by Vella Day
While it would be easy to do what his brother did, he had the sense Tory wouldn’t see him in a favorable light if he lived off the riches of the royal family. “Thanks. I will, but I’m thinking of getting a job.”
Bevon nearly spit out his drink. “A job? You? What could you do?”
“I’m sure more than you. For starters, I’m reliable and a fast learner.”
His brother picked up his bottle, tossed back most of the contents, and then waved it. “I’ll give you that. Have at it, I say. I take it your date with Tory went well?”
“It did.” He gave Bevon the briefest rundown of why she wanted to meet.
“Tory is working on a case that involves four suicides because of some unknown chemical found in the body?”
Kenton nodded. “The problem is that I recognized it.”
His brother sobered. “What was it?”
“I believe it came from a demon.”
Bevon laughed. “A demon? Here on Tarradon? No way. We would know.”
“I thought that at first too, but what else could it be? We can’t be so arrogant to believe we know everything. We only patrol our own portals. Who is to say this being didn’t come from Cargonia or someplace else?”
“Shit. I hate demons. They are so damned hard to kill.”
“Precisely. The last thing I need is for Tory to be asking questions and end up coming face-to-face with one.”
Bevon leaned forward. “What’s your plan? I’m guessing it involves me.”
“Demons will involve everyone. I’ll speak with the girls. They are more intuitive than we are. They might be able to sense their location—or rather where they might have been. I’d hate to learn there are several of them here.”
“Why would they come to Tarradon?” Bevon asked. “And why kill four people? That would only draw attention to them.”
“I agree, but I have no other explanation. Trust me, I want to be wrong more than anything.”
“I don’t think you are,” Bevon said. “We saw that chemical residue a long time ago on Feyrion.”
Kenton shook his head to clear it. “Mind control is an ugly thing.” Thankfully, the Feys and Fairies were immune, but no one else seemed to be.
“Are you going to tell Tory?”
“Hell no.”
Bevon raised a brow. “Why not? If she knows, she can stay clear of them.”
Didn’t his brother pay attention to anything that had just happened with Malpan? “The Guardians are fierce protectors of their realm. If they didn’t realize Malpan was a Fey, they won’t be able to identify a demon, yet they’ll try to hunt him down.”
Bevon held up a hand. “I get it. If they fight a demon, they will die. I wasn’t thinking.”
“No, you weren’t. We tend to forget others are mortal.”
Bevon stood, picked up his popcorn bag and bottle, and carried them into the kitchen. “I’ll get things started. It’s time I visit a few of our old haunts on Feyrion. Someone there will know something.”
“I appreciate it. I’ll give our sisters a heads up too.”
While Bevon went off to ask questions of some of the wisest on Feyrion, Kenton left to ask his sisters for help. Just having a plan made him feel better.
“I’m not aware of any demons on Tarradon, but then I haven’t sensed any unusual unease from any of the Guardians. It’s only when I do, that I work to find the cause,” Fay said.
“Where are Meena and Tally?” Kenton asked, trying not to yawn since he hadn’t slept much last night. Not only did he worry about what the demons were up to, he kept replaying his date with Tory last night. She might have thought she was only on a fact-finding mission, but he bet she had a different opinion once the date was over. Hopefully, she would be willing to go out with him again.
“Meena is off doing who knows what. Tally went back home for a bit. I’m a little concerned about her. I don’t think Tarradon suits her.”
An in-depth discussion would have to be delayed for another time. They had demons to find and fight. “I agree, but we need her here in case we have to join our magic. Or should I say when the three of you have to join forces.” It was the only way to defeat one of these monsters. Correction: cutting off their heads was an option too, but it would take some skill to sneak up on one of them.
“I agree. I’ll drop subtle hints for her to return. If she knows she’s needed, she’ll come back. Tally would never abandon us.” Fay’s eyes suddenly sparkled. “I forgot to ask. How was your date last night? I heard Meena gave you some wardrobe tips?”
“She did. I wore what she suggested, and while Tory didn’t throw herself at me on first sight, she didn’t take one look and run either, so I consider that a good thing.”
Fay smiled. “Are you going to see her again?”
“She asked that I stop by her store so she could show me the jewelry she designed.”
Fay’s brows rose. “That sounds promising. I’m glad you didn’t alienate her after one date.”
“Ha, ha.”
Fay got off the couch. “I made something for you last night.”
Last night? Meena must have run to Fay as soon as he left. Fay disappeared and returned seconds later holding what looked like two leather wrist bands. “What are they?” he asked.
“This one is for you. It actually has no use other than it makes giving Tory her bracelet a little easier.”
“I’m confused.”
“You don’t own a cell phone, nor do you seem to have any interest in buying one.”
Not that he was against technology, but he saw little use for it. “True.”
“If Tory needs you, how will she ever be able to contact you, assuming you haven’t mated?”
Drat. He hadn’t thought of that. “I plan to get a job near where she works. It wouldn’t take much for her to find me.”
Fay just stared at him, acting as if he had two heads. “This is a bracelet for Tory. Note, it is made from the same brown leather, but hers has a green Orlandan gem on it.”
The Orlandan gem was only mined on Feyrion and had special powers. “It’s beautiful, but I don’t think we’re at a point in our relationship for me to be giving her a present.”
Fay smiled. “I see I’ve been lax in educating you.” Before he had the chance to take offense, she rushed on. “It’s a communication device. If Tory twists the bracelet around and presses the gem over her heart, she’ll be able to communicate telepathically with you. That way, if she is ever in trouble, you can be by her side in seconds.”
“Can I track her with this?”
“Yes, but don’t abuse the power.”
This was amazing. “Why haven’t I ever seen this before?”
“It only works when a person has shared his life force with the other person.”
Ah. In order to save Tory, Kenton had given her a small piece of his light, which now resided around her heart. It was why they were bonded. At some point he’d tell her, but not yet. “That’s great, but how do I communicate with her? Like if I want to ask her out?”
“Place your hand over the band and concentrate. Her wristband will vibrate. The two of you are only linked if the stone is placed near her heart.”
“It’s kind of like she can call me, but it’s harder for me to call her.”
“Exactly. Once you mate, your full telepathic link will be complete.”
Kenton rubbed a thumb over the smooth stone. “I can’t thank you enough. It will give me peace of mind knowing she is safe.”
Fay smiled. “That’s the point. Now get out of here. I have work to do.”
Kenton gave her a quick hug and teleported back to his house. Bevon was already gone, hopefully at work locating the demons.
While his siblings worked their magic on other fronts, Kenton wanted to find a job since he needed to earn money in order to take Tory out. With a little luck, he’d be employed before the day was over.
Chapter Six
When Tory walked into the store the next
morning, Greer was already there. Her cousin looked up from arranging some jewelry in the case and smiled. “My, my. You are positively glowing. I was hoping you’d call me last night when you got in from your hot date. It must have been something if you were with him for so long.” Greer grinned.
Heat raced up Tory’s face. “It wasn’t a date, though I have to admit, I enjoyed myself.”
While no one was in the store, it wasn’t really safe to talk due to the massive amount of security cameras that were watching their every move. “I need to check on something in the back room. Maybe you can help me.” With raised eyebrows and a glance to the back, Tory signaled for Greer to join her.
Greer leaned closer. “This must be juicy if you don’t want our security men to hear,” she whispered.
Tory rolled her eyes. Once in the back room, her cousin left the door open just enough to hear the buzzer sound should anyone want to come in and browse.
“It’s not that big a deal, but I did learn a lot.”
Tory told her about how dark Feys didn’t leave a chemical signature.
“If it’s not a dark entity or a dark Fey, who else could it be?” Greer asked. “I’ve never met anyone other than the dark Fey who can do mind control.”
“The woman who compelled my sister and Danita could do that. Then again, she turned out to be a dark Fey. I asked Kenton what he thought. I swear he knew something, but he said he wanted to do a bit of research first.”
“That’s great. Beside all of the Guardian business, how was it?”
Tory had spent last night going over everything. “I’ll admit that Kenton does something to my libido. He wore this tight fitting, long-sleeved muscle shirt. And wow. He looked good. I swear when we locked gazes, my heart heated up. It was a rather strange sensation.”
“Were your scales flashing?”
“I imagine they were, but I didn’t want to look. I’m lucky in that my scales are yellow, so they kind of blend in with my skin.”
“Not always.”
Crap. She’d have to wear more long-sleeved shirts in that case, as well as keep her hands folded on her lap. “Anyway, over dinner we discussed his family. I have to say, his brother, Bevon, sounds like fun.”
“And Kenton isn’t?”
“He claims he doesn’t really do fun.”
Greer smiled. “Then you have your work cut out for you.”
Tory laughed. “I wanted to speak with Kenton because I thought he might have information we could use.”
Greer lifted an elegant shoulder. “That might have been your original purpose, but the pep in your step, the flush in your cheeks, and the sparkle in your eyes don’t lie. You like him.”
“I certainly wouldn’t mind spending more time with him.”
“Good to know. When are you seeing him again?”
Tory couldn’t stop the heat from racing up her face. “Kenton seemed very interested in our jewelry making process, so I asked him to stop by for a little tour.”
Her cousin winked. “I’ll be on the lookout for him.”
For sure, Kenton had piqued her interest, but Tory always found enigmatic men intriguing. His full head of hair, the beginnings of a beard, and those intense hazel eyes would make any woman swoon. Add in the fact the man had many hidden abilities, and Tory wanted to know more. Because everyone had vouched for the entire Forrester family, she’d kept an open mind.
Mate, mate, her dragon announced with a great deal of cheer, and it’s about time.
Kenton walked into Angelique’s Coffee Shop, not liking this feeling of uncertainty swirling in his gut. He was a bit embarrassed that he’d never worked for anyone before, but the son of the King of Feyrion didn’t do that kind of labor. On his realm, Kenton was in charge of managing the security for the entire world. That meant he had superior managerial skills, an asset any Tarradonian would want in an employee. He was also a person who was very focused and not easily distracted—another trait any employer would be looking for. Hmm. Maybe finding a job wouldn’t be that hard!
“Kenton?” He turned to find Angelique staring at him with her brows pinched.
Oh, drat. Had he been staring off into space? That was not good at all.
“Angelique, how nice to see you.”
She moved closer. “What’s wrong?”
Being another entity, she could sense things. “Can we speak in private?”
“Certainly. Follow me.”
Seeing how both of them were from realms other than this one, she and Kenton had conferred many times. It was nice not needing to hide any of his abilities. Angelique might not be a Fey, but being a light entity was almost as good.
As he followed her to her office, he looked back over his shoulder, glad that the shop wasn’t demanding her attention. Once inside, she motioned he take a seat across from her. The space was small and not befitting her talents, but who was he to judge? He lived in the cabin in the woods with his brother, didn’t own a car, or have a driver’s license. Hell, he didn’t even own a credit card. To some, he might not even exist. Kenton wanted to change, in large part to having found his mate.
“How can I help you, Kenton?”
“I need a job.”
She barked out a laugh. “Seriously, how can I help you?”
Why did everyone think the idea of him working was ridiculous? That actually pissed him off a bit. “Tory Sinclair is my mate, and I need money to take her out on dates. That’s the honest truth.”
Her shoulders sagged. “I am so sorry. I really didn’t think you were serious. Does Tory know?”
Considering Tory was Angelique’s mate’s sister, Kenton was certain she knew what happened to Tory after Malpan infected her. “No. We only formally met yesterday.”
“Ah, I see.” Angelique glanced to the side. “Do you have a particular job in mind?”
“I thought I could pour coffee and deliver the meals to the customers.”
Her right brow rose, but she said nothing for a moment. “That seems a little beneath your station in life.”
“That may be, but unless you want me to wave my hand and make all of the meals in seconds, that’s all I can do. I really don’t want to use my Fey skills if I don’t have to. I’m sure you of all people can understand.”
“I totally get it.”
“If Tory and I are to be together, my plan is to….” What was his plan? “Well, when I convince Tory that we belong together, we’ll figure it out.”
Angelique smiled. “When can you start?”
“Ready to grab some lunch?” Greer asked.
Tory finished entering a receipt into the computer. “Almost.”
Greer stepped next to her. “You entered all of those?”
Tory faced her and smiled. “I did. It’s like I’m Miss Speedy today. I swear my fingers never mistyped a number or keystroke.”
Her cousin sighed. “It must be love.”
“Seriously? I met the guy one time. Even if he was nice, charming, and…”
“Hot?”
“Yes, and hot, that doesn’t mean we are destined for each other.” Though Tory had to admit waves of heat would pulse around her heart whenever she thought of Kenton. “Can I ask you something?”
Greer sobered. “Anything.”
“When you first met Blake, what did you feel?”
“Loathing.”
That wasn’t what she wanted to hear. “Seriously. I meant after that monster dark entity left his body.”
“Remember, I was locked in a cage, but when I touched him, it was like I had this invisible electric cord attached to my body my whole life, and he’d just plugged it in.”
“Did you know instantly he was the one?”
Greer’s eyes widened. “I think so, but remember I had been drugged.” Greer grabbed her arm. “Hold on. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“No! Definitely not. That would be ridiculous. I mean, he’s a Fey, and I’m a dragon shifter.” On the other hand, her dragon told her she and Kent
on were mates, but was that really the case? Her animal might have just wished it were true.
“But yet…”
Tory let out a sigh. “Okay, okay. When I’m around him, my heart feels kind of funny.”
A small smile lifted one side of her mouth. “I’m loving this indecisiveness. That’s so not like you. Define this funny feeling.”
She didn’t want to get into this today. Her head wasn’t in the right space, but Greer was too tenacious to let it drop. “Warm and tingly.”
“Interesting. How about we discuss this further over lunch?”
She thought her cousin would never ask. “Where do you want to go?” They had about five favorite places.
“How about Angelique’s?”
Tory loved the cozy atmosphere and all of the delicious smells. “Perfect. Her coffee shop always calms my nerves.”
“That’s Angelique’s influence not the high-octane caffeine.”
“I know.”
They locked up the store like they always did at lunch and walked the few blocks to the coffee shop. As soon as Tory stepped inside, a wave of peace washed over her. Without any conscious thought, her hand went to her heart.
“Something wrong?” Greer asked, her gaze zooming to the area Tory was rubbing.
“No. How about we sit near the back?” For some reason, she wasn’t in the mood to observe people rushing by on the street.
As she walked to the other side of the shop, she had the distinct sense someone was watching her. Tory whipped around, and Greer almost ran into her. “What’s wrong? And don’t tell me nothing.”
“I think I’m being followed.”
Greer looked back over her shoulder. “By whom?”
“I don’t know. Maybe my imagination is going crazy. I think those four deaths has me on edge. I wonder if that person who has been doing mind tricks on the victims will come after me.”
