mystic caravan mystery 02 - freaky lies

by Amanda M. Lee

“No one is asking you,” Kade muttered, locking gazes with me. “I told you it was evil.”

  “We don’t know it was the scarecrow,” I cautioned. “It could’ve been something else.”

  “You’re right,” Kade conceded. “I’m sure there’s some other explanation for the scarecrow being gone … and you thinking the thing chasing you didn’t have a face. I’m sure I’m barking up the wrong tree.”

  “I … crud.”

  “Yeah, I was right,” Kade said. “Again.”

  I would never live this down. First he was right about the clown being guilty and now he looked to have pegged the scarecrow as evil. I was really off my game.

  “Speaking of barking, I was having a really nice dream about chasing a stick,” Luke said, waggling his eyebrows for comic effect to alleviate the tension. “How about we talk about the scarecrow tomorrow so I can get back to it?”

  “That sounds like a good idea.” I cast a hopeful look in Kade’s direction. “You’re not angry, are you?”

  Kade sighed. “No, but you’re massaging me in the morning. I’m not rewarding you for bad behavior.”

  I could live with that. Well, maybe. “We’ll negotiate over breakfast.”

  11

  Eleven

  I woke to find my head resting on Kade’s chest, his arms wrapped around me. We were in the same position when we fell asleep. I took the opportunity to study his handsome face, the angles of his strong jaw causing my heart to flutter as the early morning light filtered through the blinds and cast a warm glow over his features. He really was breathtaking … and I was lying to him.

  I’ve never been one for feeling guilt. I mean, when I do something wrong I apologize (most of the time) and try to make amends. Even when I was a teenager stealing from others I rationalized my actions because I would starve otherwise. The guilt I felt now, though, was excruciating.

  “I can feel you staring at me,” Kade murmured, his eyes still closed. “I take it your busy mind is already at work this morning.”

  “How did you know I was awake?”

  “I have no idea,” Kade admitted. “You’re extremely warm and cuddly in the morning, though, so I want five more minutes of … this … before we have to start our busy day.”

  “I can live with that.” I pressed my cheek against his chest again. “You’re really hot in the morning. You know that, right? It should be against the law to be as hot as you in the morning. I wake up with my hair standing on end and I’m paler than usual. You wake up looking as if you could walk down a runway.”

  Kade chuckled, his chest rumbling. “I see you’re full of compliments this morning,” he said. “Is that because you’re trying to head off an argument?”

  “Why would we argue?”

  Kade finally wrenched his eyes open. Instead of the flirty expression I’d grown to love I found legitimate anger reflected back in my direction. “You snuck out of bed and almost got yourself killed.”

  “Oh, that.”

  “Oh, that,” Kade mimicked, making a face as he cupped the back of my head and tilted it up so I had no choice but to meet his accusatory gaze. “Why?”

  I wanted to look somewhere else – anywhere else, really – but he didn’t give me that option. “I couldn’t sleep.”

  “Why?” Kade pressed, refusing to give in. “Why were you so restless last night? You usually sleep like the dead.”

  That was an interesting way to phrase it. “I don’t know,” I said. “I just … couldn’t sleep. My mind was really busy and I wanted to clear it. I couldn’t toss and turn without waking you – and that was the last thing I wanted to do because you’re adorable when you sleep – so I took a walk.” That wasn’t a total lie.

  “I can understand that,” Kade said, exhaling heavily and releasing his grip on the back of my head. “Seeing that body the way we did was jarring. That doesn’t mean you can put yourself in danger, though.”

  So many things about that statement bugged me that I didn’t know where to start. “I’ve seen dead bodies before,” I said finally. “I’ve seen worse things than that … believe it or not.”

  “I have, too,” Kade said, not missing a beat. “I saw some truly horrible things when I was overseas. Still, something about this body bothers you. I saw it on your face when we found it.

  “Now, I’ll admit I’m new to the magic game and I’m not sure what to think about all of this, but I am sure you’re convinced this has something to do with us,” he continued. “It might help to talk it through.”

  “See, that’s just it,” I explained. “I’m not sure it has anything to do with us. The timing makes me suspect all is not right in our world. If it doesn’t have anything to do with us, I have a feeling we’re going to be drawn into it anyway. If it does have something to do with us … well … I have a feeling it’s only the beginning.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I shrugged, the realities of the day setting in as our cozy morning time ticked away in the small trailer. “I don’t know. I know this is hard to believe, but I have this inner … um … danger alarm. I don’t know how to describe it.”

  “You’re magic. I get that. What is your inner danger alarm telling you?”

  “That something bad is going to happen.”

  Instead of hopping out of bed and attacking the day with gusto as I expected, Kade tightened his arm around my back and kissed my forehead. “We’ll figure it out,” he said. “We’re going to do it together, though. There will be no more running off on your own in the middle of the night. If you can’t sleep, wake me so I can go for a midnight stroll with you.”

  Something about his words grated. “Because you’re big and strong, and I’m a weak female?”

  Kade barked out a coarse laugh and snuggled closer. “No, because I would cry if something happened to you. I know you’re capable of taking care of yourself. I’ve seen you do it. That doesn’t mean I want you to take unnecessary risks.”

  Well, crap. How was I supposed to work myself into a snit when he says sweet things like that? “Ugh. You make it impossible to be angry.”

  “That’s good,” Kade said, resting his cheek against my forehead. “We still have three minutes of bliss before work calls. Close your trap and enjoy it.”

  “Oh, well, I was wrong,” I muttered. “I can be angry about that. Close my trap?”

  I could feel Kade’s lips tip up into a smile against my skin. “Shh. You’re ruining the morning ambiance.”

  His sweet nature apparently comes and goes.

  “OKAY, we have a lot going on today,” I announced, pointing toward two workers as they shuffled in the direction of my tent. “I need that set up first thing so I can get working on the internal setup. I have to do readings tonight for the soft opening.”

  Sonny, the older of the two workers, mock saluted. “Yes, ma’am!”

  He’d been with the circus since Max took me in, and I was used to his attitude. That didn’t mean I liked it. “There will be no food breaks until my tent is done,” I warned, extending a finger. “Don’t push me today. I’m crabby.”

  “I can’t see why,” Luke said, appearing at my elbow. He was shirtless and sweaty, which meant he was helping with the manual labor and taking the opportunity to show off his impressive physique at the same time. He loved to multitask. I could never call his work ethic into question. His vanity was another story. “You got to wake up with your love muffin while I … alas … woke up alone.”

  I hate it when he feels sorry for himself. “We’ll focus on finding you a friend tonight.” I patted his arm, frowning when I realized just how sweaty he really was. “Have you been rolling in someone else’s sweat? You smell like a gym locker.”

  “And thank you for that,” Luke said, rolling his eyes. “Unlike you, I’ve been working all morning. Not all of us can get away with sleeping in – and I stress the word ‘sleeping’ because I know nothing else is going on yet. Someone had to do the heavy lifting … and I mean that literally.�
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  “I’m sorry,” I said, instantly contrite. “We didn’t sleep in, though. We took an extra five minutes to … talk … about the serious nature of our situation.”

  Luke made his disgusted face. “You always phrase things in weird ways to distract me,” he argued. “That’s not going to work this time. I know exactly what you’re doing.”

  We’d see about that. “It was a very heavy discussion. Much like me, Kade is worried about what the body discovery could mean for us. We could be in danger.”

  “That was smooth,” Luke said, pinching my elbow to let me know he wasn’t going to let me play games. “That was very smooth, in fact. I’m not falling for it, though. You spent the morning cuddling with your boy toy while I worked like a dog.”

  “Arf!” Kade barked out the short taunt as he passed behind Luke, grinning as my best friend scorched him with a dark look. “See, that’s funny because you’re really a … .”

  “Hound dog when it comes to women,” I interjected hurriedly, cutting Kade off before he could mention Luke’s shifter ways.

  Kade’s forehead crinkled as confusion washed over him. “What?”

  I nodded my chin to the spot over his shoulder, gesturing toward Percival as he chatted up an obviously enamored Nixie. He was far enough away that I didn’t think he could overhear our discussion but close enough that I didn’t want to risk it.

  “We need to deal with that situation,” Kade said, lowering his voice. “We’re either going to have to tell him the truth or cut him loose.”

  “We haven’t even seen him work yet,” Luke pointed out. “We can’t tell him the truth if he’s a dud. We don’t want to hire him, tell him we’re magical monster hunters, realize he sucks and then fire him. That’s opening us up for discovery if he has a big mouth – which he obviously does because he won’t stop talking about himself.”

  “Oh, you’re so wise,” Kade deadpanned.

  Luke turned his wide eyes to me. “Tell him I’m right.”

  I did not want to be a part of this conversation. “We’ll watch Percival over the weekend shows and make our decision.”

  Luke puffed out his chest. “See. I’m right.”

  “That’s not what she said,” Kade shot back. “Stop putting words in her mouth.”

  “Poet!” Luke’s voice was shrill. “Tell him I’m right.”

  See, this is what sucks about having a male best friend. When you finally get a new boyfriend after a long drought – don’t ever tell Luke I owned up to the drought – you’re forced to choose between them because their egos won’t have it any other way. Luke might be gay. That doesn’t mean he isn’t over-laden with testosterone – or doesn’t fancy himself in competition with Kade – so I had no choice but to intervene.

  “Did you hear that?” What? I’m bad with confrontation when it comes to people I care about. Sue me.

  “Oh, I’m not letting you get away with that,” Luke snapped. “You tell him I’m right – and that I smell like a dream – or I won’t be your best friend ever again.”

  We both knew that was an empty threat. “No, I’m serious,” I said, scanning the pathways of the rapidly growing circus. Our workers know how to get things done. In two hours everything should be erected. In five hours everything should be put away. In eight hours the carnival would open the midway for a short preview before the next day’s full operation gets into swing. “I swear I hear something.”

  I didn’t hear anything. I was desperate for some crisis – real or manufactured – to get me out of this conversation, though. I didn’t want to be put in a position to choose between Kade and Luke. My stomach flipped just thinking about it.

  “You don’t hear anything,” Luke scoffed. “You’re just trying to avoid an argument. Tell him I’m right or … .”

  I had no idea what threat he was about to unleash but I wasn’t worried in the least he would end our friendship. He loved me as much as I loved him. Some things are forever.

  “Tell him I’m right or I’ll show him those photos I took of you in the cheerleader costume,” Luke said, an evil grin washing over his features as my heart sank.

  And some things are better left forgotten. Crud on toast!

  “W-what?” I’d forgotten about those photographs. Okay, that’s not exactly true. I didn’t forget about them. I tried to forget about them. When that didn’t work – and multiple searches of Luke’s trailer didn’t turn up the incriminating evidence – I forced the photographs out of my mind.

  Everyone has a low point when drinking, a rock bottom, if you will. That’s when the fun stories switch from “I laughed so hard” to “I will never live down the shame.” The cheerleading photographs are my moment of shame.

  “What’s he talking about?” Kade asked, intrigued. “What photographs?”

  I licked my lips as I ignored Kade’s question and focused on Luke. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  Luke arched a challenging eyebrow. “Wouldn’t I?”

  He would. Crap! “You promised me you would never show those photographs to anyone,” I reminded him. “You … swore an oath.” That was laying it on a little thick, but I was desperate.

  “Well, now I must see these photos,” Kade said, pursing his lips as he glanced at Luke. His mind was clearly busy. “I concede you’re right and agree to wait on the Percival situation.”

  I was flabbergasted. How could he give in that easily? “What?”

  Kade held his hand up to silence me. “In return, I need to see these photos you’re holding over her head. They’ve got to be good.”

  Luke’s impish grin caused my heart to sink. “I’m sure we can work something out. Thank you for admitting you were wrong, though. More importantly, thank you for admitting I was right.”

  I expected Kade to balk at Luke’s words. He was too distracted by the thought of the photos to even notice Luke’s swelling ego. “Where are the photos?”

  I was about to lose my infamous cool if I wasn’t careful. “Luke, you promised me … .” That sounded a lot less whiny in my head.

  “And you promised me help finding a man, and that you would always be on my side,” Luke countered, clearly enjoying his position of power. “I think you need a lesson in being a good friend.”

  “Luke!”

  Kade slung an arm over Luke’s shoulders, almost as if they were best friends. “I cannot wait to see these photos!”

  I’d lost. I could feel it. “I … .” Whatever argument I was about to mount died on my lips as a shrill yell filled the morning air, causing everyone’s heads to snap in the direction of the midway.

  “Did the dreamcatcher go off?” Kade asked, confused as he glanced around. “I didn’t hear it.”

  “No,” I said, shaking my head. “I … .”

  The yell returned, louder this time.

  “That’s Raven,” I said, pushing past Luke and breaking into a run. “She’s in trouble!”

  12

  Twelve

  By the time I reached the House of Mirrors I realized Raven wasn’t screaming as much as yelling. I slowed my pace as I went through the open door, pulling up short when I saw Raven standing in the center of the room. Her silver hair was swept back in a simple ponytail – which meant she was in work mode rather than gearing up for a seduction – and she looked annoyed.

  “What’s going on?” Kade asked, brushing past me as he moved to Raven’s side. “What are you screeching about?”

  Raven generally put on a show for Kade’s benefit. Quite frankly, she often puts on a show for any man’s benefit. She didn’t look as if she was in the mood to perform now. “Good morning to you, too,” she drawled, her voice positively dripping with sarcasm. “By the way, I don’t screech.”

  “Then you were doing a delightful impression of a screech owl in the hopes of adding it to your repertoire,” Luke said dryly as he moved to Kade’s side. “What were you yelling about?”

  Raven rolled her eyes until they landed on me. “Men are … annoying.”


  She wasn’t wrong, especially when referring to these men. I was beyond annoyed with both of them. “What happened?”

  Raven didn’t immediately answer. “I don’t screech.”

  I collected on my limited patience and reminded myself that Raven’s high-pitched wail – that’s not a screech, mind you – saved me from having to explain about the cheerleader costume and the unfortunate photographs. I was happy with her histrionics – at least for the time being. “You don’t screech,” I agreed. “You yelled, though, and given what’s been going on … .”

  Raven made a face that would’ve been comical under different circumstances. “Why do you think I yelled? It certainly wasn’t for my health. I swear I’m surrounded by morons.”

  I wasn’t sure how much more I could take this morning. “Raven, would you like to share what’s going on with the class? If not, I can leave you here with Luke and Kade to debate the difference between screeching and yelling. I have work to do.”

  “And I have photographs to see,” Kade said, my stomach churning as he winked. There was no way he would forget Luke’s threat now. I wasn’t that lucky. “Why were you … calling out … to the Mystic Caravan masses?”

  “Oh, that was a nice way to phrase it,” Luke said, his eyes twinkling. I will never understand men. One minute they’re fighting for alpha supremacy and the next they’re buddies without a care in the world. How does that even happen?

  “Look in there,” Raven said, pointing toward the adjacent room. “I just came in to get things settled for tonight and found … that.”

  I didn’t like her tone as I pushed between Kade and Luke and walked in the direction she indicated. I sucked in a breath when I glanced inside, frowning at the shattered glass littering the floor. It was everywhere. “What the hell?”

  Kade moved in on my right, his eyebrows knitting as he took in the destruction. Three mirrors were smashed, shards of glass strewn in every direction. Even more disturbing was the discarded cornhusks tossed on top of the splinters. It was almost as if someone was decorating a Halloween display rather than destroying a circus attraction. “Who did this?”