Believe: The Complete Channie Series Read online

“Yeah, that too. Look, I’m sorry, but I really do have to go.”

  There was a long pause, then a heavy sigh. “I’m very disappointed, Hunter. I thought you were enjoying our arrangement.”

  “I was. I mean…I am. Can we talk about this when I get back?”

  “Good-bye, Hunter. I’m going to miss you.”

  Hunter stared at the blank screen on his phone then shoved it in his pocket. That ‘good-bye’ sounded awful serious. He should’ve been upset, but all he felt was relief.

  Traffic between the Belks’ house and his apartment was heavy so it took him a while to get home. He parked his bike in one of the visitor’s spots in front of the office. It wouldn’t take long to grab a fistful of hundreds and a change of clothes. He left his helmet on and took the stairs two at a time.

  The hair on the back of his neck stood on end when he noticed the door to his apartment was slightly ajar.

  Hunter pulled as much magic as he could handle out of his power-well and stepped inside. He didn’t detect any foreign energy.

  The flat screen television was gone. So was his laptop computer. He wouldn’t miss the computer; he’d rather use his phone for email anyway. But the TV? Damn.

  “Oh no.” Hunter ran to his room. His closet door was open. His pillowcase was gone. He sat on the edge of his bed and dropped his chin to his chest.

  He had a little less than a hundred dollars in his wallet, not enough to buy a plane ticket on such short notice. At least he still had the credit card Ms. Stephanie had given him. He grabbed a backpack, threw in a change of clothes and headed for the airport. He didn’t think things could get any worse—until the pretty lady at the United Airlines ticket counter took out a pair of scissors and cut his shiny, black MasterCard in half.

  Josh had another mini-flashback when he crawled into bed. But it was the same as before. Pain. Flash of light. No lasting memory.

  He put his earbuds in and scrolled through his playlists. His breath caught when he found one labeled, “Our songs.” The first few notes of the first song triggered another flashback. He yanked the earbuds out and waited for the pain to fade then tried it again with the second song, and the third. After the fourth, he gave up. If he could remember the flashbacks, it would be worth the pain. But this was pointless. He checked the time on his phone. One thirty.

  He felt as if he’d just fallen asleep when stripper music blared out of his phone. He’d forgotten about Hunter. “Hey.”

  “Can you come get me?”

  “That depends. Where are you?”

  “Starbucks. At the Twenty-ninth Street Mall.”

  “What are you doing at the mall?” Josh pulled his phone away from his ear long enough to check the time. It was only six thirty-eight.

  “I ran out of gas and money. I’m stranded.”

  “You drove here? From Vegas?”

  “It’s a long story. Are you gonna come get me or not?”

  Josh held his phone to his ear with his shoulder and stepped into his jeans. “I’m on my way.”

  “You think you’ll be able to recognize me?”

  “I don’t know. Will you be wearing something other than a black speedo?”

  Hunter laughed. “I forgot about putting that picture on your phone. But that’s what you get for picking stripper music for my ringtone.”

  “Does it bother you?”

  Hunter sighed. “I’m a dancer. A highly skilled, exotic dancer.”

  “Same thing.”

  Hunter groaned. “How long’s it gonna take you to get here?”

  “About fifteen minutes.”

  “Can you bring a gallon of gas with you?”

  Josh had no trouble picking Hunter out of the early-morning caffeine junkies. His look screamed “Vegas.” Sun-bleached hair; tanned skin; leather jacket over a super-tight t-shirt with three half-naked men and the words ‘Her Lady’s Pleasure’ screen printed on the front. His artfully ripped and faded jeans looked like they’d been sprayed on. Snakeskin boots and a heavy gold chain around his neck completed the look. But it was the energy he felt radiating off the guy that set him apart. It was similar to what he felt around Diego’s sons, but stronger. Much stronger.

  Hunter reached for Josh’s hand, but instead of shaking it, he pulled him closer and gripped the back of his neck. “Don’t worry, buddy. We’ll get her back. I promise.”

  That was enough to trigger another burst of painful light. At least it wasn’t a flashback. Josh backed away from Hunter and pointed at his chest. “Do you see this?”

  “See what?”

  Josh glanced at the barista behind the counter and rubbed his chest. “Never mind.”

  Hunter held the door open for Josh. “You mean your heart-bond?”

  Josh waited for the door to click shut. “You know about it, but you can’t see it?”

  “Most mages can’t see someone else’s heart-bond.”

  Josh looked around. “Where’s your car?”

  Hunter nodded at a green Kawasaki crotch rocket.

  Josh’s eyes widened. “That’s yours?”

  “I ain’t exactly sure.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It was a gift, but the giver’s not too happy with me at the moment.” Hunter scratched the back of his head. “Can we get on the road? I’m pretty dang worried about Channie.”

  “You want to go after her? Right now?”

  “Her momma’s addicted to dark magic. The whole reason you two ran away from Vegas was to keep the crazy bitch from cutting Channie’s heart out of her chest.”

  Josh clutched his own chest. The pain stole his breath, even without the agony of a flashback. He wanted to go. He even knew what direction. East. But what was he supposed to do when they found Channie? And her mother? Josh doubted the crazy woman would give up her daughter without a fight. And there was no way Mom would let him take off on a cross country trip in the middle of the semester. “I can’t leave.”

  Josh expected Hunter to throw a fit like Diego or at least argue with him, but all he did was press his lips together and nod.

  “That remember-not spell must have been a doozy to make you forget how much you love Channie. I’ll go get her.” Hunter cringed as if he were in pain. “But I’m gonna have to ask for my money back. What’s left of it anyway.”

  “Oh. Yeah. Of course. It’s back at my dad’s house. Look, I know I should be going with you, but—”

  “Naw. It’s okay. I understand.” Hunter sighed, lifting his shoulders so high they almost touched his ears. He dropped them as he exhaled then shook his head. “I just hope Channie does.”

  An ugly, puke-green light poured out of Josh’s stomach. It wasn’t as painful as the gold light in his chest, but it didn’t feel good. He couldn’t describe the feeling but it was annoying as hell, like an itchy rash that burns when you scratch it.

  “You don’t like the idea of me saving Channie, do you?” Hunter smiled.

  “That’s ridiculous. It doesn’t matter who rescues her as long as someone does.”

  “She’s gonna be mighty grateful to the fella that saves her.” Hunter’s smile spread until his grin nearly split his face. “I wonder if Channie’s momma used a remember-not spell on her, too?”

  “What are you saying?” The green light pulsing out of Josh’s stomach intensified. He should be hoping that Channie didn’t remember him. They were too young to be married. But the thought of her showing any sort of ‘gratitude’ to Hunter made Josh want to knock the silly grin off his face with his fist.

  Hunter’s smile faded. “Don’t worry about it. Ain’t no spell powerful enough to break someone else’s heart-bond.”

  A flash of pain and light exploded out of Josh’s chest…

  Moonlight streams through a canopy of vines and flowers. He’s outside, in bed, with Channie. Her pale blond hair, sparkles like spun glass. Her emerald eyes gaze at him with love and passion. He puts his hand on her racing heart. She does the same to him. Magic flows around and through them
both. A woman stands at the foot of the bed. “When time and distance keep you apart, let love protect your spell-bound hearts...”

  Josh’s knees buckled. He stumbled forward, blinded by pain. Strong, muscular arms grabbed his waist.

  “It’s okay. I got you.” Hunter slid his shoulder under Josh’s arm and led him back to the sidewalk. He sat beside him on the curb and patted his back until Josh opened his eyes. “What was that all about?”

  “I get these flashbacks. They hurt like hell.” Josh dug his thumbs into his temples. “But I can never remember them.”

  Hunter rubbed the back of Josh’s neck. “It’s the remember-not spell. It don’t want you to remember. But your bond is strong. You’ll break through when you’re ready.”

  “I’m ready now.”

  “No, you ain’t. Or you’d be halfway to Arkansas.”

  “How do you know that’s where she is?”

  “My power-name’s Hunter. It’s what I do.” He stood up and offered Josh his hand.

  Josh knew it was crazy. It was irresponsible, dangerous, and most likely futile, but he wanted to go. He needed to go. He took Hunter’s hand and pulled himself to his feet. “I’m going with you.”

  Josh divided his attention between the road in front of him and Hunter’s erratic driving in his rearview mirror. Since he’d made it all the way from Las Vegas, Josh assumed Hunter’s weaving was due to exhaustion, so when they got back to Dad’s house, Josh fired up Liz’s espresso machine. “Have a seat. As long as you insist on driving that crotch rocket, you need a caffeine infusion before we leave.”

  “I need a good night’s sleep, but that ain’t gonna happen until after Channie’s safe.” Hunter wandered into the dining room and slumped into a high-backed chair. He stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed his ankles. “Why don’t you tell me everything you remember since you woke up. Maybe we can piece together what happened.”

  Josh grabbed a couple of cork coasters and set them on the dining room table. Liz would kill him if they scratched the finish. Liz. Josh prayed she’d be all right. He still couldn’t believe that someone had attacked her. “What do you know about Diego?”

  “Abby’s husband? Not much.”

  “He and his three boys were here when I woke up.” Josh fetched the lattes from the kitchen and sat down next to Hunter. “He told me what happened. I had a hard time believing him.”

  “Tell me everything he said.” Hunter laced his fingers behind his head and closed his eyes.

  There was something inherently trustworthy about Hunter. And Kassie told Josh to trust him. So he did.

  Hunter did not handle the news of Abby’s murder well at all.

  Josh kept his gaze focused on his latte to give Hunter a chance to pull himself together.

  “I’ve known Abby for as long as I can remember.” Hunter’s voice shook. “She didn’t deserve to die like that.”

  Murdered by her own mother? “No one does. Diego blamed some magical book for—”

  Hunter grabbed Josh’s arm. “The Book of the Dead! Do you still have it?”

  “No. Channie’s mom took it.”

  “I didn’t think she’d leave without it. Please tell me you still have your phone.”

  “It’s in my pocket. Why?”

  Hunter jammed his fingers in Josh’s pocket.

  Josh jerked his hips to the side, scooting his chair across the hardwood floor with a screech. His latte splashed over the side of his cup. “Hey! Do you mind?”

  “Hand it over! It’s important.”

  Josh shifted his weight and pulled his phone out of his pocket. “All you have to do is ask.”

  “You took pictures every time the book revealed something new.” Hunter flipped through the photos on Josh’s phone. “Here’s one I haven’t seen.”

  “Read it out loud.” Josh grabbed a paper towel out of the kitchen and mopped up the mess on the table before it could stain the Brazilian cherry.

  Hunter cleared his throat. “The stars and planets are nearly aligned. Blood calls to blood its powers to bind. Live your life as you did before. When the time is right, you’ll go to war.”

  “Who’s going to war?”

  “We are.”

  “We don’t have a draft in this country and I’m not enlisting in the military.”

  “The book ain’t talking about the U.S. of A. It’s talking about the mage war.”

  “There’s a magic war?”

  “Didn’t Diego tell you about the rebellion against Dominance?”

  Josh shook his head. “I already told you everything he told me.”

  “He left out some pretty damn important parts of the story.”

  “Well, maybe you should fill me in.”

  By the time Hunter finished, Josh’s head was spinning. Dark magic, spells, curses, power-names, royalty, war…

  Josh set his and Hunter’s cups in the sink then turned around and leaned against the counter. “Was I forced to marry Channie?”

  Hunter glared at Josh. Tendons corded his neck like rope. “You were privileged to marry Channie.”

  “No offense. It’s just that marriage was not a part of my five-year plan. I’m sure Channie was a great—”

  “Is. Not was.” A crimson flush darkened Hunter’s already tanned cheeks. “She’s alive.”

  “I didn’t mean to imply that she wasn’t.” Josh resisted the urge to rub his aching chest. “But how can you be so sure?”

  “I may not have a heart-bond, but I can feel her.” Hunter patted his chest. “Right here.”

  “Are you in love with her?” Josh recognized the puke-green light pouring out of his stomach and tried to rein in his jealousy. He couldn’t even remember what Channie looked like if he wasn’t staring at her photo. He shouldn’t care whether or not Hunter had a thing for her. But he did. He cared a lot.

  Hunter pulled something out of a sheath strapped to his ankle. He flicked his thumb. A wicked blade sprang out of the handle.

  What the hell? Josh edged closer to the wooden block on the counter that held an array of kitchen knives. Would he have time to arm himself before Hunter attacked? Would it make any difference? He had no experience fighting with knives.

  Hunter scraped under his thumbnail with the tip of the blade. “I’ve been in love with Channie since we were fourteen. I would have married her if that damn book hadn’t interfered.”

  Josh kept his eye on the knife. “Kassie said you asked her to marry you.”

  Hunter shrugged and put his knife away. “She turned me down.”

  “You couldn’t have the girl you wanted, so you settled for second best?” The guy had a knife and obviously knew how to use it, but Josh still had to grip the edge of the sink to keep from punching Hunter. “Kassie deserves better than that.”

  “That’s what she said. Dating a janitor was bad enough, she wasn’t going to marry one.”

  “Janitor? I thought you were a stripper.”

  Hunter rolled his eyes. “Exotic dancer. Before I went to Vegas, I slung a mop at Monarch High School.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that.” It was a hell of a lot more respectable than stripping. But it probably didn’t pay as well. “There was an awful lot of money in that pillowcase you gave me.”

  “Is it someplace safe?”

  “It’s in my closet.”

  “We need to protect it. Come on.”

  “I can’t just walk into the bank with a pillowcase full of money. And I need to know what your little demonstration with the switchblade was all about.” Josh traced the faint scar on the base of his throat where Diego claimed he’d accidentally cut him.

  “What demonstration? Haven’t you ever cleaned your fingernails with a knife? And I didn’t say nothing about no bank. It’s time you tapped into your magic. Come on.” Hunter grabbed a potted plant out of the dining room, some kind of prickly fern and headed upstairs.

  Josh stood up then grabbed the table with one hand and his head with the other a
s a vision of blood, thorns and screams tore through his mind…“You said you’d protect them!”…“I don’t understand. They’re all shielded.”…“Your shield doesn’t work on plants, stupid boy.”…”See what real power can do.”

  Hunter’s face was the first thing Josh saw when the pain faded and he was able to open his eyes.

  He reached out and steadied Josh with one hand. “Another flashback?”

  Josh groaned and rubbed his forehead. He forced his eyes open before the pain, or the memory, completely faded. He glanced at the potted plant in Hunter’s hand. “Something about plants. This pain is killing me. Isn’t there a counter-spell or something?”

  Hunter snorted. “Pain-away spells don’t work on magic.”

  Josh’s head still ached so his tolerance for sarcasm wasn’t very high. And Hunter needed to know that he wasn’t defenseless. “Don’t piss me off. I accidentally blew up a tree yesterday when I got upset.”

  “You did that?”

  Josh jerked his head toward the sound of Kassie’s voice. She was sitting on the landing between the first and second floors. “What are you doing? How long have you been sitting there?”

  “Long enough.” She stood up, one hand on her baby bump, the other on the banister. “Hello, Hunter.”

  “Hey, Kassie.”

  Josh glanced at Hunter. The golden tan on his face had blanched to a chalky grey.

  Kassie narrowed her eyes at him. “How come you never said anything about magic?”

  He shrugged. “We ain’t supposed to tell empties…uh…I mean magically disabled people.”

  “I thought you loved me?”

  “I did…I mean, I do…I mean…ah, hell.” Hunter ducked his chin and scratched the back of his head.

  Kassie descended the rest of the stairs, passing Josh with barely a glance, and stopped right in front of Hunter. “You expected me to marry you, but you couldn’t trust me enough to tell me that you can do magic?”

  “I woulda told you if you’d accepted my proposal. But you didn’t. You turned me down and tossed me to the curb like a sack of garbage.”

  Kassie smacked Hunter’s arm. “I was scared! I’m only eighteen. I need a boyfriend, not a husband.”

  Hunter dropped his gaze to Kassie’s stomach, but she smacked him again before he could say anything. “And, no, my baby does not need a father. She has me.”