“No judgment here,” Mac whispered as she passed. “Just as long as Alec knows and all that.” Alena paused. She considered ignoring Mac, but Mac hadn’t said as much to her in the last six months. She didn’t want to alienate the woman when she was emerging from her shell.
“It’s the agreement we have,” Alena explained. “We’ve always known the heart can love more than just one person.”
Mac held her gaze a few seconds more before nodding. “Then you’re smarter than most are. Hopefully, Eden will agree.”
Alena shrugged. “It’s up to her.” She paused before looking Mac up and down. “You’re feeling better?” They both knew Alena was referring to more than just their battle last night.
Mac grinned. “Better than I have in a long time, thanks to your girl over there. She helped me with a memory that had been causing me pain.”
Alena’s brows rose. “Dreamwalker help?” She glanced at Eden. She was still fast asleep, and it looked like a dreamless rest.
“Dreamwalker help,” Mac confirmed. Alena sighed deeply. She had assumed, especially after last night, but the ability to call on visions while awake was an advanced dreamwalker ability. Her eyes clouded over as worry set in; the West would love to have Eden’s skills at their disposal.
“She’s powerful.”
“People will try to use her,” Mac agreed, following Alena’s train of thought effortlessly. The observation caused Alena to feel a new respect for the woman she had lived with for six months but had barely known.
“Then I shall have to make sure they don’t.” Alena’s voice was fierce. Mac nodded and gently squeezed Alena’s forearm.
“You’ll have help.” She straightened from leaning against the doorframe and motioned towards the kitchen. “My uncle has everything planned, how he’ll whisk us away to his private domain. It’s a palace compared to this place, by the way.”
“You’ve been there?” Alena asked in surprise. She was still getting used to the relationship between Mac and Davin.
“As a kid. I think your only task is telling the younger kids and deciding whether Charity will join us.” Mac’s voice held a warning that Alena didn’t immediately acknowledge. She wasn’t looking forward to talking to her. She agreed that Charity couldn’t be trusted, but Charity was still her responsibility.
Alena needn’t have worried about it. Two hours later, everyone was awake and gathered and presented with the information. Charity immediately stood and stomped one foot like a child. “I’m not going,” she pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. “Zeke can take me west, and I’m going to go with him. I don’t want anything else to do with any of you. There’s all this secret stuff going on that I’m not part of, and some people are not that nice.” She looked pointedly at Jenira.
Alena was already exhausted from discussing the logistics with Davin, who hadn’t slept at all. She didn’t have the energy to fight with Charity. “All right,” she said. “But you can’t stay here. It isn’t safe. Bette will provide you with food.”
Charity’s mouth dropped open, and Alena realized she had been expecting an argument. “Fine, then. I will,” Charity stomped from the room. Alena was confused by the young woman’s behavior but selfishly glad she had one less person to protect.
“Will we have classes at the new place?” Jessie asked, her face a combination of hope and fear of the unknown. Alena sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose with her fingers.
“I don’t know yet,” she began.
“Yes, you will,” Bette interjected. She had been popping in and out all morning, literally. Alena never knew when or where she was going to show up. “I’ve discussed the matter with my cousins. Dr. Rennert’s place is massive so all three will join you. One of them will cook, another one will manage the household, and the third one will be a nanny to the three youngest children. She will take over your lessons.” She leveled a challenging look at Davin. He held up his hands in surrender, not willing to argue with the House Brownie.
Alena’s eyes widened, although the younger girls looked excited. Three House Brownies? She couldn’t imagine having to deal with three Bettes, but she could focus on their enemy if she weren’t babysitting. She smiled appreciatively at Bette while the three teenage girls giggled about the lessons a House Brownie could teach them. That thought might have filled Alena with fear if she’d had any more room for emotion, but her brain was focused on safely finishing the transfer to the new place.
Bette addressed Davin. “There are certain - rituals - that will need to be performed to connect my relatives to your home. They’ll let you know when you get there. Once connected, they will be loyal until their deaths.”
Davin nodded and bowed, seeing it as the honor it was and accepting it. Bette smiled in appreciation and popped out yet again. Alena looked around the room. Alec was upstairs doing something with the computer before they left. Besides Alec and Charity, who had just stormed out, the rest of the house’s occupants were gathered and shared varying expressions of exhaustion, excitement, and uncertainty. Alena had yet to talk to Eden about why Elliott was excluded at the last minute from the discussion last night, but he was present and didn’t seem to retain any animosity.
“Very well, then, we’re set to go whenever the cars arrive. That’s correct?”
“Yes. We’ve arranged a couple large vehicles as transportation. My two most-trusted men will be joining us, as well as Jenira’s sister. The cars have been modified to protect against major surges of magic, but it still might be a difficult drive with so many mages traveling. The train would have been smarter, but there’s a greater chance we could be followed.”
The younger girls’ eyes widened. They had been told only that some evil men had found the location of the safe-house and they had to live elsewhere until their safety was ensured. The explanation had satisfied them.
“The three youngest girls and Elliott will ride with Jenira and me. Andrew and Cat, Jenira’s sister, will take Alena, Eden, Alec, and Mac. Alena and Mac, your job is to try and keep Eden’s magic in check, since she has a difficult time with suppression. Jenira should be able to manage the three younger girls. The vehicles themselves are warded to keep magic from leaking out and alerting anyone to a mage’s presence.” Everyone nodded. Eden had requested that Alec and Alena ride with her, explaining that both of them helped calm her magic. She sat in a chair on the edge of the room and Alena recognized the expression that suggested she was evaluating emotions. She couldn’t imagine having Eden’s ability; she was convinced it would drive her insane.
“Does Zar want to ride?” Davin’s question jolted Alena from her thoughts.
“Yes, he’ll ride with us.”
“Very well. My man, Rock, will manage the objects we want to bring along after he drops off the car,” Davin continued. His eyes met Alena’s. Davin referred to the mangled robot parts left over from last night. Zar watched over them most of the night and morning to make sure nothing happened to them. “It’s about a four- to five-hour drive. We’ll make one stop along the way in a place that I know to be friendly to mages.”
Davin gave Alena a meaningful glance, and she understood the cue. “Ok, girls, go pack a bag for two to three days and a book or something for the drive. Mac and Elliott, you might as well do the same. Bette will make sure all our other possessions are sent over once we get there.” The girls and Elliott left the room, Elliott too preoccupied to take offense at being ordered around.
“The necklace?” Eden asked when the girls had gone. “I can’t ride in the same car with it.”
“No,” Davin frowned. “I don’t think any of the mages will be able to tolerate its presence. We also don’t know if there’s a tracking device on it. I’ve directed Andrew to bring one of the special boxes we use to contain magical objects, and Rock will transport it with the remains of the automatons. What about Gideon?”
“He’ll meet us there,” Eden replied absently. She still seemed tired, or worried, about something.
/> “Ok, that’s it, then.” Davin stood. “I’ll let everyone know when the cars arrive.”
Alena nodded. She had already talked to Davin about pulling up outside the wards. She didn’t want several people traveling over the wards after the breach the night before. Too much activity might be harmful to the magic. She told Davin she’d give permission to Rock so he could remove the robot parts. Davin and Jenira left, leaving Alena alone with Eden. Alena moved from her position in front of the fireplace to sit down next to Eden on the couch she had slept on last night.
“Are you all right?” Alena asked Eden. She had showered and changed into the black cargo pants and light tee Alena provided for her. The pants were practically capris on Eden, but otherwise, they fit her nicely. Her dark hair spilled down her back in a raven wave. Alena’s fingers itched to touch it.
“I’m ok,” Eden responded with a yawn. “Just tired. Gideon said that two dreamwalks in one night probably taxed my energy.”
Alena nodded. “Would you like me to braid your hair again?” she asked hopefully.
“Would you? I have a tie in my pocket.” She stood up to retrieve the elastic. She had confessed to Alena that she loved cargo pants because they had so many pockets, which were very useful when she only had one hand to carry things. Eden turned, and Alena finger-combed through the dark waves. Her hair was mostly dry, and Alena attempted a French braid to keep it all back.
“I’m also a little worried,” Eden confessed. Alena’s hands paused momentarily. She loved the feel of Eden’s hair. It was soft, silky, and thick.
“About what?” Alena asked.
“Everything. I’ve never been farther than Brenville in my life. So, there’s that and the vision from last night still lingers. I also can’t get Jenira’s words out of my mind. I don’t remember my father, not really. I don’t even know if the man I remember was ever my father? What if Jenira is right?”
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Alena offered, though she knew it would be difficult for her to follow the same advice. “What if you do share the same DNA as the big, bad Magitech? It doesn’t change who you are. Besides, I find it hard to believe that a man would purposefully breed Magitechs and allow them to grow up away from him. If he is bent on domination or power, that doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
“I agree with you and thought the same, but then I wondered if my mom ran away. Maybe he did try to keep me, maybe he didn’t know she was pregnant, or maybe there is some other reason to let me grow up on my own…” Eden’s voice trailed off, and Alena fastened the braid. She wrapped her arms around Eden who leaned into her embrace with a pleased sigh. Alena breathed in deep, the smell of lavender soap lingering on her skin.
“We’ll figure it out, Eden. We’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“But what if staying with me is dangerous?” Eden's voice was filled with fear. Alena hugged her tighter, enjoying the feel of the soft woman in her arms.
“It’s worth it,” Alena whispered against Eden’s hair. Eden turned her head to look back and up at Alena. They were so close, Alena could see the bright golden flecks in Eden’s beautiful brown eyes. Eden’s eyes dropped to Alena’s mouth, and Alena froze, trying to calm the fluttering in her chest and stomach.
“Thank you,” Eden murmured, her gaze still on Alena’s lips. Alena stopped fighting her desires. She brushed her mouth gently against the other woman’s soft lips. Eden released a soft moan from the back of her throat, and Alena melted against the other woman. Growing bolder, Eden pressed her mouth harder against Alena’s. Her tongue gently licked Alena’s full lower lip. Alena’s head swam with desire and pleasure. But too quickly, Eden stopped and pulled back.
“I-I’m sorry,” she stammered, her cheeks reddening. Alena stared at her, her eyes still dark with desire.
“You’re sorry?” Alena asked in surprise. “I was the one that kissed you. I’m not sorry.”
Eden laughed but also shrugged. “You said now isn’t the time for a relationship or an attraction. We might be fighting for our lives so you’re absolutely right. And then, there’s Alec. It feels a little weird. But I’ve been alone a long time, and you’re so pretty.” She ducked her head, her golden cheeks reddening further.
Alena rested her cheek against the top of Eden’s head. “Is there ever a right time for a relationship or an attraction? Sometimes they creep up on us when we’re least expecting it. Waiting for the right moment may never come. And, I know it must be weird with Alec and I being a couple. If you’re truly attracted to me, maybe we should talk about it – all three of us.”
Eden giggled again, but it was more nervous than happy. “Even that is weird.” She scrunched her nose. “I’m attracted to Alec, too,” she admitted quietly. Alena didn’t think the woman’s complexion could get any redder, but it did.
“And Alec is attracted to you, but I’ll let you tell him that yourself.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Alec
“Yes, I can tell you that myself.” Alec hadn’t planned on eavesdropping on the women, but Bette had removed the spell from the living room. He had been walking past and was overcome with the beautiful sight of the two women embracing. His heart swelled with happiness, and his body had reacted to his desire. He forced himself to think of other things - mostly the logistics of moving, but Alena’s words urged him to reveal his position. Two pairs of eyes turned in his direction at the same time. He managed to hide his erection, but he couldn’t suppress the desire in his expression. Eden jumped away from Alena, but Alena smirked.
“Eavesdropping is rude,” Alena said, but her tone was playful.
“I didn’t mean to,” Alec replied guiltily. “I just came to tell you that Davin was ready. His friends are here, and the girls are taking their bags out.”
Alena nodded and sighed. Alec knew she had no desire to leave the couch, and probably the house, but it was for the best. “We’ll talk about this later?” she asked Eden. Eden nodded but still looked dumbstruck. Alena glanced slyly at Alec. “And you’ll have to join us for that one. I want Eden to kiss me again, and she’ll only kiss me if it’s ok with you.” Alec enjoyed the blush that spread across Eden’s cheeks.
“Yes, we’ll talk later.” He smiled, hoping to ease Eden’s worries. “I don’t want to keep Alena from any more of your kisses. It’s amusing how relationships start to resemble business deals when there are more than two people involved.”
Eden’s eyes flew from Alena to Alec. “So, um, so you’ve done this before?”
“Once or twice. Alena has had a couple girlfriends since we’ve been together, and I had one at one point. We’re not experts by any means.” He purposefully omitted Margie. That hadn’t been a relationship; it had been a disaster.
Eden nodded, but she still appeared overwhelmed. Alena rose and put a hand on Alec’s arm. “Come on; let’s give Eden a moment to recover.”
Alec nodded but didn’t follow Alena out immediately. He walked toward the couch and kneeled before the beautiful woman, admiring the way desire and sleep still clung to her.
“I want you to know that we’d never force you into anything, Eden. Alena and I both think you’re beautiful and we’re both attracted to you. But, we want to protect you, and we want to be your friends. I would give up any chance to kiss you if it meant you could still be in my life in some way. You’ve been through so much, and you’re an amazingly strong woman.”
He slid his hand gently down her half arm, enjoying the shiver that fluttered across her skin and the thoughtful look in her eyes as she contemplated his words. With another tender smile, he hurried to catch up with Alena.
She hadn’t gone far. In fact, she was waiting in the hallway for him. He was sad they were leaving, but Eden and Alena were both in danger if they stayed, and that wasn’t something he could tolerate. At times like this, he felt utterly helpless. He had no magic, and his tech was barely mid-level. His physical strength paled in comparison to Davin’s, and probably Jenira’s. He didn’t n
eed to be the hero, but he wanted to help in any way he could. If that only meant he was there for the two women, it would have to be enough.
“You think we’re scaring her to death?” Alec asked Alena as they neared the front door.
“Absolutely,” Alena replied. “She’ll probably decide it’s too crazy.”
Alec hummed thoughtfully and shrugged. He could hear the twins arguing with Elliott, and Kathy was running around on the porch, hopefully working out some of her overabundant energy before the long car ride. “Well, everything else is crazy right now,” he said. “Why not one more thing?”
Alena smiled, and they joined the small group of people gathered outside the door. Charity sat to the side, her feet dangling off the porch. The twins were complaining about carrying their bags to the edge of the ward, so Alec directed Elliott to help them. He scowled but grabbed the bags. Alec joined Alena where she was talking to a sullen Charity.
“Are you ok with this?” she asked the pouting woman. Charity nodded. Alec had been surprised to hear she wasn’t joining them.
“You’ve been good to me, Alena, but it’s time I moved on. Besides, Davin said his place is in the middle of nowhere.” She shuddered dramatically. “No, thank you…”
Alena rested a hand briefly on Charity’s shoulder. “Take care, Charity,” Charity nodded and looked away, but not before Alec caught a glimmer in the woman’s eye that could have been a tear. Alec and Alena had met the young mage Charity said would help her cross the border. Alec was certain the young man would do as he promised. He was completely infatuated with her, either because of her beauty or persuasive charm, no one knew. “Remember not to tell anyone where this house is,” Alena reminded her.
“There’s no way I’d risk Bette’s wrath,” she responded.
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