Moonlit Magic

by T. M. Cromer

  She stared at him in wide-eyed amazement, her mouth agape.

  “I’ve been hiding the fact I’ve been protecting you from afar, qalbi, because the idea of you getting hurt was like a hot poker to my heart.”

  As he spoke the words, he moved forward until he was standing in front of her, staring down into her beautiful, stunned face. He wanted to pour out the rest of the truth, but now wasn’t the time. That required a longer conversation, and he was a little less certain of her reaction. Franco could come back with reinforcements at any second.

  Her surprise left, and in its place was a soft understanding. “I’m sorry I overreacted.”

  “I’d never intentionally hurt you.”

  Liz placed her palm flat over Rafe’s hammering heart. “I know you wouldn’t.”

  “I love you, Elizabeth Thorne. If you believe nothing else, please believe that.” He ran his fingertips over the arch of her brow.

  “Tell me how the spell worked.”

  He couldn’t prevent the smile twisting his lips. “If he felt amorous towards you, he’d get an overwhelming urge to be elsewhere.”

  Her eyes flew wide, and she snorted a laugh. “Of all the sneaky, underhanded… it’s genius!”

  “Yes, well.”

  He joined in her laughter. They sobered when their prisoner moaned his pain.

  “Why don’t you go back to Damian’s? I can take care of this.”

  “No. If Franklin, er, Franco returns, I don’t want you to deal with him alone.” She rubbed a hand along the back of her neck. “Do you think Damian can teleport Alastair here?”

  “Qalbi, what do you know about the Aether?”

  “Admittedly, not much. I know he’s the strongest magical being on the planet next to a goddess.”

  “The question isn’t can he. The question is will he. It’s doubtful he’ll leave his daughter without protection.”

  “So what do we do now?”

  “I’ll reinforce your wards. You call Alastair. The man is a superior strategist.”

  Liz hung up the phone with a grimace.

  “What did he say?”

  “He’s displeased with us and suggested, quite strongly, that we return.”

  Rafe chuckled. “Yes, I can almost hear him now. What did he suggest we do with our prisoner?”

  “Dropping him out of a plane without a parachute was mentioned.”

  The prisoner in question protested loudly.

  They turned to stare him down.

  “I know a guy with a plane,” Rafe said casually, as if they were discussing the weather.

  “Awesome. I say we fly directly over Franklin’s estate and dump him in the pool.”

  Rafe frowned down at her. “Franklin doesn’t have a pool.”

  “Someday, I’m going to ask you how you know that, but in the meantime, our friend here will probably make a decent-sized indentation in his lawn. I’ll suggest a pool to fill the hole when next I speak to him.”

  “You Thornes are a bloodthirsty lot.”

  “Yes, we are. And these jerks had the nerve to provoke all of us at once. Stupid, stupid move.”

  “I agree.” Rafe grinned and addressed their tied up guest. “You might want to start talking. It could save your life.”

  “W-what do you w-want to know?”

  Liz rolled her eyes. “Firstly, do you always squeak like a boy going through puberty?”

  Rafe’s choked laugh almost made her smile, but she was trying to maintain a semblance of seriousness for their interrogation.

  “Are you Petey or Chet?” she asked.

  “Petey.”

  “Tell me, Petey, why did Franklin target me specifically? What did he hope to achieve?”

  “He didn’t tell me anything. I swear.”

  Rafe stepped forward, menace in every line of his body. “Nothing at all?”

  Liz placed a restraining hand on his arm and shifted to stand in front of him. “I’ll tell you what, Petey. If you don’t start talking, I’m going to teleport your ass to my cousin, Alastair Thorne.” Her prisoner paled. “Ah, I can see his reputation precedes him. Let me tell you, he’s twenty times more ruthless than any rumors you’ve heard, and he absolutely despises anyone who threatens his family.”

  “In case you don’t understand what Liz is telling you, let me drive home the nail. You threatened her by signing on as Franklin’s minion. You’re screwed.” Rafe crossed his arms and gave Petey a casual shrug as if his welfare didn’t affect him one way or the other.

  “I m-may have overheard s-something,” Petey ventured, casting a hopeful look between them.

  “I’m listening.” Liz’s tone was hard as diamonds.

  “They—”

  “They who?”

  “The Moreau and Champeau families.”

  Liz heard Rafe’s sharp intake of air and glanced over her shoulder. “What’s up?”

  “Nothing.”

  His uneasy expression said differently, as did her new internal lie detector, but Liz decided to save the questions for later when they didn’t have an audience who might use the information for his own purposes. She turned back to Petey. “So Franklin’s family and the Champeau family, what was their intent?”

  “To drain the Thorne witches of their power. They needed it for another source.”

  “What source?”

  “I don’t know. I really don’t.”

  She eyed him, searching for any hint of deceit. “Do you know how Franklin intended to use me?”

  “He believed you were the key to the Thornes’ destruction. I don’t know how he was siphoning off your magic.”

  “If he could do it from afar, why did he attack me here?”

  Petey shook his head. “All I know is that he started to lose his own power tonight. He believed it was because yours was restored.”

  She met Rafe’s thoughtful gaze. “Do you think I’m the conduit? Like once I got my powers back, it hurt his link to the others?”

  “If that’s the case, why hasn’t your family’s magic been restored?”

  Liz didn’t have an answer. This whole situation was beyond her scope of comprehension. What the hell type of “source” needed so much magic that it required an entire family’s power?

  “What do we do with him?” she asked Rafe quietly.

  “Pack a bag of things you’ll need. We’ll turn him in to the Witches’ Council before heading back to Damian’s. I think it’s important for the family to continue to stick together for a while longer. Just until we get a bigger handle on this thing.”

  “It’s a solid plan.” She looked back at Petey and raised her voice to be heard. “Maybe the Aether can get to the bottom of this. Since he and Alastair are such tight friends, I’m sure he won’t mind helping out.”

  Petey started to sweat profusely.

  Rafe leaned in to whisper, “Goddess, I love you and your sadistic tendencies.”

  She hid her smirk against his lips when she gave him a light kiss. “Remind me of that later when we’re in bed.”

  “Oh, qalbi, you are playing with fire.”

  Chapter 10

  At midnight, Rafe and Liz arrived back at the Dethridge estate. They found Alastair and Damian in the study, discussing the darkness plaguing little Sabrina.

  “I thought you’d be asleep by now, cousin,” Liz said as she kissed his cheek.

  “Not at all. I wanted to hear how it went with the Council.”

  “Not great.” Rafe accepted Damian’s offer of a drink and requested a red wine for Liz. Once the four of them were seated again, he explained. “They’ll hold him for seventy-two hours, but unless we find something more to charge him with other than the fact he was hired by Franco to serve as his henchman, he’ll be released.”

  “Also, we now know the Moreaus and the Champeaus are behind this little magical blackout,” Liz added with a grimace. “I’m sorry my poor taste in men brought this to our doorstep.”

  Rafe cleared his throat.

 
“Oh!” Liz flushed, and it lent a pretty glow to her cheeks. “I didn’t mean you, Rafe. Never you.”

  He covered her hand where it rested on his knee, and entwined his fingers with hers. “I appreciate that.”

  “Most likely, Franco targeted you, child.” Alastair’s sharp gazed dropped to their hands, and he didn’t bother to hide his smug smile. “It’s my understanding Sabrina’s gift to you opened your eyes and heart to the truth. We owe her a debt of gratitude.”

  “We do,” Liz and Rafe said in unison.

  “Damian, should she ever have need of us, we will be there for her,” Liz said, a solemn vow. “And for you.”

  The Aether smiled warmly. “I’ll hold you to your promise. The time may be coming sooner than any of you expect.”

  “You’re referring to the dark mist?” Rafe sat forward. A little voice in the back of his mind was telling him the darkness and Franco were related. Just how, he didn’t know, so he wouldn’t throw his suspicions into the mix quite yet. “You still have no idea what or who is behind it?”

  “No. But they’re persistent. I can only seem to subdue the magic for short periods at a time, a few days at most. That should tell you how strong it is.” Damian’s frown set loose Rafe’s unease. If the Aether was worried, it boded ill.

  Liz sat up straighter. “We won’t let it touch her.”

  Rafe grinned at her fierceness. The flush on her cheeks this time was from indignation, and she was all the more beautiful for it. He squeezed her hand; his silent commitment to standing by her side to protect Sabrina should the need arise. The resulting smile she sent him nearly melted his heart.

  Alastair cleared his throat, jolting Rafe and Liz from their wordless communication. “If both Franco and Marguerite are involved, it seems we need to take this little party to France. Or rather, you both will. The rest of us are out of commission until this is resolved.”

  “Not necessarily, Al,” Damian protested. “I may have a spell to override all others and restore your magic. It’s not exactly comfortable, but if you’re game, I’ll perform the ceremony.”

  “Do you have everything you need?”

  “All but one item.” Damian looked at Liz. “Any chance Nash has a Ring of Dispel? It’s made of the finest silver with a Celtic cross etched on the top. In the center of the cross is a genuine nine-carat, square-cut emerald so clear and pure of color it doesn’t seem real.”

  “I’m almost positive he’s cataloged that one in our inventory books. I can call him in the morning to see what I can find out.”

  “Perfect. If you can obtain the ring for me, I can restore magic to the Thornes.”

  Rafe held up a hand. “All of them?”

  Damian lips twisted in a mocking grin. “Yes, Mr. Xuereb. All of them.”

  “Please. At this point, I think we should be on a first-name basis. Call me Rafe.” He lifted his drink in silent toast to their new friendship.

  “Will the spell require the family to come here?” Alastair asked.

  “No. We can go to your estate. I assume they are amassed there?” Damian casually waved a hand and topped everyone’s glass.

  “Yes,” Alastair confirmed.

  “I’ll want to ward against intruders when I get there. For Sabrina’s sake.”

  “Of course. It would make me feel better, knowing my house was protected by the Aether.”

  Damian snorted. “Don’t suck up now, Al. You’ve never done so in the past.”

  Rafe had to laugh at the put-out look on Alastair’s face. No one, besides his friend Ryker, gave him hell.

  “On that note, we need to get some sleep.” Liz smothered a yawn. “Thank you for everything, Damian.”

  “Good night, my dear.”

  Rafe and Liz strolled to their room, hand in hand.

  “I can’t wait to see him in action,” she murmured sleepily.

  “As in restoring magic?”

  She lifted her head from his shoulder. “What else would you think I meant?”

  “Action can mean a great many things,” he teased with a campy leer.

  She laughed, and the sound echoed softly through the long corridor. “When I get more than a few hours sleep, you can show me all those great many things.”

  “You bet your sweet life I will,” he promised, stopping her for a gentle, lingering kiss. “Now, let’s get you to bed so you can rest up for tomorrow.”

  Her expression turned serious, and she stared into his eyes as if searching for the secrets hidden deep inside. He wanted to tell her not to look too closely; she might not like what she discovered.

  “Thank you, Rafe. Your help means the world to me.”

  “I haven’t done anything yet, qalbi.”

  “Haven’t you?” Her gaze dropped, and she studied the top button of his shirt as if it held great interest. “If it weren’t for you, I’d have made an even bigger mistake. Maybe even gotten serious with Franklin, er… Franco. You saved me a lot of grief. Now, I’m struggling with embarrassment for how easily I was duped, but it could’ve been much worse.”

  “The Franco Moreaus of the world prey on kind-hearted people, Liz. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

  She heaved a heavy sigh. “I still feel like a fool. He almost brought about the destruction of my family.”

  “He overreached this time.”

  “Come. Let’s go to bed, Rafe.”

  “It’s going to be the most exquisite torture of my life, to hold you while you sleep and not make love to you.”

  “For me, too. But I give you permission to feel me up through the night.”

  He groaned and adjusted his slacks to make room for his budding arousal. “You don’t play fair, qalbi.”

  “I’m a Thorne, babe. It’s in our DNA to fight dirty.”

  After Liz and Rafe left the room, Damian turned solemn. “I’m glad she discovered Franco is a snake in the grass. I’m afraid she’s not going to like what Mr. Xuereb is hiding, though.”

  “Is it something I’ll need to kill him for?” Alastair asked casually.

  “It remains to be seen.” Damian stood and crossed to the fireplace, staring down at the flickering flames. “Do you know his mother is a Champeau?”

  “Yes.”

  Damian shot a rueful look in his friend’s direction. “I thought you might. Does the lovely Elizabeth?”

  “It’s doubtful.”

  He faced Alastair more fully. “Do you intend to tell her?”

  “It’s my hope Rafe will be honest with her.” Alastair shrugged and rose to his feet. He set his empty glass on the sideboard. “I don’t know how she’ll react if it comes from anyone but him.”

  “My guess? Not well. She’s already feeling betrayed by Moreau. You and I both can feel that much.”

  “Yes. Another perceived betrayal will not sit well with her.”

  “Should we talk to Rafe? Encourage him to be truthful?”

  “No. I think this should play out how it’s going to. If he is in league with his family, I’ll destroy him.”

  Damian laughed and clapped him on the back. “I have no doubt you will, Al. But you should know, he does love her. I can see and feel that much.”

  “Good. I’m glad my initial impression was correct. She deserves to be happy.”

  “I meant what I said earlier. I owe her a debt for helping my daughter.”

  “Liz will never collect if she can help it. She’s not wired to ask for assistance, although she gives freely of herself.”

  “Then I’ll just have to be an adopted godfather to her without her knowing.”

  Alastair grinned. “Do you know how many people would crap their pants if they knew you have her back and, should they offend her, you will obliterate all they hold dear? It almost makes me want to see you in action on her behalf.”

  “You’ll see it should Moreau crawl out of his hole,” Damian promised.

  “Tell me you haven’t developed feelings for her, my friend.”

  He scowled at Al
astair, irritated he even had to mention it. “Are you joking?”

  “Well, I haven’t seen hide nor hair of your wife. What’s going on with you and Viv?”

  “She betrayed me. It doesn’t mean I love her less, but I can’t be with a woman who would take my daughter away. One who doesn’t trust me.”

  The compassion on his friend’s face caused Damian untold embarrassment. He didn’t want pity. No, he wanted his wife to love him like she had in the early stages of their relationship, before she listened to the poisonous words of others.

  “Anyway, I don’t have romantic feelings toward your cousin, Al. She’s safe from any seduction. Although, it is fun to taunt Rafe.”

  “Oh, by all means, taunt away. He deserves a little torture for his dishonesty.”

  “This is why I like you. You’re as twisted as I am.”

  Alastair chuckled again and sauntered toward the door. “I’ll see you at breakfast.” He turned, his face as serious as Damian had ever seen. “And thank you for what you’re about to do for me. Being helpless to care for my family doesn’t sit well with me. I have too many enemies.”

  “I know. I’d feel the same. Sleep well. You’re protected here.”

  Chapter 11

  Liz woke to the sensation of being watched. She blinked and slowly turned her head. The small figure by the side of the bed didn’t move.

  “Good morning, sweetheart. How are you feeling today?” she asked gently.

  Sabrina hugged the tattered doll she held a little tighter and inched closer to the bed.

  A glance over her shoulder showed Rafe was already gone. Liz scooted away from the edge of the bed and patted the mattress. “Want to hang with me a bit?”

  The little girl nodded and climbed up next to her.

  Liz propped her head in her hand and tapped a finger on the doll’s frayed skirt. “What’s her name?”

  “Ariel.”

  “That’s lovely.” She smoothed a hand over Sabrina’s dark head. “I didn’t thank you properly for what you did for me. I owe you a great deal.”

  “Did you see the bad man yesterday?”