Enemies Allied

by Serena Lindahl

  Eli shook his head, his eyes truthful and unwavering. "No. I didn't know what would happen; there were several future paths. I couldn't have known it." His voice smelled of truth.

  Eden nodded, her heart heavy. "Is there anything else you haven't told me?"

  The blood prophet examined his beer bottle. "Not about the past," he answered finally.

  "Okay then." Bracing herself, she stood and crossed the room. Eli rose to meet her, his expression nervous. She studied his face, trying to imagine the boy before the scars. "Thank you," she whispered. "I'm not happy about my arm, but I know my life would have been worse if not for you."

  His eyes widened. "You really do possess an amazing heart, sister. Mom and I knew it the moment we saw you, but she would be so proud." His voice caught, and Eden pulled him into a one-armed hug. He embraced her in return, smelling of pine and dark beer.

  "You can keep the dreamcatcher," she said against his shoulder, "but I want my sketchbook back."

  "I'll get it to you. Thanks for listening, sister." He squeezed her one last time and left the room. Gideon stared after him, told her she would see him later, and blinked away as well. Eden turned back to the others. They watched her curiously.

  "You really are too nice," Alena muttered.

  Eden shrugged as she perched on the table in front of the couch so she could see both their faces. "He did save me." She waved her stump. "This sucks, but it could have been much worse."

  "He told the truth?" Alec's blue eyes glowed with curiosity.

  "Everything he said was true - as he remembers it."

  "And how are you doing with the information?" Alena pushed.

  "It's a lot to take in," she sighed. Her eyes narrowed. "How are you guys taking it?"

  Alena snorted. "Part of me is angry at Eli and part of me feels sorry for him. What a horrible childhood. He turned out well, considering what he went through. I think the credit goes to your mother for that."

  "I agree. He went through a lot to save you. I'm not saying you shouldn't be angry at him for the accident, but he thought he was doing the right thing - and Mather never caught you."

  Eden smiled shakily. "I suppose I should be happy about that." She eyed the space between them, suddenly wanting their warmth again. "May I?" When they both nodded, she settled herself between them again. Sinking into their warmth, she sighed in pleasure.

  "I suppose everything in my past has led me to this moment. Maybe I can't complain too much."

  "You're a better woman than me. There's no way I'd be able to forgive him." Alena's fingers played with Eden's curls, lifting them and gently grazing along her neck at the same time. Eden shivered. "Now," the redhead said, "we just have to make it to the end and get rid of this poor excuse for a sperm donor."

  Alec chuckled and batted Alena gently on her shoulder, leaning over Eden to do so. His eyes sparkled playfully. "Way to turn the mood around."

  Eden, propped against Alena's soft body, looked up at Alec leaning over her. When he moved to sit back, she stopped him with a hand against his jaw. She liked being between them. ”Actually, I don't think the mood is ruined at all."

  Alec's eyes widened, but he didn't protest when Eden pulled his face down to hers for more than the chaste kiss they'd already shared. She needed him, she needed Alena, and she needed a distraction from everything Eli had said. She needed comfort and was tired of fighting her attraction.

  Her lips teased his, enjoying the soothing warmth that flowed through her and sparked an answering desire in her lower stomach.

  Alena's pleasure and desire from watching them kiss filled Eden. Alec's added hunger as his lips pressed harder against hers nearly pushed her over the edge.

  Alec pulled away, his chest heaving. His brilliant blue eyes were crowded by his dilated pupils. At one point during the kiss, he'd slid from the couch. He kneeled before them. One strong arm spanned Eden's waist while the other wrapped around Alena.

  Eden twisted to see the other mage's face, her eyes bright chips of jade. Her mouth met Alena's, the fiery sparks of her magic mingling with hers. The woman's lips were softer, but her kiss was fiercer, her teeth nipping Eden's lower lip. She groaned low in her throat as Alec's hand smoothed up her ribs and around her back, teasing the bare skin at her collarbone.

  Panting, Eden forced herself to release Alena's lips. Their auras glowed; molten chocolate with chips of gold mingled with the bright green of the other mage's. Every nerve in her body sparked with need.

  "I might not be able to," she gasped. Her head leaned against the other woman's shoulder, and Alec's hard torso pressed against her lower legs as he continued to embrace them both. "Both of you might be too much," she continued. "I can feel your desire. I feel like I might explode." The shivering hum of Alena's magic and the molten burn of Alec's tech raged through her blood, increasing the throb between her legs.

  Alena chuckled sensuously. "I don't think that’s necessarily a bad thing." Her finger traced down Eden's bare arm, raising goosebumps.

  Alec's intense gaze trapped Eden's. He grinned, but his eyes blazed with desire. "I also think that you are not alone in this." The three of them held each other, their hands lightly exploring and stroking. They moved slowly, enjoying the pleasant torture of not rushing it. Images cascaded through Eden's mind, and she was minutes away from fulfilling those sweet fantasies in that very room when the dinner bell chimed throughout the house.

  Alec groaned. The husky sound vibrated through Eden's thrumming body. The Brownies had thus far been lenient with the evening meal, but the bell sounded as if it couldn't be ignored.

  Alena trailed a hand across the techie's whiskered jaw. "Not hungry, my dear?"

  Alec grinned wickedly, a smile that curled Eden's toes and made her breath hitch. "Not for food."

  Eden moaned in frustration when the bell rang again. They rose reluctantly, readjusting their clothes. She didn't hide her interest when Alec rearranged himself, attempting to hide his obvious erection. She wanted them. It had been too long, and it was more than that. She felt like they were meant to be together.

  "Soon," she promised, sure to include both of them with a look she hoped was sultry. Their pleasure, desire, and affection followed her from the room.

  Chapter Twelve

  Mac

  Mac woke to a beautiful day, the sunlight streaming through her windows with soft warmth. She stretched languidly, feeling more catlike the longer Lightning was with her. He mimicked her stretch, but his yawn revealed larger, sharper teeth.

  With a smile, she remembered the evening before. The dinner had been fun, the younger girls arriving out of their wing to chatter happily about the lessons Kay gave them. Eden, Alec, and Alena expressed giggly, happy attitudes and shared touches that made Mac's heart both thrilled and slightly envious. Even Eli attended, afraid to incur the Brownies' wrath. He'd remained sullen and brooding though, barely contributing to the conversation.

  Mac slipped from the bed. Cat and Andrew had requested her presence in their lab this morning. They wanted to test her magic to see if it could be used in any sort of weapon against Mather. Mac didn't want to be a secret weapon - or not so secret since Mather knew about her. The battle against the automatons and the conflict in the warehouse left her unconscious both times, leading her to believe she was more of a liability than an asset. Allowing Eli to save her again was out of the question. Already, their slight connection disturbed her far more than she'd admit.

  She showered and dressed slowly, procrastinating longer than she meant to. Lightning waited patiently. After he'd gobbled his usual morning breakfast, he sat down to groom himself. The Brownies had agreed he should eat in her room since the raw meat disgusted a few of the other household members. With a flick of her hand, she changed the tips of her hair to silver, the same shade as Lightning's coat. The color also emphasized the stormy gray in her eyes.

  Huffing, she admitted she couldn't delay any longer without being a total pain in the ass. As much as she'd like
to stay in her room all day, she couldn't. Informing the house of her destination, she stepped upon the path offered to her. Jay would be upset she didn't eat first, but her stomach revolted when she considered the things they might ask her to do.

  Padding down the hall on bare feet, a low growl jolted her from her reverie. Lightning stiffened beside her; the hair rose on his back. She crouched down next to him. "What is it, boy?" Her hand gently ruffled his tufted ears. A moment later, the answer came around the corner. "Shit."

  "It's okay," Alena assured her. "They just need to sniff each other." Zar, the huge wolf-dog familiar, froze beside his human, his eyes glowing in a predatory fashion.

  Zar would tear Lightning apart, something that scared Mac shitless. She couldn't lose the cat. She needed him. "If he attacks Lightning, I'll attack him back."

  "I would expect you to, Mac. I know how important familiars are. I think they'll be fine, though. Give them a second."

  Lightning snarled and hissed beside her, his feline instincts overwhelmed by the canine that slowly crept forward. Zar's head was down and his ears laid back. Mac's magic built inside her, tingling through her nerves and crackling in the air around them.

  Zar sniffed the scent of her magic and his gaze changed to one of interest. He sank to the floor on his belly, still alert; his yellow-green eyes met Lightning's steely gray ones. The cat watched him, ears and nose twitching. He stalked forward, his muscles tight with tension.

  The two mages watched uneasily. Mac's magic glowed around her clenched fists, and Alena's eyes sparked with green fire. The big cat came within pouncing distance of Zar. Still, the huge dog didn't move. In fact, his tail started twitching like he wanted to play. It was one of the few dog-like characteristics he ever displayed.

  The cat prowled around him, sniffing the air and the other familiar's fur, always keeping the large canine in his sight. When the dog didn't pounce, his own stubby tail twitched once. He lifted one paw and cuffed the dog on his nose. Zar growled in response, but the sound was no longer menacing. His tail twitched harder, and his tongue lolled from his mouth. Lightning glanced at Mac to summon her before he straightened with his head held high and strutted past the other mage and her familiar. Mac released a nervous chuckle.

  "Thank Gaia," Alena breathed. "I thought they'd be okay, but they have a lifetime of instincts to work through. They should be fine now, although your cat will play the alpha because he's smaller and weaker. Zar won't like it, but he'll allow it until the lynx feels safer.”

  Mac gently patted the dog's black head as she passed. "Thank you." He flashed a canine smile and watched the cat now standing beyond them, but his gaze was more curious than anything else.

  "Are you off to play lab rat?"

  "I guess. How did last night go?" Mac asked, her gaze turning sly. Alena's pale cheeks flushed.

  "Fine," the other mage muttered. "Nothing happened, Miss Nosy."

  "Oh yeah? I seem to remember a beautiful woman following you and Alec into your room."

  "We only slept," Alena grumbled, staring at the floor. Mac's brows rose as she tried to retain her laughter. "We talked really late and fell asleep. Which is none of your business, but I don't want you to think we took advantage of Eden."

  "Oh, I think Eden is getting close to wanting to be taken advantage of," Mac teased with a giddy grin. She enjoyed living vicariously through the three of them. They made such a cute ... couple and person? Triad? She didn't know the accurate term.

  "What about you and Eli?" Alena asked, mimicking her sly tone.

  Mac snorted. "That old man is a hopeless flirt, and I'm not interested. I don't think he's interested either; he just likes messing with me."

  "He's a good-looking guy," the other mage said with a shrug.

  "Maybe, but he's Eden's brother. We've got enough family fun going on around here. And he's ten, or more, years older than me. I just got my life back. I'm not interested in sharing it with anyone else yet."

  Alena nodded in motherly approval. "Eden is going to watch you guys. Cat and Andrew set up a special room where the Magitechs can view the fun but not be affected by your magic."

  Mac didn't know how she felt about that. She didn't want to feel like an animal in a cage, but she also didn't want her magic affecting anyone. She wondered how long the techies stayed awake planning the tests.

  "Have fun. I'm off to find Alec."

  Mac chuckled. "Need to work off a little frustration from just sleeping last night?"

  Alena punched her in the shoulder.

  "Ow, that hurt." She rubbed her sore arm dramatically.

  "You deserve it," Alena admonished her, but the glint in her eyes told Mac she’d hit upon the truth with her teasing. The other mage escaped down the corridor before either of them could say anything else.

  The lab was packed with people. Mac stopped in the doorway, leaning against the jamb. "Well, well, quite a crowd." Her voice effectively interrupted any conversation. Andrew and Cat hunched over separate digipads while Davin, Jenira, and Eli argued. Eden watched them all with interest, not saying anything.

  "Well, someone knowledgeable has to be here," Eli said with his signature cocky grin.

  Mac pushed down her discomfort when she sensed his pulse. This effect had better be temporary.

  Davin scowled, his face dark, but Jenira shrugged. "He's right in a way," the warrior woman conceded. "He knows more about your magic than we do."

  "Well, knowledge boy," Mac said, "enlighten us."

  Cat and Andrew looked up, twin looks of curiosity and eagerness on their faces. Eli straddled a metal chair. Mac considered sitting but decided to enjoy the view from the doorway. Eli always managed to look at ease. He could sprawl anywhere, even in an uncomfortable metal chair. Maybe it was due to his lanky frame, but she thought it had more to do with his 'I don't give a shit' attitude. His thick, dark hair was caught back in a braid this morning, similar to Eden's. Despite his scars, the family resemblance was unmistakable.

  "So," the blood prophet began, drawing out the words, "Mac is what we call a null. Nulls are only born in twins of mage-tech parentages, though obviously not to every mage-tech couple. There is no evidence yet that they can be born to any other combination of mage-tech or Magitech combos. One twin is typically a techie." He paused to wave toward Andrew. "The other twin possesses the magic and the null ability." He gestured to Mac.

  Lightning sat on his haunches at her feet, listening as if he understood every word. Mac wondered if he could; he definitely seemed interested.

  "It might appear as if one twin is stronger than the other, but that's not the case. It's been proven that almost every null who loses his or her twin through accident or death also loses his or her sanity, and sometimes their magic as well."

  Davin snorted, drawing attention to himself. "That's what they say about Magitechs, and we're not crazy."

  "Those rumors were spread to discredit Magitechs because both mages and techies see them as too powerful. The nulls are nature's answer to this imbalance. Nulls can nullify the power of Magitech devices and Magitechs themselves - permanently."

  Davin sucked in a breath, his eyes wide. "That's impossible. No one can simply erase someone else's magic and tech." His golden eyes landed on Mac. His gaze held something resembling fear. She shifted uncomfortably against the metal doorjamb, definitely not liking the implications.

  "Maybe so," Eli murmured thoughtfully, also studying Mac. "There have been cases where a null only erased the magical ability and didn't affect what the tech already learned, although they are diminished from their original tech level. Think about it this way. Mages use one half of their brain more to access their magic. Techs use the other one. Magitechs possess extraordinary synapses and special connections between the two parts. The null severs those connections and affects the parts of the brain where they originate - the magic center and the tech center. Their twin is almost always immune."

  "Almost always?" Mac asked. Her eyes flew to Andrew. "Well,
Andrew shouldn't take part in these tests."

  "Easy there, lass. All magic and tech contains intent behind it. Just getting unintentionally zapped by your magic won't damage a Magitech. The null must be intentional - or under great stress and unable to control their magic. I agree Andrew shouldn't be in the same room just in case, though. If they figure out a way to harness your magic to make into a weapon, however, the encapsulated magic should be fine. The intent will no longer be present in its full form."

  "If a null possesses the ability to affect the parts of the brain where magic or tech originates, then it makes sense they would be able to affect any tech or mage - regardless of whether they're Magitech or not," Cat pointed out, chewing on the end of her pencil.

  "You may think so," Eli agreed, "but it appears a null's magic specifically targets the connections in the brain and works outward from them. A pure techie or mage doesn't have those connections to target, so the null's power doesn't work. The same is true of Magitech devices.

  “Pure electronic components or magic amulets aren't affected. It's only the bonds, or the connections in Magitech devices, that the null effects, typically rendering a device entirely useless. The null doesn't need to harness intention when it comes to devices. Their power works regardless. The Magitech devices cannot protect against the null power - it's similar to shorting out something electrical."

  Cat's nose scrunched. "How do you know all this? Some of your explanations don't make logical sense."

  Eli sighed. "You're right, Catrianna. I'm not a techie." He held his hands up helplessly. "Maybe I'm not describing it the best way. I can only tell you what I know from my visions and the experiments Mather performed. He feels extremely threatened by nulls, as you can imagine. He's imprisoned several and performed tests on them. Sometimes, he simply kills their techie twin because it's the easiest way to turn them into a non-threat. As he told Mac through his hold on Rock, he has a group of them imprisoned somewhere in the West and still performs tests on them. It's another reason he must be brought down. He hates that he can't control a null's magic. Nothing he's tried so far has enabled him to use the null power to his advantage, so they're a threat to him and all Magitechs. And since he wants Magitechs to rule - well, you get my point," Eli finished wryly.