Myths and Magic: An Epic Fantasy and Speculative Fiction Boxed Set

by K.N. Lee

  She looked up, appearing surprised. “Doctor’s orders, I’m afraid. It’s pain meds.”

  “I said, no.” He glared at her.

  She and the other nurse exchanged glances, then shrugged. She placed the needle on the stainless-steel tray near his bed and patted it. “I’ll leave it here. You’re going to be needing it soon, I can guarantee it. You’ve been through quite an ordeal.”

  “I’m fine.” He glowered at her.

  “He’s got a high pain tolerance,” Kara said. She placed her hand on the nurse’s back and urged her toward the door. The other nurse followed after them.

  Once the door shut behind them, Kara said, “The last thing we need is for them to check your healing body.” She let out a deep sigh. “I hate this. I keep learning about my life by making mistakes.”

  She eyed the world outside the window. Same as the woods after the accident, it appeared innocuous and calm.

  Clouds drifted by. A sparrow landed on the windowsill, pecked at the window, and fluttered away.

  Business as usual all around us.

  Then, she turned to Ace and sighed. “We made it this far.”

  “We did.”

  “Where do we go from here?” Time is running out.

  He took her hand in his. As before, an electrical current surged between them.

  He stroked his thumb across the top of her hand. As he studied her, his entire face softened. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

  “You’re not bad yourself,” she said, savoring the touch.

  “I’m not a woman.” He caught his lower lip between his teeth.

  “Definitely not.” She glanced at his hips, eying the growing bulge.

  “Can’t help it. I want you. A guy can’t hide his desire, especially in this flimsy garment.” His smile grew wider. “Ever done it in a hospital bed?”

  She scoffed. “No.” Heat spread into her neck and cheeks. “And I’m not going to.” There’s Jaidon. At least I think there’s still Jaidon. But now there’s Ace. Gah! She blew out a long breath, hoping to lessen her confusion.

  “Me, neither. When you and I do it, it’s going to be fantastic. Stars all around. Moonlight and wine. The whole hearts and flowers shebang, complete with fireworks.” He kept his eyes trained on hers.

  “What a romantic,” she said.

  “You bring it out in me.”

  Words caught in her throat. Certain invisible currents of electricity twined between them, soul to soul, she started to slip down a darkly delicious corridor in her mind.

  “You’ve got the most beautiful eyes.” A memory stirred in her mind. “When I was little my dad took me to a gem show in downtown Boston. It was some big deal international event. I think I was twelve. There was this uncut rock housed in a display case...”

  “Want to see if I’m uncut?” he interjected, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

  Her eyes rolled. “No, I don’t want to check. Thanks for asking. Anyway, there was this rock housed in a display case under lock and key and security guards and all that. Sort of like we are now.” She laughed. “It was called Benitoite. It had UV lights trained on it and the color was mesmerizing. It shone blue and purple and bits of blue so dark it was nearly black. I remember wondering how something so beautiful could also seem so mysterious and deep. My dad had to tug me away from looking at it. I wanted one, and I mean want.” She swallowed hard, studying the guy before her with the same desire. “When dad told me how much it would cost, I couldn’t believe it...all for a rock. Anyway, your eyes remind me of that moment...of that beautiful stone. I’ve never seen eyes like yours.”

  His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. Still stroking her hand, he said, “Nor I yours. Yours are captivating. Like jewels. Like the most brilliant topaz I’ve ever seen. It’s like the windows to your soul are lined with fire and light.”

  “Thank you,” Kara said, in a low, husky voice.

  The flame-filled hallway which brought her to her Valkyrie life came to mind. She didn’t even bother trying to track the time between then and now. Could have been a few days. Could have been a lifetime. But then her attention flashed to a calendar on the wall behind Ace’s bed.

  Little icons representing the moon’s phases were placed at the appropriate days. She winced. Two days until the full moon. I have two days to keep him alive. And then what? What about Jaidon? Something had switched when she saw him today. He belonged with the body on the bed in room 501. She belonged with...She inhaled sharply, focusing on Ace’s breathtaking eyes.

  “Right,” he said, as if he read her mind. His eyelids lowered and a smile spread across his face. Then, his tongue slid slowly along his luscious upper lip, like an invitation.

  When it disappeared inside his mouth, she lowered her head toward his as if drawn by a gilded cord. She pressed her lips softly to his, her hand coming to rest on his heart.

  The current between them sizzled, pulsing through her veins. She took in his scent—his strangeness—the utterly intoxicating way he stirred her—all while allowing her lips to explore his luscious mouth. Reluctantly, she pulled away.

  “Holy crows, Ace,” she said, stroking her lips with her fingertips.

  Keeping his gaze trained on her face, he said nothing with this lips, everything with his eyes.

  The door snicked open and a man said, “Aw, isn’t this romantic.”

  Ace jerked. “What the fuck? What are you doing here?”

  Kara’s head whipped around. She blinked, reaching for the gun that didn’t exist inside the holster which wasn’t there.

  There, in the doorway, stood none other than Cee-El.

  14

  Kara bolted to her feet, her hands clenched, ready to attack the man in the doorway. “Some security this hospital has. How did you get past them?”

  “Don’t be harsh. There was only one guy. He had to take a leak. How he got his head bashed in against the pristine white toilet bowl is another story.” Cee-El grinned. “Oops. My hand must have slipped.”

  Her gaze whipped back and forth between Cee-El and Ace. “You know this guy?”

  “Ace here is a business associate of mine,” Cee-El said, not giving Ace a chance to answer. He swaggered into the hospital room wearing Army green cargo pants and a loose-fitting t-shirt emblazoned with a picture of a youthful American pop star. His smooth-shaved, boyish face made him look like the pop-star’s pre-teen brother, instead of a twenty-six-year-old master-mind criminal.

  “Is that true?” Kara said, her heart wound tight. And here I kissed the guy, an associate of Cee-El. What have I become?

  “Hardly. I tried to move some stuff through his website, that’s all.” Ace looked away from her.

  “Move what kind of stuff?” she asked, one eyebrow arched. She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “You know...stuff.” He picked at the blue sheet covering his body.

  “Now, now...” Cee-El grasped the railing at the end of his bed. “Don’t be shy. Tell her. Tell her what kind of ‘stuff’—” He added air quotes. “—you managed to move on my site. And be sure to tell how much you made. Chicks dig a dude with moolah. Oh,” he added, drawing the word out along with several snaps of his fingers. “Be sure to tell her about all the cock socks I hooked you up with, too.”

  Kara’s face scrunched. Her stomach threatened to project its contents. Her fists clenched, itching to deck Ace for moving anything through that rat bastard’s dark web. On top of that, her heart seemed to have gone into hiding.

  Cock socks. Sure, she’d had her share of sexual partners before Jaidon but she never slept around—and she never slept with a man-whore.

  “Never heard it called that?” Cee-El grinned at her. “Well, let’s say I always reward my best merchandisers with a taste of, shall we say...prime grade-A pussy. Bad kitties for naughty boys.” He gave her a pointed look.

  Why did he use the term bad kitty right now? He gave me that nickname right before he shot me. How could he kno
w who I am? She shook her head, thinking, it must be a coincidence. He probably uses the term all the time. Then, she fixed her gaze on Ace, hoping to burn holes through his skull for being so stupid as to having anything to do with Cee-El.

  Ace’s head swung to meet her eyes. “Look, it was a mistake, okay? I hadn’t eaten for a week. A friend of a friend asked me if I could find a buyer for a shipment of blow he had in his possession. Believe me, I never use that shit. All I thought was I’d be a middle man. Cee-El’s site uses Frag-Cash, which can’t be traced.”

  “Uh huh,” she said, pursing her lips. I’m aware of every part of his organization. “And then what happened?”

  Ace squirmed beneath the sheets.

  Cee-El whistled. “This guy is smooth. He’s already making moves on you before he’s told you all his dirty deeds.” He snapped his fingers and pointed at Ace. “You’re going to have to tell me how you do that...I always have to confess to how bad of a bad-ass I am before they get in bed with me. Must be the face.” He grinned again, and turned to Kara. “If they think I’m nothing but a cute, fresh-faced guy they won’t touch me. Once they know what I do, well...” He growled and cupped his hand over his groin. “After that, they’re hooked by the mad meat between my strong thighs.” He let out a low, dark chuckle, rocking his hips. “Am I right, Ace, or am I right? Women love a bad, bad boy.”

  “Go to hell,” Ace said.

  “Already live there. It’s fun. You’ll find out soon enough.”

  Ace catapulted upright in the bed. “What are you talking about?”

  Cee-El’s stubby fingers drummed the railing. “I came to call in a favor.”

  “I don’t owe you a thing,” Ace snarled. “I’m not doing you any favors.”

  “Want to bet? Who got the po-po off your trail when the FBI snagged your last shipment, huh?”

  “Your last shipment? I thought there was only the one?” The sensation of numbness formed around Kara’s chest, making it hard to breathe.

  “Gosh, no,” Cee-El said. “There was the first, and the second, and the...” He counted them off on his fingers. “The last one had a bit of a speed bump.” His face soured and he glared at Ace. “Someone decided to get back to diapers and get out of the business. Like that could happen,” he added in a voice so cold it could flash-freeze an elephant.

  Kara blinked. Then, she made her expression blank, as her training dictated. Was that from the last sting we did? The one where I ended up like this, while the other me is dying downstairs? Play it cool, Kara and see what you can find out.

  Ace’s mouth fell open. He snapped it shut. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Seriously?” Cee-El laughed. “The biggest shipment of blow the east coast has ever seen? I not only moved it, after we were done there was no trail. Poof.” He spread his hands before his eyes. “Gone, baby, gone. Cocaine? What cocaine? Ace Diamanté? That loser with the code name Dead Dog Walking? Never heard of him.”

  Ace’s cheeks reddened.

  Kara frowned, fingering the place on her hip where she usually had a gun.

  “That Dead Dog ain’t nothing but a petty street rat, I assure you.” He laughed again. “You’re a funny one. Isn’t he a funny one, darling?”

  “I’m not your darling,” Kara said, wishing she could whip out her flaming sword and slice the smug from his face—after branding her burning initials in his cheek. “And why are you telling me all this? How do you know I’m not going to turn you in?”

  He turned serious, staring at her with cold, dead eyes. “Oh, I seriously doubt you’ll get the chance.”

  She caught herself before gasping. “I’ve got connections.”

  A belly laugh left his lungs. “Oh, really?” he managed to say. “Are they the kind who tried to take me down and failed?”

  She winced. What does he know?

  His ridiculous grin returned. “Let’s not be so serious. Ace, here, he’s an awesome swindler as well as a star boy. This guy loves the ladies. Half the street-sluts in Boston have laid claim to him. Loves to put the old Ace in the hole, am I right, or am I right?” He winked at Ace. “You’ll find out soon enough. In the meantime, I must see to a certain someone in a room downstairs. I hate loose ends, don’t you?” One of his eyebrows arched as he trained his gaze on her.

  Kara’s hair stood on end. He’s talking about the me who’s dying.

  He tilted his head and studied Kara. “Wow. Do you realize you look like an FBI agent I know? The one I have a mind to pay a visit to?” He shook his head, smiling. “You must be her doppelgänger. Isn’t life a trip?” He put his hands on his hips and grinned at Ace, looking like his best buddy. Then, he turned to Kara, leering. “You let me know if you want a real man between your legs.”

  “It sure won’t be your school boy ass,” she shot back.

  “She’s as funny as you are, sport,” Cee-El said to Ace. “Well. I’ve got to see to this loose end of mine.” He started to turn, then paused. “Oh. One more thing. You might want to keep an eye on this guy.” He stabbed his thumb at Ace. “You never know what can happen.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you threatening me?” Kara bristled.

  A vibration buzzed from his pants pocket. Cee-El lifted a finger in the air. “One sec, love.”

  He plucked his shiny gold smart phone free and answered it. “Yeah,” he said. “Yeah. Uh-huh. Okay.” He flung open the door and strode from the room.

  “Oh, no!” Kara groaned. He’s going to kill my dying body! How can I save Ace and save myself? “I’ve got to go, Ace. I’ll be right back, I promise.”

  “Wait,” he called. “What about saving me? This place isn’t exactly top notch security if Cee-El waltzed in.”

  Hustling toward the door, she waved her hand behind her. “Not leaving. Seeing to a detail. I’ll tell them to send more security.” She raced through the doorway, looking everywhere. No sign of Cee-El. As she sprinted toward the elevator, she spied him in one of the waiting rooms.

  He shouted into the phone. His face was flushed beet red. “Just get the god-damned job done. You do your job and I’ll do mine. What? Hell, no. I’m taking care of something then I plan on banging a particularly beautiful red...”

  She rounded the corner, glad he hadn’t noticed her. Instead of taking the lift, she pushed open the door to the stairwell. She hurried down the steps like a line-backer practicing agility drills. Her footfalls echoed in the emptiness. She got to the 5th floor in less than a minute. Throwing open the door from the stairs, she entered the floor hallway, moving at a brisk walk toward room 501. When she got there, the room was vacant, save for the wan figure on the bed.

  “Oh, holy crows,” she breathed, hustling to the other Kara’s side. “We’ve got to save you.”

  Another man’s voice rang in her ears. “Who the hell are you and what do you know about Cee-El?”

  She slowly turned to face him. “Hey, uh, Jaidon…I mean Agent Wright,” she said, her voice revealing her fatigue. I wonder what lies I can make up this time?

  15

  Tension crackled between Jaidon and Kara. She faced him, her expression so tight it ached, while trying to come up with an excuse. “Who says I know Cee-El?”

  All around her, machines hummed, hissed, and pumped, keeping her human form alive on the nearby hospital bed.

  “One of our informants told us. He listened in on a call the bastard just made. He said Cee-El met with a tall, stunning redhead. He went on and on about her. Said she had eyes like fire.” As Jaidon stood glaring at her, Kara affirmed she didn’t want to know him any longer—not in the way she used to. All she wanted to do was pat him on the head, wish him well, and send him on his way. The guy she still longed to connect with, criminal or no criminal, lay in a hospital bed upstairs—if Cee-El hadn’t already offed him. Anxiety spiked in her stomach. No. He’s more worried about taking care of my human self...isn’t he? “I don’t know what you’re talking about. There’s more than one stunning red
head in the world, is my guess.”

  “Honey, this isn’t my first rodeo. I’m with the FBI, remember? A trained agent.” Jaidon crossed his muscular arms over his chest.

  Those arms had once held her tightly to him, soothed her when she was sad, drew her close for passionate kisses. Her nose wrinkled. A kiss that never even came close to matching the kiss I shared with Ace.

  “Look. I’m with a top-secret department,” she said. “We’ve been tracking Cee-El for months now.”

  One of his eyebrows raised. “Really? And what department? Because I work for the FBI. I made a call to a buddy of mine. Top brass. Asked him if he’d ever heard of an agent who looks like you. He told me the only redhead he knew of in the FBI is her.” He gestured toward the dying Kara.

  “Why do you think it’s called the TSD?” she countered. “Top Secret Division. We don’t exactly flash our photos around on Facebook.”

  “And I don’t exactly believe you. I think you’re lying. You lied about being related to Kara, you lied upstairs about being an FBI agent, and you’re standing here lying to me now. Although the albino meathead looked convincing.” He shook his head. “Who do you work for? Cee-El?”

  “Right. The guy who has the most extensive trafficking network on the planet. The guy who moves drugs, traffics in human lives, even transports dead ones. You’re on to me.” She scoffed.

  Jaidon’s forehead crinkled.

  “Wondering how I know so much? I told you. TSD. If you’re after him, why aren’t you running around catching him? He’s on the 11th floor.”

  Jaidon visibly paled. “No, he’s not. He’s out in... he’s...”

  Kara pointed upstairs, a smirk on her face. “He’s up there.”

  Whipping out his smart phone, he pressed a few buttons. He brought his phone to his lips and said, “Agent Levine. Where are you? We’ve got him on the 11th floor. Get a team together. Now!” He turned and raced from the room.

  Kara followed. Good job with the redirect, Agent Falko. When she stepped into the hallway, she came to a halt. She blinked hard at the dark blur of Drascatu snaking along the corridor.