by K. F. Breene
“What’s going on?” Mordecai turned to her, and then his eyes flicked to the spot where the person had revealed himself. Mordecai had probably seen the eyes. Daisy couldn’t imagine how anyone could’ve missed them, as beautiful and green as they were.
She opened her mouth to explain—
Shh, little dove. It must remain our secret, or it will become your group that I must silence.
It was as if the sentiment had been left behind like a landmine, triggered when she went to speak about him. The voice was silky and smooth and flowered in her mind. It should’ve scared the hell out of her, felt invasive. Instead, all the worry over what his presence might mean to Lexi melted away. Daisy had no idea if that was magic or what, but she felt in her blood that if she didn’t remain silent, they would have hell knocking on their door.
17
Alexis
“It’ll be fine. Amber and Henry are constructing that conspiracy theory website right now.” Kieran held my hand as we drove slowly through the darkness, on the way to Magnus’s lodge for dinner. We’d brought the kids and the crew, just in case, plus our fleet of golf carts, but Kieran and I were leading the way. “Amber has a good tech team working on it back home. They’ll get it all sorted. Zander hasn’t changed with the times enough to recognize a hastily thrown together website. He’s also stepping on my toes. I might be new, but he fucked himself by giving me the time of day. He has to go about this delicately unless I royally screw something up. We’re good. We’ve got this locked down.”
But it didn’t feel like we did, and I could tell he didn’t, either. Fear of what Aaron had in store for us ate through my gut, not to mention the presence of that shadow in the trial room. Logic dictated it must have been a Demigod. It hadn’t been Harding, and no one else had that kind of advanced spirit magic. But what Demigod in their right mind would have risked showing up in full view of Magnus? It didn’t make sense. There had to be another explanation.
I worried I would not like that explanation.
I wanted so badly to talk to Harding about it, to ask if he’d seen anything, but earlier I hadn’t been able to cross that weird plane. I’d only managed to stick my head in normal spirit, freak out in case one of the other Demigods was lurking and caught me, and ducked back into reality. I would get no help from him.
“How’s Daisy faring?” Kieran asked as he glanced to the side, his brow furrowing. Uncertainty bled into the link.
I followed his gaze, but didn’t feel or see anything in the night. “She called it a love note. I think it must be bothering her a little, though. She was flushed when she stopped in to borrow some jewelry earlier, when I was getting ready, and she’s been abnormally contemplative.”
He nodded, turning away from whatever he’d been looking at. “She’ll be fine. We’ll keep an eye on her. What about you? How are you taking all this?”
“I want her to go home. She doesn’t even have healing magic, Kieran. Not even experienced magical people without healing magic belong here. She has the nod of approval—it’s time for her to go.”
“We can’t send her home. She’s making a name for herself right now—she’s finding her place. If we send her home, we’ll send the message that she can’t handle it. Besides, she wouldn’t leave. She’s sneaky—she’d find a way back in. Zorn is almost positive she and Mordecai snuck out when we were all discussing this dinner.”
I crinkled my brow, thinking back. I hadn’t missed her. Then again, the formal invitation to dine with my father had had me plenty distracted.
Kieran took a deep breath. “I wasn’t going to tell you, but…I offered her the magic last night. She wouldn’t take it. She doesn’t want to be tied to me.”
I jerked my head toward him. It was unusual for a Demigod to give his blood to someone who hadn’t offered him an oath. Kieran clearly didn’t care much about the norm, since he’d given his blood to both me and Mordie, but it was unheard of for a Demigod to offer such a boon to a perfectly healthy, non-magical person. And she’d said no.
Tears filled my eyes. “I can make her see reason.”
“Which is why I didn’t tell you. I don’t think you should push her, Lexi. Daisy is in a very precarious situation in a world she doesn’t belong in. She’s trying to find her way. With all due respect, I think we need to let her. I won’t force an attachment on her if she doesn’t want it. We’ll just keep her with us at all times. With you or with me, she’s covered.”
I nodded and blotted the wetness under my eyes. Stupid eye makeup. It was so fragile.
“She’s tough, though,” he said with a grin. “I have to give her that. We’ve always known it, but…wow. Henry made…friends with a woman who works for the surveillance team.” Friends meant they were bumping uglies. Apparently Henry was excellent at pillow talk. “He showed me some of the clips he smuggled out. Daisy is every bit the gremlin we’ve always called her. She’s like a flying squirrel but with razor-sharp teeth and claws. It’s kind of fun to watch.”
“What if she is actually crazy instead of tough? That is my fault.”
“And all the hassle you’re going through is my fault. It’ll be—”
“Don’t.” I held up my hand. “Don’t say fine.”
Wisely, he listened.
He turned the golf cart and crossed the sidewalk. A path that took us through grassy knolls retreated every so often and gave way to a little patch of garden. It probably said something about my mindset that I paid less attention to the fragrant flowers in deep red, canary yellow, or cerulean blue than I did the decorative rocks Jerry could use to smash in a face.
“Remember, Demigods might appear casual and friendly, but they are always looking for information,” Kieran said. We hit a bump, and I reached out to grab the metal bar at the side. “Watch what you say around Magnus. This dinner is part of some sort of game that probably has nuances we won’t realize for years. I have a new appreciation for strategy after dealing with some of these guys. Keep your head. If you need a breather, don’t be afraid to take it.”
My father’s warehouse loomed up ahead—larger than ours, it sat with its back to the beach, no more than a hundred yards from the Summit building. Fairy lights suspended on poles dangled above red rosebushes, creating a twinkling walkway to the entrance. A blood-red carpet led to the open door, flanked by two men in formfitting white coats and black pants. One of the men stepped forward to help me out, and the other bowed deeply to Kieran and took his place in the golf cart.
Huh, valet golf cart parking.
Daisy and Mordecai, sitting at the back of a four-seater with Thane driving and Boman riding shotgun, pulled up behind us. As the kids disembarked, Kieran held out his arm for me to take and then escorted me slowly along the carpet. The others handed over their ride and followed.
“This entrance is on point,” Daisy whispered to Mordecai.
“I approve,” Bria muttered somewhere behind us.
“The high-status Demigods get to choose how their accommodations are presented,” Amber murmured, “so this is all to Magnus’s taste. So far, he has a very subdued palette.”
“In the real world, we call that refined,” Bria said.
“Good evening.” A woman greeted us at the door, bowing deeply. She’d stuck to the same dress code as the others, but her clothes had a more delicate cut. She gestured, and a man stepped forward from the side with a silver tray laden with various drinks. “We’ve taken the liberty at guessing what you might be in the mood for, but please, let me know if I can get you anything else.”
I took a glass of champagne and Kieran took a whiskey straight. At Lydia’s, Kieran and I had been waited on differently than the others in our crew, but the tray holder moved on back to serve the rest of our people. He tsked at Daisy for trying to take a margarita, nodding when she settled for a Coke instead, and lifted an eyebrow when Bria took a beer instead of the Jack and Coke. They’d done their homework.
The woman stepped back within the arching entryway.
“Please, Alexis, if you wouldn’t mind taking your party into the sitting room and awaiting Demigod Magnus? He’ll be along shortly.” The lights were down low on the chandelier, giving the setting just the right amount of glitter, and the candles in sconces placed strategically along the hallway gave the space a sense of intimacy that made me feel more comfortable.
“Oh yeah, his sense of style is on point.” Bria sipped her beer, looking at the art and furnishings.
The woman hadn’t gestured right or left. Her hands stayed tucked behind her, and she stood in the center of the foyer, allowing me to choose.
I glanced left first, expecting to see the gaudy gold décor from Kieran’s sitting room in our lodge, and finding instead leather seats, an artful rug, and textured wallpaper with a really interesting design. The room on the right had fabric chairs, a rug that didn’t look so fine, and a piano in the corner.
“Does anyone play?” I pointed at it.
“Thane.” Boman stepped to the side, allowing Thane to come forward. “He’s a miracle worker on that thing.”
That was odd. I’d never heard him play.
“Would you mind?” I asked. “Just while we wait.”
“Not at all,” Thane said.
The woman stepped toward the room of choice. “You will find the piano perfectly in tune. If you need any other instruments, please let me know.”
Kieran escorted me into the room and followed my lead to a loveseat facing the piano. He settled in beside me, taking my hand.
Thane took a seat at the piano as everyone else got comfortable except for Zorn, who stood in the corner so he could see the whole room. He rarely relaxed in a strange setting.
“This is swank,” Daisy said, dragging her fingers across the back of a couch before walking around to the front of it and sitting. It faced another couch separated by a little table. Mordecai sat opposite her. “Ew, I don’t want to look at your mug. Go somewhere else.”
“What are you going to do, stare at the wall?” he snapped.
“Do you actually mean the really cool painting behind you? Because yes, that was the plan. Move.”
“Kids, just for once, would you stop fighting?” I said through clenched teeth.
“Why won’t you tell me?” Mordecai said.
“Mind your business,” Daisy replied, and I gave them the look of death.
Mordecai caught it and skulked to the other side of the room.
The music filling the room scattered all thoughts of the kids’ bickering from my head. As Thane played, he swayed with a beauty I couldn’t put into words. It was like the tune had infused his whole body until he himself was alive with the sweet sound curling through the air. It whisked me away to sun-drenched hillsides of swaying grasses. The tune ebbed and flowed, filling me up and carrying me along, so in rapture that at first I didn’t notice Magnus entering through the rear, walking slowly, as though taking this time to analyze the people who looked so at peace in his temporary home. Even Zorn had relaxed, his shoulders loose and easy, his eyes fixed on Thane as he soaked in the melody.
Kieran rose elegantly, and though we’d never been on a dance floor, I knew in that moment that he’d be as good at that as he was at everything else. He nearly glowed with the music.
“Demigod Magnus, thank you for welcoming us into your home.” Kieran bowed low, lower than I would’ve expected, given his status boost.
But it struck me that he wasn’t here as a Demigod—he was here as my date. And he was acting accordingly.
The gorgeous music stopped, and it felt like a hole had been punched through the moment. I took a deep breath and let Kieran help me to standing, doing a quick check that everything was in place before facing my father.
“Magnus,” I said, grimacing when I realized I should’ve added his title. “Demigod Magnus.” I didn’t know if I should bow and I didn’t know how to properly curtsy—I’d failed that lesson and neglected to practice. I settled for nodding awkwardly.
“Alexis, welcome.” He put out a hand, and I shook it, very formal. “Thank you for joining me. If you agree, let’s head back to the dining area.”
I didn’t know what to expect, but the place we ended up in surprised me all the same.
The kitchen was similar to ours, with the stools around the island, a small table in the corner, and various items simmering on the updated stove. A fan ran with a low hum, sucking away the steam. Both the island and the small table held place settings.
Magnus stepped up to the island and undid the button on his navy-blue suit. He peeled off his jacket before draping it on the back of one of the bar chairs.
“Please.” He gestured at the other chairs. “Have a seat. I’m just finishing up. Here.” He wrapped a large hand around the delicate neck of a wine bottle and handed it off to a silent and watchful Mordecai. Mordecai took it with a start. “You’re sixteen, right?”
“Yes, sir,” Mordecai responded without a hitch.
I, on the other hand, definitely had shock written plainly on my face.
Magnus pulled open a drawer, took out a wine opener, and handed it off. “It’s time you learned a very important element of a dinner party. Or do you already know how to open a bottle of wine?”
Mordecai walked to the counter, a grin tugging at his lips. “I think I can figure it out.”
“Good lad.” Magnus lifted a white apron from the counter. “Daisy, correct?” He showered her with his singular focus. She met it unflinchingly, not nodding or responding to his question in any way.
My face heated. “Daisy, he’s speaking to you.”
“He also nearly got me and Mordecai killed,” she said. “I hold grudges.”
She needed to be coached in dealing with people like Magnus, or she wouldn’t be able to go to dinners and meetings like this, but this wasn’t the time to tell her. I needed that lesson myself, given how I’d reacted to Aaron that first night.
Magnus surveyed her for a moment. “You are exactly right,” he said finally, looping the apron around his neck. “I was ultimately in charge of the Possessor. He went off course and kidnapped you when he shouldn’t have, but the fault can only be traced back to me. I see I will have a long road to gain your trust.”
“You will never gain my trust.”
“Daisy,” I said through clenched teeth. “You are a guest.”
“I apologize. I was too blunt. Excuse me.” She lowered into a curtsy, and when she came up, it was with a stare that could slice a sheet of silk in two.
Magnus shook his head slowly. “It is too bad you aren’t magical. You have an inner fire that would serve you quite well in the field. It might need to serve you here—I heard about the note written in swine that you received. It seems a challenge has been laid on your doorstep, quite literally. But you saved yourself when Aaron’s woman tried to kill you, did you not?”
“I did, yes. You left me no choice.”
The corner of Magnus’s eyes creased, a smile lighting his eyes but not curving his lips. “Well. Miss Daisy. You will cause me no offense if you’d prefer to eat with the crew.”
“No, thank you, I will dine with my family. Thank you for your…hospitality.” She curtsied again, not so low this time.
Now the smile did reach Magnus’s lips. He laughed, a deep, hearty chuckle that filled the room. “You are one to watch, Miss Daisy, magic or no. Well. I have taken the liberty of making dinner for you all.” He tied his apron behind his back and nodded at Mordecai, who pulled glasses from the cabinets. “Alexis, I know that your mother never liked ceremony. She absolutely detested when I put on a big show for her. She’d unleash her magic and everything I’d planned would fall apart. Dinner would end up on the floor. Staff would be covered in spilled sauce or wine. A chandelier fell once, splintering the table. The more I tried to impress her, the more frequently I lost precious treasures hanging on my walls or lining my shelves. I finally took the hint and toned down my courtship.”
“Your…” My tongue felt too big for my
suddenly dry mouth. “Your courtship?”
“Yes.” He pulled a lid off a pot and stirred the contents. “It was short but incredibly intense. I lost myself when I was with your mother. And then I lost her entirely, as I’m sure you have guessed.”
“Do you need help?” Kieran asked.
“That would be great, yes. Check the roast, if you wouldn’t mind. I assume you all eat meat? I know the young shifter certainly does. How about the contrary teen?” He looked at Daisy. “If you hate everything I have prepared, it would be my pleasure to make something that would dazzle you. Figuring out meals from a random list of ingredients is a fun pastime when I need a challenge.”
Magnus’s charm filled the kitchen like a delightful fragrance. There was no way it wasn’t built from lots of practice.
“Magnus, I wondered if I could ask…” I bit my lip, not sure what the protocol was at a dinner party. Was I allowed to talk business? Because I was going to. “Have you seen Demigod Lydia? We haven’t seen her around much.”
He hummed. A saucepan flared, fire kissing the sky in front of him. He leaned back gracefully until it died down, and continued working. “I saw her yesterday in passing, yes. She seems quite troubled, and no wonder. She has lost a great deal of status because of the events at her…homestead. Her face is a mess, as well. Plastic surgery has only helped a little. Your cat…is not a cat.”
I put up my hands. “Honestly, those cats are literally from normal cats. I have no idea what happened.”
Magnus looked back at me, his eyes calculating. “I do believe you are telling the truth, Alexis, though I can’t help feeling there is a missing piece of the puzzle. Speaking of puzzles, I hear Zander’s technical man got into a scuffle earlier today. It sounds like he was jumped. When they looked for footage, they discovered the live surveillance feed was down—something to do with a virus. Most odd. I guess no one will ever know what happened.”
“I wasn’t aware cameras had been incorporated into the grounds this year,” Kieran said smoothly. “Huh.”
