by Ciara Graves
“Can be.”
“You’re lucky since your coven’s so small.”
I shrugged, sipping on my beer, watching the crowd in the lobby. “We are, but there are still times all I want to do is disappear for a short spell. Clear my head. Or do something to let loose. Not much to do out there mind.”
“Hmm, no guess there wouldn’t be. Never really thought about the witch scene out in Montana.”
“Tiny, very tiny.”
“You seeing anyone?”
Was he hitting on me now? That’d be a twist. “It’s complicated,” I finally settled on that.
“Ah, I see.”
I set my beer down hard at his tone and that smirk on his face. “See what?”
“You’re here to be her bodyguard, but you like her. Makes sense. No worries, friend, I’ll back off, let you have your chance. If you’re going to try and romance her here though, I would take her on one of the stargazing nights up to the roof. They do a fantastic dark ritual up there to replenish one’s magic. It’s brilliant. The sacrifices always make it worthwhile.”
Beneath the table, I dug my nails into my palm to stop myself from grabbing hold of his throat and slamming him into the nearest wall. “I’ll keep that in mind.” Gigi, we were here to find Gigi. “I do have a question for you. Maggie has a friend we were supposed to meet here, someone who’s visited our coven a few times. Witch by the name of Gigi. You happen to see her around at all? Think she came weeks ago to help with the pre-conference rituals.”
Morris thanked the waitress as she delivered his drink then spun the glass around. “Gigi. The name does sound familiar.”
I was about to describe her as bubbly and cheery wearing bright colors to match, but that wasn’t how she looked the last time I saw her. “She usually wears black bows in her hair,” I said, “and is very friendly. Strong, too.”
He leaned back in his chair, casually drinking his whiskey as his eyes narrowed. “I’ll keep an eye out for her, but can’t say I’ve seen her recently. She might’ve left for a while and plans to come back.”
“Do many witches and warlocks do that?”
“Some, yes. The pre-conference rituals can take a lot out of you.”
Everything about his subtle movements and his tone told me he was telling the truth. Not that I believed a word coming out of his mouth. If what he said was true, Gigi might not be here anymore. They could’ve moved her somewhere else. She might not have come here at all, to begin with. If she wasn’t here, Mercy was going to be pissed, and we’d have no way to figure out where she was being held. The chances of finding her alive would drop dramatically.
“You know, you seem like the kind of guy who enjoys something a little more… entertaining,” he said slowly, mulling over the word as he winked. “You’re not really into all these talks and what not.”
“Not usually.”
Morris did a quick look around then scooted his chair in as close to the table as he could. “There’s another part to this conference very few know about. I can get you an invite. You and Maggie, if you think she’d be up for it. Good chance to see some action and if you’re lucky, make some good money at the same time if you’re the betting sort of man.”
Whatever he talked about sounded like we’d be getting a behind the scenes look at the conference. I wanted to run it by Mercy but didn’t want to wake her if she’d fallen asleep. “I’m in. Where do we go?”
“Meet me in the lobby tomorrow evening around eleven. I’ll take you both there.”
“What exactly happens where we’re going?” I asked as he stood, taking his blood-red drink with him.
“Don’t want to ruin the surprise now, do you? I’ll see you around tomorrow. And Roger? Fair warning, but if you don’t make a move on Maggie before this week is over, I will.” He chuckled quietly as he strolled away from the table.
I clenched my hands into fists and kept them tight my thighs so I wouldn’t do anything I shouldn’t, then drained my beer. Cheeky bastard, but he was good for something. We now had an invite to another part of the conference. One that sounded like it was reserved for specific guests. If we were going to get any information on Gigi—or Shuval, for that matter—it could be there. I expected to see some sign of Shuval during the opening ceremony, but the Elders might not want everyone to know the reapers weren’t going to be their only new ally.
Finishing my beer, I left the lobby and wandered around the hotel, hoping to pick up tidbits of conversation. Quite a few of the guests were tipsy and loudly talking about the conference. I smiled at everyone I passed and even caught up with the two witches who’d been flirting with me earlier.
“Roger! There he is,” the blonde exclaimed as she stumbled toward me in her heels.
“Clarissa, right?”
She nodded, excited I remembered, then weaved a bit. Her friend was just as wobbly on her feet. Mercy never acted like this even if she was drinking. She knew how to hold it and when to stop. But if I could use it to my advantage, I might get some more information about Gigi.
“Where’s your girly friend? The one who fainted?”
“Resting in our room.”
“Will she be alright?” the brunette asked. I couldn’t quite remember her name.
“Yes. She is a bit sad though.” Both women pouted at my frowning face. “Our friend was supposed to be here, but we haven’t been able to find her yet.”
“Maybe we know her,” Clarissa burst out. “We know almost everyone.”
“Her name’s Gigi.”
Clarissa and her friend looked at each other for so long, I thought they were about to pass out or puke, possibly both, but then they smiled. “We remember her. Yeah, she was chatting it up with one of the warlocks here. They were inseparable you might say.”
Her words slurred but they were clear enough for me to understand. “Which warlock?”
“Well actually, it’s the one your friend was talking to all night.”
“Morris?”
Clarissa and her friend giggled. “We wondered why he was talking to her, anyway. She didn’t really seem like his type.” She grabbed hold of my bicep and squeezed. “Hmm, but you are most certainly my type. Your arm is so big. Nothing like the other warlocks here.”
With a smile, I pried her arm free and backed away. “Sorry, but I have to go check in with my friend.”
“We’ll be here all week,” Clarissa yelled after me. “You know, in case your friend bores you.”
I rounded the corner in the hall and hustled to the bank of elevators. Morris lied about knowing Gigi. My instinct to rip him apart was spot on then. I reached the sixth floor and quietly opened the door to our room. The lights were all off, so was the TV, but the bed was empty. The bathroom was clear, too.
“Mercy?” I slipped off the amulet and set it next to hers on the nightstand. Had she left without it? “Mercy?”
I started to reach for the gun tucked at my lower back, but a chill breeze blew through my hair. The door leading to the balcony was wide open. Quietly, I crept toward it and found Mercy sitting outside on the cushioned bench, her cloak wrapped around her tightly. She was shivering each time the wind blew. I took the quilt off the bed and dragged it outside with me, draping it over her.
She jumped, fist raised to hit me, then mumbled an apology.
“What are you doing out here?”
The balconies were private, so no one else could see us, but it was still dangerous exposing her true identity like this. I sat down beside her and when she didn’t yell at me to go away, rested against the back of the bench and crossed my ankles.
“Couldn’t sleep,” she replied. “Room felt too small.”
We sat together on the bench, looking up at the stars, the only sound the wind rustling through the trees surrounding the hotel. She needed to know the truth about Morris, but that’s not what I ended up talking to her about.
“Earlier, that kiss,” I said slowly, “it was out of line. I’m sorry.”
&nb
sp; She barely nodded. “So you didn’t want to kiss me?”
“I did,” I replied without thinking.
“And you’re apologizing for it.”
“I am. Heat of the moment and all that I was trying to—shit, I don’t know what I was trying to do. Just forget it, alright? I have intel on Gigi.” I filled her in briefly on what Morris and I talked about then ended with what I found out from Clarissa. “Mercy?”
“I heard you. This event we’re going to, have any idea what it is?”
“None, but after what we saw in that room, it’s not going to be anything joyous. You don’t have to go. I can tell Morris you’re still not feeling well or something.”
“I’m not a coward.”
“Never said you were, but the way you acted tonight, I can’t have you falling apart on me again.”
“Why? Because you almost broke your cover?” she snapped, getting up from the bench and storming back inside leaving me to follow. “Because you can’t decide what you want from me, from us.”
“Right, it’s all my fault. You shouldn’t even be here.”
“Why not? Gigi is my friend.”
“And you’re unstable,” I shouted until I remembered where we were. “Look,” I muttered, lowering my voice, “you admitted your magic’s been off, and whatever shit happened to you downstairs, that’s not normal, not for you. Talk to me, convince me you can handle this because if I don’t think you can, I’ll drag your ass back to the transport and send you home.”
“You think this is one of your Fed cases? You’re not in control here.”
“Appears I’m the only one able to be.”
She chucked the quilt and her cloak at my face. “You bastard. You’re not invincible either. Not even close. So don’t stand there and patronize me because I had a moment.”
“How do you know it’s going to be the only one?”
“I don’t, but you are not sending me away, not now.” She rubbed her hands harshly down her face, cursing about hybrids and something about Shuval. She stumbled away from me then sank to the floor in a heap. She was shaking so damned hard.
I went to her, but she threw her hand out to stop me. Too bad I wasn’t in the mood to listen to her. I shoved her hand aside, sat down beside her, and drew her into my arms like I’d done so many times before.
“I don’t need you,” she muttered, her words muffled against my chest.
“If we’re going to find Gigi and get out of here alive, you do. Talk to me, please.”
She said nothing for a long while, but I didn’t move to get away from her. There’d been demon parts there, too, so I figured the same anger I had at seeing them was what she was going through. But when she tilted her head back, there wasn’t anger in her eyes. There was fear.
“Shuval. If she’s really part of this, why would there be dragonborn parts for sale?” she whispered. “Damian told me she hurt those who betrayed her, other dragonborn. I assumed she just killed them, but what if she tortures them then tears them apart.” She gulped and curled in even tighter on herself. “The night my parents were killed, the only bodies left behind were males. Mom wasn’t amongst the rubble.”
She fell silent.
It took a few minutes then I cursed and held her tighter.
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. What if Shuval captured her and tore her to pieces? My mom’s horns, her scales, whatever she had, it could’ve all been sold on the black market. So yeah, I lost it a bit. Can you blame me?”
No, I couldn’t, not after hearing that. The fear in her eyes, it wasn’t just for her mom either. If Shuval got her hands on Mercy, what would she do to her? Instinct screamed at me to get Mercy away from here, but that wasn’t my place, not now. She was right. I’d held a gun to her head, flat out told her I didn’t trust her and look at me now. Because this situation wasn’t confusing enough, I had to go and make it worse. The clock read almost four in the morning. “Tonight, wherever Morris is taking us, you know it’s only going to get worse.”
“I figured.”
“If you want to stay behind, I won’t hold it against you.”
“No, I’m going with you. We’re finding Gigi, and we’re getting her away from this freak show before they decide to do something like that to her. Besides, you think I’d pass up the chance to kick some of their asses? Not a chance.” She pushed against my chest, and I let her up. She put the quilt back on the bed and curled up beneath it.
I headed into the bathroom and changed into my sleep pants, the leather from the other pants making it almost impossible to stay upright while I made the switch.
I planned to sleep on the couch, but eyes watched me from the bed.
Subtly, I shifted my head enough to see Mercy looking at my bare chest.
“This bed is huge,” she commented. “Just sleep in it, so you don’t have a crick in your neck tomorrow.”
“You sure? Don’t mind the couch.”
“Rafael, sleep in the damned bed before I decide to kick you out of the room completely.”
Shaking my head at stubborn pain in the ass women, I crawled into the other side of the bed, ensuring there was plenty of space between us.
Her breathing steadied out after a few minutes, and I was left staring at the ceiling doing my best not to move closer to the woman lying beside me.
Chapter 7
Mercy
There’d been no dreams all night long. I counted it as a miracle after the shitty day I had. I shifted beneath the blankets, snuggling against something extremely warm. And solid. My hand roamed, and I froze as my fingers traced well-defined abs then higher up.
Slowly, I opened my eyes to find myself draped across Rafael’s chest. He was passed out, thank God. I did not need him waking up to see this. My leg was wrapped around his, too. And his one arm curled around my back drew me in closer each time I started to pull away.
He had to be awake, but while I looked at him, he never opened his eyes or gave any other indication he knew what he was doing. Gently, I slipped out of his hold and away from the heat of his body, then out of bed. The afternoon sun peered through the windows, but according to the itinerary, most of the events started in late afternoon and evening. Witches and warlocks kept much later hours.
I ducked into the bathroom for a quick shower. As I towel dried my hair, I stepped out to see Rafael sitting on the edge of the bed scrolling through his cell.
“Morning,” he said without looking up.
“Any word back from Nor?” I’d almost forgotten we’d been trying to get a hold of him and Damian before we left. “Or Damian?”
“Nothing, but no bad news either, about Nor being found dead.”
“Yeah, guess that’s okay.”
“They can take care of themselves. We should focus on a plan for tonight.” He tossed his cell behind him then slipped into the bathroom and closed the door.
The shower turned on, and I crossed my arms, annoyed. “Really? Wow, guess I’ll figure out that plan all on my own then.”
After finding the notes I brought along, thanks to Onyx, I set them on the table and sorted through them, searching for any mention of Gigi hanging around a certain warlock. When nothing turned up, I sifted through them again for the layout of the hotel. From what Morris told Rafael about tonight’s activities, there had to be a special room for them if they wanted to keep most of those attending away from them. My eyes crossed after staring at the layout so hard. There were more conference rooms, but they were all listed on the itinerary as being used for workshops. Dark magic workshops. What they did in there I did not want to know.
If Morris was taking us somewhere away from the hotel, we’d need a way to track our movements. I hated Sector 13, mostly for how little the setup made sense. Buildings had been demolished and resurrected in the weirdest ways when the reapers essentially took over. According to them, it mirrored their home realm which they no longer had access to. They wanted to preserve it so over the years they’d been rebuilding S
ector 13 without any care for permits or what the governor said. If I were governor, I’d let them do what they wanted, too. They were reapers. Bastards were damned near impossible to kill, and their network was vast. They were like the paranormal version of the human mobs. Except a hundred times worse. Gigi had been convinced the reapers were getting involved with the dark witch covens, but what for? I tapped my fingers on the table, the sound loud in the quiet room.
Rafael had finally turned off the shower but stayed in the bathroom.
My mind drifted from the reapers to Shuval and her role in all of this. There were hybrids here. I might not have physically seen them last night, but I’d sensed them. The tingling of my scar said they weren’t too far away. Was she here to recruit more? Or strike a deal with the Elders somehow? Gigi said messing with the ley lines would affect everyone with magic, that included these witches and warlocks. Unless… unless she spared them all or turned them all into hybrids. Shit. This many hybrids would be a nightmare. The mages had been bad enough. And the dragonborn we’d faced. He’d killed twelve agents before we brought him down.
If Shuval was here, even if we found Gigi, we had to gather intel and see what she was up to. There had to be a way to seek her out, get closer without letting her know who I was. My eyes wandered to the amulets on the table. The disguises fooled everyone so far. Would they fool her if we ended up face-to-face? An icy chill raced down my body as goosebumps appeared on my arms. If I was captured, she’d torture me to make me tell her everything. And if I refused, if I didn’t join her, she’d hurt me in ways I couldn’t imagine. That I knew without any doubt. After everything Bowen and Rufus told me, I had enough of an idea of the pain I would face.
And when she was finished with me, she’d sell me off. She might even hand me over to the reapers for the rest of my miserable life.
“Mercy?”
I jumped out of my chair with a yelp and spun around.
Rafael held up his hands, ready to defend himself, but there was hardly a flicker of magic at my fingertips ready for me to defend myself. After I caught my breath, I sank back into my chair.
