Lucinda had been quietly listening until Julie asked her question. “My team will help as well. They are very discreet, and you won’t know they are there.”
“Thanks Lu. That’s a huge help.” Markos motioned to the group. “Let’s move this outside, and we will split up to start searching.
They all left Lucinda’s mansion and moved into the small park across the street. The group circled around Markos, waiting for him to give more directions. Markos glanced toward Justin and Liam. “I want you both to start in the louder, rowdier places. Speak to the girls, and find out if they’ve seen anything. And Justin, this isn’t an opportunity for you to gather as many phone numbers as you can.”
Everyone laughed except for Justin who looked disappointed. He muttered something about Markos ruining all of his fun.
Markos was going to help Damian, and he hoped his sister wouldn’t clobber him. “Quintus, I want you to recruit some more supernaturals to help. We have a large area to search.” Markos was turning to Damian when Quintus protested.
“I don’t want Aria going out alone to search. I’ll look out for her.” Quintus took a step toward Aria, but stopped at her outraged expression.
“I’m not going out alone. I will be with Julie, my partner!” Aria was just getting started when Damian spoke.
“Obviously, you don’t know Aria very well.”
Quintus snorted. “Oh, and you do?”
Damian’s grin was wicked. “Yes. I do, and I know that Aria is capable of taking care of herself and anyone who is with her. She could easily kick your ass.”
Aria’s jaw dropped open. She hadn’t expected Damian to defend her or to say what he just did. Her anger softened a bit.
Quintus continued to argue with Damian, dismissing Aria’s outrage completely. “She’s a woman and shouldn’t be out searching for a killer. Since she’s here, I’m going to make sure she stays out of trouble.”
Damian was too preoccupied with Quintus to notice that Aria had her fists clenched and was about to launch herself at Quintus, but Aedan stepped in front of her and grabbed her shoulders just in time.
“Aedan MacDuff, you better get out of my way!” Aria hated when someone treated her like she was a doll to be looked at and kept on a shelf. She would show Quintus exactly how she could take care of herself.
Markos had let things play out a little because he wanted to help both his friend, Damian, and his sister, but he knew he needed to defuse the situation. The Legacy council put him in charge, so he needed to act like a leader.
He stepped up to Quintus. “I gave you an order. I expect you to follow it. If you can’t do that, then I’ll have you reassigned, and the Legacy Council will be told about your decision to not follow my direction.”
Quintus glared at Damian again but nodded to Markos. “I’ll go, but it’ll be on you if something happens.” He turned to Aria, oblivious to her anger. “Make sure you stay out of trouble. You should be babysitting some supernatural, not tagging along on this mission. I’ll check in with you after I’m done, and we can grab dinner. It won’t be the date I had planned, but it will have to do for now.”
Once again, Aria was stunned silent, but that only lasted a second. “Quintus, I’m never having dinner with you, and you’ll be lucky if I ever speak to you again.”
Quintus sneered at her. “Definitely your loss then.”
Damian snapped when Quintus looked at Aria with disgust. He charged the four steps separating them and punched him in the mouth as hard as he could. No one would speak to his girl that way.
He crashed into Quintus so hard that they both went flying into a group of trees several yards away that splintered on impact. Dirt, leaves, and bark flew up in every direction. Damian twisted so he landed on top and punched him again. Quintus pushed Damian off of him and into another tree.
Markos, Aedan, Finn and Daz ran over and pulled them apart. “That’s enough!” Markos bellowed. “Quintus, you’re off this mission. Get out of here. I’m going to report this to the Legacy Council.”
Quintus shrugged off Finn and Daz. “Get off me.” He swung his angry gaze at Markos. “I didn’t start that fight! Get the asshole out of here. I’m not leaving until he apologizes.”
A soft but authoritative voice cut through the air. “Quintus, report back to Legacy right now, and stay there until I return.” Maxine stepped into the center of the group. “I don’t want to ever see my Enforcers or Guardians acting that way.”
Quintus stomped a few feet away, created a portal, and disappeared without another word.
Markus tried to suppress a groan. His first time in command of a situation, and Maxine walked into a mess. Great. He would never get this opportunity again. “Max, I’m sorry you had to witness that.”
She waved her hand in dismissal. “He was not one of my recruits, and I probably wouldn’t have selected him, but that’s not the issue. We are sending you some additional help. They should be here in a few minutes.” Maxine turned to leave, but Markos stopped her.
“Do you have a second?” Markos asked.
Maxine smiled. “I’m not upset with you. I knew what would happen when Damian and Quintus were put together.”
Markos frowned at her. “You did?”
“Of course. What I wanted to see was how you handled it, and as expected, you didn’t let them continue to fight.”
“This was a test?” Markos couldn’t believe it.
“No. I had hoped they would have been able to work together. I had also hoped that Quintus would have learned to respect women more by watching how strong and determined Aria is, but that hasn’t been the case. Don’t worry, Markos. You’re not in any trouble. Finish this mission successfully, and we’ll talk about that promotion you’ve been wanting for a while”
Watching Maxine disappear with a small smile, Markos walked back to the others. He had work to do. He turned back to the group, and they all pretended to be looking elsewhere and not listening into his conversation. He couldn’t blame them. He would have been listening in as well.
Damian was brushing himself off and watching Aria closely. She hadn’t spoken since she told Quintus they wouldn’t be having dinner. Were they a couple? Were they dating? Obviously she told him to get lost, but what was going on before that? Would she really date such a jerk?
Markos continued with his directions as if the scene had not taken place. “Finn and Rage are going to search around New Hope, Pennsylvania, since there is a large population of supernaturals in that area. When they finish there, they’ll head back here to help out.”
“Aedan, you and Julie check the voodoo and Wiccan shops, and speak with every supernatural you can find.” Aedan loved his assignment and had to remember to thank Markos later.
With a wide toothy grin, Markos gave his sister her assignment but made sure that he was ready for any retaliation. “Aria…” he began, but she interrupted him.
“You don’t even have to finish that sentence Markos. Just remember that paybacks are a… Well, you know the rest.” She walked up to him slowly and leaned in close. “You’ll never know when I’ll take my revenge. I just might have to tell that elf you’re interested in her. Wasn’t she wearing the last thing she killed hunting? If I remember correctly, she had just returned from a hunting trip, and it was still warm. Didn’t she skin it right there? What was it? A cape? All I remember is the stench. She really was into you. I think you two would make a perfect couple.”
Aria stalked off but called over her shoulder to Damian. “Are you coming?”
Markos groaned. He would have to hide out for a while. Even if Aria and Damian patched things up, she would still tell the elf Hilla he was interested. He shivered, just thinking about her. She was beyond scary. The elf smelled badly every time he had the misfortune of running into her.
Damian shrugged at Markos as he jogged after Aria. He owed him big. Now, he needed to figure out how to fix things with the woman he loved. Well, he would after he found out exactly what wa
s going on with her and the jerk Quintus.
She tried her best not to stomp down the street, but it was way more difficult than she thought it would be. Aria wanted to clobber everyone. Julie abandoned her without a glance, taking off with Aedan as quickly as she could. Quintus was even more of an arrogant chauvinistic pig than she had originally thought. Her brother, Markos, purposely paired her up with Damian, probably to torture her. And that brought her thoughts to Damian. All she could think about when she saw him was giant Barbie bimbo draped all over him.
Damian watched Aria storm down the street lost in her thoughts. He was almost positive that most of them were centered on him if her angry expression was any indication. Damn Camellia. If she hadn’t thrown herself at him, they would be fine right now.
If he were being honest with himself, he would admit that it was bound to happen sooner or later since he had not dealt with Camellia like he should have done a while ago. Ignoring the problem put him in this situation. He wasn’t going to continue with that flawed thought process.
“You’re going the wrong way. The French Quarter is over there.” Damian pointed toward their left.
“I’m not heading to the French Quarter. If you want to go there, I’m not stopping you. I don’t need your help and don’t particularly want your company. I’m sure Camellia would love you to take her around.” Aria did stomp her feet then. He made her so impossibly furious.
“Hey! Stop for a second.” Damian attempted to grab her to stop her, but she swung around and pulled her arm away from him.
She faced Damian with fire in her eyes. “What?”
“We’re not splitting up. I’m not with Camellia, and the only person I want to take anywhere is you. I think that covers everything.” Damian gave her his most charming smile.
Aria took a step back, leaned against the side of a building and folder her arms in front of her, giving him a disbelieving look. “Obviously, you’re not with Camellia right now.” She wasn’t going to let him off so easily.
“You know what I’m saying.”
Damian never heard her reply. A portal opened behind her, and she was gone that quickly.
4
“No!” he yelled and dove for the portal. He managed to make it just before it closed behind him. Since he leapt for the portal, he landed head first but changed it into a forward roll and leapt up to his feet. He immediately assessed his situation. Aria had been leaning back when she was pulled through, so she had landed on her back with the wind knocked out of her.
She jumped to her feet and assumed a crouching position ready to defend herself and Damian if necessary.
“Where are we?” Damian couldn’t immediately determine their location. Nothing looked familiar, and he wasn’t sure they were even on earth, faerie, a realm pocket or somewhere else.
Aria slipped a dagger from her boot and stood with her back to Damian. They circled their location to find any possible danger. “I have no idea. All clear my way.”
“Same here. There doesn’t seem to be anyone around.” Damian wanted to stay close to Aria. He didn’t want her to disappear again. His heart almost stopped when the portal opened behind her. Now, they appeared to be in some deserted village complete with carved wood walls and straw roofs.
Aria scanned the area again. Wherever they were, it was dark out, so she assumed it was night. The stars were bright enough to illuminate the circle of huts. “Someone had to open that portal. Do we find out who did it and why? It could have something to do with the drained magic. Or, do we make a portal out of here?”
Damian cracked a smile. “Are you really asking for my opinion?”
“Don’t start with me.”
“I’m not. I was simply a little surprised that you wanted my input.”
“Damian, not everything is about you. We’re in a possibly hostile situation, and you’ve been a warrior for hundreds of years. You should have valuable knowledge if you can get over yourself. We can deal with our issues later.”
He loved her snarkiness. “In that case, this might be our best lead. Someone brought us here or, at least, wanted you here. I don’t think whoever it was counted on me diving after you.”
His comment made her pause in her assessment. Damian did jump after her without any thought. He didn’t have to do that. “Thank you for following me.”
His expression softened. “Aria, don’t you know that I’d follow you anywhere? Even into an unknown situation where we both are in danger.”
“You think we’re in danger now?”
Damian wanted to growl his frustration. “I tell you I’d follow you anywhere, but all you heard was we might be in danger? You’re impossible.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Let’s check out the village and figure out why we’re here.” He stalked off toward the closest hut. Maybe they would get some idea where they were by what’s inside the homes.
Aria followed after him trying not to let his words bother her. He had a girlfriend and didn’t tell her. They did just get back together and hadn’t had much time to talk. It would have most likely ruined the mood if they had brought up something like that. Logically, she knew that, but it still stung, especially seeing someone else with her arms around him.
The first two homes were empty, but the third hut held a beautiful young woman with long flowing black hair and the largest black cat Aria had ever seen. The woman was lounging on a mound of silks and pillows that seemed out of place in the primitive hut.
Aria stopped in the doorway shocked to see her.
Damian hadn’t expected her to stop so suddenly so he wrapped his arms around her waist to keep them both from falling forward. He could have let her go right away, but he kept her in his arms.
“It’s nice to see you two together,” the woman said with a smile and her eyes twinkling.
Aria shrugged out of his arms and knelt down on one knee. Her manners overrode everything else. When the Fairy Queen paid a visit, it was never a social call. “Your highness! As always, I’m at your service.”
The Fairy Queen’s laughter rang through the hut. “Aria, Damian… please, come sit with me.” She addressed Aria again. “I love that you remember your manners and your training whenever you find yourself in a difficult situation.”
“Your highness. How can Legacy serve you?” Aria was confused. Too many questions ran through her head to select one, so she simply settled herself on the silks near the leader of the Fairy realm.
Damian wanted to know what was going on. “Your Highness, are you safe? Is someone keeping you here?”
Queen Calanthe dazzled them with a beaming smile. “I miss having you around Damian. Are you sure I can’t tempt you back to my court?”
Damian scanned the hut, still not convinced there was no danger. Legacy had stationed him at the Fairy court for a few years. It was an assignment he never wanted to return to. There had been too much intrigue and drama.
The Queen continued. “I’m perfectly safe, and so are the two of you. I brought you both here to speak with you.”
* * *
Aedan was too busy watching the sway of Julie’s hips as she walked into the next shop to notice that everyone in the store had stopped talking and stared at them when they entered. Hostile looks adorned every face. Aedan stepped up close behind Julie, ready to grab her out of the way if necessary. He counted eight people in the room – five were older women, two of them young men, and one teen girl. There were too many of them if things went bad. Retreat would be the only thing to do.
“Why have you come here?” a weathered old woman with long white hair that contrasted with her dark skin demanded.
Aedan could tell she was a shifter who had probably been around for hundreds of years.
Julie was usually good at smoothing things over and bringing people together, but she could feel the anger radiating from everyone. What was going on? She was about to respond when she felt Aedan step up against her back with his hand at her waist. She could tell he was nervous about the rec
eption, especially if he was invading her space like he was. Too bad it wasn’t under better circumstances. She would have liked to explore that thought a little more.
She cleared her throat. “We’re here to speak with you about someone who is draining magic and to warn you that you could be in danger. Those with the strongest magic should be even more careful.”
The old woman stood up more quickly than her age should have allowed. “How do we know you’re not the one who is doing this or the one who brought him to our city?”
Julie could tell that Aedan was getting restless. His hand was clenched on her side. “Legacy has sent us to warn as many supernaturals as we can. Lucinda has been helping us.”
One of the younger men stepped in front of the old woman. “Leave now before we prevent you from doing so.”
In a move that surprised Julie. Aedan shifted her behind him, blocking the hostile young man from getting to her directly.
Aedan tensed even more. “We’re here to speak to you. As you can see, we are not a threat to you. We’ve made no aggressive moves. We only need to know if you have any information on the man responsible for killing the mystic we found.”
“That mystic was one of our own. You’re not worthy to speak of her,” The young man spat.
The old woman put her gnarled hand on the man’s arm to prevent him from moving forward then addressed Aedan and Julie. “I need to read your intentions. Do you agree to allow me to touch you?”
Julie began to speak but Aedan cut her off. “Ye…”
“I’ve heard that some mystics need to touch someone for an effective curse to take hold. How do we know that’s not what you’re planning?” Aedan was debating the wisdom of staying where they were.
The old woman ran both hands over her face and had shed dozens of years from her appearance. Standing in front of them was a beautiful woman in her early forties and not someone in her eighties. Some of her companions grumbled their disagreement in her decision to show her true self. “Trust goes both ways. I mean you no harm, and in good faith, I showed you who I am.”
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