by Linsey Hall
As he disappeared, I saw the big ivory scroll gripped in his hand.
“No!” I reached out, but he was gone. At the last second, I snagged the blade that flew toward me.
The rest of the place was in chaos—rocks everywhere, golden objects glinting from every nook and cranny—but there were no more living demons. One lay on the ground, though.
Maybe he wasn’t dead yet. I stumbled toward him as griffon-Aidan landed and transformed back into a man. The demon was sprawled on his back, his middle looking crushed. His face was a waxy gray. Aidan must have crushed him and dropped him, but he wasn’t dead yet if he hadn’t disappeared.
I smacked his face. “Wake up!”
He lay still.
I shook him by the collar. Nothing. All I seemed to be doing these days was shaking demons and trying to get them to talk.
Aidan knelt by my side and dug around in the demon’s pockets.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“He might have a transport charm. His buddy did.” He pulled his hand out and showed me. A small rock. “Can you track him?”
I closed my eyes and reached out for the man who’d disappeared, even though I knew it was likely hopeless. I kept my hand on the unconscious demon’s chest, but felt nothing.
“No,” I said.
“I thought Seekers could track people.”
They could, but Seeker was just my cover story. I could only find people or things of value. The demon at my feet didn’t value his comrades, so there was no link for me. I valued finding the man I’d just seen, but I didn’t know enough about him to track him. Or he was protected. Either way, I was getting nothing.
“I can’t feel where he went. I don’t know why,” I said.
My shoulders sagged. What a crap day.
Black glass flashed in the light at the demon’s side. My blades. I reached for one, then remembered. “Blood. I threw my blade at the man who disappeared. I called it back to me before he left. We can use the blood on the blade to fuel a tracking spell! That should be enough to find him.”
I was pretty fastidious about washing the blood off my beloved blades, but I could wait if it meant finding the man who’d taken the scroll.
“Do you know where to buy a spell like that?” he asked.
It wasn’t easy to buy magic that wasn’t your own. It’s why my business did so well—a lot of demand, little supply. “I don’t, but I think my friends would. They know a lot of people. They’ve hooked me up with charmed objects in the past.”
“Good. Let’s go then.” He stood.
I rose, swaying on my feet. Fates, using magic was hard. I was so out of shape.
“Are you all right?” Aidan steadied me.
Had he been conscious when I’d moved the rocks?
“Yeah, just beat up.” And it would take me a while to get over the shock of using that much power.
“You look like you’re a bit more than beat up.”
“Nah, I’m fine. I totally—”
Wooziness hit me hard. I swayed on my feet. Right as I tipped over to go hang out with the floor, Aidan swept me up into his arms.
Wow, that was nice. Not only did I not have to support my own weight, but he was also warm and strong, and his arms felt heavenly.
“You’re not all right,” he said.
“Just tired. Put me down.”
“No.”
I scowled. “Fine. Let’s go back. Potions & Pastilles.”
Suspicion glinted in Aidan’s dark eyes. “There’s more to it than exhaustion.”
“There isn’t.”
“So you didn’t save my life from those rocks?”
Oh, crap. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He gave me a look that said he didn’t buy my bull for a second.
“We’ll talk about it later,” he said, then threw the transport charm to the ground. It shattered and he stepped into the glittering cloud.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Fortunately, Potions & Pastilles was empty when we arrived. Because of the time change, we’d hit it right at the late-afternoon lull. Old Mr. Monier sat at his usual table in the corner, reading the paper, but he was deaf as a post, so I wasn’t worried about him.
“Where do you want me to put you?” Aidan asked.
“Down,” I said as Claire walked out of the back. She was dressed in her fighting leathers, either on her way to a job or just returning from one. I would guess returning, from the state of her hair. It looked like someone had gotten ahold of her ponytail and tugged.
“What’s wrong with you?” Claire demanded. Her dark eyes searched me worriedly.
“I’m fine,” I said.
“Yeah, ‘cause you totally let people carry you around when you’re fine.”
“Just a little tired from a fight.” I pushed at Aidan’s chest. “Put me down!”
Gently, he lowered me to my feet. I stumbled. The ground felt like it was moving. Ugh, I was never using my power again. So not worth this feeling.
“Let me get you something,” Claire said.
“I’ll take a triple boosted latte,” I said as I stumbled to the comfy chairs in the corner in front of the window. Potions & Pastilles specialized in enchanted coffees, courtesy of Connor’s potions talents. Normally I drink the regular stuff, but if you’re injured, magically drained, bummed out, or just looking for a boost, P & P had something to help you out. I didn’t know what was in the boost that I’d just ordered, only that Connor specialized in righting your ills. Or at least, giving you a pick-me-up that had more to do with magic than caffeine.
I sank into the comfy chair and sighed. All I needed was a drink and a nap and I’d be fine.
Aidan sat down next to me, looking entirely too fit and healthy. There wasn’t a scratch on him.
“You aren’t a weak Mirror Mage,” he said. “You lied.”
My heart thudded. “You don’t need to know everything about me. We’re just doing this one job together. As long as I get it done, it doesn’t matter how I do it.”
“True. But I want this to be more than just one job.”
We were getting right to it, then. “Can’t we talk about this later?”
“Now’s good.”
“I’m not feeling great, as I’m sure you can see.”
“Exactly. If I wait until your defenses are up, you’ll just leave. I want to know why you don’t use your power. After what you did with those rocks, I know you’re strong.”
“Strong? I made a mess.” I winced at the memory. That would be hard to repair. Impossible, probably. But if I hadn’t done it, Aidan might have died.
“Yeah, maybe. But you saved my life. It takes a lot of power to divert the path of thousands of tons of stone.” His dark eyes turned serious.
“Can you just say thank you and forget it? Consider it a favor to me for saving your life.”
His expression sobered. “You’re right. Thank you. I didn’t realize the ceiling was cracking until the boulder hit me. The place looked sturdy.”
“It was. A dumb demon tripped the most obvious booby trap in the book.”
Aidan quirked a brow, then grinned. “The golden orb on the pedestal.”
“How’d you know?” I liked that he was so quick.
“I’ve seen Indiana Jones. And I noticed the orb when I went in. Then right before the boulder hit me, something gold flew by my head. He chucked it at me, didn’t he?”
“Yeah.”
“Idiot. But you saved my life.”
“Which I might regret, if you don’t lay off.”
“Why are you hiding your strength?” His gaze searched my face.
“I thought you said that I was right and you were going to lay off.”
“No. I said you were right that I owed you my gratitude. But I still want to know why you’re hiding how strong you are. You’re not a weak Mirror Mage.”
“I was just never good with my magic, okay?” I said. “That’s basically the same thing as b
eing a weak Mirror Mage. I’m too weak to control it, so I don’t like to use it.”
“So practice.”
“That’s a little difficult when one destroys everything around them when they try.” And I didn’t want to be good with my magic—at least not as much as I wanted other things. Other supernaturals were always interested in knowing who was the best at what. I just wanted to have my nice little life full of adventure and my friends—I didn’t need to be super powerful to have that.
“Didn’t your parents train you?”
The question hit me like a blow between the eyes. I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out.
“Hey, I didn’t mean—”
“Triple boosted latte, piping hot!” Claire said as she came out of the kitchen. Connor followed her with a plate and another cup.
I glared at Aidan, though my heart was pounding. I didn’t want to talk about my parents. Hell, I didn’t even know how to talk about my parents.
Aidan closed his mouth, but the look on his face was clear. This discussion wasn’t over. He looked like he was sorry he’d brought up a subject that clearly made me uncomfortable, but also like he wasn’t going to let go of it.
Just what I needed on top of feeling like I’d been run over by a truck.
“Thank you.” Gratefully, I took the steaming cup from Claire and sipped it.
Warmth and strength flowed into me. Not enough to repair me fully, but I felt a bit better.
“Brought you one of the same,” Connor said as he handed a cup to Aidan. “You don’t look as beat as Cass, but you could probably use it. “
“Thanks,” Aidan said.
“And some pasties.” Connor put the plate of savory treats on the little table in front of our chairs. His apron was dusty with flour, but the rest of his clothes—jeans, a t-shirt, and Converse—were spotless.
“You’re the best.” I grabbed one, not caring that it was hot, and bit into it. My stomach was suddenly cavernous. I vaguely remembered being famished after I’d used my magic in the past. The pasty was so good I almost groaned.
“What’s got you looking like you were dragged through a harpy nest?” Claire asked.
“Job gone wrong,” I said around a bite of pasty. “We’re looking for a tracking spell now.”
“You can’t get a read on something?” Connor asked.
I swallowed hard, the pasty suddenly a lump in my throat. Time to lie. They also thought I was a Seeker. I hated lying to my friends, but it protected them. They could get in trouble for knowingly harboring a FireSoul. If I were an actual good person, I’d probably stay away from them.
But I was weak. I liked my friends. And as long as I was careful, I could keep my secret and keep them safe.
“Yeah, this one is tough,” I said. “Don’t know why. Maybe the guy is using a concealment charm. Do you know anyone strong enough to make a tracking charm off a bit of blood?”
Connor and Claire looked at each other. They both had different contacts given that Connor stuck to potions and baking for a living, and Claire hunted bad guys and only occasionally helped out at P & P, but their circle of friends was wide.
“What about Mordaca?” Connor asked. “She’s a Seeker, right?”
“The one you have the hots for?” Claire asked.
“That’s the one.” Connor grinned.
“She’s scary, but yeah, she could probably do it.” Claire met my gaze. “I’ve got one friend I can call. Give me a sec.”
She got up and moved to the window, then pulled out her phone.
“Mordaca?” I asked Connor as Claire made the call.
“Yeah. Sexy Blood Sorceress with some Seeker talent like you. Bit scary like Claire said, but she could probably use her sorcery to make you a charm.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Claire returned a second later. “All right. She’s in LA tonight, but she’ll be back by morning. She said she should be able to make you a charm, but it’ll cost you.”
I glanced at Aidan, but I figured he was good for it.
He nodded once. “Thank you.”
“Can’t we meet her tonight? We can fly to LA.”
“She insisted she was busy,” Claire said.
“And you need to rest,” Aidan said.
“I’m fine.”
“Actually, you look like you’re melting into a puddle,” Claire said.
I glanced down at myself. Okay, yeah, my posture was so slumped that I might look like I was about to pass out. That coffee hadn’t fixed me as much as I’d thought.
I turned to Aidan. “What if the guy who stole the scroll reads it?”
“For one, he might not be able to read old Irish. And if he did and poses a threat, we’ll kill him.”
The threat in his eyes was so real that I believed him. And he was right, I could barely walk. Without sleep, I’d be worthless. “Fine. We’ll wait.”
“Why are you so interested?” he asked. “You seem to be taking this more personally than a normal job.”
My heart jumped into my throat. He couldn’t be onto me. “I take all my jobs personally. That’s why I’m the best.”
“Uh huh,” Aidan said, suspicion still in his eyes. He turned to Claire. “When do we meet Mordaca?”
“She said to meet her at eight at the Apothecary’s Jungle in Darklane.” Claire glanced at her cellphone. “I’ve got to run. A client is waiting on me.”
“I thought you just finished a job?” I asked, glancing at her hair.
“Yep. Nasty Sorabug infestation at a rich guy’s house over in Enchanter’s Bluff.”
“Ew.” Sorabugs were gross. They were the size of ponies—hence the reason for hiring a mercenary instead of an exterminator—and had giant pincers. Even the nicest neighborhood in town wasn’t immune to their gross invasions. Fortunately they stuck to magical cities or else humans would think aliens had invaded.
“Yeah, this job should be better. Protection detail for a visiting aristocrat,” she said.
“Protection from what?”
“That’s the thing—I’m not sure. And I don’t like that.”
It was that wariness that kept my friend alive. Claire was one of the best mercs in Magic’s Bend. Mercenaries were hired for all kinds of jobs—not just killing. Though she did that too, as long as she thought the client deserved it. No kids or innocents. Our world was full of all kinds of dangerous jobs you could hire a mercenary for. It was Claire’s selectiveness that kept her alive.
“Be safe,” I said.
“Always.” She grinned, then headed out the door, straightening her ponytail as she went.
A pair of pink-haired old ladies walked in after she left, no doubt out for a day of antiquing at the shops down the street from my own. Those antiques had no magical charms, however.
“Good luck with your tracking spell,” Connor said as he went to help the women with their order.
I turned to Aidan. “I’m beat. I’m going to go get cleaned up and hit the hay. I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”
“We have more to talk about.” His voice was commanding.
“Not now, we don’t.” I stood, trying my damnedest not to sway. The last thing I needed was him carrying me down the street.
Aidan surged to his feet and put a steadying hand on my shoulder. “Fine, not now. Go rest. I’ll see you later.”
“Pick me up at seven.” Though I wanted to try to beat him to Mordaca, it was highly unlikely that I could afford her fee.
We parted ways outside P & P. I had to insist that he not carry me back to my apartment, but by the time I walked in front of Ancient Magic, I was about ready to fall over. The door weighed a hundred pounds as I pushed inside.
Nix looked up from behind the counter. “Whoa, you look rough.”
I leaned against the door. “I feel it. Will you help me up to my place?”
“Yeah. It’s almost five. I’ll just close up.”
It only took her a second to grab her phone and her book, then sh
e was at my side, her arm wrapped around my ribs.
“No luck with the scroll?” she asked as she locked the door. I leaned against the wall as she ran her hands around the edge, triggering the enchantment that would protect the shop from thieves while we were away.
“Not yet. I’ll tell you about it up at my place.”
The walk up the three flights of stairs felt like climbing the monks’ island mountain again. By the time I got to the top, my lungs burned and my thighs ached.
“What the heck is wrong with you?” Nix asked as she dumped me on the sofa. “You’ve never been this weak. Did you get hit by something?”
“No spells. Unless you count my own.”
“What do you mean?” Her eyes widened.
“I used my magic.”
“What?” she gasped. “You’re joking. Did Aidan see you?”
“Yeah.” I buried my head in my hand. “I was an idiot.”
Nix paced my small living rom. “No. You weren’t. You haven’t used your magic in ten years. You’re careful. You must have had a good reason.”
Her support warmed me. “I thought Aidan was going to die.”
“That’s a pretty good reason. Was he?”
“Yeah, maybe a sixty, seventy percent chance. Though it felt like more at the time. I freaked out.” The memory of the rock hurtling toward him still gave me the shakes.
“You like him.”
There was no question in her voice. To protect my deirfiúr’s secret, I would let someone I didn’t care for die—I’d kill to protect their secret. It was my secret too, but like with most things that involve a threat to oneself, it didn’t feel quite as real. But the threat to them felt very real.
Apparently I cared enough for Aidan to try to save his life, even though it meant possibly revealing what we hid.
“I’m sorry,” I said. My throat tightened with tears. I never cried. Not much was worse than waking up in a field as a kid with no memories and no parents. After that, tears seemed a bit silly.
“Don’t be. We can take care of ourselves. And I have a good feeling about Aidan.”
“Really? Because I don’t.”
“Yeah, you do.” Nix looked at me like I was an idiot. “You saved him. You obviously have a good feeling about him.”
