by CC Dragon
“Some of the bad guys have magic,” I added.
“I can feel the weird magic coming off of you,” Lily replied.
I shared a look with Mason. His sister was strong, but too young to be in any magical fights.
“Mom wants you home,” Mason said.
“Why did you go to the vampire town?” Lily asked.
I focused on browning meat. Daddy issues were hard, and it wasn’t my family.
“We were trying to find out any info they had on this human trafficking. Vampires might like buying humans and keeping them alive to feed off of.” Mason folded his arms. “They didn’t have captives. But you need to go home. Be safe in the village. There is plenty of time for you to nose around Alaska learning about magics.”
“Is that what you want?” I asked her.
She nodded. “I love our sort of magic, but I want to learn about everyone. Vampires, shifters, and Fae. The Djinn and the warlocks and witches. Everyone.”
“Not everyone is friendly,” I warned.
“I know, but I’d love to be a fly on the wall. See how they work. Their rules. It might improve relations among the various magical and paranormal groups,” she said.
“That is a lofty goal for your adult life.” I wanted to keep her safe, too, but she wasn’t my family.
“Ugh, I hate being a kid. No one lets me do anything. When I take a chance to do something myself, I get in trouble.” She sat the table. “Can I stay for dinner?”
“It’ll be a couple hours,” I said to Mason.
Mason sat at the table with his sister. “You set the table and do the dishes, and you must tell me if you’ve traveled anywhere else. You’re going to get yourself hurt sneaking out of the village.”
“That’s just working on my magic. Testing myself.” She shrugged. “I’ll help, but don’t tell Mom.”
“You must be able to test yourself in the village.” I tried to play the mediator.
She shook her head. “They are always so protective. Like I’m a helpless baby.”
“You need to focus on school and less magical lessons as well.” Mason helped her set the table.
“I want a magical life,” Lily said.
Mason sighed. “I know. Dot has been trying to avoid one, but I think it’s found her. Be glad you’re free to choose, and it’s easy for you.”
“She’s strong.” Lily gave me a look like I was faking being weak.
“I stole magic from a bad guy.” I smiled.
Mason shot me a look of disgust and annoyance.
“Really? Cool.” Lily put out the silverware and glasses.
“Not to be attempted,” Mason said.
Lily came over and watched as I added the meat to the stew pot. “Could you drain my brother’s magic?”
“Sure.” I shrugged.
“How?” she asked.
I didn’t have an answer. “I just do it. Never really get a fight.”
“Awesome. She’s weird for a Fae but strong.” Lily smiled at Mason.
“Not everyone’s magical lineage is straightforward. Your studies might help, but there will always be hybrids and magical misfits.” Mason hugged his little sister.
“Stop, I’m not a baby.” She wiggled free. “I’ll slice up some of this bread.”
“Good idea but wait until we’re ready to eat,” I said.
Mason came over and checked on the stew. “Don’t encourage her.”
I put the lid on the pot. “The stew needs to simmer for a good hour or so. Why don’t you show me your magical skills, Lily?”
“Okay!” She followed me into the living room. “Can you show me how to steal magic?”
“No!” Mason grudgingly joined us.
“No, it’s my trick,” I said.
At the funeral, I felt like an intruder. The glares from Mitch’s widow were behind most of that feeling, but since I was suspended as well, I didn’t truly belong with the official FBI delegation.
I had to face them all because Mitch was gone. As we approached the coffin, my hands started to shake. Tears rolled down my face. I was able to stand, but without Mason’s hand on my arm, I might’ve collapsed. I knelt since there was a kneeler right there, but I didn’t know what else to do. My FBI big brother was gone, and while the grief was bad, feeling completely lost was much worse.
Do I pray? Fae and other paras never believed in the same God system that humans did. Silently, I told him how sorry I was. I never meant to lie to him or let him down. Without him, I couldn’t really be in the FBI.
I stood and walked to the seating area and found Zel.
“You look like a zombie,” she said.
“Thanks. I can’t believe it’s real.” I took a deep breath.
Mason put his arm behind my shoulders.
Zel shot him a look.
“That keeps him around without suspicion from them. If it’s personal, the FBI can’t have a say.” I nodded to Green and the FBI big wigs off to one side.
Zel nodded, and I saw a slight smile tug at her lips.
“They fired him flat out. I’m next,” I whispered.
Mitch’s wife walked over. She’d avoided me near the coffin by talking to others until I passed by.
I stood up. “I’m so sorry.”
“I know Mitch would want you here, and I’ve let you pay your respects, but I have to ask you to go. I can’t. I know it’s not your fault. Green gives me the company line, but I can’t have you here.” She turned and walked away.
Zel gawked at the woman. “The nerve.”
“It’s fine. I don’t think I could make it through the whole thing without...” I shook my head. “She has to blame someone. Let’s go.”
“Without what?” Zel asked.
“Nothing. Drinking or starting a fight with Green. It’s better for Mitch’s kids not to have any drama or stress. You stay, Zel.” I nodded to Mason.
He stood up, and we headed for the door.
Zel stayed. She should, yet it felt like we were picking sides somehow. I had gone to the magical side.
“You tapping into the stolen dark stash of magics?” Mason asked.
“Trying not to, but what else can I do with it? I have to get rid of it eventually,” I replied.
“As long as you’ve got it under control, I’m sure we’ll have use for it at some point.” Mason opened the car door for me.
“Thanks.” I never fully appreciated the use of a boyfriend until now. With Mason around, I never felt alone and we’d apparently moved beyond the past issue.
Not that Mason was my boyfriend in any way, but he was doing a wonderful job of acting the part to keep the FBI from getting to nosy about him hanging around.
Mason started the car. “You need to have some food.”
I nodded. “Wherever you want to go. Oh, did Lily go home and stay home? I don’t want to be another person checking on her like she’s on parole, but if she can just pop in and out.” Worrying about her kept creeping up when I least expected it.
“Yeah, I let Mom know she’s been itching for magical challenges. Some of the strongest ones in the village will keep her busy for a bit.” Mason smiled. “She really likes you.”
“She likes that I can steal magic. I feel like a freak.”
“You are unique but powerful. With enough power, you can’t be a freak,” he chuckled.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not that powerful either.”
“We’ll see about that.” Mason shrugged as merged he car into traffic.
At lunch, I ate without tasting. Mason had downloaded the map we’d enchanted to light up with possible locations onto his phone, so we could easily access it.
“We should start here,” he said.
He enlarged the area. “Not far from Anchorage.”
I looked at the surrounding area. “That’s just open country.”
“Is it? Try some of that bad magic and see,” he challenged.
I pressed my finger to the spot on the phone and closed my eyes. Exploring the surroun
ding, I found it to be open and woodsy. But in the clearing, I noticed burrows and huts built into the forest.
Turning around and studying closer, I felt the eyes on me. Some were in human form, but a solid dozen were big lynx shifters just glaring at me.
I pulled my finger off the phone and was back in the booth with Mason.
“Lynx shifters. Lynx usually are solitary creatures.” I frowned.
“Shifters are different. We’ll head there tomorrow,” he said.
“You’re in this still?” I asked.
“I don’t want Indigo following me back to the village. I want us to be safe and as many bad guys out of commission as possible before we drop this.” He sighed.
“Thanks. I’m not sure I could face all of this alone. Mitch couldn’t handle it, but I’m not sure I can. I’ve always had FBI parameters. Going solo...”
“We’re just going to ask some questions. No badges, no official rules, and no human laws. Let your magic give you power and confidence, not some badge from humans,” Mason advised.
“I’ll try,” I said.
We drove out to the shifter area rather than waste magic and show off our powers to the shifters.
I stepped out of the car and felt the energy. There were dozens of shifters in the pack. Some were watching from the trees. A couple in human form were hiding and waiting.
“Anything interesting?” Mason asked me.
I closed my eyes and felt the ground and air around me. Letting a bit of my stolen magics out, I sought out crimes or prisoners that we needed to know about.
“Are you lost?” Someone stepped forward.
The young man had nothing but a pair of ripped jeans on. His bare feet would make anyone question what was going on. His torso was pure muscle, and I didn’t mind the view a bit, but he was a threat.
“No, we were looking into some missing kids. You wouldn’t know anything about some missing human or possibly part magical but from human passing families, would you? All minors under ten,” Mason explained.
“No, no kids like that here. We’ve got this area for a camping trip, so if you don’t mind,” he said.
“Oh please, don’t lie to us,” I shot back. “You have at least three dozen shifters in your pack. There are bones of the dead buried here. Dead people. Don’t pretend you’re human.”
“You’re not either,” he said and pointed to himself. “Peter.”
“I’m Mason, and this is Dot. We’re just Native magicals, but there has been a spike in missing kids. We’re trying to track down the source taking them,” Mason explained.
Peter nodded. “We don’t take children. Please leave.”
“You don’t take them, or you don’t eat them?” I sensed rumblings of hunger in them directed at Mason and me.
Two more men came out wearing nothing at all and shifted straight to big cat form. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Seeing a shift was wild in real life. The cats were huge, and their canine teeth were hard to ignore—until you looked at their claws.
“We don’t touch children. Not enough meat,” Peter replied.
“You do eat humans then.” I moved closer. “You hunt humans?”
Peter shook his head. “Hunting might be the wrong term. We take out the injured and ill that end up wandering the forest. They’ll die before anyone finds them.”
“But no kids who are lost?” Mason asked.
“Most kids aren’t alone. If they are, we’ve helped. Kids aren’t enough meat, and they shouldn’t be out here alone.”
“Seriously, they aren’t enough meat.” I kicked a rock on the ground.
“You want the truth or lies?” Peter asked.
“Let’s see the bones,” Mason said.
“What?” Peter scoffed.
“The human bones. You have to keep them somewhere. You don’t just scatter them, or they might have been found,” I added.
“They are kept in a pit.” Peter led the way.
We were surrounded by lynx shifters. So cute and fluffy, but they could pounce and kill us at any moment. Mason stuck close as we ignored the tension that filled the air.
“There.” Peter pointed.
Mason leaned over to look. “Bones. Looks like adults.”
Another man shoved Mason in.
In panic, I waved my hand and kept him from falling the full distance and hitting bones.
Slowly, I levitated him back to the ground level. Then I grabbed Peter magically by the throat and shoved him up against a tree.
“Let him go,” another man said.
“You attacked us,” I replied.
“Do you have any humans now?” Mason asked the shifters.
“What?” I asked him.
“If they are holding humans hostage, we’re taking them with us,” Mason said.
I nodded. “Okay. Let’s see these bones.” I moved Peter to the pit and dropped him in.
Then I levitated the bones out of the hole and reviewed them.
“Adult,” Mason agreed.
“Get me out of here,” Peter demanded.
“You can die in there for all I care. Are you hiding humans here?” I asked.
“No, we hunt animals too. Humans are a treat, and we eat them fresh,” replied a female. “Now, please leave us in peace.”
“You shouldn’t be eating humans,” I said.
Mason grabbed my arm. “It’s their nature. Wolves, bears, and lynx. They’re carnivores. Whatever meat is available, they’ll eat.”
“Do you know of other groups nearby?” I asked.
“Help Peter,” the woman replied.
I yanked him out of the hole.
“Some groups are not too far, but we know of none that hunt children. You should go,” she advised.
My phone began to ring. It made the lynx nervous.
“We’ll go,” Mason said.
Two of the lynxes stalked us to the car. I didn’t like the intimidation. I snapped my fingers, and the two big cats slid into the pit.
“Really?” Mason asked as he drove back to the main road.
I shoved dirt on top of them. “They need to understand we could’ve taken them out.”
“You could,” Mason said.
“You could too,” I replied.
“I wouldn’t.” Mason shot me a look.
“Maybe it’s the stolen magic, but I’m itching for a fight.” I checked my voicemail.
Mason sighed. “My sister?”
“No, Green wants to see me. He just suspended me, and I can’t be left in peace,” I said.
“Maybe someone recognized you. We might need to lay low for a week or so.” Mason shrugged.
“That won’t happen. We’re not part of the FBI, fine. We’ll work this case from the magical world angle. The FBI can’t stop us.” I’d let my magical power take over and humans weren’t going to order me around.
“They’ve already fired me. I don’t care, but you’re still in—technically,” Mason reminded me.
“For how long? We both know I’m headed for the door. If they kick me out, or I lose my temper and leave, it’s all the same. I’m not putting this case on hold for politics or procedure. Let’s get there so I can talk to Green and get back to work. He’s probably just checking up on me.”
Mason laughed. “You’re so deadly in one moment and so clueless in the next. He’s probably having us watched.”
“We’d find them. I’d sense a tail,” I said.
“Fine, but Green is keeping you on a short leash. You might want to cut him loose,” Mason said.
“Cut? Quit the bureau?” Even the words were hard to say. Not because of Green, but leaving Zel, leaving the people who might need help the FBI couldn’t provide.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Without my badge or ID, getting in to see Green was more of a hassle. Zel helped.
“It’s like you never left,” she said.
I smiled but frowned on the inside. I didn’t belong here anymore. “I don’t get what’s going on. Wh
at’s so urgent he needs to see me when he just suspended me.”
“What are you up to?” Zel asked.
“Is this you asking or Green?” I replied.
She shook her head. “Dot, I had no control or input. I’m not working for Green or spying on you. I know why you left the funeral, but look at the case like a human. You got the interim partner you wanted and the task force but still nothing. You know how this place works.”
“I know, but this case breaks the rules. So much magic spread out over the state. Indigo just bonds out and starts over. Big network with lots of reach, or that’s how they want to appear. He’ll use magic to get out of trouble when the other ways don’t work anymore.” I shrugged.
“You’re one person. You can’t solve all the problems. Especially ones with magical implications. Not using the bureau,” she replied.
“Exactly.” I had to go on my own, but I couldn’t tell Zel that.
“It’s probably just about Mitch. The widow doesn’t want you around. Maybe it’s just a message or something.” Zel picked up the phone and rang into Green’s office.
“Foster is here,” she said.
After a few seconds, she hung up.
“You can go in,” Zel said.
“Thanks.” I walked to the door, knocked, and entered.
Green was sitting there with a weird look on his face.
“You needed to see me?” I ignored the pins and needles feeling.
“Sit, please.” Green sighed. “Mitch’s funeral was everything it should’ve been. I’m sorry you couldn’t be there for all of it, but it was probably for the best considering the circumstances. His widow wants you to stay away.”
“Mitch and I were never anything but friends. She’s paranoid,” I insisted.
Green nodded. “I agree. But it’s no longer your problem. He had sufficient insurance, and you don’t need to worry about them.”
“I wasn’t worried,” I said.
He took a deep breath. “You were named in his will.”
“Shouldn’t a lawyer or someone be doing this?” I asked.
“The wife was the executor of his will. She doesn’t really want to deal with you.” Green shuffled papers on his desk. “You’re pretty, younger, and work with a lot of men. It’s not you—I know that, but some people just aren’t secure. Partners spend a lot of time together.”
