by Livia Quinn
She helped me place the items as she described, then flipped her hand in the air and the straps came alive, tucking themselves into buckles and securing the bag for transport.
I stared, dumbfounded realizing there was much I didn’t know about Aurora, or Dylan for that matter. And probably a lot more.
She shrugged. “Now, shouldn’t we get out of here while we can?”
Andy turned and leaped out into the rising water, high-stepping and splashing as he ran toward the bank. “I need to have a talk with that kid,” Dylan muttered. He looked at me and swung his arm out in a courtly gesture. “After you.”
“Thanks. I think.”
I prepared to make a run for it, but Aurora placed a restraining hand on my arm and said something in a strange language. In a matter of seconds the circle of dry ground under our feet transported us to the bank, but the area between each of us was filling in with the fast rising water.
“Hurry up now or you’ll make my spell irrelevant,” Aurora admonished.
We each stepped over onto the bank. I looked back. The Big Dead was no more. It was now brimming with lush trees, with water splashing against the bank and the sound of birds arriving to nest in the freshly reborn cypress and oak.
“It’s wonderful,” I said quietly.
Dylan said, “You can always tell when a spell is done well, the excess pours out into the surrounding environment bringing healing and protection with its overabundance. Good job, A.”
“Thank you, Dylan.” I could tell when the moonlight shown on Aurora’s face that she was pleased with the compliment.
“So, you don’t get a chance to do a ceremonial spell often, huh? As far as I could tell, with my limited experience,” duh, none, “it was a doozie.”
“Let’s hope it was enough.” She looked at Dylan, then me. “I don’t get the chance nearly as often as I used to, but I suspect that might be changing. Come along. I still have stock to price, and you promised to help.”
Oh, that. Good thing I was off on Saturday. It promised to be a late night.
I looked back at La Grand Morte, which was no longer morte. It would have to have a new name. I would have liked to be around the first time someone saw its new abundance.
“I christen you La Belle Copia.” Lovely abundance. I smiled and followed Aurora.
Chapter 32
“I just heard her w-w-wishing.”
* * *
Tempe
I dreamed of a dozen moons racing toward the Earth like asteroids…not enough time, no way to slow them down and my brother suspended in between. I was there, too, trying to use my mediocre wind power to keep them from smashing him. Tossing the sheets aside, I got up and slipped into some kick arounds.
Since I couldn’t sleep, I’d do some work on the house until time to go to the school. Freddie had left the yard in a jumble of supplies and trash. I figured the physical activity would help clear my mind, maybe give me some new direction to go in. I organized roofing materials, collected trash, and used a metal detector to run over the area to collect nails and tacks. When I thought of how my roof looked from the air I winced. That was just one more thing River would have to fix…
I stopped in the middle of the yard as helplessness surged through me again. And with that thought came the memory of Jack’s strong arms and low soothing voice. In a few hours, I’d see him again without the suspicion that had been present before. I set the trash bag aside. It could wait until Sunday.
Three cotton trailers sat ready for the finishing touches to their Mardi Gras decorations, surrounded by a dozen teenagers and a few adults. Boys hammered, girls strung decorations, and a group played pickup games in the parking lot. A few of the girls simply sat on the bleachers, tanning and trying to look hot
Andy approached me when I arrived, shaking his arms like a swimmer loosening up for a big race, hopping from one foot to the other. “Miss Tempe, any news about River?”
“Not yet, Andy.”
The boy swung away from me, cursing under his breath, his hand gripping the back of his neck. Drugs? Please not.
“Is there a problem?”
“Uh, yes…m-ma’am,” he said. “I, uh, d-d-don’t know wh-what t’ do.”
I took his arm and led him over to one of the temporary bleachers. I suspected Andy’s problem was a mixture of hormones and his blossoming Djinn nature. River had expressly forbidden Andy to use any of his powers unless he was with him.
“Tell me what’s happened.” He seemed to have an easier time talking if I didn’t look at him, so I pretended to be checking out the activities around us, and waited.
“W-well Missie, that is, M-midge Gaines goes to my s-sixth period English c-c-lass…and, uh, I heard her mention that she wished Mr. C-crr-enshaw would lose all the tests because she was p-p-pretty sure she was going to get an F. I didn’t mean to do it, Miss Tempe, but…”
“What did you do, Andy? Exactly.” Wishes were a tricky part of a Djinn’s life. I thought again of what Marty had said. ‘It’s about wishes and power.’
“Andy—”
“I z-z..zapped the English test—all of th-th-them. Phhht…gone.” Then his lips turned up in a mischievous smile. He wasn’t sorry; he was just worried about the consequences.
Oh, boy. Wait until River heard about this. Andy would probably be on probation, or lock down, or whatever River did to rebellious Djinn newbies to make them understand their responsibilities. “What I want to know, is how did this girl know about your abilities?”
“She d-doesn’t. I just heard her w-w-wishing.”
“What do you mean, you heard her wishing?”
“I heard w-what was in her m-mind.” This time he did not look at me. Or smile.
“Zeus’ inbred offspring! Andy…” I lowered my voice. Puberty and genie abilities were a dangerous mix. I remembered, though River had always taken his responsibilities seriously. I said, in as fierce a whisper as I could, “You cannot go around granting wishes willy-nilly, not even when they’re spoken, but especially…tell me this was the first time. No, the only time,” I corrected. I nailed him with a smokin’ hot glare, and he yelped. Don’t mess with me kid. I may not be a Djinni but I’ve got some moves.
He jerked, eyes wide. He’d heard me. Apparently last night’s demonstration of the powerful magic older Paramortals possessed didn’t impress him. Or it had, but in the opposite way.
“I’m afraid you’re in for some discipline, Andy. For now, I’m warning you. These abilities are not a toy. And there are dire consequences to treating them as such.”
Andy ducked his head, and nodded, but I was pretty sure he was already planning on circumventing the rules. He reminded me a bit of Dervil right then, which made me glad he was someone else’s responsibility.
I found Aurora and Montana attaching purple and green crepe paper to the sides of the downtown development float.
Montana looked bored, Aurora aggravated.
“Montana, quit pulling that down and hold it where I told you to.” She turned to me. “Good thing you’re here. Would you mind…” She caught Montana unawares and tugged the string from her hands.
Relieved, Montana jumped down from the float giving Tempe an eye roll, “Aurora acts like we’re in a blue ribbon competition, or decorating for a real New Orleans parade. I’m going to get a Dr. Pepper. You guys want something?” She took our drink orders and escaped to the concession stand.
“I don’t know why she came,” Aurora said, blowing long strands of silver out of her eyes. “She’s worse than those teens sitting on the bleachers, twitchy. She needs to hammer something.”
“Well, she’s willing at least.”
“Oh, Bailey called and said she’d be here, but late. She got lucky—”
“Again,” we said in unison.
We worked for a couple hours, managing to put Montana to work banging a hammer, using her warrior goddessness for something practical.
As game time approached the crowd grew. Bailey finally
showed, and energized by her recent conquest, showed a fair aptitude for float decorating.
“You’re very good at this, Bailey,” Aurora said.
“I love doing this kind of stuff. Liam lets me decorate the bar for Christmas and New Years—Oh. My…” Bailey’s eyes turned into piercing beams of gold. We all turned to see what had gotten her attention. A bronzed figure in knee length shorts and blue Destiny’s Finest t-shirt glided across the parking lot toward us.
As if he’d cast a spell on every female in sight, heads turned, and bodies froze as he approached. The air had turned to clear plastic sludge, and the only being able to glide through it was assistant coach, Jack Lang. His stride was all long limbs and easy confident grace.
“Hmmm,” breathed Aurora.
“Yeah,” said Bailey. “That is one fine human specimen.”
“Rock my world.” Montana said. “Tempe, ante up or set him free. The adoring are drooling and taking numbers.”
The world must have resumed its spinning, but I still found myself unable to add my own thoughts as he stopped directly in front of me. This close I read the fine print on his shirt, Road to the Finals
“Ladies.” He glanced over at the float and back at me. “The float looks good.” I was suddenly conscious of staying up all night, not taking time this morning to dress more fashionably, much less put on makeup.
“Um…” seemed to be my best attempt at conversation.
I was aware only of the heat building between us, a shimmering electric current flooding my blood and fairly lifting me off the ground. Then I felt Aurora’s spell spiral around my ankle and tug me back to earth. I stared at her suddenly realizing that my body had involuntarily begun to levitate. In public!
Jack saw my panicked expression and put a hand on my shoulder, “Are you ok—” His eyelids floated down to half-mast.
Oh, yeah.
Aurora’s voice cut through my haze. “Sheriff, you came along at just the right time. Montana’s not quite tall enough to reach that corner. Would you mind?”
He turned slowly toward Aurora, and she gave me a get your head together look. I tried. Really, I was stirred and shaken to the core, with memories of that last kiss awakening my dormant sexual drive. It was different from what I’d felt for Dylan, deeper and very hard to ignore.
“Hey, Tempe.” Jordie’s voice sounded above the din of workers. “I can’t believe you all came.”
She walked over to us, then uncharacteristically she was watching her feet, fiddling with her hair. I hugged her and whispered in her ear, “Just be yourself, honey,” and felt her relax.
I released her and asked, “Have you met Aurora?”
Aurora smiled and stepped forward. “I’m so happy to meet you, Jordan. Tempe tells me you’re looking for a part time job, and by coincidence I’m looking for a part time employee, preferably a student. Why don’t you come by the boutique on Monday after school? That is if you don’t have practice.”
“Oh, yes, ma’am, I mean, no ma’am, I don’t have practice and I—Monday’s perfect,” the girl enthused. “I’ll see you Monday.” She jumped up and down and ran off toward the gym, then turned around and ran back to us. “Thanks, again, Ms. Boreal.” She raced off through the crowd.
Jack spoke to Aurora, “I appreciate your offer. I’m just not sure she needs to be working.”
He looked in the direction his daughter had gone. Then, he looked at me, “But I figure you ladies know something about teenage girls, and I think I’m outnumbered in this department, so I’m going to allow it for now. Until her athletics or her grades suffer.”
Leave it to a man to be as concerned about sports as he was grades.
Aurora said, “Jack, I can work around her schedule nicely, and I really could use a hand a few afternoons a week. It’ll be good for both of us.” She patted his hand, “And for Daddy, too.” She resumed her float trimming.
Jack tacked trim to the last corner.
“So, did you need to talk to me?” I asked him.
He looked over his shoulder at me as he tapped the decorations in place. “I have to get over to the team now, but I was wondering if we could meet somewhere later and…” he winked, “compare notes.”
Four sets of eyes met mine. Three of them accompanied by nosy smiles. SOAPs never got the concept of minding their own business.
“The kids are going to Breaux’s after the game. You could ride with me and we could talk.”
“What about Jordie?”
“She’s riding with Melissa.”
We agreed to meet at his cruiser after the game, and he left for his pre-game meeting. The view as he walked away was pretty nice, too.
Just before the game started, Liam and Kat showed up. Even Bailey’s cowboy made an appearance. Apparently Jack’s parents had driven down to New Orleans for the weekend. Delighted to have a full family cheering section Jordie waved at us enthusiastically. The game was an exciting matchup with one of the top teams in the state. Jordie scored the most points on either team in the first half. As the other team made a hard defensive push to keep the Destiny Wildcats from scoring, their point guard went down, untouched, grabbing her thigh and writhing in pain.
The crowd surged to their feet in concern for the teenager. Montana jogged down to the court to offer her expertise. Tense moments followed as coaches and players knelt nearby praying for the downed player. While the medics readied her for transport, I looked across the floor and met the guilty eyes of Andy Rush. The little miscreant had transformed someone’s wishes into reality. Again.
Chapter 33
“Ride with me,” he said, his voice seductive and low.
* * *
Tempe
This time I punched in the speed dial of someone I figured Andy wouldn’t ignore. While Dylan’s phone rang, I kept an eye on the teen as he raced down the bleachers and out the side door of the gym.
“You can run, kid…” Hiding from Dylan wouldn’t be easy, though an out of control teenage Djinni could probably come up with some creative evasion tactics. I attempted to follow the boy, but lost sight of him in the crowd of concerned spectators.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at a basketball game?” Dylan asked.
“I am and there’s something I need you to take care of.”
“What?” Now this was the real Dylan, a man of few words.
“It’s Andy. He’s been reading minds and granting unspoken wishes.”
“Where is he?” he growled.
After siccing Dylan on Andy, I went back to the game, which had resumed, but half-heartedly as news reached the gym…the opposing team’s star player had broken her leg. Still, after the Wildcats’ win, the team and their excited fans planned to celebrate at Breaux’s Pizza after the game.
Jack approached as I waited outside. The weather had cleared and we watched teenagers load into vehicles and squeal out of the parking lot. Being teens, they probably thought Coach Lang would give them a pass tonight, but they’d be disappointed if their actions endangered anyone. Then they’d meet Jack “Laser” Lang, hard-nosed commander. I’d have to ask him how he got that call sign. It fit.
I studied him as he walked toward me. He had showered and changed and he towered over me in his jeans, insulated jacket and flannel trooper’s hat.
“Ride with me,” he said, his voice seductive and low.
“I could follow you, if you’d like.” Follow you anywhere…
“No, this will give us a chance to talk.”
He was right of course, but the more I thought of being surrounded by his scent, hemmed in with his imposing aura, the more my Tempestaerie protons yipped like happy coyotes, anticipating the rush. Still, I was more nervous than I’d been on any first date. The tension of lawman vs. suspect was gone, but it had been replaced by a thrilling desire, the desire to engulf him with all of my nature. Though I wasn’t sure what that meant, I was damn sure it would scare us both.
We were silent for a mile until he slowed the cruise
r and pulled over at the park turnaround. A quick flip of his light sent a car full of necking teenagers scurrying for a different location, but not before one of them shouted, “Allriiight, go for it, Coach.”
He chuckled. “I don’t remember ever being that carefree.”
“I never was,” I admitted, immediately regretting it.
“It seems like I’m always apologizing to you, but I am sorry we got off on the wrong foot. I was just doing my job. You have to admit, it looked pretty suspicious. You were at the center of everything; you still are for that matter. But as a victim, not a perpetrator.”
“I am not a victim,” I declared.
He considered that for a minute. “And you don’t like relying on someone else for help.”
I didn’t reply, but really looked at him; at the almost dimples in his smooth cheeks, his wet bronze hair combed away from his face. My eyes travelled down the strong column of his throat where the ridge below hinted at the well-defined muscles of his chest. The memory of that splendid set of pectorals had the blood rushing in my ears like thunder.
“Ahm,” he shifted in his seat and my eyes shot back to his.
He pushed his seat back and stretched his legs as far as the space would allow. Then he spread his jacket across the console. My eyes widened.
“Come ‘ere,” he said, patting the jacket.
I smiled at him as I unfastened my seat belt and crawled toward him. It felt odd and yet, freeing to act on my feelings for him, spontaneously. He slipped his hands under my arms and lifted me across, surprising me by just snuggling me against him. I rested my hand on his where he stroked my stomach.
“Just relax a sec,” he said.
Friday morning Jack had surprised me with his tenderness. Now, wrapped once again in his arms, I felt the tension ease and my muscles relax.
