Demons of Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase Page A

to be honest, my duty. As powerful as you are, you have no business running a coven. You barely even know the proper way to conduct a smudging.”
I said nothing. She was right. I’d spent my entire adult life shunning the magical community, not knowing I had power. Just recently, I’d been forced into embracing my witchy side. But I knew next to nothing and almost everything I attempted ended in disaster.
Bea studied her aging hands. “You see, Lailah works for me because she was sent to watch over my soul.”
My gaze flickered between Lailah and Bea. Finally I focused Lailah. She hadn’t done a very good job. A few weeks ago she’d almost killed Bea with poison. Lailah winced. I sent her an apologetic smile then eyed Philip. What kind of mess could I expect from him?
“ Wait,” Pyper said, breaking the silence. “Lailah is your guardian angel?”
Bea nodded.
“ I thought she was assigned to Dan.” My heart squeezed. Did that mean Dan was already lost? I stood, knocking the chair over with a loud crash to the floor. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Philip moved to stand beside me. “Guardian angels are usually kept secret.”
“ You didn’t seem to have a problem telling everyone you’re mine.” I glared at him, frustrated I couldn’t sense any of his emotions.
He shrugged. “They’re in danger. They had a right to know.”
One. Two. Three. I sucked in a breath and mentally finished counting to ten. It didn’t help. Through clenched teeth, I asked, “And Dan? Is he…I mean, since he’s gone, does that mean…?” I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.
“ He’s still assigned to me,” Lailah said with a huff of impatience. “I am capable of watching over more than one soul at a time. For the record, I’ve been assigned to Bea for about a year now. Long before Dan was put on my radar.”
I gaped at them. “But why?”
Bea placed a reassuring hand over mine and squeezed. “Because you were coming, dear.”
 

Chapter 10
     
Holy shit. What was I? Destruction central?
Well, so far, Lailah had been all but useless. I’d been the one to cure Bea when she’d compromised her life energy after banishing Roy to Hell. I’d also been the one to save her from Meri’s black magic.
What had Lailah done besides expose Pyper to a demented ghost, get Kane kidnapped into Purgatory, and poison Bea? Some angel she was. Hopefully Philip didn’t share her talent for fucking up.
Anger lashed out at me from across the room. I raised my eyes to Lailah’s slanted gaze. You’re forgetting a few details , she spat in my mind . Like how without my help, Bea never would have been able to banish Roy, or how Kane would still be in Purgatory if I hadn’t brought him back. You’re far from perfect yourself, Jade.
Shame seized me. I’d forgotten she could hear my thoughts. And she was right. She was hardly to blame for all the crazy we’d been subjected to. I took a deep breath . I’m sorry. Bad day. I’m not thinking rationally.
Obviously . She turned her gaze from mine, a twinge of despair seeping through her anger.
Shit. I was a terrible person.
“ Jade.” Bea gently laid her hand on my arm.
I eyed the fingers pressing into my wrist, only looking up when she said my name again.
“ None of this is your fault,” she continued.
Shaking my head, I clamped my mouth shut. I didn’t want to argue with her, but it was clear if I hadn’t moved to New Orleans, none of this would be happening.
But if you hadn’t, your mother would still be missing . This time it wasn’t Lailah intruding in my head. It was my own subconscious reminding me of at least one good thing that had come of all this.
My gaze traveled to Kane. Okay, two good things.
Bea shifted beside me. “White witches attract those who seek power. Considering your magical strength, it’s not a surprise you’d be at the center of such chaos.”
I gave Bea my full attention. “What about you? Why did Lailah only show up months before I appeared?