell Etie about this?” he asked.

  I slumped lower in the seat, trying to hide from his gaze.

  “You plan on telling him?”

  “Yes.” My voice came out as a squeak.

  Henri grumbled under his breath, unconvinced.

  Chickarees Bar and Grill finally came into view, and my heart started a frantic beat again. Etie was going to go apeshit when I told him about tonight. Of course I didn’t have to tell him at all.

  Henri rubbed his forehead with one hand while the other was steering the car into a spot. “You really going to make me do this?”

  My head snapped back. “Do what? And why are you parking? You can just let me out.”

  “Not a chance, girl.” He motioned toward my face. “I can tell you’re already thinking of ways to hide this entire thing from Etie. I’d rather face my son’s wrath and make sure he knows his alimèt is in danger than let you keep it a secret from him.”

  Oh hell. Etie was going to lose it.

  I scrambled out of the car, tripping over my flip flops to catch up with Henri. “This is a really bad idea,” I said. “I’ll tell him. I promise.”

  He shook his head. “Better safe than sorry.”

  “But this isn’t safe,” I hissed. “For anyone.”

  Henri was already pulling the door open, motioning me in. Resigned to my fate, I marched in, my eyes instantly falling on Etie who was pacing back and forth in front of the bar where Bastien sat.

  Relief showed in his eyes when he spotted me—until his gaze lifted to the tall figure behind me.

  Etie’s anger slammed into my chest, knocking me back. I stumbled, Henri catching me. This was the first time I’d felt anything this dark through our linked souls.

  The pouvior bokor closed the distance between us in quick strides, Bastien on his heels. Etie didn’t look happy to see his father.

  “What did you do to her!” His voice boomed through the bar, catching the eyes of the patrons who hadn’t already noticed the impending drama. Etie grabbed my arm, roughly pulling me behind him. “Did you hurt her? I’ll kill you, Henri.”

  “Etie, wait.” I tugged his shirt, but he shook me off.

  Bastien pulled me away from Etie. “I don’t know what’s going on, cher, but you don’t want to be close to him right now.” Bastien looked at his father. “What are you doing with Angel?” Like me, he suspected Henri wanted to use my power for his benefit.

  The jukebox went silent, and murmurs began to spread around the bar. Some of the older customers remembered Henri Benoit, and from their pale faces, I’d say they were a hundred times more afraid of him than they were of his sons. Although, Etie was currently looking like more of a threat than his father.

  Henri’s hands lifted in surrender. “I was only giving her a ride home.”

  Etie’s fingers curled in his father’s shirt as he yanked him forward. “A ride? A ride from where?”

  “A ride home from Monroe.” Henri yanked out of his grasp. “I just came to make sure she told you what happened.”

  Etie’s nostrils flared. “Or to make sure she told your version of what happened.” He reared back, ready to punch his father.

  Power surged through me, and every light in the place flickered.

  Etie glanced back at me, his fist never making it to his father’s face. He cursed and grabbed my arm. “Calm it down, cher.”

  “I’m trying to,” I hissed. The power flowing through him was affecting me. “You know I can’t help it.”

  Bastien moved to his father, gripping his arm. “Let’s go outside.”

  The older bokor narrowed his eyes. “Don’t give me orders, boy.”

  “Shut up, Henri.” Etie put his arm around me and dragged me outside. “Don’t worry,” he whispered through clenched teeth. “They think it’s us Benoits. Probably Henri.”

  The humid air clung to my hot skin the moment we stepped outside. The tall parking lot lights flashed a few times. And then, Etie was on his father again, his meaty fist crushing into Henri’s jaw.

  “Stop!” My voice had no effect and neither did Bastien’s.

  “You think you have a right to talk to Angeline just because you helped me?” Etie slammed his father against a tree, the crack of wood snapping through the night. “You mistake me for the same boy you left.”

  The power in Etie gathered, darkness swirling over the light. It was murky and thick, like something that could pull you down and drown you in an instant. “Etie, please stop.”

  He wasn’t listening.

  Crackles of electricity rippled over my hands like they had in Monroe. Sparks flew and hit the ground at Etie’s feet.

  He whipped around, his eyes wide. “What are you doing?”

  My hands closed into tight fists. “I don’t know. I can’t control it!” More crackles popped on the ground. “And you fighting with him is making it worse.”

  His nostrils flared. “You just expect me to ignore this? He shouldn’t have been anywhere near you.”

  “Shut up and listen to me,” I hissed.

  While we were arguing, Bastien grabbed their father and high-tailed it to Henri’s car before Etie had a chance to catch up with them. Thank god one of the Benoits still had some sense left.

  “He didn’t hurt me,” I said. “I’m fine.”

  A long, furious string of French tumbled from Etie’s lips. “You can’t trust him. Not ever.”

  “I never said I did!” I spun around and marched toward the back of Chickarees where the deck overlooked Lake Twala. I tried to tell Henri this was a bad idea. Etie was so fixated on his father, I couldn’t even explain what happened with Baron Samedi.

  The pouvior bokor was hot on my heels. “Then why were you with him? Did he trick you into using your magic?”

  “I’m trying to tell you.” The string lights around the deck flickered. Thankfully no one else was out here. They were probably all inside talking about the return of Henri Benoit.

  Long fingers wrapped around my arm, and Etie whirled me around. “Then tell me what happened.” Darkness still swirled through him.

  I yanked away. “When you calm down.”

  “I am calm!”

&nb
sp; A surge of power shot out of me, hitting him in the chest. Etie’s eyes widened as his body was flung forward, slamming into mine. We both flipped over the railing and splashed into the dark water below.

  I gasped for air as I came up, hacking my lungs out. My magic sucked!

  Etie appeared beside me, a dark scowl over his features. “You did that on purpose,” he growled, brushing the mop of drenched hair out of his face.

  My jaw dropped. “If I did, don’t you think I’d be up on the deck dry instead of treading water with you?”

  Etie continued to glower. And then, his entire face changed. His head tilted back as laughter poured out, echoing across the lake.

  You’ve got to be freaking kidding me. He was two seconds away from plunging into some seriously dark voodoo, and now he was laughing. I wanted to be annoyed, but my relief was too great. The darkness slithered back down inside him while the light emerged.

  “Come here.” Etie pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I’m sorry, Angeline. I didn’t mean to make your powers go crazy.”

  “I know.” We spent half our time fighting and the other half making up. Or making out.

  “Seeing you with my father broke my own control.” His smile faded, and he sighed. “Tell me what happened. I promise I’ll listen.”

  My legs wrapped around his waist, and I let him do all the work of treading water. “I went to Madame Monnier’s to look for answers about my conduit powers.”

  His brows dipped into an angry line. “That was a stupid idea. If the wrong person realizes—”

  I cut him off with a look. “No one was there except for the owner, and my magic didn’t wake up to say hi.” I wasn’t going to mention the lights flickering as I ran out of the store. “Besides, that’s not the worst part.”

  His lips thinned. “Tell me.”

  I sucked in a deep breath and spilled my guts about being chased by the figure Henri claimed had something to do with Baron Samedi. And then, I told Etie about what really happened in the bathroom.

  I expected a huge lecture, but all I got was a gentle kiss.

  Etie laid his forehead on mine, brushing my lips with his one more time. “I’m sorry you were afraid to tell me, cher.”

  “You’re not mad at me?” I asked, my arms curling around his neck and pressing us closer.

  A humorless laugh exited him. “Oh, I mad as hell you tried to keep that from me.” His hands soothingly rubbed my back. “I knew something more happened, but I didn’t want to push you.”

  Ugh. Why did he have to be so damn sweet sometimes?

  “I still don’t want you around my father though.” His voice deepened, the threatening cadence spawning goosebumps across my skin even though his anger wasn’t directed at me. “I don’t trust him.”

  “I don’t either.” Henri couldn’t do anything to make me relax around him. “What are we going to do about Baron Samedi?”

  “He’s wasting his time.” Etie’s eyes bored into me, searing all the way to my soul. “He knows he can’t have you. You’re mine now.”

  My arms tightened around him. This was the first time I didn’t dispute his claim on me. This was the first time I didn’t mind being called his.

  Chapter 7

  Eyes followed me everywhere I went in the Department Store, whispers floating around the silver racks of clothes. Not one single person in Carrefour could mind their own business, not when the rumors flying around were this juicy.

  After the scene at Chickarees, there was no doubt I was involved with Étienne Benoit. The whole town knew it. And they were also aware Henri Benoit, the insane voodoo man, had returned.

  “We’re best friends with a town celebrity.” Riley giggled beside me, sipping an iced coffee. “Now I know how Marisol’s friends feel.”

  “I think Angel’s more famous than her sister now.” Lana winked over the rack of clothes.

  A groan slipped out of my mouth. “You guys suck. This is a freaking nightmare.” I jerked my chin toward a group of nosy housewives. “I can’t even pick up a shirt without them jumping to conclusions about it, thinking it has something to do with Etie.”

  Riley scrunched her nose at the skull shirt Lana held up. “You have to understand their fascination though. The Benoit brothers are terrifying and mesmerizing. They’re mysterious, and people want to know about them, but most won’t get close enough to ask. You’re like a window into their secretive lives.”

  “I’m not a window. I’m a person,” I corrected her. “One who hates being the center of attention.” I wasn’t one of those people who blossomed under the limelight. I melted into a nervous puddle.

  Lana’s eyes narrowed on the group of women. “Those four busybodies have been following you all day. Do they really have nothing better to do?” Her voice was loud enough to make it to their ears.

  Two of them had enough manners to look embarrassed while the other two shot sneers at us before turning and sashaying down the overly buffed mauve tile.

  I wanted to bury my head in the sand. “I cannot believe you did that.”

  “I’m surprised she didn’t do it sooner,” Riley said, looking at a sparkly pink top. “Does this say me?”

  Bright, flashy, and over-the-top? “Yes.”

  She smiled. “I’m going to get it.”

  Lana cleared her throat and absentmindedly fiddled with the ends of her long ponytail. “So, Henri Benoit’s back in town. What’s he like?”

  It was only a matter of time before one of them asked.

  “He’s complex.”

  He was dangerous—no doubt about it—but he was also a lot calmer than I expected. I’d always pictured the dark bokor with an angry snarl and flashing eyes. Anyone who mistreated their children like he had couldn’t have much of a soul. Henri said he’d changed and regretted what he did, but he was still apart of Lounage le Noir. He couldn’t be that sorry. That group held the dark loa higher than the others. They called Baron Samedi the voodoo king. Anyone connected with him was bad news in my book.

  “Why, Angel, what a nice surprise to see you.” Ms. Beauchamp stopped next to us, several shopping bags hanging off her thin arms.

  A silent groan echoed through my head. The snooty widow was the last person I wanted to deal with. Instead of telling her off like I wanted to, I plastered a fake smile on my face. “Hi, Ms. Beauchamp.”

  She turned to Lana and Riley. “How was your trip to Spain?”

  Riley smiled. “It was great. Lots of sightseeing and stuff.” She really meant lots of clubs and shopping.

  “That’s wonderful.” She ran her hand over her perfectly coifed dark hair. “I sure wish Angel would have been able to go with you. She wouldn’t be mixed up with the Benoits.” Her dark brown eyes lined in too much makeup shifted to me. “I heard there was trouble down at Chickarees. That family is bad news through and through.”

  I blinked at the widow, taking a few moments to decide if I’d really heard her correctly. The older woman was never shy about speaking her mind in that roundabout, condescending way. I just couldn’t believe she was badmouthing the people she secretly hired for help. She was one of Bastien’s repeat customers.

  “I just don’t know why your mother would ever let you spend time with someone like that,” she continued, oblivious to the anger burning beneath my surface.

  “I’m eighteen,” I snapped. “And I can hang out with whoever I want.” Why did people feel the need to question my behavior? They never did that to Marisol.

  Riley stopped slurping her iced coffee, her green eyes widening. Not many people would stand up to widow Beauchamp. She was rich and powerful and had most likely killed her husband even though no one could prove it. Maybe being around Etie had given me more of a backbone. And this woman could in no way look down her nose at them when she was hanging around the swamp at night.

  It was one thing for people to be afraid of the Benoits because they didn’t know or understand them. It was another for her to shame them for be
ing different.

  “The Benoits aren’t good enough for you to respect? Not even when they do your dirty work?”

  Blood instantly drained from her cheeks. I hadn’t said a word to anyone about her visiting Bastien for voodoo spells, but I was tired of her trash-talking them. She wasn’t better than Bastien or Etie, no matter how much money she had.

  “Excuse me, young lady?” She laid her hand on her chest as if offended. “I have no idea what you’re referring to.”

  “Right.” Heat swirled up from the depths of my core, and a crackle of electricity slithered down my spine.

  Oh crap. Not again.

  “I need some air,” I said, pivoting in the opposite direction.

  “I’ll come with you.” Riley began to follow, but I shook my head.

  “I’ll be back.” I glanced over my shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile.

  Ms. Beauchamp was still sputtering when I stalked away, saying something about Etie being a bad influence on me.

  I stormed into the bathroom and away from prying eyes. Thankfully the powder-pink stalls were empty, and I could freak out for a moment alone.

  Just take deep breaths.

  My palms pressed into the cold white counter, and I squeezed my lids shut, trying to choke my powers down. I didn’t understand what was happening, so it was pretty much a blind attempt. I swallowed hard, wishing Etie was here. He wasn’t a witch, but he knew how to deal with a massive swell of magic. And I missed that crazy Cajun.

  My head lifted to the mirror, meeting my reflection.

  What the hell?

  I leaned forward, surveying the purple hue beginning to eclipse my usually golden-brown eyes.

  That wasn’t possible. I was seeing things.

  I twisted the sink nozzles and splashed cold water over my face. When I peered back into the mirror, a scream lodged in my throat. The shadowy figure of a man in a top hat appeared behind me.

  I whipped around, expecting to see Baron Samedi. No one was there.

  My pulse quaked wildly, matching my ragged pants. Deep, skin-crawling laughter echoed hollowly against the tile walls.

  Oh god. Baron Samedi was coming.