“That has to be the most amazing magic ever made,” I told him, rubbing my head. “Thank you.”
Older Smith grumbled under his breath, but I thought I saw him stand a little straighter. Then, he turned to Sir Zachary.
“Your dog’s got a broken toe,” Older Smith announced.
“I’m so sorry, Sir Zachary,” Bri said miserably.
The dog licked her hand in forgiveness.
Older Smith whistled, and Sir Zachary immediately went to him and sat at his feet. Older Smith bent down and wrapped his hand around the dog’s paw. Sir Zachary sighed and wagged his tail. Then, he trotted over to A.J. His limp was gone.
“Didn’t you tell me a while back that you could only heal Magics?” Gray asked, looking a little awestruck.
“That’s right,” Older Smith said.
So that meant….
A.J. held up a hand. “Are you saying our dog’s a Mag?”
“There’s no such thing as Mag animals,” Yutika said.
“I think it’s obvious Sir Zachary isn’t a normal dog.” A.J. planted his hands on his hips. “How many dogs have you met who can bark fire?”
Good point.
“Not many,” Yutika admitted.
She crouched down until she was eye level with Sir Zachary. “What’s your deal, little guy?” she asked him.
In response, Sir Zachary thumped his tail.
We were all sprawled out in the dark living room. It was late, although I had no idea what time it actually was. I’d lost my cell phone when I took a dive into the pond, and only special, Smith-approved electronics were allowed in the house.
With all of the lanterns and a fire crackling in the hearth, it was more cozy than creepy. The leather couch was large and comfortable, and I was nestled against Gray’s side. Sleep tugged at me.
“We need to talk to Pruwist,” I said, hating the idea of explaining to him about our most recent failure. “It’s going to hit the news eventually.”
When it got out that I had promised to track Subject 6 down and failed, our run for the Director position would be over.
I was surprised to find how much that revelation bothered me.
For most of my life, I’d assumed people in positions of power would abuse their authority. I had seen the way Alliance officials quibbled about the wording of a particular law that wouldn’t actually change anything, anyway. I’d seen the way policies that sounded good in theory were used to abuse and destroy the most vulnerable members of society.
But somewhere along the way, I’d realized Gray was right. Playing by the Alliance’s rules, or at least pretending to, was the only way to really get shit done.
I wasn’t sure I could go back to quietly ferrying unMarked Mags out of worse cities and into slightly better ones. I’d set my sights on a bigger goal, and I didn’t want to let it go.
Except, that plan was now shot to hell. Pruwist would make Gray and me look like fools, and the political machine would keep on turning.
At that moment, I wished my magic was more like Bri’s. I was really in the mood to punch something.
Older Smith pointed a finger at me. “You had a concussion and some serious shit going on in your brain that I needed to rewire. Your body needs sleep, and if you don’t take care of yourself, I’ll slow your heart rate until you can’t move another inch.”
I didn’t need to ask Smith if his dad was bluffing. I could tell from the expression on the older man’s face that he wasn’t.
“I support everything he just said,” Graysen told me.
“Fine,” I relented, mostly because my friends looked as bad as I felt. “We’ll sleep tonight and then figure out what to do in the morning.”
“First reasonable thing I’ve heard you say,” Older Smith said. He crossed his arms over his chest and fixed his too-keen stare on Graysen. “You’ve got a fever, and if you don’t give your knees a rest, you won’t be walking tomorrow.”
I jerked up. Gray was an expert at hiding pain, but I usually sensed when his lupus was acting up. I had been so distracted by everything else, that I hadn’t even noticed the tightness in his jaw and his slight winces when he moved.
Older Smith tossed a bottle of ibuprofen to Gray and stalked out of the room.
“Upstairs,” I ordered my stubborn boyfriend.
“I can make you a bubble bath to die for,” A.J. offered.
“Uh, I’m good,” Graysen said. “Thanks.”
A.J. shrugged. “Your loss.”
I was about to drag Gray upstairs, when I caught sight of Bri. She’d been quiet ever since we left the Public Garden. She was standing off to the side of the room, a little apart from the rest of us. Her arms were wrapped around herself like she was freezing.
“I’ll be up in a bit,” I told Gray, subtly inclining my head at Bri.
He nodded and headed for the stairs.
The others began to yawn and disperse. Only Bri stayed behind. She stood at the window, staring out at the black nothingness in the yard.
“Bri,” I said softly, going to stand beside her.
“I was a weapon, Kaira.” She turned to face me, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. “My body wasn’t mine. I could have killed all of—” She broke off on a harsh sob.
I wrapped my arms around her. She was so tiny, she seemed almost fragile.
“But you didn’t,” I told her.
“I could have,” she insisted. “That’s what scares me the most.”
“Bri, he was controlling your mind. There was nothing you could have done.”
Bri bit her lip. “I think…I think he was somehow manipulating my desperation. It made me more violent than I would have been otherwise.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, not understanding.
Bri hugged herself more tightly.
“This whole thing with those missing Mags and my niece has my head completely messed up.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I’m not sure if there are any lines I wouldn’t cross to figure out what happened to her, and that scares the hell out of me.”
“I know how you feel,” I told her.
It had been the same for me when I’d learned that Gray was going to be executed. I would have done anything to save him.
“You’re not in this alone,” I told Bri. “We’re going to be there with you every step of the way, and if you get out of line, you’ll have us to remind you of who you are. Just like you’d do for the rest of us.”
Bri squared her shoulders and faced me. “Thank you,” she whispered.
✽✽✽
The door between our bedroom and bathroom was open, and I could feel the humid warmth wafting from the bath. I stepped inside and quietly closed the door behind me. I got an instant facial from the heavy fog of steam. Gray was stretched out in the tub with his eyes closed.
My breath caught at the sight of him. He looked like a Greek god, with his sculpted muscles and dark hair floating around his face.
I started pulling off my clothes.
“Hot damn.” Gray’s eyes opened as I was wriggling out of my jeans.
“I thought you’d fallen asleep,” I said.
“It’s my magic ability,” Gray replied, his lips curving in a mischievous smile. “I can always sense when you’re getting naked.”
“Not a very useful power,” I said, feeling myself blush at the way his eyes raked up and down my body.
“Strongly disagree.” Gray sat up to make room for me.
The water was so hot it took me several seconds to ease in. Gray made a deep, rumbling sound of contentment when I slid in behind him.
The tub was barely big enough for one of us, but I was flexible and our bodies fit like we were made for each other.
But even with both of us naked and pretzeled together, I couldn’t fully focus on us.
Either he was thinking the same thing I was, or Gray could somehow sense the direction of my thoughts. He said, “It doesn’t matter that Pruwist hates us. He’s legally bound to honor our
contract if we hold up our end of the deal.”
A very big if.
Gray continued, “And even if we don’t bring Subject 6 in before Pruwist’s deadline, you’re never going to be Marked again.”
The conviction in Gray’s voice was a comfort. And yet….
“We tore down the third high law because we had proof it made no sense,” I said. “That isn’t the case with the second high law. The UnAllied are making Nats even more distrustful of Mags. And now that the Enforcers are here, the last thing they’ll ever agree to is a bunch of unMarked Mags running around the city.”
“So, we get rid of the Enforcers and convince Boston Naturals to trust Magics,” he said.
It was such a quintessentially Graysen response that I couldn’t help but smile. He maneuvered his body around until we were facing each other.
“Promise me something,” he said.
I nodded.
“Promise you won’t disappear from my life again.” He swallowed, and for a second, I saw the agony I’d felt for the last three years reflected in his sea-blue eyes.
He continued, “I’m going to help you fight for Mag equality. And if we can’t change the law, then we’ll disappear. Together.”
“I promise,” I whispered.
“Let me be clear,” Gray said, his mouth hovering an inch from mine. “If you do try to run away or push me away again, I’ll chase you.”
“I believe that constitutes stalking,” I said. “I’ll have to consult a lawyer to be sure, but—”
Gray cut me off with a searing kiss.
He pressed me back until I was against the edge of the tub. Gray used one hand to keep my head from knocking against the tiled wall and wound the other around my back.
Water dripped from the ends of his hair and trickled down my chest. Wisps of steam curled around us so we couldn’t see anything except each other.
“Wrap your legs around me,” Gray said in a hoarse voice.
Feeling more Contortionist than Illusionist, I did. Flexibility had made me an excellent dancer, but it had other benefits too. Water sloshed against the side of the tub as our limbs tangled.
“We better get out before we flood the place,” I gasped between kisses.
Somehow, Gray got his arms around me in the small tub and lifted me out.
“I love you, Kaira Hansley,” Gray said as he carried me into the bedroom. “Always have, always will.”
“I love you, Gray. Forever and always.”
✽✽✽
Gray and I jerked awake when a tremendous banging came from the other side of the door.
“Kaira?” Bri called in a shrill voice.
With that one word, I knew instantly something was wrong.
“Ma’s been trying to get a hold of you,” Bri said through the door.
As soon as Gray and I were semi-decent, I threw open the bedroom door and met Bri’s wide-eyed stare.
“What happened?” I ask, dread curdling my stomach.
Bri’s face was pale. “It’s Desiree.”
CHAPTER 37
Bri’s phone said it was three in the morning. Ma wouldn’t be calling now unless there was a true emergency.
The phone was one of the new ones Smith had specially outfitted so his dad would allow it into the house. I barely noticed that, though. All of my attention was on the voice at the other end of the line.
I could hear Ma crying before I even pressed the phone to my ear.
“What happened?” I demanded, panic squeezing my throat.
A thousand awful possibilities raced through my mind, but nothing could have prepared me for what actually came out of Ma’s mouth.
“Desiree has become a member of the UnAllied. She’s gone to live at their headquarters.”
“What?!”
I knew my cousin was sympathetic to some of Valencia’s nonsense, but that was a far cry from actually becoming a member of an extremist organization.
Not to mention, Valencia had put a price on my and Graysen’s heads.
Ma blew her nose noisily. “They’re getting more violent by the day, and Desiree is so frightened and angry. I’m scared for her.”
“Where’s Desiree now?” I asked, holding up a lantern as I hunted around for my shoes.
Gray dug them out from under the couch and tossed them to me. Smith already had his computer, and the others were heading for the door.
Even amid my growing anxiety, my heart warmed at the sight of them. When I saw Sir Zachary grasp his leash in his mouth and trot ahead of the others, I almost lost it.
“I don’t know,” Ma said, her voice quivering. “I’ve been calling and calling—”
“I’ve got her,” Smith said.
“Ma, don’t worry about it,” I said. “We’ll get her and bring her home.”
“I’ll meet you,” Ma said. “Just tell me where.”
Smith shook his head at me.
“We’ve got this,” I told Ma, distracted by the frown on Smith’s face. “I’ll call you once we’ve got Desiree in the car.”
As soon as I hung up, I turned to Smith. “What is it?” I asked.
Instead of answering, he passed me the laptop. His screen showed a recording of the Super Mags, who were looting upscale stores on Newbury Street. The video shook as people screamed. And then the air began to fill with smoke.
The video captured a group of Enforcers marching down the street toward the Super Mags. There was a bang, and then the video abruptly cut off.
Before I could ask any questions, Smith said, “The Enforcers chased the Super Mags into the Common, where the UnAllied are having an unveiling for the statues they made of Remwald and Valencia’s brother.”
“And the Enforcers are allowing the UnAllied to just congregate in the Common?” Yutika asked.
“No,” Smith said. “That’s the point. Valencia’s declared war against the Nats, including the Enforcers. And the Enforcers have pledged to arrest any Mag who refuses to have their tracker scanned.”
“What a shit show,” Gray said.
“You got that right,” Smith agreed.
The situation began to crystallize in my mind. Super Mags, UnAllied, and Enforcers…all in one place.
“Where’s Desiree?” I asked.
“Right in the middle of it all,” Smith said, confirming what I already suspected. “It’s bad, Kaira.”
For all of his other intricacies, Smith wasn’t prone to exaggeration. If he was saying it was bad, it was.
We piled into the police van. With Michael in the driver’s seat, we sped back toward Boston.
“Where the hell is Pruwist while all of this is happening?” Graysen asked as we reached the city and traffic slowed to a crawl. He rested a hand on my knee to still my nervous foot tapping. “And is there any way to get us there faster?”
I would have thought everyone would be trying to go away from the Common, but the streets were clogged with rubberneckers and people trying to be part of the action.
I wanted to tell Michael to mow down everyone who was keeping me from Desiree. Instead, I pressed my lips tightly together and forced myself to keep my cool.
A.J. wiggled his hand, like he was imitating a fish swimming through water. The cars on the road ahead of us shifted over so we could speed past.
“Pruwist hasn’t been seen in public since Subject 6 killed Ellington,” Smith said. “Looks like he’s holed up in his house at the BSMU with half of the city’s cops.”
“Coward,” Bri snarled.
I agreed, but at the moment, I couldn’t think about anything beyond our current problem.
Thanks to the police van we were driving, we were waved past the blockade and right up to the public park. It seemed like half the city was already here.
Sounds of pandemonium reached inside the van, and I caught the acrid stench of burning. The sky was dark, but huge floodlights had been set up in addition to the usual street lamps. A dense fog hung over the park. I wasn’t sure if it was from one of the
Super Mags, the Enforcers’ tear gas, or just regular old fog.
As soon as we were past the barricade, I shifted our illusions from cops to completely unnoteworthy civilians in casual clothes. I didn’t want anyone looking twice at us.
Normally, the Common was a hilly, green space where Bostonians came to sunbathe and take romantic post-dinner walks. At three-thirty in the morning, it should be empty.
As we cut through the crowd, I barely recognized the park. It had been completely transformed, and not in a good way.
My eyes and throat burned from the lingering tear gas the Enforcers seemed to be using with reckless abandon. It wasn’t until Yutika made us gas masks that I could breathe comfortably.
We all stayed together as Smith led the way through the crowd. He didn’t have any electronics on his person, but he seemed able to track Desiree’s phone anyway.
The deeper we went into the park, the fewer Enforcers we encountered. They seemed to be tangling with the UnAllied around the perimeter and working their way inward.
I shoved past a knot of UnAllied waving signs that read Get Graysen Galder.
We caught sight of Valencia at the top of the hill. She was straddling a new, life-sized statue of a rearing horse. She was sitting behind a model replica of her brother, who was curiously much taller and thinner in statue form than he’d been in real life.
A tiny storm raged just over Valencia’s head, even though it wasn’t raining anywhere else. The rain plastered her hair to her face and ran down the lenses of her round glasses. She wore a yellow dress that stood out in the dark and was almost blinding in the street lights. She looked ridiculous…even for Valencia.
“Well if that isn’t the most absurd thing I’ve ever seen,” A.J. said, “then my middle name isn’t Jubilant.”
“Your middle name is James,” Bri pointed out.
A.J. gave her a scathing look.
“This city is ours!” Valencia shouted, pumping her fist into the air. “We won’t let the filthy Nats take it from us. We’re the ones with the pow-ah. I say we use it to take back this wicked awesome city of ours!”
Roars of approval swept through the throngs of UnAllied.
I subtly changed our illusions so we blended more into the crowd. I was banking on the general insanity to keep any of the UnAllied from noticing Gray was a Nat. Although I pitied anyone who tried to go after him when all 7.5 of us were together.
Mags & Nats 3-Book Box Set Page 57
