Welcome to the Kali Sweet Chronicles. Sweet Malice is the fifth book in the Kali Sweet Urban Fantasy series and will be released to retailers in February 2025. I’ll release a chapter twice a month here in my Magic Bites Membership, and I look forward to reading your comments! *Please note that these are UNEDITED and some story elements may change before the official book release in February. Enjoy!
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Sweet Malice, Kali Sweet Urban Fantasy Series
©2024 Misty Evans
Chapter Eight
The Canadian couple lived in a suburb of Vancouver, a city I’d never visited in my three hundred years. While playing tourist might have been nice, I was tired, keyed up about Michael and Lilith, and had too many others on my list to bring into the fold of Fallen.
Cole bent at the waist, taking a moment to regroup after our spin through nothingness to arrive outside the perimeter of a two-acre dog rescue. The time difference put us at eight in the evening, and through the dusk, I saw a single light inside the farmhouse. Kennels lay to the right, and the entire property was fenced.
However, the gate at the end of the long drive was open, and I began walking up the graveled path. A fine mist fell, layering my face as well as the ground. “Emie and Rachel Horsog, owners and partners of Le Bon Chien Small Dog Rescue and Rehabilitation,” I informed Cole.
“Two for one?” he asked, pushing himself upright and following. “They’re both Fallen?”
“According to the list.”
He scanned the place while I sent out tendrils of magic, searching for signs of angels or demons. The only thing that returned was peaceful night air and the cool earth exhaling as it absorbed the gentle rain.
Before we got three yards from the door, a cacophony of barking erupted from the kennels, a stream of frenzied pint-sized canines raising hell at us and rushing the wire enclosures. An equally loud commotion began inside, and one of the women raised her voice, telling those dogs to settle down.
The porch light came on as I knocked on the wooden door decorated with a grapevine wreath. Next to it, a plaque on the vinyl siding listed the organization’s name and founding date, with a brass image of a dog in relief.
A dark-haired gal peeked through the transom side window before unlocking and cracking open the door. “Oui? Are you the Martins?” she asked with a French accent that made her question sound like, Are you zzzMartins?
Behind her, the soft glow of a floor lamp spotlighted a dog gate and at least six furry noses pressed against it. One terrier mix with a white mustache and heavy brows jumped on his hind legs, trying to see over the others. He continued barking at a high, ear-splitting pitch.
Having her invite us inside would make things easier, but lying about who we were would backfire in the trust department and make her more resistant to going with us. “We’d like to talk to you about an opportunity,” I hedged.
The crack widened a few centimeters. “For zee rescue?”
Not exactly, but this would take all night if I had to get more creative. “We were hoping to speak with you and your partner. Is she here?”
“Who is it?” A stately female came up behind her, sporting a giant Afro and a brightly colored kaftan. A large gold brooch shaped like a sun weighed down the collar. The center held a bright blue gem, which sparkled in the low light.
“We thought we wanted to adopt a big dog,” Cole said over my shoulder, “but a recent run-in with some hounds made us change our minds.”
Each of them stared hard at us. They didn’t quite know if we were lying, but they were trusting souls by nature. The first one opened the door all the way. “You wish to adopt a small dog?”
Looks like lying it is. “Yes,” I said. “Small and obedient.”
The term obedient made her frown. “I’m not sure if we have anything right for you.”
That was assured. I jutted my chin at the brooch, the ice-blue light continuing to draw my attention. “That’s beautiful. Where did you get it?”
The change in direction made both of them hesitate. They exchanged a look, and the bearer of the brooch said, “I found it while walking the pack.”
Had she? Or had a particular archangel made sure she found it? “It’s very unique. I don’t think I’ve seen one quite like that.”
Cole threw his arm around my shoulders as if we were involved and squeezed me to him. “Kali loves her jewelry. I know it’s late, but we had a heart set on looking at the dogs tonight.”
“Just a moment,” the first one said and shut the door in our faces.
Cole released his grip as the sound of their sotto voce conversation filtered through the wood, half in French and half in English.
“It’s not clowns, bugs, or hellhounds,” I murmured, “but it’s not going to be any easier.”
The dogs fell silent. So did the women. I held my breath, waiting to see if they’d invite us in, try to run, or call the cops.
“Sorry,” the first called through the door. I heard the quiet thunk of the deadbolt sliding into the locked position. “We’re not right for you. There’s another rescue a few towns over. You should check with zhem.”
“It’s always the hard way,” I said under my breath. Motioning Cole to go around to the rear, I raised my voice. “I’m afraid that won’t work, Rachel. We’re not here for a dog. We’re here for you and Emie.”
I reeled off my spiel, calculating the police would be here in approximately ten minutes, maybe less. “I don’t want to use force,” I told them, “but it’s imperative you come with us now. You’re in danger from the entity who gave you the brooch.”
Emie spoke from inside. “He told us you’d say that. Go away. We know who you are, and we don’t want anything to do with—”
The back door splintered, and all hell broke loose, dogs barking and the two women screaming. Sending a thread of magic into the lock, I popped it back and entered.
“Don’t hurt zee dogs!” Rachel cried as Cole subdued her.
Emie roared in rage and leaped for him as the tiny yapping army at his feet tried to bring him down. I froze the irate female, suspending her mid-jump, but laughed at the fierce attackers tearing at Cole’s pant legs and sinking their teeth into his boots. A fat but equally fierce one hung from his arm, its tiny paws scrabbling in the air as it tried to take a chunk out of him. He shot a dose of his magic into Rachel, and her eyes rolled up in her head. She slumped to the ground.
“Get this thing off me,” he growled, shaking his arm and the dog.
While he was equally as dangerous as I was, all the dogs, except that one, scattered when I approached. They peeked out from doorways but whimpered and snorted. The one on his arm only growled more menacingly, and again, I couldn’t help but laugh. “You can’t take care of a five-pound Chihuahua?”
“Not without hurting it.”
I wasn’t sure I could detach it without hurting it, either. I gestured at the couch. “Sit down.”
He did, carrying the struggling dog through the air until he could rest her on the cushion. I knelt beside her and stroked the top of her apple-shaped head. “You’re exceptionally tough, but now it’s time to let go of the nice demon. Can you do that for me?”
She side-eyed me but didn’t release him. I massaged her jaws, trying to get them to loosen up. If I sent magic into her, I wasn’t sure she could handle it, even at a low dose. “Who’s a good girl who’s going to release her prey? You’ve protected Rachel and Emie well. Now you can relax.”
She braced her feet on the couch and seemed to sink her teeth deeper. “Ow!” Cole yelped.
Scanning the room, my eyes caught on random toys, but I went for the bag of treats sitting on a table. I shook the bag as I returned, peeling the top open and waving it around by her nose. Several other dogs hesitantly stepped into the room again, knowing the sound and smell of those treats.
I saw her at war with herself, wanting a treat and unwilling to let go of Cole. “Come on, little doggy. You know you want the treat. It tastes way better than the ugly demon.”
Demon blood tastes gross to humans and animals. While she probably didn’t understand my words, she did understand the difference between the chicken-flavored treat in the shape of a bone that I pulled out and held in front of her face and the gasoline-tasting blood she was drawing. With a swift action that caught me off guard, she released him and jumped on the biscuit, tearing off into what looked like the bedroom. The herd of dogs looking for their treat tore off after her.
Black blood oozed from the wound, and he used a throw pillow to wipe it off. He sank back on the couch, holding his arm while it healed. “Now what? Can you transport all four of us back to the institute with that ring?”
“I have no idea. Guess we’ll give it try.” I looked around at the dogs who were creeping back into the room. The long-haired Chihuahua hadn’t shared her treat, and they wanted theirs. “What should we do with them?”
“You’re asking me?” He stood. “I don’t know. Open the doors and let them run free.”
A hundred years ago, that’s what we would’ve done. Sure, people had had pets back then, but most had been far less concerned about their care and well-being. “We’re evolved, now. We don’t turn dogs loose to fend for themselves.”
I searched Rachel for a cell phone but didn’t find one. Next, I checked Emie. She had one in the pocket of her kaftan. I searched her contacts, finding several labeled ‘fosters.’ I sent a group text explaining that she and Rachel had to go out of town indefinitely. I needed someone to come and take care of the dogs.
I didn’t wait for a reply, setting the phone on the coffee table.
Cole picked up Rachel, and I picked up Emie, drawing the ring on its chain out from under my shirt. “Ready?” I asked, managing to hook an arm through his.
“Wait—”
Too late, I felt teeth sink into my leg as we catapulted through time and space.
We landed on our butts inside the perimeter of the Bridge Institute, setting off all the alarms.
Caught in a tangled heap of arms and legs, I cried out at the excruciating pain in my calf, discovering my chihuahua friend had tagged along for the ride.
Cole reached down to haul me to my feet, grinning at our hitchhiker. “Whose a good dog now?” he crooned.
I made a rude gesture, wishing I’d brought those treats with me. The dog would not let go, so I hoofed it over to Emie, removing the brooch from her clothing and pocketing it. She cried over Rachel, who began to wake.
Demons streamed from the building, locked and loaded to take us down, and Cole yelled, “Don’t shoot. It’s just us. We brought angels.”
Aphrodite—Di—and my vampire friend Maddy rushed out, racing past the guards to envelop me in hugs. Di saw the dog and bent down, exclaiming, “You got a dog?”
“It’s not staying.”
However, it released its clamp on my leg, and she scooped it up. “It certainly is.” She nuzzled its face. “You’ve been through such a trauma. Let’s get you inside and get you something to eat.”
I swear the dog peered over her shoulder to grin at me.
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Uh oh. Looks like Kali has more than an angel admirer. What do you think Di will name the dog?