by R. A. Gates
you
should
wear
more
feminine
clothes?”
She scoffed as she tied her
sneaker. She’d rather get caught by
Eradicators than put on another one of
Athena’s dresses. “No can do. I didn’t
shave my legs.” She threw Garren a
triumphant smile before stuffing her hair
into the wool cap.
His gaze dropped to her denim-
clad legs and he shivered violently.
That’s it! He’s going down. She
stood to get in his face for a proper fist-
meets-nose
argument
when
Thane
stepped between them. He seemed to do
that a lot. “I have an idea,” he said. He
rifled through Athena’s suitcase until he
found a pale pink cardigan and handed it
to her. “It’s frilly, it’s pink, it’s very un-
Ivy.”
Both Garren and Kyle laughed
out loud as she regarded the item in
Thane’s hand with horror. She didn’t do
pink, ever. And to top it off, it was
cashmere.
“Sorry, can’t do it; allergic.”
“To the material?” Thane asked
as he checked the label.
“Sure, that works.” She yanked
her last clean sweatshirt out of her pack
but before she could pull it on, Garren
snatched it from her hand.
Instead, he tossed the fuzzy, pink
nightmare at her. “No one will recognize
you in this.”
She hated that he was right. Any
Eradicator that knew her would never
give her a second glance dressed in
pink. Take one for the team. She slid on
the sweater, suppressing a sigh as the
fuzzy material caressed her bare skin.
Damn, it feels fabulous. Petting
the soft fabric covering her arms would
be undignified, so she restrained herself.
“Happy?” she asked the group with
amused smiles plastered on their faces.
“Can we go now?”
Just as she headed for the door to
leave, Athena snatched the wool cap
from her head. “You can’t wear this ugly
hat. Come with me.” She grabbed Ivy’s
hand and led her into the bathroom.
Oh, gawd. Not another make-
over. She closed her eyes and
surrendered to Athena. Resistance was
futile. When it was over, she ran her
hands through her new straight blond
hair. Without the curls, it fell to her
waist. She almost didn’t recognize
herself in the mirror.
I look like a freakin’ Barbie
doll. “Are we done?” She didn’t wait to
hear the response before opening the
bathroom door and walking out. Despite
the dread still sitting in the pit of her
stomach, she wanted to hurry up and find
the prince so she could kiss him and go
home.
Athena followed her back into
the room and bowed. “I think I did pretty
well, considering what I had to work
with.”
“Wow,” Thane said as he
gawked at Ivy. “You two could be
sisters.”
She rolled her eyes as she found
her dagger and sheath. They already
fought like sisters, might as well look
ones, too.
Kyle came up beside her as she
slipped her sheath onto her belt.
“Actually, I can see the resemblance
between you and your cousin now. But
to be honest,” he leaned in to whisper
near her ear, “I prefer your dark, wild
curls. It’s more… you.”
She smiled at him, thankful he
wasn’t impressed with the new image.
Garren frowned at her as he
stood by the front door. Apparently, he
didn’t like the new hairstyle any more
than her natural one. Not that she cared.
“Let’s go,” Garren said. “I’m
sure Ivy’s anxious to meet her new
boyfriend.” He opened the door and held
it open as everyone poured out. As she
passed, Garren smirked and said, “You
want to practice on some toads first?
See if you can turn them into princes?”
“You volunteering?” she shot
back.
“You wish.” He pushed her out
the door and shut it behind him, twisting
the doorknob to make sure it was locked.
They left all their stuff in the
second floor room, unsure if the prince
would be up to a road trip right away.
He might want to freshen up. Besides,
Athena was going to have to exchange
the convertible for a car with more
room. No one wanted to drive all the
way back to Alaska crammed in that tiny
sardine can of a rental.
The sun sat on the horizon, about
a half hour away from dipping below,
along with the temperature. She hoped
her fancy sweater was as functional as it
was decorative. Doubtful.
Sparky sat on the trunk of the
convertible, shimmering out of view
until he was invisible.
“So,” Kyle said as they walked
past the myriad of family SUV’s parked
in the lot. “Who’s riding with me?” He
dangled his keys in the air when he
reached his old, rusty truck. “Ivy?”
Garren snatched her wrist and
pulled her closer, as if she was about to
go skipping over to Kyle. “She’s staying
with us. Thanks for your help but you
can go home now.”
He opened the passenger door of
the convertible and released his grip on
her arm as he gestured for her to get in.
Like she was going to follow his orders
without question. Did he not know her?
“Hold on,” she said as she
backed away. “I need to say goodbye
this time.”
He glanced over to Kyle and
back to her, his face pinched in
annoyance. “Make it quick.”
Who died and made him boss?
She strolled over and stopped in front of
Kyle. He stood tall, with his arms firmly
crossed over his chest. His stare trained
on her face.
“Um,” she started, lowering her
head to block his intense gaze. Saying
goodbye proved much harder than she
thought. “Thanks for, you know, saving
my life.”
Kyle snorted. “All I did was
carry you. Your We—Wizard friends
did the rest.” He dropped his arms and
his guard. “Are you sure you don’t want
to talk to Rousseau? Maybe…”
She shook her head as she leaned
into him and reached her arms around
his shoulders. He wrapped his arms
around her waist and pulled her closer.
The scent of him brought a nostalgic
ache to her heart. He smelled of summer,
stolen kisses, and home. She inhaled
deeply, hopi
ng to bring a part of him
with her.
“We’re wasting time,” Garren
shouted.
Kyle’s chest rumbled with a
growl as he squeezed her tighter.
“Jackass can’t even let me have two
minutes with you.”
She pulled away, not wanting to
give Kyle the impression that she felt
more than friendship for him. “Well, you
take care and say hello to Ernie for me.”
She smiled in an attempt to reassure him
that she was happy and going to be fine,
but it felt empty on her lips.
“All right, go do your thing, just
be careful. And stick close to Garren.”
He paused when she raised an
inquisitive eyebrow. “You didn’t see
how he acted around you when you were
hurt. He’ll protect you.” His tone was
serious.
Her brain froze trying to
comprehend what Kyle told her. But he
hates me. Garren’s sense of obligation
must be stronger than she realized. She
shook off all thoughts of Garren and
patted Kyle on the arm. “Goodbye,
Kyle.” She left him standing by his truck.
Garren climbed out and opened
the door for her so she could sit in the
backseat next to Thane. He slammed the
door shut after sliding back in. “Took
you long enough.”
She wanted to yank whatever
stick was up his butt and clobber him
over the head with it. “Whatever.”
Chapter 19
“How do I activate the stone?”
Thane asked. He cradled the sapphire in
his palm with the rope still around his
neck.
“Hold it and say ‘Non evidens’,”
Ivy told him.
The sun had set, leaving only an
orange glow on the lingering clouds to
the west. Sparky had flown off towards
the nearby Sacramento River, most
likely to hunt. Athena cut the engine off
after parking across from the old school
house. No one dared leave the car
without the protection the stone offered.
Thane gripped the gem in his hand and
repeated the phrase.
“Okay,” he said as he tucked the
sapphire under his shirt. “We have one
hour to find Prince Sebastian. If we can’t
find him by then, we can always come
back tomorrow.”
She suppressed a groan. Please
let us find him tonight. “Yeah, sure. As
long as it takes.”
As they walked along the wide,
wooden plank sidewalks, Thane gawked
at the old part of the city. “I feel like I
should have spurs and a Colt 45
strapped to my hip.”
Old Sacramento really did
resemble an old-western town. The
brick buildings with wooden façades
and second-floor balconies were well
maintained. The only evidence of age
was a few faded signs on the side walls
advertising the original business that
occupied the buildings. She could almost
believe she traveled back in time if it
wasn’t for the modern cars lining the
cobble stone streets.
Athena casually looped her arm
around Garren’s as they strolled ahead.
Garren smiled at her as he untangled his
arm from hers and wrapped it around her
back to settle on her hip.
Irritation bubbled inside. She
was already tense and nervous as they
searched for any signs of Pioneer Park
or Eradicators, she didn’t need to watch
those two slobbering all over each other,
too.
“Are we interrupting their date?”
she asked Thane in a mock whisper.
Garren
glanced
over
his
shoulder. “Like we’d let you two tag
along on our date.”
Athena laughed as she snaked her
arms around Garren’s body in a
sideways hug. They seemed so natural
together, like a newly formed couple that
couldn’t keep their hands off each other.
Ugh, so nauseating.
A group of teenagers strolled
toward them, gawking at Garren and
Athena as they passed.
Her annoyance spiked to epic
proportions and throbbed in her brain.
She needed to do something before she
popped a blood vessel. “Will you tell
them to stop their embarrassing display
and pay attention?” she asked Thane.
“Why me?”
Because they won’t listen to me.
“You’re the leader of this mission, right?
Take charge and make them do their job.
We’re going to…”
At the upcoming corner, a guy
leaned against a post, watching people
pass by. Not any guy, a face from her
past. She grabbed Thane and pulled him
over to a store front window. “Athena,
you’ve got to see this,” she called, trying
to sound perfectly normal.
She pointed to an antique doll in
the display as the others crowded around
her. “There’s an Eradicator ahead,” she
whispered.
To her credit, Athena stayed in
character as she nodded. “That’s nice. I
love these old-fashioned toys.”
Heavy footsteps echoed off the
wooden walk-way. The Eradicator
ambled toward them. He stopped right
next to them, peering over their heads to
see the display.
Her heart sped up. Can he sense
our magic already? They needed to
move along, quickly.
“I think I saw a toy store back
this way,” She led them back the way
they came. They passed another guy as
they turned the corner. Short dreads,
mocha skin and light blue eyes that could
only belong to her old friend Darius. He
caught her eye for a split second before
she dropped her gaze to the floor ahead
of her.
Crap! Did he recognize me? She
sped up, the others with her.
“Hey, you,” he called out. “Don’t
I know you from somewhere?”
She slowed down a bit and
hollered over her shoulder. “I doubt it.
We’re not from around here.” Up ahead
were the Sacramento River and the train
house where there were plenty of places
to hide. She focused on getting to the
river, hoping the Eradicator believed her
and went on his way. Fear of being
caught curdled in her stomach.
“They’re following us,” Thane
whispered as they marched across the
street.
She peeked back. Big mistake.
Recognition sparked in his eyes.
“Ivy!”
“Run!” she yelled and took off,
assuming her friends would follow.
Both Eradicators chased after
them.
They dodged oncoming tourists
as they sprinted toward the river dock
s.
A guy with short dark hair who
resembled Kyle flattened himself against
the wall to avoid being run over.
“Get the blonde,” Darius shouted
behind them, much closer than she
hoped.
“Which blonde?” There was no
mistaking that voice. It was Kyle.
I should’ve known he couldn’t
stay away. But would he help them? Up
ahead was a familiar door. “In here.”
They swerved around a group of
old ladies and ducked into the hallway.
It was a long corridor with private
offices on either side and it dead-ended
with another hallway like a capital T.
They banked left and ran onto a balcony
surrounding an outside courtyard one
floor down. Twinkling white Christmas
lights criss-crossed above the dining
area and wrapped around the trunks of
trees along the border. Diners sat at
wrought iron tables sipping wine and
enjoying the romantic setting. The
courtyard was surrounded by brick
buildings on three sides and an alley on
the fourth.
She led them behind a one of the
decorated oaks in the corner to regroup.
“Give me your sweater,” Athena
said between quick breaths as soon as
they stopped. Strands of her usually
meticulously styled hair clung to the
sides of her sweaty face.
“Why?” Ivy asked as she
unbuttoned
the
front.
Goosebumps
formed on her flesh as soon as the cool
evening air washed over her skin. She
had an idea what the werewolf was up
to and didn’t like it, but she also didn’t
have any better ideas.
“Do you trust him?” Athena
asked as she shoved her arms in the
sleeves.
She assumed she meant Kyle and
didn’t have time to ponder the question
in great depth, so she went with her gut.
“Yes.”
Before anyone could protest,
Athena took off back down the hallway.
After a few seconds, Ivy peeked
around the corner. Athena waited in the
doorway leading back out to the
walkway. From one of the little shops
behind her, Kyle stepped out.
Her heart jumped in her throat
when Athena spun around and met his
eyes.
Would
he
side
with
the
Eradicators or with them?
“Ivy’s over here,” he called back
to the other Eradicators in the store.
Athena darted out into the night with
Kyle and one of the others in pursuit.
She let out the breath she’d been
holding.
Because
Athena
