Free Charmed & Dangerous by Candace Havens Page A

world that covers everything.”
    He reached out and touched my arm. Not magic but energy so pure it balled into white light and streamed into my body.
    “Thank you.”
    I walked around the garden for a while longer to clear my mind. When stressed, I actually need to be close to plants, because I do so much earth magic. What was with that ball of energy he passed to me? I’m certain he had no idea he did it.
    Azir is one contradiction after another. In a country known for its oil-rich bounty and mistreatment of women, he pushed for the development of solar power and rights for all.
    It’s a good thing I don’t date clients because he’s totally doable. Don’t even go there, Bronwyn. You can’t even handle Sam.
    Time for dinner. That sheik will tell me the truth or I’ll make him do it. You know I can be a very wily witch.

Eight
    Monday, 5 P.M .
    Waxing moon
    Dubai
    Witches with wicked friends: 1
    S imone called. She’s already in Dallas and Caleb’s going to drive her to Sweet. Explained my situation here. After everything I learned last night there’s no way I’m leaving.
    The sheik is in a truckload of trouble up to his pretty brown eyes. Someone in his family, besides his cousin, wants him dead. He’s received several letters with threats against him and the women’s shelters. Showed me everything and even my jaded brain had a hard time accepting the facts.
    What kind of creep picks on battered women? Bet it’s a regular Joe human. I know some wicked warlocks and demons, but the nastiest beings I’ve ever come across have been of the human variety. No magical powers necessary.
    Didn’t get much from the letters, except I know it’s someone close to the sheik. He received five of them over the last two months. All of them have pleasant sayings like: You have betrayed your people. You must die. The blood of your family is upon your head . Sweet, tender things that make the heart grow warm. Not.
    But Simone also needed my assistance, so I did what I could from ten thousand miles away. That Worgh demon she killed had one pissed-off family. They ganged up on her and messed her up kind of bad. Takes a lot to bring Simone down, and she ended up killing the whole family. But not without some injury to herself. Like most slayers, she heals quickly, but it’ll take a thorough cleansing to get all of the demon poison out of her system.
    “I need a fucking break.” Her usually upbeat voice sounded flat on the phone. “Haven’t had a vacation in four years. Every day, same old crap, and I feel like I’m losing my edge.” The poison had worked its way into her bloodstream, and her speech slurred at the end of some of the words.
    “You and Caleb have the run of the house. I’ll e-mail you exactly what you need to cleanse your system. Right when you get there, go to the fridge. You’ll find a blue bottle. The stuff tastes like shit but drink a cup of it. That’ll start the process.”
    “Bron, what’s wrong with me? I love my job, but right now I don’t care if I ever see another demon.”
    “You’re burned out. But part of that is the poison in your system. Causes a severe depression. Give yourself a couple of weeks. Lay around and read. Play with Casper if you can find her. Watch TV and eat lots of food from Lulu’s. That’s my prescription for you.” I didn’t mention that I’d already sent her a healing spell.
    “If I forget to say it later, thanks.”
    “Not a problem, girlfriend. Just play nice with the boys while you’re in Sweet. They’re a tender-hearted bunch and there’s a coven that will rock your clock if you try any funny stuff.”
    “I always play nice with the boys; you know better than that.”
    She made me laugh. “Simone, just try to pick the ones who aren’t already attached.” She had a problem with the boys, no matter what their marital status, following her around and throwing themselves in front of her. For the most part she ignored them, but when she felt the least