Wanting to believe, he leaned in and tenderly brushed his lips over hers. He breathed in her sigh as he fit his mouth over hers. She opened for him, her hand landing on his chest as his tongue delved inside her warm, lush mouth. She tasted better than anything he could imagine. It was impossible to resist pulling her against his chest so he could feel her body against his.
His phone rang, breaking the spell, and he ended the kiss. She didn’t immediately open her eyes. Instead she touched her mouth as he left the room.
Scotty better have answers, or he was going to throttle numb-nuts for interrupting, again.
* * * *
Toryn finally kissed her and it left her wanting more. Isadora sat there, her fingers to her mouth, his taste on her tongue, and her whole body burning with anticipation. Then he got up to answer the phone.
Right, still have to work, and maybe someone will tell him what the fuck happened last night.
She knew there was a lot to take in, and more to come. Toryn had her best interests at heart, and she trusted him. Her decision was easy. Let him fill in the details when he was ready.
Ten minutes later, she pulled on her boots and he still hadn’t come back. She found him in the kitchen. There was an apology on his lips.
Isadora threw up her hand and shook her head. “Don’t you dare say you’re sorry. That kiss was a long time coming and if I didn’t have to go to work, I would pick it up where you left off. Sex or not.” She smirked. “Besides, a kiss never hurt anyone.”
Toryn raised one dark eyebrow and she wondered what it was she didn’t know, but chose not to ask.
He nodded. “Another time I’ll explain, however in this world, for the most part, you are right.” He started for the door. “Come on, let’s get you to work, and remember I’ll be there all day, but I won’t look like myself for most of it.”
One inquisitive eyebrow arched. “What? Like who? How?”
“Glamour, something you’ll master after learning a trick or two.”
She stared at him with wide eyes.
His response was a dramatic flourish of the hands as he bowed. He shrank down into the magician, the shorter, white haired, bearded little man who always made her smile.
“Shit, that’s really you?” She giggled and wiggled her fingers. “So the whole zappy thing never surprised you?”
With a smirk, he winked and the air shimmered around him. Between one blink and the next, he was himself again. “My magic isn’t the same as yours. You seem to have mostly inherited your mother’s talents.”
That wiped the smile off her face, as years of resentment settled back down on her. “Yeah, a mother who got rid of me as soon as I was born. How lucky am I?”
“Isa,” he took her hand, “it’s not that simple. They sent you away for your own protection.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” she sighed, “but okay, you may have a point.”
They made it to his front door before she looked up at him with big wide eyes and whispered in horror, “What are they going to think when we walk in?”
He squeezed her shoulder. “The marks are gone and healed already. No one remembers Revolt playing last night and no one knows you were there. As far as they know, Evan started a fight with one of the bouncers, and was shot dead when he pulled a knife. No one remembers what really happened because Scotty and Lonny covered the details.”
“The band knows?” She wrung her hands.
He cupped her face in his palms. “They’re like us, except Scotty and Lonny left for their own reasons. Politics in Faerie get too convoluted and sometimes leaving is safer than staying. I was sent to keep you safe. Remus was sent more recently to make sure I had everything under control, but I’m beginning to wonder where his loyalty truly lies.”
“Shit.” She shook her head and he pulled her out the door. “I knew you and the guys had been friends for a long time. I assumed you were on good terms with all of them.”
“Everyone but Remus.” He started for the street and she followed.
“Got that now.”
They made it two blocks before she realized what was wrong. She slid her arm around his waist. “May as well keep up appearances. If you get all hands off, people are going to think something’s up.”
There was slight grin on his lips but he shrugged. “Last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable. And now, it might be harder to pretend nothing’s between us.”
“Maybe we don’t need to?” she asked hopefully.
“Remus can’t know yet, Princess. For now, we have to keep up appearances.”
“Well, you not touching me will definitely tip them off to something weird, so suck it up and let’s act normal.”
A small smile appeared on his lips. “As you wish.”
Chapter 15
Isadora left Toryn at the bar and went back to the office. Lana squirmed in her chair, looking guilty. She wasted no time blurting out, “Tiffany wants me to hire her. What do you think?”
Isa barely held the laugh back. She plastered on her best innocent look. “Do you know why she stopped talking to me?”
Her eyes blinked wide. “You mean she never told you?”
Yeah, like the conceited bitch would ever admit to something like that. Isa shook her head. “She hasn’t said a single word to me since Toryn took her home over a year ago.”
Lana glanced around, as if someone might overhear and patted the desk so Isa leaned against it. “Toryn called out your name while she had her mouth around his ginormous cock.”
Holy fucking shit. Did Tiffany really tell Lana about his size and what she was doing when he made that blunder? Isa blinked slowly.
Attempting to cover her shock, she responded, “He must have been drunk.” That was a duh, and if anything, only proved Lana’s point.
“Always said you two should fuck and get it out of your systems. You were meant to be together and it would solve so many problems.”
If Isa had her way, that was coming, sooner than later, but Toryn had a point. Not everyone could know. She shrugged. “We’re friends, and if that ever changes, I’ll let you know.”
It was Lana’s turn for surprise, probably because it was the first time Isa didn’t straight-up deny the possibility. At least she let her curiosity slide. “Well, what about Tiffany?”
“Let’s give her a test run. If she doesn’t start shit, she can have the job. She’s been with what’s-his-ass for the last six months or so, right? Maybe she forgot.”
“Well that wasn’t the response I expected. How does tomorrow sound?” Lana asked hopefully.
“Sure. Other than her, what’s new?”
Sighing, Lana became serious. “Did you hear the news?”
“What news?”
“That asshole Evan was shot last night at the club. He pulled a knife on Vinnie when he wouldn’t tell the bastard where you were. Vinnie shot him dead. There were dozens of witnesses.”
“Damn,” talk about altering the story, “I mean, he deserved it considering why his ass was in jail, but wow.” A spell changed what an entire club full of people knew. Amazing.
“I wouldn’t have blamed you if you shot him that night,” Lana said coolly.
“Don’t own a gun.” She shrugged before ducking back out the door.
* * * *
Toryn sat at the counter wearing Mage’s face and body. There was a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand. He always brought her flowers under this guise.
Then it dawned on her. He’d been telling her how he felt for the last few years.
Her whole face lit up. “Aw, for me?”
Winking, he blew her a kiss. “Always you.”
Lana followed her out, saw the flowers, and snatched up a vase they kept under the counter. She handed it to Isa with a nod at the front door. Turning chicken-shit, Lana disappeared into the kitchen, presumably to go flirt with Reese.
Tiffany wandered in, though she wasn’t supposed to be there until the next day, wearing a brilli
ant smile that looked wrong on her. She was always kind of bitchy, even before the whole thing with Toryn. She didn’t do bright and cheery as far as Isa knew.
Isa gave Toryn a smile. “Your usual?”
“Yes please, gorgeous.” He started a trick for Tiffany who had leaned against the corner of the counter, waiting for her.
Tiffany feigned interest, oohing and ahhing. As soon as he finished, she grabbed Isa’s wrist and dragged her back to the office with a creepy smile that gave her chills.
“Why, hello Tiffany,” her tone was pleasant, and she managed to hold back her grin.
“I’m sorry Isa.” Tiffany pouted for all she was worth and Isa knew the next few minutes would be fun.
“For?” she asked innocently.
“I shouldn’t have been such a bitch to you. It clearly wasn’t your fault.” Tiffany sighed and shrugged. “You obviously didn’t know. How could you?”
“Know what?” Isa gave her a wide-eyed look.
She fidgeted, her eyes dancing around the room but never landing on Isa. “I really liked Toryn, and god, he was so good in bed, but then things got … weird… I just…”
Isa half-laughed, not expecting her to say it out loud. “Really Tiffany, I don’t need to know the details. I was kind of surprised when you two had your thing. He’s usually into men.”
Okay, so she knew that wasn’t exactly true now, but until the night before, she honestly believed it.
“Don’t be too sure about that.” Tiffany shook her head with a disgruntled grumble. “That, I could have handled.”
“What?” Isa knew she shouldn’t encourage the confession, but she couldn’t help herself.
“He obviously has it bad for you. Have you never noticed the way he looks at you? Only you? It’s enough to make any woman, man, or whatever, jealous. Besides, he was calling out your name, not mine. And it wasn’t once, but several times.”
Oh shit, no wonder Tiffany wouldn’t talk to her. “Okay, so that had to be a fluke. It’s the first time I’ve heard about such a slip. So I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.” She forced a smile. “Anyway, now that it’s out in the open, are we friends again?” Not that they were best buds or anything, but they used to get along.
“Of course, and I know I’m not the only one he screamed your name with.” Tiffany winced at the harshness in her own words. “Sorry.”
Screaming her name? Right, Isa needed those images out of her head. She held out a hand. “Water under the bridge.”
Tiffany threw her arms around her and hugged her tight. It was so out of character Isa had to swallow her surprise and go with it. Maybe the guy she had been with was warming up her ice-cold heart.
“Forgotten. Besides, I’m so over Toryn.” She flashed the giant rock on her ring finger. “Lyle proposed.”
Lyle? Wasn’t she with a Jonas before? Whatever, if she was happy, maybe she wouldn’t be a bitch to work with. “Congratulations, I’m happy for you.” Isa smiled brightly. “See you tomorrow.”
“Sounds great.”
“Perfect, see you then.” She forced a smile and went for the door.
Tiffany grabbed her arm before she made it out. “You should give Toryn a chance. He’ll rock your world.” She winked, but malice danced through her eyes before she strolled out.
Okay, that was fucking weird. Something was off, but maybe it was nearly dying the night before that had her paranoid.
Toryn sat at the bar in his own face and a playful smirk as he waved to Tiffany. As soon as he turned back to Isa, Tiffany pointed toward Toryn and mouthed the words, “All yours.”
Isa rolled her eyes.
He shrugged. “Told you so.”
Leaning against the counter next to Toryn, she whispered, “She told Lana back when it happened, and me just now.” She licked her lips. “And with more detail than I expected.”
“Now you see how embarrassing it can be? Consider yourself lucky that you caught yourself.” His chuckle was warm and inviting, but there was a hint of jealousy when he glanced toward the kitchen. At least Toryn didn’t know the whole story, like what exactly Reese was doing and why she begged him for it. Talk about embarrassing, especially now that she knew he wanted her and not some guy.
Chapter 16
Scotty and Lonny sat in the back corner with Toryn but they all wore different faces. Isadora gave him a curious glance when Mage got up to move to the table with the two elderly men who sometimes came to play chess in the game room.
“She knows who we are?” Scotty asked with a raised brow.
“I’m betting she has an idea,” Toryn answered. “She needed to know I would be here, so I told her about this glamour.”
“Hey boys.” Isadora grinned as she stepped up to the table. “Lonny.” She nodded at him, he was wearing a plaid hat and matching vest, with trousers. Then she smiled over at Scotty. “Scotty.” Scotty wore an Irish sweater and gray slacks. “Am I right?”
Lonny gave her a slight nod. “Lenny,” he pointed at himself, and then at Scotty, “Sean.”
“And Mage.” She glanced to Toryn with a wink.
“How did you figure it out?” Scotty whispered.
Toryn loved watching her expressions as she worked through it. “Lenny’s plaid is too colorful, reminds me of his Mohawk. You’re still too rugged, Scotty. And Mage showed me his trick this morning.”
“Mmm, so you know we’ve been keeping an eye on you?”
“Yeah, and it’s cool. So what can I get for you?”
They placed their orders and she bounced off to the bar.
“She’s taking it well,” Scotty pointed out with a smirk.
“She doesn’t know everything yet.” Toryn took a deep breath. “I don’t know how or where to begin. She’s going to hate me.”
“No she won’t, man. That woman loves you, regardless of what you think.” Lonny glanced up at the bar. “Look at her, she’s watching you, even though you look like an old geezer right now. You’re lucky, and once you realize it, you’ll be a lot happier.”
Scotty laughed. “Besides, you could help her with the awakening, before that asshole Remus does it for you. Tough work right there.”
“Isadora would sooner kill him than fuck him,” Toryn said through gritted teeth.
“Are you sure? He won’t play fair, and he already knows about her lightning. That’s straight from her mother,” Lonny whispered. “She may be susceptible to some of his more dangerous talents, and right now, she can’t control any of her abilities.”
“I can’t do that to her. You know how hard it is without any warning or knowledge beforehand.”
“Toryn, it’s not like your situation,” Scotty explained quietly. “Sure, she doesn’t know everything, but you care about her, and she trusts you. Isn’t that better than what they did to you? You’d be there for her, to make sure she’s okay afterward.”
“Maybe, but still, it’s a huge adjustment and she has dealt with enough. Now let’s drop that, because here she comes.”
She brought the drinks by. “I’ll be back over when I can.” She took a glance around and shrugged. “But it’s busy, so it might be a bit.”
“No problem.” Toryn grabbed her wrist, pulled her close and plucked a white rose out of nowhere to tuck behind her ear. “We understand.”
She blushed and backed away toward the bar. “Behave, you.”
Toryn couldn’t stop grinning.
“So fucking gone.” Lonny laughed out loud. “I told you she would be happy to know how you felt.”
It was time for answers. “Did you guys find anything out? Anything at all?”
“Remus did go by the jailhouse yesterday, but we haven’t found out why. He wasn’t seen going to the holding cells, but that doesn’t mean a whole lot.” Scotty shook his head. “I haven’t figured out why though. I know Evan and Remus studied together for several years, but some of the shit that asshole was saying about Isa deserving it…”
“Stop, don’t go there. I’m try
ing not to hunt him down and slaughter him without valid proof,” Toryn warned. “I already confronted him about spreading that shit. Does Remus remember anything about last night?”
“Nope,” Lonny snickered, “not yet at least, but he was in contact with Henroyld. Word came down the chain he wants to meet with Isadora. I thought that was only supposed to happen in the presence of Aeryana, and she’s at the Elder Guardian’s Summit.”
“Then I need to stall. I’ll figure something out. My priority is Isa. To the abyss with the consequences.”
Scotty shook his head. “Isa will have something to say about that. Once she finds out, she’s not going to let them punish you.”
Lonny checked his watch. “I need to go. I have a few clients still. Oh, and Remus was fucking with Derringer’s wards last week. Thought I’d warn you. Something is going on. Keep her safe.” He slugged back his drink and left a tip before heading out.
Scotty sighed. “I’ll keep an eye out and let you know, but maybe staying at Isa’s cabin would be a good idea until we can get a better handle on the situation.”
“Right, stay safe, and don’t get yourself into trouble.” Toryn waved him off and went back to the bar.
* * * *
It was nearly time for James to take over. Isadora couldn’t wait to get out of there. Mage went to the bathroom and came back as Toryn, which made her smile. She noticed he was tense, and knew she would find out why soon enough.
James strolled in with a devious grin. “So I hear you’re training Tiffany tomorrow?” He made sure Toryn overheard.
Isa snorted a laugh. “Should be fun.”
“She still mad at you?” He glanced over at Toryn and back at her.
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t tell me she told you too.”
James glanced back at Toryn who only shrugged with a sheepish grin. James’ eyebrow arched as he looked back at her. “Yeah, I know. Why do you think I keep encouraging you?”
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