“Not the big Merlin now, are you?” one taunted.
The second one nodded like an idiot. “Your cousin is twice the magical you are, and she doesn’t have any magic at all.”
I had to resist the urge to leap out and pummel those kids, with my Purging taking on a life of its own. I couldn’t risk accidentally unleashing a griffin or hydra on them. But where were Kes’s friends, running to have his back? I knew he wasn’t as popular as his sister, but I hadn’t expected to see this. Watching him stand there, not saying anything as the bullies strode away, hit me with a major jolt to the heart and a dawning realization.
That’s why he gets to his classes so early. For some, classrooms provided a safe haven from whatever lay out in the hallways—sometimes the only safe haven, until the last bell rang and they could hurry home. But Kes was sweet, and helpful, and nice—who would pick on him? These morons, apparently. I vowed that, when I had more control over it, I’d spew up a Purge beast on those bullies if I ever saw them hurting or upsetting my cousin again. But, for now, we just needed to snag Kes.
“Kes, we need a word.” I pounced and whisked him away a few yards up the hall. I guessed taking him by surprise after dealing with those two cretins wasn’t the best idea, but we didn’t have a backup. His mouth opened and closed like a beached fish, but I didn’t give him a chance to protest as I pushed him over the threshold into the enemy territory of every boy his age: the girls’ bathroom. Genie barreled in after us, sending out blue sparks that locked the door.
He backed away from me, going into panic mode. “Are you insane? I can’t be in here!”
“It won’t be for long,” I promised. “It’s the closest bathroom to the Hexes classroom.”
“You couldn’t have walked me another ten yards to the boys’ bathroom?” He dipped his chin to his chest, as if looking at this sacred space might burn out his retinas.
“We need to talk.” Genie leaned up against a sink with the air of a rom-com bad gal.
“I said I wouldn’t tell anyone! I haven’t, I swear!” he squeaked.
I walked up to him and put a hand on his arm. “Relax. We know you won’t say anything.”
He lifted his head tentatively, his mouth curving into a smile. “Does this mean you’ve come to ask me for help?”
“How did you know that?” Genie shone her phone light at him, like he was under interrogation. “Who have you been talking to?”
“I know all about the Basani Institute. You’ve decided to go for that exam tomorrow, haven’t you?” He cheered up in the space of a second. He was obviously excited to talk about the place.
I eyed him cautiously. “Maybe we have, maybe we haven’t. For your sake, it’s best you don’t know for certain.” I played along with Genie’s cloak-and-dagger routine, knowing that this would probably be the highlight of Kes’s day. “However, if we were to head out there tomorrow, we might be in need of a bit of Shapeshifting ability to charge up a couple of Ephemeras.”
Genie had come up with the genius plan of nabbing the devices from one of her dad’s forgotten trunks, which were all packed with stolen booty from Atlantis. Included in the loot was a handful of souped-up, Atlantean-style Ephemeras that had been passed down from Genie’s infamous grandpappy. They worked the same as a surface Ephemera, but for a longer time. Perfect for our needs. If nobody saw us leave, nobody would know we’d… well, left.
“You’re sneaking out?” Kes’s eyes bugged with excitement. “That’s so cool. I always knew you were cool.”
I put a finger to my lips. “We need you to keep mum about this.”
He nodded silently.
“And we need your Shapeshifting ability to charge these puppies.” Genie whipped out the golden orbs and rolled them around on her palms with dexterous fingers. “Persie and I can gussy up like other people and slip out without raising any alarms. We’ll deal with the parental fallout later.”
“I thought you were going to ask your mom?” Kes peered at me. “Did she say no?”
I hesitated a moment too long.
Kes nodded in understanding. “You didn’t tell her, did you?”
“The conversation didn’t even come up. We were supposed to have a family discussion, but both of them ended up working late. And if I’d had the chance to ask, she’d have been on her guard about me pulling a stunt like this,” I explained. Honestly, I’d come close to telling her the truth a few times. But then my dad had come home from wherever he’d been, and the two of them had muttered through a few hours of stressed conversation. Things they clearly didn’t want me overhearing. Plus, it was better to ask forgiveness than permission, right?
“Sneaky, but probably sensible,” Kes replied. “Moms go crazy when they think their kids don’t need them anymore. My mom picks fights with Di over the tiniest things, and I know she regrets it when it escalates. It’s like this weird tug-of-war to assert authority over someone who’s getting close to real autonomy. You know?”
I gaped at him. “Yeah… I do.”
“Someone get this boy a leather armchair and a couch.” Genie laughed. “And two hours of my time to psychoanalyze the living daylights out of my family problems.”
“It’s all a matter of psychology,” Kes said, matter-of-factly. “The teenager wants to test the boundaries, to gain independence and a sense of adulthood, and the parent fights against it out of a residual sense of responsibility.”
I patted him on the back. “I bet when you’re eighteen, you’ll just therapize your way out of any conflict.”
“I’ll have to start practicing now.” He leaned back against the wall, a bit more comfortable in his surroundings. But he still couldn’t look at the tampon dispenser without immediately looking away again. The poor boy couldn’t have gotten any redder if he’d tried, though it was an endearing blush color, somewhere between coral and crimson, with a dusting of brown from his freckles. My hand itched for a paintbrush. With so much going on, I hadn’t been able to resort to my favorite pastime.
Genie clapped her hands. “Back to business, before he Freuds us into forgetting why we came here. What do you say, Kes? Fancy giving your cousin and her best pal a helping hand?”
He cocked his head to one side—a trait he’d inherited from his dad. “If I were to help you, that would make me an accomplice. I don’t know if I like that idea. Staying quiet is one thing, because it’s not direct involvement. But giving you two Ephemeras’ worth of Shapeshifting ability is aiding and abetting.”
“You’ve watched one too many cop shows, my friend.” Genie still looked impressed. “This isn’t grand theft or some crime against magical kind. This is your cousin pursuing that independence you spoke about because her mom is winning the tug-of-war.”
I nodded. “Come on, Kes. Help us out.”
“And what if my mom and dad found out? It could cause a family rift, and I wouldn’t want that.” Kes shook his head, but a glint of mischief shone in his eyes. “I’m just not sure it’s worth it.”
I paused, reevaluating him with newfound respect. “What do you want in return?” It seemed that little Kes was growing up and resorting to extortion. I felt like I was watching a baby take his first steps, and I couldn’t have been prouder.
He feigned innocence. “Who said I wanted anything in return?”
“Your face.” I chuckled.
Kes pushed off the wall and tried to puff up his chest. “Okay, here’s the deal. I’ll help you—on one condition.”
“You scare me, Kes.” I laughed stiffly and shot a glance at Genie. We hadn’t prepared for an exchange, and I wondered if we’d be able to cough up whatever it was he wanted.
He grinned at me, morphing from skilled diplomat to puppy dog and then back again. “‘Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.’”
“John F. Kennedy,” I marveled.
“I’m glad someone in this place is on my wavelength.” A flicker of hurt flashed across his face for a second, but he covered it
quickly. “Don’t you want to know what my condition is?”
Genie shrugged. “Smartass syndrome?”
Kes cast her a sarcastic smile. “In return for helping charge the Ephemeras, I want to go with you.”
“No chance.” Genie immediately shook her head, but I wasn’t so quick to dismiss the request. Deals weren’t exactly my favorite topic lately. Still, he deserved to be heard out.
Kes was glancing between the two of us, his face still showing false bravado, but I made him look at me. “Why?”
He looked down. “I’ve… got a bit of an obsession with the Institute and its Head Huntswoman.” His cheeks flushed again, and he fumbled with the straps of his backpack. “Her name is Victoria Jules, and she’s the coolest woman you’ve never read about. Our parents have their stories, but she has tales unlike anything you’ve ever heard. I’ve researched so much about her, and the Institute, and everything associated with it. I’d be the perfect guide. And I just really want to see her and the Institute for myself.”
“Sounds like my boy here has a crush.” Genie winked. Kes, on the other hand, didn’t find it funny.
“It’s not like that. I admire her.” He glared at Genie. “If you knew about her, you’d aspire to be like her too. She’s amazing, and the Institute is amazing. I can’t let this opportunity slip by, not when the two of you want to go to my dream place!”
Mom will actually lock me in a box for this… Then again, it wasn’t like we were going on some madcap mission to somewhere dangerous, like she’d done countless times when she wasn’t much older than I was. We were going away from the real danger. And Kes sounded so eager, showing the kind of enthusiasm I felt about famous writers and artists. I wasn’t going to be the one to burst his bubble.
“Okay,” I said.
Genie’s eyes almost fell out of her head. “Huh?”
“We’ll need guidance to get through the entrance exam, and he’s like a walking Basani encyclopedia. We’ve got a better chance of succeeding if we have him with us.” I smiled wide. “Plus, you heard him—he really wants to go.” And who was I to deny him that? He’d made a decent case, and this was his chance to fulfill a dream. Plus, Genie and I would be there to watch him and make sure nothing bad happened.
“I’ll be an asset, I swear.” Kes put his hands together, praying to Genie’s softer side.
After a pause, she let out a chuckle. “Remind me never to get into negotiations with a Merlin. Both of you, with those adorable faces, could sell water to an Atlantean. In fact, I think you just did.”
“Yes!” Kes punched the air, his overstuffed backpack swaying. “I love you, Genie!” His exuberance went out like a light. “I mean… uh… I don’t… um… I love that you agreed.”
“Don’t blow an artery, or we won’t have anyone to talk us through this fabled entrance exam.” Genie’s tone softened, with no hint of mockery. She didn’t have a cruel bone in her body. “Besides, I love you for saying you’d help.”
Kes relaxed. “I’m in total support. Having a monster hunter for a cousin would be awesome. I mean, it’s already super cool that you can Purge monsters like that insane griffin.”
If everyone thought like you, life would be much simpler. I admired his ability to meet life’s problems with tail-wagging enthusiasm. Purging monsters? Awesome. Catching them? Even better. Taking matters into your own hands? Magnificent. I needed a dose of that.
“If you ever need a beast for anything—you know, if you were in trouble or something, or you needed to scare someone—Genie and I could probably do just as well.” I offered him a kind smile, which I hoped relayed the subtext.
His eyes snapped downward. “I don’t know what you mean. I’m never in trouble.”
“If Persie’s mom finds out about this, that might change.” Genie cut through his awkwardness. “But she’s right. You’ve got us if you ever need help sorting out some dingbats who probably can’t count past ten.” Genie had a way of scooping up the misfits and the runts of the litter and doing everything in her power to protect them.
He scuffed his shoe against the worn-out linoleum. “Thanks, but I’m okay. I just like my own company, that’s all.”
“And why wouldn’t you? You’re not half bad, Merlin.” Genie smiled, and when he looked at her, he smiled back genuinely. “Right, now that we’ve got our mastermind on board, there’s one more thing I need to pick up before we head out tomorrow. I’ll get it tonight, when the coven quiets down a bit.”
Kes looked as though he might burst with anticipation. “Oh, this is so awesome! What time should we meet? The exam registration starts at eight-thirty, so it’ll have to be early. And you know we’ll have to use mirrors to get there, right?”
“What?” Another wrench in the works.
“You have to mirror into the Institute. There are powerful hexes surrounding the island, so if you tried to chalk-door there, you’d just drop into the sea.” He sounded way too cheerful to be breaking that kind of news.
I drew in a stressed breath. “Guess we’ll deal with that when we get to it. And let’s shoot for seven. My mom and dad will be out of the apartment by then, and there won’t be too many people around. We can meet in that dragon garden no one goes to, fill up the Ephemeras, then make our way to the mirrors from there.”
“Perfect!” Kes looped his hands under the straps of his backpack. “I’ll see you there!”
“And remember…” Genie put a finger to her lips.
He grinned. “Not a word, I promise. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” In the blink of an eye, he transformed from Kes Merlin into a random teenage girl. “And don’t you go telling anyone about this, either.”
“Not a word,” I parroted with a smile.
Sashaying a little too much, Kes waited for Genie to unlock the bathroom door then strode into the hallway. As he left, I heard him whisper under his breath, “I can’t believe it! Everything’s coming up Kestrel.”
“Well, you made him a happy little bunny,” Genie said fondly as the door swung closed.
“I couldn’t resist. He really wanted to come.” I laughed, feeling some weight slough off my shoulders. “What’s this thing you need to pick up? Do you need me to come with you?”
Her expression shifted to one of conspiracy. “It’s probably better if you don’t, but you’ll thank me for it later.”
Uh-oh… That didn’t sit quite right. Then again, I trusted Genie implicitly. If she had an idea that would help us out... Well, she’d never let me down before. We were best friends. Practically sisters. And that required a few leaps of faith here and there. If she had a trick up her sleeve, then I had to let her weave her magic.
“You’ll be careful, won’t you?” I replied eventually.
She fiddled with her Esprit barrette. “Always.”
“Just don’t get yourself in trouble before we reach the Institute. Watch your back, okay?” I didn’t want her putting herself in a tight spot for me.
She giggled, dispelling my nerves. “This ain’t my first rodeo, ma’am.”
“I’m always going to worry about you,” I admitted.
“Once we do this, you’ll never have anything to worry about again. Aside from hacking up Purge beasts, but that’ll become as normal as brushing your teeth once you know how to catch the bastards.” She bounded up and looped her arm through mine. “Come on, we should get something to eat.”
Heading into the hallway, my heart felt lighter. I had challenges to come, for sure, but if I could get through them, I would have hope. And, besides—if I could forgive my parents’ years of half-truths, surely they could forgive a little deception on my end. Eventually.
Twenty
Harley
Darkness fell and I prepared to make my excuses. I loved Wade more than anything, but sometimes a woman needed her solitude. And after the last few days, I needed time to think. I put away the dishes from dinner and gathered up a pile of folders from the countertop. The stark contrast between my two lives—mothe
r and agent—in real time.
“It’s late.” Wade leaned against the counter. “It can wait until tomorrow.”
I closed the gap between us and kissed him. “If I don’t do it now, I’ll keep putting it off.”
“So do it here.” He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. His lips sought mine, and the temptation to linger awhile fogged my brain.
I pushed back gently. “If we keep doing this, nothing will get done.”
“Best of both worlds.” He grinned, pulling me close and kissing me again. One child and twenty years of marriage later, and the fires still hadn’t died.
I mumbled my reply against his lips. “The rest of the documents are in my office.” I pulled back. “I won’t be long. Why don’t you kick back with a drink? You could use a chance to decompress.”
His visit to the high-security facility for the mentally compromised hadn’t gone as smoothly as we’d hoped. Some of the more recent returnees showed the same signs of tampering as Zara and Howard, but there wasn’t enough evidence to identify any kind of pattern or process. As for those who’d been there longer, the residual Chaos left behind by the mind-tampering had decayed to the point that it wasn’t reliable anymore. He’d been so hopeful, only to come up against another dead end.
“I can think of another way to decompress.” He chuckled and kissed my neck.
This time, I batted him away with playful firmness. “Persie’s in her bedroom.” I glanced toward the hallway. “Speaking of, keep watch while I’m gone. I’ll be back before you know it. Then we can pick up where we left off. I’ll be gone an hour max.”
“Last time you said that, I didn’t see you for twenty-four hours.” He laughed and held my hand as he walked me to the door. Ever the chivalrous gent.
I grimaced at the memory. “That was different. O’Halloran sent me on an urgent mission to Russia. This is only paperwork.”
“Well, if any last-minute missions do come up, give me a call.” He smiled and kissed me one last time.
Harley Merlin 18: Persie Merlin and Leviathan’s Gift Page 17
