by Esme Addison
He chuckled, and Alex though she saw a slight blush under his sun-kissed complexion. “I had a major crush on you back then.” He looked at her directly, his gaze searching her own. “I still like you, Alex. Is that so hard to believe?”
Now that shut her up. She sat back in her seat, unable to answer that question. She knew that men found her attractive. But she couldn’t dispel the fear that he was up to something. She’d witnessed Dylan practicing magic, parting the water, expelling the fluid from her lungs, and calling her shoes to the shore. What if he’d been the one who’d sent the tidal wave in the first place? What if this had all been some elaborate scheme to win her trust? What if he had conspired with a member of his family to murder Randy Bennett? She mulled this over, grateful that she had gotten better at guarding her thoughts.
The Wesley estate appeared the same as it had when she’d pulled in last week, but somehow less intimidating. It was an old, Gothic stone house, nothing more, she thought as Dylan pulled around the circular driveway. As promised, Minka’s car was waiting.
“Thank you for fixing the car,” Alex said. “Insurance should cover most of it, and I told Minka I’d take care of the deductible—”
He held up a hand to stop her. “There are no charges for the tires or any of the repairs,” he said. “It was scratched up, but I had the shop give it a fresh coat of paint. Same color. I hope your cousin doesn’t mind.” He smiled uncertainly.
Minka would be excited her insurance rate wouldn’t be rising. “I can’t imagine she would be upset.” Alex touched his forearm. A flash of heat ran up her hand. She pulled away.
Dylan opened his car door. “Would you like to come in?”
She glanced down at her wet clothing and laughed. “I think our dinner is ruined.”
“I could at least give you some towels before you go. I’ll light a fire and get you something warm to drink.”
The thought of sitting in front of warm dancing flames was enticing. Besides, this was her chance to get back into the Wesley library. Now that she knew Stephanie had been out of town when Randy was poisoned, she was back to considering other possibilities. Maybe she could sneak away and get her hands on Captain Bellamy’s journal, after all—if for no reason but to rule out her suspicion that something in the journal was connected to the murder. “That sounds great, Dylan.”
He came around to open her door and held out a hand to help her out, but her feet were bare again. Her shoes had shrunk from the water and she’d taken them off in the car. She winced as her weight pressed into the gravel.
“May I pick you up?” Dylan asked.
Alex considered the distance from the vehicle to the front door. Grudgingly, she nodded. “Sure. I don’t think my feet can make it.”
He reached down to lift her legs and carried her to the front door as if she weighed nothing at all. “We’re sure getting to know each other, aren’t we?” Alex cracked.
Dylan set her down gently on the marble. “I don’t mind, do you?”
Her throat tightened and she shook her head.
He smiled. “Come on, let’s get you warm.”
He led her to a bathroom and gave her a stack of fluffy towels before leaving her alone. Alex wrapped the towels around her shoulders, luxuriating in the feel of the softly scented cotton. Once she was a little drier, she hung the wet towels on a rack and went to find Dylan. As promised, he was in front of a stone fireplace in a small side room, lighting a fire. Judging by the desk and the shelves of books, the room was primarily used as a study, but the leather chairs in front of the fire looked inviting. Alex grinned at Dylan’s focus as he struck a match and waited for the kindling to catch. “Were you a Boy Scout?”
“For about a year,” he quipped. “I asked our butler to make you a tea, but we can make it a hot toddy if you’d prefer.”
“Better not; I’m driving.” She sat on the rug and leaned her back against a chair. The kindling snapped and threw sparks as the flames caught. “Thanks again, Dylan.”
He sat beside her. “For what? The towels? I don’t do the laundry, so it makes no difference.”
She laughed lightly. “No. I mean, yes, for the towels. But also for saving my life, and for taking care of Minka’s car, and for finding my shoes.” She noticed that he’d set them directly in front of the fire to dry them out. “You’re … thoughtful.” And distractingly handsome.
He’d changed out of his bloody shirt into a clean one, and this time he’d put on jeans instead of dress pants. As they watched the flames catch, Alex looked idly at a stack of documents on the desk. Her breath caught in her throat. The brown accordion file was marked with the name Neptune Investments. The Wesleys were behind Neptune Investments? Not Bronson Bellamy after all?
She’d barely digested this discovery when Dylan said, “This is my favorite room in the house.”
“It’s pretty.”
Alex had to get him out of here. She had to sift through those files and figure out what he was up to. If she could get Dylan to leave the room… Alex focused on sending a thought to Dylan’s mind. Go check on the tea.
He kept his profile to her. “Don’t do that.”
Startled, she looked at him. “Do what?”
Now he turned his dark eyes toward hers, and even in the dim firelight she saw disappointment. “Manipulate me with your thoughts. Friends don’t do that to each other.”
She swallowed, embarrassed by her feeble attempts. There was no point in lying. “How did you know?”
“My mother taught me how to block thought manipulation when I was a child. It’s basic protection.” He eased his back against the bottom of the couch. “And your thoughts are loud.”
Alex’s cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She’d thought she’d improved her guarding skills. What else had he heard her thinking about?
“A lot,” he replied to her unspoken question. “You’re suspicious of me. I can’t do anything to change that except to be honest with you. So go ahead, Alex. Ask me what you want to know. Be honest with me for a change.”
She flinched. He was right; she was being deceitful now, and had been during the course of their relationship. “Are you behind Neptune Investments?”
“I’ve invested most of my personal fortune. I’m behind a lot of companies,” he replied simply. “And yes, Neptune is one of them.” He set his head back against the cushion of the couch. “There’s nothing suspicious about it. Bay Realty is a strong business and they’re looking to sell. I’m trying to buy it.”
“You’re willing to pay more than it’s worth. Why?”
The side of his mouth curled upward. “I get what I want, Alex. By any means necessary.” He allowed the words to hang between them for a moment.
By any means necessary? Did that include murder?
He looked at her again, his sadness evident, and she realized once again that he’d heard her thoughts.
“It’s a great company, and it’s one my mother has been eyeing for a long time. If I get that for her, she’ll head up Bay Realty and leave Wesley, Inc., in my capable hands.” He frowned. “But Edwin called me yesterday and informed me that the deal is off. He said that people were sniffing around, making more of the transaction than it is.”
He didn’t need to say any more. Alex’s throat tightened and she stared down at her feet. “It is kind of suspicious,” she grumbled. “I mean, Randy Bennett’s body is barely cold.”
The fire was roaring now. A man in a butler’s uniform entered silently with a tray of tea and scones.
“It’s past teatime,” Dylan explained, “but I thought you might be hungry.”
Alex was too uncomfortable to eat, but she accepted a cup of tea and held it between her fingers. “Thank you.”
He thanked the butler quietly and waited for him to exit the room. “So, what’s with this journal you’re so fixated on? Oh, don’t look surprised,” he said when she turned to him. “You snuck into the library during the charity auction. Bryn told me all about it.” Hi
s jaw tightened. “She’s always said that you’re using me. It looks like she’s right.”
Ouch. “Dylan, I’m not—”
He held up a hand. “We’re being honest with each other, remember? So I don’t want to hear a defense, but I do want to know why you want Captain Bellamy’s book. You only accepted my invitation tonight so that you could try to get it again.”
“That’s not true! I wasn’t even thinking about that journal when you invited me here.” Alex kept her focus on the fire. “But Bryn stole it from Pepper Bellamy. It should be returned. I was going to bring it back.”
“The truth, Alex.”
“Stop listening to my thoughts,” she snapped. “I thought friends didn’t do things like that to each other? Or are you only pretending to be my friend?”
A flush of red crawled up his neck. “How can I help but hear them when you’re practically shouting?”
“You have a choice.” Alex’s voice trembled, but she couldn’t help it. She was hurt that he’d spy on her. “You’ve been listening in on my thoughts this entire time. You didn’t have to.”
He drew a deep breath. “Your family should teach you how to protect yourself from people like me.”
Her stomach clenched. People like me? What did that mean? Magicals? Or people capable of murder? She slid a furtive look his way, wondering if he’d heard her thoughts. He was nice, but there was something dangerous about him too, simmering underneath. Contained. But only because he wanted it to be.
They sat in silence. Dylan might have just saved her life, but Alex no longer trusted him.
“Why do you want the journal?” He turned toward her.
She gripped her teacup tighter. “I think there may be something in there that will lead me to the person who killed Randy Bennett.”
“Based on what?”
“Based on the lengths your sister went to in order to stop Pepper from publishing information from that journal.” When Alex saw Dylan’s jaw clench, she added, “You told me to be honest, remember?”
The room felt chilly despite the roaring flames. The man did know how to get a fire going.
“Why in the world would my sister murder him?”
“I can’t answer that,” Alex admitted. “I would need to see the journal in order to know for sure.”
He sat for a moment before suddenly rising and leaving the room.
He was gone for so long that Alex resolved to show herself out. With a sigh, she set her teacup down on the silver tray and grabbed her high heels. They were finally dry, but they would never look right again. She had pulled them on and resigned herself to throwing them out once she got home when Dylan reentered the room, carrying the book.
He held it out to her. “You want the journal? Here you go.” When Alex hesitated, he said, “You were going to steal it. This is the better way, don’t you think?”
She took the old leather journal in her hands and ran her fingers over the cover. “Dylan, I’m—”
“Don’t.” He stepped back to allow her a clear exit to the hallway. “I don’t agree with my sister’s methods for taking this, but I do agree with her reasons. Some secrets need to be protected, and what she did helped many families, yours included. So if you take it, I only ask that you not give it back to Pepper. Do I have your word?”
“Yes. Of course.”
He chuckled without humor. “Not of course, Alex. Not when you’ve been lying as much as you have.”
“You don’t get to throw stones,” Alex replied. “You’ve been eavesdropping on my thoughts. But I’ll give it back to you. I only want to read it.”
He turned his back to her. “Your keys are in the car.”
Alex proceeded out of the room. Just as she reached the hall, she heard Dylan’s voice behind her. “Alex?”
She turned around and saw him standing in the doorway, his beautiful brown eyes brimmed with sadness. “Yes?”
“You should get yourself some magic lessons. I can’t promise I’ll always be around to save you from the water.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Alex told Lidia and Minka everything about her evening when she returned home that night. They listened, attentive but alarmed, as she explained how the tidal wave had almost drowned her.
“I would’ve died if Dylan hadn’t been there.”
Lidia inhaled deeply. “I always suspected he was a good man,” she said. “I can’t believe he practiced magic, but under the circumstances … I’m deeply grateful.”
Somehow, her aunt’s words only filled Alex with more shame. A good man. And Alex had used him to get what she wanted. Bryn had been right, and Alex had proven it. She couldn’t bring herself to talk about the rest of the night and how he had confronted her. But she didn’t have to. Her family had promised they would do their best to respect her privacy, but from the concern in Minka’s eyes, she’d overheard a thought or two.
“Someone is trying to hurt you.” Minka’s curls bounced with the force of her words. “It’s time that we taught you how to defend yourself.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Lidia said. “Come on, I’m going to show you all the defense spells.”
And so for the rest of the evening, Lidia and Minka gave Alex lessons in self-defense, guarding thoughts, blocking wind, stopping waves, and parting water. When Alex was too tired to continue, Lidia decided that Minka would work alone the next day so Alex could spend her time practicing her new skills.
“Go out by the fountain and work until lunch,” Lidia said. “I’m not going to be able to sleep at night until I know you are properly defended.”
To Alex, her new skills were disappointing. She ordered a bathtub full of water to part and managed to keep it that way for only seconds at a time before the sides crashed back together again. When she tried it on the fountain, she was only slightly more successful. She couldn’t imagine ever being skilled enough to actually part the Atlantic the way Dylan had. A chill rushed through her when she thought of the power he’d displayed the night before. Why would someone like him choose to live as a Mundane? Or was he not telling the truth about that choice and merely practicing magic when it was convenient?
She wasn’t any better at guarding her thoughts, either, because the moment she walked into the house after practicing all morning by the fountain, Lidia said, “There’s no reason to feel so discouraged. You’ll get the hang of it.”
“You’re still able to hear my thoughts?”
“Like you’re yelling from the rooftops,” Lidia replied coolly.
“That’s it. I’m giving up.”
Athena sat eagerly at Alex’s feet and waited for attention. Alex was only too happy to give her a scratch on the chest. “I won’t ever be good at this,” she continued. “I’m focusing my thoughts and clearing my mind, but nothing is working.”
Her life was such a mess. Time to give up, take the high-paying job doing what she was good at, and pretend none of this had ever happened. “I need to accept that I’m never going to be good at this. I can’t face a Magical who’s had years of practice. There’s no possible way for me to protect myself.”
Lidia was mopping the kitchen tiles, which had become part of her daily routine. “Power comes with practice, Aleksandra. Don’t forget that.” She dipped the rag top of the mop into the bucket and squeezed it out again. “You’re tired. You’ve been practicing all day.”
“And I’m terrible at magic. I’ve always had a better knack for things.”
Lidia arched a brow. “Your mother was the most powerful Magical in generations. You’ve got the genes. It’s only a matter of unlearning everything you’ve been taught.”
“Ciocia Lidia? There’s something I need to tell you.” She took a breath. “I have a job offer.”
Lidia paused in midsweep. “Oh?”
“A good one. In New York,” Alex said quietly. “And I’m going to accept it.”
Her aunt eyed her silently, and Alex feared she was going to see her explode into another storm o
f anger. Beg her to stay. Create an earthquake in the house. Shatter a window. But none of the things she feared happened.
Lidia chuckled lightly. “I’m glad you finally told me. I know you’ve been thinking about the offer for a while.”
Alex gasped. “You knew?” Recognition dawned, and she shook her head slowly. “You could hear my thoughts, and you didn’t say anything. Minka and Kamila too?”
“It’s fine,” her aunt assured her with a gentle smile, even though her eyes were sad. “I’m happy for you—we all are. You deserve this.”
A sob bubbled up from Alex’s chest. As she covered her face with her hands, Athena whined and nudged at her elbow.
“Oh, Alex.” Her aunt moved to her side and wrapped her in a hug. “Don’t cry.”
But how could she not? She was leaving Lidia still under house arrest for a murder she didn’t commit. She was abandoning Minka and Kamila and running away to a brand-new life. How could she not feel terrible about that? “I’ve failed you,” she said between her sobs. “I tried. I did, but—”
She couldn’t finish. A Magical was trying to kill her, and she couldn’t defend herself. She was leaving town in an act of self-preservation and selfishness. Jack was right, she needed to stop investigating. And Dylan was right, she had to stay away from the water, and that meant leaving Bellamy Bay.
But Lidia wouldn’t hear of it. “Now you listen to me, Aleksandra,” she said, pulling Alex’s hands away from her face. “You didn’t create this problem, and you don’t have to solve it.” “Everything will work out.”
“How can you say that?”
Lidia shrugged. “Because the universe has a way of self-correcting. It always does. But you, you need to move on with your life. Stop worrying about fixing mine.”
Alex swallowed. “I’m not going to be too far. Just New York.”
Lidia pushed a tendril of hair out of Alex’s face and sighed. “I’m so happy you came back to Bellamy Bay. I hope you will think of this as your second home.”
