by Tara Lain
“Yeah. So this guy, this mage named Odan, moved in two doors down from BeBop, Dij, and Fatima. That put him next to me and Carla when we moved in.”
“I heard that name. Odan. He came here to report on you. I overheard the conversation. He tried to convince Hillebrand and another Olympus leader that you and Carla were regular kids consumed with college and nothing else.”
Jazz sighed. “That’s what we wanted him to think, but then this other mage comes after me with two helpers, and I had to take him out.”
“You turned wolf?” Dash tried not to look shocked.
“Nope.” Jazz looked up through his lashes. “Magic. I mean, all of a sudden I was blasting energy out of my fingers, and I barely know how I did it. But it pretty much queered the whole ‘innocent college kid’ scenario.” He shook his head. “So why do you think they’re trying to abduct me? Hell, I’m nobody.”
“Are you kidding? The only werewolf mage on the planet that we know of besides Nardo.”
Jazz shook his head. “But if anybody knows I’m an untrained newbie, it’s Nardo.”
“You almost killed him.” After Dash and Lysandra had nearly been ground to dust by Nardo, Jazz had shifted into a wolf on the fly and almost ripped out the master mage’s throat.
“Only because I took him by surprise.” Jazz chewed his lip and stared into space. “Maybe they think I’m going to interfere with your loyalty?”
“Why would they go to all that trouble? I’m not that important.”
“Sure looks that way.” Jazz leaned back on his elbows.
Man, he’s adorable. Dash bent down and nibbled on Jazz’s lips. He whispered, “What are we going to do with you? Shouldn’t you go home to Connecticut?”
Jazz shook his head vehemently and sat up. “I can’t get my family involved.”
“Why? I doubt the mages will come after you if they have to get through most of the alpha wolves of the East Coast.”
Jazz shook his head. “We can’t be sure of that, Dash. You remember what Nardo was like. He’s dangerous. And even though he’s part wolf, it’s not a pack fight. Hell, I started this Nardo mess, and it looks like it isn’t over.”
“We started it.”
He gazed at Dash with his big golden eyes. “Not really. If Nardo hadn’t kidnapped me, you wouldn’t have been dragged into the danger. I nearly got you killed and—”
“Stop.” Dash planted his lips against Jazz’s to shut him up, but then the kiss became an end in itself. They relaxed into exploration for a couple of minutes. Finally Dash leaned back. “I want to protect you from harm, and you want the same for me. This approach isn’t going to keep Nardo in wizard jail.”
Jazz nodded and rested his forehead against Dash’s lips.
Dash kissed Jazz’s soft skin, then said, “Truthfully, it probably won’t work, either. They sent spies after you when they had no reason to think you were anything except a Yale student. Somebody’s seriously jonesing for you, Jazz, and we don’t even know why exactly.”
“I’m irresistible.”
“Hell, that’s certainly true.” He pressed Jazz back onto the narrow, hard mattress and leaned over him. “I’m of two minds.”
Jazz pointed at Dash’s head. “One up there.” He flipped his finger so it pointed down. “And one down there?” He chuckled.
Dash grinned. “Kind of. I want you to stay with me, but I hate for the very first time we get to have sex to be when we’re both jumping at every sound and expecting some dark mage to burst in at any minute.”
“Hey, that might be better than a cop with a flashlight in the back seat of a car.”
Dash burrowed against Jazz’s neck. “So, do you want to stay?”
The slamming knock on Dash’s door shot them both to sitting and then on their feet beside the bed.
Dash pointed frantically to the trunk but Jazz was already there. Dash called, “Who is it?”
“Vice Chancellor Warden.”
Very quietly, Jazz lifted the lid, slid inside, and closed the top after him.
“Just a moment, sir. I’m not dressed.” He grabbed his sleep pants from a hook behind the tiny closet door and draped them over the trunk as if he’d just taken them off. With a pull, he unfastened the belt on his jeans and untucked his shirt, then kicked off his shoes. Rushing to the door, he glanced back to be sure everything looked okay.
Wait.
He grabbed his spell book from under a stack of novels and tossed it open on his rumpled bed.
Then he ripped open the door, wiping a hand across his face and buttoning his shirt with the other hand. “Yes, sir. What’s wrong?”
Warden pushed past Dash into his room. “Someone reported hearing voices in your room.”
“Voices?”
“Yes. You know that no females are allowed in this tower, Dash. I don’t have to tell you that.”
“Sir, I know that well, and I happen to be gay, so if there was a girl up here, I assure you she’d be perfectly safe.”
He widened his eyes but said, “You don’t have a radio or a music player do you?”
“No, sir, those aren’t allowed.”
“I’m aware of that.” Warden paced the few steps required to circumnavigate the entire room, even opening the closet door.
Dash folded his arms. “Uh, sir, I was working in my spell book. Is there a chance that someone heard me practicing?”
“What?”
“Uh, spells.” He pointed at the book. He tossed his head back, held out his hand, and pronounced, “Ignem.” A little flame danced a couple of inches above his palm.
Warden sputtered, “You’re not supposed to be doing magic outside the classroom.”
“I wasn’t performing the magic, sir, just practicing the spells.” He winked out the flame.
“Out loud?” Warden sounded confused.
“Yes. There’s no other way to learn how to pronounce them.”
Warden crossed his arms, which kind of made him look like a toad. “So you were practicing spells and someone heard you talking to yourself?”
“If someone heard talking, that’s all I can think of.” Dash frowned. Okay, time to turn the tables. He stalked the few steps to the end of the room and back to Warden. “Besides, if I want to recite the damned Gettysburg Address in my room, I’m not sure what business it is of some other student.” He planted his hands on his hips. “In fact, I’ve never told anyone this, but I’ve been treated badly by other students since I got to Arcantaria, and I’m sick of it. I thought it was because I was being shown my own ego in preparation for joining the Olympus Club, but if someone’s still at it, then I cry foul. I’ve done nothing that I’m aware of to any other student, and I don’t know where this reprisal is coming from. It’s been so severe, I’ve considered resigning my place at Arcantaria.”
That got Warden’s attention. “No, of course you should never consider such a thing. You’re one of our finest students. It’s simply jealousy. You’ve shown some of the other students to be far less capable than you. I’m sorry I gave any credence to this student’s claims, and I’ll be certain they don’t hurt you again.”
“Good.” If he was lucky that might get rid of one potential opponent. I wonder who that is. “I’ve tried not to complain, but this is the final straw.”
“Yes, well, go back to your studying. No wonder you’re so talented. Working so hard.”
“I’m actually tired. I was getting ready to sleep when you knocked, so I’ll be tucking in to bed soon.”
“Sleep well.” He smiled in a fatherly way and left, closing the door behind him.
Dash rested his hands on his thighs and took a breath, then hurried to lift the trunk lid.
Looking inside, he barked a laugh. Curled in a ball at the bottom of the trunk like a little wolf cub lay Jazz—sound asleep. “I can sure tell that you’re scared for your life.”
“Wh-what?” His big golden eyes fluttered open, and Jazz looked up at Dash.
Dash put a finger t
o his lips.
Jazz nodded and unfolded himself from the trunk. He stepped out, leaned toward Dash, and whispered, “You seemed to have everything under control, so I figured I could grab a couple winks.”
Dash chuckled.
“So what now?” Jazz’s breath tickled against Dash’s ear.
Dash murmured, “Obviously somebody’s watching me. Not sure why. I guess they could be pro-Nardo, anti-Nardo, or just assholes. Still, it pretty much means you can’t stay here.”
Jazz nodded.
“It would be tough even without the surveillance. There’s no real privacy in here. But how can you get out, and where will you go if you do?”
Jazz raised a finger, sat on the bed, and waggled toward Dash to sit beside him. When Dash pressed close, Jazz asked, “Remember in the summer when I became invisible and sneaked into the office in the Vanessen building and you caught me?”
“Sure.”
“Does that mean most mages can see another mage who’s invisible?”
Dash shook his head. “No. Different mages have different skills, and some are unusual. Invisibility happens to be one of mine and yours, but not a lot of mages can do it.”
Jazz nodded and said, “That makes sense because I turned invisible when I was following this lady wizard through the arch at Washington Square and—”
Dash grabbed Jazz’s arm. “Wait. Are you telling me that we’re in Washington Square?”
“No.”
“Oh, okay.”
“We’re at NYU. Washington Square is across the street.” Jazz grinned.
“You’re fucking kidding me.”
“Not even. Think of it as Greenwich Himalayas Village.” He pressed his head against Dash’s and chuckled.
Dash wiped a hand over his face. Gods, he’d felt so isolated, and all the time his friends had been outside the door. He blew out a long breath. “So are you planning on becoming invisible so you can get out of here?”
“Yeah, if you think it’ll work.”
“I’d stay away from Hillebrand. You know, lover boy with the red hair. He’s got some major skills. Aside from that, you might be good. The problem is, you can’t predict. We haven’t studied invisibility, so I don’t know who can do it and who can’t. The upside is that I can’t see you when you’re invisible unless I am too, so that might be true for other mages with the power.”
“Seems like my best shot. I got in here without it because I was afraid in Arcantaria anyone could see me. Since that’s not true, I’ll use it to get out but still be careful not to be seen if I can.” He raised his eyebrows. “I might even be able to get into my apartment that way. Unless invisibility turns out to be in Odan’s repertoire.”
“Where’s the exit to this place?”
“Believe it or not, it’s through a closet in an office down one of the halls.”
“How Narnia of them. Which office?”
“They all look the same to me, but I think that dude who was romancing you has an office on the same hall. I can show you.”
“So is it just a door?”
“Magic portal door.”
“Seriously?” Jazz nodded, and Dash felt light-headed. “How did you find it? You’re amazing.”
“BeBop saw it first, then I followed that same redheaded loverboy when he went through the portal. It’s a long story, but I kind of forced my way inside. Then I didn’t know how to get out, so I followed a couple back into the closet and heard them say the password. That’s how I got back in.” He flashed those teeth again.
“Whoa. What’s the password?”
Jazz whispered close against Dash’s ear. “Aperi portam. Want to come with me?”
Dash turned and looked into that beautiful face. “Yes. I want to come with you and stay with you forever.”
Jazz cupped Dash’s face with his palms. “But…?”
“But nothing. That’s the truth.” He sighed. “And I think I’m in the middle of something I can’t let go. If somebody’s going to this much trouble to break out Nardo, they’ve got to have big plans for the future, and I expect those plans will be bad for a whole lot of humans as well as supes.”
“By bad I assume you mean like really bad.” Jazz grimaced and visibly shivered.
Dash waved his arms. “The propaganda they throw around is all about saving magery and how wizards are being made second-class citizens by all these evil humans.”
“Yeah, really bad.” Jazz stood. “I better see if I can get out of here before they change the password or something.”
“I’ll come with you as far as the hall.” Dash stood beside him.
“You gonna get invisible too?”
“No. They keep tabs on every student’s magical signature. They know if we’re performing unsanctioned magic.”
“Do you think they know I’m here?” Jazz’s amber eyes got wider at that thought.
“I doubt it. They’d have no way to know your magic patterns. You weren’t brought up in magery. The MagiCouncil hasn’t been tracking you since birth.”
“Okay. I’ll give this a try.”
“Remember, I can’t see you except when I’m invisible too. Stay near me unless you have to run.”
Jazz sucked a breath. He wasn’t quite as laid-back as he put on. For a second, he closed his eyes, his expression softened, and then the outline of his body began to blur. Wink. Gone. He was invisible.
Dash grinned. “Good job.”
Jazz chuckled, his voice floating softly out of the air. “I had the best teacher.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
Dash picked up his spell book.
Jazz’s disembodied voice said, “Planning on doing a little magic, are we?”
Dash grinned. “If someone stops me, I’ll say I couldn’t sleep and I’m going to the obstacle course to try some of the new spells. It’s one place we’re allowed to practice magic. Of course, the obstacle course isn’t on the same hall as Hillebrand’s office. If I get caught there, I’ll have to think fast.” He opened the door to his room and stepped out, leaving it open long enough for Jazz to walk out behind him.
Trotting down the steps, Jazz’s very soft tread sounded beside him, but werewolves were pretty stealthy—thank gods.
At the bottom of the staircase, Dash paused to be sure no one was watching, then strode purposefully down the hall where many of the faculty offices were located. He murmured, “Is this right?”
“Yes.”
Dash kept walking, trying to look like he had a clear reason for going where he was headed. It was late, and most of the office doors were closed, but as they walked Dash vaguely heard voices. He slowed.
Suddenly, Jazz’s invisible hand gripped his arm and pulled him into an empty office, the door of which stood open.
Dash whispered, “What?”
“Shh. I’m listening.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
DASH STARED at where Jazz probably was even though he couldn’t see him. Werewolf ears. Jazz was listening to the conversation in the office a couple of doors ahead. Hillebrand’s office. Dash could have played at that game if he’d been allowed to use his distance hearing. Wonder if I can hear as well as Jazz? But if he activated it, someone, maybe Hillebrand, would know. Not good. Dash whispered, “What’s happening?”
After a pause Jazz spoke softly, but his voice sounded breathless. “They’re talking about doing battle training where they capture and imprison large groups, then select the ones who can be converted. That’s the word he used. Converted.”
Dash swallowed.
Jazz pressed his lips so close to Dash’s ear he could feel them moving as Jazz said, “Do you think this army they’re organizing is for more than breaking out Nardo?”
Dash whispered back. “Seems like once you’ve got the troops trained—”
“—you might as well use them.” Jazz took a breath. “Dash, remember I said I tried the invisibility on a female mage at Washington Square?”
Dash nodded.
&n
bsp; “She disappeared into some kind of portal, different from the Arcantaria entrance. Like more secret or something.”
“What do you think it is?”
Jazz whispered, “What if it’s where they keep Nardo?”
The thought froze Dash. He murmured back, “We’ve got to get in there.”
“I tried. I couldn’t discern the portal at all, and the password spell for Arcantaria didn’t work.”
“Damn. I suspect getting into that portal may be our top priority.”
“If you’re their secret weapon for breaking out Nardo, don’t you think they’re going to have to tell you how to get where he is?”
“Maybe not until the last minute—when it’s too late. We’ve got to find out before then.”
Jazz’s breath actually tickled against Dash’s neck, but it sure wasn’t funny. “I can watch the portal from the outside. See if I can find an opening.”
“And I’ll try to find out the password.”
Jazz said, “How do we reach each other?”
“The usual way. Think portal again and again if you learn anything. I’ll do the same.”
“It’s probably safer for me to break in than for you to escape, so I’ll come to you.”
“Okay.”
“Of course, I’ve got to get out first.”
“Which door is it?”
“Three up the hall on the left.”
Dash reached into seemingly empty air and gathered Jazz into his arms. Even if Dash’s eyes couldn’t see him, Jazz felt like heaven. For a long, sweet minute, Dash held him, then said, “I’ll create a distraction in case Hillebrand has invisibility power.”
“Be careful.” Lips caressed Dash’s ear.
“You too. I love you.” Wow, the slam of Dash’s heart might have been from the risk he was about to take or maybe for the words he’d just spoken for the first time in his life. He took off at a trot, clutching the spell book to his chest and trying not to look back.
