Real Magic

by Lissa Michaels

  JELENA TENSELY waited for Drake outside in the alley. It was only seconds before he joined her, but it felt like hours. She had absolutely no explanation for her terrified, witless behavior other than the fact that she’d never been more repulsed by a creature in her entire life.

  “Relax. It’ll pass in a few minutes.”

  “What will pass?” Ali’ra, she couldn’t stop trembling.

  “Human women don’t do well with Kaxin pheromones. Take a few deep breaths. It’ll help clear your head.”

  She drew in a gulp of air, praying it would help. It did, some. “You could have warned me.”

  He nodded, and stared at her expectantly. “What? You’re not going to get on me about bullying him too?”

  Jelena shuddered and shook her head. “That creature—”

  “Was one of the most accurate informants I’ve ever bought—until now.” He reached into his cape and withdrew a small silver disk.

  “So you think the information he gave you is a trap?”

  “Probably.” He pressed the disk against her shoulder. It faded into her clothing.

  “But you’re going anyway.”

  “Yes.” He tapped the contraption on his wrist.

  A bright flash blinded her eyes. When she blinked the spots away, she found herself on his ship, staring at his retreating back. “Why?” She hopped off the transporter pad and ran to catch up to him. “Why purposely walk into danger?”

  “To get some answers.”

  Jelena stumbled to a halt. “That’s insane!”

  “Maybe.” He disappeared through the bridge doors.

  Staring at the closed doors, she released a frustrated sigh. “No wonder you need a Nar’gadesh. You’re a danger to yourself.” Shaking her head, she followed him onto the bridge.

  Mayori, having just relinquished the command chair to Drake, turned toward the doors at the sound of Jelena’s arrival. Her welcoming smile froze on her face. “You? I expected Galen.”

  “Sorry to disappoint you.” Jelena walked briskly past her, her gaze intent on the stubborn fool whose fingers glided over the command console. She stopped in front of the console and leaned over it, forcing him to look at her. “You can’t do this.”

  Drake ignored her, turning his gaze to Mayori. “Galen went home with his brother.”

  “Magician!”

  He jerked his gaze to Jelena. “You are not my keeper.”

  “A shame. You obviously need one.”

  Mayori cleared her throat, pulling Drake’s attention away from her. “Where are we headed now?”

  “Nowhere. We’ll hold orbit until tomorrow.” He looked at Jelena. “I have an appointment to keep.”

  “You stubborn—”

  “Not another word.”

  Throwing up her hands, Jelena released a frustrated growl. If the stupid fool wanted to die, who was she to stop him?

  His Nar’gadesh.

  She stilled. He was his own worst enemy. His survival instincts had been in high gear his entire life. Until now. Now, it seemed, he’d reached the point in his life where he didn’t care whether he lived or died. Her duty was to protect him, from himself if she must, and she didn’t intend to fail.

  Drake stood and headed for the door, his gaze on Mayori. “I’m going to eat then get some work done in my office.” When Jelena moved to follow him, he stopped and said, “You stay here.”

  She shook her head, opening her mouth to protest.

  He held up his hand. “Woman, you’ve caused me enough trouble for one night. Do me, and yourself, a favor and stay put.” He turned and strode out the door.

  Hmpf! Jelena ported to his empty chair. Ignoring the bridge crew’s startled exclamations, she crossed her arms, leaned back against the padded seat and glared at the closed doors. Stubborn fool! He hasn’t seen trouble yet. But he would.

  “So,” Mayori swiveled her chair to face Jelena, “what did you do?”

  Chapter Five

  “WHERE IS he?” Zanera’s low, angry voice rumbled through the bay. The air crackled with the energy of a furious storm about to be unleashed. Normally, she would take pleasure in the cowering workers’ fear but, right now, all she noticed was the lack of it in the man in front of her.

  “I don’t know.” Threaden passed his hand over his short red hair, looking not the least bit threatened by her show of temper. Not even a hint of color darkened his pale Jotnar skin.

  Amazing that such a small weak form had roused such terror in his day. What would it take to terrify him? “You’re sure the lizard told him we’d be here.”

  Threaden nodded. “He denied it at first, but after a little persuasion he confessed to telling the Magician and his little woman everything.”

  “Woman?” Her jealous fury whipped at their clothing. “Jerrek!”

  The man came running.

  “You didn’t tell me Drake had a woman with him.”

  Jerrek halted abruptly, before he came too near. Smart man. His gaze shot to the floor causing her to miss what he mumbled.

  “What did you say?” She should zap him where he stood, but he just wasn’t worth the loss of energy.

  “He said he isn’t crazy.” Threaden’s impatience was far too clear in his tone. “What now?”

  “Now, we think of something else.”

  WHICH WAS more erotic, the feel of his hot lips scorching a trail of fire up the ridge of her spine, or the sensuous glide of his silky hair on her bare skin, following in the wake of those marvelous lips? She honestly didn’t know, but both felt like heaven.

  A tremor ran through her body as his warm breath whispered across her ear. “Do you like this?” His lips found her earlobe, gently catching it between his teeth, suckling lightly, as his fingers slid over her buttocks, between her legs, then delved into her moist heat.

  “Tali!” she gasped.

  He rolled her onto her back, then his beautiful blue eyes stared deeply into hers. “Tell me you want this.”

  “I want this. Ali’ra, how I want this.”

  “You’re sure?”

  She grabbed his hips, urging him forward.

  As he slid slowly inside her, she moaned with pleasure, her eyes fluttering shut. Dear gods, she was in heaven.

  No, this is wrong. She stiffened, her lids flying open. “I can’t do this.” She pushed frantically against his chest.

  “Jelena, why? It’s just a dream—”

  “I will not give myself to a killer, even in sleep.”

  DRAKE JERKED awake and raised his head, surprised to find himself still at his desk. Someone was pounding like hell on the door. Was that what woke him? Or the dream?

  He stretched his stiff shoulders and back. It looked like he wasn’t going to get a moment’s peace, not even in sleep. He sighed, rubbing his hands over his face.

  The pounding got louder, almost frantic.

  “Drake! Drake, open up!”

  “All right,” he muttered and strode to the door.

  The locking mechanism was activated. He didn’t remember locking it. But then, he didn’t remember getting tired either.

  He hit the lock, and the door slid open to reveal a very panicked Mayori with Tilgore and Kef.

  “Oh, thank God. I thought we were going to have to cut the door open.” She gestured toward Tilgore who held a cutting torch.

  “What’s the problem?”

  “Problem? Are you serious? Look at the chronometer.”

  Eleventh hour. Granted, he hadn’t planned on spending a whole sleep period in his office, but he still had an hour before he wanted to leave for Bay Ninety-six. He planned to get there a bit early, just incase it was a set-up. “So?”

  “So? Drake, you’ve been locked in here thirty-eight hours.”

  Drake went cold. “That’s not possible.” He turned toward his desk, to his monitor, with Mayori close behind him.

  “You’re damned right it’s possible. We’ve been trying to get through to you since eleventh hour yesterday. We even tried by
passing the locking mechanism, but Kef couldn’t get the computer to do it. Drake, what the heck is wrong?”

  He stared stunned at the monitor. Luna fourteen. Gods, she was right. He’d been locked in here for more than a day and a half. Drek! He missed the delivery, just like that infuriating little—

  Drake jerked his gaze to Mayori. “Where’s Jelena?”

  “In the galley.” Her jaw dropped as a stunned look crossed her green face. “You don’t think she was responsible for—”

  “I’d bet my life on it.” He grabbed his cape and blaster from the wall hooks near the door and strode into the corridor.

  Mayori hurried after him.

  Instead of heading for the galley, he turned toward the transporter room.

  “What are you doing?”

  Drake checked the charge on his blaster then tucked it into his waistband. “I’m going to see if I can salvage anything out of this mess.” He turned to the transporter tech, who rose from his station when Drake entered the room. “Toruch Spaceport, Bay Ninety-six.”

  The tech nodded, his skilled fingers quickly finding the coordinates and tapping them in.

  “You tell that treacherous little—” He clenched his fists. “You tell her that if she knows what’s good for her, she’ll be gone before I get back.” He turned his gaze to the transporter tech and nodded. He was ready.

  JELENA ARRIVED in Bay Ninety-six seconds after Mayori delivered Drake’s ultimatum. He stood with his back to her, not ten feet away. Fury emanated from his very being.

  “Gone. There’s not a damned thing left to give me a clue where they might be heading. I’m back where I started.” His voice was ominously quiet. He turned to face her, and it took everything within her not to port home to safety. “That was the plan all along, wasn’t it? You were here to protect him from me.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Can’t you see that I’m trying to protect you? You’re too close to this contract. You’re blind to the dangers you face. It’s too personal.”

  “You’re damned right it’s personal. Do you have any idea what he is? The Jotnar’s Supreme High Interrogator. That bastard tortured Morgan. He humiliated him, beat him, whipped him until his skin hung from his back in strips, then he threw him in a pit of flesh-eating rats. And you let him get away.”

  She shuddered. “Revenge won’t—”

  “Justice!”

  “You don’t want justice. You want to kill him.”

  “I won’t kill him unless I have to.” His eyes took on a cold, hard glint. “Believe me, I sincerely hope I have to.”

  “That’s barbaric!”

  “Tell that to all the poor souls that bastard’s tortured and killed. Tell that to Morgan.” He clenched his eyes shut for a moment, shaking his head, then turned toward the door. “Get out of my sight.”

  “Magician.” She hurried after him. “Drake.” She grabbed hold of his arm.

  “Don’t touch me.” He jerked away. “Don’t ever touch me unless I invite you to.”

  “Tali, please—”

  “Don’t.”

  Jelena stared dumfounded at her trembling hand while he strode away. He really didn’t want her to touch him.

  Why did that hurt? It wasn’t as if she cared about him.

  She followed after him, and tried to think of one time he hadn’t reacted negatively to her touch. She couldn’t. He always pulled away. Even during their kiss, when she’d slipped her fingers into his silky hair, he’d pulled away. He hadn’t endured Dorla’s wandering hands either. She remembered that very clearly now.

  Ali’ra, how could she have missed the fact that he didn’t like to be touched? After what he’d told her about his father, she should have realized—

  Where was he going now?

  He’d led her from the docks, deep into the heart of the business district and beyond. And now her senses were tingling, fully alert. This place didn’t look safe in daylight; Ali’ra protect anyone who came here at night.

  Trash, buzzing with insects, littered the streets. The thick rancid stench of rotten food and basha knew what else was so awful that her stomach rolled.

  The residents didn’t look much better. Dressed in filthy rags, they crowded the streets or loitered in shadowed doorways of rusty tin shacks, staying out of the heat. She was sure that in a single glance, they’d tallied the worth of her clothing, the amount her leather boots would fetch, and the level of threat she presented.

  She’d never seen such a rag-tag mix of ruffians, and the Magician seemed perfectly at ease in their company. She supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. He dealt with these kinds of people every day. Still—

  “Hey, sweetheart, you need a ride somewhere?”

  Jelena glanced over her shoulder and found a tall, lanky, extremely dirty man hurrying to catch up with her. Ali’ra preserve, she smelled him coming even through the stench of this place.

  “No.” She glanced forward, trying to keep Magician in her line of vision. He kept walking, seemingly unaware of her predicament. No matter, she could protect herself.

  “My sky-hopper’s out back. Take you where you want to go.” He tossed his greasy clumps of brown hair over his shoulder and smiled, revealing a mouth full of broken, rotting teeth.

  Jelena glanced in the direction he thumbed over his shoulder, and shook her head. “I don’t need a ride, but thank you.” Even if she did, she wouldn’t go there. More than likely, the moment he got her into that alley, he’d try to slit her throat— or worse.

  His face turned angry, determined. “You’re going to come with me right now, sweet-thing. You and I have a little business.” He grabbed for her.

  Jelena jerked out of his reach, drawing in her power, making her hands glow. “Touch me and you’ll lose an arm.”

  “Touch her and you’ll lose more than an arm.”

  The sound of Drake’s low, warning voice sent an excited thrill through her, which she immediately chastised herself for. It wasn’t as if she needed him to rescue her.

  “Magician, I… She… ” He clasped his hands together in a plea, almost going down on his knees to apologize. “I didn’t know she was your woman.”

  “You, or anyone else, even look at her cross-eyed, it’ll be the last thing you do. Am I making myself clear?” Drake’s hulking body appeared to grow with his ultimatum.

  The man nodded, trembling in terror, oblivious to the puddle forming around his booted feet.

  “Go.”

  The man spun on his heel and ran, shoving his way through the milling crowd, as if all the demons of hell were after him.

  Well, one demon anyway, Jelena thought, looking at her dark savior who even now strode away from her. She hurried to catch up with him. “That wasn’t necessary.”

  “You’re welcome.” He kept walking, his watchful gaze darting everywhere but down at her.

  She sighed. He wasn’t going to forgive her for her sleep spell. Not that she needed forgiveness. She’d only been doing her job, keeping him safe.

  “Your shield might be a good idea in this place.” His voice was low, emotionless, and he still refused to look at her. “Or better yet, go home.”

  He was right, about the shield anyway. They were attracting a lot of attention despite his notoriety, or maybe because of it. The sooner they left this place, the better. Which led to the question of why they were here in the first place. What did he want, information?

  Or not!

  He turned toward a building with a gaudy, red neon sign that read Spacer’s Paradise and bore a silhouette of two nude women in a compromising position. As she watched him disappear inside, the queasy, anxious feeling twisting her stomach told her she wasn’t going to like what she found beyond those doors.

  She was right.

  The thick charka smoke and neon on the walls cast the room in a hazy red light, reminding her of that first tavern on Zoran. The similarity didn’t go farther than that. The taproom in this place was small, boasting only a few glossy black tables and
chairs, and a short bar. If the neon arrows were any clue, the main attraction lay at the top of the staircase.

  “Rico!” With a squeal of delight, a beautiful black-haired barely dressed, woman with sparkling black eyes leapt off the lap she sat on and ran toward them. The wolvern she abandoned made a grab for her, then saw Drake and changed his mind.

  “You handsome devil. Where’ve you been hiding yourself?” Before he could answer, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

  Drake stiffened briefly then slid his arms around the woman’s waist, returning her kiss far too thoroughly for far too long.

  That’s quite enough! Jelena barely felt her nails bite into her palms or the pain of clenching her jaw so tightly. How would he feel if he opened his eyes and found a lizard in his arms? The spell for such a transformation hovered on the tip of her tongue.

  Finally, he broke the kiss and pulled the woman’s arms from around his neck.

  “You here to see me, or did you bring your own entertainment?” She nodded over his shoulder toward Jelena.

  “She’s leaving.”

  Jelena shook her head. “That’s not a good idea.”

  “I can handle this without your help.” To demonstrate his point, he swung the woman up in his arms, drawing an excited squeal, and turned toward the stairs.

  Jelena gasped. He intended to…with that… “Ooooh!” With an angry wave, she ported home.

  “Who was that?” Ishello peered over his shoulder.

  “Never mind.”

  At the top of the stairs, Drake set her on her feet. She glanced down the stairs, then back at him. “The way she disappeared, it was different then your transporter thing.”

  “I don’t want to talk about her.” With any luck, she’d stay gone. This was no place for a pretty little—

  Drek! Why the hell was he worried about a neck he wanted to strangle himself?

  Ishello opened the door to her room and motioned him inside. He strode through the doorway and gave the room a quick once-over even though he knew the room would be empty. There was no way anyone could have known he was coming here and set up an ambush.

  He turned, determined to close the door on thoughts of Jelena just as firmly as Ishello closed her door. As her full, sensuous hips swayed toward him, he didn’t think it would take long.