Waiting for Magic

by Susan Squires

  “Can you make it, Devin?” his father asked gently, as though they had all the time in the world. The mud was only a few feet from the Ducati and coming fast.

  “Yeah,” Devin said. He grunted in pain as he straddled the bike behind Tristram. Kemble had a nasty feeling the whipping wasn’t the only thing wrong with Devin.

  A channel of light behind them made them all start and look up. But it was only a helicopter, maybe from a news station or something, circling the scene of the disaster. Its spotlight hit the rocky outcropping above the castle, or rather above the sea of mud where the castle had been. It caught another copter hovering there as people climbed a rope ladder into it. The woman still held the stick high.

  “I’m so sorry,” Devin murmured.

  Over the roar of the Ducati, his father said, “Morgan has the Wand.”

  The Ducati whined as it jumped away. Kemble and his father took off at a run.

  *****

  Kee was still shaking. Tris took Maggie home on the bike. She’d clung to him like a limpet. Michael had driven the injured Edwards and his men home. Drew drove Jane’s car. Her father took the other SUV with Kemble was in the front seat. That left Devin propped in the corner of the back seat with Kee as far away as she could get in the opposite corner. Kee was resigned to the effect on her body of being so near Devin. She might be dead tired, but she wasn’t dead. She knew she’d always react this way to him, and while it was torture, it was a good torture because he was here and not buried up in the mud. She didn’t like the stoic look pasted on his face or the smell of blood. He might never get over what Pendragon had done to him. But he was alive. That was enough for now.

  Her father got them out past the emergency vehicles with no problem. Everyone was so busy they didn’t have time to question evacuees. In spite of all there was to talk about, no one said anything on the way home. Kee would have felt relieved if her father spoke, even pointed questions or accusations. She felt empty inside.

  They’d lost the Wand to Morgan. There was no question in Kee’s mind that she’d grown younger in those final moments after she’d acquired the Wand. Her father must be pissed as hell that Devin had gone up there, and that Kee and Maggie had gone after him without telling the men in the family. He’d seen Devin’s magic. But even if anyone had seen the mandalas she had used to encircle the beasts before they melted, they might not recognize that as Kee’s doing. Kee wasn’t even sure she’d helped. For all she knew the creatures were blind and it was Maggie’s Calm that had stopped them.

  Of course, nothing had changed between her and Devin. Living in a world without him had flashed before her eyes as her father told her to go. In that moment, she hadn’t been sure she would want to go on living in that world. It had taken everything she had to turn away from him, but she’d known she had to free him from his fear for her. Now, he might not be hers, but he was alive. So she’d go on living. But the prospect of watching him love another was so bleak it tore at her.

  Better they not know she had a power. At least her secret would safe. No one knew she was in love with her brother. And not just any love. Lifelong, soul-deep love. If they knew, how would she pretend someone else had raised it? She couldn’t even think of a plausible lie.

  When they got back to the Breakers, her mother had the door open before they’d even come to a stop in the drive. Tammy and Lanyon were craning behind her. They’d be ticked off they hadn’t been allowed to come along on the rescue mission. Thank God for small favors. Enough of her family had been in danger. It was good to see the warm light streaming from the doorway. Car doors opened and the bedraggled occupants climbed out and trudged up to the door as Tristram pulled up on the Ducati. He’d actually gone the speed limit, for once.

  Kee could see her mother start to ask what had happened then bite her lip. She almost ran to Devin, who was getting out of the back seat slowly and painfully, but she didn’t do that either. She swallowed hard and said, “Come in, all of you, and let me look at you.”

  Michael’s SUV pulled up behind them, followed by Drew in Jane’s car. He hadn’t been lucky enough to avoid questions, apparently. Edwards climbed painfully out of the passenger seat and accosted her father. He jerked his head to Michael, pain etched in deep lines in his face. “He says to ask you what the hell was going on up there. What were those things? They disappeared after the paint dripped off them, right up until they broke into shards or something. And how’d the mud miss us?”

  Maggie dragged herself off the bike and stood between the family and the security contingent. Her aim was shaky after all she’d done tonight. The Calm washed over not only Edwards and his guys, but Michael too. “It’s okay,” she said. They got a faraway look in their eyes. Their shoulders relaxed. Even Edwards calmed. “Brina will take care of your arm.” She led Edwards quietly forward. “Why don’t you three get some rest?” she suggested to the other guys. One looked like he’d be asleep on his feet in another second. Michael was hardly better.

  Drew chuckled and pulled Michael’s arm around her shoulders. “Naptime, baby,” she whispered. “Come on in.”

  They made their way into the house. Kee stood on the edge of the group, hardly able to look at Devin as he crept, stone faced, into the house.

  “Kemble, help Devin,” her father ordered. Kemble moved to take Devin’s arm.

  Devin shrugged him off, wincing as he did so. “I’m good.”

  Kemble stood, chewing his lip. But her father didn’t insist. Maybe because in the porch light, Kee could see his eyes riveted on the streaks of blood down the inside of Devin’s bare calves. His lips hardened into a grim line and his fists clenched.

  Her mother surveyed the crowd. “I see Devin and Mr. Edwards need me. Kee?”

  “No damage.” Her voice sounded far away in her own ears.

  “Mr. Edwards,” her mother was saying. “Sit down in the kitchen and let’s just get a look at your arm.”

  “Sure,” Edwards said, as though she’d asked him if he’d like a cup of tea.

  “Brian, can you get Devin to his room? Anybody else hurt?”

  “Maggie’s head,” Tris was holding the tiny woman protectively against his big frame.

  “I’m fine,” Maggie said, waving a dismissive hand.

  “You’re next,” her mother said firmly.

  “But Devin needs.…” Maggie started to protest.

  “Devin’s going to wait for me in his room, aren’t you, Devin?” There was no arguing with her mother when she used that tone of voice and Dev, even in his current state, knew that. He sighed and crept off into the Bay of Pigs wing, her father hesitant in his wake. “He might take a while,” her mother murmured in explanation, watching them go.

  Drew stripped Michael of his shirt, his muddy jeans and boots in a corner of the foyer, leaving him in his boxers. He had a loopy grin on his face, even as his eyes drooped. “Dibs on the living room couch. When you’re free,” she said to her mother, “Kemble and Michael have some dandy shoulder bruises, but they can wait.”

  “All right. Why don’t you all get into some serious showers?” her mother suggested. “I’ll just work on Mr. Edwards and Maggie. Tammy, can you make us coffee and chocolate? Looks like some hot liquid would be useful all round.”

  “Check,” Tammy said and dashed to the kitchen, her pink-flowered flannel nightgown swirling.

  “What can I do?” Lanyon asked. Kee realized he had a worried look on his face she hadn’t often seen on her blithe youngest brother.

  “Make sure Kevin, Ernie, and Joe get to their bunks, will you? And stay with them until you’re sure they’re okay.”

  “Can do.” He was off to the security quarters behind the main building at a run.

  Kemble seemed to come to himself. “I’ll check the system. Make sure no one who happened to follow us home can get in.”

  Kee stared down the hall where Devin and Brian had disappeared. Her mother would heal Devin’s cuts and the damage Pendragon had done inside as well. But that
might not be the worst of Devin’s problems. In spite of how hopeless her personal situation was, she didn’t want Devin’s suffering to ruin his chance of finding happiness with his true love. She probably didn’t even have the right to worry about that. S.G. could help Devin, no matter what the damage to his soul, right? Kee sure hoped so.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Devin was shaking by the time he got to his room door. He was in such pain he could barely creep down the hall. Why had he ever let them talk him into giving up his apartment down in Redondo and moving back into the house? It wasn’t like he was a Tremaine. Now he couldn’t escape them when he most needed to be alone. His exhausted mind fluttered at possibilities, trying to come up with some plan to keep Brian and Brina from knowing what had happened to him. It was bad enough that Maggie and Kee knew. How he wished Pendragon had kept his mouth shut about Devin’s final shame. He crept into the dark room and propped himself against a wall while Brian turned on the light.

  “Let’s get you out of that muddy thing and cleaned up,” Brian said gruffly.

  Devin wasn’t letting Brian see his body. “I’m good,” he said, his voice hoarse and kind of trembly. He cleared his throat and tried again. “I’ll just jump in the shower and hit the hay.”

  Brian folded his arms across his chest and frowned. “I’m not letting you slip and hit your head. Brina would blame me.”

  He had a point there. Was he proposing to get in the shower with Devin and hold him up or something? Devin started feeling a little desperate. “No, really. I’ll be fine.” He clutched the muddy robe around his midsection.

  Brian softened. His shoulders fell as he heaved a breath out. “Look, son. I already know what happened. Or pretty near. I saw where you were bleeding up on that lawn. You don’t have to talk about it.” He paused, examining Devin’s face with his usual penetrating gaze. He might be waiting for some kind of signal from Devin. Which he wasn’t getting. “A shower would be pretty painful. I’ll just sluice you off, get some dirt out of the wounds before Brina gets here.”

  Oh, shit. Devin swallowed. If Brina healed him, she’d know everything. Almost. Brian must have seen his horrified expression because Devin saw something like pity in Brian’s eyes.

  “I don’t really need healing,” Devin muttered. “These are scratches. They’ll be fine in a couple of days.”

  “You aren’t getting out of it that easy. You know how she is.”

  Yeah. Devin knew. His shoulders slumped in resignation. She was the kindest, gentlest, most giving woman in the world, and totally willful and unmanageable into the bargain. Healing was who she was. Brian went to the door and yelled for somebody to bring him a big bowl.

  “Now, I’m going to take the robe.” He approached slowly, as if Devin might bolt. Like there was anywhere to run. “We’ll light a bonfire and burn it if you want.”

  Devin managed a chuff. “Like to see you start a fire in this weather.”

  Brian chuckled. He gently took Devin’s arms from their convulsive grasp across his belly and unfolded them. “Might be a spring ceremony,” he agreed. “Thanks for saving Kee and Maggie tonight.” There was real sincerity in his voice.

  Devin couldn’t help but glance up to his face. “They were the ones that got me out of the house.” He wouldn’t tell on Kee about her power. That was for her to reveal if and when she thought it was time to out Museum Guy too. Brian had seen Devin’s power clearly, yet he hadn’t asked him about it. It must have come as a pretty big surprise. Maybe he was pissed that the orphan boy had Merlin’s DNA too. Or Morgan’s. Wouldn’t that be a bitch? Devin was feeling a little lightheaded with the pain.

  Devin looked away as Brian pulled the silk robe from his shoulders. “Well, I’ll have to thank them for that.” Brian’s voice was carefully neutral, just like he’d made his face. Maybe he didn’t know the worst, in spite of what he said. But he would when Brina told him. Brian tossed the robe into the corner. “If Pendragon’s not dead,” he said, his voice low and intense, “I’m going to have a good time killing him.”

  Devin was surprised at Brian’s fierce reaction. Devin wasn’t even one of his own kids. “Sorry to disappoint. I’m pretty sure he’s dead.”

  “He could have gotten out with Morgan.” Brian sounded almost hopeful. He guided Devin over to the bathroom with a hand on his elbow. Devin couldn’t even pretend it wasn’t painful to walk.

  “They were fighting it out over the Talisman. She would have left him to die.” Devin leaned on the vanity. Didn’t exactly want to sit down on the toilet.

  “How did Morgan get up the ridge so fast?” Brian wondered. He turned on the tap to warm the water.

  “She had a guy who could levitate things.”

  There was a knock on the bedroom door. Brian went to answer. “Thanks, Tristram,” Devin heard him say. “No, thanks, we’re doing fine.”

  Whew. He didn’t want Tris seeing this. He glanced to the mirror. Not too bad from the front. He just looked a little hollow-eyed. Some bleeding welts came over his shoulders and hips where the whip had wrapped around. Probably good he couldn’t see the back view.

  Brian came back in with a big mixing bowl. He guided Devin over to the shower and opened the heavy glass door. “You just brace yourself in the corner.” There was a tile seat built into the shower but Brian had a pretty good view of why Devin had no desire to sit down.

  He was back with a full bowl in a second. Devin hung his head as the warm water sluiced over his shoulders. He couldn’t help but hiss a little.

  “Sorry,” Brian said. “But it’s easier to heal clean wounds. She has a lot to do tonight.”

  “Go for it,” Devin choked. The white tile of the shower was stained with dirt and blood as the water swirled to the drain. He lost track of the number of bowls of water Brian poured over him. After a while the water ran clearer.

  “Okay,” Brian said at last. He set the bowl on the shower seat. “Let’s get you to bed.” He took Devin’s arm. Devin was ashamed Brian had to support much of his weight. They made it to the bed and Brian lowered him onto his stomach. He turned on the little bedside light. “Close your eyes. Brina will be in in a minute.”

  At the door, he turned, hesitated.

  “Say it,” Devin ordered, wondering where he got the courage. There were a lot of horrible choices for what might come out.

  “Just wondering why you went up there alone, son.” Brian’s voice was gruff.

  “I’m so sorry.” Devin meant it. “I dragged everybody into danger. I lost the Wand.” And I let myself get raped. Hell, I even ejaculated. Pretty “non-Tremaine” all the way around.

  “She would have gotten it from Pendragon anyway.” Brian brushed aside Devin’s failure as if it wasn’t important. But it was a perfect example of why Devin wasn’t a real Tremaine, power or no. Now he was going to have to leave without even a stupid gesture of restitution for his betrayal of the family.

  Brian waited. He didn’t ask why again, but he wasn’t going to be sidetracked either.

  Devin closed his eyes for a second. He owed Brian this. He was glad he felt empty. That meant he could answer with the truth. “You should know I’m leaving tomorrow.” He raised his hand an inch off the bed to forestall Brian’s protest. Surprisingly, it worked. Brian bit his lip and even looked a little uncertain. Not a natural expression for an Adapter. A wave of nausea washed over Devin as he thought about leaving. He managed to swallow and went on. “You can’t stop me. And I need to go.” Devin took a breath. The thought of leaving Kee made him physically ill. He grabbed for the bowl Brian had left on the nightstand. He was barely in time. Brian hovered over him, finally electing to hold the bowl while Devin leaned over the edge of the bed and heaved. He was now officially beyond humiliation. There wasn’t much left since he’d thrown up the sandwich earlier, but that didn’t stop him. When he was done Brian took the bowl. Devin heard the toilet flush. Brian came back with a cool, damp washcloth. It felt good on Devin’s face and neck. He managed to look
Brian in the eye. He knew he hadn’t finished answering Brian’s question. “I owe you and Brina for taking me in when you already had six kids to raise, sending me to school, treating me like I wasn’t a burden. So before I left, I thought I could get you a Talisman.”

  Brian’s brows drew together in a painful frown. “We learned to love you like our own.”

  Yeah. It must have been hard, though. He hadn’t been easy to love. He’d always admired them for their obvious effort to include the orphan, even when the stubborn kid wouldn’t talk. He didn’t say that. “What … whatever you hear about me later, I never meant to hurt the family.”

  Again, Brian hesitated. Devin could see his brain clicking over. But he didn’t say anything about what he was thinking, to Devin’s relief. “Rest now. I’ll go get Brina.”

  Brian turned out the overhead and shut the door softly behind him.

  *****

  “Thank you, so much,” Kemble’s mother said, standing. “You brought my family back tonight.” Edwards was looking much better. His mother had replaced the shredded flesh of his arm with his usual bulging muscle covered with new pink skin. Even that would fade back to normal in a few hours. But when Maggie’s Calm wore off, this guy was going to want answers. Looked like someone besides Mr. Nakamura was going to know about the Tremaine genetics.

  The big man rose from the chair. “I guess I never realized what you all were up against.” He looked down at his arm in wonder. “Or who you really were.”

  “Sorry for dragging you into this,” Kemble said. Senior would have apologized if he were here. “If you and your guys don’t want to be involved with this stuff, we understand.”

  Edwards’ hard eyes blinked a couple of times. “You’re good people,” he said, looking around at them, his gaze resting finally on Kemble’s mother. “You do good in the world, too. I can’t speak for my guys, but I’m staying in. When you’re up to it, I’d just like an explanation.”

  Kemble nodded. He deserved that. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”