“You are really something else,” Coco stated as she turned back to her work, lighting the flame so it shot out in Ryker’s face, missing him by mere inches.
Outwardly, Ryker didn’t move a muscle; inwardly, the little flame trick had him slightly ill at ease. Coco smirked to herself, knowing he was a little scared of her.
“Look,” Ryker began, “I just need you to look at the harness for my longblades, then I’ll be out of your hair. I swear.”
Coco didn’t look up from her work as she spoke, “You’re hardly a scout and we both know you have zero honor.”
Ryker ignored her comment and began unstrapping his harness, figuring Coco’s pride would not allow her to ignore the inferior equipment. He tossed the leather and straps on the table, close enough so she could inspect it without pausing her work.
She glanced over briefly.
“Of course that piece of garbage doesn’t work. It’s made by Breslin’s idiots in that factory. Why would you even carry that?” she asked him rhetorically, “it’s beneath even you, Morrison. Let me guess. When you only have one blade, it slaps your back every time you take a step.”
Ryker smiled. There was no denying it: Coco was freaking brilliant.
“Don’t smile at me.”
He wiped the smile off his face immediately.
Coco turned off her flame, pushed her goggles on top of her head and studied Ryker’s equipment. She left the table and walked to the far end of her lab, towards the supplies room and then disappeared. Ryker leaned back in his stool and waited, hopeful she was going to help him, wondering what it would cost. The last blade she had made him was amazing, his current weapon of choice, and had been a gift. He highly doubted the current transaction would be so easy.
Returning to the table with her arms full of materials, Coco set about to work, knowing exactly what Ryker needed. She had him stand up so she could measure his back and waist, fighting the urge to laugh at his flirtatious jokes, happy she was standing behind him and he could not see the curve of her smile. Grabbing the tools she would need from her workshop, Coco began creating Ryker’s new harness.
“You’re doing it right now?” Ryker asked.
“Have you ever waited for something you want?” she asked as she worked.
He didn’t answer, knowing she was talking about his pursuit of her. And knowing she was wrong. He had waited for something he wanted. For years. But throwing Jools in Coco’s face was cruel so he took her veiled insult in stride, accepting her disdain, knowing he deserved it.
Coco looked up at him from the corner of her eye, taking pleasure both in his discomfort and his beauty. For as much as Ryker annoyed her, she never grew tired of looking at him. And she had to admit to herself, he had never been anything but kind and respectful towards her. Coco knew what she was getting into when she invited him into her bed; she was a big girl. But it was fun giving him a hard time, watching him squirm just a bit.
“So,” she began as she continued her work, “how’s Wyatt?”
“The same,” Ryker replied.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning just what I said. It is Wyatt you’re asking about.”
“Ah, yes,” Coco grinned, “the never-changing rock in your marriage.”
“Precisely,” Ryker agreed.
Coco sat up straight for a moment and stared hard at Ryker, expectantly almost.
“What?” he asked.
She returned her attention to her work, threading a huge needle with a leather string. “I heard, you know. Folks talk. That wolf got him good.”
Ryker’s attention was piqued, but he did not let on. When she realized he would not take her bait, Coco continued.
“Lots of Magicals saw you carrying him to the vamp’s place. And he looked bad. Reeking of mjestec and whatnot. And then he just disappeared for a while...”
Coco’s voice trailed off as she allowed her words to sink in to Ryker’s consciousness.
“I’m just saying,” she continued, “folks know something was up. There’s been much chatter about it. Some even think you’ve seen that hybrid Breslin is so hot for.”
“Ha! Really, Coco?” Ryker slapped the table, laughing off her suggestion, “I know you’re not buying this hybrid nonsense.”
“Stop it, Ryker,” Coco admonished. “I saw her. Lots of folks have seen her around the city the last couple of weeks, poor thing. Running around, always looking over her shoulder.”
Ryker remained quiet as Coco worked.
“No one’s going to let on they’ve seen her. We protect our own, you know. But I’m telling you because she’s going to need help and you saved Darby,” Coco put down her materials and shot Ryker a very purposeful look, “and you hate Breslin as much as Sam and Jo.”
“I have no idea...”
Coco cut him off, “She’s about five feet ten inches tall, gorgeous, brown skin, long, lean legs, dark hair that she tends to knot on top of her head, tatted on both shoulders to her elbows, a face created by angels, Jools’ holster and Wyatt’s blades.”
This time, Ryker didn’t say a word.
“I have this crazy ability to recognize my own work,” Coco explained as she continued stitching the leather pieces for the harness.
Ryker pushed away from the table and stood to leave.
“Your silence speaks volumes.”
“I’ll come back later.”
“Morrison!” Coco called to Ryker’s departing figure.
“Yeah?” he stopped walking but didn’t turn around, determined to avoid the conversation.
“As always,” Coco stated, “my lips are sealed.”
Ryker turned slightly towards her, tipped his head and walked away.
“I’ll be done soon. Come back tonight,” she called out as the door to the lab closed with a bang.
FROM:
CARTER BRESLIN
Head of The Sanctum, Leader of The Circle of Ten
Distinctive Member of the Founding Families
TO:
ALL ACADEMY HEADS
Sanctum Members
RE: WARNING
According to sources, the hybrid demon has been spotted numerous times in and around New York City. She is five feet, nine inches tall with long, dark hair, brown skin and intricate tattoos on both shoulders, extending to her elbows. She is violent, well-armed and incredibly dangerous.
As far as we know, she is alone.
Any party providing her assistance in any way, shape or form, be they Sanctum or Magical, faces immediate death.
Sanctum from London headquarters will be heading to New York City shortly to further investigate these leads which will hopefully result in her capture or death.
Again, Sanctum have been warned of the consequences for assisting her in any way. It is your duty to pass this edict along to magicals within your locale.
In Good Health,
Carter Breslin
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Josiah scanned his son's room, wondering who had just been there, sensing unprecedented magic and power. He could tell from Wyatt's expression the boy was shocked but doing his best to play it off as nothing.
"I take it your friend was in a bit of a rush?" Josiah asked, noting the open window.
“Seems that way, doesn’t it?”
Wyatt went to close the window, his gaze lingering down below, hoping to catch sight of Dev one more time, knowing she was long gone. He pulled the pane down and considered fastening the lock, then thought better of it and started to turn away when something in the high corner of the bottom window pane caught his eye. Wyatt leaned closer and spied the outline of a perfect kiss on his window, so light he very well could have missed it. But he didn’t. His lips curved into a slight smile as he closed his curtains and turned back to his dad.
“What’s up, Dad?” Wyatt asked, wondering what his dad was doing on this side of The Academy, instead of being holed up in his study.
“I just wanted to see if you’re okay,” Josiah replie
d.
Wyatt laughed.
“Dad, I’m not twelve, you know. You don’t need to come over and tuck me in at night.”
“I know, I know,” Josiah poured himself a drink and settled into the couch, a knowing smile on his face. “But I couldn’t help myself. You seemed so different last night at dinner. All the comments and jokes you made about The Sanctum. It was very unlike you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining.
“If I’m being honest, I rather love it and always hoped you would come around one day, but still. This all seems so sudden. It’s as if you’ve been reborn. I don’t know, Wyatt. What I do know is that I couldn’t sleep all night, thinking about you. I know you’re convinced I don’t pay attention to things like this because I’ve always got my nose in a book or that wretched laptop, but I do. Especially when it comes to you and Jools.
“I just need to know you’re all right.”
“I’m fine, dad,” Wyatt reassured, “I promise. Whatever you’re seeing in me is just the culmination of many years of working for The Sanctum, listening to Ryker’s rants and remaining true to my Clayworth roots.”
Josiah and Wyatt both smiled, enjoying the notoriety of their bloodline.
“Who was here earlier?” Josiah asked bluntly, changing the subject suddenly.
Instead of answering his dad, Wyatt sunk into his chair and rubbed his weary eyes. He had no idea what to say, so he just remained quiet.
“Wyatt?” Josiah tried another tactic, “know what I think? Actually, let me correct myself, what I know? Someone or thing was in your suite, someone or thing of preternatural power and magic. Your room is humming with it. I sensed it last night, when I couldn’t sleep. It was probably one of the reasons I couldn’t sleep. And now, being here, the sensation is rather overwhelming.”
"And wipe that look of surprise off your face, son. You're forgetting your dad is one of The Sanctum's most celebrated trackers. So I'm well aware that the person or thing is gone and left through your window. I also know she left you something on your window pane...," Josiah trailed off, letting those last statements sit with Wyatt for a minute, marinating.
The subsequent silence was deafening.
“WYATT!”
Ryker’s impatient yell and knock at the door startled Wyatt and his dad out of their silent impasse.
“Wyatt, open up!”
Wyatt walked to the door slowly, running his hand through his hair, wondering to himself, what next?
Ryker was leaning in the doorway, looking all kinds of frantic.
"Everything all right?" Wyatt asked, taking one look at Ryker and suddenly fearing something might have happened to his sister or Darby.
Ryker eyed his friend, noting the dark circles under his eyes, the too-long hair, unshaven face, and old, dingy T-shirt and quietly wondered if he shouldn’t be asking the same question. He waved off Wyatt’s concern.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m fine. How about yourself?” he asked with a laugh, unable to recall the last time he had seen Wyatt with so much hair all over the place, looking positively unkempt.
Wyatt rubbed his incredibly thick five o’clock shadow for good measure, knowing it was precisely what Ryker found so amusing.
“Don’t tell me you’re not liking my new look?” he asked with a smirk.
“It’s very Grizzly Adams of you,” Ryker grinned.
“You’re just jealous you can’t possibly look so manly,” Wyatt shot back in jest.
“You know it, Clayworth. More than the beard is the hair,” Ryker laughed as he walked past Wyatt, not waiting to be invited inside, “if I could just somehow get my hair to flop in my eyes like that, dammit if I wouldn’t have all the ladies.”
Ryker released his boom of a laugh before turning back to Wyatt, his face suddenly serious.
“What?” Wyatt asked.
“I’m not going to beat around the bush here, I’m just going to tell you,” Ryker began.
“Tell me what?” Wyatt asked, almost laughing at his friend’s suddenly serious countenance.
“I was down in the lab, talking to Coco...”
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Wyatt interrupted Ryker, “she specifically told you not to enter her lab ever again.”
Ryker waved him off and continued.
“Forget that. It’s all good. Although now that you mention it, she did try to light my face on fire and threaten me with those wacked-out weapons she’s working on down there. But that’s beside the point. However, just so we’re straight: I totally was not scared.”
Wyatt shot him a knowing look.
“Okay, okay. Maybe a little scared. But I held it; that girl did not see me sweat. Anyway, while I was down there, nearly getting fried to death and then chopped to small pieces by that evil troll your parents love so much, Coco casually passed along info on your girl.”
Wyatt stared hard at Ryker, hoping he would shut up.
“You know, tall, dark, insanely hot girl from outer space? The love of your life. Or let me correct myself, once was the love of your life, now a mere afterthought, but I know you better than to believe that, so still the love of your life. Anyway,” Ryker continued, oblivious to Wyatt’s growing discomfort with the conversation, “Coco has seen her around the City. Damn near all the Magicals have seen her. She’s here, Wyatt. Hot girl is here. Your hot girl is here, somewhere. We’ve just got to find her before anyone else does,” Ryker concluded.
At any other time in his life, Wyatt would have wanted to kill Ryker for just running his mouth without thinking, as he was prone to do. Now, he honestly didn’t care. Too much had transpired over the last couple of weeks for anything Ryker just blurted out to even be of consequence.
“My dad’s here,” Wyatt responded flatly.
Ryker’s eyes widened in shock and he mouthed some nonsense to Wyatt before smacking him in the head and walking into the room.
“Josiah,” Ryker called out jovially, “whatever brings you to our humble wing?”
Having always considered his son's best friend to be family, Josiah regarded Ryker with a mixture of love, affection and irritation. The latter sentiment having everything to do with the fact that he was helping Wyatt hide something.
Something big.
"Cut the crap, Morrison," Josiah tried to sound stern.
Ryker simply laughed it off, unable to take Josiah seriously.
"Really, Josiah?" Ryker asked as he took a seat, "cut the crap? You sound like a Breslin."
Against his better judgment, Josiah hinted at a smile, wishing for once in his life he was a better actor.
"That's more like the Josiah I know and love," Ryker observed.
"I didn't come over here for any love from either of you boys," Josiah replied. "I want to know what's going on with the two of you. First Wyatt's changing political parties and now you're talking about girls from outer space."
"Hot girls," Ryker corrected, eliciting a painful kick in the calf from Wyatt.
“Someone needs to start talking,” Josiah insisted.
Without looking at Wyatt, Ryker already knew his best friend wasn’t going to say a word. He could tell just from the distant look in his eyes and the way he was sitting, leaning back in his chair, determined. It was the same posture he took when Wyatt tuned out Jools; Ryker knew it like the back of his hand.
“Now,” Josiah added.
“There are hot girls all over the place. They’re my speciality. You know that,” Ryker tried playing dumb.
“From what I’ve been hearing, your true speciality seems to be wooing my daughter, and knowing Jools the way I do, I highly doubt she’s willing to share you with all these hot girls that are all over the place, so try another line on me because that one’s not going to fly,” Josiah leaned back and waited for the next lie.
Wyatt studied his best friend for a moment, shocked Ryker had kept a secret from him.
“You and Jools?” Wyatt asked astoundedly.
Ryker waved him off, remembering hi
s promise to Jools to remain quiet about anything going on between the two of them.
“All due respect, sir, I don’t know what you’re talking about. There is nothing going on between Jools and me. I think someone wants you to think there is, but I’m telling you there isn’t. She is, and will always be, Wyatt’s little sister. I love her to death, but not like that.”
Strangely, that news disappointed Wyatt. He rather liked the idea of his sister and Ryker together. They seemed made for each other. But Ryker was pretty insistent that they were not, so Wyatt pushed the idea out of his head.
“Fair enough. Someone’s lying about your interest in my daughter,” Josiah shot Ryker an all-knowing look before continuing, “I don’t want to talk about your love life, Ryker. I want to talk about the girl from outer space. The hot girl. The love of Wyatt’s life. That’s what I want to talk about.
“Because let me tell you,” Josiah leaned forward, staring hard at the boys, “I know she was here, in this very suite. I know she spent last night here, and all day and only just now left. She is so powerful I can still feel her presence and she’s been long gone. I have a sick hunch she is the hybrid demon Breslin is desperately hunting, so one of you better start talking...and soon.”
“She was here?” Ryker asked Wyatt, unable to believe what he was hearing. “And it didn’t cross your mind to tell me?!”
Ryker’s expression was a mixture of exasperation and hurt and spoke volumes about his mindset. Wyatt knew his best friend was seriously questioning him right about now. It was as if they had come to a fork in the path of their friendship where Ryker had chosen his direction but Wyatt had not.
And he needed to do so.
Fast.
Wyatt leaned back and closed his eyes, wishing for a moment he could go back in time, before all this nonsense began, when he was simply part of the best warrior duo The Sanctum had ever seen, where his life revolved around training sessions and chasing down rogue Magicals. Then he thought of Dev and what she would probably like to go back to and pushed all thoughts of feeling sorry for himself out of his head.
Book One: The Girl (The Sanctum) Page 15
