Rhyannon Byrd - Rush of Pleasure

Jessie’s voice was soft, but firm. “Pain has a way of breaking even the strongest of hearts, Will. Instead of judging her, remember how much you love her.”

“What do you mean about pain?” Noah asked. “I’ve been searching the internet for months, but there’s been nothing reported in the news. What happened to her?”

Instead of answering his question, Jessie locked her gaze with his and asked one of her own. “Why have you waited so long to bring us this news?”

Okay. This was where he needed to be careful. “Ever since I first saw Sienna, I’ve been trying to get information about her. I’ve searched newspaper articles and online sources, but haven’t been able to find anything.”

“That’s because we would never mix our family business with the police.” Jessie sounded horrified by the very idea.

Noah started to speak, but Willow cut him off. “It’s been five months, Jessie. He obviously wasn’t planning on ever telling us. We’re his last resort.”

“It’s true that we’ve exhausted all the Watchmen’s sources and no one has been able to help us with the journal,” he grated, hating the way Willow was looking at him. “But I wouldn’t have kept the information about Sienna from you.”

Her smile was sharp. “Right.”

“Damn it, I mailed letters to the bar,” he growled, moving to his feet.

“What letters?” she demanded, glaring up at him. But there was a flicker in her eyes that made him think she didn’t want to believe the worst of him.

“There were several,” he muttered, scraping a hand through his hair. “They said that I had information about Sienna. I’m assuming no one ever bothered to open them.”

Willow looked at her aunt. “Did you get his letters?” When Jessie didn’t answer, she crossed her arms over her chest and demanded, “What happened to them?”

Jessie, who’d been studying the papers in her hand again, looked up and shrugged. “I probably tossed them on the weekly bonfire.”

Willow closed her eyes, apparently counting to ten. When she opened them again, she looked at Jessie and said, “If you refuse to use modern forms of communication, then you need to take the time to open your mail.”

“But I didn’t want to read anything from Noah.”

“I get that,” she snapped. “But we could have known about Sienna months ago.”

Jessie’s eyes looked owlish as she blinked. “How was I to know that?”

“You would have known if you’d opened the bloody letters!”

“You expect me to open every piece of mail that comes to the bar?” Jessie shuddered, as if the idea were revolting. “Do you have any idea how many people send me letters?”

Willow’s nostrils flared. “You know, Jessie, if you don’t like reading mail, then get a bloody telephone. Or at least have one put in at the bar.”

Jessie sniffed, then turned her attention back to Noah. “There’s something else I want to know. Why didn’t you send one of your friends? There was no reason for you to come here yourself. One of the others could have done it just as easily.”

Shoving his hands in his pockets, he gave her the truth. “They don’t know … what Sienna used to be like. After the things she’s done, I didn’t want to take the chance that I would be putting any of you in danger.”

“You haven’t told them about her family? About us?” she asked with surprise.

He shook his head. “They’re aware that I know her, because I called her by name. But I’ve refused to tell them anything else about her.”

Willow gave a short, bitter laugh, as if the idea of him doing something honorable was funny, but Jessie simply smiled. “So you came yourself to protect Si and her family? I appreciate that. And I find that admirable, even if you are a Winston. But what about your own skin?”

HIS OWN SKIN?

“What about it?” Noah hedged, wondering where this was headed.

“Your family is one of the strongest Casus bloodlines,” Jessie murmured. “During the thousand years that the Casus were trapped within Meridian, they turned to shades, requiring a human host when they managed to escape and return to this world.” Jessie was clearly demonstrating just how much she knew about the Casus and their history. “If the big guy is free with his right-hand men,” she added, arching her brows, “aren’t you worried?”

His laugh was harsh. “It would be stupid not to be.”

“Very true,” she agreed. “Why do you suppose none of your family has been taken as hosts before now?”

Noah rolled a shoulder. “Who knows? Rumor has it they were saving us for last. But I don’t know what will happen now. The few shades that got away with Calder, if they still need hosts, will probably come after us. But we haven’t seen any sign of them yet.”

Thanks to the Watchmen, he had sources all over the world keeping an eye out, but so far there’d been no sightings of Calder or the Casus shades that had escaped with him—and while he wasn’t eager for a confrontation, Noah hated not knowing what the holdup was. He’d thought the bastard and those who’d followed him through that portal would strike hard and fast after the battle in Meridian, but weeks had gone by and there’d been nothing. No sign of them. No attacks. But his gut told him not to lower his guard until the monsters had been found and killed.

As if Jessie had been reading his mind, she said, “Well, whatever this Calder and his men are up to, I don’t think you and your family are off the hook. As far as the Casus leader sees it, you’re living on borrowed time. I’ve heard Calder wants you, specifically.”

Noah’s eyes narrowed. “And where did you hear that?”

The corner of Jessie’s mouth curved with a wry smile. “I listen to voices, Noah.”

Christ, any minute he expected her to spout some line like I see dead people. And why the hell hadn’t these voices told her about Sienna? If he were Jessie, he’d be having a chat about what they considered pertinent information.

Willow walked over and nudged him in the shoulder. “What does she mean about Calder wanting you?”

He ground his jaw and ignored her, refusing to answer.

“What about your brothers?” Jessie asked. “Where are Jackson and Bryce?”

“I’ve had them placed in protective custody. One of the Watchmen units has taken care of it.”

The older woman laughed, making the rabbit on her head jiggle. “I bet that went down well. When this is over, they’ll likely be on my doorstep, eager to purchase a spell for some payback against you.”

He winced, thinking she just might have it right. His brothers were probably cursing him to hell and back at the moment, but he hadn’t had any choice. Now that Calder was free, he needed to make sure they were as safe as possible.

“Actually,” Jessie said, “I’m surprised you didn’t come here on behalf of your family.”

Noah frowned. “What do you mean?”

“For my help with the Casus.”

She’d caught him off guard with that one, and he was sure that it showed. “If I thought you could help us,” he said, his voice low, “I’d have come here a long time ago. But I don’t see how you could do anything.” Which wasn’t exactly true. Jessie’s talent with spells was legendary, as was her knowledge of the occult. He just hadn’t thought she’d be willing to raise a finger to help a Winston—or that she’d actually offer to help out with Calder.

The smile she was giving him said she knew exactly what he’d thought … and she was enjoying proving him wrong. With a soft spill of laughter on her lips, Jessie moved to her feet and headed across the room toward a tall, weathered chest of drawers, the bells at her ankles tinkling as she walked. If not for the rabbit skin on her head, she would have been a beautiful woman, and Noah found himself wondering if the strange getup with the rabbit was her way of scaring off interested males. There’d been rumors when he was younger that she’d lost the love of her life in a tragic accident when she was only twenty-one, and the surge of sympathy he felt took him by surprise. He couldn’t help but wonder what Jessie had been like before her heart had been broken.