Heat in the Bayou Read online

  HEAT IN THE

  BAYOU

  Brenda Trim and Tami Julka

  Copyright © 2016 by Brenda Trim and Tami Julka

  Editor: Amanda Fitzpatrick

  Cover Art by Damon Trim, Image Rights Purchased

  *****

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writers’ imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the authors.

  Dedication

  This book is for all those who aren’t afraid to go after what fuels their desire, even if that means getting burned a little in the process.

  Find the courage to do whatever is good for your soul.

  Table of contents

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Hellbound Warrior Excerpt

  Authors’ Note

  Other Works by Authors

  CHAPTER ONE

  Tripping over a crack in the pavement, Zeke managed to catch himself before his face met the pavement. Fuck, he needed to pay attention. There were a million different places he'd rather be, but he had a job to do before he could get to any of them.

  Besides, he told himself, New Orleans wasn't so bad. Surprisingly, as steeped in the paranormal as the city was, it didn't have the demon and skirm problem that Seattle did which was a nice change. For months now, his life had consisted of fighting alongside the Dark Warriors and not much else.

  Unfortunately, that didn't mean NOLA didn't have its own set of issues. He may not be dealing with demons and their ilk, but he was in the swamplands because there were problems. Big problems. The job had fallen to him as second in command to Hayden, the Omega to shifters, and unless he wanted to give up his rank, he needed to suck it up and deal. At least it wasn’t summertime when it was unbearably hot and muggy.

  Glancing around, he studied the French-styled architecture that symbolized the city. Most of the buildings were two stories and had balconies with metal railings. The ferns in the hanging boxes reminded Zeke of the lush forests in Seattle where ferns were the most common groundcover. His panther loved the feel of the soft plants beneath his paws as he ran through the forests.

  He had to admit that the city looked vastly different compared to his last visit. Last time there had been wall-to-wall bodies, both human and supernatural, in the streets. Most of them were drunk and throwing plastic bead necklaces celebrating Mardi Gras. Looking at the balconies, he thought of the bodies that had been draped over the railings, flesh spilling out of tight clothing. It had been a grand party of huge proportions and Zeke had never seen the lines between humans and supernaturals more blurred. It was as if they were used to openly coexisting which was so different than Seattle.

  One thing that wasn't any different this time was the smell of the place. An awful combination of urine, garbage and sewage stung Zeke's sensitive nostrils. It made him wish his sense of smell wasn't so keen. He wondered how much worse it got during the hot summer months. He'd stick to the great Northwest and the clean beauty they had there, thank you very much.

  Not that he didn't like this city. The one thing NOLA had that he wished Seattle had more of was character. From the colorful buildings to the rich history and strong cultural influence, the place had a personality that made you fall in love. And damn if he didn't love Cajun food, the spicier the better, and this city had it in droves.

  Checking the street signs, he noted that he was on Bourbon and needed to get to the corner of St. Ann, which was two blocks up. Kicking into gear, he covered the distance quickly, careful not to use his preternatural speed. The humans may be open to the idea of supernaturals there, but Zeke knew that was because they didn't realize their worst nightmares were alive and well and walking their streets.

  He halted outside the small, weathered, one-story structure. Blinking several times, he nearly burst out laughing. Nothing like hiding in plain sight, he thought, reading the name, Marie Leveau's House of Voodoo. The shack stuck out like a sore thumb compared to the much larger buildings. Why didn't Marie paint the place, he wondered. No doubt she had a spell keeping the walls up because it was so rickety, a strong wind could blow it to pieces.

  Coming to the door, he looked up and noted the sign above the entrance that read 'Strange Gods, Strange Altars.' No doubt that was in reference to Marie's capricious father, the God Kalfu. As he stepped inside, the scent of patchouli hit and instantly his mouth went dry, his heart raced and his cock did a steel pole routine.

  Before he had a chance to wonder what was wrong with him, a stunning beauty with cafe-au-lait skin glided into view and his jaw dropped. He snapped it shut before he made total ass of himself, although he was pretty certain that was a lost cause. After all, he was standing there staring staring at her like a creepy peeper with a hard-on, cause there was no missing that motherfucker. His dick was all but waving at the female. Oh no, wait, it was waving.

  She tilted her head and smiled and he lost what little reason and dignity he had left. Bright as the noonday sun, her smile lit every dark corner in the room. Her mouth was perfect, even with her slightly crooked front teeth, and he was unable to look away from full lips he wanted to kiss.

  "Come in, I don't bite, much. I tink you will find sometin you want wit'in dese walls." Her thick, Cajun accent may have sounded harsh and exact to some, but it was music to his ears and he didn't have to take another step to find what he wanted, although he appreciated her innuendo.

  "I don't need to further for that," he muttered under his breath, but out loud he said, "Hi, I'm Zeke. Are you Tia? I was sent to find Marie's Mambo, Tia," he shared. Belatedly, he realized this shop was a popular tourist location and might employ humans, as well as, supernaturals.

  Her laugh tinkled through the store as the door shut behind him, alleviating that one worry. Magic pulsed through the shop and his panther went on alert. "Dat depends on who sent you, shifter." Her light-green eyes held a world of knowledge in them and danced with mischief.

  The urge to touch her was undeniable and had him extending his hand, seeking the slightest contact. Her grasp was strong and firm and he stifled his groan over the zap that started where their skin met and traveled at light speed throughout the rest of his body. Arousal followed in its wake and his erection was busting to break through the front of his pants.

  "You pack quite da punch, Zeke," she murmured, giving him an odd look.

  "You're wrong about that, Tia. It's you who packs the punch. I'm a simple shifter lacking magic," he told her honestly.

  "You are wrong about dat, Zeke. You are anytin' but simple." She let go of his hand and turned back to the store.

  Needing to refocus, he got right to the point of why he was there. "Hayden Jesaray sent me. Zander Tarakesh told him that if I wanted information about NOLA, you were the person to see," he replied, enjoying the way her eyes narrowed before smoothing out. She didn't trust him, proving she was a smart female with keen instincts.

  "I remember da vampire King," she murmured, appraising him. "I'm surprised he didn't send you ta Francisco and Pedro at Old Absinthe. Dey run a club and talk ta hundreds nightly whereas I run dis small store. I don' know half what dey do," she replied, turning and heading deeper into her shop. He watched her and noted that her slee
k black hair fell to the middle of her back and was stick straight, gleaming under the soft lighting. His fingers itched to wrap around the thick locks and bring her to his mouth for a soul-searing kiss.

  He had to shake his head to clear his thoughts. He'd never met a Mambo before and for some reason didn't imagine them being this beautiful. Maybe it was their reputation for dealing with the dead and creatures like Wendigo and wraiths. Shit like that brought to mind an image of an old hag with ratty hair and missing teeth, not the exquisite beauty before him.

  Her power was softer than he would have expected. It brushed up against him, as if learning the feel of him and his animal. She was like a gypsy floating gracefully about the room, complete with arms full of thin, metal bangles playing their own medley as she moved.

  He'd never been attracted to a female dressed in loose billowy clothing, but this one had his undivided attention. In a split second, he had memorized every little detail about her from her white see-through shirt, to the outline of her nipples under the tan tank, to the mole adorning the right corner of a mouth that had red lips he wanted to devour.

  "There is a difference between knowing what players are in town and what the players in town are up to. It's the latter information that I need and Francisco and Pedro aren't in a position to give it to me," he explained, walking around the room and looking at all the knickknacks in the shop. He had never seen more objects crammed into one place.

  "I see you're well informed." Her voice was closer than it had been a moment ago and Zeke cocked his head her way, noting she was leaning against the armoire next to him. Over her shoulder, he spotted shelves crowded with shrunken heads, straw dolls with pins stuck through them, dozens of masks, and talisman charms.

  Drawn to her side, he walked over to where she was standing. "As Hayden's second in command, I am very well informed. I like to keep on...top of things," he murmured, reaching past her hip, relishing the way her eyes flared when his arm brushed her side to pick up a charm.

  He inspected the small disc and saw there was a distorted musical note on the front and it had the subtle tingle of magic to it. Curious. Surely, they weren't selling magical objects to human tourists.

  "Dat's a siren charm," she said, twisting her body and increasing the contact between them. Arousal surged and he was tempted to lift her top so he was touching her flesh instead.

  "What does it do?" he asked, needing a distraction.

  "Marie created dose for da Siren Queen so she and her people could mingle wit' others. Dey don't want ta inadvertently lure others ta their side. Dey just want ta have fun, as da saying goes."

  Zeke was aware of the sirens' plight, but had no idea that it had been Marie who had given them the solution. It was a closely guarded secret, but didn't surprise him given Marie's penchant for collecting information and spells on other species.

  "Your Queen is very talented. I assume, as her Mambo, that you are, as well, which brings me back to why I am here. As you may or may not know, Angel's Kiss is rapidly becoming a problem for the realm. Supernaturals everywhere are becoming addicted to the illegal drug and many are dying. Most of those deaths are occurring right here in your backyard."

  Crossing her arms over her chest, tension stiffened her spine. "I had heard dat da drug was a problem. It hasn't hit da Voodoo nation yet. Drugs and our magic don't mix."

  "Yeah, well this drug doesn't mix well with anyone, but my primary concern are the shifters in the area. Of the hundred or so recent deaths caused by Angel's Kiss, fifty of them have been shifters here in NOLA. And, that isn't accounting for the drastic rise in addictions. It seems with your city's flair for living large, the pushers are finding plenty of patrons," he breathed in her rich patchouli scent and his already out of control libido got another kick.

  If he didn't put space between them, he was going to pick her up and take her to the backroom for a quickie. Reluctantly turning away, he scanned the creepy skeletal dolls, totems, and necklaces in the curio several feet away. He doubted there was even one foot of space between all the displays in the shop. Looking up, he saw that more talismans hung from the ceiling.

  The striking of a match grabbed his attention and he watched as Tia lit a candle behind the counter. Behind her head on some shelves, the skulls of various creatures were stacked on top of one another. He crossed the threadbare rug and picked up a totem from a shelf. This time there was no hint of magic, telling him there were mundane objects in the store, as well.

  "Dat could turn ugly in a city like dis. We get lots of tourists here. Last ting we need is for one of dem ta get a dose of dat drug and end up in da hands of da humans." The slight shake of her head sent her large hoop earring swaying, drawing his eye to her slender neck. He wanted to nibble on the sensitive flesh behind her ear as he undressed her. He was out of control with this female. Exactly when did he revert back to his stripling days? He didn’t think he had it this bad at the peak of his sexual maturity.

  "That is exactly our concern which is why I am here. Given the high incidence of use and overdose in the shifter population, we suspect that there is a shifter involved somewhere along the line and we need to know the who, what, and where of the problem," he informed her, turning to focus on her fully.

  "I don't have dat information for you, but I tink I know a way we can get it," she offered, watching him closely.

  "All I need is for you to tell me where to go and who to talk to. I don't want you involved in this." The thought of her being exposed to the filth that was addicting and killing supernaturals and human alike had his blood turning to ice in his veins. His protective instincts roared in his head, telling him to keep her as far away from all of this as possible.

  "Well, dat isn't going ta happen. You came ta me aksin' for my help. Da only help I can offer, I have ta be wit' you. You will get nowhere wit'out me," she informed him, crossing her arms under her ample bosom.

  Rubbing the back of his neck he considered calling Hayden and telling him he'd hit a dead end and there was nothing he could do. Anything but involve this female further.

  "I can tell what you are tinkin' and don't tink you can keep me out of dis. Dis is my city and I will protect it no matter what. Besides, dis first part poses no harm for me. Da dead are my realm," she went on while he pondered ways to keep her safe.

  As her words sunk in, he narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean the dead are your realm?" The image of her surrounded by flesh-eating zombies entered his head, causing a shudder to ripple through him. He'd never encountered zombies and had no idea how he would deal with that, but he recalled stories from Bhric and Jace about their trip to New Orleans where they'd encountered Wendigo. Acid blood, rotting flesh and one cut or scratch and you became one of them? Oh, hell no, he thought vehemently.

  "Not ev'ryting in dis shop are trinkets for da tourists. I supply da Voodoo nation wit' ways ta commune wit' da dead, as is our way. Dat totem over there," she said, pointing to a pile of what looked like bones, "along wit' da bones and ritual knife all carry da power ta reach da dead who linger here."

  Zeke had sensed the magic inherent in many of the objects and had already determined they weren't all for show. "How exactly are the dead going to help us?"

  "You will have ta watch and find out. Da dead don't take kindly ta strangers so you have ta defer ta me. Do you tink you can do dat, shifter?" she asked with a smile in her tone. And, perhaps it was wishful thinking, but he swore he heard the double meaning in what she had just said.

  Would he allow her to lead him? "Oh, I think I will enjoy deferring to you, my chicory. Question is, are you ready for my panther?"

  She threw her head back and laughed heartily. Her eyes twinkled and her face was transformed by her mirth, making her even more stunning. "Meet me back here at eleven t'irty tanight. And, Zeke, I'll have your panther purring like a pussycat."

  CHAPTER TWO

  Tia couldn't stop glancing at the shifter walking beside her. The moment he had walked into her door, she had suspect
ed who he was. When the Vampire King had taunted her all those months ago, she had reluctantly given information on her queen after he had insinuated that he knew where her Fated Mate could be found. Like most in the realm, after the matings had resumed, Tia had been anxious to find the one who carried the other half of her soul.

  In a moment of sheer weakness, she had betrayed the female who had seen promise in her and mentored her from the time she was a young girl. She told the Vampire King where she lived. Luckily, all they wanted was to ask her some questions. Afterwards, Tia had surrendered to the Voodoo Queen and admitted her wrongdoing, ready to accept her punishment.

  Marie said she understood and wasn’t going to take action against her. She’d decided not to question Marie about it and took it as a gift. She suspected it was the smooth-talking Vampire Prince, Bhric, Marie had gone on and on about and still mentioned from time to time. Whatever that vampire had done or said, he got Marie's panties in a tither.

  It wasn't until after the dust had settled and Tia had considered how she was going to ask for permission to go to Seattle that she had realized the Vampire King had bluffed. There was no way he could know who her mate was. No one had that ability as far as she was aware. And yet, she wondered if the Goddess had been speaking through Zander that day because here stood Zeke, and he was, as Zander had claimed, second in command to the Omega.

  The mere thought that this handsome shifter was hers had her chest swelling with emotion and her soul stirring.

  "Have you lived here your whole life?" Zeke asked as he kicked a rock, sending it skittering down the street.

  Tia crossed her hands behind her back to keep from reaching for his hand. She looked up at him, noting he was much taller than her short stature of barely over five-feet. A lock of dark brown hair fell onto his forehead, making him look disheveled. And damn if that didn't have her body responding even more. From the moment she had seen him standing outside her shop, his blue eyes had mesmerized her before she'd caught sight of the rest of him.