Devil's Own Read Online Free Page A

sort of is. I’m a Wiccan. I cannot and will not pass judgment on the religious and spiritual choices of others.” He sighed, his gaze sweeping over the note. “Wicca is the worship of life, joy, love, and nature, while Satanism worships the evil in the world and within us all. It is the very antithesis of all I believe in.” He hesitated. “Still… I wouldn’t stand in anyone’s way if that faith was what they chose. The Goddess called to me. It’s understandable some… other deity calls to someone else.” Gus did not want to be a hypocrite, no matter how badly his skin crawled at the thought of worshipping at the altar of evil. But he had his own prejudices about this.
    “What’s wrong?” As usual, Niall was attuned to Gus’s discomfort.
    “Look, I don’t think I’m the best person to help you out with this. I….” He doubted himself more, wondering how to phrase what he meant. “I know I shouldn’t think like that…. Not considering how witches have been regarded throughout history, and even still today.”
    “Oookay….” Niall quirked an eyebrow, obviously waiting for an explanation.
    “They give me the heebie-jeebies, okay?” Gus hissed back, frustrated and ashamed at the same time. He didn’t want to be a man with prejudices, but he just couldn’t help it. “Anyway, I don’t know enough about them to help you,” he added quietly.
    “Chill, babe.” Niall’s smile remained soft and understanding. “I’ll ask around if—”
    “Juliette knows about them,” Gus suggested. Juliette Hayes was Gus’s teacher in the Wiccan way, a high priestess of great renown in Seattle. “She’s studied new religious movements for many years, including Satanism.”
    “New… what?” Niall cocked his head to the side with a puzzled frown.
    “It refers to religious and spiritual groups of modern origin; say, twentieth century onward. Like Satanism, Wicca is one. Well, it depends on who you’re asking.” Gus studied Niall carefully. “If you want, I can call Juliette and ask her if she’d speak with you today.”
    Niall smiled gratefully, and Gus’s groin tightened with heat. “That would be great. Thanks, babe.”
    Rolling his eyes over the endearment, Gus started dialing Juliette’s private number.
    Niall looked about, wrinkling his nose. Gus had seen that expression before. The shop carried items with heavy scents, such as aromatherapy sticks and perfumed candles. The smell of sandalwood was usually the strongest of the bunch, but now the air was all but clean. “You’ve aired the shop, I see. No more smoke.”
    “Yeah. Pretty great, eh?” To Gus’s statement, Niall answered with a nod.
    After the fire that had nearly burned Gus’s shop to the ground—not to mention having killed a man in the process—the pungent odors of smoke, soot, and water damage had dominated the small space. After the debris had been cleared and the place fixed, Gus simply didn’t have it in him to keep smoking incense or burning candles about anymore. Maybe one day he’d feel comfortable doing so again, but not now.
    Focusing on the task at hand, Gus spoke with Juliette, and in less than a minute, he had scheduled a meeting between his mentor and his boyfriend. “All set, Niall. Have fun.”
    Niall leaned over the counter to plant a soft, but confident, kiss on his lips. He winked as he backed away toward the door. “Later, Gus.” Then he was gone.
    Gus worried his lower lip, wondering how to deal with this latest development. Niall’s last case had gotten Gus into trouble, though it had been his own fault too, for meddling. Witches had died. Gus had almost died.
    And now this Satanism business? Gus was concerned; he couldn’t help himself. It was in his nature to worry about his loved ones. Well, since the L -word had not yet been uttered by either man, perhaps “those he cared about” was a more accurate way of putting it.
    If he got off work early tonight, he could dash right over to Juliette’s