Rebellious Magic: A Snarky Paranormal Romance (Modern Magic Book 5)

by Nicole Hall

  He cocked his head and pretended ignorance “The vessel?”

  “The sacred tree needs a bond with a dryad to spread its magic, but that bond eventually sucks them dry. That’s why tradition dictates a bonded pair. The shared magic drain lets the vessel last long enough for the next one to reach maturity.”

  “If that’s the case, how is Hollis still so powerful without a bond.”

  “Because Hollis has never been the vessel. She uses her power to siphon the magic from the vessel to herself before distributing it.”

  Oren straightened from his slouch against the wall. He didn’t have to feign his surprise. If Nick told the truth—and what reason did he have to lie at this point?—Hollis had only taught Dru part of her role. Enough information to make her feel responsible and guilt her into returning.

  “Why haven’t you told Dru any of this?”

  Nick glared at him. “I’ve tried. Hollis did something to magically prevent me from sharing any information with someone living in Terra. It’s not like we live in an area that travelers frequent.”

  The pieces clicked into place, and Oren glared back. “That’s why you wanted to talk to me. I’m not from Terra.”

  Nick looked suddenly tired. “After the incident with the Prius, I’d hoped you weren’t from Terra. You reacted before the car moved, and way faster than anyone I’ve ever seen. Even so, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t playing into Hollis’ hands if I told you the truth. She thinks she has me cowed, and I’d like to maintain that illusion.”

  Oren snorted. “Illusion? I can see your leash from here.”

  “Don’t believe everything you see.” Nick’s pants buzzed, and he frowned as he pulled out his phone to read the screen. “Damn. I have to head out of town again.”

  “How do you plan to act as Dru’s bodyguard if you can’t even stay by her for a full day?” Oren didn’t know why he was arguing. Better to let the guy run off to his other business.

  “I don’t. I plan to leave guarding her body to you.”

  “You barely know me.”

  Nick put his phone away and raised a brow. “I’m not blind. I see the way you look at her. I gave you all the information I could, and let’s not forget you saved her ass again today.”

  Oren crossed his arms. “You knew you’d be called away again.”

  Nick ran a hand through his hair. “I suspected. My orders to protect Dru are running into conflict with some other issues.” He swung his backpack over one shoulder and sent a long look at the row house.

  “You’re leaving now?”

  “I don’t have a choice, but I’ll be back as fast as I can. As much as I hate being under Hollis’ control, her protection spell for Dru can be really useful. Tell her…” He sighed. “Tell her I’m sorry.”

  Oren held out a hand, and after a surprised hesitation, Nick shook it. He turned and went through the gate without looking back. Dru would be crushed that he’d left again, but Oren didn’t like the extra variables he added. Yes, he’d shared a lot of information, but that didn’t mean he could be trusted.

  There had to be a way to get outside confirmation before Oren broke Dru’s heart with the truth. Faint country music came from the row house, and Oren smiled. Of course, she liked country music. The sound tempted him to climb the stairs and find her inside, not because he particularly liked the music, but because it meant she was alone in the house. No way did Samantha listen to country.

  He rubbed the back of his neck and groaned. Some of his contacts only came out at night, and he needed to make some calls before that. Keris had warned him the doorway would be closed for a while, some issue with the elders, so he couldn’t tap her knowledge until they opened it up again. Not to mention, the doorway he’d used was a good four-hour drive from the city.

  The gate clanged shut a second time as he headed back toward his—Seth’s—apartment. He’d have to be careful not to get too attached. Seth and Keely would return at some point, and they’d probably want their bed back.

  Oren sometimes considered using his money, both what Keris had provided as well as what he’d earned from extra work in Terra, to buy his own place. It would be helpful to have a base of operations if he intended to keep taking jobs on this side of the doorway. The fleeting memory of Dru standing close to him with her hand on his bare chest made him question his sudden motivation.

  Did he want convenience, or her?

  Realistically, she’d be staying in Vethr, provided they found a way around Hollis’ scheme, so buying a place in Terra wouldn’t necessarily garner him any extra time with her. And was that what he wanted? Extra time? That sentiment felt dangerously close to attachment.

  He tried to avoid facing the real dilemma, but his mind refused to leave it alone. Tamra was trapped in Vethr, and he needed Dru to take him there to finish his assignment. But what if Nick’s story proved true? He’d be trading Dru’s future for Seth’s.

  Everything in him revolted at the thought. She’d be in danger in Vethr, so he’d stay by her side. Hollis would have to go through him to get to Dru. The intensity of his emotions shocked him, but they felt right.

  The shadows lengthened as he walked home, and by the time he reached Seth’s building, Oren hadn’t gotten any closer to finding a solution. Several surprise factors mixed into the situation, and not all of them would be easy to address. According to Nick, Hollis had been in power when the clan envoy had disappeared. According to Lexi, they were heading to Vethr for an unknown reason instead of to the coastal clan as everyone had been told. According to Tamra, the dryads owed her something.

  Before Seth’s return to Aecantha, Oren hadn’t questioned most of the things he’d been told, but the truth had come free with Tamra’s betrayal. Now, he noticed the glaring omissions in the story.

  He could locate Brianne given enough time, but the recent threats to Dru—and Nick’s announcement—made him want to stick as close to her as possible. Oren locked the apartment door behind him and sniffed the air. Something smelled like death.

  His senses on high alert, Oren checked the apartment for intruders, but didn’t find anything out of the ordinary. Some swamp-based creatures could carry the scent of rot, along with one bad-tempered kitsune he knew that refused to eat anything that wasn’t fermented.

  Oren followed his nose to a potted plant sitting in the windowsill of the guest room. Seth and Keely must have left for Texas pretty quickly since boxes of her belongings took up a majority of the floor space. He wrinkled his nose at the moldy aroma and made a path to the window.

  Keely probably wouldn’t appreciate him killing her plant through neglect. Then again, they hadn’t told him to take care of anything living, so not entirely his fault. Oren frowned at the sad-looking shrub-thing. The leaves had yellowed, and the branches all drooped listlessly. His magic didn’t offer anything useful to help heal it, and he’d never put any effort into taking care of a plant. Maybe Dru would have some ideas.

  His mind seemed stuck in a loop that always led back to her. Dru and Keely were friends, and knowing Dru, she’d probably gifted them this plant. He could call Seth—or Keely—but he didn’t want to give them any more reasons to come back, even one as small as this. Until he’d returned Tamra and the elders had lifted the spell threatening Seth, Oren wanted them to stay far away. But Dru he wanted as close as possible.

  He pulled up her number on his phone and texted her before he changed his mind.

  I have a plant emergency.

  5

  DRU

  Dru believed that cleanliness was mostly a waste of time. She could find things a lot easier if they were in a pile on the floor where she could actually see them. Unfortunately, roommates frowned on that level of efficiency. A knock on the door preceded Samantha sticking her head in the room.

  “I’m home.” She took in the considerably neater space and cocked an eyebrow. “Are you dying?”

  Dru shut off the country music and wiped her forehead with her sleeve. “That joke was only
funny the first time.”

  Samantha scoffed. “Nonsense. It’s funny every time. I’m hilarious. What’s the occasion?”

  “I didn’t think Nick wanted to shovel a path through my stuff to get to his bed.”

  “Nick’s here?”

  Dru propped her hands on her hips. “Didn’t you see him outside with Oren?”

  “Oren’s here?”

  “I honestly can’t tell if you’re joking right now or not.”

  Samantha shook her head. “Not this time. I didn’t see anyone out front, and I definitely would have noticed Oren.”

  Dru pulled her sweaty shirt away from her body to try to get some air flow going. “I swear to something holy that if Nick left again without telling me I’m going to shave him bald his first night here.”

  “Have you checked your messages?”

  Dru rolled her eyes. “No, and I don’t need your annoying, calm logic right now.” She snatched her phone off her tiny nightstand and groaned. “Four messages. Three from Nick, one from Oren.”

  Samantha crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe. “Well, aren’t you popular. Glad my annoying logic could help. The country music probably scared them both off.”

  “Why are you still here?”

  “Because I’d like to know if Nick is actually planning to move in or just pay for a room to store his things.”

  “So would I,” Dru muttered.

  Nick’s messages were short and to the point. Got called away again. Sorry. Be nice to Oren.

  She frowned at the last one. Oren must have been really convincing during their little talk. Dru switched contacts and checked his message.

  I have a plant emergency.

  No other context or messages. Clearly, not an immediate emergency. She checked the time stamp. “Shit, he texted me over an hour ago.”

  “Nick?”

  Dru looked up at Samantha. “No, Oren. Nick was way earlier. He got called away. Again. Looks like he’s going with option number two. I’m going to give him some time to think about what he’s done before I forgive him.”

  “Oren?”

  “No, Nick.”

  Samantha shook her head. “I can’t keep up with your harem.”

  Dru stared at the ceiling in thought. “Can you have a harem with only two guys? For that matter, can you have a harem with guys? What’s the word for a guy harem?”

  “Yeah. I give up.” Samantha backed out into the hallway. “Do you want to grab dinner?”

  “I’m up for dinner.”

  Samantha raised a brow. “You sure? Oren could be waiting at his place. Naked.”

  Dru waved the comment away, but she could feel heat creep up her cheeks. “Nah. Uteruses before duderuses. Or something like that.”

  Her phone buzzed in her hand. Dru stared at Oren’s name on the screen and fought the urge to check the message. Samantha chuckled and pulled the door mostly closed behind her. “I’ll leave you some leftovers in the fridge. Go enjoy your new man.”

  She did say she’d talk to him tonight. Dru swiped open the message and cocked her head.

  Your room can’t be that messy.

  Joke’s on him. Her room was always that messy. If we’d followed the rules, you’d know by now.

  So a dying plant isn’t enough to get your attention, but an insult to your rules did it. Good to know.

  Dru shook her head and sank down onto her bed. What’s wrong with your plant?

  If I knew that, I wouldn’t need your help.

  It’s kind of hard to diagnose your problem without any kind of description.

  You could come over.

  She snorted. He wasn’t subtle, but she didn’t really like subtle anyway. You want me to go outside? Where there could be traffic?

  He paused. You’re right. Too dangerous. Better just tell me how to fix it myself.

  Dru couldn’t help giggling. She didn’t have plans now that Nick had left her hanging again. Her smile slipped as self-doubt started to creep in at the reminder of his absence. He’d seemed fine at their late lunch, but he had yet to step into the house. Either his job required way more dedication than she’d thought, or he was avoiding her.

  She pushed away the useless speculation and threw back her shoulders. Nick could do as he liked. Dru had other concerns bigger than him at the moment. Like helping Oren find Brianne without getting too attached to him. And maybe convincing him to take his shirt off again.

  Nope. It’s far too complicated. I’ll definitely have to come over. Besides, we have business to discuss.

  Oren didn’t send another message, just an address. A familiar address. Holy balls, he was staying at Seth and Keely’s place. Dru collapsed back on her bed, struck by the implications. Their foray into the woods not too long ago. Seth’s mysterious project that Keely was helping him with.

  It had to be Seth. Keely would have told her. Seth and Oren knew each other. What were the chances that her roommate had found another magical creature in the middle of magic-starved New York? Dru cursed her inability to see magic. She could feel it, but only in physical contact.

  Could Seth have been hanging around because of Dru? Was Keely in trouble?

  No. Dru took a deep breath and stopped the spiraling panic. Seth hadn’t shown any interest in her, and he’d promptly taken Keely out of state. Not to mention the adoring looks he gave her. The man was besotted or Dru would eat her favorite paintbrush.

  It wasn’t entirely unbelievable that Seth and Oren had crossed paths at some point. From what she understood, the magical community tended to be tight-knit. Of course, she’d tried to stay as far away as possible to prevent any overzealous white knights from returning her to Vethr before she was ready. Like Oren.

  Dru sat up and pushed her hair out of her face. There was one way to find out. She’d ask him.

  Dru spent the entire ride up the elevator reminding her body that she wasn’t here for a booty call. She’d been to Seth and Keely’s apartment twice before, once to drop them off, and once to pick up Keely, but she’d never been inside. Oren must have told the doorman to let her up—or the security on this fabulous place sucked ass—because no one stopped her.

  The elevator opened to a hallway with two doors. Oren opened the closest one before she could knock. He leaned against the doorframe, much like Samantha had earlier, but oh, so much more tempting. Not a booty call.

  Dru strode past him into the apartment, then stopped short at the wall of glass in front of her. The sun had mostly set during her cab ride, but orange and pink streaks painted the clouds. The lights from the buildings below twinkled against the encroaching darkness. Dru’s hands itched for her brushes and paints. No wonder Keely had kept trying to get her to come visit.

  The door clicked softly shut behind her, and Dru blinked. She felt the warmth of Oren’s body as he stepped up close behind her.

  “I take it from your stunned silence that you haven’t been inside before? You came just in time for the show.”

  Dru took a long look at the vista in front of her, then turned to face him. “That’s not why I’m here.”

  He smirked.

  “That’s not why I’m here either.”

  Oren gestured toward the low couch, but didn’t drop the knowing expression. “After you.”

  Dru gave him some hardcore side-eye but sat and tucked her legs under her. “How do you know Seth?”

  He cocked his head at her, then settled beside her on the cushions with his arm along the back behind them. “You didn’t know he wasn’t human. How is that possible?”

  She held up several fingers. “One, I live in Manhattan for a reason. There aren’t usually any magic-users around. Two, I haven’t spent all that much time with him. Three, I can’t see magic the way most people can. It’s a tactile sensation for me, but that’s it. Four, you didn’t answer my question.”

  Oren rubbed his chin. “Interesting. Seth and I belong to the same clan.”

  “He’s a shapeshifter too?” Dru’s min
d started going through all the times he might have been around, and she winced. Some of those moments would make it hard to meet his eyes the next time she saw him. “What does he turn into?”

  “That’s a personal question you’d be better off asking him, but I promise he wouldn’t have used his ability to spy on you. He’s too lazy.”

  She didn’t know about the laziness, but he’d been too obsessed with Keely to see much else. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t be asking the first chance she got. A more concerning thought began to coalesce.

  “I know magic-users tend to group up, but I always thought that was on purpose. What are the chances that Seth randomly got involved with the roommate of a dryad who was actively avoiding other magic-users, and then you needed to find a dryad?”

  Oren looked away for a second. She hadn’t known him long, but she could read him enough to know there was more to the story, and that he knew the details. “Keely is Seth’s mate. It’s an extremely rare connection that involves blending magics.”

  Dru held up her hand. “Keely doesn’t have magic.”

  “Do you want me to explain, or not?”

  Dru scowled. “Yes, but I’m going to interrupt again.”

  “Fair enough. Keely does have magic, but she wasn’t aware of it until recently. Seth and I had nothing to do with you and Keely becoming roommates, and he didn’t know you were a dryad when he was courting her. If he had, he would have just introduced us and saved me a lot of trouble.”

  He played with her hair where it fell near his fingers. “The magical community as a whole doesn’t seem to know a lot about your people.”

  A slow burn started in her belly as she tried to stay focused on their conversation. “That’s not surprising. Hollis wouldn’t want anyone else to know about her death grip on the sacred tree.”

  “An interesting turn of phrase. I found out some information this afternoon that you’ll want to know.”