by Wulf,Rose
EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2016 Rose Wulf
ISBN: 978-1-77339-021-5
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer
Editor: Katelyn Uplinger
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to everyone who has ever supported me in this journey. Your continued support and encouragement is more valuable to me than you may ever know. Thank you so much.
LOST IN MAGIC
Night Shadows, 4
Rose Wulf
Copyright © 2016
Chapter One
Allison Drake swallowed her silly nerves as she adjusted her grip on her suitcase handle. It was a clear day and the port was full of eager passengers waiting to board the cruise ship Salty Sweet Euphoria headed for the Bahamas. She couldn’t believe she was finally going to the Bahamas. She couldn’t believe a lot these days, though. That was the problem. That was why she needed this vacation.
The dreaded memory of the night that had changed her life the previous summer threatened to overtake her. One of her closest friends dead and mutilated in the dark.
No.
Today was the start of her dream vacation. She was halfway through her semester off from medical school and she was not going to waste a single moment of this trip thinking about vampires and murder.
Allison scoffed at herself and directed her gaze over the heads of the crowd around her, letting it land on the large boat she was about to board. Impossibly tall, amazingly clean, pristine white, and clear glass. The flagship of the lesser-known Salty Sweet Cruises fleet it was 956 feet long with a capacity for a couple thousand passengers. It would be like a floating city, with a variety of food and activities to choose from. Just the sight of the massive vessel brought a rush to her blood. She’d never been on a cruise before.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
The question startled her and she gave a small jump as she turned to see the man who’d stepped up beside her. He was several inches taller than her, about six-two, and he looked to be in his mid-sixties. He wore a wide-brimmed black hat over thinning silver hair and nice dress clothes. He offered her a small, warm smile. “First cruise?”
Allison returned his smile. “Yes to both. Have you been on many?”
“A few,” he said. He lifted his free hand to tip his hat politely. “I’ll see you aboard, then.” He walked off without bothering with introductions, trailing his rolling suitcase beside him.
Allison released a breath, her smile remaining. If all the guests aboard the Euphoria were as polite or friendly as he was she was bound to have a good time. First, though, she needed to take her place in line.
****
Mick whistled low as he took in the sight of his Master Suite. For a relatively smaller cruise line he couldn’t imagine a big-name suite being any nicer. He’d spent more money than was sane to spend a little over a week on a big boat and it was worth every penny just for the view on the other side of his king-sized bed. The wall to the right of the immaculately clean white and green bedding was completely glass, the floor-length dark green curtains parted. Half of the glass was solid, and half rolled, granting him access to the balcony and uninhibited ocean view.
Mick flicked his gaze back to the tastefully decorated living space, which was separated from the sleeping space by a retractable set of accordion doors. It had almost everything he’d need to just lock himself away for a week, really. But that wasn’t what he was there for.
“What am I here for?” he mumbled as he hoisted his suitcase up onto the bed. It was time to unpack and settle in. The cruise would be getting under way in an hour or so he imagined.
As Mick began unpacking his well-traveled suitcase his mind wandered.
Less than a month ago he’d been in California, as assigned, and somehow found himself watching over a human who’d been attacked by wayward vampires. That wouldn’t have surprised him ordinarily. It was the fact that he was watching out for the man on behalf of a couple of friendly werewolves that struck him. Friendly werewolves. Hell, two months ago he would’ve sworn such a concept was impossible.
Then a werewolf named Whitney King had saved his life, even knowing he was a witch and not knowing whether or not he intended to hurt her. Nothing had been the same after that. He hadn’t been able to shake the sense of unease that came from not fully knowing his purpose, and that meant he hadn’t been able to stay in California.
I left without the Council’s permission. He was going to get his ass chewed for that.
He paused in his unpacking as his eyes alighted on a small greeting card placed over the pillows at the top of the bed. In professional scrawling typeface it read simply “Welcome, Mr. Darringer”.
Mick frowned and picked it up. Darringer… It felt weird to be using his real name in public. He was so used to using his work alias, Thare, that he would probably introduce himself as Thare at least a dozen times on this cruise, too, if he weren’t careful. This wasn’t work. This wasn’t even a permitted vacation. This wasn’t Thare’s cruise. He was taking this cruise. As a regular man named Mick Darringer.
Rolling his eyes at himself, Mick returned the card to the pillow and resumed unpacking. How ridiculous is it that I’m not even used to my own name anymore?
****
Allison stood on the top deck among what had to be the majority of the other vacationers as the Salty Sweet Euphoria pulled out of port, putting Baltimore behind them. She’d never seen her hometown from this vantage point before. The sight was surprisingly magnificent, and yet she couldn’t help but feel a sense of finality. As if her subconscious was watching the city shrink away and thinking good riddance.
Gleeful child laughter carried to Allison’s ears moments before a smaller body bounced off her torso, sending her stumbling backward. She barely caught sight of the blurred figure of the boy, whose laughing apology didn’t sound very sincere at all. She had just enough time to realize she was going to fall, probably into someone, before a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind. With surprisingly little effort the arms locked in place and hauled her up until her feet were properly beneath her. Except now her back pressed firmly into a man’s hard chest.
Deep, rumbling chuckling vibrated up her spine and washed over her shoulder. Her rescuer was taller than her, too. Not that that was hard for a man to do since she stood at five foot seven. “You okay?” His voice, like his quiet chuckle, was deep and held a subtle power she couldn’t explain. It seeped into her skin and tingled down to her toes.
Get a grip, Allison. Resisting the reflexive urge to clear her throat, Allison said, “Yes, thank you.” The arms unlocked, releasing her waist and leaving a band of cold air to fill their place. She turned with a smile and found herself staring into eyes that were somehow her exact favorite shade of green. They shone like emeralds. Her lungs ceased to function for several seconds.
The stranger grinned and his eyes danced, staring straight at her with confidence. He stood six feet tall with broad, powerful shoulders and sculpted arms. Yet he didn’t seem imposing. There was an air about him that was warm and inviting. “Good,” he said, as if he were privy to her thoughts. He held out one hand. “I’m Mick.”
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Dragging in a breath, Allison slipped her hand into his larger one. His fingers were slightly calloused but his touch was warm and his grip, like his physique, was strong. “Allison,” she said. “Thank you for catching me.”
Their hands fell apart as Mick said, “You’re welcome.” He paused barely a beat and mischief lit his beautiful eyes. “Although it was really just a convenient excuse. I hadn’t worked up the nerve yet to introduce myself.”
Allison’s eyes widened. “Oh?” He’d seen her? Obviously. She was standing on a crowded deck. But he’d wanted to speak to her? Surely this was a joke.
But his smile only returned, soft and enticing. “Yeah.”
Suddenly self-conscious, Allison offered him a too-wide smile and said, “Well, lucky me!” She could have smacked herself in the forehead for that. Of all the idiotic things to say.
Mick gave another chuckle and she exhaled slowly. He tucked his hands into denim pockets and said, “Maybe if you’re free around three o’clock we could go for drinks? I hear the bars on this boat are pretty good.”
Trying to remember the name of one of the boat’s bars she said, “How about Ol’ Salty? And let’s make it four.” Just to be sure she wasn’t coming off as desperate. Because she wasn’t.
“I’ll see you at four, then, Allison,” Mick said with another grin. He turned, angled himself around another couple of distracted passengers, and made his exit.
Allison stared after him, her ears ringing with the rich sound of her name in his deep baritone voice. What are you doing? She wasn’t there to hook-up, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t flirt. Mick could be just the distraction she’d been searching for. Allison released a breath and turned toward the pool deck. She wanted to explore.
****
Mick barely made it down the next floor, still mostly focused on the hazel-eyed beauty he’d just met, when his phone rang. An immediate sense of dread filled him and he knew without looking that it wasn’t someone he felt like talking to. But he couldn’t ignore the call. He was the one who’d abandoned his post, after all.
“Thare,” the gravelly voice on the other end of the line said. It was Doon. Of course it was Doon. “Where the hell are you? I just got a refund from your landlord.”
Keeping his voice casual as he moved to a support pillar with an ocean view, Mick said, “Yeah, sorry about that. I hope they didn’t withhold too much.” Okay, he knew the Council wasn’t calling over a refund check. But he hadn’t yet figured out how to explain his dilemma to his superior. Doon had been a mentor to his father. He’d known the councilman his whole life.
“Thare,” Doon said, his voice forceful. “This isn’t a joke. California’s an important station. We’re even starting to get rumors of werewolves North of Sacramento. It’s a hot-zone, Thare. We need eyes there.”
Biting back a sigh, Mick said, “I hear what you’re saying, Doon, but I can’t be those eyes. Not this time. I’m taking time off.” Here we go.
Silence stretched. Mick imagined Doon staring at his phone as if it had grown fur.
After nearly thirty seconds of dead air the earth-magic councilman finally said, “You’re what?”
“Cashing in some vacation time,” Mick replied. “I’ll call you when I’m back on the grid.” He disconnected without waiting for a response. Not that he needed to hear it. He’d been a favorite lackey of Doon’s since his training had completed. He knew damned well how the Council viewed “vacation time”. And if that vacation wasn’t slang for “a good night’s sleep” or “maternity leave” then it was denied. That was why he hadn’t asked.
Mick reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose. He’d chosen a cruise partially because no one who knew him would think to look for him on a boat with next to nothing of his own element around. It was a risky gamble for that very reason. If he were caught, or if there turned out to be violent vampires or werewolves on the boat, he didn’t have much to defend himself with. Just a few scattered potted plants.
Oh well.
He cast a glance at his watch. Just after two. Plenty of time to locate Ol’ Salty and scope out the dining scene for dinner options later.
He hoped he wouldn’t be eating alone.
Chapter Two
Allison stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door. She’d donned a nice dark green pencil skirt and billowy, sleeveless cream-colored top. Her light brown hair was loose around her shoulders, the natural waves giving it a soft poof. She pursed her lips. Her heart was racing in her chest like a giddy schoolgirl’s. It’s just drinks. With a stranger. She shouldn’t be feeling so excited. There hadn’t even been a need to dress up.
“You’re allowed to look nice,” she told the mirror. As if hearing the words aloud made it better. “You do not have a crush on a man you just met.” It’s a good thing my reflection can’t talk back to me.
Releasing a breath in lieu of rolling her eyes at herself, Ali tugged open the bathroom door and stepped into her suite. A quick glance at the clock on the nightstand assured her it was time to find Ol’ Salty. Fortunately there was a ship directory in the top drawer and she’d had the foresight to memorize the way before changing. Allison snagged her clutch, complete with room key, and slipped into her favorite wedge sandals with a thick green strap over the foot. She didn’t own a pair of high heels so she’d packed the wedges as a substitute, even though she intended to wear flip-flops for most of the cruise.
She slipped from her room and made it halfway down the hall before a man she didn’t recognize fell into step at her side.
“Afternoon,” he said as she came to a stop to look up at him. He was only a few inches taller than her, about five-eleven, with sturdy, lean shoulders above a matching torso. His white t-shirt was stretched perfectly over his chest and tucked into the waistband of his khaki cargo shorts. He held out a hand, his pale blue eyes sparkling in the hall lighting. “I’m Warner. Warner Mansfield. I’m sorry if I startled you.”
Ali shook his hand with a small smile. “Allison Drake,” she said. “You’re forgiven.” Was everyone on this boat so chatty?
“You look like you’re headed somewhere,” he said as his arm fell back to his side. “But I have to ask, could I buy you dinner? Maybe tomorrow night if you’re busy?”
Ali pulled in a breath and schooled her expression to mask her surprise. She never would have expected to be asked out on her vacation—let alone twice! He is cute… An image of Mick, who was waiting on her, flashed through her mind and she nearly sighed. Warner was handsome, it was true, but Mick was more her type. Still, she didn’t want to blow him off. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I am busy. And it’s too soon for me to promise tomorrow.”
He smiled and hooked his thumbs in his pockets. “If you say so,” he said. “I’ll keep an eye out for you, in case you change your mind.”
She laughed faintly and adjusted her grip on her clutch. “That’s reasonable. Have a good evening, Warner.” She smiled and resumed walking, unsurprised to note he didn’t follow. She didn’t know whether or not she’d want to go to any kind of meal with Warner, no matter what happened with Mick, but it was flattering to know she had options. Her whole intent with this vacation was to find a good distraction. Now she may have found two.
****
Mick sat forward when he saw Allison walk through the pub doors. He swallowed as he took in the sight of her all dressed up. It had only been a couple of hours since he’d met her on the top deck. He knew that wasn’t what she’d been wearing earlier. He’d have remembered with amusement how good she looked in green. The flatteringly tight pencil skirt emphasized her long, toned legs with the help of those shoes she was wearing. Damn. He lifted a hand in a casual greeting as their eyes met across the room. He suddenly felt rather underdressed in his faded blue denim jeans and simple black tee.
Standing as she approached the table he’d snagged minutes earlier, Mick smiled and pulled out her chair. “Glad you made it,” he said.
“I was a little worried I’d come on too strong.”
She graced him with a smile of her own and accepted the seat. “I like a man who knows what he wants,” she said. “But I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”
Mick reclaimed his chair across the small round table with a grin. “Nope, not at all.” He ran a hand through his brown hair. “You look great, by the way. Way better than anyone else in this place.”
Allison laughed, the sound tinkling and soft and warm. “You don’t need to flatter me,” she said, “I’m already here. But thank you.”
With an exaggerated shrug Mick replied, “I only speak the truth.”
A waitress in cut-off jean shorts and a tighter than necessary tee emblazoned OL’ SALTY across the chest sidled up, taking their drink and appetizer orders. Mick took the liberty of requesting onion rings, figuring they were a fairly standard appetizer choice, and grinned when his companion ordered herself a classic margarita.
“Tell me about you,” he asked when they were alone again. “What brought you to this cruise, where are you from?” He leaned forward as he spoke, resting his elbows on the table.
Allison tapped her clean, unpainted fingernails over her clutch. “I’m taking some time off from medical school. I’ve got one year left before my residency. I’ve lived in Baltimore my whole life.”
“That’s a big endeavor,” Mick said. “What got you interested in medicine?”
To this Allison shrugged her slender, half-bared shoulders. “I’ve always been ambitious. Medical school seemed like a worthwhile investment, and when I did some preliminary searching I became fascinated with the precision and expertise required of surgeons. So that’s what I want to be, a surgeon. Maybe I’ll travel the world once I’ve got a little experience under my belt, or maybe I’ll find a smaller hospital in need of a good surgeon and stay there. I haven’t decided yet.”
