Magic's Design

by Cat Adams

  Mila smirked and tickled the hairs on his legs, which nearly made him drop. “Pretty brazen to buy some on the way, when you thought I was mad at you.”

  His tongue flicked out over his dry lips. “Hope springs eternal.” She rose to her feet and took his hand, pulling gently toward the thickly piled bed and turned off the light. When he followed her under the covers it was like sinking into a cloud, buoyed in a way that made him feel like there was nothing above or below them. “What sort of bed is this?”

  “Down mattress. But they don’t make them anymore.” She stifled any more questions with her mouth over his and then she pulled him over on top of her.

  There was no question of her readiness. She was so wet and swollen that he nearly fell inside her. And then there were only sounds and sensations as the need rode them both.

  Tal felt her body tighten around him just as his own climax found him and then they were locked together, cries reaching ears that could barely hear. But then he felt a burning sensation in his forearm that grew in intensity the longer he erupted inside her. Moments later, his other arm began to burn until his cries were a completely different variety. He struggled to pull his arms from under her to see what was wrong but by the time he could, the pain had dimmed to nearly nothing.

  “What’s wrong?” Her voice was still breathless with pleasure, but she sensed all wasn’t well with him.

  “Something stung my arm.” He rolled off and turned on the lamp. She leaned over the top of them and both of them just stared. The astonishment he felt was mirrored on her face at the image on his arm. The yellow dye was gone. In its place was a new mark, darker than it had ever been and whole—unbroken and still glowing slightly.

  “Wow. The other arm, too!” Mila stared at her own hands like they were some sort of weapon that had discharged without her knowledge. But she was right. The oak leaf and Parask symbol had burrowed into his skin, raised a welt that was now skin instead of ink. He didn’t think it would be going away anytime soon.

  She bit at her lower lip. “Can you still do magic? Can you light the candles?”

  She’d taken off his focus glove—wonderfully slowly with her teeth, and it was still buried somewhere beneath the sheets. But he didn’t need it for this. He flicked his finger, like always, but what erupted from the candle was a blast of blue-white flame that nearly reached the ceiling.

  Mila let out a shriek and pulled the blanket up to shield her bare skin from the heat. He immediately put out the flame, but his heart was pounding like a hammer against a forge when he did it. His voice sounded a little hollow and more than a little shaky when he spoke. “I’d say you fixed my mark.”

  She nodded, her head moving slowly at first and then speeding up until she was bobbing. “Uh, yeah. You could say that. But is it a good thing or a bad thing?”

  “That is the question.”

  That was most definitely the question.

  CHAPTER 20

  Mila walked into the party, a tense smile painted on her face. She tried desperately to make it seem like she was just distracted with making sure the party ran well, but it was a lie.

  Oh, she was distracted all right, but not because of the details. Every pysanka she and Candy had spotted were now gone. She’d felt her heart in her throat when she’d taken Tal to the first location in Candy’s notes and discovered it missing. By the time they’d reached the sixth hiding place on the list and found it empty, her heart was no longer in her throat, but sitting like lead in her stomach.

  “Mila! Glad I finally found you.” She turned to see Rick and his wife Lydia entering the room, dressed to the nines. She broadened her smile until her lips felt like they would rip, but her jaws were clenched tight. God! She knew these people. They were her friends, her colleagues. She couldn’t just watch them burn to death in an explosion of lava!

  Lydia touched her dress. “That is so lovely on you, Mila—and I must say you’ve done a terrific job with this party. Rick’s told me all about the weird things the other partners wanted to add, and I know how frustrating it must have been to try to please everyone.” Lydia was being kind about the purple-and-black sequined dress. Yes, it was pretty and, in fact, her favorite party dress. But it was not in the same league as the designer originals being worn by some of the other women and Mila knew it.

  “Thanks, guys. So, you’re probably just here for a few minutes before you jet off to the next party, huh?” Lord, she hoped so. She’d worked with Rick too long, and knew all his kids. They deserved to have their father for a lot longer.

  But Rick shook his head. “Nope. Just one party this year. We decided after last year’s blizzard that stuck us on I-70 for two hours that making the rounds was just asking for trouble. We even rented a room here so we don’t have to brave the traffic until tomorrow morning.”

  Mila fought with every breath not to break down and cry. But then a voice hissed in her ear and the tears disappeared, to be replaced by a rush of adrenaline. “Mila, dear. We need to talk. Now.”

  Tal put a hand on her lower back and started to guide her away. But it wasn’t that easy. She skidded to a stop which made him have to turn to see why. “Tal, this is my boss, Rick Myers, and his wife Lydia. Rick, Lydia, Talos Onan.” She started to attach a relationship to him, to explain why she’d brought him, but it was sort of obvious. He was her New Year’s date, and looked good enough to eat in dark slacks, a fawn turtleneck, and sports coat that matched the pants. It had taken a frantic trip to the mall before they closed in order to find him something suitable. But it was worth it. If this was any other New Year’s party, she’d already have dragged him to a dark corner to start the midnight kisses early.

  But since it was instead the New Year’s from hell, all she could do was admire him from afar until they could stop hell from arriving.

  “A pleasure, folks. Mila’s said some wonderful things about you, but I really need to take her away for a few minutes. It’s a bit of a … crisis.” The way he said it made her believe him and she turned wide eyes to him.

  Rick noticed it, too. He always was good at reading body language and voice intonations. His face sobered, turned serious. “Of course. Go. We’ll cover for you, Mila. I hope everything’s okay.”

  She hurried away with him, trying to seem somewhat casual as they wove through the arriving guests.

  “Hi, Mila! Glad you could make it.” Rachel waved and motioned her over to the small group of other support staff.

  She called words over her shoulder as she sped past. “Be right back. Have to take care of something.”

  Thankfully, nobody asked questions since they all knew she was the planner. Stop the party planner and you might stop the party.

  When they finally made it to a quiet corner near a waterfall near the front window, she grabbed his arm and stopped to catch her breath. “What’s the crisis?” He looked devastated and seemed to be trying to find the words. “Just tell me, Tal.”

  He took a deep breath and let it out slow, then put a hand on her shoulder. “Alexy and Kris showed up a few minutes ago, wanting to help. They covered my tracks in Vril and then gated in through the library. I sent them to start searching the hotel, looking for either Vegre’s or Sela’s magic signature, or any sign of the pysanky. But they’re all gone.”

  “Do you think they’ve found out about the ones at the house? I knew we should have brought them along to guard them.”

  “Thank you—” The pleased musical tones drifted down to them. She and Tal looked up to see Sela, dressed in a shimmering silver gown and sparkling diamonds, leaning over the balcony above them. “Just what I needed to know. I knew you weren’t nearly as tough … or smart as your grandmother, Mila.”

  “What do you mean, as tough as my grandmother?”

  Tal tugged at her arm, trying to pull her away, which didn’t make any sense. Why wasn’t he racing up the stairs to capture her? She looked back and forth between them. Sela was acting too smug, and Tal seemed suddenly uncomfortable.
<
br />   “Talk to me, Tal. What’s happening?”

  “Go ahead, Tal,” Sela’s voice taunted. “Feel free to tell her. We got what we needed. Or would you rather I told her? I really want her to know, and I’m sure your version would be … kinder.”

  Mila stared at him, fingers digging into his arm—willing him to be honest. He glared up at Sela with a look that should be able to kill, and might have killed her in another place that wasn’t so public. “I didn’t plan to tell you, so you wouldn’t worry. We did search the basement, Mila, like I said. We didn’t find any pysanky, but we found something else instead. We found …” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly while Sela leaned on the railing, enjoying herself as thoroughly as if she was watching a movie. “We found your grandmother locked in the furnace room. She’s … not in good shape. She’s been beaten and tortured with magic.”

  It was a good thing she was holding his arm or she would have fallen to the ground. But when he felt her legs start to go, he grabbed her arm tightly and lowered her to the bench that surrounded the waterfall. “Baba? But … why?” She looked up at Sela, unsure whether to plead or scream. “Why?”

  Sela shrugged, as though torture was no big thing. Mila had never hated a person in her life until that moment, but it was all she could feel for the woman who had once shared her home. “Because she had information we needed.”

  “But you didn’t get it.” There was a cold satisfaction in Tal’s voice. “She told us that you got nothing from her. She told us instead. We already know how to stop you.”

  Sela was suddenly beneath Mila’s notice. She could call her all the names in the world, or go up and kick the shit out of her, but it wouldn’t change what was already done. The only thing she could think of was her grandmother. She could feel the pain flow through her as she thought about her, and knew it wasn’t just her imagination. She grabbed his arm and pulled him toward her. “To hell with the party. To hell with Vegre and Sela and to hell with Denver. Take me to her, Tal. I can heal her and we’ll forget all of this ever happened.”

  He shook his head and despite her panic, she couldn’t help but feel comforted by his look of sympathy. “I can’t do that, Mila. I promised Nadia I wouldn’t tell you where she was taken.”

  “What?! Why would you do that? Why would she do that? Tal, she’s my grandmother. I have to help her.” She stood up, not even certain where to look. But she had to look.

  Tal grabbed her jaw, forced her face to turn to him. “Mila, you made me see my own blindness. Now I have to help you through yours. This is exactly what they want.” He pointed up at where Sela still watched them, arms crossed and looking supremely amused. “Look at her! They want you confused, and distraught … so you can’t think. That’s why Nadia wanted to go, so you could concentrate. Listen to me—our healers will do everything they can for her. Everything. With the Tree in Vril back up there’s enough power to take care of almost anything they could have done. But you’re needed here. You’re the only one who can figure this mess out. I need your mind here with me, Mila.” He searched her face and she knew her tears were getting his sleeves wet. He pointed out to the lobby with his other hand. “I need you if all those people are going to live through the night. We can figure this out together. But only if you don’t react to this. Don’t let them win.”

  There must have been an incredulous look on her face if it matched what she was feeling. “You must be joking. How can I not react to this? I already want to launch myself at that bitch … beat her head into the floor until she stops moving.”

  Sela’s voice was calm and amused. “Even if you could … which you couldn’t, I’ll have you kicked out of the hotel or even better, tossed in jail. I would right now if there weren’t so many lawyers around. Remember that you’re not the one in power here. We are. And we’ll be in power for the rest of eternity, so get used to it.” She wiggled her fingers over her shoulder. “Tah. I need to get back to the house before the party starts.”

  There was no way to reach her in time to keep her from leaving, and Tal blasting her with magic would only serve to bring the others. No doubt there were Children scattered among the guests, and Mila had already spotted Tal’s mother posing as a server. That’s when it occurred to her that he was fighting his own battle with worry and anger. If he could remain focused, then so could she. Sela and Vegre must have wanted information about eggs, and she just bet that Sela was going back to search for more … maybe they hoped Baba could provide the names of the artists who delivered the eggs to her. “Don’t you want to know about the security system, Sela?” She made her voice taunting. Tal stiffened beside her and looked at her as though insane for mentioning it.

  The metallic rustle from above paused and she waited, offering Tal an open palm lightly moving in the air. She gave him a confident look, and got a worried I hope you know what you’re doing one in return.

  “What security system?” Sela’s head had poked back over the rail. “I don’t believe you.”

  She shrugged. She’d lived with Sela long enough to know what tripped her triggers. Curiosity was one of her weaknesses. “Then don’t. But Bryan installed it yesterday. Doors, windows, motion sensors, plus silent and onsite alarms. The works. And you know how often the cops drive through our neighborhood.” She did know, because she’d been the one to mention it. At the time, Mila had thought it mere curiosity on her part, but now she knew that the noticing was born of guilt and fear. Who knew how many O.P.A. agents were also overworld cops? It sure would be handy for the agency. “Oh, and did I mention the double-keyed dead bolt on your room?” She tapped her chin with one finger and appeared to think. “Hmm … can you find the pysanky before the police get there? See, I already had Jeff tell them that I kicked you out for stealing and that you or your friends might be back.” Actually, that part was a lie, but she should have, and Sela would probably believe she’d think of it. She knew both Jeff and Bryan … knew that Bryan worked for one of the big two security companies and how close Jeff still was to his buddies at the station.

  Her eyes narrowed and she let out a small growl that was barely audible over the sound of the party. “Tell me the code, or I swear I’ll come down there and rip it out of you. I can, you know.”

  Mila spread out her hands helplessly. “I don’t doubt you can. But I don’t know it. I’m not the one who set the system. Tal did.” She flicked her eyes over to him. He was smiling darkly now, one brow raised as he stared at his onetime partner, arms crossed over his chest. The dark suit made him look every inch a mage, and a cop. Yummy. “Somehow I doubt you’ll get it out of him. What do you think?”

  She believed, and her face twisted, turning her careful makeup into a mask, a part dy of the elegant lady she wanted to be. “Fitch.”

  Mila stuck out her tongue. Yes, it was childish, but she felt like doing something immature at this moment. “Witch. You’d better hurry, too. There are agents all over the hotel, just waiting to tighten the noose on you and Vegre … Mrs. Pierce.” Part truth, part bluff. Would Sela know which was which? Her former friend’s head moved almost involuntarily, eyes searching the crowd. Looking for a familiar face, perhaps? Then the eyes widened and her hands tightened to white on the rail. Mila followed her gaze and spotted Alexy just stepping off the internal elevator from the basement. What incredible timing! He, too, was dressed in a suit, his blond hair carefully styled. He looked quite elegant and perfectly at home in the hotel.

  She did exactly what Mila expected her to do. She turned and bolted. No doubt she’d go running back to Vegre to tell the tale, which was precisely the point.

  Tal had raised his hand to catch Alexy’s eye, who noticed and started weaving through the crowd toward them. “Well, that was fun … but I don’t know what good it did. Now they have time to prepare.”

  She nodded and stood, smoothing her dress as she did. She suddenly felt a little more confident. “Yep. And now they have to prepare. Nothing like forcing the opponent to put their defensive squ
ad on the field to keep the score down.” She had no idea whether Tal followed football up here, but if he’d been stationed here at one point, he should at least understand the reference.

  He raised his brows and nodded with a surprised expression that soon turned to admiration. “They’ll split their resources. If they believe the duszats are at the house, they’ll have to send someone there, and will probably send quite a few to effect a search before the police can arrive. I notice you didn’t mention the defensive spells I laid.”

  Mila opened her mouth as though surprised. “Oh, didn’t I? How careless of me.” A small chuckle escaped her. “Frankly, I’d love to be there to see the bedroom door slapping one of them around. Those are damned heavy things. Maybe it’ll even be Sela.”

  Tal likewise chuckled just as Alexy joined them and then spoke to him. “What news do you bring, old friend?”

  They clasped forearms in greeting. “Kris has been trying to reach you. Seems she can’t get through to flash your mark—keeps getting feedback and static, like her call is just bouncing off. I expect it’s a result of your new power.” He tipped his head to Mila, taking in her outfit with an appreciative glance. “Amazing talent of yours, Mila. When this is done, I’m sure the kings will be courting your favor. That is—” he amended, “if Tal doesn’t blow himself up first. Try not to get startled again.” He jerked a thumb toward Tal with a grim smile. “Nearly took off our heads, he did, when we first arrived. We barely got shields up in time and the basement still smells of smoke. We had to take away his focus in self-defense.”

  She didn’t really hear much after the kings wanting her favor, and just nodded blankly. She hadn’t even considered the possibility of what it would mean that she fixed Tal’s mark. While it was flattering, it was also worrying. “Do we have to tell them? I can’t imagine a king would be willing to take no for an answer.”