by Alicia Fabel
Eggbert submerged his beak in the slimy liquid without any encouragement, and then tipped his head up to let the egg slide down his gullet.
“I think he’s got it handled,” said Kale. “Stay with him. I’m going to take a quick look outside.”
Kale slunk to the window. Moonlight lit the yard, but even without it, he wouldn’t have missed the huddle of chickens off to the side, near the loading platforms. Chickens loaded with travel bags. Men and boys climbed onto the saddled hens. A couple of sleepy toddlers were handed up into the arms of their fathers. From their angle, there was no way to see through the hatchery window. The runaways had no idea the Guardian watched them. Mitch and Gage oversaw over the whole procession, arguing back and forth. Eventually, Mitch threw his marked hands in the air and stalked away from his son. Something must have happened since they’d made their arrangement for Mitch to choose this course of deception. Kale was about to go find out what.
“Kale?” Vera called out, anxiously.
She stood in the middle of the stall, a crease between her brows, and her hand held out to display magic-stained fingertips. The same stain trailed down her cheek. Stars help us, she’s crying tears of healing. Vera had gotten hold of magic from somewhere.
“We need to get back to our room,” Kale said urgently. “Now.”
Eggbert was too busy cleaning his bowl to pay any attention to Kale, who was suddenly in his stall. The chick’s head was dotted with Vera’s tears, the magic already absorbed. Vera’s breath caught when Kale brushed away the magic tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. He worked quickly, knowing his nearness made Vera uncomfortable. Grabbing Vera’s hand, he towed her out of the stall and latched the gate behind them. Vera slowed to look back at Eggbert. Belly full, the chick was dozing off.
The Monroe men would get away. Right now, Kale had to figure out how Vera was still siphoning magic. More importantly, he had to figure out how to stop it before she siphoned from someone powerful enough to catch her at it.
Vera rubbed her eyes again, but the glowy stuff was gone. Kale locked the door of their room and closed the curtains.
“I can’t see in the dark, Kale.” Vera stuck out her hands feeling for anything she might run into and ended up groping Kale’s pecs when he stepped close.
“And neither can anyone else who might look this way.” Kale captured her hands and lowered them to her sides. “That’s what I’m going for right now.”
“Oh.” Vera’s chest rose fast when Kale began unbuttoning her coat. “What are you doing?”
“An experiment.”
Mother of butterflies, what just happened in my stomach?
“I can do that,” Vera insisted, trying to brush aside his hands.
“It’s fine, I’ve got it. Can you even feel your fingers right now?” Kale popped the next button. “I think you gave me frostbite through my shirt with those things.”
“I left my mittens downstairs.”
“Was tonight the first night you cried near Eggbert?” asked Kale, unaware of her distress.
The heat of Kale’s hands soaked through Vera’s nightshirt. Actually, it was Kale’s shirt. Vera had stolen it after she’d gotten so tangled up in the lacy gown the witches lent her that she’d fallen out of bed trying to free herself.
“No, it wasn’t the first time.” Vera screwed up her face, trying to regain control of her senses. “I’ve been a little weepy around him. A mutilated baby animal seems to do that to me. Sue me.”
“Then we know why Eggbert’s improved so quickly. You were healing him with magic you didn’t know you had.” Kale tugged at her coat sleeves. “Take this off. I want to try something.”
“I have magic?”
Vera pinched her thigh, desperately trying to keep her mind anywhere other than where it suddenly seemed interested in going. This is Kale, for freak’s sake. Kale!
“A siphon only has magic by siphoning it. Your charm should block you from doing that, so I want to see if it is failing.”
“Which would be bad,” Vera said slowly, like she knew what she was talking about.
“If you siphon from a witch powerful enough to notice, yes. Very bad. Run-for-your-life bad.”
“Wouldn’t I feel something if I was leeching someone’s magic?” Vera summoned an image of Gage to her mind to replace her awareness of Kale.
“Maybe. Have you taken the charm off at all since you got it?”
“No.” Vera pictured Gage’s dark eyes.
“Not even when you bathed?”
“No.” Dammit. Kale has dark eyes. I have no idea what color Gage’s eyes are.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, Kale. I’m sure.” She was going to figure out what Gage’s eyes looked like ASAP. “I was completely naked, except for my necklace.”
“I want to try something,” Kale told her.
“It better not involve me getting naked,” Vera retorted.
Why did I say that? Obviously, it wouldn’t. Right? Gage, Gage, Gage.
Kale released a slow, patient breath that stirred Vera’s hair. “Can I see your charm?” he asked calmly.
“You want me to take it off? But you just—”
“Please, Vera.” He sounded weary. “You’re killing me right now. Can you please just let me see your charm?”
Vera pulled the charm over her head and held it out. Kale was closer than her addled mind realized, and she punched it into his chest.
“Sorry,” she mumbled as Kale’s fingers brushed hers to take the charm. She yanked her hand back as quickly as she could.
“Hold still, okay?”
Vera was going to ask for more information, but Kale stepped into her and placed his hands on either side of her neck. His thumbs curled over her jaw. The words died on her tongue. Her brain shorted out completely. Vera swallowed hard. A gentle hum began in Vera’s toes. It crept up her legs to her thighs. Holy lucky pennies. No! No lucky anything, Vera. The hum moved up and up. Her lower stomach tightened. Vera’s breath was ragged by the time the hum reached her chest and finally her neck.
Then Kale stepped back, releasing her abruptly. The loss of his touch was painful. Kale swept the hair from Vera’s face and looped the charm back over her head, settling it carefully beneath her throat. Vera swayed. When the stone touched her skin, the hum echoing through her blood converged to the spot between her breasts, where the charm rested. The stone heated as the hum left her, flowing into it instead. When the last of the hum was gone, Vera’s legs felt boneless. Kale swept her into his arms when she sagged and carried her to the bed. Gently, he laid her against the pillows and tucked the blankets around her. Vera’s eyelids were heavy.
“What was that?” Vera asked, her voice breathy.
“That was me feeding you a little magic.” Kale placed a hand on her cheek and asked, “Do you feel anything now?”’
“That was your magic?” Vera asked.
“I borrowed a little from the Meadow.”
“What magic did we use that time with Samhira then? This felt different than that.”
“Samhira required a bit more abrasive magic to restrain her. This time, I only used a gentle current. I didn’t want to knock you out.”
“I appreciate it,” she said wryly.
“What do you feel now?” Kale rubbed her cheek.
Kale’s hand was warm and soft. Softer than she’d have thought. Gentle for a killer’s hands. She wanted to press into his palm. What is wrong with me?
“Nothing,” Vera answered in a carefully measured voice.
Vera was glad her hands were hidden safely under a thick comforter, and for the darkness to hide her wince. How in the heck would I explain to him what I’m feeling right now? I can’t even explain it to myself. Except as temporary insanity from being high on meadow-magic. Kale’s hot, yeah, but he’s Kale, come on. He’d laugh his butt off if he knew what was going through my head right now. Heck, I’d laugh too if I weren’t so freaked out. Do I have Stockholm syndrome? Even thoug
h, technically, he didn’t kidnap me? I mean, crushing on my mass murderer-turned-bodyguard, that’s got to be a syndrome too, right? Oh man. If Gage is a bad idea, Kale is the mother of bad ideas.
“Well, the charm does stop you from siphoning magic,” Kale said. “Without it, you suck up magic just fine. With it, you can’t.”
“Then how come I was crying lightning-bug juice?”
“My guess? You aren’t just a siphon. You’re something else too, but I don’t know what that is yet.”
“Yay, I’m a mutt,” Vera said with a yawn.
“I’ve been assuming that every magical act you’ve performed was from siphoning magic, but I think you’re creating your own magic too. I don’t know what’s what anymore with you. Except your healing tears, those must be one of your natural abilities.”
“Creating magic?”
“Some magical beings, like witches, enchanters, and sorcerers are magic manipulators, harvest and control magic threads in an endless number of ways. Other beings, like trolls, sirens, and dwarves, are made of magic and create their own magic to use for a few specialized tricks.”
“You said siphons don’t have their own magic,” reminded Vera.
“They don’t. Or they didn’t used to anyway.” Kale gave a rueful laugh. “You’re a walking contradiction.”
“Explain.”
“At first, you were human and innocent. Two things that don’t naturally belong together. You’ve got an attitude that cuts like ice, but you have a heart that warms like a flame. Now, it turns out you’re both siphon and magical. Whenever I think I have you figured out, you go and throw something else at me.”
“If I didn’t know better, I might think you like me a little,” Vera said.
“Like is a strong word,” teased Kale. “You are growing on me, though. I guess I’m glad I decided to stay your execution.”
“I can’t believe you would’ve killed me just because I’m human.”
“You’re not human anymore.”
“Nope, I’m a freak like you now.”
“No one’s a freak quite like me,” said Kale. “Now get some sleep. Eggbert’s going to want breakfast in a few hours.”
“We can stay here for a little longer then?” asked Vera.
“If there’s anyone here sensitive enough to notice you have magic, they won’t be surprised because most outsiders do. Even if they don’t recognize your brand of magic. The problem only comes up if you siphon magic and get caught. Since you can’t siphon, you’re fine. Maybe keep the healing waterworks in check, though. Preventing people from killing you is hard enough, I don’t need to worry about people wanting to keep you.” Kale stood to leave her.
“Take one of the comforters,” Vera said, closing her eyes.
“I’m fine.”
“Don’t be dumb. You were shivering like crazy earlier.”
“You were watching me sleep?” Kale asked with exaggerated shock. “You know that’s creepy, right?”
“Says the man who plotted to kill me.”
“I plot to kill everyone. I just don’t actually do it most of the time. So you’re not that special,” Kale informed her.
“What’s scary is you aren’t lying.”
“How would you know?” asked Kale.
Vera pretended to be asleep until she didn’t need to pretend anymore.
12
Vera felt like she’d just closed her eyes.
“Vera,” Kale called gently from nearby. “Wake up, Vera. Come on. I’m hungry.” Vera groaned and cracked open one eye. “The sun isn’t even up yet.”
“They’ve got donuts. We’re going to miss out if we don’t hurry,” Kale said.
He was such a liar. If there were donuts, she’d have headed for the door in a heartbeat. Instead, Vera pulled the pillow over her head and curled into a tighter ball.
“Gage is here to see you,” said Kale, the lying jerkwad.
“Go away. Leave me alone.”
Kale was quiet for a minute. Vera dozed off.
“I’m going to lick you,” Kale said beside her pillow.
Not a lie. Vera ducked her head and scrambled to the other side of the bed.
“What is wrong with you? Are you ten or something?”
“Well, then.” Kale perched on the edge of the bed, looking rather irritated by the silly insult. “I don’t suppose you have anything interesting to share about yourself with the class?”
“Um, I really don’t like being dragged out of bed by a jerk.” Vera blinked hard, trying to see straight.
“Tell me, Vera. Do you have the hots for Gage?”
“What? No.” Ow. It was too early to have those gongs going off in her head.
“I can’t believe I didn’t figure it out sooner.” Kale pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I just met Gage yesterday,” Vera protested.
“I’m not talking about your love-sick chicken boy. You know that game, two truths and a lie? We just played two lies and a truth. You performed remarkably well. Licking you was the most preposterous thing I could come up with. But I couldn’t fool you, could I?”
Vera’s stomach dropped.
“Ah, you’ve finally caught up,” Kale observed. “So how does it work exactly? It must be tough not even being able to lie to yourself.”
Vera’s first instinct was to deny any understanding of what he was talking about. Kale looked down at her hands resting on the bed. Crap.
“Fine.” Vera threw her hands in the air. “It sounds like bells going off in my head. Big bells. When I lie, it’s like I’ve shoved my whole head inside a freaking church bell.”
“How long have you been able to hear lies?”
“All my life.”
“Interesting. Another natural magic ability you have, which means you’ve been producing a tiny amount of magic all your life. No wonder you’ve had a tough time with the wrong kind of people. You’ve been attracting would-be magic addicts without knowing it.”
“Good to know being a sleazeball magnet wasn’t just in my head.” Vera held up her hands, twisting them back and forth for Kale’s inspection. “Happy?”
“Actually, yes. Now get dressed. We’re going to breakfast.”
“Why are you happy?” Vera asked warily.
“What’s wrong with being happy?”
“Nothing. Unless you happen to be you. Then it’s suspicious.”
“You don’t want me to be happy?” Kale asked with mock offence.
“I want to know why you’re happy.”
“Because I have my own lie detector and no one knows it.”
“You can already tell truth from lies.”
“No, I know when someone intends to deceive me. It’s different. A person can lie without deceiving. Like you not telling me about your little superpower. Obviously, you weren’t being deceptive or trying to use your ability to deceive me, you just didn’t want to tell me. On the other hand, people can also deceive without lying. It’s all about intention. But since people know what I can do, they hide their hands.”
“Make them take off their gloves, oh-scary Guardian.”
“I can’t, not without breaking an agreement I made yesterday. Well technically, they’ve already broken our agreement, based on the midnight event I saw last night. But no one knows I’m aware of that, and I don’t want to show my hand yet. Not since I have you and don’t need to.”
“What agreement? What happened last night?”
“An agreement that doesn’t affect you.”
“Are you for-real right now with the lying?” Vera scowled.
“I was just checking.”
“Lie.”
“I think I preferred your silent scowls when I lied to you before. When you couldn’t argue without revealing your little secret.”
“I think I prefer getting to call you on all your BS.” Vera bared her teeth in a mockery of a smile.
“It’s obnoxious.”
“So are you when you’re evading my quest
ions. What agreement did you make?”
Kale sighed. “The Monroes gave you one day to work your magic on Eggbert, which turned out quite literally to be magic. In return, I gave Mitch a day’s head start to find me a lead before I step in and do things my way.”
“Oh.” Now Vera felt like the jerk.
“Do you smell that?” Kale asked.
“Smell what?” Vera raised her nose to sniff the air. “I think someone’s burned breakfast.”
A scream echoed through the walls. Up and down the hall, doors began to open and slam. People were running.
“There’s a fire,” said Kale. “Hurry.”
Vera had fallen asleep with her pants on so Kale grabbed her shoes and coat and ushered her out the door, into the stream of families hurrying down the stairs. At the bottom, Kale pulled Vera into the kitchen, which seemed the likeliest place for a fire to be raging. And the worst direction to go.
“Shouldn’t we follow those guys?” Vera hooked her thumb toward the back door where parents led their children outside.
“The fire is already out,” replied Kale.
“Oh, good. How do you know that?”
“No smoke. But someone was burned. That’s what that smell is.”
“And we’re gonna go check it out,” she concluded. “Obviously.”
Kale didn’t respond but pressed on. Vera lifted her shirt over her nose, feeling ill. As a precaution, Vera made sure Kale’s back would block her view once they got to the end of the hallway. She was not prepared to see a charred body in this lifetime. Someone hurried around the corner and ran into them. A woman mumbled sorry then realized who she’d bumped into and stumbled back. It was the woman from the garden. This time, she was definitely glowing. She glowed all the way out the back door as she ran away, throwing one last terrified glance in Kale’s direction. He didn’t seem to notice. It turned out, the woman wasn’t the only glow-worm around. A middle-aged woman, with tear tracks through the soot on her face, sat on a stool while a witch wrapped her arms in white bandages. The hands of the young witch glowed faintly. It wasn’t quite as dense as the magic mist Vera had seen at the palace, but Vera knew that’s what it was—magic. Kale stopped after a few more steps.