by B N Miles
“Are you sure a Dryad did this?” she asked without looking at him.
“Yes,” he said. “Very sure.”
“It’s just, Dryad magic isn’t normally so destructive.” She frowned ever so slightly. “It can be dangerous, of course. But not destructive, not like this.”
“I know,” Jared said, feeling an edge of annoyance. He didn’t have a lot of experience with the nine ruling Magi families. Most Magi kept to themselves and trained their children in solitude. They mingled only rarely, and only then to establish new alliances and marriages. Magi were proud and almost absurdly self contained, but they hated intermarrying. Nothing would destroy a house faster than inbreeding.
But he knew Lumi’s attitude toward him. She didn’t need to speak it out loud. She was part of the nine, one of the most privileged and powerful Magi in the world. Meanwhile, Jared was a disgraced former member of a minor family, known for its tendency to burn out twice as fast.
All of this was written in her body language, in the subtext of her questions. Jared had left the Magi, hoping to escape this, but he knew he’d never escape what he was.
“Tell me in detail what he did,” she said without looking at him. “And start from the beginning.”
Jared told her, beginning with when they first arrived at the park. He told her of Ferric’s levitation, the fire, the lightning. He mentioned his own spell work, and she seemed interested, but not surprised.
When he finished, Lumi only frowned and turned her head toward him. “Do you know how much priori was summoned here?” she asked.
Jared shook his head. “I’m out of practice,” he admitted.
“Must not be that out of practice,” she said. “Because I can still feel it vibrating in the earth. Can’t you?”
He started to say something but stopped. She was right, there was something there on the edge of his awareness. He hadn’t known what it was, and assumed it was just his anxiety and stress.
But she was right. He could feel a strange vibration in the earth beneath them, like minor tremors cresting and rolling.
She nodded and looked back at the water. “You feel it too,” she stated. “He unleashed enough priori to kill any experienced Magi. Truth be told, even I’m not sure I could’ve handled the power he wielded. And yet here you are.”
Jared frowned at her. “He was untrained,” he said. “Just… throwing it around. There was no control.”
She made a dismissing gesture. “And yet still. You’re from a minor family, Mr. Bechtel, although your family is well known for its ability. I wonder if you’ve been underestimated.”
Jared said nothing. He could sense the trap in that statement and let Lumi think what she wanted.
She sighed and shook her head. “A Dryad using this kind of magic… I’ll be honest with you. We knew what the glove was, but we didn’t know exactly what it did.”
“I was under the impression that it would allow the Dryad’s access to more priori,” Jared said.
“That’s what we assumed as well. We never tested the artifact, simply locked it away. We assumed it would allow a Meta’s own power to increase. But we had no clue it would let them use other types of magic aside from their own.”
A chill ran down Jared’s spine.
Meta races were limited in the way that human Magi weren’t. They could use only one specific kind of magic, granted to them by their god. But humans could use every kind of magic, not quite as well as the Metas, since their abilities were innate and a part of them like breathing. But humans were more flexible and more powerful. That was how the Magi dominated the world.
But if the Metas could tap into that same power…
The structures of the world would shake.
Now Jared understood the magnitude of what was happening.
“Who else knows?” Jared asked.
Lumi shrugged. “My family will know, once I report. Some in the Meta Department will be informed. And you, Mr. Bechtel.” She looked at him again. “I understand that you’re not a part of your family’s house anymore.”
“No,” he said.
“Interesting. It’s unusual for a Magi to leave their family.”
“Lots of unusual things happen.”
“Yes, so it seems.” She frowned at him. “We must get that glove back.”
“I agree,” he said, although his reasons were different.
“The world is at stake here, Jared Bechtel. You seem competent, and if you survived that first encounter with the Dryad and his newfound magical ability, you must have some talent. Perhaps you’re up to the task, but perhaps not. I’ll be your new liaison within the Department from now on, and you will remain on the hunt for Ferric Dorvahn.”
“Why?” he asked, more annoyed than anything else.
“Simply because the fewer people that know about this, the better. I’m hoping you prove competent.” She tilted her head toward him. “Will you let me down, Mr. Bechtel?”
“No, Ms. Medlar,” he said.
She smiled. It was strange and didn’t reach her eyes. “Call me Lumi.”
“Okay, Lumi. Call me Jared.”
“Good. I’m glad we can dispose of formality.” He dropped her smile and looked back at the river. “They won’t find anything but old bones and fish in there.”
“I agree,” he said.
“Does your Dryad know where Ferric’s gone?”
Jared tensed. “She has some guesses. And her name is Jessalene.”
Lumi didn’t react to that. “Good. Follow the leads.” She hesitated. “And your other Meta. She seems interesting.”
“She’s useful,” Jared said. “She’s been helpful so far.”
Lumi nodded. “I read her file, of course. I’m not interested in her, Jared. If you want to keep her around, keep her. If she’s useful to you, by all means, use her. But you’re responsible for whatever she does, and you’re doing the paperwork when this is finished.”
He felt relief crash over him. He’d expected Lumi to send her back to Max, or at least to arrest her or something. That was an enormous worry, and a weight off his shoulders.
“I’ll make sure she behaves,” Jared said. “Thank you.”
“Good.” Lumi looked at him again. “Do you know what you have there?” she asked.
Jared hesitated. “She’s a Shifter. A strong one, from what I can tell.”
Lumi raised her eyebrows. “I see. Well, keep an eye on her. I will provide any resources or assistance you may need going forward. Go through your Captain for now, but remember that I’m running this operation.”
“I will,” Jared said.
“Good. I hope we work well together, Jared Bechtel. I like you already. And your family has such an interesting reputation. I suspect it’s well deserved.”
Jared stiffened. “I’m not a part of that family anymore,” he said.
She laughed. It was uncomfortable and he had to look away. “You’re always a part of your past, Jared. Your family’s always there, sorry to say. We’re Magi. We don’t get to just walk away.”
She turned back to the water and Jared knew he’d been dismissed. He lingered for a moment and wanted to ask more questions. He wanted to push her about Cassie, wanted to know more about the magic Ferric was using, about what the Medlar wanted with the Dryads… but he couldn’t bring himself to speak.
He was too angry, and he knew he’d say something stupid.
So he turned and walked off, leaving Lumi alone by the river.
Cassie was waiting for him in the parking lot. She looked anxious and tilted her head toward him as he approached. Wyatt was off a few feet away, talking to a few uniformed officers.
“How did it go?” she asked, coming toward him.
He forced a smile. “She’s our new boss,” he said. “But I think she’s not so bad.”
“Really?”
“She’s a Magi, so she’s only interested in results. Which means I get to keep you.”
Cassie lit up. Her eyes b
rightened and went wide. “Really?”
“Really. I was worried they’d try to take you away today and I’d have to do something, but—”
She threw herself at him. He laughed and hugged her back. He knew it wasn’t smart to display his affection and relationship with Cassie so openly, but he couldn’t help himself. She was so happy, and he felt the same way.
“I knew you wouldn’t let them take me,” she said.
“Fortunately, it didn’t come to that. Lumi doesn’t care if you stay or go, so long as we find Ferric.”
“Then we’d better catch him.” Cassie grinned up at him. “Wanna make out?”
“Not right now,” Jared said. “But later, I really, really do.”
She laughed and squeezed his hand then let him go.
Wyatt nodded to the officers then came walking over to join them. He crossed his arms and glances over at Lumi, still standing by the river. “How’d that go?” he asked.
“Not bad,” Jared said. “She’s about what I expected. But seems to only care about getting Ferric back, and not much else.”
Wyatt nodded. “I’ve been informed that she’ll be my superior from now on.”
“Right, and I’ll be running through you.”
“I wonder why they’re even keeping me in the loop,” Wyatt said.
“I suspect she’s going to make you do all her paperwork.” Jared grinned at him.
Wyatt sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Shit. I think you’re right.”
“Sorry, Captain. You know the saying. Shit and hills.”
Cassie frowned. “What saying?”
Wyatt glanced at her. Jared thought it was weird that she didn’t know it, but Wyatt seemed unsurprised. “Shit rolls downhill,” he said.
“Oh.” Cassie frowned then grinned. “Oh! That’s a good one.”
“Yeah, well, not so great for me. But I’m glad she’s keeping you on this one, Jared. It’ll be big for your career if you can bring Ferric in.”
“That’s the thing, sir. I’m worried I can’t.”
“With that Medlar Magi involved now, you’re going to have a lot more resources at your disposal. Don’t be shy about asking for it.” He glanced at Cassie. “And I assume this one isn’t going anywhere.”
“No, sir,” Jared said. “She’s not.”
He nodded. “Good. You’ve been very helpful, Ms. Grim. I’m sorry for the way you ended up here, but I’m glad you did.”
“Thank you, Captain Wyatt,” she said.
“Tell me if you two need anything.” Wyatt turned away. “I’ll make it happen. For now though, go home, get some rest, and start on your paperwork.”
Jared sighed. “Yes, sir.”
“Jessalene running down some leads for you?”
“That’s the plan, sir.”
“Good.” He nodded once. “Good,” he said again. “Keep me in the loop.”
He walked off, leaving Jared alone with Cassie.
“Do we really have paperwork?” Cassie asked.
“A mountain,” Jared said. “A literal mountain. You have no idea. It’s going to take us ages.” He smiled and actually felt excited to dig into it. He remembered why he signed up for the Marshal’s in the first place. It wasn’t for the action and the excitement, but for the peace and quiet.
“You’re so weird,” Cassie said and leaned up against him. “Hey, does this mean I get to see your place?”
Jared nodded. “Guess it’s time. Let’s see what Jessalene has for us first, then we’ll figure out where we’re working from.”
“Where do you live, anyway?”
He laughed. “In the city. We might want to keep staying with Jessa though, if we’re working out here.”
“Ah, I want to see your apartment. I want to see your bed, and smell your clothes, and let you strip me down and fu—”
“Got it,” Jared said, putting an arm around her. “I understand.”
She laughed again and pushed away. “Come on. Let’s go call Jessalene and see if she’s okay.”
“Here,” he said, handing her his phone. “You call her. I’ll talk to one of these uniforms about getting us a ride back to her place.”
“Sounds like a plan.” She took the phone, unlocked it, and skipped off. He was almost disturbed that she knew his pin code already, but he shouldn’t have been.
Cassie was smart and dangerous. That much was obvious. But he never felt danger when she was around, only a deep sense of longing and desire. He felt like she belonged with him, and when Lumi said they weren’t going to try and take her away… it was relief, pure and utter relief.
Because he was prepared to do whatever he had to do to keep her.
He shook his head and wandered off to find a ride.
33
The officer dropped them off at Jessalene’s house. “This good?” he asked.
“This is good,” Jared said. “Thanks for the ride, I appreciate it.”
The guy shrugged. He was young, fresh faced, and smiled. “Beats sitting around at that river doing nothing all day.”
“Which I guess is what you’re headed back there to do.”
“Yep. What a life, huh? Turns out, magic’s real, and being a cop is still really boring.”
Jared laughed and waved as the guy pulled out. Cassie walked over and slipped her arm through his. “Jessa said she’d meet us here soon. What should we do in the meantime?”
He looked at her for a long moment. She stared up at him, her pretty eyes meeting his gaze. “Paperwork,” he said, the word sliding off his tongue like a delicious nectar.
She sighed. “You’re disgusting.”
“Oh god, just imagine.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Filling out form after form, justifying force, explaining situations in that stilted cop language you’re supposed to use. Checking boxes, signing your name. Oh fuck, Cassie. It’s filthy.”
“You pervert.” She grinned at him. “Disgusting. I thought you were a nice boy.”
“I’m not,” he said. “Not at all. I’m a disgusting, filthy pervert, and all I want to do is fill out Form 533-C Sections 1 through 22. Oh god, and the ammunition addendum. Fuck Cassie.”
“Freak,” she said, laughing. She squirmed away and went skipping up to the front door. Jared grinned and walked after her. She opened the door and stepped inside, but froze.
“You’re going to love it,” Jared said, not noticing. “I’m a pro at paperwork. It’ll get done so fast, you’ll be so—” He stopped himself as he joined her in the doorway.
Elise was sitting at the kitchen table. She was frowning, staring down at the table, and looked up at them slowly.
“Elise,” Cassie said. “Hi. We didn’t know you’d be here.”
They stepped into the house and Jared shut the door behind them.
“Sorry,” she said and tried to smile. “I was waiting for Jessalene.”
“She’s with the council, right?” Jared asked.
“Yes, unfortunately.” Elise frowned at them. “I’m sorry about what happened with Ferric. About last night.”
Jared shook his head and glanced at Cassie. She smiled and gestured at the kitchen. “Want some tea?” she asked.
Elise nodded and looked grateful. “That’d be nice.”
Cassie hurried off to make it while Jared walked over and sat down across from Elise. “It wasn’t so bad,” he said. “But we need to find Ferric now more than ever.”
“I know.” Elise stared down at the table again for a long moment, then looked back up. “Can I ask you something?”
Jared nodded. “Of course.”
Before she spoke, he felt her aura lash out at him: the smell of pine needles after the first rain of spring. “What does your family hold sacred?”
He frowned and looked away. It’d been a long time since he thought of that, but there was only one thing his family cared about above anything else.
“It’s not an object or a place,” he said. “But a magic technique.”
S
he nodded. “I see. Can you imagine watching that technique get ripped apart and taken away from you, bit by bit?”
“I can,” he said.
“And your family. They’d do anything to stop that, wouldn’t they?”
“They would.” He met her gaze. “They’d do anything.”
“We didn’t want it to go this far.” She leaned toward him, her eyes almost pleading. “It wasn’t meant to go this far. Ferric said the artifact would amplify Dryad magic, allow us to defend ourselves, to keep the Medlar from taking away what’s ours.”
“But Jessalene told you what it does,” Jared said softly.
“I didn’t know.” Elise tensed. “I’m sorry, Jared. I should’ve told you.”
“You were working with him.”
She nodded and met his gaze. “I’d do anything to protect my clan,” she said, her voice dripping venom.
“Does Jessalene know?”
She shook her head. “No. I kept that from her, and I don’t regret it. She’s a wonderful person, Jared. She wants to do right by her clan, but she doesn’t want to rip the world apart to do it.” She paused for a long moment and sighed. “I wish I could say the same for myself.”
“Where is he?” Jared ask, his voice soft and kind. He didn’t hate Elise, didn’t even dislike her. He fully understood the choice she made, and the difficult choice she was making now. If anything, he respected her for it.
Cassie returned with their tea. Jared sipped his and watched Elise smile at Cassie gratefully. It was peppermint, and it tasted good. Cassie sat next to Jared and smiled back at Elise.
“You can tell us,” Cassie said. “We’re not going to use it against you.”
“We want to help.” Jared leaned closer. “I know it’s hard for you to trust someone like me, so don’t bother trying. Trust your daughter. We want to help your clan, and right now, the first step is catching Ferric.”