by J. R. White
"They never do. You're not only a new family head, but also very young for the responsibility. There are always those who will test new heads for weaknesses. I imagine more so in your case,” Calvin said.
Meredith soaked that in. It was true. There had been a few arguments among her family and several companies had demanded to renegotiate contracts that had been firm during her grandmother’s time. She’d dealt with it all with the understanding that as time went on people would learn to have faith in her or they wouldn’t. “But that’s a family matter, Calvin, and one I plan on working through on my own,” she said, uncomfortable sharing any more about the matter.
Stopping and staring out at the grass blowing in the wind, Calvin said, “I expect my son may be dragged into the matter and I want to make sure you understand what your relationship with Malcolm means.”
Malcolm hadn’t been a big obstacle with her family as of yet, and she was fine letting his father know that. “At the moment it is a personal relationship between Malcolm and myself. We don’t discus family matters or business.”
Calvin turned and gave her a sad look. “What if the relationship deepens, Meredith?”
The idea of having a relationship with Malcolm beyond what they had then hadn’t crossed Meredith’s mind until that moment. It had always been a “wait until it happens” scenario for them and she had little trouble looking up at Calvin and explaining it that way. “Your son and I will cross that bridge if we get to it. Until then nothing we do changes family business.”
The leader of the Blackwood family turned his eyes down to the swaying grass at his feet and gave her a ghost of a smile. “That’s a very romantic way to look at it, Meredith.”
Sensing the man’s need to offer fatherly advice, Meredith rounded them back to a more important topic. “Let’s get back to the library. Who else is investigating this theft?”
Snapping back into business mode, Calvin nodded and explained, “Joshua will be looking into it on behalf of the Blackwood family. I don’t expect the library has the manpower to look into it on their own.”
“Then I’ll do the same if it’s asked of me and I’ll also make sure Malcolm returns what he took,” Meredith said, turning to find her way back to the mansion and entrance way she’d first arrived in.
In the distance Meredith could see the blur of magic that had led them into the field. Calvin wasn’t hiding it from her, even though he easily could have tried. She didn’t know if he was following her or not, but their meeting seemed finished. The business about the library break-in seemed to be an excuse for him to start questioning her about Malcolm. She just wasn’t ready for that.
Moving through the spell back into the mansion was as easy as it had been the first time. The world twisted and distorted and then righted itself into the hallway. Once the world had straightened back out Mr. Blackwood made his presence behind her known by putting his hand on her shoulder and stopping her.
When Meredith looked back up at him, Calvin said, “One last thing, Miss Blackburn. I realize Malcolm helped you personally, regardless of family ties. I will not and no future head of this family will ever speak to you or any other Blackburn in the manner Joshua just did.”
Mr. Blackwood sounded confident in that and even offered a slight bow of his head as an apology for his oldest son. Letting out a slow sigh, Meredith accepted that this was the best she could hope for between the families, at least for now. “Thank you.”
Chapter Four
The walk back to the foyer was echoed by Mr. Blackwood’s footsteps. Apparently away from his private study they were back to more formal titles. Meredith could understand that. Their families didn’t get along and it was a respect factor. Couldn’t have people thinking the family heads got along on a personal basis.
Before Meredith stepped back into the large entry way she could clearly see Malcolm and Mr. Blackwood’s attendant standing there. Malcolm’s eyes were all for her as she made her appearance. He smiled his lopsided smile that showed he was as close to happy as he could be around his family and when she got close enough he handed off a glass of something to the attendant. “Ready to head home?” he asked, holding his hand out to her.
Nodding, Meredith took his hand and said, “Yeah.” She looked back at Mr. Blackwood and smiled her best professional smile. “It’s been a pleasure, Mr. Blackwood.”
Malcolm stepped up closer to her and gave a quick nod to his father. “Father, it was nice to see you again. Take care.”
Calvin gave his son a genuine smile and nodded. “You too, Malcolm, and please come visit more often. Your mother is driving me crazy.” It seemed the Blackwood family was lacking close emotional bonds as much as her own family was.
She wasn’t surprised when Malcolm let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Ready, then?”
“Yep. We have stuff to take care of,” Meredith answered, watching him pull one of his countless candles from his pocket.
Malcolm cleared his throat and held the candle wick out to her. “Don’t know that I like the sound of that, but home it is,” he said just as she snapped her fingers and sparked the flame.
The world turned and they were standing in Meredith’s apartment. She loved and hated that he could travel around so easily. Learning to make those candles and fuse her own magic into them was something she wished she could master. There would be no asking Malcolm to show her how, though. She was fairly sure it was a family trade that only Blackwoods were allowed to learn.
Shaking off her jealousy over a candle, Meredith stepped away from Malcolm and said, “You need to get to work on copying and returning those books.”
Thankful that Malcolm had taken them straight to her study, Meredith bent to check the ink of her new map and move it before someone accidentally stepped on it.
As Meredith moved the map to her desk, Malcolm dropped down onto her short leather couch and said, “I’ve got what I want copied. I was just waiting for a good time to return them.”
Carefully folding the map, Meredith took an extra second to look over the ancient lines. Something pulled her eyes to North America. Most of the dragon lines there were less meddled with that the lines in the old world, but still something was off. Noting it for later, she turned back to Malcolm and said, “The library knows you took them. Your father and brother are looking into that stranger who showed up after us, but you have to return those books.”
Malcolm’s mouth comically fell open and he asked, “They know I was there? How’d they know that?”
Retrieving a bowl from the second, smaller set of shelves Meredith sighed and said, “They know I was there too, and I’m willing to bet they want me to look into the matter and send them any information I find.” She sat the bowl down on a side table and ran her hand over the reflective inside surface.
Instantly a blue flame flared up and ash appeared. They both watched as the burnt paper reassemble itself, and once it was fully formed in all its menacing glory, the flame died down. Pulling the letter out, Meredith scolded herself for not noticing the tug of the magical mail in the first place. She rarely used the bowl, but still, it was the standard way so many of the large magical groups communicated. Normally an attendant would be in charge of keeping up with things like that, but seeing as how she’d never gotten around to finding one, Meredith was slacking off.
Opening the letter, Meredith discovered exactly what she assumed the library would send. A request to investigate the unknown intruder and a pardon for her unauthorized entry into the library. It was straightforward and included nothing about Malcolm or the books he had taken. She supposed they felt it was a Blackwood matter and didn’t bother telling her.
Dropping the letter on the table beside the bowl, Meredith said, “They want me to look into the other person that was there. It’s the same thing they asked of your father.”
Stretching out like a happy cat, Malcolm asked, “So we’re not going to be punished?”
“The Lacuna Library d
oesn’t punish people who just want to do research. While it can take a long time to get approval to get access to, the library and all its contents are open,” Meredith explained as she started slowly pacing. She had to get this investigation started so it could end. The longer she was indebted to the Lacuna Library the more likely the rest of her family would find out. If that happened, she could see her aunt and mother practically storming her apartment, demanding things.
Malcolm didn’t help matters any. He sat there, comfortable and unworried. “Yeah? Then why couldn’t I ever get approval?” he asked.
Waving off the question, Meredith answered, “I doubt you took the time to go through all the paperwork.”
With a shrug, Malcolm gave a casual nod. “It’s just so much.”
It could be so annoying being with someone who didn’t quite grasp the consequences of their actions. Meredith was in love with Malcolm, but sometimes he could be beyond dense. Finally figuring out where to start, she turned to him and pointed her finger at his shoulder bag. “Send those books back. I have to get to work figuring this out.”
Without much of an argument, Malcolm pulled the books from his bag. There were three in total and Meredith did her best to ignore him as he started drawing out his spell. She pulled out her quartz crystal with the magical map of the ancient dragon lines and put her back to him as she moved to her desk.
Meredith glanced back after a moment and watched as Malcolm picked the books up one at a time and carefully moved them through the floating portal he’d created. “Are you reshelving them?” she asked after seeing him lean forward and narrow his eyes, as if trying to read something.
“Yeah. Should I just plop them down on a counter somewhere?” Malcolm answered, not bothering to glance over at her. “The old librarian at the academy would slap me silly if I did that.”
Letting out a laugh, Meredith could see the old witch doing it too. The moment those books were put in the wrong spot the woman would probably pop out of nowhere with a shriek and smack the back of Malcolm’s head. “I haven’t thought about her in years.”
With the books back in place, Malcolm closed his portal and finally looked at Meredith. “Really? I was half scared she’d show up the moment I thought about breaking into the Lacuna Library.”
Tracing her fingers over the golden dragon lines, Meredith shook her head. “I liked her. She kept a nice library.”
“I guess. What you looking at?” Malcolm asked, settling his chin on her shoulder.
His hands rested on the desk on either side of her and Meredith could feel his breath on her neck. Trying to hide the pleasant shiver caused by his closeness, she said, “I really do think this guy wants to do something with the dragon lines. I just can’t figure out what yet.”
Malcolm’s hand moved up to point out a weak line on the modern map. “This barrier is scheduled to break tonight. It’s going to flood down the ley line from Canada all the way down the East Coast.”
Surprised Malcolm knew that, Meredith looked over at the place he pointed out. She knew the dragon line was going to be freed up, but hadn’t thought it’d have anything to do with this. The line would be flowing a full state away from them, but it was clearly marked on both the modern map and the golden, flowing lines of the magical copy. “That can’t be all it is. This guy wanted the maps of the old lines.”
His finger moved away from the map and he hummed. “Maybe he’s looking to dam up something for himself?”
Thinking about that, Meredith knew no one would be able to dam the major dragon line up. It was being watched by too many people. Any attempt to block it would be dismantled within a few days. Though there was another way to get a power bump. Trailing her eyes down the East Coast, she said, “Or he’s planning on making an intersection.”
“What?”
Meredith scanned the map, looking for old lines that could cross over the line about to be opened. Creating a large magical pool between the lines would give someone the opportunity to charge objects. It could also give a huge boost to any number of spells. “All the dragon lines have been dammed off or siphoned from. If this line is about to open, it’ll be raw and full strength. If one of the other lines are opened up at the same time, we’d see a massive power surge.”
“Do any of the other lines fit the bill?” Malcolm asked.
The only place that could create that type of intersection shouldn’t be possible, but then again, she knew that no one had use of the line that was missing from the modern map. “Just one,” she muttered.
Moving his chin, Malcolm leaned around her to look at the spot she was moving her finger over. “Meredith, that line isn’t even there anymore.”
Just as Meredith’s fingertip moved over away from the Ohio River, a spark flew off the map and shocked her. Ripping her hand away, she cursed. “Well, something’s there, but no one has had use of it for four hundred years. At least not publicly.”
Taking her hand and inspecting her finger, Malcolm asked, “Who would have kept a line monopolized for that long?”
The touch of his lips on her finger made Meredith look away from the map. The gentle touch soothed the sting and made her quiver. Swiping her tongue over her lips, she said, “It could have been a native group, but why go after these maps now?”
Malcolm cut his eyes up at her for a second before letting her hand go. Looking back at the maps with a content smile, he said, “There was also the anchoring spell and the binding spells that were stolen.”
“What anchoring spell? I thought only binding spells were stolen,” Meredith asked, remembering the list of spell books the library had included in their request.
His breath stopped for a second and Meredith could feel his arms tense on either side of her. “The same guy showed up at the mansion while you were with Father. He snatched a spell book. Joshua and I chased after him, but he got away. We found the book, but an anchoring spell had been cut out.”
Glancing at him, Meredith saw him working his jaw with worry. “Why didn’t you say anything back at the mansion?”
“Joshua and Father can worry about that. I did what I could to help and I had other things to do,” Malcolm explained. His eyes were focused on the map, but Meredith could tell he wasn’t quite looking at the dragon lines. She wanted to ask why he wasn’t helping, but that fell under family issues they tried hard to avoid.
Catching her concern, Malcolm looked at her and the worry washed away from his face. “So how do the anchoring spell and binding spells play a part in this?”
It was all too much. Meredith wanted to hug him and comfort him, but with him so close, trapping her against the desk, she also wanted to help him work off that tension in a heated and naked way. Before she could do either, she had to figure something out for the library.
Willing her speeding heart to slow, Meredith took a calming breath and shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe someone wants to bind the dragon line, but that should be impossible. Once someone notices it, they’re going to tear it apart.”
“Is anyone set up to benefit from just the intersection?” Malcolm asked, pulling away from the desk and giving her some space.
Instantly Meredith missed having him so close, but she doubled her efforts to focus. “Shouldn’t be. This line is supposed to flow free for at least a century.”
“A century?” The surprise was clear in his voice and Meredith let out a short laugh.
Grabbing a notepad and pen, Meredith started writing down quick notes about what they had just discussed. Still smiling, she stepped away from her desk and said, “It’s for lesser magical factions. That way the large families won’t monopolize the dragon lines. It’s also an attempt to rebalance the natural energies. The negotiations were completed decades ago. If this line running free results in a stronger system, it’ll be left and other major lines will be opened up as well.”
Finished with her notes and making sure to include the odd missing line, Meredith walked over to the bowl on the side table. Ripping
the page from the notebook, she glanced at Malcolm and said, “We need to let the library sort this mess out. If we get any more involved than what has been asked, it could complicate things.”
Malcolm’s eyes shot to the paper that Meredith was holding over the bowl. She dropped the page and blue flame consumed it, even as he said, “Maybe we should go check it out.”
Shaking her head, Meredith watched as the magic fire died back down to nothing and said, “No. I’ve done what the library asked and I will not risk endangering my family anymore.” It was true. If she went running after this to investigate a mysterious thief she could step on more toes in the magical community. She couldn’t risk her family or her position within it.
“We should at least look into it more,” Malcolm said as she marched to her desk.
Folding up her maps, Meredith shook her head again. “No.” She couldn’t let him talk her into any more trouble, no matter how much she cared about him. Neither her family nor his was in danger.
Turning her back to him, Meredith took the maps and the crystal to the mantle above the fireplace. Still on the other side of the room, Malcolm couldn’t see the numbers she pressed to open the safe or that she slipped the maps into the framed picture that hid the safe instead. Unsure if he could break into the safe, she didn’t want to take the chance. She did put the quartz away with her other valuables, since only her touch could call out the copy. Closing the metal box and adjusting the large picture back into place, she turned and said, “I’ve already let you convince me to break into the library.”
Malcolm stared at her for a second, a confused look on his face, but soon his features softened and he made his way to her. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he hugged her loosely and said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have put you in those positions. You’re the head of your family. What you do and what happens to you affects the entire family. I should keep that in mind more often.”
