Karen narrowed her eyes suspiciously at me, “You can’t have my soul.”

  I smiled and looked up at Lilliana, “Why do people keep telling me that?”

  I looked back at Karen and winked, “No, I had something else in mind. Lilliana was right, the greatest enemy of my family seems to be the mages, and it will take something drastic to change that.”

  Karen tilted her head, “A treaty?”

  I nodded, “That’s a start, and part of it, but not good enough. What happens in a hundred and fifty years, or sooner if someone challenges you and wins? What happens to my children, or the next Moore warlock many years from now? A treaty won’t solve the problem more than in the short term, it needs something… more. Something that will stand the test of time.”

  Karen thought that out a moment, and then asked, “Alright, I think I’m ready, and it is a big thing you offer, what do you want from me?”

  I did mention my plan was crazy right? It took me a moment to say it out loud.

  “Why Karen, I’d like you to be my wife, and bear my children. Consider it like a political marriage, although I’d hope that’s only how it would start. Of course, it would all be part of the pact.”

  Karen gaped at me like a fish, and her beautiful green eyes widened in shock. I could tell she was reevaluating her conclusion that the warlock is sane, that she’d made earlier.

  “But… why?” she asked, and then, “What would that accomplish?”

  I answered, “A part of my line would become mages. Not only that, but with you, very powerful ones, who would most likely object to others down the line wanting to kill their father, grandfather, or… half-brothers, you get the idea. It wouldn’t be easy in the beginning, but it would bring us together eventually, and by the time I go nuts, I think it would outlast me. At least longer than just a treaty.

  “On a personal note, I’d have children that would know what they are, with power of their own, that I could actually interact with instead of hiding away. Also, you seem like a catch.”

  She giggled at that last comment, but in a hysterical kind of way.

  It was big, huge really, and I really did worry about my thinking. It sounded good, long term, and was a way to end the subtle war that had gone on for way too long between my family of warlocks, and the mages of this city. On the other hand, I was very attracted to her, and wondered how much of the plan had been concocted merely to bed Karen. I was attracted to her grace, power, and obvious intelligence, and she had that cute pixie-like face and that lithe body.

  Still, it was a good plan… I think.

  She fiddled with the water a second, and then took a drink. I waited patiently while she tried to swallow that information.

  “A lot of things could go wrong later on,” she said finally, “What happens if it does?”

  I thought about that a minute, “As far as the pact, nothing. The pact for my end will be done when you sit as the head of the mages, and for you, the pact ends as soon as you have a child and wear my ring on your finger, umm, not necessarily in that order.”

  This time her laugh was more genuine.

  I went on, “If it all goes to shit after that, you can always move in here. You will be my wife after all. That was the original plan anyway right? Still, I think it’s worth the risk, the stakes are high, but if we fail the worst is we go back to the status quo.”

  She nodded, and then shook her head.

  “I need to think about it.”

  I shrugged, “I figured you would, it’s a very big decision. You’re welcome to come back when you decide. I believe you told me the truth, and you’re being honest, but Lilliana would be pissed if I invited you to stay without a pact in place to ensure my safety. To be fair, I’m in a rather precarious position, despite the cessation of hostilities that was forced on Clarissa earlier.”

  I was relieved when Karen didn’t take offense at that, I supposed that went to say just how perfidious she thought the mage council could be, and it just made sense to her.

  She got up and took a deep breath.

  Not unkindly, Lilliana said, “I’ll walk you out.”

  Chapter 14

  Malina came up to me and pulled me out of the chair as Lilliana left the room with Karen. Malina’s eyes were red and she had a deep hunger on her face. As she dragged me out of the room, and up the stairs, I wondered just how much trouble I was in. The plan wasn’t that bad was it?

  When we got to the room she demanded, “Strip.”

  A little worried, I started to strip, it seemed like a good decision not to cross her right now.

  When I was done, she stalked up to me and her clothes disappeared, and then she dropped to her knees without a word. I was a little nervous when she hungrily took me into her mouth, but that lasted about two seconds until the waves of pleasure from being inside her body reached my brain, and I gasped as I grew hard in mere seconds, extending deep into her throat as she fucked me with her face.

  There was no other way to describe it, she bobbed up and down hard and fast, slamming me down her own throat. It was like that first blowjob from Lilliana in the shower, times a hundred. Her soft silky lips, warm wet mouth, snaking tongue, and vibrating soft throat was almost instantly overwhelming.

  So… maybe not mad at me?

  The pleasure suddenly stopped and she stood, her eyes glowing red, and she pushed me back on the bed and mounted me. She hissed in pleasure as she impaled herself on me, enveloping me inside of her tight silken core.

  The pleasure was so much more than what her mouth could provide. The soft walls of her incredibly tight pussy undulated up and down my length, milking me hard with hot wet friction as she started to bounce above me. It was so much more than that though, an element of magic, and her hot core could do things a human woman’s could not.

  I reached up and teased her nipples, and caressed the undersides of her very large and perfectly rounded breasts.

  She begged, “Harder, maul them,” she said as she stared down into my eyes, and her nails dug into my chest as she started to ride me like a rabbit.

  I pinched, pulled, and twisted her nipples, and mauled her breasts. It just made her cry out in pleasure, and start to bounce and drive down on me even faster. I felt my pleasure rising, and then break. She didn’t stop, and her core milked me in a way no human woman’s body could, and I filled her with each thrust and slam of her body coming down on mine.

  She didn’t stop throughout my orgasm, or when I came down from my rapturous ecstasy. Neither did I shrink, I wasn’t sure it was even possible while being inside of her, a succubus. Some infernal magic of hers kept me hard, and trust me, I wasn’t complaining. She was a demon, a succubus, but she was also mine. She wouldn’t hurt me, not as long as I kept my side of the bargain.

  It seemed endless, the pleasure, the sweat of our bodies mixing, and the orgasms we shared together. After what felt like hours of intense non-stop sex and orgasmic pleasure, but was probably only about a half an hour, she collapsed to the side of me and started to twitch in aftershocks of bliss.

  I wrapped my arms around her, pulled her close, and kissed her forehead gently. I knew she was a demoness, but she was also a woman, and it felt right, she felt right, as she snuggled up against me.

  “So, not mad?” I asked.

  She giggled and looked up at me, her eyes a deep blue once again.

  “Are you kidding lover? That was fucking brilliant, I was so turned on I couldn’t see straight, it was a struggle not to take you down there right in front of her. You should still spread your seed, and hide some of your line, but not depending on that, and going after the source of the trouble without trying to take over the city was inspired.”

  I sighed, “I’d love to stay in bed with you for a week or two, but I’m on a time limit.”

  She nodded, “Go learn the spells you need to track that vampire. Also learn a physical shield spell, you’re built in one will block just about everything, but not a vampire’s hands. Oh, and a banishing spell.”

  I asked, “Balefire won’t work?”

  She shrugged, “It will, but it can be dodged, and vampires are very fast. A banishing spell will rip the demon out of him if he’s close to you. Just make sure you focus it tightly in your intentions, or you could wind up harming Lilliana, or worse, pissing me off.”

  Right, banishing my own patron would be a really bad idea. I knew what I had to do, still, it was hard to get out of bed, she was so soft and warm, and despite the fact my body was sated, I was rock hard holding her against me. I wasn’t really ready to face a rogue vampire, even after learning the spells, I’d have to trust Lilliana and Malina to protect me if I got in over my head.

  I got up and took a quick shower, or that had been the plan until Lilliana joined me. It was at least an hour later before I got dressed and headed down the stairs. It shouldn’t take long to learn a couple of spells… I hoped not anyway, that twenty-four hours wouldn’t last forever.

  Chapter 15

  Karen studied herself in the mirror. She’d gotten home a little over an hour ago, and her mind was in turmoil. She’d been angry, and felt both unappreciated and betrayed by the mages, that’s why she’d gone into the warlock’s house. She’d expected… she didn’t know, but not that!

  The idea of getting his help to put her in charge… was very appealing. She hadn’t expected that to happen at all for many more years, even in her foolishly optimistic plan that had been doomed to failure. It also wasn’t lost on her that he wasn’t guaranteeing that she’d actually keep the position, after she restored the old laws, and held a tournament of sorts to fill in the council, she would be subject to challenge. She was unusually powerful, but she was also still growing, not yet Clarissa’s equal.

  Still, that part wasn’t the shocking part, it was the marrying him and having kids along with the treaty part. She’d been ambitious, and working toward a goal all her life. She’d had a couple of flings but nothing serious, but she’d never found a man equal to her dreams or abilities, and they always fell to the wayside. She’d been surprised by his offer, and especially by what Shawn wanted.

  But what had surprised her the most, was how turned on she’d been, even a little wet and tingly. She blushed as she remembered the knowing smile Lilliana had given her as they parted at the front door. She really hoped the vampire didn’t tell him what an effect he’d had on her.

  He was so intense, and powerful, self-assured, and downright ballsy to suggest such a far reaching plan. Yet when she looked into his hazel eyes, she saw a surprising amount of kindness, and warmth along with his determination and drive. He was very attractive as well, one thing was certain, if she did go through with it, sleeping with him would hardly be a chore. That part would almost be a bonus she thought, but married with kids was a serious thing, not to be done lightly.

  Of course, revolution wasn’t a light matter either, he was right that it was fair, a trade of equal value. She wondered though, if he had been serious, if it could actual lead to more, love and a true joining of sorts. She didn’t know, but the idea fired her imagination, and made her tingle more than a little. Maybe it’d been too long since she slept with someone, or maybe it was just him.

  Or maybe she was just that ambitious.

  She sighed. Of course the real question was, could she love him and also be okay with him sleeping with his vampire and demon, and making pacts with strange woman to bear more of his children? That’s what would decide if it was merely business for her, or if she’d risk her heart along with her life. She wasn’t entirely sure, and unhappy about that idea, but it was who he was, what he was as a warlock, and going in blind wouldn’t help matters.

  She knew if she went ahead with this, he would be her equal, she was stubborn and powerful as well, and wouldn’t be subsumed by his strength, but neither would he by hers.

  But if she did do it, she’d become a revolutionary, and if she succeeded, she’d be a usurper of power. She always imagined getting there on her on merit, not by taking it, but she had to admit now, even to herself, that had been idealistic and she’d been dreaming. The mage council was too corrupt, the only thing that would change it is if it were burned out at the root, and replanted with the old ways and laws.

  Damn Clarissa anyway.

  She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a drink, this time something a little stronger than water. She didn’t get drunk, most smart mages didn’t. Power depended on clarity of thought. Still, one drink would calm her down, and help her relax. She was already pretty sure what she’d decide, but wanted to sleep on it.

  Her cell phone rang and she pulled it out. Damnit, Brandon was already awake?

  “Hello? Karen here.”

  “This is Brandon, I have a question for you,” he said rather pompously.

  Well, so much for niceties she thought.

  “What is it Brandon?” you asshole. She left the last two words unspoken. His incompetence and arrogance had gotten her fired. No apology, no anything, not even a hello, just a question.

  He replied, “I’m doing better, thanks for asking. Anyway Karen, I heard you were at the warlock’s house when Darren and Dion came by? Do you know what happened there?”

  She didn’t see the harm in answering, and didn’t want to tip her hand too quickly. She hadn’t decided yet about Shawn’s pact idea, but she was sure she was done working for the council.

  “The wolves and vampires have signed a treaty with him.”

  Brandon sounded almost smug when he said, “So that means he’s probably going to go after that rogue. Excellent. Oh, good luck at your coming inquiry, I put in a good word for you Karen, I miss you as my partner, but I only have so much influence to cover things up for you. Tata beautiful,” and he hung up.

  She screamed in outrage, and almost threw her phone. Him, cover for her? That… toad. She seriously considered accepting the pact just to get the opportunity to kill the bastard. What had Shawn said? Oh yes, she could pull his guts out on a hot spike. Or was it a hot hook? She couldn’t remember, the point is she wanted to hurt the smarmy womanizing two faced bastard, slit his throat, and bury him face down.

  Thank the goddess she’d never slept with him. She shuddered at the thought, this deserves a second drink…

  She knew she’d overreacted, all part of being a fire mage, and she was losing control around the edges as her career flushed down the toilet. She’d known what he was. Being an asshole was hardly cause for murder. Still, the thought appealed. It wasn’t until she finished her second drink and got over her anger at him that the full implications of his phone call, and the conversation, hit her.

  That asshole was going to go after Shawn when he went rogue hunting, no doubt on the orders of Clarissa, orders that were no doubt secret. If he succeeded, no doubt she’d tell Darren and Dion a sob story about how he went rogue, and did it without orders because he’d been wounded so badly and wanted revenge.

  She wasn’t sure what made her feel sicker, Clarissa’s plan, or that she herself had been able to see it. She was getting cynical, or maybe just wiser. She wasn’t cynical in her own dealings, just able to see the true face of the council now and how far it had truly fallen.

  She stared at her phone for a moment, frozen. Lilliana had given her a contact number, Lilliana’s cell phone, for when she made a decision. So far it had all been talk, an option, and a nice dream of revenge and possibilities for the future. She’d been thinking about it, and hadn’t made a decision yet on if to join Shawn in his full plan. But, if she did what she was contemplating, she would become a traitor of sorts.

  Against a corrupt council who betrays those they should protect, but still a traitor by definition. Even if she said no later, she’d be crossing a line, and taking sides, a warlock’s side. She considered the idea of Shawn dying at the hands of Brandon, and the idea was far more painful than she’d expected.

  Not that she loved him or anything, no matter how attractive he was, they’d just met, but his death would also result in the loss of her dreams of a better mage community as well as a possible future they may have together. She was also honest enough with herself to admit the loss of her own ambitions and desires if he died, which played a major role in her thoughts as well.

  Fuck it!

  She typed in the information Lilliana needed to know to protect Shawn, to expect an assassination and what Brandon would likely do, along with his weaknesses, and hit send. She bit her bottom lip and put down the phone, feeling very conflicted with herself.

  Still, she’d hated Brandon for a long time, and had longed wished him dead. It had been a long and intense couple of days, and the two glasses of wine went to her head. She decided to lay down and get some rest. She’d figure out what to do tomorrow, after she’d slept on it.

  Chapter 16

  I felt like a poser. I was sitting in the back of a high end BMW luxury car, in a suit, with Malina holding my hand and draping herself against me in a sexy black dress and red high heels. Like some bigwig with a trophy date, it didn’t feel right. I supposed I’d get used to it, but probably not anytime soon. Lilliana was driving and I could sense that she was tense and ready for anything. The car itself had several wards on it, so I was potentially safe from magic, guns, and other weapons in here.

  I was practicing, and doing three inherent magical things at once right now. Maintaining my personal shield, detecting magic, and pulling magic through Malina so my own internal cache of magic wasn’t drained. I kept losing my concentration, and then pulling more when I reconnected to fill myself back up. Like stopping a car every mile to top off the gas tank, just in case a spontaneous long race presented itself and I needed the whole tank.

  Detect magic kept dropping as well, and to be honest I was a little frustrated. About the only thing going right was my shield. For some reason that was simple beyond belief, as if just deciding it was on was good enough until I turned it off. The green balefire worked similarly.