Magic's Divide

by Serena Lindahl

  Alec and Alena were the only ones in the dining room; Eden expected the others had already eaten. Their conversation stopped as she entered. Alec’s eyes appreciatively scanned her body, and Alena hid a small smile. Eden wasn’t sure whether Alena had picked the clothes on purpose, but she was glad the other woman was smiling and not jealous. That strange emotion she hadn’t identified filled her nose again. It only happened when she was with one of these two. In the office with Alec, it had been overwhelming for a brief time.

  Alec jumped like he’d been kicked, and Alena pinned him with her gaze. “So, Alec, how’s your mom?” Alena asked, laughter coloring her voice. Alec cleared his throat and looked at his plate, his cheekbones actually reddening. Eden didn’t even attempt to decipher whatever inside joke they were sharing.

  She sat down with a plate and began loading potato salad, greens, and slices of turkey onto her plate, savoring another bite of Bette’s mouthwatering bread. She might not be here much longer, and she would miss Bette’s cooking.

  “I called Davin.” Alec’s words broke the silence. “He’s traveling here as fast as he can, this afternoon in fact. We couldn’t discuss much over the phone, but I think I got the message across.”

  Eden felt a flutter of nervousness echo through her. Despite Gideon’s reassurances, she didn’t know the best course of action. Davin Rennert was an influential techie, similar to the man who was trying to pin a charge of arson on her. She swallowed a lump of bread and sipped her drink.

  “Wow, he’s coming that quickly? Are you sure this is a good idea?”

  This clearly wasn’t the first time Alena had questioned Alec, but Alec smiled patiently. “Yes, I’m sure. If I wasn’t before you went into town, I am now. Davin can help.”

  Eden sighed, and the sound was echoed by Alena. Both women shared a look and a small smile. Finally, Alena shrugged. “It’s the best plan we have.”

  Eden ate quickly, exhaustion seeping into her bones and numbing her ability to sense the emotions and lights of the other mages. After lunch, she undressed and slipped into her bed, moaning in pleasure as she wriggled under the covers. She would miss the bed and Bette’s food when she left.

  Chapter Twenty

  Alena

  “You lent her those clothes on purpose,” Alec accused. Alena shrugged but couldn’t stop the grin spreading across her face.

  “Guilty,” she admitted. “She always covers herself so much. I thought it might help her feel better if she looked pretty.”

  “Plus, you like looking at her,” Alec teased.

  “And you don’t?” Alena laughed but sobered as she poked at her potato salad. She wasn’t particularly hungry. The stress of the day threatened to overwhelm her.

  “We should probably talk about that,” he murmured. They weren’t in the sitting room, but no one was close enough to overhear them. Alena threaded her fingers through his on the table.

  “There’s not much to talk about, Alec. You like her, I like her, and there’s a shitstorm waiting to happen.”

  Alec played with his fork. “What if she’s like Margie? Or what if she only likes one of us?”

  “She’s not like Margie,” Alena replied adamantly, remembering the girl who had tried to tear her and Alec apart. That had been a mistake, and they had learned a lot from the situation. They had both been interested in the woman – not as much as they were interested in Eden but enough to explore the attraction. They hadn’t insisted she date both of them, but she’d said she wanted to. It hadn’t taken much time before she started telling lies and brewing distrust, trying to pit them against each other. Her attitude had been toxic and overly needy. In the end, they concluded she hadn’t wanted either of them; she’d wanted the fun and drama the situation caused. Both Alena and Alec had been scarred by the betrayal and were wary of falling for the same girl again.

  “She’s not like Margie,” Alena repeated. “And if she only likes one of us,” she shrugged, “then she only likes one of us. I would never demand that she date us as a couple. It’s hard enough finding one person to like, let alone two. She should lead the way when or if we come out of this.” Alena wondered if she kept repeating the words, they would stick in her brain. Brushing Eden’s hair had been soothing; she had thoroughly enjoyed the innocent contact. She found Eden beautiful and sweet, but she wouldn’t let her attraction distract her from what Eden really needed – a friend.

  Alec nodded and rubbed a hand over his chin. His fingers scratched against the stubble starting to grow despite his morning’s shave. “You’re right. There should be a manual for this kind of thing, you know?”

  Alena laughed. “Techies wish there was a manual for everything. It’s amazing you can eat and shit without precise step by step instructions.” She smiled to soften her criticism. Some techs needed instructions for everything in life. Alec wasn’t one of them. “There is no manual for attraction or love because the heart can’t be studied like a blueprint. Even if it could, it would need daily revisions. Some things can’t be explained, planned, or burdened by expectations. Attraction and love are two of those things.”

  Alec smiled at her, reminding her how handsome and loving he was. If someone had told her as a kid that she would fall in love with a techie and stay with him for years, she might have punched that person. If her own experience didn’t prove her point, she didn’t know what would. He leaned across the table and kissed her before changing the subject.

  “Could you tell she was Magitech when her magic was released?”

  “A little?” Alena replied uncertainly. “There’s something in her energy that seems a little off - not wrong, just different. That could be the tech or something else. The fact that she can communicate in words to her familiar is amazing enough. Also sensing emotions and life energies so clearly? And possible dreamwalking skills? It’s unbelievable. I wonder what else she can do.”

  “Could the communication with her familiar be because of Gideon and not Eden?”

  Alena shrugged. “I suppose so. I never considered that. All the information I have says familiars communicate in feelings, urges, and occasionally in images. I’ve never heard of an animal conversing with a mage in human speak.”

  “I don’t know anything about familiars, but he seems particularly powerful. I’ve never seen a familiar phase; very few mages have that ability. Speaking of familiars, where’s Zar? Did he stay in town?” Alec looked around the room as if he’d just overlooked the massive black beast.

  “He went to make sure that Eden’s mundane friend is all right. Since her apartment was targeted, I didn’t want to take the chance that her friend might be as well. She has a techie husband and two young children. I’m hoping that whoever is after Eden will leave her friend alone once he realizes she hasn’t communicated with Eden since she left.”

  “That was smart.” Alec gently squeezed her hand.

  Alena shrugged. “It was the least I could do, and Zar agreed.” She pushed away her plate, half her food uneaten. Leaning back in the wooden chair, she closed her eyes. Eden’s mage power burst powerfully above her, even though she was asleep. It was like a beacon. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “Trust me, Lena; we already talked about this and there’s no point in worrying right now. Why don’t you go rest as well? We’ll figure things out after Rennert shows up - if there’s anything to figure out at that point. He has a take-charge attitude.”

  “What if I don’t like the way he’s taking charge?” Alena asked.

  Alec chuckled. The warm sound always made her heart skip a beat no matter how many times she heard it. “Well, you’re free to tell him that. Just don’t expect much to come of it.”

  Alena grumbled. She liked Alec because he wasn’t overbearing and domineering like so many men she’d met. She didn’t know if she was going to like this Rennert guy. Sighing, she stood and retreated to her room for a nap. If Rennert was going to piss her off, it was better that she be well rested.

  ***

&nbs
p; After she awoke, Alena met Eden in the sitting room to work on shielding. Eden appeared bright-eyed and happy after only a couple hours of sleep, whereas Alena had tossed and turned the whole time, unable to relax. Eden learned the shielding easily, although Alena suspected Gideon was coaching her as well. He perched beside Eden on the settee and watched them both with slowly blinking eyes.

  Alena admitted to herself after thirty minutes with the pair that Gideon made her uncomfortable. He was uncannily intelligent and missed nothing. The way he stared at her made her think he could decipher her soul. At times, she expected him to open his beak and speak in human words.

  “That wasn’t so bad.” Eden smiled. “I tried to do it on my own this morning, but I didn’t get far. Your image of a box was better than my wall.”

  “The box works great for your own magic. A wall works well for blocking other people’s magic and emotions,” Alena clarified.

  Eden frowned, gnawing on her lip. Alena looked away, staring at the green and white wallpaper. “I don’t think the emotion thing is working well. I can’t turn it off because it’s tied to my sense of smell. But, I also don’t trust my classification, identification, or whatever it is.”

  Alena looked at Eden sharply. She’d never heard of a mage being able to scent emotions. It sounded more like an extra sense than magic. “What do you mean, you don’t trust it?”

  Eden shifted nervously, playing with the edge of her braid. “Well, sometimes I think I smell or feel emotions, but I don’t think I’m sensing the right ones. I think I must be wrong.”

  “Give me an example.” Alena watched Eden curiously. A blush spread across the younger woman’s face, and Alena repressed a groan. Her lack of sleep and stress had her speaking without thinking. She wished she could retract her question because she knew what Eden was going to say before the words left her mouth.

  “Well, sometimes I think I smell desire,” Eden mumbled the words so quickly they blended together.

  Alena cleared her throat nervously and forced herself to continue the conversation. She didn’t want to overburden Eden; Gaia knew she had enough on her mind already. She couldn’t allow Eden to think she couldn’t trust her instincts; that could detrimentally impact her learning. “And why do you not trust that?” Alena asked carefully. Gideon cocked his head at her. Alena thought it might have been a thoughtful expression, but it could also be amusement. Owl expressions were hard to read.

  “Because, well because, oh never mind.”

  Alena steadied herself with a slow breath. “I know you’re embarrassed, so I’ll make it easier for you. I think I know what you’re talking about. You’ve sensed desire from both Alec and I, haven’t you?”

  Eden’s beautiful brown and gold eyes widened, and her mouth opened in a small gasp. “Yes. I thought it was because you guys are, you know, together, but…”

  Alena’s brows rose. She hadn’t thought she’d been obvious about her relationship with Alec, but that wasn’t the important matter. She focused on Eden’s ability to sense emotion. She reminded herself Eden’s magic was the most important thing at the moment, although her elevated heart rate had nothing to do with Eden’s skills.

  “Eden, you should trust your instincts.” She forced her voice to stay level. “I don’t think you’ve sensed wrongly. Alec and I are together, but we have an open relationship. We’re allowed to date other people, as long as we get consent from one another first. It’s been that way since we started dating years ago. We both think you’re beautiful and we’ve talked to each other about our feelings. So, no, you are not guessing incorrectly.”

  Eden’s mouth was a large O now, her eyes still wide. “Oh,” she breathed. Alena waited for her to process the information. She understood it was difficult for many people to understand the relationship she and Alec had. It wasn’t the norm in either territory.

  “Of course,” Alena continued, “we understand you have a lot to deal with right now. I apologize if our emotions are bothering you. It’s not something we can control all the time. And I’m especially sorry if you’re straight because that must be uncomfortable.”

  “Oh, no, I’m not, actually,” Eden stuttered, chewing on the edge of her braid now instead of her lip. “Straight, that is,” she clarified. “I’m attracted to men and women. It is a lot to process, though.”

  Alena forced her heart to ease its sudden, exhilarated pounding at this new piece of information. She was pleased she hadn’t misinterpreted Eden’s appraising and admiring glances. She breathed deeply, forcibly reminding herself of Eden’s fragile situation. “It is a lot to take in. That’s why Alec and I are sorry if we’ve bothered you in any way. We don’t want you burdened by thoughts of a relationship or an attraction right now. We understand you have a lot going on.”

  “Yes, you’re right,” Eden replied in a softer voice, and Alena wished she had Eden’s ability to sense emotions. She didn’t know if she heard disappointment or agreement in Eden’s words. Her face heated, which was amusing to her because she never had a problem expressing how she felt. She was contemplating changing the subject or condemning herself by asking Eden’s opinion when Zar’s howl raised the hair on her neck. It wasn’t a danger howl, but it was a notice to her that someone approached their wards. The animal had returned a short time ago with news that the mundane girl and her family were unbothered.

  Alena stood quickly, her heart pounding for an entirely different reason. She searched past the wards and sensed magic - two powerful mages with heavy shields. Who were they? Had the enemy employed a mage? Had the rich kid’s father employed mage hunters to track them? She questioned Zar, but he could only tell her it was a man and a woman.

  Eden stood and grasped Alena’s forearm. Eden’s magic buzzed along her skin pleasantly. “Gideon says it’s the man Alec called, the one that’s supposed to help us.”

  Alena shot a curious glance at the owl. He seemed entirely at ease; not a feather was out of place. “Already? But there are two of them. And how the devil does Gideon know?” Although she wouldn’t admit it, Alena was slightly envious of Eden’s familiar. Not only did the owl know the identity of the strangers, but he didn’t sense a threat.

  Alena might suspect the creature if it wasn’t an undisputed fact that familiars always had the best interest of their human in mind. At that thought, the owl’s feathers ruffled. He extended his wings, staring at her. Was it possible the familiar could read a human’s mind? Any human’s mind? It seemed like the only way the owl could know the identity of the visitor. Her eyes narrowed, but now wasn’t the time. The mages couldn’t enter the wards without her permission. If it was Rennert, it was rude to make him wait.

  Footsteps heralded Alec’s approach. Charity occupied the top step, watching in curiosity. “Davin just phoned me. That’s him outside the wards,” Alec said, confirming the owl’s declaration. Alena nodded and looked up at the younger woman.

  “Charity, we’re going to have visitors. Can you make sure the younger girls stay in their rooms or outside while he’s visiting? At least until we can trust him?” Alec looked sharply at Alena, but he knew she only had the welfare of her charges in mind. Charity stared at them, her mind twisting with curiosity. Finally, she nodded, and Alena wondered what the devious young woman had planned. Davin Rennert was supposedly a good-looking man. Charity would try to manipulate that to her advantage, but Alena couldn’t do anything about it until it happened.

  “Bette,” she said aloud, “we have visitors. I am uncertain as to their trustworthiness.” It didn’t matter where Alena was in the house, Bette would hear her. The Brownie would also watch over the younger ones, even if it meant their bedroom doors would be locked for the duration of the visit. A tingle in the house’s magic told Alena that Bette heard. She glanced at Eden.

  “You’d best stay here, Eden. Alec and I will greet them. We’ll be back shortly and gather in here.” Eden nodded, though it was obvious she was nervous. She chewed on the end of her braid, something Alena found bo
th childish and endearing at the same time.

  Alec grinned, and they both exited the house to greet the newcomers. “You don’t have to worry so much,” Alec told her quietly when the front door closed behind them. “I’ve known Davin for a long time. He would never hurt another mage.”

  “Who did he bring with him?” Alena asked him sharply, and his eyes widened. It was obvious from his expression that he had assumed Davin Rennert would arrive alone. “It’s another mage,” she explained softly, sorry she had snapped at him. Alec shrugged, looking towards the end of the lane thoughtfully.

  “I assume it will be someone he trusts with his secret, which means he trusts them with his life. That is good enough for me.”

  Alena gently squeezed Alec’s hand. The qualities she loved about the man were often the things that infuriated her the most. Trustworthy, naïve, optimistic, and compassionate were not bad traits, but it wasn’t a pleasant world. Alena had learned the hard way that a little cynicism could save someone’s life.

  Zar trotted from the bushes beside the road as they rounded the small curve that shielded the house from the outside lane. He ran alongside Alena, his pink tongue hanging out. He didn’t seem overly concerned about the visitors, but he also relied on his sharp teeth if they found danger.

  A dusty bike and two figures waited just outside the wards. One was a man, powerfully built and tall. His muscles put Alec’s to shame, and that was from a distance. Dressed in jeans and a leather jacket, he held a motorcycle helmet in his hand. The woman beside him was nearly as tall as him and also built like an athlete. Her curly blonde hair was contained in a messy ponytail, and she stood like Davin did - like she owned the world around her. A dagger belt was strapped around her muscular, leather-clad thighs. She was beautiful, Alena thought, but it was a cold beauty. Her piercing blue eyes sent a shiver down her spine, the jagged scar down one side of her face completing the look.