Chapter 1
Logan clapped himself on the back for getting the mouthy warlock’s number. He’d had a feeling he might need it eventually and here it was, not even a day later, and he was picking up the phone.
“What?” Kai drawled, extending the word into three syllables somehow. The warlock’s tone was full of irritated boredom.
“Hey, Kai. It’s Logan Sterling. We met this morning.” The deafening silence made Logan realize that could have been taken as insulting, as if he assumed Kai had the memory of a gnat.
“Sorry to bug you so soon, but I need a favor,” Logan continued as he paced Ben’s small backyard. When he’d first had the idea, Logan had stepped outside to make the call. He hadn’t wanted to get anyone’s hopes up if he couldn’t get Kai to help, after all.
“And?” Kai responded, impressively managing to sound even more bored. Logan was almost surprised the warlock hadn’t hung up already.
“I was hoping you could help out a member of my pack. It’s pretty important or I wouldn’t have bothered you,” Logan said, fighting to keep his normally dickish tone suppressed. Logan knew if he managed to piss Kai off this early in his request he would get absolutely nowhere. Logan was more for giving orders than he was for making requests.
Kai’s only response was an irritated sigh which Logan accepted was still not a good sign but better than being hung up on outright. Finally, after another huge exhale, Kai offered more than a one word response.
“Look, Logan. Let’s get something clear. I don’t do favors. My services are available for purchase but you may not like the price, straight boy,” Kai responded, his twang adding another syllable to ‘boy’.
Logan felt the flush run up his neck unexpectedly when he realized what Kai was suggesting. Logan almost never blushed, but no way in hell was Logan offering up his ass, no matter what responsibility he felt to his pack’s general happiness. If that was part of the bargain, Ryan was just going to have to figure this one out on his own. Logan’s pregnant pause apparently made his train of thought more than obvious. Kai’s voice hitched and he began to laugh uncontrollably.
“Not that, you freak. Geez, you straight guys are all the same. Always thinking we’re desperate for virgin hole. Thanks but no thanks, Logan,” Kai said, still laughing while he tried to dispel Logan’s fears.
“Believe it or not Sunshine, I like my partners to actually enjoy me fucking them. And, trust me; they do enjoy it if you ever change your mind.” When Kai finally managed to stop laughing, Logan heard a sharp exhale through the phone line. Logan could easily imagine the cloud of smoke circling the warlock as he took another drag from his cigarette.
“Then name your price, Kai. I don’t have much money right now, but I can call my alpha if I need to,” Logan said, still pacing the backyard. Logan flinched at Kai’s answering growl.
“I don’t need your money, Logan,” Kai said as if the very suggestion was an insult. “The price of my services is so much more than money. I require the promise of a favor in return. If we make this bargain, you will deliver when I call, Logan. Don’t even dream of failing to keep your end of the deal. A pissed off warlock is not someone you want looking for you,” Kai explained.
The warlock’s strange southern drawl was getting more pronounced as the call continued, which Logan hadn’t thought was even possible. Flashbacks of Deliverance flashed through Logan’s mind whether intentional or not.
“And it won’t be sexual in nature?” Logan felt the need to clarify again.
“Fuck, Logan. Get your mind out of the gutter,” Kai snapped. “No, it won’t be a sexual favor. Do I need to put it in writing?” Logan felt the tension in his shoulders (and ass) release at the warlock’s reassurances.
“Fine, Kai. You’ve got yourself a deal,” Logan agreed.
“Excellent. I’ll see you in thirty. Bring your boy,” Kai said, suddenly sounding overly happy. The phone instantly disconnected, leaving Logan staring down at the dark screen with a growing sense of unease.
Apparently, Kai was more skilled than he’d let on. Logan had yet to explain what he needed from the warlock, but the way Kai had said ‘bring your boy’ made it obvious he already knew. Logan imagined Kai was doing a dance of victory at this very moment, rubbing his hands together like the evil villain whose plans were falling perfectly into place. Logan kicked himself for not consulting his alpha before agreeing to Kai’s bargain.
Logan admitted he didn’t know much about warlocks and their powers. He’d just assumed Kai couldn’t be too ruthless. Otherwise what would he be doing in the sticks of East Texas? Logan was now almost certain this was going to bite him in the ass at some point in the future and not in a good way.
“This is the warlock’s place? What a shit hole,” Ben commented as Logan pulled their SUV to a stop next to Kai’s truck.
“Yeah, it’s real country, isn’t it?” Adam said, mimicking his own southern accent as he scanned the yard through the rear passenger window. “All that’s missing are the pink plastic flamingos and an abandoned car.”
Actually, Logan suspected there was a broken-down car on the other side of the trailer, but he didn’t dare mention it at this point.
“Fuck you very much, assholes. Kai’s the real deal. I don’t care what his yard looks like,” Logan growled, throwing open the driver’s door and exiting the vehicle. Actually, Logan had no idea if Kai was capable or not. But he wouldn’t admit that for all the world, not when he was already feeling like a fool for starting down this road to begin with.
Just then, Kai walked out onto the front porch. Logan suppressed a groan. The warlock had obviously dressed up for the occasion, Logan thought sarcastically. The tall Asian sported a pair of frayed cargo shorts that had seen better days and a muddy-brown Firefly t-shirt. If the muffled comments behind him were any indication, Logan’s pack was not inspired by Kai’s shabby appearance.
Logan pushed aside their silent judgement and stalked across the yard, meeting up with the warlock near the fire pit. Kai stood silent and seemed to be analyzing Logan’s pack. Ryan cautiously approached to stand just off Logan’s shoulder. The other wolf’s arms were crossed over his chest tightly and Logan could tell Ryan was practically vibrating with nerves. Logan had not-so-fond memories of the last time Ryan had lost control while separated from his mate. As if sensing the other shifter’s bleeding energy, Kai nodded in Ryan’s direction but focused his words on Logan instead.
“This is Ryan?” Kai asked. Logan simply nodded in confirmation. He chose to ignore the warlock’s use of his pack mate’s name. He had no idea how the warlock had so much information, but Logan knew they needed Kai’s help too much right now to quibble over the details. Logan stifled his questions for now.
“Alright. Let’s get started,” Kai said. “You guys may want to stand back. Shit’s about to get real exciting.” Kai motioned for Ben and Adam to move back closer to his truck. Ben looked about to argue, but things progressed quicker than Logan even imagined possible. Seconds later, Kai laid one hand on Ryan’s shoulder and the light surrounding them dimmed.
Kai’s eyes morphed from chocolate brown in a sea of white to solid black orbs. The black slowly swirled in from the edges like oil covering the surface of a pond. The air around them crackled and began to stink with the smell of ozone. Logan felt the hairs on his arms standing up as if electrically charged.
Ryan looked more than a little terrified, but Kai either didn’t notice or didn’t care. Logan strongly suspected it was the latter. A strong wind began to swirl, scattering dead leaves in a mini tornado around their feet. Logan felt something physically pulling at his core and he fought the urge to step away from the source of the disturbance. Logan reached for Ryan’s arm as if to steady them both but before he could make contact, the world around them exploded and Logan found himself flying.
Logan’s senses finally stirred an unknown time later. He found himself lying flat on the hard ground, Ben and Adam’s concerned faces leaning down over him. Logan could see their lips moving, but could hear nothing over the loud buzzing in his ears. Ben looked over his shoulder, obviously yelling at someone, but Logan’s brain was too stunned to understand what was going on.
Suddenly, Ben was being pushed away and those pitch black orbs were looking down on him instead. Kai’s mental order to ‘SHIFT!’ stabbed down through Logan’s brain like a hot poker. Logan screamed in pain from the warlock’s intrusion. Seconds later though, Logan found himself in wolf form and the ringing in his ears had thankfully improved. Logan’s huge ebony wolf was still shaky, but every second that passed Logan could feel his body healing a little more.
Logan’s wolf scanned the yard, as if trying to make sense of the chaos around him. The warlock had relocated to the edge of the porch and calmly sat, legs swinging back and forth while he smoked another cigarette. Ben was yelling at the warlock again, but Kai was apparently ignoring his brother’s tirade. Adam stood at Ben’s shoulder and seemed to be trying to reason with his mate. From the looks of it, though, Ben wasn’t ready to back down. Logan wolf scanned the yard again, realizing what was missing…Ryan. Logan’s wolf snarled in Kai’s direction, offering his brother his support as he wondered what had become of the fourth member of their small pack.
“Oh, shut it, Wolfie. Tell your brother to back off, will you? He’s getting annoying and I might be tempted to swat this buzzing fly,” Kai said as he aimed an irritated glare Ben’s direction. When Logan’s wolf only snarled in response, Kai sighed in apparent frustration.
“Damn it all, Logan. Tell him to quit freaking out. Ryan’s fine. He should be calling,” Kai paused mid-sentence to glance down at his phone, “right about now.” Ben’s back pocket rang and Logan watched as his brother halted in the middle of his rant. Ben visibly deflated when he read the displayed caller ID.
“Ryan?” Ben asked.
“Hey, Ben. Can you come get us?” Ryan’s voice sounded through the speaker. His tone broadcasted nothing but happiness. Logan knew instinctively, he and Izzy must have reunited safely.
Kai stood from where he sat on the porch and brushed the dirt off his butt. Apparently the warlock was satisfied his job here was finished. As he stepped inside the trailer, Kai turned to deliver Logan a parting reminder.
“Don’t forget our deal, Logan. I’ll be contacting you later to fulfill your end of the bargain.” The door clicked shut behind the warlock and Logan felt the unbreakable contract between them slam into place.