Arcane Solutions (Discord Jones)

by Gayla Drummond

  “Do we need to stand up?” Logan asked, shifting under me a bit.

  “Let's not.” I gathered a handful of his shirt. It was soft from repeated washing. “Here goes nothing.”

  Fresh air whispered of green things surviving despite the concrete city hemming them in. Yells over a thumping bass beat sounded in the distance. “Oh, my head.” I lowered it back to Logan's shoulder with a groan. “Please tell me we're by my car.”

  “If your car is an '81 root beer brown metallic 280ZX in cherry condition, then we're by your car,” he replied. “It’s a nice car.”

  “Thanks. The keys are in my left jacket pocket. I need to call a friend to come get me.” I was in no shape to drive, unwilling even to open my eyes.

  “Okay.” He slid an arm under my legs and began to rise.

  “Ow, I...” was as far as I got before passing out.

  Thirteen

  I woke in Kate’s guest bedroom, with Percy standing watch, perched on the headboard above me. Not the first time I’d woken there. The lacy bedspread was softer than it looked, and she’d once sworn on her favorite shoes that the heavy wooden bed frame with its tall spindle posts wasn’t a relic from a convent. I still had my doubts. The walls were wine red, and a potted pineapple sage held court in the deep windowsill.

  A low rumble of conversation leaked through the crack of the slightly open door, so I strained to listen.

  “Calm down.” It was Damian's voice, uncharacteristically sharp in tone. “He can't explain if you keep interrupting him, Nick.”

  “She'll be fine,” David's soothing voice followed up. I wondered who he was trying to calm down, Damian or Nick? “In fact, by morning you'll never know that she was injured.”

  Nick’s voice was a snarl. “I want to know how the hell her skull was cracked and what the...”

  “This male posturing is becoming tedious.” Kate cut off Nick’s tirade better than a knife would. It sounded like I needed to get up and out there before a fight broke out.

  Percy twisted his head to look at me upside down as I sat up. My head still ached, but the smell of David's favorite salve and greasy fingertips assured me one of them had magically tended to my injury. Holding my arm out, I told the parrot, “Come on, bird brain.”

  “Be nice. Percy loves Cordi,” he loudly scolded, ruining any chance of making a surprise appearance. I scowled at him while he stepped onto my forearm. “Cordi, Cordi, Cor...”

  Wincing, I pinched his beak shut. “Shh. Cordi's head still hurts.”

  Percy's answer was a muffled croon. I let go of his beak and shuffled to the door, then out into the short hallway, catching a glimpse of Kate’s closed bedroom door. All eyes were pointed my direction, waiting for my emergence.

  Logan sat in the plum-colored easy chair, dusty and with dried blood down one side of his face and neck. More spots dotted his shirt, jeans, and tee.

  “You guys couldn't let him clean up a little?”

  “We were a bit more concerned with your skull,” Kate snapped. I shooed Percy off my arm and noticed that she was pouring coffee. The woman had a complete coffee service in fragile china, plain white with silver edging. She even had snowy linen napkins at hand.

  A check of the Black Forest chalet cuckoo clock showed the time at almost 2 AM. Talk about prepared for anything.

  “It feels much better. Thanks, guys.” I took in Nick’s angry glare, as he stood at one side of Logan's seat. Damian stood at the other, and it appeared to me that he was ready to interpose himself between the two shifters.

  Logan seemed perfectly at ease, offering a slight smile when I met his eyes. “I really appreciate all of your help. Are you all right?”

  “Good to go.” He shrugged. “You sure you're okay?”

  “Much better.”

  “What the hell happened? What were you thinking, going out there alone?” Nick took three quick strides, coming to a halt directly in front of me and blocking my view of everyone else.

  “Shh. Cordi's head still hurts,” Percy announced from his perch on the back of the sofa. Nick threw a flat, disgusted look over his shoulder, but lowered his voice.

  “What happened? Where'd you meet him?”

  “Okay, he has a name. It's Logan Sayer.” I poked a finger at his chest. “A couple of punks tried to jump me.”

  “Which she didn't need any help with,” Logan remarked. “She had that under control, but I didn't know that at first.”

  “Right. He offered to help me find what I was looking for, and he did. Only the floor collapsed, dumping us into the Barrows, or somewhere close.” I paused for air. “Can I sit down?”

  “Oh, yeah. Sorry.” Nick took my arm, the anger fading to just concern as he led me to the chaise. Once I was in place, he sat on the edge, shooting Logan a dark look while draping first a chenille throw, then his arm over my legs.

  The other shifter took up the story. “We couldn't get out the same way, and Discord said she needed to go into the tunnel, so I went with her.”

  “We ended up running into a vampire. Derrick the vampire. He slapped me into a wall, and Logan jumped him, but that's where I went out.”

  “I got my ass kicked,” Logan said, shrugging. “He had a couple of his guys drag us to a cell and lock us in.”

  “Which is where I came to.” I rubbed my forehead with careful fingers before accepting the cup of coffee Kate finally parted with. Ah, coffee. A mild analgesic, plus the warmth and caffeine helped ward off the testosterone poisoning the air.

  “She teleported us out, but I guess with her being injured, that was too much. She told me where her keys were and that she needed to call one of you before passing out.” He smiled at me. “It was easy to figure out who to call.”

  David’s number was listed under ‘Witch ER’.

  “See?” Damian frowned at Nick, who grimaced.

  “Sorry.” It wasn't heartfelt, but Logan accepted it with a grave nod.

  “No problem.”

  Damian volunteered to give Logan a lift home. David muttered another spell over me while smearing more of his magical salve onto the lump at the back of my skull.

  Kate offered cupcakes, but everyone declined, and then Nick announced that he was taking me home. It was a silent drive, the shifter's emotions tamped down tight. I gave up worrying about it and dozed off before we even left her street.

  “Cordi, we're here.” His voice roused me. “Come on, I want to get you in bed.”

  “Are you still mad?” I let him help me out of the truck and hitched up Kate’s throw so it wouldn’t trail on the ground.

  “Yes.”

  “If you're going to yell, you can just go home. I don't feel like dealing with it tonight, bub.”

  “I'm not going to yell,” Nick promised. “We can talk about it in the morning.”

  “Maybe I don't want to talk about it,” I grumbled, leaning on his arm as we began walking. He didn't respond, not until we were in my apartment with the door locked behind us.

  “First, I was hired to keep you in one piece. I can't do my job if you keep taking off without me. Second, I really like you, Cordi. I don't want you to be hurt.” Nick wrapped his arms around me, gazing into my eyes. “I want you to be safe.”

  “I'm a private investigator who deals with the supernatural. Safe isn't a given in this line of work.”

  He sighed. “I know, and it's driving me crazy. You drive me crazy too.”

  “My scent drives you crazy. That's what you said the other night.” I wanted to lie down. “My head hurts.”

  Nick released me, following closely as I headed for my bedroom. I collapsed on the bed, unwilling to bend to remove my boots or deal with getting undressed. Working quietly, he pulled them off and helped me out of my jacket. “Do you want a night gown or something?”

  “I don't have one.” I slept nude, or sometimes in just my panties. During the winter, I usually added a tee.

  “Okay.” He unbuttoned my jeans.

  “What are you doing?
”

  “Helping you get comfortable so that you can sleep.” Peeling my jeans off, he moved to my shirt. “Sit up, Cordi. Do you want anything to drink or eat?”

  “No, just sleep.”

  “Okay.” Once I was free of everything but panties, he tucked me under the covers and moved to the other side of the bed. Stealthy rustling sounded.

  “What are you doing now?”

  “Undressing. I'm staying here, in case you need something. David said I have to wake you up a few times too.” A second later, his warm body was next to mine under the covers. Cuddling close, Nick softly sighed. “Go to sleep, Cordi. You'll feel better in the morning.”

  I did after a long while. For some reason, I kept expecting him to start purring.

  Fourteen

  The next morning, he dropped me at the office and went home to change clothes. I discovered Thorandryll waiting in the reception area, watching Kate growl into the phone while taking a message. “Hi. I don't really have any progress to report at this time.”

  “I've purchased a cell phone.” The elf fished an expensive model out of a jacket pocket. He was wearing a charcoal gray suit today, teamed with a faintly silver shirt made of what I suspected was spinner silk. Spinners were a rare species of arachnid carefully shepherded by elves. “I came to leave the number with you.”

  He could have called. It would’ve been easier. “Cool.” At my gesture, he followed me into my office. “I did get a lead last night, but no results to show for it. Cell phones work in faerie mounds?”

  “Yes.” Crossing to my desk, he selected a pen and wrote the number down on a notepad. Deciding something needed saying about the episode in his library, I shut the door.

  “My empathic ability must have gone a little haywire the other day.”

  Turning, his eyes captured mine. “Is that what is known as the ‘logical explanation’?”

  Caution seemed like a good idea, especially when I realized looking away was impossible. “How would you explain it?”

  “You're a beautiful young woman, Miss Jones. We enjoy beauty.” A smile played over his lips.

  “So what, you go around groping strangers a lot?”

  “Of course not, and I'd hardly describe what passed between us as 'groping'.” Smile gone, he took a step toward me. “Did you not enjoy the experience? You were quick to accept the part Alleryn designated for you.”

  The question caused a few seconds of replay. Remembering his taste, which was warm sunlight and spring breezes, heat uncurled down low. “That's beside the point.”

  “Is it?” How the hell had he gotten so close? There was barely a foot of space between us, and a definite dampening sensation happening in my jeans. Damn it, was he using glamour on me?

  “Yeah, it is. You wanted discretion, and that seemed the best way to be discreet.” Contrary to my intentions, the response lacked even a tiny bit of the I wasn’t impressed I had tried to infuse it with. Bringing up the matter had been a mistake. Somehow, I managed to find the doorknob. “I'll call you if I have anything to report.”

  “Miss Jones...” I sidestepped as he moved even closer, yanking the door open, and was surprised to discover Logan standing outside. Thorandryll frowned and moved slightly back.

  “Hey. What are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to see you, after last night.” Ignoring the elf, he smiled and held up my car keys. “And I kind of forgot to leave these.”

  Bad me, I let that ‘last night’ hang there and develop implications while I returned his smile with interest. The elf deserved it. But Logan…I was pleased to see him, and he deserved truth more than Thorandryll needed his arrogance aerated. I accepted the keys. “Lump's gone, and my skull's in one piece again.”

  “You were injured?” Thorandryll asked, a hand rising as though he intended to touch me.

  Logan answered. “She was slammed into a wall by an unhappy vampire.”

  “Vampires are involved?” The elf’s brows drew together. “You failed to mention that.”

  “Because I’m not certain they’re involved in your case. Yet.” My explanation seemed to satisfy him.

  Thorandryll dropped his hand and nodded. “Very well. I look forward to our next meeting, Miss Jones.”

  “I hope I'll have better progress to report then.” My smile froze in place upon meeting his gaze, and I sort of lost track of time until Logan shifted his weight while clearing his throat and the elf blinked.

  “Until then.” With a faint smile, Thorandryll left my office. Logan, having silently moved out of the way, turned to gaze after him.

  “Have a seat. Would you like some coffee?”

  “Sure.” He chose a chair while I went to the sideboard to start some.

  “It'll take a few minutes.” Keeping my hands busy with setting out cups, and silently blessing the shifter's arrival, I started when he spoke.

  “Is he the one whose book you're looking for? Or should I not ask?”

  “Yeah, Mr. Arrogant's my client.” Turning around, I noticed that close proximity to the elf did not do a damn thing by way of dulling Logan's good looks. He wore jeans, mechanic’s boots, and a warm, yellow-gold tee under a jean jacket. Casual and oh-so-sexy on him. The tee’s color brought out the gold flecks dancing in his pine green eyes. We traded smiles.

  His faded first. “You might want to be careful around him, Discord. Elves have a history of kidnapping humans.”

  “They do? Why would they do that?”

  He glanced at the coffee maker, fingertips tapping the arms of the chair. “They weren't above rape.”

  My jaw dropped. “No way.”

  “Yes way. They kept the women until they were completely elf-struck.” Scowling, he said, “They tell people how cruel the rest of us are, but elves are the masters of cruelty.”

  Reminded that I wasn't dealing with humans daily, I turned around to check the coffee and managed a careless shrug. “He'd better mind his manners around me, or I'll teleport him inside a wall and leave him there.”

  Logan's laugh rolled out, a deep, joyous sound that made my lips quirk into a smile. “You can do that?”

  “Yeah, I can do that.” The coffee was ready. I poured two cups. “Cream, sugar, or both?”

  “Black is fine,” he said. “If you decide to do that, can I watch?”

  It was my turn to laugh, while handing him a cup. “Sure thing.”

  We chatted for a while, and exchanged numbers after I offered to buy him lunch sometime, in return for his help. It's unusual for me to be comfortable with someone I’ve just met, but something drew me to him. It wasn't physical attraction, or not just that, but something else.

  It almost felt as though we’d been best friends for years.

  Cup empty, he rose from his seat. “You probably have work to do, and I shouldn't keep you from it. Thanks for the coffee.”

  Jumping up to walk him to the door, I touched his arm as we paused before it. “You're welcome. I'll call you. I mean, for lunch.”

  “Looking forward to it. Bye, Discord.”

  “Bye.” I wanted to say something else, but didn't know what, so opened the door and smiled. The corners of his eyes crinkled a bit when he returned it.

  Logan wasn't gone fifteen seconds before Nick came into my office. “What did he want?”

  “Well, good morning to you, too. He came to see how I was. Is that all right with you?” Feeling crowded, I moved behind my desk and sat down. “I would've been in big trouble without his help last night, and he got his ass kicked because of it.”

  “You should've called me.” Nick planted both hands on the desk, leaning across. His brows lowered, teeth showing even when he paused for air. “I'm supposed to back you up. To protect you.”

  That close, his anger and hurt were all too apparent, flooding me with guilt. “I'm sorry. When my tracking sense kicks in, I have to act on it. I can't wait, or it might fade.”

  My explanation did nothing to ease his upset, but Nick relaxed slightly.
“I think he likes you.”

  “Whoa.” Holding up a hand, I shook my head. “Whether he does or not, it's none of your business.”

  Straightening, he blinked. “But...”

  “This is a rule: no talking about personal business at work, okay?”

  His lips tightened into a thin line, jaw clenching. He ground out “Fine. Can we talk about it after work?”

  “Not tonight.” Just call me chicken. “I need some alone time. It's been a hard week. Fun too.” I threw that last bit in because his eyes narrowed.

  Taking a deep breath, he gave a jerky nod. “Okay.”

  “Are you up for driving me around the Palisades? I want to see if that triggers anything.”

  He agreed, so we went to let the boss know. Mr. Whitehaven, fingers steepled, lectured me about not informing anyone before haring off the night before, ending with, “Especially to such a troublesome area.”

  Nick smirked, arms crossed. I smacked his leg. “Stop that. You had to go home, remember?”

  “I would’ve come back if you’d called me.”

  “It was getting late, and I told you that I can’t wait when it comes to that kind of thing.”

  Whitehaven interrupted before our bickering increased. “Which case do you think the event was related to?”

  “I don’t know. Vampires would seem to indicate Zoe, but then again, Derrick may be one of the highly territorial types who didn’t appreciate my attempt to spy.” Feeling a little put upon, I pointed out, “I did have some backup.”

  “Yeah, a total stranger.” Nick’s scowl could’ve blistered paint.

  “Yeah, well, you were a total stranger five days ago, bub.” It wasn’t until the words left my mouth that it occurred to me that wasn’t the best thing I could have said, especially since he was worried that Logan was attracted to me. Nick flinched, and opened his mouth, but I beat him to the punch. “So not every stranger is a bad guy, okay?”

  He didn’t buy it, but said, “Sure.”

  “Anyway, we’re heading out to the Palisades to drive around and see if anything else pops up.” Standing up, I headed for the door. “Come on, Nick.”