by Jami Gray
He sat back down, dropped the side rail, and settled in. Then he brought our laced hands up and brushed in a brief kiss to the back of my hand. “Hey there.”
“Hey,” I said in a husky voice.
His lips curved up, and that relief from earlier made a comeback, lighting the dark chocolate of his eyes to more of a warm and comforting milk-chocolate color. “How are you feeling?”
“Like crap.” There was no sense in lying. I was, after all, in a freaking hospital. “What happened?”
His fingers tightened on mine, and his smile grew a little tight. I did, however, get another absentminded brush of his close-cropped beard against my hand, a touch I was quickly becoming addicted to. Instead of answering, he said, “How about we start with the last thing you remember.”
Hmm. That sounds ominous. “Imogen riding to our rescue.” Memories flickered and steadied. “We got the circle drained, didn’t we?”
The deep lines in his forehead eased, and so did some of the smaller ones around his eyes and mouth. “Yeah, we did, but it wasn’t easy. If she hadn’t shown up…”
He didn’t have to finish, because I remembered my growing dread when the fused magic struggled against our hold, almost as if it had morphed into its own entity with its own twisted agenda. That made no sense since magic wasn’t an intellect, just a manifestation of a mage’s intent and will. But there was one thing that might explain the power’s weird behavior.
“Neil’s last spell?” I asked.
“At best guess, yes.” Zev’s fingers tightened on mine then relaxed as a hardness swept through his face.
As a minor Fusor mage, Neil shouldn’t have been able to pull off a spell of that caliber. A rush of questions begged to be asked, but it hurt to talk, so I kept it short. “Serum?”
Zev did another brush of my fingers against his jaw, the rasp of the soft bristles making my skin jump. “I think so.”
I lifted my gaze from that strangely intimate touch and met his eyes. “Did you ask?”
His lips flattened, and he shook his head. “Didn’t get a chance.”
I could only think of one reason he why he wouldn’t. “Dead?”
“Yeah.” He anticipated my next question before I could ask it. “Kerri’s alive, but she’s not talking either.”
Something in his voice added an unexplained layer to his statement. I frowned. With his free hand, he gently traced the furrows on my forehead, his eyes focused on the movement. When his gaze returned to mine, it carried a puzzling wariness. “I don’t know what happened between you two, but she’s in a vegetative state, and the healers aren’t sure she’ll ever recover.”
Stunned, I wasn’t sure how to react. Part of me felt justified, since she’d invaded my mind and all but held me captive in my own body. If I added in all the lives she’d ruined or helped ruin, her current state was like fate’s way of evening the scales. Still, I thought maybe I should feel something besides a distant sort of regret. Maybe I would later, when I wasn’t attached to an IV and lying in a bed. As if a switch was tripped, I remembered the needles Kerri had jabbed into me, and a whole new set of worries popped up.
I squeezed Zev’s fingers until he looked at me, and I asked the first question to spin free. “What day is it?”
“Sunday. You’ve been out just over thirty-six hours.” That explained the dark circles under his eyes, the lines on his face, and the relieved expression when I first woke up. “I… we were worried you’d be out longer.”
I held the pronoun slip close, saving it for later. “Kerri injected me. What wa—”
“We don’t know,” he said, his voice staying low and a warning glint in his eyes. “The hospital tests came back negative.”
“But the ser—”
The monitor’s beeps sped up, and he leaned in and cut me off with a soft press of his lips to mine. When he drew back, the beeps were for a whole different reason. “The tests were clear, Rory.” He kept his voice soft, quiet, just between us. “There’s no sign of anything out of the ordinary floating through your veins.”
I knew what he was saying, but fear wasn’t letting me go. “Bryan—”
He squeezed my hand. “Imogen asked the hospital to compare your tests to ones taken from Bryan and the others. You’re fine.”
I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of Imogen having my blood, and that must have been obvious because Zev cupped my face, holding me still as he stared into my eyes. “She got to the doctor before I could, but I had the samples and results sent to Sabella as soon as it was done. Sabella gave the doctor permission to share the results, but that’s all Imogen has. Sabella has everything else.”
I would rather Sabella have that kind of information than Imogen, but honestly, I would have preferred that neither the test nor the samples existed. As relieved as I was about the results, it couldn’t smother all my worry. “Then what was in that syringe?”
“I don’t know.” He studied my face as his thumb swept over my cheek. “Hey, don’t borrow trouble.”
“She’s awake!” The excited cry came from the door, and Lena rushed into the room, Evan trailing behind her.
Zev dropped his hand and barely managed to stand up before she all but shoved him out of her way and deftly maneuvered around the IV line. I swore there were tears in her eyes. She wrapped me up in a careful hug. “Oh my God, Rory, I’m going to kill you if you ever scare me like that again.” Her voice was strained.
I managed to return her hug as I buried my smile in her light-auburn hair. “Hey, it’s okay. Obviously, I just needed a nap.” I winced at my lame attempt at humor, but seeing Lena so frazzled brought home how serious the whole situation must have been, and I was at a loss to know how to comfort her.
She knew me enough not to call me on it. Instead, she simply squeezed me one more time before letting me go and taking charge. “Right, then,” she said briskly with no signs of her earlier distress. She straightened then turned to Zev. “You, go home, take a shower, and change. Evan and I will stay with Rory until you get back.”
“Lena-bee,” Evan chided as he stood near the door. “Cut the man some slack, yeah?” He used a finger to nudge his glasses up the bridge of his nose before aiming a smile my way. “Hey Rory, nice to see you awake.”
I gave him a tiny grin and matching finger wave. “Thanks, Evan.”
“All right, boys and girl,” Lena cut in then pointed at Zev. “You, be gone.”
Faint amusement danced over Zev’s face, erasing some of his exhaustion. “You’re kicking me out?”
Lena was unrepentant. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing. Now, shoo.” She waved him toward the door.
He held his position and simply arched an eyebrow at her. Watching them made me giggle, but when Zev looked at me, I said, “Go on, Zev. It’s fine.”
“You’re sure?” His hesitation was clear.
“Yeah, I’m sure.” I lifted the hand attached to the IV. “It’s not like I can go very far.”
He dropped his arms, moved around Lena, and leaned in to press a kiss to my forehead. When he pulled back, he said, “I’ll be back soon.”
There was so much in his eyes and his voice that it brought a lump to my throat and poured warmth into my hidden hollow spots. I reached up and cupped his face. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
He gave me a short nod, straightened, and told Lena, “The nurses should be swinging by in just a bit. You might want to ask them to bring her something more to drink.”
“I’ve got this, Zev,” Lena said gently. “You have a ride here?” When he shook his head, she looked at Evan and got an answering nod. “Let Evan take you home.”
Arrangements made, Zev and Evan left. A wave of exhaustion swept through me as I settled back into the bed. I wasn’t sure how long I’d be able to keep my eyes open, but when Lena dragged Zev’s chair over and sat close, eyes on mine, it was clear she wanted to talk.
Blowing out a breath, I stared back. “What?”
“Are you
really okay?” There was a mix of worry and apprehension packed into her question.
“I’m good. Promise.” When she continued to study me, she did not look reassured, which wasn’t a surprise, really, since she knew what this assignment had involved. I reached out, caught her hand, and squeezed. “Seriously, everything’s okay.”
She looked toward the empty doorway, deep in thought. My neck was starting to ache, so I shifted carefully to my side until I was facing her. When she turned back, she said, “Is it?” Before I could answer, she kept going. “I know you think Sabella’s protection will keep you safe, but…”
Not sure where she was going, I stayed silent.
“He wouldn’t leave your side.” Her gaze rose to mine. “From the moment he rushed you in here, until now, he wouldn’t leave you. When that Imogen chick showed up and started demanding things from the doctor, Zev shut her down, hard.” Hearing that made something inside me warm. But Lena wasn’t done. “That kind of diligence generally comes up when the danger level hits the red zone, so I need to know, Rory—are you really okay, or are you in too deep?”
Lena was my best friend, and I wouldn’t disrespect her by brushing off her concerns. We both knew they were valid. Anytime Arcane Families got involved, risks became the norm. It was like some unwritten law. But even after the last few days and the fact that my secret was slowly but surely becoming not so secret, I couldn’t walk away. And not just because of Zev.
I shot a look at the empty doorway, ensuring that no one lingered in the hall, then turned back to her. “The currents are rough, but I’m keeping my head above water. I’ve got both Zev and Sabella making sure I don’t go under.”
“Zev, I get, but Sabella…” Lena shook her head. “No matter what you think, she’s not doing this out of the kindness of her heart. She’s getting something out of protecting you.”
“I know.” And I did, no matter what Lena thought. I had no illusions about Sabella. When those with power stepped lightly around someone, that would be the one person you needed to watch the most. And as risky as it was to keep Sabella close, it was also the only way I could keep an eye on her.
“About Zev,” Lena said, abruptly switching topics.
“What about Zev?” I returned cautiously, not comfortable with that gleam in her eye.
“So…” She drew out the word. “Things seem to be getting deep with your tall, dark, and broody shadow.”
Heat rushed up my face, and Lena laughed.
“Now that’s a good sign,” Sabella said from her position at the door. Dressed in tailored slacks and silk blouse paired with a hip-length sweater that looked soft to the touch, she was the epitome of class. She was holding a bouquet of purple-and-blue flowers in an elegant vase.
“Are those for me?” I awkwardly rolled to my back.
Lena rose and did her best to help me as Sabella came into the room. “Of course.”
Between Lena and me, we got the head of the bed raised until I was sitting up—well, for the most part. My head swam a little, but Sabella’s presence required my attention. Lena stepped back so Sabella could set the vase on the table near the bed. As Sabella took off her sweater, Lena, standing behind her, raised her eyebrow in silent question and pointed to the door.
I managed a tiny nod because I figured there were a few things Sabella and I needed to talk about without an audience. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
Sabella touched my shoulder and smiled. “You’re ever so welcome.” She looked around, spotted the empty chair, and like Lena and Zev before her, pulled it close and settled in, folding the sweater over the arm.
Lena headed to the door. “I’m just going to grab a nurse and see if I can get you something more than water to drink, Rory.”
“Thanks, Lena,” I called as she left. I turned to Sabella. “I owe you a big thanks.”
Faint puzzlement marred her face. “For…?”
“The scrying stone.”
“Ah yes. It was rather helpful in tracking you down.” She eyed me closely. “Zev mentioned things were rather dicey when he arrived.”
I grimaced. “That’s one way to put it.”
“You disagree?”
I shook my head. “No. In fact I’d go one step further and label things as dire.” I cleared my throat. “So thank you for ensuring that he got there in time.”
She reached for her sweater, dug into a pocket, and pulled out the necklace in question. She handed it to me. “You’ll probably want it back, then. I asked Zev to retrieve it from the items the hospital collected when you arrived, as I wasn’t comfortable with it getting lost.”
“Zev said you have my blood tests and stuff as well?” I asked.
Her gaze sharpened. “I do.”
“Guess that’s another thank-you I owe.”
“No, Rory, you don’t.” Her voice was resolute, her expression intent. “You’re my responsibility. You work for me. As such, unless you indicate otherwise, whatever you share with me stays private. Ms. Frost might have been working under Stephen’s orders, but it does not excuse the blatant disregard of your privacy. I’ve never approved of Stephen’s single-minded focus, and after this, I don’t see that changing.”
I dropped my gaze, nervously tipping the necklace from hand to hand. “About the tests…”
“What about them?”
I caught the necklace in a tight fist and met her eyes. “I know they came back negative, but Kerri injected me with something. If she gave me the serum—”
She raised a hand, stopping me from continuing. “Do you feel different?”
I shook my head.
“Are you sure?” She watched me. “Reach for your magic.”
I followed her directions, feeling the power rise slowly to my call.
“Is it different?”
I spent a minute or two poking and prodding, but other than being understandably sluggish, it seemed as normal as it could get. “No.”
“Then perhaps you’re borrowing trouble.”
I bit my lip then winced because it was chapped and sore. “She said they wanted me for my magic so they could create an antidote to the serum.”
“That may have been their intent, but there was nothing salvageable in that lab, Rory.”
I held her gaze, praying I wasn’t putting my faith in the wrong person. “Swear to me.”
Instead of getting upset with my demand, she seemed proud of me, as if my small defiance pleased her. “I swear, Rory Costas.”
Knowing that was the best I would get, I dipped my head in acknowledgement.
Sabella was quiet for a moment then said, “I’m surprised Zev isn’t here.”
My lips twitched. “Lena kicked him out.”
Amusement lightened Sabella’s eyes. “Good for her. Well, while you’re still awake, it’s best to let you know that as much as I’d prefer to dispense with the follow-up meeting, Stephen and Leander felt a recap of events was necessary. As you are an essential witness to the happenings, the meeting will be postponed until your release.”
“Got it.”
“All right, choose your poison.” Lena swept into the room juggling three cups. “Apple juice, ginger ale, or water?”
“Whatever’s wet and cold will work.”
Lena lined the cups on the table and let me loose. She and Sabella turned on the TV and dialed in a home-renovation show. By the time I sank back into my pillow, I’d managed to join in on the debate between shiplap and wainscoting but lost the battle with sleep somewhere around the granite-versus-marble discussion.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Three days later, I was back in the conference room at Seraglio Siena, but instead of sitting off to the side and observing, I had my butt planted in a chair to Sabella’s right. Between the dark looks Leander Clarke kept aiming my way and Stephen’s unrelenting stare, I began to believe Lena was right to be worried. Even though I was seated between Sabella and Zev, I still felt like I was treading water in the middle of a shark-infeste
d ocean.
On the way into the meeting, I’d asked Sabella how much detail I would be required to reveal. She correctly read my concerns and explained that Bryan’s death, while highly regrettable, was viewed as justifiable considering the threat level he presented at the time. Therefore, the Clarkes could not hold me responsible. As for my potential contributions to an antidote for the serum, she said, “Keep your answers vague, and let me handle the rest.” I wasn’t as confident as she that such an approach would work, but I would do my damnedest to follow her directions.
Once the meeting was underway, Sabella did a remarkable job keeping the discussion civil. Zev, Imogen, and I walked the others through the investigation and our resulting reports. Emilio, Leander, and Stephen all listened closely as we laid out the various connections, from Neil targeting Chloe after her inadvertent discovery of discrepancies to Jonas’s deadly confrontation with Kerri, ending with our conclusions that Kerri or Neil—or both—had used the beta version of the test on animals and unwitting humans with disastrous results.
I couldn’t help but notice Stephen’s barely concealed speculation and excitement when we explained that the beta version serum appeared to work, at least initially. Under the cover of the table, I fisted my hands in my lap to keep from slapping that look off his face. The fact that Bryan had paid the ultimate price for Stephen’s driving need to play Arcane God infuriated me to no end. I wasn’t the only one who picked up on his reaction. Emilio watched the head of the Trask Family with a hard-eyed cool calculation that made me wonder if Zev might be getting a new assignment soon. Leander appeared to be torn between taking his anger out on me and taking it out on Stephen. Strangely, Imogen stayed unruffled at Stephen’s side, outwardly oblivious to the undercurrents, but I didn’t believe it. I caught her staring at me and Zev, something working deep in her cool eyes.
The underlying riptides in the room threatened to suck me under, but every time I thought I would go down, Zev or Sabella managed to keep me afloat. When I was recounting the confrontation with Bryan, Imogen had no qualms about implying that I was a Prism, but when Sabella pressed for proof, Imogen reluctantly admitted she had none as she had been knocked unconscious during most of the fight, coming to only toward the end when Bryan struck out at Zev. Her recollection of what actually happened was blurry, but she remembered Zev facing down Bryan, me yelling, magic clashing, then Bryan dropping at Zev’s feet. Sabella asked Zev to recount the incident, and he did so, neatly tailoring the story so it sounded as if Bryan’s death was an accidental byproduct of Zev and me working together to keep Bryan at bay. I let him and Sabella do their thing until Imogen reluctantly conceded that perhaps her assessment was incorrect.