Davin noted her mood and seemed about to say something when Bette popped into the room. She appeared near the door, so afterward Eden couldn’t tell if she walked in or appeared out of thin air. One moment she was there and the next she wasn’t. She beckoned Jenira and Davin.
“Come. I’ll show you upstairs,” Bette said. No one dared contradict her. Eden blushed when she caught a whiff of Davin’s desire. Their relationship was relatively new, and the man couldn’t keep his hands off her. She grimaced, glancing at Gideon while Bette led the two mages from the room
Seriously? She asked the owl. This is what I’m going to have to deal with? If I can estimate how many times Davin has slept with Jenira, why don’t I know what’s wrong with Alena?
The owl stared at her unblinkingly. Because when any matter concerns you, you are astonishingly dense, Gideon scolded. Ask her what’s wrong or you shall regret it.
Eden turned back to the room. Alena was standing. Gideon was right, though she hated to admit it. She would regret it if she went to sleep without uncovering the reasons behind Alena’s distress. She squared her shoulders and crossed the room, grabbing Alena’s hand before she could leave the room. Her beautiful green eyes met Eden’s, wide with surprise. Eden admired the tiny freckles sprinkled across her snub nose and cheeks.
“What’s wrong? You’ve been quiet since dinner.” The pleasant hum of Alena’s magic and the feel of her soft skin relaxed her. It took effort to ignore the years of experience which had taught her not to touch other people. Alec waited, watching with interest and concern.
“What do you mean?” Alena stuttered.
“You’re a horrible liar.” Eden smiled to soften her words. Alena slumped before her.
“It’s just that, well after tomorrow, you won’t need us anymore. We’ll stay here, and you’ll go off with Davin and Jenira.”
Eden’s eyebrows rose. Alena was upset because she was leaving? Gideon had been right. Also, Eden had hoped they would join her. She didn’t want to part with Alec and Alena; the idea was painful. “Aren’t you coming with? Davin said there’s room for everyone.”
Alena smiled sadly and squeezed her hand. “I can’t leave the others, Eden. Davin’s right. You’re not safe here, and his place is the best for you. I had doubts about him at first, but he’s a good man. He’ll take care of you and help you grow your Magitech abilities. I have to stay here; the younger ones depend on me.”
Eden felt her heart sink. She looked at Alec, but he had the same resigned look on his face. Eden knew he would be staying here, too, and she didn’t want to separate them. She released Alena’s hand and nodded. “Right,” she said, but her heart was breaking.
Alena stepped forward and hugged her. This time Eden hugged her back, putting one arm and one half-arm around her. She nearly melted in relief when Alena didn’t flinch away from her stumpy arm and enjoyed the pure pleasure of the soft woman in her arms and the scent of roses in her hair. She enjoyed it too much. They hadn’t met long ago, but she was already close to her. The thought of being somewhere else, without her, was frightening. Suddenly, Alena pulled away.
“Good night, Eden. I’ll see you tomorrow.” And without another word, she left the room and walked swiftly up the stairs. Alec stayed, but he smelled nervous. He ran a hand through his hair, something Eden had never seen him do before. It caused a couple dark strands to fall over the side of his face, increasing his rugged appeal.
“I have to stay, too,” he said almost apologetically. Eden nodded. She hesitated, biting her lip, before stepping closer and hugging him as well. He felt just as good as Alena had. When his arms wrapped around her, she felt like they belonged there. He was hard where Alena was soft, tall where Alena was short; he smelled of pine instead of roses, but he felt just as good. He also smelled of longing, sorrow, and regret. She couldn’t understand the reasons behind all the emotions and rejoiced that he didn’t react negatively to her arm either. She shivered when his hand gently caressed the upper part of her half arm. The nerve endings in her skin exploded at the same time as his tech soothed her.
They pulled apart and Alec sighed, his blue eyes meeting hers. His gaze dropped lower to her lips, his smell intensified, and he stepped away, turning to leave. Eden stopped him with her words. “Thanks for the tests and everything else, Alec.”
He returned her smile over his shoulder but didn’t turn back to her. His blue eyes were sad. “Of course, Eden. I’ll see you tomorrow before you go.” Then, he followed Alena, leaving Eden to make her lonely way to her cold bed by herself.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Alec
Alec was more upset about leaving Eden then he thought he would be. Having her in his arms had solidified his feelings. He selfishly wanted to keep her close. He and Alena had discussed the matter several times. He loved Alena and wanting that with someone else didn’t mean he loved his partner any less. Love wasn’t something that filled you up to a point; there was always room for more. It was an emotion that didn’t have limits or reason.
He was extremely attracted to Eden; Alena’s permission allowed him to want her without the guilt that generally accompanied a monogamous relationship. He didn’t love Eden, but he could see himself falling for her. He’d always given his heart too easily. He hadn’t regretted falling in love with Alena, and he believed Eden would be the same. They were both worth the risk that generally went hand in hand with love. As Alena had pointed out, though, there was no manual. With all the uncertainty in their world and Eden’s unknown opinions on the matter, he didn’t know how to achieve his desires.
The sight of Alena and Eden embracing, their red and black hair mingling, had aroused him, but he wanted them to be happy. If that didn’t include him, he would step aside. He had spent his entire life fighting for the rights of the downtrodden. He nurtured and protected and that included both the women he cared for. Whether or not he suffered was irrelevant. If Eden left, though, he’d lose the chance to try, and that idea didn’t please him.
He swiped a hand over his face, surprised to see his office light on when he stepped up the stairs. Cracking open the door, he saw Davin at his desk. Jenira’s slim fingers roved over the spines of his books as she scanned the titles. She was a scary woman, but Alec had never seen his friend happier. The tension that always seemed to hover around him had been eased, and Alec wagered Jenira was the reason.
If anyone else had invited themselves to sit at his desk without permission, Alec might have been irritated. He owed Davin; furthermore, he trusted him. Davin had been a teaching assistant at the university when Alec was a skinny, snot-nosed freshman. When the larger, higher-level techs started bullying him for being a “mage lover,” Davin stepped in and put them in their place. Even at a younger age, the Magitech had been intimidating. They’d become friends, but Alec had stumbled on Davin’s secret by mistake. He’d overheard a conversation between Davin and his young nephew that he wasn’t supposed to hear. Davin could have killed him, but he didn’t, and Alec would be forever grateful. He’d always wanted to pay him back, but once again, he was asking Davin for help.
Davin examined the amulet, pushing it around with a pencil to study each angle. “Jenira’s sister will look at this,” he stated without raising his head.
Alec nodded. Jenira’s mention of her brilliant techie sister made more sense now that he knew her father had two wives. It wasn’t illegal for mages and techies to mate, but it was heavily frowned upon. Davin’s father had hidden his mother’s magic from the techie world to prevent outward ridicule. The Rennerts had forged papers to transform her into a low-level techie, and no one had been the wiser.
“The mages will be pleased when it’s no longer in the house,” Alec observed as he sat in the chair that was usually used by his visitors. It wasn’t as comfortable as the one behind his desk. “What else is going on out there? I keep up to date on the web, but I ignore Eastern politics as much as possible. I’m not surprised, however, that you apprehended the mage kille
r.”
Davin glanced at Jenira, the emotion in his eyes clear. Davin was gone, hopelessly in love with the fierce warrior woman. “Jenira did most of the work,” he deflected. “You might want to start paying attention to politics, though. Recent events are too important to ignore.”
Alec listened in horror as Davin described the object that had fractured Jenira’s magic, Marcus’s words, and the plan they suspected Davenport and Bly were hatching. His fear grew with every word. “This is much worse than I feared,” he breathed when the entire story had been relayed. Jenira listened. She never missed a word but didn’t add anything either.
“Yes,” Davin agreed.
“Transporting the unregistered mages across the border has been more difficult recently,” Alec explained with a sigh. “Every year, the border strengthens its security, despite the propaganda that says mage-techie affairs are growing less volatile. My instincts tell me this plot has been in planning for a long time.”
“As long as your girl Eden has possessed that amulet?” Jenira asked, speaking for the first time.
“Possibly,” Alec admitted. “We have to assume Magitechs have always existed and the stories spread about them were just stories. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of the most famous techs or mages in history were Magitechs. Still, we can’t allow one or two evil Magitechs to increase the rift between the territories. Mundanes will suffer in this fight as well; their rights and lives will be afterthoughts if techies and mages are fighting each other for their rights.”
Jenira glanced at him curiously. “Not many techies consider mundanes when their own lives are at stake.”
Alec shrugged, but Davin smiled. “As long as I’ve known Alec, he’s been an advocate for the underdog. It doesn’t matter what he is or who they are, he has the best interests of everyone in mind.”
“That’s noble,” Jenira commented. Alec wasn’t sure whether it was a compliment; the woman was difficult to read.
Alec shrugged again, a nervous tic from the attention directed toward him. “No one deserves to have more rights than anyone else, but some need more help fighting for them. If I can do that, I will. So far, I haven’t been able to help mundanes. Perhaps making certain that mages and techies aren’t banding together specifically to ruin others’ lives is the first step. The border wall can’t happen. Many mundanes live in the area between the current border and the proposed border; it’s almost a neutral zone because of its geography.”
Davin nodded. “The mages that live in that area produce food vital to the techies. If the techs steal the land but expect the mages to continue growing food, the forced labor will start another war.”
Alec sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. His attention had been focused solely on Eden since she had arrived in his life. Before that, he’d enjoyed the bubble that encased the mage house. They faced problems, of course, but they were specific and minor to the individual mages they protected. The larger picture had wholly eluded him. He felt a sudden desire to accompany Davin, Jenira, and Eden so he could participate in the battle to come. He was needed here; he had to help Alena ferry the mages across the border. If they continued to tuck themselves into their corner of the world, though, they might be shocked by the changes that would affect them anyway.
He stood and stretched. “Alena will be wondering where I am. Feel free to look at the amulet, just lock it up when you’re done with it.” He turned when he was halfway to the door. “And Davin? Thank you.”
Davin’s rugged face turned serious. “I may be thanking you before this is all over, Alec. I think your discoveries are bringing us closer to the mastermind behind this entire operation.”
The ominous words echoing in his ears, Alec went to find Alena.
Alena sat at her dressing table, brushing her red hair when Alec entered. Eden’s almost reached her butt, but Alena’s was shoulder-length. Alec shut the door softly behind him and embraced her from behind, leaning over to rest his chin on the top of her head. Her eyes met his in the mirror.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Alena’s beautiful emerald eyes were sad and a little angry. The anger was how she dealt with situations she didn’t like and couldn’t control. “I’ve never gotten this attached to any of the other mages we’ve taken in, and there have been many pretty girls.”
“Nothing is wrong with you, love. Eden is special; I feel it too. Funny what Jenira said, huh?”
Alena grinned. “Damn perceptive woman,” she agreed, “but also dead wrong. I would have a husband and a wife; you wouldn’t have two wives.”
Alec untangled her reasoning, his expression thoughtful. “What’s the difference?”
“All the difference in the world!” she said. “I don’t know the relationship between Jenira’s mothers, but my feelings toward Eden are definitely not sisterly.”
“Ah,” Alec replied. The idea hadn’t occurred to him; he was too aware of Alena’s sexuality. Her face drooped with sadness. “We’ll see her again,” Alec soothed. He wanted it to be true, and he injected his hope into his voice. Alena nodded and rose to her feet, turning to rest her head against his hard chest.
“Are we doing the right thing?”
“How would we know, Lena? I know Davin will protect her, and that’s what is important. It will also keep everyone in the house safer.” It was difficult for him to say and difficult for Alena to hear. They both wanted to stay with Eden. They wanted to protect her and explore the attraction between them, but they couldn’t be selfish.
“Come lay down, love, you’re exhausted,” Alec coaxed her toward the bed. He lay with her on top of the blankets, folding her curvy form against his. For a long time, his mind spun with all the information Davin had given him. They couldn’t be selfish when there was so much at stake.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Jenira
Jenira liked the house. It felt like a mage house. If she ignored all the stressful matters, she could almost imagine herself in the West with her sister, before everything happened. Their family home hadn’t been this large, but it had possessed the same vibe. It had been connected to the land, and the building itself had slight sentience. Bette reminded her of the Brownie her aunt had employed. They were magical creatures no one really understood. Their loyalties were tied to a house and a family, but they never got involved in politics and were incapable of leaving their property. Davin might not be excited about having House Brownies at his estate, but she was. They produced fantastic food, and they made a house feel like a home.
Long after Alec left, she continued to walk along the bookcases. She was impressed by Alec’s collection and wished she could take some of the books to her sister. They needed to leave too quickly, though, and her sister didn’t have much time for leisure reading.
“It’s a worthy thing Alena is doing here,” Davin said finally, his low voice a rumble. He had stopped examining the amulet, and Jenira was grateful he had locked it away again. Not much upset or frightened her, but she didn’t like that thing. If they didn’t need to study it, she would have insisted they destroy it. She warned Davin several times not to touch it and made sure he complied. The magic pouring off it was filled with such dark intent, she was baffled as to how anyone had made it and lived. She didn’t think it was designed to be evil, but years of soaking up Eden’s considerable power had corrupted it. Imprisoned magic without intent, purpose, or a host, especially when combined with tech, couldn’t help but go bad.
“It is amazing,” Jenira agreed, her voice slightly wistful. If she and Cat had found a safe-house like this after they’d crossed the border, their lives would have taken a different path. Cat could have practiced her tech, and Jenira would have been in the company of other mages. But, she wouldn’t have become the woman she was, and she wouldn’t have met Davin.
The large man wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned back against his shoulder, enjoying the comfort and safety he willingly gave. It had taken her weeks to express a tiny bit of vulnera
bility around him, but he never used it as a weapon against her. Jenira loved to feel stronger than everyone else, but she allowed herself to relax into Davin’s strength. He was stronger than her, and he would protect her. His massive, solid bulk made her feel womanly; and his dominant personality offered a worthy challenge.
“Does it upset you?” His magic tickled her ear along with his breath, igniting a shiver along her spine.
“Upset?”
“Upset that you and your sister didn’t find a place like this to protect you.”
Jenira turned in his arms and met his golden gaze. “No. Everything that has happened in my life has led me to this point. I regret nothing.”
Davin kissed her and pulled her closer, resting his chin against her forehead.
“Who is MacKenzie?”
He tensed momentarily, and his magic sparkled with sadness. “MacKenzie is my niece and Andrew’s twin sister. She disappeared almost a year ago after she and her mother attended a book signing. Neither of them returned. My sister was found dead on the street with a hole blown straight through her middle, the flesh cauterized by the blast. And MacKenzie, she just disappeared. She didn’t come to the funeral, and we only heard from her once after I’d organized the authorities to find her. She sent an encrypted message telling us she was safe and not to look for her. I don’t think Andrew ever stopped searching; he and Kenzie were very close. It broke his heart when she disappeared without saying goodbye, especially right after their mother’s death.”
Jenira met his pained gaze. “You don’t think she…?” Her voice trailed off. She never attempted to save anyone’s sensitive emotions, but it was a cruel question.
“No, MacKenzie had nothing to do with Ilona’s death. I don’t doubt she witnessed it, though. Maybe some misguided part of her feels guilty, but she would never hurt her mother.”
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