by Cahoon, Lynn
Toki’s smile seemed sad. She put her hand on Parris’s arm. Parris wouldn’t, couldn’t, meet the fairy’s eyes. “I understood. You didn’t want to see me. You didn’t want magic anymore. I didn’t exist.”
“But you did, and you followed me when I took Grans to the opera.” Parris held her hands open. “You were always there.”
“Of course. I’m your fairy.” The words weren’t accusatory, just a statement of fact.
Parris did meet Toki’s gaze then. For years, her best friend had been within reach, if only she’d believed. Maybe her new world wasn’t so horrible.
“I have to go.” Toki frowned for a second, focusing back on Parris. “He knows you’ve left St. Louis. He’s looking for you. Be careful.”
And with that, Parris stood alone in a gray, concrete block room, with metal mirrors replacing the glass wall and a painted concrete floor. Parris didn’t even want to peek at the stalls to see the toilet she’d used. Toki was right, road side rest areas definitely topped the list of must-use-glamour spots.
Ty was waiting for her when she exited. Leaning against the painted concrete, he read something on his phone. Probably office emails. For such a hot shot lawyer, Ty sure could be away from his office for long periods of time. Parris didn’t even want to think about the differences in their jobs. Before she bought the bar, when she’d worked hourly, if she didn’t show up, she didn’t eat. Probably, she didn’t have a job. Ty treated his law profession like a failing, small business. He worked when he wanted to.
When he looked up and smiled at her, her knees grew weak.
“Let’s take a walk.” Ty nodded at the wall map. “At the end of the lot there’s an Underground Railroad cabin.”
“Sure, and Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg address sitting on that porch drinking lemonade.” Parris grumbled, but fell in step with Ty.
“You don’t believe in history?” Ty held the door open for her.
“Let’s say I’m skeptical of some claims.” Parris did want to stretch her legs. They walked in silence for a few minutes. “Toki showed in the bathroom.”
Ty didn’t seem surprised. “You’ll realize fae appear at the oddest times. Of course, most never really leave.”
Parris thought about the times she’d felt a presence, ignoring the jolt–thinking it was nerves. Like when she gave a speech in Mr. Higgins’s English class. Or the first day of college. Toki had probably been right there by her side, invisible to everyone, including Parris.
Ty read the plaque highlighting the site’s historical significance. Parris wasn’t listening. All she could think of was covering those lips with her own. The man twisted her. They’d been together at least part of every day since he’d rescued her from Dr. Death in The Council’s basement. Yet he hadn’t so much as touched her since the declaration Parris had been born a hybrid, caught between two worlds.
Her breath caught. Maybe that had created the wedge between the two of them. Her heritage made her tainted in his eyes, not a purebred. Derek told her witch families usually set up their offspring with their eventual mate at birth. Power building alliances. She was a half breed, even in witch terms. He served as The Council’s head rogue hunter. He probably had a bride waiting in the wings for him to settle down.
Ty caught her looking at him. “So you don’t like history?”
Parris flushed, her face burning. “I was thinking about something else.”
He stepped closer. “You know I don’t think you’re a half breed.”
She hit his chest, palms flat, with both hands. “Seriously, you have got to stop reading my mind. It’s kind of freaky, not to mention invasive.”
He grabbed her hands, and pulled her closer. “Soon, you’ll be conversing directly with me and I won’t have to read your mind. In answer to your question, no, there isn’t a future Mrs. Wallace in the wings, waiting for me to sow my wild oats.”
“Then why?” Parris figured she didn’t need to explain, the jerk could read her mind.
“We’re kind of in close quarters with Derek there every day. This other coven, it’s a real threat, Parris. We’re not playing around here. You’re in real danger.” He rubbed the tops of her hands with his thumbs. He stared at her for a long minute, his eyes dark. “Oh, hell.”
And he kissed her. The long, passionate kiss made her toes curl. He released her hands and she moved them up his chest until she found his face. He grabbed her leg, brought it around his waist and pressed her back into the cabin’s rough log front.
Ty’s touch ran up the back of her thigh pushing up the skirt of the sun dress she’d slipped on that morning and pulled her closer. His phone buzzed, the vibration tickling Parris’ leg.
She couldn’t help it, she giggled.
Ty released her. “Way to kill a moment.”
“Your phone buzzed.” Parris smoothed her skirt down taking several deep breaths. Ty retrieved the cell from his pocket. Looking at the display, he sighed and took the call.
“Hey, Alex, what’s up?”
Parris pretended to read the plaque but instead she listened to the call from the law office. She wondered what excuse he would give for playing hooky today.
“No, sorry, I’m not in town.”
Ty paused, smiled, and pushed a wayward curl out of Parris’s face. As the conversation on the other side of the phone continued, his smile turned into a frown.
“I don’t see how that’s any of your concern, Alex. If you need work, talk to Sally. She’ll get you set up. Otherwise I’ll be back when I’m back.”
He ended the call, staring at the display.
“The kid takes this internship a little too seriously. He seemed almost frantic when I wouldn’t tell him where we were.”
Toki’s words echoed back at Parris. “How well do you know this Alex?”
“He’s been interning since the beginning of summer. Good references, why?” Ty took her arm and started walking back toward the car.
“Toki said the man who watched me knows we’re gone.” Parris stopped walking. “Could Alex be the man, the witch, watching us? Watching me?”
Chapter 3
Punishment for blatant crimes against The Council or the humans will be handled swiftly and with extreme prejudice. This warning is meant to scare you. We do not suffer a witch who doesn’t follow the rules set forth in this guidebook or by your trainer. Once you’ve been accepted into the circle, there’s no going back. Do not take your initiation casually. –The Academy of Witchcraft Manual, Volume 3, page 236.
They’d been driving for miles before Ty responded to Parris’ question. “I’ve turned this over in my mind and considered every variable. There’s no way. If Alex had any power I would have noticed. That’s my job, you know.”
“I’m not doubting your talent. No one in The Council knew about this other coven. Maybe their members don’t register the same way as members of your own coven.” Parris put a receipt for donuts in her Academy manual to mark her place before closing the book. The subject matter darker now, more fire and brimstone, reminded her of a church service she’d gone to once without Gran knowing. She’d been on a sleep over with Mary Francis, her best friend in fifth grade, when she attended Sunday service with the family. When the minister talked, Parris saw flames consuming her grandmother and herself. ‘Repent,’ the man had yelled, pounding on the pulpit.
Parris never stayed overnight again with Mary Francis. What kind of family could stay sane, listening to the words of an angry god every week? Parris had slept with the light on in her room for a week before she calmed down.
Ty tapped one finger on the steering wheel. “Possible.” He pushed a button on his dash and Derek’s voice filled the car’s interior.
“Does the dog have to go out every fifteen minutes? I don’t know how you get anything done.” Derek sounded grumpy, making Parris smile.
“Dragon’s testing you. He wants to know if he can count on you when he needs you.” Parris said.
“Whatever. What’s
up?” Dragon’s bark came over the speaker. “I’m on the phone,” Derek told the dog.
“In your research, is there any indication the other coven’s powers don’t register with us? I mean, should I be able to tell if I’m with a Coven X witch?” They’d nicknamed the new group Coven X days ago during a brainstorming session keeping them from using the descriptor, the other secret coven, all the time. Parris smiled when they used the new moniker. Like it made the quest an algebra problem or something.
The line went dead. Ty glanced at Parris who shrugged.
“Derek?”
Finally, Derek responded. “I don’t know. I mean, the theory would make sense. It would explain a lot.”
“Like how they lived next door and we never saw them.” Ty thought for a moment. “The Council knew though. So someone can feel them. Contact Angel at The Council and see if there’s anyone we can talk to with power.”
“I’ll get on it. Any specific reason?”
“Yeah. Check into Alex Cabot over at my office. See if his background holds up.”
“Okay. Anything else? Your dog is sitting on his back legs waving the front ones at me.” Derek sighed.
“He wants out.” Parris called toward the dashboard. She’d never talked to a car before. Her VW Bug wasn’t new enough to have such gadgets, even if she could afford them.
“I know.”
“Nothing else,” Ty called out as he clicked off the phone. He glanced over at Parris. “Dragon is training Derek.”
Parris laughed. “I think you’re right.” Parris returned to her reading and by the time they arrived on the outskirts of Cincinnati, she’d finished volume three. Tossing the book into the back seat, she stretched. “Homework done, now Derek can quiz me when we get back.”
“He thought you might finish so he sent the next volume with us. You can read it on the way back.” Ty plugged an address into the GPS. “Right now, we’ve got to find the hotel.”
Parris groaned. “I should have known.” Watching the tree lined hills surrounding the freeway taking them farther into the city, she relaxed. “I’ve never been to Cincinnati before. Where are we staying?”
“Downtown. Robert is a professor at University of Cincinnati.” Ty eased into the lane taking them toward the riverfront. “I thought you might like to see touristy things while I track him down. You should be able to walk to most things or taxi if you want to cross the river into Kentucky.”
“He’s a professor? What does he teach, fiction?”
Ty laughed. “His name is Robert Nelson and he teaches history. At least to humans. In our world, he’s the best hunter mentor The Council has on their books.”
“History, I guess that makes sense. Making sure the tall tales get taller and reality stays hidden.” The buildings become skyscrapers as Ty pulled the car into a driveway with a valet on guard. “So if I’ll be meeting him, why am I being sent on tourist duty?”
“He might try to kill me.”
Chapter 4
As an adult, you’ll be living in two worlds. The human one where you’ll go to work every day, have friends, basically, act normal. Then you’ll have your real life, your real job. The Council expects every coven member to fulfill their magical responsibilities. You’re not living in the human world, you’re visiting. Remember that. –The Academy of Witchcraft Manual Volume 3, page 383.
Parris’ car door opened and the valet held a hand out to assist her from the vehicle. She smiled up at the man, who couldn’t be older than nineteen. She glanced around, her gaze focusing on the architecture. Gargoyles sat on stone arches gracing large buildings. More modern buildings, shined with steel and glass. But most had been built of stone, filled with character.
Ty handed the keys over to the attendant. “Keep it close, I’ll be leaving soon.”
Ty pressed a hand on Parris’s back, guiding her to the marble entry way. She turned to ask him what he meant. Ty shook his head, warning her to stay quiet. She sighed. Another secret he wouldn’t share with her.
The lobby gleamed with gold and glitter. Parris had never seen a hotel sparkle like this. Of course, her hotel of choice the few times she’d left the city had been Motel 6. Easy to get in and out and the chain didn’t mind if she brought along Dragon. Glancing at the suits behind the marble counter, she didn’t think dog hair would be allowed even near the hotel. The street people probably gave this place a wide berth, worried they’d be sent to jail for leaning on the expensive building.
A man in long flowing purple robes swept past them, nodding at Ty. All he needed was a pointy hat and he could be out of one of Parris’ favorite childhood books. Wait, he did look exactly like Professor Mystic, the kindly professor who taught eighth grade chemistry, solving mysteries in his spare time. The man turned back and looked at her.
“Seeing is believing, dear girl.” The man walked through the revolving door and shot straight up in the air.
Parris shook her head. She imagined that. She rubbed her eyes.
Laughing, Ty guided her over to the desk. “Wallace, I have a reservation.”
“Where are we? Twilight Zone Hotel? Or Magic R Us?” Parris put her arm on the counter and turned to face Ty.
The girl at the computer giggled.
“I’m glad you both find this amusing.” Parris frowned, watching the girl pass a metal key over what appeared to be a card keyer machine. Instead of being handed plastic credit card type keys, the woman gave them each a metal key on a round gold chain. Ty lifted the chain over his head and around his neck. The key and chain disappeared.
“Wait, what happened to your key?” Parris demanded.
Ty looked at the desk clerk. “It’s her first time in a big city. She’s never been exposed to the world.”
The girl nodded, her blonde hair bouncing like she starred in one of those shampoo commercials during the eighties. “My gran was country. She never believed man landed on the moon. Even though she could weave a spell turning grown men into frogs, walking on the moon seemed too much like a fantasy. Some people are scared of technology, no matter how natural it is.”
“I’m not scared of technology,” Parris protested. “I asked a simple question.”
“Have a great stay in Cincinnati, Mr. Wallace. Will some of The Council be joining you this trip?” The young girl’s face shone expectant, hopeful even. Ty’s next words deflated the girl’s smile.
“Just the two of us, I’m afraid. Although I’m sure The Council members know what a lovely place you have here.” Ty swept his arm around the lobby. “So many factions getting along without a guardian to challenge them.”
The girl’s face brightened again. “We are the friendliest city east of the Mississippi.”
Ty took Parris’s arm and walked her toward the glass elevator in the middle of the lobby.
“Do I want to know?” Parris asked, the smile not leaving her face.
“The Riverglen is a specialty hotel. You have to be invited to stay, or have the code, otherwise, they have no vacancies.” Ty nodded down at the lobby where men in suits and women in professional garb mingled. “They only allow our types. It makes it easier to relax. The place is warded, so unless you’re on staff, magic doesn’t work here.”
“So no drunken warlock brawls in the bar over a cute witch?” Parris grinned.
“Mostly factions argue over elections to The Council. Getting a relative or friend on The Council assures you all kinds of advantages.” Ty shook his head. “The politicking is getting worse. You’d think we were humans.”
“Everyone likes a bit of pork barrel for their area.” Parris watched witches mill below them as the elevator crept upward, floor by floor. “So Coven X? They don’t know about this place?”
Ty shook his head and led her out of the elevator car onto the top floor–decorated in old Hollywood glam. Not what she’d expected in a hotel in the middle of the heartland. As they passed a portrait of Marilyn Monroe, someone behind them whispered, “I love her.”
Parris
and Ty turned quickly to see Toki staring up at the life size portrait. Parris released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
“Toki–you can’t sneak up on me.” Parris looked at Ty. “Can you see her?”
Ty smiled as Toki answered for him. “Duh, he’s a warlock. Of course he can see fairies.” Toki cocked her head around Ty, looking puzzled. “But I don’t see your companion. You alone?”
“I haven’t had a companion for several years.”
Parris thought Ty would keep talking, but she watched a look pass between the man and the fairy. All of a sudden, the moment was gone. Like a conversation happened and she hadn’t been part of it. Toki turned her gaze to Parris.
“You told him about the watcher.” It wasn’t a question.
Parris nodded, wondering if she’d broken some sort of fairy-witch rule. Toki’s next words reassured her.
“Good. Keep her safe, warlock. I’ve got business to attend to.” With that, the smiling child took one last look around the hallway, waved, and disappeared.
Parris sighed. “That is going to take some getting used to.”
Ty laughed. “She’s cute. You should be thankful. Some witches are saddled with fairies who don’t love their jobs.” Ty opened the door, motioning for her to enter.
Their bags had been delivered to their room. On the bed. The one bed. Parris raised her eyebrows.
Ty fingered the key around her neck. “I didn’t say it would be a total business trip. We can have a little fun.” Ty’s gaze radiated pure mischief. Parris longed to tear his jacket off and test out the bed. They’d never made love in a bed.
“Order some room service, watch some television, finish your homework. I’ll be back in an hour.” Ty pulled her close and, to Parris’ surprise, kissed her, long, slow, and promising.
His lips brushed her cheek as they left her lips and a sigh escaped before she knew she’d even reacted.
