by AE Jones
Devin bit back a groan of frustration. It was taking too long to feel good again. Being without powers sucked.
He met her eyes. “I didn’t lie…technically.”
She scowled at him. “This isn’t a game, Devin.”
“I’m the one who’s been living without my powers. I know it’s not a game.”
“How is that even possible?”
“Losing my powers?”
She nodded and he continued. “There’s a supernatural tribunal that monitors us to make sure we don’t abuse our powers. Mine were taken away.”
Her eyes widened. “What did you do?
“I let one of my teammates die.”
Alex shook her head. “I don’t believe it.”
He plowed on. “Her name was Marina. She was undercover when she was killed. I gave her the order to infiltrate the gang we were investigating. After she died, I was brought up on charges by Marina’s family, and my powers were rescinded.”
“Charlie told me you’re all part of a team that protects supernatural. Risk is part of your job, right?”
“It was dangerous.” He stopped and took a deep breath before continuing. “But we needed to stop the gang, and I needed information about what had happened to Thomas.”
“Who’s Thomas?”
“My brother. I believe he was murdered by this gang.”
She gasped. “I’m so sorry, Devin. Why do you think that?”
“The gang members are supernatural supremacists. They believe supernaturals and humans shouldn’t mix. My brother was an attorney who helped draft laws to protect human and supernatural matings. His wife is human.”
“Julia?”
He stared at her in shock. “How do you know that?”
“Charlie told me who she was. Then she’s helping with the case?”
“No. She doesn’t know about my suspicions regarding Thomas. I don’t want her to know anything until I have proof. She’s serving as my defense attorney at the Tribunal hearing on Monday.”
Alex laid her hand on his arm. Warmth pulsed through his skin from her touch. He was cold, which surprised him, since he seldom was. When she started talking again, it took effort to pay attention to her. He was suddenly so tired.
Alex closed her eyes for a second, as if collecting her thoughts. When she opened them again, she said, “Devin, I don’t understand how they can punish you for doing your job. Soldiers, police, and firefighters die in the line of duty every day. If Marina was a member of your team, she knew the risks, right?”
Why were they talking about this? Marina was aware of the risks, but she did it anyway…for him. Because he had ended it with her, and she wanted to win him back. And that was something no one could ever know.
“I know you,” Alex continued when he didn’t answer. “You did everything in your power to save her.”
“Go home, Alex.”
She said something else to him, but her words no longer made sense. He concentrated on her mouth, trying to make sense of what was going on, but it didn’t help. When he tried to speak, his own words came out jumbled and slurred.
Alex leaned closer until their noses almost touched, and grasped his shoulders.
As much as he wanted to reassure her, he couldn’t tell her everything was all right. His mouth no longer worked. His eyelids grew heavy and then drifted shut. She shook his shoulders, calling his name, but try as he might, he couldn’t open his eyes.
* * *
“Why won’t he wake up?” Charlie demanded.
Alex paced next to the bed. Marisol was leaning over Devin, her hands glowing as she laid them on his wound. After a few more seconds she straightened and turned to them.
“The arrow tip must have been poisoned.”
“What?” Alex croaked, her voice breaking while Marisol’s words sank into her skin like acid.
Charlie took a step toward the faery. “Why didn’t you sense it before?”
Marisol frowned for a moment before answering. “The poison is mystical. I believe it was infused into the wood as a backup in case the arrow didn’t kill its victim outright.”
Alex interrupted them, “Can you help him?”
“I believe so. But the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours will be the real test of whether or not my powers can help.” Marisol smiled at Alex. “I need you both to give me some space so that I can concentrate fully on healing him.”
Alex opened her mouth to protest, but Charlie grabbed her arm. “Come on, let’s wait outside.” He led her out of the room to a small area with a couch and chairs. “You need to sit down and rest. This will probably take quite a while.”
She ignored him and remained standing, tucking her hair behind her ears. “I should have gotten Marisol sooner.”
Charlie grasped both of her arms. “This is not your fault. How were you supposed to know anything was wrong?”
Alex shook her head as tears threatened to escape. She blinked hard to stop their descent. “I was giving him a hard time about lying to me. He told me about what happened to Marina and the Tribunal hearing.” She gasped. “The hearing is scheduled for Monday. He’s not going to be able to make it.”
Charlie nodded. “I’ll call Julia. She can get a stay. Everything will be fine.”
“Have Connor and Jack found the simian yet?”
“They’re getting close.”
“What’s taking so long? If we can get the simian, he can tell us what the antidote is for the poison.”
“I’ll let them know what’s going on. In the meantime, I’ll have Giz analyze the arrow and see if he can figure out what type of poison it is.”
“Can he analyze mystical poisons?”
“Giz is a warlock. He knows all things mystical.”
Lorinda’s Wedding Tip: Give the groom at least one small task to complete for the wedding. That way he feels like he has been able to contribute to the process.
Chapter 26
God, she hated pacing.
Alex stared at the faded roses in the carpet while her feet moved, one in front of the other, up and down the hall. She could do nothing except stay out of Marisol’s way. Pacing was barely helping her hold onto her sanity. What was taking Gizmo so long? She needed an update. What if they were never able to wake him up?
A hand touched her and she practically levitated as she spun around to face Julia and Peggy.
Peggy held up her hands in front of her. “I’m sorry I startled you. How is he?”
“He won’t wake up. Marisol is with him now. It’s some type of mystical poison. Gizmo and Charlie are working on finding the antidote.”
Peggy bit her bottom lip. “I’m going to find them. I can’t just stand here.”
She rushed away without waiting for a reply.
“I hate being helpless,” Julia said.
Alex led her to a set of chairs and sat down next to her. “I know how you feel. But you’re not helpless. He’s not going to be able to make the Tribunal hearing, so we need your help.”
“I’ve put in a call to the High Magistrate. I’m hoping to hear from him soon so I can explain what’s going on. Hopefully they’ll accept my request for a stay.”
Alex jerked straighter in her seat. “How could they not? It’s not like he shot himself, for God’s sake.”
Julia grasped her hand. “I know. But Tobin, the defense council will throw a hissy fit. He’s never liked Devin—or Thomas for that matter. He’s trying to discredit Devin.”
Alex bit her lip. Should she mention Devin’s brother or not? “I was sorry to hear about Thomas. I didn’t realize you’d lost your husband.”
Julia closed her eyes for a moment. “Thank you. It’s been the most painful two years of my life. I finally feel like I’m gaining control again, and then something like this happens…”
“And it takes you back to the same place. I’m sorry Charlie called you here. We didn’t think about that.”
“No,” Julia shook her head. “I wouldn’t choose to be a
nywhere else. Thomas would want me to be here, looking out for Devin.” She squeezed Alex’s hand tighter. “He would want both of us here.”
Alex nodded, blinking back tears. “Would you tell me about Thomas? Unless it’s too painful for you.”
“No, I’m happy to talk about him. It keeps him alive in my heart.”
“Was he like Devin?”
“Yes and no. Thomas and Devin looked alike, especially around the eyes. But where Devin is powerful in body, Thomas was powerful in mind. He was a brilliant attorney, fighting for anyone, human or supernatural, who needed representation. More often than not, he won his cases.”
“How did you meet him?”
“I was the public defender on a case. My client was a street kid who got hauled in for breaking and entering. After the first day in court, Thomas came up to me and told me I was going to lose the case unless I tried something different.”
“What did you say to that?”
She smiled. “At first I thought he was a crackpot. Even after I realized he was a fellow lawyer, my pride almost convinced me to tell him to take a hike, but I knew he was right. So I swallowed my pride and paid attention to his advice.”
“Did you win the case?”
“Yes, and Thomas never let me live it down. We became inseparable after that.”
“And you didn’t have problems with the whole elf-human thing?”
“No. Thomas was an advocate for marital rights for human-supernatural marriages, citing me as his inspiration.”
Alex swallowed hard to stifle her urge to tell Julia about Devin’s suspicions. It wasn’t her place to say anything. “It sounds wonderful.”
Her eyes clouded over. “It was. But it was also exasperating. He was beyond stubborn, and very protective of me.”
“Sounds like Devin.”
“Oh, yes. That is definitely a trait they share.” She paused. “You care about him.”
“Yes. But that doesn’t make even a small dent in my urge to strangle him. He won’t let me get close.”
“You have to hang tough with the Cole men. Ultimately it’s a fight worth winning.”
Before Alex could respond, heavy footsteps thudded toward them. Charlie, Gizmo, and Peggy jogged down the hall.
Alex jumped out of her chair, followed by Julia. “What’s wrong?”
Charlie and Peggy came to a stop in front of them while Gizmo kept going, entering Devin’s room.
“Giz figured out the poison and the antidote,” Charlie announced. “He needs to talk to Marisol.”
Alex shuddered and Julia put her arm around her shoulder for support. She leaned close to Alex and whispered. “Fight for him, Alex. He’s worth it.”
* * *
Where was he? Devin glanced around the dark room, trying to get his bearings. Then he realized he was in the same Mexican Restaurant where Alex took him for dinner after their bet. Scanning the tables, he caught sight of Alex in a corner booth.
He went to join her, and she glared up at him. “You’re late.”
“I’m sorry.” He blinked a couple times to clear his foggy brain. He couldn’t remember how he had gotten to the restaurant, or why he was late.
“Sit down, people are staring.”
He started to deny her claim, but surveyed the other tables and found several people gawking, so he sat. “Why…?”
“Why are they staring at you?” She wrinkled her nose. “You’re like the bearded lady at the carnival. They’ve never seen an elf who’s lost his powers before.”
He cringed at her words. “Alex, don’t!”
“Don’t what? Speak the truth? You’re just a human now. You can’t protect me or the people around you.”
“No!”
But the protest died on his lips when the woman in front of him changed. Alex’s hair lengthened and darkened to black, and her eyes changed from rich caramel to a glowing green. Marina.
She sat silently, her lips pressed together in a tight, angry line, but yet her voice reverberated clearly in his head. “Why didn’t you save me?”
Devin jerked awake.
He wanted to sit up, but his muscles wouldn’t cooperate. As the room came into focus, a figure next to the bed caught his eye. He let out a sigh of relief. Alex was sound asleep on a small cot across the room. She lay on her side, curled up with her head propped on her hands. Her face was peaceful, her brown eyelashes dusting her cheeks.
Marisol moved into his line of sight. “She’s exhausted. She hasn’t left your side for the past two days. I finally had to either put her under a sleeping spell or let her collapse.”
Devin couldn’t have heard her correctly. “I’ve been here for two days?”
“Yes.” Marisol leaned over him and placed her hands on his side. Warmth permeated his body and a sense of calm followed it. “You gave us all a bit of a scare.”
“What happened?”
“The arrow was poisoned.” She patted his arm and stood up. “Your lack of powers is actually what saved your life.”
“How?”
“Gizmo was able to determine the type of poison. It was a mystical potion created to kill supernaturals. Since you no longer have powers, the poison got confused. However, even though your powers are rescinded, you still have a spark of other in you, so the poison latched onto that, but since your powers are gone, it didn’t attack at full strength. You’re lucky to be alive.”
A quiet voice came from the doorway. “Only you could confuse a poison.” Charlie almost tiptoed into the room. “How are you feeling, Sleeping Beauty?”
“Fine,” Devin scowled. “Why is she still here?”
“Did the poison addle your brain? There is no way Alex is going anywhere she doesn’t want to go. Besides, if you telling her about the Tribunal didn’t scare her away, what was I supposed to do?”
Devin struggled for a moment and was finally able to sit up. “Tribunal. Wait, what day is it?
“Monday.”
“I’ve got to get up.”
“No you don’t!” Charlie walked over and stood next to the bed. “Don’t make the faery knock you out.”
“Get out of my way!”
“Would you just shut up and listen? Julia was able to get a postponement. The Council doesn’t expect you to come to the chambers dragging an oxygen tank behind you.”
“What the hell are you talking about, Charlie?” Devin barked.
“I was using it as an example. You really need to lighten up.”
Devin didn’t have time to lighten up. Alex murmured and frowned in her sleep, and he scowled. “Are you sure she’s okay?”
Marisol nodded. “She’s fine.”
He closed his eyes for a second. “I want her out of here, Charlie. It’s not safe for her to be involved in this case.”
“Well, I decided letting her stay here was a lot safer than having her wander around poking into things on her own.”
Devin could have smacked himself. Charlie was right. She was way more dangerous on her own. “Until we catch this simian, we need to stash her somewhere.”
Charlie smiled. “Don’t bust a gut. You’ll have a chance to interrogate him soon enough.”
Devin sat up straighter. “You got him?”
“We got him.”
Lorinda’s Wedding Tip: One of the most stressful pre-wedding tasks for the bride is the dress fitting. Be prepared to step in and talk her down off the ledge.
Chapter 27
One step closer to the truth.
Devin stared at the hulking demon in front of him. He practically dwarfed the chair.
The simian rattled his handcuffs menacingly. “You can’t keep me here.”
Here was a small warehouse the team had rented to interrogate their captive.
“I can do whatever I want.” He leaned forward and rested his arms on the table between them. “Who do you work for?”
The demon’s beady eyes glowered at him. “Don’t know what you mean.”
“I know simians aren
’t the brightest demons, but do you really want to play stupid right now?”
He growled and tried to stand up, but the chair was bolted to the floor, and his legs were shackled to it, so he stayed in place. “You need to let me go!”
“Since you tried to kill me with a poisoned arrow, I don’t need to do anything for you.”
He stopped struggling at the word poison and stared intently at Devin. “The poison wouldn’t hurt a human. What are you?” His lips twisted in disgust. “Are you some half-breed human and supernatural?”
Charlie stepped into the room and walked toward the table. “Apparently, you don’t understand what interrogation means. You don’t get to ask the questions, we do.” He stood next to Devin, crossed his arms, and glared down at their captive.
Devin started again from the beginning. “Who do you work for?”
The simian actually sealed his lips together like a small child trying to keep a secret. It would have been amusing if the situation wasn’t so dire.
“Why are you attacking weddings?”
Silence.
Devin continued. “Who else is involved in this? Are you the leader?”
Charlie scoffed. “You honestly think he could be the mastermind behind this?”
The simian growled at Charlie, but otherwise didn’t respond.
Charlie snickered. “I think he has issues. Maybe some pretty little demon left him at the altar and he can’t get past it.”
“Shut up!”
“Did I strike a nerve?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Devin leaned closer. “Then enlighten us.”
“I’m just a part of this,” he answered, a smug look on his face. “You won’t stop us.”
“I should have known the fiancé angle was a stretch,” Charlie answered. “Who would want to marry you?”
The simian roared and yanked hard on the chains. The bolt holding his right handcuff snapped, but before Devin could respond, Charlie launched himself over the table and grabbed the demon’s wrist.
A flash of something on the demon’s arm caught Devin’s eye. “Hold him still for a minute, Charlie.”
