Mags & Nats 3-Book Box Set

by Stephanie Fazio

  Smith handed out earpieces and mikes for the Seven. Ma, Grandma, Cora, and Smith’s dad stayed in the limo with Smith. If anything went wrong, Smith would be able to get our families out of danger.

  “It was nice knowing all of you,” Smith said in a surly voice as the rest of us got out of the limo.

  It took both Yutika and Bri to help me maneuver onto the street with my gown. Gray offered me his arm, like a real-live prince charming. We made our way to the back of the courthouse building near the water. The Boston Harbor made for a beautiful photo backdrop, but we also had less aesthetic reasons for the location. If all went according to plan, we’d be needing the harbor later.

  We were immediately surrounded by people holding camera bags, tripods, and extra lights.

  “Great, can you stand under the awning?” a brusque, feminine voice ordered.

  That was the only greeting we got from Rebecca Greenthorn.

  “Hello to you too, Mommy Dearest,” A.J. said dryly.

  The woman who was squinting at us through her camera lens had Gray’s height, straight nose, and that indefinable presence that some celebrities just seemed to be born with. That was where the similarities ended.

  Rebecca’s posture was stiff. Her blonde hair was cut at a severe angle—there would be no stray wisps falling over her eyes like her son. When she finally moved the camera away from her face, I looked into light blue eyes that held none of the warmth I always saw in Gray’s.

  “I apologize,” she said. “It’s very nice to see you.”

  I assumed she was talking to Gray, but she was staring down at her camera, so I couldn’t be sure.

  “Nice to see you, too,” Gray said.

  His voice was pleasant and polite, the way it would be for any stranger. Whatever he felt about this bizarre meeting, he’d never let it show.

  “Leaking photos goes against my entire ethical code,” Rebecca said, frowning even as she attached the photos she’d just taken to an email on her tablet. “Even if I do have your consent.”

  Gray opened his mouth to say something diplomatic, but Bri spoke first.

  “Oh, get off your high horse,” she said. “You’re going to make a fortune selling these photos.”

  “What my friend means,” Yutika said in a breathy voice, “is that we appreciate you helping us out.”

  Smith scoffed, which luckily wasn’t audible to anyone without an earpiece. “Why don’t you give her a curtsey or something?” he suggested.

  “Oh, bite me,” Yutika replied, which earned her a puzzled look from Rebecca.

  I couldn’t think of this photographer as Gray’s mom, since she had never been a part of his life. It was taking more effort than I could spare to act civil to a woman who had abandoned her own child…especially when that child was Gray.

  “The photos are already all over the Internet,” Smith said. “News networks are about to start airing them.”

  That was fast. There’d be no backing out now…not that I planned to.

  “Graysen, Kaira.” A woman in a crisp business suit who had been leaning against the wall stepped forward. “I’m going to need a few quotes, if you don’t mind.”

  “This isn’t a real interview,” Smith grumbled into our earpieces.

  He didn’t trust anyone associated with the media, and he had been less than enthusiastic about bringing professionals onboard for our ruse. Never mind that we needed them to do exactly what they did best…report the news.

  “Can you give me a quick rundown on your campaign platform?” the reporter asked.

  Rebecca’s camera clicked as she took about a hundred more photos.

  “We believe in not just unity, but equality,” I told the reporter. “Under our leadership, all Bostonians will have both.”

  “And what do you say to the Naturals who believe Magics and Super Magics will use their abilities to control them?”

  “We’ll still have laws and police representatives from each of the groups to apprehend criminals,” Graysen said. “But we also believe our citizens will police themselves when they’re no longer afraid for their privacy and safety.”

  “Five-minute warning,” Smith announced.

  His job was to monitor the traffic cameras throughout the city, so we wouldn’t be surprised when our guests showed up.

  Our original idea of an enemy party had morphed into a two-part plan, the first of which was dealing with the UnAllied and Enforcers, as well as proving that Super Mags could be trusted. It seemed that phase one of our plan was about to commence.

  “Time’s almost up,” A.J. told the reporter. “Get your quotes and then scram.”

  Gray had needed to agree to this exclusive interview to get the famous Rebecca Greenthorn to make an appearance. Apparently, her son’s wedding wasn’t enough of an incentive to make the trip.

  “That’s a beautiful ring,” the reporter told me, taking my hand and angling it so Rebecca could capture it. “What would you say to those who have theorized that your love is a political stunt?”

  “I…what?” I looked at Gray.

  “Excuse me?” he asked, looking just as dumbstruck.

  The reporter was unruffled. She said, “There are some who believe your engagement, and this rapid wedding, are political stunts meant to distract Boston from your second high law violation.” She inclined her head at me. “And that you’re using it as a stepping stone for your aspirations to be Director.” The last was to Gray.

  “You’re kidding, right?” Yutika demanded.

  The reporter wasn’t kidding.

  “Can you prove this is real, and not just a desperate means of holding the public’s attention?” she asked.

  Up until this point, I’d shown remarkable restraint. But it was my wedding day, after all. I was entitled to go a little bridezilla.

  “We could always release a sex tape,” I suggested, giving the reporter a cool look. “I’m sure that would clear up any lingering questions.”

  Gray choked on air. A.J. squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose. The reporter’s pale cheeks turned beet-red.

  I put my hand on Gray’s butt and raised my eyebrows at the reporter.

  “Er, thank you for your time,” she stammered.

  Game, set, match.

  Bri and Yutika were tittering in the background.

  “Sixty seconds,” Smith warned.

  “It’s too soon,” Bri said, looking around. “The Super Mags aren’t here yet.”

  “You told me to leak the photos,” Rebecca said irritably. “I have no control over how quickly that information makes it into the public’s hands.”

  “Ready or not, it’s show time,” A.J. said. “Video person.” He snapped his fingers at the man holding a video camera. “Look alive.”

  Gray gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. He whispered, “We’re going to have to discuss this intriguing sex tape idea later,” and then moved off to the side.

  I illusioned everyone in the group except myself. There were a few soft exclamations from Rebecca’s team when they noticed their altered appearances.

  I made the camera crew look like spiders that blended into the sidewalk. Since the videographers were touching their equipment, I was able to include all of the inanimate objects with my illusion.

  Anyone who came close enough would be able to feel the people and their equipment, since they still took up the same amount of space as they had when they were visible. It was just that now, no one would notice them from afar. They would be able to record and live-broadcast everything that happened without anyone being the wiser.

  It took all of my concentration, but I illusioned Yutika, A.J., Michael, Bri, and Gray into bugs, too. That way, they’d be able to move around virtually unseen.

  I stayed as I was.

  It was a good thing I hadn’t wasted time with my illusions. There was a squeal of tires as a car careened into the courthouse’s parking lot. Even at this distance, there was no mistaking the wisps of frizzy red hair
that blew out of the open window.

  Valencia was here. And judging from the convoy of about a hundred cars that were in her wake, she wasn’t alone.

  CHAPTER 51

  Car doors slammed, and then the UnAllied were emptying out into the parking lot and crowding around Valencia.

  I stood on the stretch of grass between the courthouse and the water, with all of my illusioned friends nearby. From our position, we could see to the street past the parking lot. With the courthouse to our side, and the Boston Harbor at our backs, the only way out of here would be to go straight through the UnAllied.

  All at once, I wondered whether Graysen’s mom was about to capture me getting murdered in my wedding dress.

  “I can take care of this,” Michael’s calm voice said from the tiny spider illusion on the ground.

  “Not yet,” I said, trying to keep my voice low enough that the rolling video wouldn’t pick up my words.

  I could hear the furious undertones of Valencia’s conversation with her people as they pow-wowed before they launched their attack. I gave the UnAllied a little wave, just in case they weren’t already motivated to come after me.

  Judging from their snarls and curses, I didn’t think I needed to worry on that front.

  The drone of Valencia’s voice was cut off. A roar, so powerful I felt as much as heard the sound, shattered the air.

  “Holy shit,” Bri squeaked.

  Holy shit was right.

  An elephant was thundering down the road toward us. In the middle of Boston.

  The elephant thrust cars aside with its giant tusks like they were nothing more than insignificant obstacles in its path. The magnificent animal trumpeted again.

  Four Federal Security trucks were right behind it. I heard the blare of sirens, and then there were more trucks converging on the courthouse.

  The Super Mags were using their magic to lure the Enforcers right to us, just as we’d asked.

  I backed farther onto the grass, so I was sandwiched between the courthouse and the harbor. To get to me, the UnAllied and Enforcers would need to squeeze past the side of the courthouse to reach the clearing in the back.

  It was about to get very cozy.

  “Okay, Bri,” I said, unsure of whether she’d even be able to hear me over the bedlam. “Hope you’re ready for this.”

  Then, I changed Bri’s illusion from a daddy long-legs into Graysen.

  “You’re not going to kiss me, are you?” Bri asked, giving me a suspicious look through Gray’s turquoise eyes.

  “You are looking super yummy,” I told her.

  “Thanks, babe,” Gray’s voice said from one of the bug illusions skittering around on the ground.

  “Graysen Gald-ah!” Valencia shrieked.

  Right on time, I thought.

  Valencia and the rest of the UnAllied raced toward us from their abandoned cars.

  My lips twitched in amusement as they had to pause their stampede to make way for the incoming Enforcers and Super Mags. The military trucks and Super Mags’ power smashed, crunched, and flattened the UnAllied people’s cars into oblivion as they stormed through the parking lot. The UnAllied had to backtrack to get out of the way, which bought us a few precious moments.

  The elephant, and all the Enforcers on its tail, were the first to reach the stretch of grass between the courthouse and the harbor.

  Just before the first Enforcers reached the elephant, it disappeared. In its place was an adorable, roly-poly panda bear cub. The cub ran across the grass and threw itself at me.

  I wrapped my arms around the cuddly ball of fur and hugged the Animalist to my chest.

  “Watch the dress!” A.J.’s frantic voice ordered from one of the bugs.

  “I used to think illusions were cool before you,” I told the Super Mag girl, who made a friendly squeaking sound and nuzzled my chest.

  “Kill it!” one of the Enforcers shouted, raising a gun and aiming it at the panda.

  “No!” Gray ordered. I felt his body come to stand in front of me, even though he wasn’t visible. From the way he was standing, no one would know his voice wasn’t coming from Bri, who was illusioned to look like him.

  “This Super Mag isn’t hurting anyone,” Gray said in a strong voice that cut through the rest of the pandemonium surrounding us. “If you kill her, you’ll be murdering a child on live television.”

  Bri-illusioned-as-Graysen moved her lips to make it look like she was actually the one speaking. I didn’t think anyone would notice that the voice and lips weren’t perfectly synced.

  The Enforcer hesitated, but he didn’t lower his gun.

  The rest of the Super Mags made a loose ring behind the Enforcers, cutting off their escape. One girl raised her hands, and a blast of cold shot out from her fingertips.

  Goosebumps covered my bare arms as icicles appeared in thin air. The icicles were long and honed to a wicked point. There were hundreds of them, and they all pointed directly at the Enforcers.

  “You’re going to want to put your weapons down, now,” the Pyrokinetic boy, who was the Super Mags’ unofficial leader, said.

  From the amused look on his face, it was obvious he was enjoying himself.

  I held my breath as the Enforcers and Super Mags faced off. Neither of them moved. The Enforcers stayed rigid, with their guns raised. The Super Mag’s icicles quivered in place.

  There was a burst of energy through the air as the other Super Mags readied their own magic.

  “Back off,” I told the Super Mags, my pulse thundering.

  I was beginning to wonder whether we had made a horrible mistake.

  I didn’t let my relief show when the Super Mags did as I’d asked. Their magic still hovered just beneath the surface, but at least there was some space between them and the Enforcers. Now, all we had to do was get the Enforcers to lower their weapons.

  “You’re mine, fuck-ah!”

  I’d been so fixated on the Enforcers that I hadn’t even been paying attention to Valencia. She skirted around the Super Mags, giving them a wide berth. The rest of the UnAllied followed.

  Just as we’d known they would.

  The Enforcers turned from the Super Mags and faced the UnAllied—the Enforcers with tasers and guns, and the UnAllied with their magic. Neither moved, but the tension between them was palpable.

  Valencia made a beeline for Bri-illusioned-as-Graysen. Her people made a wall between her and the Enforcers, giving her a straight path to us.

  I saw the flash of a knife and briefly registered it was the weapon that had belonged to Valencia’s dead brother.

  The real Graysen pulled me away from Bri, just as Valencia’s knife came down.

  Crack.

  The blade in Valencia’s hand snapped off when it came up against Bri’s titanium chest.

  “What the—” Valencia began.

  I dropped Bri’s illusion. Instead of the image of Graysen, my titanium friend stood in all of her silvery glory.

  “Surprise, fuck-ah,” Bri said.

  Before Valencia could recover, I illusioned the Enforcer standing closest to us into an exact replica of Graysen.

  With a feral screech, Valencia threw herself at him.

  Come on, I thought, clutching the squirmy panda and watching the Enforcer’s hand go to his pocket.

  Valencia was too overcome by bloodlust to notice anything except for the illusion of Gray. She raised the hilt of her knife, which was all that was left of the weapon.

  The Enforcer struck first. He brought the syringe down.

  Valencia’s eyes bulged as the needle pierced her skin. She stumbled back, the now-empty syringe wobbling as it dangled from her neck.

  I pulled back the Enforcer’s illusion and moved a few steps to the side, just to make sure the camera’s view wasn’t hampered.

  “What?” Valencia gasped. “What is this?”

  “Magical Reduction Potion,” the Enforcer who had stuck her announced, his voice carrying more than a hint of triumph. “You
r freakish abnormality is gone. Permanently.”

  All sounds and movements seemed to still. We were all focused on Valencia, waiting to see what she would do…how she would react.

  Her face turned as red as her hair. She reached her hands up to the cloudless blue sky. An animal-like cry tore free from her throat.

  “My rain,” she gasped, her chest heaving as she strained to reach a magic that was no longer a part of her.

  Valencia let loose a hair-raising shriek. Her red nails clawed at the sky as though she were trying to rip it apart to free the rain.

  “Nooo!”

  She collapsed on her hands and knees.

  In that moment, all of my hatred for her disappeared. I felt nothing but pity.

  Valencia was a Mag, and I’d knowingly let her be injected with the Magical Reduction Potion. Worse, I’d orchestrated the entire setup.

  And yet, she’d destroyed my home. She had ripped Desiree away from my family. She would have murdered Gray if given half a chance.

  Valencia had also started riots and killed innocent Bostonians—both directly and through the hatred she was spreading. She’d left us with no choice other than to remove her as a threat.

  I stepped forward and released my illusions on the cameramen. The Enforcers and UnAllied now knew that everything was being recorded.

  The Enforcer who had injected Valencia paled. It took him a few seconds to recover and straighten his spine.

  I faced the cameras. “The Enforcers stole a substance from MagLab known as the Magical Reduction Potion,” I explained to everyone who was watching this drama unfold live. “Their intention was to use it against all noncompliant Magics in Boston.”

  I paused, giving our viewers time to process that piece of information.

  The Seven had debated whether we should reveal the existence of the Magical Reduction Potion to the general public. It was a risk, and one that could have far-reaching consequences. In the end, we’d decided we had no choice.

  The UnAllied, who were still facing off with the Enforcers, readied their magic.

  “Kill the Nats!” one of them shouted.

  My heart began to race. If the Super Mags didn’t pull through—

  The Pyrokinetic boy stepped forward.