The Sacrifice Read online

  “And you’re sure of this, how?” He leans over me, looking into my eyes, obviously trying to intimidate me.

  I look right back and frown at him. “Besides getting a degree in herbology and horticulture? An entire lifetime spent in this shop, learning the properties of every known herb at my mother and aunt’s knee. Believe me Mr…”

  “James,” he says, drawing back marginally. “Aiden James.”

  “Believe me, Mr. James,” I said, ignoring his offered hand. “If a witch of my lineage tells you not to put rue in your love potion, you’d better pay attention.”

  “It’s not a love potion,” he says, frowning at me. “None of this is about love. I just need to find the right one.”

  “The right one for what?” I demand.

  “None of your business, nosey little witch.” He glares at me frostily. “You don’t need to know.”

  That’s technically true but I don’t like being insulted in my own store. Well, my family’s store but it feels like mine since I run it. “That’s it.” I point to the door. “You can leave now if you want to be rude.”

  “Is that so?” He leans forward again and bares white, even teeth. To my surprise, I see two long, curving fangs where a normal male’s canine teeth would be. Holy crap—he’s a vampire! I’m stunned and more than a little afraid—I’ve never seen one who could hide it so well. He’s scary as shit but still, I endeavor to hold my ground.

  “Yes,” I say, hoping my voice isn’t shaking too much. “That’s so.”

  “Are you threatening to kick me out of your store?” he demands.

  “If I have to.” I may not be a powerful vampire or even a practicing witch but we do have some pretty effective 'leave me alone' type spells already made up in aerosol cans like magical mace. They come in handy for a lot of witches who, as I said before, like to sleep around. Sometimes a guy gets clingy and you need an out. Of course, I have no idea if they would work on a vamp but it looks like I’m about to find out. Slowly, surreptitiously, I reach under the counter for an aerosol can full of the distilled warding spell.

  Aiden James still looks furious. “You should learn to treat your customers with more respect,” he growls in a soft, menacing voice. “Were you mine, you’d be severely punished for such a display.”

  “Well I’m not yours,” I point out, my hand tightening on the smooth cylinder of magical mace.

  “A great pity,” he snaps. “There’s nothing I’d enjoy more than teaching you a lesson, little witch. You’re badly in need of some discipline.”

  I can’t believe him. What kind of caveman is he, anyway?

  “Right,” I say. “Well, I’m afraid you’ll just have to forgo that particular pleasure. And I’ll treat you with more respect when you start treating me with more respect. This is my place of business—don’t come in here and insult my intelligence.” I may not like running this stupid shop but I know my stuff cold and I’ll be damned if I let him say otherwise.

  To my surprise, Aiden James suddenly stops looking scary and vampiric and nods a little stiffly. He takes a deep breath and his next words genuinely surprise me. “Very well, I will admit that it was rude of me to disparage your knowledge.”

  “Thank you,” I say, nodding.

  “I can see you know what you’re talking about. You’ve saved me from a very costly error, Ms…”

  “Emma,” I say grudgingly. “Emma Krist.” I wonder how he can be out in the daylight. The gold and onyx ring on his right hand catches my eye again, must be magic—heavy duty magic too, to pull off something like this. A vampire with access to high-level sorcery—great. My little bottle of magical mace would probably bother him as much as a gnat bothers an elephant. Slowly I release my grip on it and place both hands on the counter.

  “Very well, Ms. Krist, you’ve earned my respect.” He looks at me speculatively. “And my interest. Forgive me for being rude, I’m very preoccupied just now.” He puts out his hand in a conciliatory gesture. “We are well met on this Sacrifice Eve.”

  I don’t really want to shake his hand but I don’t see that I have much choice. Reluctantly, I hold out my own hand. “Well met, indeed,” I say, giving the ritual response. Or that’s what I start to say as his hand closes over mine.

  But as the vampire's much larger hand engulfs my own, I feel a strange tingle that runs down my arm and gives me a most uncomfortable jolt. My heart starts to hammer and I jerk my hand away from him. What the hell…?

  Aiden James must have felt it as well because he looks from his hand to my face and back again, as if trying to figure out what just happened. Well if he finds out, I wish he’d let me know. I’ve never felt such power from anyone before, not even my Aunt Cassandra and she’s a senior witch and the mistress of our coven.

  The vampire studies me, his gray eyes narrowed. “You know,” he says at last. “I think I’ve changed my mind.”

  “About…about what?” I ask, wishing my voice didn’t sound quite so breathless.

  “About this…all this.” He waves one hand negligently at the packets of dried herbs strewn over the countertop. “I don’t think I need to make this potion after all.”

  “You don’t?” I look at him uncertainly. He was so intent on his list, so insistent about the ingredients. What changed his mind?

  “No.” He shakes his head, then cocks an eyebrow at me. “I assume I’ll see you at the Sacrifice Ceremony tonight?”

  “Of…of course,” I stutter, feeling stupid. My hand is still tingling from his touch—along with other parts of my body. What happened? Who is he really? Then I realize what he’s asking. “Not that…I mean, I won’t probably be around afterward,” I say quickly, feeling my cheeks heat up. “For the uh, celebration. The after party, whatever you want to call it.”

  “The orgy,” he says, and there is a spark of heat far back in his gray eyes that makes me tingle all over again. “You don’t intend to participate?”

  “Uh, no. Not at all.” I shake my head firmly. “I don’t…I’m not…not like most witches. Besides, I have to be back here early tomorrow.” I pat the counter, indicating my place behind it.

  James looks at me speculatively. “I see.”

  “So I might see you there but I won’t…I can’t…”

  “I understand.” He nods, cutting me off.

  Suddenly I feel stupid. It’s not like he was propositioning me. Someone who looks like him? Please—he can have anyone he wants and I’m sure once he catches sight of my lovely cousins I’ll be the last witch on his mind.

  I clear my throat and try to get back to business. “Uh, so anyway. Are you sure you don’t need the herbs?”

  “Quite sure.” He gives me one last long look from those cool gray eyes and nods. “Good day, Emma. I’ll see you soon.”

  I seriously doubt it, I think as he heads out the door, empty-handed. As I put back the herbs, I wonder again who he really is and what happened when we touched. But it seems my questions are destined to go unanswered. I’m sure if I see him at all after the Sacrifice celebration, he’ll be partying with some slender fairy chick or chatting up some other pretty witch or were. As for the girl he was searching for, he won’t have to look hard to find one to suit him.

  I sigh softly and look at my watch. Almost time to close up anyway. I put the shop in order and try to get him out of my mind. But somehow he lingers there, Mr. Aiden James with his sharp teeth and even sharper eyes. Why can’t I stop thinking of him?

  Chapter Two

  “Stop fussing with your outfit—you look gorgeous.” Lexy looks at me approvingly.

  “I do not.” In fact, I have never felt more exposed in my life. As it turns out, I had been right to be suspicious of her offer to 'hang out and have some cousin time.' In fact, what she wanted was to see what I was wearing to the Sacrifice Ceremony. When I finally, reluctantly showed her the long skirt and blouse combo, she whipped out a pair of scissors and cut huge holes in both articles of clothing before I could stop her. Talk about pushy!