by T. M. Cromer
“You owe me nothing, and trust me, you’ll prefer it that way.”
The cryptic response sent a shiver of unease along Rafe’s spine. He was sure owing the Aether anything would be the equivalent of selling your soul to the devil in the Christian world. You might not like what he required of you in the future.
“Rafe tells me the Ring of Dispel is missing.”
Liz nodded, her concern over the absent item apparent.
“May I take a look at your inventory list and see if there may be another object that might work as well?”
“Of course. Whatever you need.” Her eyes never touched on the bodies surrounding them, but instead, locked on Damian. “Do we just leave them for now?”
“Yes. It’ll be hard to determine who they were if anyone else shows up.” He paused as if a thought occurred to him. “Are there mortals in this building?”
Liz shook her head. “No. Nash gave them the week off with pay when this whole thing started. He was afraid they might be hurt should this very thing happen.”
“Excellent. Let’s see what you have on hand, shall we?”
“I’m afraid there are already a number of things missing. Quentin and I were taking inventory when Fake Rafe showed up.”
Damian grinned. “Fake Rafe?”
“That’s what I’ve been calling him mentally.”
“Give me your list, and I’ll save you some time.”
She wordlessly reached for the clipboard on the shelf beside the archive entrance and handed it over.
The Aether simply swept a hand over the ten-page list. “Ostendo.” He then handed the clipboard back to Liz and held up his hands, palms facing outward. His eyes took on a golden glow, and he pivoted his head from side to side. One by one, yellow lines highlighted items on Liz’s inventory sheet.
“Holy shit!” Quentin muttered.
Rafe couldn’t stop his racing heart. Damian made their own use of magic look like child’s play.
The entire process took less than three minutes and revealed nine missing items.
Damian surveyed the list over Liz’s shoulder. “These are all objects to help restore magic. It seems someone didn’t want the Thornes to get their powers back.”
“Fuck!”
They all looked at Liz in silent surprise.
“I’m going to rip Franco’s heart out,” she snarled.
Having seen how feisty she could be in the past, Rafe was the first to grin. “Welcome back, tiger.”
Chapter 15
Liz’s anger hadn’t abated by the time she returned to Alastair’s estate. A huge part of her rage was directed inward. She was the reason Franco had free access to do what he’d done. If she ever got her hands on that POS again, she would tear him limb from limb, patch him together, then do it again for good measure. That rodent deserved to suffer.
“Walk with me.” Rafe’s deep voice startled her out of her revenge fantasy.
“It’s not a good time, babe.”
“I think it’s the perfect time. Let’s take a walk.”
She cast a glance around the room and noticed the watchful expressions of her family. They weren’t judging her, but they damned well should be. How could they all be so understanding and kind? Another of her craptastic relationships had caused this. Tears flooded her eyes and burned behind the lids she closed to hide from the observant group around her. She swallowed hard to keep her sobs at bay.
Rafe’s large, warm hand captured hers and lightly tugged her toward the French doors leading to the garden. When they cleared the exit and were out of sight of the others, he gathered her close. “Qalbi, don’t do this to yourself. You are not responsible for Franco Moreau’s actions.”
“I should’ve had him investigated the instant he asked me out. I could have scryed to be sure he was who he said he was. Anything but trust a man I hardly knew.” She pulled away and began to pace.
“You trusted me when we first met,” he reminded her softly.
“Exactly! And look how that ended up,” she retorted.
Rafe sucked in his breath, and Liz whirled around to face him. “Oh, Rafe! I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. Only that I was hurt after you left, and I knew absolutely nothing about you.” She strode forward and gripped his hands in hers. “Please understand, the dig wasn’t at you. It was at myself. I’m too damned trusting.”
“You’re perfect just the way you are, qalbi.” He bent his knees until his face was level with hers. “Your openness is one of the things I love most about you. You’re optimistic and willing to embrace life at every opportunity.”
“No. I used to be that way when we first met in Paris. Now, I don’t know what I am or how to be.”
“Be free to be yourself with me. Always.”
Her tears started, and for the life of her, she couldn’t stop them. “How do they not hate me? I’ve made them all sitting ducks, Rafe. I’ve put my family in danger because of my naiveté.”
“The Thornes will always be targets, Elizabeth. Your family is envied and feared because of the power they wield. You have to understand this and not blame yourself for things beyond your control.”
The hand stroking her back soothed her to a large degree, but it didn’t take away the ache inside her chest. “I have to fix this.”
“We will. Together.”
“And if Franco falls off a tall cliff without the benefit of his powers to help him teleport to safety, I wouldn’t mind.”
“Consider it done.”
A few heartbeats passed before she spoke again. “Rafe?”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you for not giving up on me. I know I’ve been bitchy and reserved since we met up at Thorne Manor last year, but I appreciate that you kept trying.”
He laughed softly and drew her close again. “As if I had any choice. You, and only you, hold my heart, Elizabeth Thorne. I’ll love you until my dying day.”
“Stick with this family, and it may be sooner rather than later,” she muttered.
“You are ruining my declaration of love with your sarcasm, qalbi.”
“Sorry. Family trait.”
“Indeed.”
Rafe was just lowering his head to kiss her when young, feminine giggles rang out.
“I think we have an audience, babe,” she whispered regretfully.
“Mmhmm.” He sighed heavily. “Tonight, I intend to kiss you senseless.”
“Just kissing?”
“Are you feeling suddenly tired? Should I take you straight to bed to… nap?”
“I don’t trust we won’t have little gremlins spying on us,” she said with a laugh. “But oh, the temptation is strong.”
“You should kiss her,” Sabrina instructed from her hiding spot behind a bush. “Like my papa used to kiss Mama.”
Liz’s smile faltered. There was a wealth of heartache in the child’s words. She looked to Rafe and noted his helpless expression. He didn’t know how to respond any better than she did.
Distancing herself from Rafe, she moved to a concrete bench, sat down, and called out to the child. “Won’t you join me, Sabrina?”
Instead of sitting next to her, the girl climbed onto her lap.
“You’re missing your mom again, aren’t you?”
Sabrina nodded, her eyes brimming with sadness.
“Have you talked to your father and told him?”
“He gets angry when I talk about Mama.”
Liz wasn’t equipped to have this conversation. Damian had his reasons for keeping Sabrina and Vivian apart. Although she didn’t agree separating a child from their mother was the best course of action, Liz owed it to him not to get in the middle of his domestic dispute with Vivian.
“He’s doing what he thinks is best for you, sweetheart,” she finally said. “Your papa’s goal is always to protect you.”
A hiccuping sob caught in Sabrina’s throat, and she wrapped her arms around Liz’s neck, squeezing tightly. She frowned her concern at Rafe even as she hugge
d the girl tight and rocked her.
“Get Damian,” she mouthed.
She needn’t have bothered. Damian, having sensed his daughter’s upset, rushed across the garden to where Liz held the child. “Give her to me,” he commanded.
Sabrina’s arms tightened.
“She told me she misses her mom.”
Devastation flooded his features, and Liz found it heartbreaking to witness.
He took the spot on the bench next to them. “Beastie?” The gentleness in his voice spoke of his adoration for his daughter. “Come here, my love.”
Little arms tightened for an instant, but then Sabrina dove into her father’s embrace.
“I want Mama.”
“I know you do. When we are done helping the Thornes, we will see what we can do to arrange a visit with your mother.”
She drew back, hope replacing her tragic expression. “Really, Papa?”
“Really. It’s past time your mother and I had a conversation.”
Only Liz heard the undercurrent in his tone. Sabrina seemed to take him at face value.
“I can give them their magic back, Papa.”
“No, beastie. It’ll drain you too much.”
“I’m strong. I promise.”
He stared down at her with a mixture of exasperation and love. “I’ll tell you what. You can restore Alastair’s powers. Everyone else will have to wait until we recover the things I need for a proper ceremony. Deal?”
“Deal!” she shouted happily.
“My cousin wouldn’t want to put her at risk,” Liz hedged.
“In normal circumstances, it would drain her, like it did when she helped you. This time, I intend to be her conduit.”
Sabrina did for Alastair what she’d done for Liz; she restored his magic with the additional bonus that his abilities would be next to impossible for another witch to take away. With the exception of the Aether, only a goddess or god had the power to strip them now.
As Damian and Sabrina readied to teleport home, Liz had a tearful moment. She’d grown fond of the Aether and his pint-sized replica.
He enfolded her in a tight embrace. “Take care of yourself, Liz.”
“I will. You, too, Damian.”
“Should you have need of me, no matter the reason, you call me.” His voice was stern like a father’s, but his eyes were full of fondness.
“Promise. And it goes both ways. I’ll always be there for you and your family.”
Liz lifted Sabrina when the child held up her arms.
“I’m going to miss you.” The girl’s chin trembled.
“This isn’t goodbye, you know. I’m a simple phone call away if you want a tea party.”
Sabrina’s eyes lit with joy. “When you stop the bad man?”
“When I stop the bad man,” Liz promised.
The girl peered over her shoulder and smiled shyly at her father. “Is that okay, Papa?”
“It’s more than okay, beastie.” He took her from Liz. “In fact, we’ll insist on it. If Liz doesn’t come to us, we’ll come to her. And we’ll include Chloe, too. How’s that?”
Sabrina wrapped her arms around his neck in such a fierce hug, and Damian’s face began to flush. “I love you, Papa.”
“And I love you, my little miscreant. Now loosen that hold before I expire on the spot.”
She giggled and burrowed her face into the perfect hollow beneath his jawline.
Liz felt a tug at her heartstrings at the sight. Rubbing her hand on Sabrina’s back, she leaned in and kissed her petal-soft cheek. “Be good for your papa, sweetheart. I’ll see you soon, okay?”
“Bye, Miss Liz.”
A floor-to-ceiling band of gold appeared behind Damian. He touched a hand to her cheek then turned with his daughter and walked through the opening he’d created between his home and Alastair’s. The air crackled, and the portal closed with a sizzle and snapping pop.
Liz faced her family and placed her hands on her hips. “Time to get to the bottom of this mess.”
Chapter 16
“Rafe and I should head to France. I’m sure Franklin, er… Franco, will head back to his family’s estate if he isn’t there already.”
“It’s dangerous to confront him on his home turf, Lizzy,” Quentin warned. “There’s no telling how many guards he has in his employ. Also, you should see if you can determine how many of his relatives are involved in this mess and if they have his back.”
“They won’t be going alone,” Alastair countered. “I intend to travel with them, along with a contingent of my own guards.”
“I think this needs to be handled a little more delicately.” Ryker spoke up, and everyone turned to listen to what the ex-spymaster had to say. “If you retaliate without proof, you’ll bring down the Council on your head. The better way to go about this would be to gather evidence against Franco and whoever he may be working with. Also, it wouldn’t be remiss to discover their agenda.”
Liz chewed over his suggestion and silently concluded Ryker wasn’t wrong. To charge in and take revenge on Franco without evidence would definitely land them in a heap of trouble. Even the head of the Witches’ Council—despite her fondness for their family—would find it difficult to protect them from punishment. War, regardless of the provocation, was frowned upon in the witch community.
“Who could infiltrate Franco’s home and business easily?” Rafe asked.
“That would be me.” Liz met his disbelieving gaze. “He wants my magic for whatever scheme he’s concocted. If I pretend to go along with it, we might get the information we need.”
Sweeping a hand through his dark locks, Rafe blew out a breath. “No way in hell.”
“Babe—”
“Liz, please. We haven’t even had a chance to bask in the glow of a reunion, and you’re asking me to sit back while you stroll into a dangerous situation that might get you killed?”
The plea underlining his reasoning wasn’t hard to miss. “Okay. We’ll come up with something else.” She looked at each family member in turn. “Suggestions?”
Spring raised her hand from her seat on the sofa.
“Cousin?”
“Three of you have been supercharged by the Dethridges, if I’m not mistaken.” Spring waited for them to nod. “Right. So I believe you’re strong enough that if you utilize blood magic, you can counteract whoever is stealing and amassing ours. We wouldn’t even have to leave the estate to do it.”
“What would we need for a spell of that magnitude, and where would we find it?” Liz asked.
Alastair answered for her. “Actually, I remember seeing a spell in the Aether’s Book of Shadows. I can call and confer with him, but I think it might actually work without the blood.”
“Remember when we used the spell from the Book of Thoth to bring Mama back?” Summer cast a quick smile in Aurora’s direction. “We used the boost of artifacts and the ancient magic of the standing stones.”
“But there’s no guarantee we could light them again,” Autumn argued from the corner where she stood rocking her son. “We weren’t mortal then.”
Summer grimaced and nodded. “True, but it might still be worth a shot.”
“How did it work?” Rafe asked.
“Each of us, along with our male counterpart, touched the symbols on the pillar corresponding to our element. It was pretty straightforward,” she explained.
“So Liz and I could light the one for…” He faced Liz and frowned. “What is your elemental magic?”
She laughed and produces a flame with the simple snap of her fingers. “I’d have thought that was obvious when I tried to shish kabab Franco.”
Rafe’s lips twitched. “Right. Okay, Liz and I could light the fire symbols.”
A frown drew Alastair’s dark blond brows down. “Aurora and I are able to light the water. But we don’t have enough couples for the remaining three elements of air, earth, and metal.”
“What if we begged a favor from Isis?” Winnie suggested. “
She may be willing to help in that regard.”
Autumn’s husband, Keaton, looked to his brother Coop. “Another option is to ask our parents. Mom’s an air sign.”
GiGi, who had remained quiet throughout their brainstorming session, finally spoke. “There are still members of my old coven who regularly get together. They’d be willing to help, brother. The two remaining families will have an earth and a metal elemental among them.”
“We will need their male and female energies co-mingled. Are they coupled?” Alastair asked.
“When last we spoke.”
“All right. Let me run this plan by Damian. If he tells me the spell will work for us, we’ll gather our resources.” He smiled softly at Winnie. “We’ll keep a favor from Isis as option two.”
The likelihood of their plan coming to fruition was slim, and Liz didn’t want anyone getting their hopes up. “Should we fail to restore everyone’s power, I’m reserving the right to confront Franco.” She squeezed Rafe’s hand. “But only as a last option.”
“Well, you certainly won’t be handling it on your own,” Alastair assured her. “I feel confident with a few key players beside you, you’ll get the answers you need.”
She’d never experienced such solidarity among her family before that moment. They should all hold her in contempt for allowing Franco to get the upper hand, and yet, here they gathered, showing their support and smiling at her as if she hadn’t cost them greatly.
“I love you all so much,” she choked out. “Never was there a family as wonderful as this.”
Autumn shifted Jolyon to her shoulder and held up a hand. “Oh, hell no, cousin! No waterworks. I’m still a hormonal mess and likely to flood this living room if I get started.”
Everyone stared her down.
“Fine.” Autumn sighed her disgruntlement. “We love you, too. Enough of the weepy shit, though.”
Alastair tugged on his cuffs and straightened his tie. “I’ll call Damian.”
Once he exited the room, Aurora let loose a light laugh. “Don’t think for a moment he wasn’t affected, that old softie.”