Outrun

by Annabel Chase

  We stopped at the car and I noticed his nostrils flare. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “Someone else is here,” Nick said quietly. “Don’t look around.”

  I stayed perfectly still by the car door, afraid that the next muscle I moved would betray us. “Any ideas?”

  “I don’t recognize the scent,” Nick replied.

  “Would you expect to know who it is?”

  He leaned against the car in a casual manner. “That’s not what I mean. I don’t recognize the scent of the species. Doesn’t smell like a vampire or another shifter.”

  “Is that unusual?” I asked. My nerves began to tingle.

  “For me, I’d say so. I’m a Warden of the West,” he said. “All I do is come into contact with other species. It’s a regular feature of the job.”

  He turned around slowly, hoping to get eyes on our stalker, but there was no one in sight. Gardens, a fountain, and acres of green grass and that was it.

  “That’s…odd,” Nick said. “I was sure I picked up an unusual scent.”

  “What did it smell like?”

  He laughed. “Beer and leather.”

  My brow lifted. “Sounds more like wishful thinking.”

  He opened the car door and slipped into the driver’s seat. “It’s good to keep your defenses up at all times, Mia. You never know when someone is one step ahead of you.”

  “Or ten,” I said. “We should ask Percy whether he met with Sela prior to handing over the sundial.”

  Nick started the car and pulled away. “I’ll see what I can find out.”

  I liked to practice magic in the dark. During my second year at the academy, I formed the habit of sneaking out in the middle of the night to conjure spells and command the wind. For whatever reason, outside in the darkness alone, I felt more like the powerful witch I was meant to be. Maybe it was because I was by myself, and not eclipsed by my shinier roommates. Or maybe it was all in my head.

  I needed this time to collect myself. Earlier I’d received a call from the white-haired man at Nonesuch to tell me that no ring had been located by anyone involved in the Vampire Alliance event. My spirits had plummeted. So much for my clever plan to get Sela’s information. When I’d called Nick to let him know, he’d delivered even worse news—Percy was too sick to speak. We were at a standstill until his condition improved.

  I stood at the base of the turret and focused. Last year, I started practicing my levitation here and managed to get all the way to the top.

  But I wanted to go higher.

  I preferred the inky black of night to any other time of day. I didn't have to worry that I was invisible to others because everyone blended into the darkness.

  I called to the wind to lift me. Immediately, I felt a gust of air gather around my feet and propel me skyward. I passed windows on my way up that I knew by heart. It had taken me a lot of practice to go as high as I could now. That meant I’d spent a lot of time hovering in front of certain windows while I tried to master my craft. When I first arrived at the academy, I worried that my specialty magic was boring compared to others. That it would've been much cooler to have fire at my fingertips like Dani, but I was starting to embrace my powers. Everybody needed air and I controlled it. I could still conjure other elemental magic with my wand if I needed to.

  I made it to the top of the turret and maneuvered my feet to rest on the stone. I liked standing up here and admiring the surrounding landscape, especially when the only light came from the stars above. I had tried to encourage Cerys to come up here with me a few times, but the earth witch was more comfortable with her feet on the ground. I leaned my forearms on a stony ledge and released a wistful sigh.

  “It really is beautiful, isn't it?” a voice said.

  I staggered backward, startled. In all my experience, I'd only encountered someone else here once. A witch called Mabel had been up here crying because she’d failed an exam in Professor Langley's class. She’d never failed anything before, and she worried that her life was on a new trajectory. She'd ridden her broomstick to the top, but she’d not been planning to ride it back down. I’d managed to talk her down, literally. I supported us both with a pocket of air until we’d landed safely to the ground.

  “What are you doing up here?” I asked, peering into the darkness. I couldn't see my unexpected companion.

  The tall silhouette moved closer and my eyes popped when I recognized him. He wore the same leather jacket and sardonic smile. “Brown coat.” The words escaped my lips before I could stop them.

  He chuckled. “That's what you decided to call me? I would've hoped for something cooler.” He paused for a beat. “Not even Mystery Man?”

  I was baffled by his presence here. “You… You don't go here.”

  “No, but you do, and you’re the witch I want to talk to.”

  I took a step backward, my heart pumping. “How did you know to find me here?”

  “Well, it took a little bit of stalking, but you seem to have a routine, which always makes it easy.”

  My fingers curled around the wand in my pocket. “You openly admit to stalking me? What do you want?”

  His expression turned serious. “I’d like to speak to you alone and I had to wait for the right opportunity.”

  “How did you even get up here? You’re not a wizard, are you? I already figured out you weren’t a vampire.”

  “What I am isn't important,” he said. “What I know is.”

  I forced myself to remain calm. If he’d wanted to hurt me, he would've done it already. He could have pushed me over the edge without saying a word and I wouldn’t have heard him coming. “Let's start with your name. Presumably you know that.”

  “Declan,” he said. “But I don't object to Brown Coat. It has a certain appeal.”

  I released my grip on the wand. “And what is it that you know, Declan? And why do you need to share it with me in confidence?”

  “I know you aren’t a vampire, even though you presented yourself as one.”

  “How?”

  He shrugged. “Not all glamours are effective.”

  “You didn’t even try to glamour yourself,” I said. “Why not?”

  “Wasn’t necessary for me,” he said. “I believe you’re investigating the hostess from Nonesuch. Sela.”

  “Yes. She’s in possession of a stolen artifact. If we can find her, there’s a chance we can recover it.”

  “Interesting,” he said, though his expression remained blank.

  My heart began to race again. “You were the one following us.” The moment the words slipped past my lips, I knew I was right. Nick had sensed an unfamiliar presence and I had no doubt it was the mysterious Brown Coat.

  “I wasn't following you then,” he admitted. “I went back to speak to her in private. I discovered the same thing you did.”

  I drew a shaky breath. “That Nonesuch is a rental property.”

  He nodded. “I’ve been doing research to try to find out more about her. She’s proving more elusive than I anticipated. I thought maybe we could team up.”

  “In case you haven't noticed, I'm already part of a team,” I said. “Nick and Lucille’s.”

  “You’re a trainee, not an agent,” he said. “I assume that's why I’m finding you here at Spellslingers.”

  “I’m in my last year here,” I said. “I’m training to be a Keeper of the North.”

  Declan's brow lifted. “The North, huh? Beautiful quadrant. Have you ever been?”

  I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling a slight chill in the night breeze. “How about we play getting-to-know-you later? Why don't you start by telling me why you’re interested in Sela? Or is it the sundial that you’re after?”

  “Sundial,” he repeated. “Is that one of the items in the silent auction?”

  “If you’re not interested in recovering an artifact, then why are you investigating Sela?”

  He dragged a hand through his dirty blond hair and I noticed the size of his b
icep. My throat tightened.

  “I have my reasons, but they have nothing to do with a sundial.” He broke into a broad smile. “But that doesn't mean we can't work together, does it? We share a common goal—to find Sela. Can that be enough?”

  “How do I know that I can trust you?” I asked.

  “I’m not interested in hurting Sela, if that's what you're worried about,” he said. “I’m not interested in hurting you either, for that matter. And I assume you’re not interested in hurting me because, otherwise, you would’ve used that wand in your pocket already.” He offered a sly grin.

  “I’m not even sure that I can work with you,” I said. “The AMF wouldn't approve of passing confidential information to an outsider.”

  “You don’t seem to have any more information about Sela at this point than I do,” Declan said. “Maybe I’ll be the one to share intel with you. Make you look like a superstar to that team of yours.” He offered a sly smile. “You do want to make a good impression, don’t you?”

  “Of course.” Desperately.

  He extended a hand. “Good, then do we have a deal, Amelia Holmes?”

  I stared at his hand a beat before accepting. I wanted to trust him, and I pictured Nick giving me a lecture as to why that was a bad idea. I worried that he was some sort of warlock casting a trust spell over me. Then again, it could just be those piercing green eyes. Even in the black of night, they sparkled with life. Whoever Declan was, he now had my full attention.

  Chapter Five

  Declan and I stood outside Arthouse, an art gallery where we would allegedly find Sela.

  “How did you find her?” I asked.

  “My oracle,” he replied.

  I balked. “Your oracle?”

  “What’s wrong with that?” he said. “She’s the reason I was at the fundraiser. She told me I needed to find the red viper in a pit of black adders at Nonesuch. That when I found her, I’d find my fate. When I met Sela, I knew she was the red viper.”

  “Why did you need to find her?”

  He shoved his hands in his coat pockets. “Don’t know that part. Oracles don’t tend to be specific. When nothing seemed amiss at Nonesuch that evening, I decided to check back another time.”

  “And that’s when you saw Nick and me.”

  He nodded. “I went back to the oracle after you and I spoke last night and she saw this gallery in her vision.”

  “She works late hours,” I remarked wryly.

  “She’s an oracle,” Declan said. “She doesn’t work nine to five.”

  “Neither does Sela, apparently,” I said. Even though it was the middle of the day, the front door was locked and the closed sign was visible in the window. At the bottom of the sign, it read ‘please contact owner for appointment’ and listed a phone number. I pulled out my phone to start dialing, but Declan stayed my hand.

  “I think it's best if we don't warn her.”

  I squinted at him. “Do I look like an amateur to you? Wait, don’t answer that.” I clicked the phone screen.

  “Fine. Go ahead and call. I'll be interested to see how you handle this.”

  I was tempted to stick out my tongue, but I figured that wasn't very professional. “You sound very superior for someone who isn’t an agent.” In fact, I still had no clue what the mysterious stranger was, other than someone who consulted oracles on a regular basis.

  “Just because I don't get a fancy agency title doesn't mean I can't offer you constructive tips. Trust me, I've been there and back again.”

  I dialed the number on the sign and waited.

  “Arthouse,” a female voice said.

  “Hi, my boyfriend and I are standing outside your gallery and we have just spotted the perfect piece for over our fireplace. Would it be possible to come inside and see it up close?”

  “Of course,” the woman replied. “I’ll be right there.”

  Declan’s expression was a mixture of admiration and surprise.

  I tucked the phone away. “Try not to underestimate me. I do that enough myself.”

  Declan grinned. “I won't make that mistake again. Promise.”

  The door to the gallery opened and I recognized Sela from the event. She looked slightly different and I figured it was because she wasn't glammed up in the middle of the day. Her cheeks popped with color and her wavy hair was worn loose around her shoulders.

  “Please, come in,” Sela said. If she recognized either one of us from Nonesuch, she didn’t let on. “I’m so pleased that you've seen something you like. Which one is it? No, wait. Let me guess. I'm quite good at that.”

  We entered the gallery and she took a moment to study us. Although her smile was welcoming and pleasant, her eyes were calculating and cold. A shiver traveled down my spine and I fought to maintain my smile.

  She waltzed around the perimeter of the gallery, pausing every so often to contemplate a painting. There was a wide variety of artwork on display. One painting showed a horned demon with burning red eyes playing the harp—quite the juxtaposition. Another painting depicted goblins climbing out of bronze pots. I wasn’t sure what the meaning was behind that one. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, smiled at us benevolently from her garden.

  “I’m going to say it’s the painting of Aphrodite,” she guessed. “Am I right?”

  Declan snaked an arm around my waist. “Amazing. How did you know?”

  She tilted her head and clasped her hands in front of her. “Couples in love always go for Aphrodite. It's just the natural path their minds take. As a muse, I wholeheartedly encourage it.”

  A muse? I took a closer look. No fangs. That explained her slightly different appearance. Sela wasn’t a vampire either.

  “She speaks to you, doesn't she?” Sela wandered over to stand in front of the large painting. “Aphrodite’s influence is legendary.”

  “I can picture it on the wall,” I said, turning to Declan. “Can't you, darling? Even the colors are perfect. This painting will tie the entire room together.”

  “Well, you clearly have excellent taste,” Sela said. “Shall we discuss price?”

  Declan gave me a squeeze. “Nothing is too costly for us. We’re building the foundation of our life together. I want to spare no expense.”

  Sela sucked in a breath. “Oh, a man after my own heart. I feel exactly the same. When it's important, you do whatever it takes.”

  I tapped Declan’s arm, as though I’d remembered something very important. “We also need a piece for that pedestal in the sunroom, don’t we?”

  He patted my hand. “I nearly forgot. Do you have any museum-quality items that would suit such a placement, Sela?”

  A slow smile emerged. “As a matter of fact, I just might. What’s your budget for this piece?”

  Declan winked. “The spare-no-expense rule still applies.”

  The muse brightened. “Then I have the perfect piece for you. Wait here and I’ll get it.” She practically skipped into the back room.

  Declan and I exchanged hopeful looks. What a coup this would be if I returned the sundial to the museum and without Nick and Lucille, no less.

  Sela sailed into the room, clutching the sundial. It was the size of a kettle and carved from stone.

  “Oh, it’s like a sculpture,” I said, feigning surprise. “I was expecting bronze or another metal.”

  Sela placed the sundial on the counter. “Not this one. It’s very old and very special.”

  Declan touched the rock. “What’s so special about it?”

  “It has deep-rooted connections to the gods,” Sela said.

  “Is that so? Which ones?” Declan asked.

  “I’m told it used to sit in the garden of Tyr,” Sela said.

  “God of war and justice,” I murmured.

  “Those two things are sometimes in conflict,” Declan replied. “Hard to handle both.”

  Sela observed us with interest. “You know your gods. How lovely. Divine knowledge seems so lacking in the current generation.” She
shook her head sadly. “Kids today.”

  I fixed her with an earnest look. “Are you sure this isn’t intended for another client? It seems too special for our dull sunroom.”

  Sela leaned her elbows on the counter. “To be honest, I have another buyer lined up, but I’m always willing to strike a bargain with the right customer.”

  “You mean for the right price,” Declan said with a knowing grin.

  Sela smiled back at him. “I rely on customers with excellent taste…and deep pockets.” Her tinkling laugh filled the space. “Inspiration is one of the highest virtues. Those who create works of art, for example.” She gestured to the paintings on the wall. “Or those who inspire through great and fearless leadership.” She stroked the sundial.

  “I can’t argue with that,” I said. “We’ll take it, won’t we?” I batted my eyelashes at Declan.

  “How can I say no to such a beautiful face?” Declan said, gazing at me with adoration. My body warmed from the inside out, despite knowing that it was only a performance.

  “Wonderful,” Sela exclaimed. “If you’re taking the painting as well, I’m happy to offer a discount.”

  “Even better,” Declan replied.

  I placed my hands on the sundial. “I’m just glad you didn’t decide to place it in a silent auction.” The statement lingered in the air between us and I quickly realized my mistake. Inwardly, I cringed. So much for acing my first assignment.

  Sela placed her own hand on the sundial. “Who are you?” Her eyes narrowed. “Wait a second. I thought you two looked familiar. I saw you together at Nonesuch. You were admiring a demon mask.”

  This idea had gone from bad to worse in a heartbeat.

  I kept my hands firmly on the sundial. “We’re returning this sundial to the museum, Sela. Let it go.”

  “I’ll do no such thing. This sundial belongs to me.”

  “We have your thief in custody,” I told her. “Percy told us all about your deal with him.”

  Sela’s jaw tightened. “I don’t know this Percy, but I’m sure he said whatever would get him out of trouble. He probably saw me at the event and decided to pin his misdeeds on me.”