Rogue Magic

by McKenzie Hunter

  “Just the situation.”

  “Is Conner…”

  “He’s still very much alive. I really want to remedy that.”

  For a person who could die soon, Gareth was calm. Perhaps he had more faith in Michael than I had. He watched me from his position at the window. “Michael is very persuasive, as any person would have to be to lead the Shifter Council.”

  “Despite what Conner did to Savannah, he didn’t remove her tenacity,” I offered softly. I’d lived with Savannah long enough to know she might be more recalcitrant than any shifter. Stubbornness and fear were a terrible combination. Keeping that thought to myself, I forced myself to appear as relaxed as Gareth was. His mood didn’t make me feel any calmer. It only made me irritated that he could die and all he could do was look at the window as if he was waiting for a pizza to be delivered; I was about to point it out.

  “Worrying or being upset is counterproductive. It will only make you more anxious.” He must have figured out what I was thinking, or at least seen it on my face.

  “I hate feeling like my hands are tied and relying on someone I don’t know and I’m not confident I can trust.” I breathed, trying to subdue my emotions enough to make my voice neutral.

  He eased his way toward me and pressed his lips firmly against mine. He pulled away and licked his lips. “Do you need a distraction?”

  “You cannot be serious about this!”

  “Well, if you’re going to say no, then I’m not serious.” He grinned.

  Recalling how quickly his nephew’s health had declined when he’d been shot with the virus, I knew it had to have cost Gareth a great deal of effort to stand in front of me displaying confidence that probably wasn’t there, for my benefit. Or maybe it was for his.

  I kissed him lightly on the cheek and then hugged him. He wrapped his arms around me, and we remained like that for several moments.

  “Why don’t you have a seat?” I suggested, attempting to give him permission to be ill, to be concerned, to feel overwhelmed. He didn’t need to protect me.

  “I feel better standing,” he said quietly as he backed up to the wall and rested against it. Color left his face and he looked pallid. His breathing had changed noticeably, becoming ragged and sharp. His attention kept going to his hand; I figured he was feeling an abnormal sensation.

  Michael, please be as good as Gareth thinks you are.

  “What happened to Calista?” I asked, hoping the discussion would be a good distraction.

  “She made an attempt to keep us there.” His tone was cold, but weak. “It didn’t go well for her. We were able to call into headquarters on our way here. She’s been apprehended.” He made a face, his voice softening as he continued, “It’s easy to forget about the family.” Frowning, he turned to look out the window again. “She’s not cruel, just mourning.”

  “Then she should handle it like the rest of us and shed a damn tear rather than align herself with the likes of Conner and whoever else is involved with this.” Finding the silver lining in the situation, I asked, “Have they questioned her? Do they have any idea who’s behind this?”

  He shook his head. “No. Whoever it is, they are quite clever. She got the virus from Conner. He knows who’s behind this—I’d love to question him.” Based on his anger-infused words he, like me, wanted to do more than just question him. He wanted revenge. But even Conner might not have been allowed to meet the mastermind. He could be just as useless as the others.

  I stopped questioning Gareth; it wasn’t going to distract him from what was going on with his body. Within minutes sweat formed along his brow. He slipped into the visitor’s chair, next to the window. Closing his eyes, he sank back into it.

  “I’m fine,” he said when I crouched next to him and rested my head against his shoulder, blinking back tears. “Levy, I’m just tired.”

  “I know,” I whispered. It was all I could say without my voice starting to shake. My frustration and anger weren’t enough to ward off the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness.

  “They’re here,” Gareth announced weakly. It was none too soon. His hands were cool and clammy under mine.

  I hurried out of his room to see an influx of shifters forming a human circle around a petite blond head—Savannah. I moved back a little to make sure she didn’t see me and get spooked away as her histrionic entourage led her down the hall.

  “Shifters are dramatic,” I said, flashing a grin. “Present company included,” I teased. “Who offers to ‘distract’ someone in the hospital? You should be ashamed of yourself.”

  It took a great deal of effort but he shot back, “You were worried and in need of a distraction to take your mind off of things. That’s what I did. I’m your handler.”

  I rolled my eyes at the title he’d given me when I’d agreed to help find all the Legacy only if I could work with him. Officially, he was my handler, but I hated the title, which meant he enjoyed it a little too much. “Are we back on that? I said I’d work with you to find other Legacy. You aren’t handling me.”

  “Clearly.”

  Ignoring the innuendo, I breathed out a sigh of relief. He was going to be okay.

  CHAPTER 12

  Gareth had a quick recovery, along with the others, and I was thankful for that. He and I had a hotly contended debate over whether to go to Menta Island or stay and try to find out who was behind the attacks. We’d decided to leave finding the assailants to the FSR and the SG while we helped Savannah. If the attacks continued, we’d need Savannah in her right state of mind anyway.

  Two days later we were at the airport. Gareth refused to hand over his bags to the person who met us at the car when we parked at the tarmac near the airplane. I felt a little guilty because I’d probably made too many smartass comments about him owning a plane. Each time he’d corrected me and pointed out that it was his family’s plane, as if that made it different. It was pretty much like saying, “I don’t own an island, my family owns an island.”

  “I’m dating Batman,” I mumbled, taking the large leather seat next to him.

  “No, you aren’t. Batman is a billionaire and by day he runs Wayne Enterprises; he has a butler, and people signal him using an insignia,” he said brusquely.

  “Fine. Your mother has a corporation that I don’t doubt for one minute you’ll eventually run. Instead of an Alfred, you have a Leslie. Very progressive of you, but your car is kind of the Gareth-mobile.”

  Sighing, he relaxed back into his seat in silence. I focused on the pre-flight details, but once we were in the air, I was faced with the overwhelming reality of what Gareth had done.

  Unfastening my seatbelt, I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. It was more than just an apology, it was appreciation for making this happen so quickly. “Thank you. I really mean it.”

  Giving me a half-smile, he said, “You don’t have to thank me for this, Levy. I wanted to do this for you.” He laid his palm against my cheek, and his lips were just inches from mine. “But if you want to thank me…” I had no idea what he was about to request. “No more Batman comparisons, or Ironman, or Captain Beatty or whatever.”

  “I can definitely assure you I’ll never call you Captain Beatty because there isn’t a person by that name in the Marvel or DC universe. In fact, I’m pretty sure there isn’t a person by that name in any superhero franchise.” Before I could begin naming those who were, he pressed his lips against mine. His tongue was gentle and coaxing. As I laced my fingers through Gareth’s hair, he pulled me over the chair and into his lap. His hands slipped under my shirt and caressed my back then started to roam up to the edge of my bra. They would have progressed if it wasn’t for someone clearing their throat behind me. Embarrassed, I shifted to return to my seat, but Gareth wrapped his arm around me, keeping me in place.

  “She needs to turn around. I have to go over emergency instructions. It won’t take long,” the flight attendant said in an even voice. I turned in Gareth’s lap to find the man devoid of any surprise
or disgust at our display. I figured he’d seen worse and was used to people trying to get inducted into the mile-high club.

  Gareth’s warm lips eased against my ear. “You’re fine, he’s seen far worse than this,” he confirmed.

  “Don’t brag,” I shot back, giving him a look.

  “I’m not talking about me. I’m talking about my parents.” He made a face and shuddered. “They can’t keep their hands off of each other.”

  Laughing, I focused on the attendant as he went over his instructions and waited until I’d moved to my seat, buckled my seatbelt, and acknowledged that I understood everything. Gareth and I declined food when it was offered but settled on a few drinks. I chose cognac, something I would nurse the entire flight. Gareth could drink several of them and be unaffected, one of the benefits of being a shifter, but it was a nine-hour flight and the boat ride to the island added another two hours; I didn’t want to be hindered in any manner. Flashes of Blu’s concerned face in my mind made me more determined than ever to be on my A-game when we arrived.

  Once we were airborne, the drink had relaxed me enough that I accepted Gareth’s offer to take a nap in the plane’s bedroom. An expansive king-size bed was placed in the middle of the room, a shower to the left, and two large, comfortable-looking leather chairs were positioned in front of a small television that was mounted to the wall.

  Gareth’s lips angled into a devilish smirk as he followed me into the room. “It must be killing you that you can’t say something snarky. Poor Levy, she has to keep all her little comments to herself.” He kissed me again. His lips trailed from mine to the curve of my neck until he came to the V of my t-shirt, moving away just long enough to ease it off. His touch was gentle and fluid as it roved over me. Deft fingers slid along my back to unclasp my bra. He discarded it on the floor next to my shirt. My pants quickly joined them. He lifted me and my legs encircled his waist. Depositing me on the bed, he broke from me to slip his shirt off. Cords of defined muscles along his stomach and chest tightened with each movement. I hated his arrogance but it wasn’t without merit. I inhaled his earthy scent as he lay over me. Kissing me again, he nestled between my legs and took no time to settle himself in me. This time the sex wasn’t wild and heated as it usually was but in contrast grew into a steady, easy, sensual movement. His kisses were as languid as our movements together. His fingers glided over my body with a newfound interest as if he was seeing it for the first time. Our culmination came after hours of unhurried lovemaking. It was different, a change I enjoyed.

  Gareth pulled me closer until my back was molded to his chest and I was settled into him, as if we were one. His hold tightened and he kissed me lightly on my shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll sleep well.” A light purred chuckle filled the room.

  Okay, Mr. Arrogance. “I wonder if your parents just used this bed to sleep the last time they were on this plane,” I said, smiling as his body noticeably tensed for a second before relaxing.

  “Thanks for that image.” I could hear the scowl in his voice.

  “You’re welcome,” I said, kissing him lightly on the chin.

  My lips remained pursed tightly together when we boarded the “boat” Gareth had chartered. I’d been expecting a cabin cruiser, not a midsize vessel and crew. Yes, an actual crew. Gareth explained it was a trawler boat, better to handle any unexpected water conditions.

  Before I could comment, he cut his eyes in my direction, a reminder of my promise not to call him Batman or any variation of rich superhero. With great effort I kept that promise as we sailed toward the island. On the deck, I admired the open, azure sky and inhaled the crisp air. The weather was perfect and the motion of the boat was barely noticeable.

  “It won’t be like this the closer we get,” one of the burly crew members said. His resting face was severe, his brown hair cut short. A black t-shirt stretched over his solidly well-defined body. The edges of the sleeves obscured the upper half of his sleeve tattoos. Clearly a man who could handle himself, and his eyes were filled with solicitude. His concern for the trip seemed to be the source of his sullen mood.

  “Have you been to this location before?” I asked.

  He nodded. “Three times—” He stopped abruptly, censoring his words.

  “Continue,” Gareth urged, quietly.

  “Each time we returned with just the crew.”

  Gareth moved closer to me when I sucked in a ragged breath. If I died, I wouldn’t need the bloom anyway. But that wasn’t the truth. It was needed because Savannah couldn’t live in a heightened state of anxiety about supernaturals, especially since to a lesser extent she was one. How long would she require sanctuary?

  The closer we got to the island, the denser the air became. Gareth felt it, too, but our human companions didn’t. Magic breezed through the air, flickering over my skin and burning my nose. Strong. As the boat continued to drift toward a landmass, the waves became more turbulent, rocking the boat so hard it unbalanced me, sending me into Gareth. He held me close, assessing me. I knew he was doing it because he scrutinized me and then frowned. “We can turn around and try to find another way.”

  I shook my head. “I doubt we have another.” Elijah might have been able to show me a few spells including changing my hair color, but he’d been just as lost as everyone else when it came to finding a way to undo Conner’s mind manipulation. I pulled away from Gareth, which I knew wouldn’t help hide my reaction. He could probably hear and feel the desire for revenge—it was palpable.

  “I can go alone if you want,” I suggested, peering out at the barely visible island that was ominously dark despite the sunlight.

  He gave me a look as if I’d asked him to cut off his arm and give it to me as a birthday gift. “I could never do that. We go together and we come back together. We fix Savannah and then find that son of a bitch who’s responsible for the attacks on supernaturals.”

  “Well, if for some reason we can’t get off this island, Blu and Kalen promised to come for us.”

  Gareth choked out a laugh. “That’s backup I don’t want to put my faith in.”

  It was wrong to laugh at them; their intentions were in the right place and I was sure they would make every effort, but I suspected they were better at theoretical practice and non-life-threatening jobs.

  “They’d waste a day trying to choose the best rescue outfits and matching footwear.” He continued to laugh, a deep sound that carried in the wind and lifted my mood. My levity didn’t last long. Moments later the boat rocked so hard it sent Gareth and me to the other side of the deck. The captain began to make commands, and a burly tattooed man ushered us below to the cabin.

  After about half an hour, the waves settled, but the air was so heavily drenched with magic, I knew the waves hadn’t been natural. They were a warning. One that we had every intention of ignoring. We reached the shore, and for the second time I stood face to face with the white-haired captain. He squinted past me, looking at the horizon. As planned, we got there just at the height of the sun. Warmth licked at the skin on the back of my neck, which was exposed because I’d placed my hair in a high ponytail. A teal long-sleeved shirt kept my arms from being exposed, but I’d still slathered on sunscreen just in case. I would hate to survive my visit only to fall victim to the weather. Cargo pants wouldn’t keep me as cool as a pair of shorts, but they had ample pockets where I’d stored knives, zip ties, and two spells Blu had made for me. One was a sopor spell that would render anyone within twenty feet of the mint-colored dust a sleeping beauty. I was convinced that it was nothing more than a heavy dose of witch’s weed. On too many occasions I’d seen patrons at their shops slumped back in their chairs after indulging in it. She assured me it was much stronger. The second one was a carcer spell similar to the protective barriers that I erected. Instead it would keep anyone or thing from advancing, if they weren’t a shapeshifter.

  The captain guided us off the boat. “Good luck, but as per our agreement we will only stay until an hour before the sun sets
. Then we must leave. I wish I could offer you more, but that is our policy.” Again he looked out at the island and sighed. “I have no idea why anyone would come out here, but I’m sure you have your reasons.”

  “We do,” Gareth confirmed.

  “Remember, they don’t play by the same rules we do. They don’t have any that I’ve heard of, which is the reason they live here. They like the old ways, without restrictions. Don’t trust your eyes; glamours might be used. Be careful of shifters: they are far more aggressive than anything you’ve encountered. And you might even encounter one you’ve never seen before.”

  “I fought a three-headed nightmare. There aren’t too many things that would shock me now,” I countered, giving him a reassuring smile. But I had experience with being attacked by something even more monstrous just when I’d thought something couldn’t be topped. Regretting my statement, I wished I could take it back. I didn’t want to tempt the fates.

  “Vampires won’t extend the same courtesy that they do in the States. They can compel with impunity and killing their donors isn’t unacceptable here.”

  I nodded. “I get it, they are in their natural state without societal constraints.”

  Walking ahead of Gareth as we disembarked, I tried not to lose my courage. My vitals were probably sending out too many panic signals and I didn’t want Garth to suggest we abandon the mission—I wasn’t confident I wouldn’t.

  He was dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and khakis. Instead of sai, he had a saber sheathed to his back and enough knives and blades strapped to him to take on a small army.

  Pale sand, clear blue waters, and flowering trees that willowed out made the place look less ominous than it had when we were approaching.

  Trudging through the sand, I assessed the area and then took a drink of water. “It doesn’t seem that bad. With the exception of the sun.” The longer we walked, the brighter it seemed to beam. I slipped on my sunglasses. Gareth’s heightened vision had to make dealing with the sun more difficult.