Incubus of Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase Read Free Book Online Page B

was uncomfortable. “There’s a disturbance in the shadow world,” I said. “The high angel has ordered us to investigate. No one knows yet what’s going on.”
    “Last night Jade and I went into the shadows, and my energy was leeched or stolen. Jade brought me back out, but if she hadn’t been there, I’d have been stuck,” Kane said. “Obviously this is a concern for all incubi.”
    Maximus stood and crossed his arms over his chest. “Actually, Mr. Rouquette, it isn’t. Two different teams have ventured into the shadows. One yesterday and another one early this morning. None of them were affected.”
    Unease spread from my gut and sent ripples of goosebumps over my skin. Why had the shadows weakened Kane and not any of the other incubi?
    “No one?” Kane asked.
    Maximus shook his head. “There’s more.”
    “What did you find?” I asked.
    Maximus picked up a file off his desk and tossed it to Kane. “The shadows are tainted with incubus energy.”
    “Huh?” I asked. “No, it isn’t. I would’ve felt it.”
    He raised both his eyebrows and stared pointedly at Kane.
    “Mine?” Kane flipped the file open and scanned the paperwork. Then he looked up at Maximus. “It says here it was tainted yesterday afternoon. How is that possible? We didn’t go in until last night.”
    “You tell me.” Maximus leaned against the desk, his expression revealing nothing.
    “Wait a minute.” My mind whirled. The club had been soaked in Kane’s energy as well. Something was very wrong. I stood and placed my hands on my hips. “What do you mean, tainted?”
    “It means, Ms. Calhoun, that the reason the angels were drained is because incubus energy stole it. Kane’s energy. Somehow, the shadows are bursting with his magic, feeding off the angels.”
    Holy crap. He already knew about the angels. How?
    “Don’t look so surprised,” Maximus said to me. “I knew about the attack before you did.”
    He had to have an informant from the angel realm. Chessandra had been clear very few people knew what happened.
    Kane jumped to his feet, ignoring our exchange. “That’s crazy. I haven’t done anything to the shadows. And if you recall, we just told you I myself was drained.”
    Maximus picked up Kane’s file, made a note, and then put it into one of his desk drawers. When he finally looked up again, he said, “The shadows are a strange, mystical place, Mr. Rouquette. Whatever was used clearly backfired. The shadows are hungry for more of your magic and will take it by force.”
    “But not mine? Or other incubi?” As I heard myself ask the question, I cringed internally at my omission. I had been weakened, though I’d been able to fight it. Since Kane and I shared magic, was it possible the shadows were feeding off the magic he’d shared with me?
    “Incubi magic doesn’t feed on other incubi magic. And as for you, I suspect your powers are strong enough to ward off the intrusion.”
    I nodded absently, acknowledging his explanation.
    Kane sat back down, holding his head in his hands.
    “You know Kane didn’t do anything to the shadows,” I said to Maximus as I eased back into my chair.
    He stared at me, his expression blank. But then there was a tiny flash of frustration and he placed his elbows on his desk. “I’d like to think that’s true. But right now, we don’t have any solid answers. All we know is that Kane’s energy is what’s causing the disturbance and for that reason, he needs to be suspended.”
    Kane’s head snapped up. “What?”
    Maximus stood again. “Kane Rouquette, I am officially suspending you from the Brotherhood, pending an investigation. Please turn in your dagger.” Maximus held his hand out and before Kane could grab the hilt, his dagger vanished from his hip and reappeared in Maximus’s outstretched hand.
    Kane stood there, his mouth partially open and his eyes wide.
    “But he didn’t do anything,” I said quietly, my heart thrumming with anxiousness. His dagger was