by T. G. Ayer
Mom smacked my hand. “Don’t even joke about such a thing. A paranormal’s life is hard enough with extended longevity, and the emotional toll of both our powers and having to hide from the world. Don’t go asking for more trouble.”
“I know, Mom. I was only joking. So tell me how your investigation has been progressing. I haven’t seen Grams in days now.”
“Grams has a case in Bali. She’ll be back tomorrow. Other than that, I need your help.”
“Anything,” I said, glad the talk had turned from personal to business.
“I need a ShapeChanger. Ivy said Cassandra would be the best person for the job?” Cassandra Monteith was an agent with Sentinel, rival agency to Omega. She was also a good friend of mine, and as it happens, of Grams too.
I nodded and pulled out my phone. “I’m sure she’d be happy to help. I have it on good authority that she’d do anything for Grams. I’ll text her your details and you two can take it from there.” I tapped away the message and hit send. “What do you need her for?”
Mom grinned. “The Panther Alpha from Memphis is a concern. We think he’s been trading in information.”
“And you want Cassandra to take his form and see what she can find out?” I smiled. “Excellent plan. You’d make a good agent yet, Celeste Odel.”
Mom laughed and pinched my cheek.
I got to my feet. “Right. Gotta go make my stop. And then I’m outta here.”
Chapter 10
I entered Logan’s room thinking the decor needed a change. Something bright.
Maybe blue.
I’d heard somewhere blue was a good color for hospitals and care centers. Apparently, patients recover faster when they see the color blue more often.
I sighed and walked to the closest window. Gunmetal clouds hung low, promising an impending storm. I shut the heavy drapes and switched on the floor lamp beside the window.
The machines set a background rhythm of low beeps, and Logan seemed oblivious to my presence.
I’d gotten used to that.
My feet felt heavy as I walked to the bed and sat beside him. I was careful not to jostle him but he seemed to have no sense of my presence. He’d gotten paler.
Dad should take him out into the sun a little more. Surely being inside all these weeks would be bad for him. Vitamin D or G or something.
Logan was dreaming again, his lids moving as his eyes shifted frantically beneath them. One of the machines began to beep faster but he didn’t seem to be in any physical danger. I took his hand, holding it gently as he began to thrash harder, hoping that my presence would ease his suffering.
With each passing day I wondered how much of a difference I really made to him.
I was studying his hand in mine, tracing my thumb across the back of his wrist when I gasped. A few inches away, just beyond his wrist joint, his skin had begun to glow. So strange, as if a fire burned somewhere deep inside him, his translucent skin revealing the golden embers.
I shivered but didn’t let go, stared but didn’t call out.
What would my father be able to do anyway? This was Logan’s power trying to surface. His fire had been tamped down for so long. Surely that was a danger to both Logan, and those around him.
As I got to my feet, I froze, Logan’s voice lifting the hair off the back of my neck. “You must find her. She is the key.”
His voice rippled across my skin, guttural and harsh. But when I looked at his face, my heart twisted. His eyes remained closed. He wasn’t speaking to me. He’d called out, deep within his dream, and I wondered who he thought needed saving.
Logan moaned and shook his head, saying no to someone only he could see. “You must find her. She is real. And you must hurry. The world is in danger. And she is the key.”
I held back a desperate sob. Logan was the one I needed to save. Not some stranger only he knew. Then his lids opened. Flames danced within his dark eyes as he stared at me. “Kai. Promise me you will find her. She needs me. She needs you. Please. Promise me.”
His words tumbled from his lips, as if in that moment of lucidity, he was desperate to get everything out. I grabbed his hand, ignoring the spreading golden glow of his skin. “I’ll find her. If that’s what you want, Logan. I’ll find her.”
Logan took a ragged breath. “I don’t know what’s happening to me. My mind . . . it’s breaking. She’s here . . . with me.” He tapped a finger at his temple. “But I know she isn’t. She’s in danger, Kai. You must find my sister.”
Before I could respond, Logan’s body lifted from the bed, his back arching as if live energy surged through him. He fell to the mattress, then rose again and I shivered with fear.
The machines blared around me and I was relieved that I didn’t have to scream for my father. Because at that moment I knew I was incapable of making a sound. Logan’s hand was now covered with the pulsing flame, his skin continuing to glow with his fire.
My father rushed into the room, his eyes scanning the machines with practiced calm. Footsteps trailed him and someone else entered. I got to my feet and stood aside, watching my father rush to a small cart beside the bed. He lifted a set of paddles and reached for Logan’s shirt, baring his chest.
“Stop.” I didn’t realize it was me who’d screamed the plea out loud.
Not until my father asked, “Kai? What’s the matter with you?” He sounded angry that I’d dared to stop him. But I had to.
“You don’t understand, Dad. He is living energy.” I pointed to Logan’s arm. “His fire is inside him, and it wants out. That machine, it’s electric energy. We don’t know what supercharging him with electricity would do. We could kill him. Or kill all of us.”
My father took a step away, placing the paddles onto the cart before rushing around the bed to check Logan’s vitals.
“That was good thinking, Kai. Thank you. I never would have thought about it.” Dad paused and stared at me. “I could have killed him.”
I shook my head. “I think it’s only happening because I’m here. He spoke to me . . . to tell me something.”
“You think he’s awake?”
“Not consciously . . . I think he senses me, some part of him knows I’m here and he’s trying to tell me something.” I got to my feet. “I think it’s time I got Darcy over here.”
Dad nodded and came to stand beside me. “Kai. I know you don’t want to hear this-”
I cut him off with a raised hand. “I know what you’re going say, Dad. He could very well die. I understand that. I even accept that. But whatever it is he wants me to do, I know I have to do it. No matter what it takes. He’s tormented. And if I can help lessen that pain even a little then I’ll do it. No matter what.”
Dad put his arm around my shoulders. “You need to be strong, Kai. But we’re all here for you.” As I allowed my father to comfort me, my eyes drifted over his shoulder to the door.
And to Lily, sitting on the floor, her face white with shock as she stared at Logan. She didn’t even register my attention, her eyes focused entirely on Logan, too terrified to come closer, too terrified to leave.
“How long has she been coming,” I whispered into Dad’s ear.
“Two weeks now,” he said softly. He didn’t need to say more.
Now I knew where Lily had been disappearing to all this time.
Chapter 11
After a night of tossing and turning, I rose more determined than ever. I had to make a short stop at the Elite HQ.
I smiled bitterly as I thought about Omega. Only a few weeks ago Sentinel and Omega had run our lives. Now, the Supreme High Council had put Omega aside, with the entire agency being investigated on charges ranging from human and paranormal rights violations, illegal experimentation, sedition, to treason. Heads had already begun to fall, but I’d paid little attention.
Inside HQ, I paced the beautiful carpet outside Supreme High Councilman David Horner’s office, waiting only minutes before his assistant Barb exited, giving me a pleasant smile and a wave.
Inside, I sat in one of his wingback armchairs without being asked, my fatigue over-ruling my manners.
At this point in my day, not to mention my life, I didn’t particularly care. Horner didn’t seem to care either as he got to his feet and joined me in the chair beside me.
“What did you discover?” His voice was, as always, calm to the point of irritation.
I liked that he’d dispensed with all formality. “I have it on good authority that the Chicago Tree isn’t the only one to be affected.” I blew out a soft breath.
“Which tree?” Curiosity.
“Boston.”
“Any others?”
“That’s your department.” I wiggled my fingers. “Use your contacts. I suspect you’ll find the problem widespread.”
“Why do you say that?” Concerned now.
“Because of the toxin.”
“I’ve received a copy of the tox panel.” He gave a nod, urging me to go on.
“Because of the nature of the toxins. Firstly, they’re not of this earth.”
A neutral nod.
“Secondly, I know someone who suspects the toxins have a Faeland origin.”
“Which would explain why we don’t have a record of the plant.” Calm observation.
I shifted in my seat, picking at a loose thread on the arm of the chair. “We still getting nowhere with the Fae High Council on info sharing?”
He shook his head. “Not when it comes to cataloging their flora. They seem to think our awareness of their plant life would endanger their very existence.”
“Where there’s smoke…”
He huffed and sat back. “You have a point. I’ll pursue it with the Elders. In the meantime, what’s your next move?”
I hesitated.
He tipped his head to study me, then said, “Speak.” Admonition and encouragement in one word. How did he do that?
Clearing my throat, I said, “I’ve gotten as far as I can go with the Chicago Ash. Until I hear back from my contact there isn’t much I can do except twiddle my thumbs.” I rubbed the armrest of the sofa. “I need some personal time. Logan needs . . . I . . . there is something I need to do.”
He got to his feet. “If it’s concerning Westin then I consider that Elite business.”
I frowned. “He was never officially made an agent.”
“Be that as it may, I’m confident that he would have accepted our offer, and as such I consider him an agent. Any time spent on helping him will be treated as official Elite business. If that helps you at all.”
“It does, thank you.” I got to my feet too.
“You may report to me whatever you deem necessary. I’m well aware that this is personal, but there may be other factors that you’d prefer to use your discretion with in terms of making it public knowledge.”
My turn to watch him carefully. What was he trying to tell me?
I nodded, then cleared my throat. “I’ll let you know the moment I hear anything about the tree. Thank you.”
He gave a regal nod. “And do keep us updated where Westin is concerned. I trust he is well?”
“As well as can be expected.”
I backed away and exited before he asked me any further questions. Horner and Carter, his co-director at the Elite who concentrated more on Forensics, had always given me an odd feeling. My gut said they weren’t entirely who they claimed to be. They didn’t feel like simple Mages. And they weren’t of any other major paranormal species that I recognized.
Immortals? I’d played around with the idea that they were Ancients, like Darian, who’d saved me a few months back.
I’d often gotten the feeling that both men could be just like Darian. But unless they confessed, I had little chance of finding out the truth.
For now, my mind was focused on Logan.
Chapter 12
Back in Logan’s room I sat on the loveseat by the window, my cup of tea sitting on the sill, long cold as I stared at nothing. I knew I had to call Darcy, but a part of me was hesitant. As if I knew that taking that step would change things forever.
At last I grabbed my phone and made the call. Darcy answered on the second ring and sounded keen on helping, especially if it concerned Logan.
Before I could offer to arrange transport, Darcy assured me that she’d see me in less than an hour. Apparently she was closer than I thought.
I used the time to shower, change and throw a bunch of clothes into the wash. With Logan at my father’s house I’d taken to keeping enough clothes in my old closet to be safe. I was glad for the work though.
Chores were calming.
Darcy knocked on the open door. I looked up and knew immediately why she was in Chicago. I’d know the scent of my brother anywhere, and finding the beautiful blonde enveloped in Iain’s musk made me want to throw a bunch of inquisitive questions at her.
But I didn’t.
I quashed the urge and waved her inside, trying to subdue the grin on my face.
Darcy walked to me, her gaze drifting over Logan’s sleeping form, and in her eyes, I recognized sadness and regret. She sat on the loveseat beside me.
“I’m assuming this is to do with Logan’s condition?” She glanced at him again, her expression now revealing something I was sure I was misinterpreting.
Guilt.
I had no time to pursue that line of thought. “Yeah. But it’s worse than what you can see.”
“How do you mean?” Her gaze was still locked on Logan’s unmoving form.
“He’s got this weird fire under his skin,” I said, absently rubbing my forearm and wrist.
The cushion moved as she shifted next to me. “That makes sense considering he’s a fire mage.”
“But do fire mages have fire living inside their bodies?”
“I’m not sure.” I could have sworn I felt her stiffen. Then she let out a sharp breath. “It could be a side effect. Maybe his power is trapped inside him. He’s been unconscious for a while. So that would make sense.”
My forehead knitted. “I hope it’s just that. And I hope it doesn’t mean he’s going to spontaneously combust or something.” I went for the joke, knowing it was something Logan would have found amusing, but for many reasons it fell flat.
Even Darcy didn’t reward my effort with a smile.
Instead, she got to her feet and walked to Logan’s side. She spent a few moments looking at his face. She seemed about to say something, then hesitated. Instead, she took a few calming breaths, her shoulders rising then falling.
“You okay?” I asked, going to stand beside her. Whatever troubled her was concerning and though we weren’t technically friends, I wanted to help.
But she shook her head. “I’m fine. I’m going to need a chair so I don’t fall flat on my face, or Logan, while I work.” She made a face. “There is a tendency for the MindMelder to faint at inopportune moments.”
I smiled and fetched a chair from the hallway. A long time ago, probably a century now, someone had placed a matched pair of spindly-legged chairs on either side of a table topped with a ragged slice of a redwood, felled to make way for the house. The smoothed and varnished surface, bore a giant-sized arrangement of dried flowers, equally ancient.
The chairs with their dainty, soft upholstery with delicate gold-printed cream fabric were astoundingly mismatched, rugged wood set against a chair that looked like a feather would be too much weight for it.
Even Darcy raised an inquiring eyebrow at the chair as I hauled it to her side. “Don’t ask.”
“Antique?”
I nodded. “In all my years it never once crossed my mind to use it as an actual chair.”
“You sure it’s not going to fall apart?” she asked, concerned as she studied the chair, her butt hovering a few inches above it.
“I think it’s sturdy. You’ll know for sure when you sit.” I smothered a giggle, watching Darcy perch gingerly onto the chair as she held her breath and waited for it to shatter beneath her weight.
It didn�
�t.
We both sighed, relieved.
Darcy sobered as she studied Logan’s face again. I did too. His dark hair, though lacking its usual life, was still thick and tempted me to brush my fingers through it. His lips, once full and firm were much softer now, and paler. How long had it been since I’d last kissed him? This awful sleep kept us excruciatingly apart.
Darcy shifted as she leaned forward and placed her fingertips on either side of Logan’s temples. A light dusting of stubble covered his cheeks and I wondered who’d shaved him.
I’d done it that first week or two, but having been away, I’d expected a thicker mat, not this clean-shaven patient. I smiled. Mom or Grams, maybe. I just couldn’t imagine Iain or Dad performing that task. My eyes drifted to the open door and a face flashed from my memory.
Lily.
Now it made sense as to who’d been taking care of him while I’d been absent, and where Lily had been in those times when she’d claimed errands or homework.
But now, I pushed her from my mind and concentrated on Darcy as she closed her eyes and fell into a trance not too different from Mel’s tracking mode.
Her eyelids fluttered as her fingers tightened against Logan’s head and I forced myself to remain as still as possible. With everything going on I was wired and sitting still was incredibly difficult.
Minutes passed and Darcy hadn’t moved so much as a muscle. Perspiration beaded her forehead and the skin of her neck, making me aware for the first time how taxing this must be for her, on her body and her mind.
Then she stiffened, her muscles tightening as her head fell back. The veins at her temples flared, rising high and tight; her heart probably speeding like a freight train. A spurt of panic flared within me. Were we endangering Darcy too? Would Logan appreciate lives being sacrificed in order to save his?
Darcy’s work felt and looked pretty intense.
Perspiration dripped down the back of her neck and soaked into the neck of her blouse. I got to my feet as quietly as possible and tiptoed to a stack of clean towels on a cart behind the door. Returning with two, I placed one loosely around her neck and used the other to dab her forehead.
