[Southern Arcana 1] Crux by Moira Rogers Read Free Book Online Page B

terrified, and he cursed silently. “I’m sorry we scared you earlier, but you don’t have to leave. Whatever you think is going on…”
    She stared at him as if she could see through him. When she finally met his gaze again, her eyes were weary.
    “Something’s going on,” she said quietly. “I don’t know what it is, and maybe it’s harmless. Maybe you’re all nice people. If you are, though… Well, I still should leave. Nice people can get hurt.”
    “Not us,” he told her confidently. “Well, it’s not likely .
    Whatever you’re up against, whoever’s got you on the run, we can help. Let us.”
    Even as she shook her head, Jackson could tell Kat had been right. Mackenzie wanted to trust him; it was clear she was wavering. More obvious was the fact that she’d reached the limits of her endurance. As he watched, tears welled and she hastened to close her eyes.
    “It’s too much. He’ll just keep finding me, and his guys will hurt anyone who’s in the way. He’s crazy, Jackson. Out of his damn mind.”
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    Crux
    His heart clenched painfully, and he took a slow, careful step closer. “ Who , Mackenzie? Tell me who it is, and we can make him leave you alone. There isn’t—” His words cut off as a frisson of electricity shot through him.
    Magic.
    Someone was casting a spell, and that someone was close.
    He shivered again and looked around. He saw nothing, but the feeling intensified, chilling him despite the heat. “Crap.” Her eyes flew open, and she stiffened. “What?” A sudden thought occurred to him, and he reached out, his hands landing on her upper arms. “How far has he chased you, Kenzie? How many cities?”
    “I—” She stared at him, eyes wide and frightened. “This is the fifth. I thought it was my car, so I left it behind in Memphis.”
    “Dammit. They’re tracking you, all right, but it’s not anything you can avoid or stop.” He let go of her and grabbed her bag, taking her hand with his free one. “Come on. We’ve got to get out of here. They’re close.” She froze, suspicion clear on her face. “How would you know? What’s going on ?”
    He wouldn’t get very far if he had to drag her through the French Quarter. Jackson groaned as the electric feeling raised the hair on the back of his neck. “Can we please save the www.samhainpublishing.com 63

    Moira Rogers
    explanations for later, when the crazy guy isn’t about to descend on us?”
    She hesitated for a split second and then started, shivering so violently Jackson felt her hand tremble in his. “What in hell—”
    He didn’t get a chance to respond. Two men walked around the corner of the building, wearing near-identical expressions of satisfaction. The one on the left was tall and dark with a T-shirt that stretched tightly over hard muscles.
    His companion was the opposite, delicate and waiflike, with his tousled hair not even reaching the top of the other man’s shoulder.
    The tangible aura of magic flowed, strong and steady, from the shorter man. His brown eyes fixed on Mackenzie, and he grinned. “Damn, I’m good.”
    Times like this, having Alec around tended to come in handy. “Evenin’, boys,” Jackson said, his manner not betraying his sudden tension even as his hand tightened around Mackenzie’s. “Can I help you with something?” The two men exchanged looks, and the taller one stepped forward. “We gonna do this the hard way, Jessica?” Mackenzie’s fingers dug into his hand, but her voice stayed steady. “Stop calling me that. I already told you that I’m not Jessica Evans, whoever she is.” 64
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    Crux
    He started to take another step, but the short man reached out suddenly, his eyes focused on Jackson. “Watch out, Eddie.
    He’s a caster, and not second-rate, either.”
    “Really.” The man named Eddie surveyed Jackson before switching his gaze back to Mackenzie. “So, Jess—I’m sorry.
    Mackenzie . You finally