“I doubt they wanted you to learn control. I’m willing to bet they were counting on you destroying what they wanted. If you could control it, you had power over it. Without that, they had power over you.”
“Maybe. Or perhaps it has everything to do with the need to hide what I was. The Silver Council believed I was all mage. They couldn’t know, so hiding the other side is ingrained in me. Practicing in the open wasn’t an option, and I didn’t have a lot of places to go.”
Liz was fully engaged in the discussion now. “I never had to pretend to be only mage. Then again I believed I was only a mage. How did no one ever suspect what I was? Besides Draecyn?”
“Because we’re rare. Most of us were hunted down ages ago. Both mages and druids now fear each other most of the time. Not many have children. Draecyn has always had ties to the druids.”
Liz stepped closer, taking his hand. “Another question.” She smiled up at him. “By teaching me, does this mean you’ll embrace this aspect of your magic?”
“Have to, don’t I?”
“Bullshit, I’m sure we could find another way if you really can’t.”
“I can,” he stated with finality. “Look, I want to. I’ve done some shit I regret, due to the fact that I refused to fully explore what I was and what I could do. It’s a double-edged sword because as much as I want to believe I couldn’t destroy the world with a handful of others like me, it’s still true.”
She paled. “Wait, what? Destroy the world? Please tell me that is some kind of cruel joke,” Liz all but pleaded.
“I’ll show you one of the journals. Some of the stories Anthony told me.”
“That’s who was at the fondue place, wasn’t it? Tony is Anthony, isn’t he?”
His heart dropped. “Why would you say that?” Though he already suspected, the confirmation shot fear through him.
“Last night wasn’t even the first time I saw him.”
“When?”
“Sinclair’s estate. Sinclair only ever referred to him as Tony. Bastard would bring young mages in and sell them to Sinclair. I stayed out of sight as much as possible, but it didn’t help apparently because he recognized me last night.”
Every muscle tensed as he took a step closer. “Recognized? When you went to the bathroom?”
“Yeah. You all wanted to focus on celebrating but agreed on coming here after. So I thought waiting to bring it up until this morning would be okay.”
Tremaine rubbed the back of his neck. “And what did you see? Explain exactly what you saw.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t understand why you didn’t recognize him.”
“Easy. Glamor. He’s half fae, Liz. You can’t see glamor. I can’t strip his glamor.”
“Oh shit!” She slapped her hands over her mouth. “He’s tall, six five or so. Short red hair, freckles, unusual turquoise eyes. He was built like a swimmer.”
Rage flowed through him. “Yeah, that was Anthony. Did he ever touch you?”
“No. He never did. I honestly believed he never saw me.”
“But he did. He sees everything. He knew about you. Last night, did he touch you then?”
Snorting, she shook her head with a smirk. “My shields gave him a jolt.”
He took a slow breath and relaxed. “They did?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“He’s immune to damn near everything. Jules too. Maybe your shields are using rift magic already.” He rubbed his head and paced away, trying to figure out how that would work.
“What do I need to know about Anthony and Jules?” Just like Liz, she was already searching for a solution.
“They’re dangerous. They’d use you for their purposes. Resisting them will only get you killed.”
“What are you saying?”
He held her gaze. “Sometimes it’s better to cooperate than fight, regardless of your beliefs.”
“I can’t do that.” She shook her head. “Trem, I can’t just follow orders if I disagree. Hell, it’s probably half the reason the higher ups in the Silver Council had so many issues with me.
“Yeah, and that scares the fuck out of me. I can’t imagine Anthony and Jules not seeing your potential and wanting to exploit it. Denying them would only get you killed.”
“Don’t. They won’t get me. Neither of them will ever have their hands on me.”
“I hope you’re right. However, if they’re already watching us, we have less time to prepare than I’d hoped.”
“Prepare how?”
“To properly train you. I’m going to teach you as many skills as possible. Both mage and druid. You’re still fusing both sides of your magic. Because my mother was a mage, she taught me the proper way to use those skills. Later I learned the correct way to use druid skills. No one showed you the basics. I know you taught yourself, taking what you saw and adapting, but you didn’t know to block the other side. That makes so damned much more sense now.”
“That’s why I haven’t shifted?” she asked, tipping her head to the side.
“Believe so. It took another Rift Bender to teach me how to shift because my blood father couldn’t manage to figure it out. Druids may be more accepting of our kind. Most of us wind up in their compounds because mages are more likely to execute us than try to understand what we are and how we function.”
“How many have you encountered?”
“Only a handful. Though the ones I knew early in life didn’t know what I do now. I think that’s why none of them are still alive. The wrong people found out, and they were hunted down for being abominations. Yet, they had no clue the magic they could tap into.”
“Abominations? Hunted down?” Robert asked from the door. “By whom?”
Tremaine looked up, meeting his gaze. “A dark branch of the Silver Council, employed by the inner circle. Unlikely you’ve heard of them.”
“Why not? Surely Draecyn knew.”
“Oh, he did. It’s why he made sure I was fully trained as both mage and druid. I knew how to blend in. Why they never took notice of Liz, that’s beyond me. Unless Draecyn had some connection to prevent them looking into her.”
“How has the inner circle kept this from me?” Robert balked.
“Your job is to prevent normal humans from learning of anything Other. Their job is to prevent beings who wield too much power from becoming a threat to the Council. Including their own members.”
“Like us?” Liz asked.
Tremaine nodded. “Yeah, like us. We can rip apart matter and introduce it from other dimensions. Our capabilities include the ability to tear the world into pieces, and there is nothing anyone can do to counter it, especially if you get several of us going at the same time. Also, like Robert, Emily, and Christian, especially now that Christian is exploring his powers.”
“What are you talking about?” Robert walked toward them.
Tremaine nodded toward the counter. “Let’s eat while it’s still hot. We can discuss more about a mystic’s power. I’m not one who can train you, but I know someone who can if we can convince her.”
“Who?”
“Old Lady Murdock. Most powerful mystic I know.”
“She is?” Robert frowned, running his hands down his lapels.
“She is, but she hides that fact. With Liz in danger, she’ll help.”
Liz took a step toward the food, turned and ran to the bathroom.
Robert started after her.
“Morning sickness. Calm down, loverboy.”
Robert smirked, looking the direction she bolted. “How long do you think it will last?”
Tremaine shrugged. “No way to know. Every woman is different, as well as each child. Hopefully not long. I hate seeing her ill.”
He forced back a chuckle. “I’ve only seen her ill once. You were there. I think she always hid it from me.”
“She’s not sick often.”
“Everyone is sick at some point. And she has taken on some bad curses.”
“She doesn’t want to ne
ed anyone. Liz was hurt too badly in her young life. You had parents who loved and cherished you. Liz did, but was torn away from them before she could ever develop the same nurturing relationship you benefited from.”
“Our child will have that. Maybe you’ll both heal from providing a loving bond with our boy.”
Tremaine hoped Robert was right.
* * * *
Liz washed her face after heaving into the toilet. Morning sickness was the pits, but she’d endure it for her little boy. A tear tracked down her face.
She missed out on so much the first time she found out she was pregnant. Leaning back against the wall she squeezed her eyes shut.
Last time she’d lost the baby the same day she found out about the pregnancy. In those few hours, her whole world had shifted for the better, only to be ripped open and destroyed.
A hurricane of emotions rolled through her. The biggest being the fear that everything could still fall apart. A faction of the Silver Council might choose to hunt her if they ever found out what she was. Both she and her lovers were something the Silver Council despised. A group that wanted to take over the world seemed to know who they were and wanted to destroy one of them, take her, and who knows what they wanted to do about Robert.
Hiding wasn’t a permanent solution. Admittedly, it was tempting to hide away from the world and stay out of sight for good. Though Robert was making real progress with the Silver Council. She’d miss Christian and her friends in Edenton. Running wasn’t the answer this time. Fighting out in the open wasn’t either.
She pressed her hands over her stomach and slid down the wall, placing her head on her knees. “I’ll protect you no matter what,” she whispered.
There was a pop, then their hands were on her.
“What’s the matter?” Robert asked softly, worry filling his voice.
Words wouldn’t come, she shook her head.
Tremaine scooped her into his arms. “Talk to us.”
She hugged him tight and pulled Robert closer. “Thinking too much.”
“About?” Robert prodded.
“Feels like everything could fall apart. We’re right on the edge. I can’t lose either of you or our boy.”
“We won’t,” Robert promised, pressing a kiss to her head. “You’re going to train with Tremaine. I’ll see if Preston can track them. We’ll figure out a way to take them down, once and for all.”
Tremaine caught her chin and brought her gaze to his. “Hey, you and me, we’re training all day after we get some food in you. Deal?”
She nodded.
“Your shields are superb now, they’ll be even better. No one will fuck with you when we’re done.”
Robert leaned in to give her a kiss. “We’ll be fine. All three of us. Nothing will tear us apart.”
She hoped they were right.
Chapter 13
After breakfast, Liz cleaned up. Glancing over her shoulder, she found Robert and Tremaine talking in hushed tones. A thrill of anger flashed through her.
She stormed up to them. “Don’t shut me out. I need to be a part of this as much as both of you.”
Tremaine smirked. “We were trying to come up with suggestions you wouldn’t immediately veto while keeping you safe behind wards.”
“I was already thinking about that. I was going to ask Sorcha and Siobhan if they wanted to take over. They could hold down the shop whenever Christian and Delilah can’t be there. I figure they are better in pairs.”
Robert’s head cocked. “Really?”
She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “After yesterday, yeah. I saw Anthony when I left to get lunch. Only, I wound up skipping lunch and heading back to the shop.”
“You saw Anthony?” Tremaine asked. “Why the hell didn’t you mention that sooner?”
“At the time, I didn’t realize he was Anthony. I thought he was just some creepy guy from my childhood.”
“Did he ever—” Robert started, but she shook her head.
“No. Never.” She sighed. “Look, he gave me nightmares, but he never talked to me. Never even touched me in the dreams.” She frowned. “In fact, he tormented Sinclair, not me. He still creeped me out worse than Sinclair ever did.”
“Then he suspected you were someone special, whether or not he knew what precisely you were.” Tremaine scrubbed a hand over his face. “Why on earth wouldn’t he try to take you from Sinclair sooner?”
“I have no clue. Though I stayed as far away from him as possible. Old Lady Murdock did her best to keep me out of sight.”
“Perhaps he knew your presence was there but was unable to find you? Interesting.”
“Why?”
Tremaine snorted. “She’s shown up here and there throughout my entire life and has played a role in yours and Christian’s lives. The old woman chooses where to aid. And she’s tied to Draecyn, though I’m not sure how.”
Liz crossed her arms over her chest. “Does that mean you don’t trust her?”
“I don’t know what I think. She’s a mystery. I know Draecyn trusts her. And as much as I wish I could say I trust him, I haven’t always.”
Robert smoothed his hands down his lapels. “You never told me you didn’t trust him.”
“It’s not that simple. I knew he meant well. His interests lay with bettering the Silver Council. Still think he was involved with some outside group, trying to bring the Council back to its original goals. But are they right?”
“What group?”
“When you get back, we can discuss all of that.”
“Then I’ll be back quickly. I plan on redistributing my cases until we have everything sorted out. I want to be here to put a stop to HARP, and ensure our future.”
Robert took a kiss from Tremaine, then another from Liz. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.” He disappeared.
Tremaine held Liz’s shoulders and turned her to face him, meeting her gaze head-on. “I’m worried about you. Anthony knows who you are, and if he’s acting like a jealous asshole…” He closed his eyes, shaking his head as if trying to clear thoughts and images. “He makes brash decisions often. I would have believed he preferred me dead after I nearly killed Jules.”
“What did you two share?”
“Shit. Anthony seduced me. I played along, let him think I loved him.” Tremaine snorted. “I befriended Jules. Tried to convince him Anthony wanted me, but I wouldn’t touch him. Before it was over, I turned them against each other. He lost it when he thought Jules was dead. I was sure someone would destroy him while he was so low.”
“They’re lovers?”
Tremaine nodded. “Jules is part siren. He formed a bond with Anthony. They’ve been bound since their early years. Anthony takes other lovers. Jules gets rid of them.”
“But you nearly got rid of Jules?”
“Yeah, by trapping him in another world.” Tremaine dropped onto the couch and pulled Liz down beside him. “I don’t know what Anthony wants now, or how any of it plays into their plans.”
“So, Jules never wanted you?”
“Jules’ heart belongs to Anthony. Anthony loves and hates Jules. No, Jules never desired me. He wanted me dead when he realized Anthony felt as strongly for me as he did Jules.”
Her brow furrowed. “So he came after you?”
“I knew it was coming. I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “I wanted it to happen sooner because I couldn’t stand Anthony, but he had to believe I loved him. Luckily, he prefers toxic relationships.”
“So, what do you think he would do now?”
He shook his head. “If Anthony wants me back, Jules will be after us. Anthony might want revenge. Depends on how badly they think they need you, or me.”
“Then train me so they can’t have either of us.”
* * * *
Eighty-two years ago…
Relief rolled in when he heard the front door slam shut. That was his cue to leave. Gripping Anthony’s hair,
he whispered in his ear. “Later, you can have what you crave.”
Tremaine reached around Anthony to unbind the rope with a spell before shifting to a falcon and flying through the window. He soared into the sky and between the trees, coming back around to watch.
He’d left enough marks on Anthony’s body to ensure Jules couldn’t miss the evidence this time. Anthony was a glutton for punishment and would never end their sordid affair, so Jules needed to come after Tremaine in a jealous rage, or he would never get to the bottom of the case.
Even now, Tremaine didn’t have the identity of HARP’s core members. Neither Anthony nor Jules seemed to know who they were either.
“Liar!” Jules screeched, bursting into steam to surround Anthony, scalding him.
Anthony screamed and fell to his knees. He threw his arms up, trying to fend Jules off. “Stop. I love you. You’ve been so busy with everything else, I needed someone’s affection.”
“You both swore nothing had happened.” The steam swirled in front of Anthony and re-forming Jules’ body. “How long?”
Collapsing on his hands, Anthony whimpered, “From the time he came back to us.”
“Did he seduce you? And don’t lie. It’s not fitting for the Unseelie Court.”
Anthony sat back on his heels, his body red and blistered. “I seduced him.”
Jules’ hand moved so fast he hardly caught it until Anthony’s head whipped to the side and blood flew. The sound echoed through the forest, causing Tremaine to flinch.
A scream followed, Jules demanded, “Why?”
“You leave me alone too often. I’m lonely. He fills the hole when you leave for so long.”
“Just sex?”
Anthony sniffled. “I love him.”
Tremaine winced. He knew it was the truth. The fool had told him enough times. Still, admitting it to Jules meant he had a fight on his hands.
He flew deeper into the woods toward the cave he’d scoped out a year before. Tremaine had been practicing in the depths, pulling up rifts to see how far he could travel without being caught.
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