by Zoe Forward
“FenCor execs.”
Evie whistled. “That’s a death wish. Sorry, sweetie,” she said to Nova. “Never get into business with that group. I almost did once on a job. The second I realized who funded it, I withdrew.”
Roman said, “We found what might have been her family’s home, but it was abandoned. Someone left a clue for us, though.”
Evie shook her head, chuckling. “You have to assume everything about this circumstance is a clue, dear boy. Let’s start with her name. Nova. Do you think that’s your real name, dear?”
Nova shrugged.
“What name was in the information packet the king or Gerard gave you, Roman, when he asked you to kill her?”
“Not Nova. A few other aliases.”
“Let’s assume, then, the name means something. In Latin, nova means new. Does it mean a new name, a rebirth, a new life? Then, there’s the fact she was sent to you by someone unknown. Why you in particular, Roman? Why not Flynn or Ky? What do you have that’s special that someone would send her to you?”
“Magic,” he muttered.
“What was that? Speak up, son.” His mother set her cup down more forcefully than necessary. Water sloshed over the edge. “No one knows you lads exist or what you do. How did someone find out? Beyond that, how did someone find out you have a fascination with magic?”
Nerves tensed his body as she echoed his concerns. “I’m not fascinated with magic. I must understand it to fight the mega-shits I’m sent to execute.”
His mother glared.
No one moved for several seconds.
“Freaks me the hell out that she was sent to you,” Evie finally said. “It should freak out all three of you, too. It screams colossal set-up. But why? Who’s setting who up? What’s the endgame here? Is it as simple as someone wanted you to save her? Or do they want Nova dead? But if that’s so, why wipe her memory and not kill her outright? Is it someone on the inside, someone in the small circle that knows about you? Then, there’s FenCor…them involved is bad news.”
Roman cleared his throat and pushed a few peas around on his plate without making eye contact with anyone. “She’s got elemental magic powers confirmed by Dom.”
His mother’s lack of instant reply caused him to glanced up.
Evie’s cheeks had flashed pink, which was unusual. She rarely showed that kind of instant emotion. She pretended interest in the bread basket. “You involved the mage?”
Now his mother was being evasive and not meeting anyone’s gaze. Hell, he hoped she wasn’t having one of her flings with that being. He didn’t care if she had liaisons, but Dom seemed too abrasive for her. Too beyond her control.
“He thinks her amnesia was chemically induced and is probably irreversible.”
“Someone wiped your mind with no chance to go back? You got sent to Roman?” Roman started to speak, but she held up her hand. “This might go way beyond magic. Maybe it has to do with someone messing around with the kind of paranormal insanity that you boys contend with on a weekly basis. Maybe it’s something else entirely.”
“You’re not helping,” Roman muttered and swirled the glass of red wine that had been set in front of him, not in the least interested in drinking it. Instead, he downed the Scotch.
“What is this clue at the house?”
“A key.” Nova took it out and slid it across the table.
Evie held her hand over it but paused before touching it. She pushed it around with her knife to avoid contact. “That thing has some wicked juju coming off it.”
“You can tell it’s magical?” Nova asked.
“Can’t you?”
Nova’s eyes met Roman’s. “Yes.”
He’d actually have been interested in her explanation of how the hell she magically turned on a car using that key. Or how she inherently knew certain magic.
Roman said, “It’s got the symbol for a car maker on it, but there wasn’t a Valliante vehicle at the house. There weren’t any cars. I figured we have to go to Spain where they’re made to find out more.”
Evie said, “Could be the brand mark, but given it’s infused with some sort of magic, let me point out that’s also the symbol in elder Futhark Runes for Kenaz.”
“It went through my mind, but seemed too esoteric,” Roman said.
“What are you talking about?” Nova asked.
Evie said, “The Kenaz symbolizes energy and transformation. Maybe it’s not about its meaning, but it’s just a name?”
“You’re into magic, too?” Nova asked.
Evie clasped her hands on the table. “I’m not interested in using it.” She pushed the key around with her knife and then flicked it back toward Nova. “Can anyone link what we know: amnesia, Roman, Nova, Kenaz, and FenCor? How do they fit together?”
“Do you have a phone with internet?” Flynn asked.
Evie signaled to a man at the door, who handed him a cell phone.
Flynn typed. “I’ll be damned. You’re genius. One of the original scientists published on the development of the amnesia drug Dom mentioned, PKC-zeta also called Blackout, was Peter Kenaz. He’s retired, living in Denmark.”
“There you go. Talk to Peter Kenaz. Forget Spain.” Evie smiled, but it fell. “What else? There’s more?”
Roman swallowed. He didn’t want to do this because Shane’s death hurt his mom more than anyone else. “There’s more.”
No one moved.
“Well? Spit it out.” Evie held up her hands.
“Nova woke up with this in her hand.” Roman put Shane’s lighter on the table.
His mother blanched. “That looks like…” She put a hand to the throat. Then grabbed the piece to inspect the bottom where she’d find the S that Shane had scratched into the metal with his blade. “You boys swore you saw my baby, my little heart, die. You said he died in an explosion.”
Roman nodded. “Atomized. We found nothing. No lighter. No remnants.”
“Then how the hell did she get Shane’s lighter? You think he’s alive?”
Roman said, “Someone sure wants us to think so.”
Chapter Sixteen
“How could Shane live and not be bound to the curse?” Evie asked. “It’s a magical bond that you have to obey. It’d draw you back to the home base when they called all of you in, even him.”
Roman said, “It’s his lighter, and it’s not fire damaged. Maybe he gave it to someone before he blew himself up.”
Evie wrapped Roman’s hand around it. “Swear to me no matter what the Crown orders you to do, we will find out if Shane is alive.”
“You don’t have to ask. But…” Roman dropped his head. “I promise I’ll find out who gave this to her. If he’s alive, he may have figured out how to get free of the curse.”
The bond these men shared with their mother warmed Nova from the inside. They were quirky and elegant, yet dangerous and devoted to each other. Deep inside, she wanted this kind of family. A kind that if she got into jam, she wouldn’t be alone. She could see how much they were hurting without Shane, but their shared grief hadn’t broken their bond.
“You don’t seem hungry, Nova,” Evie announced. “Want to do something more fun while the boys stay here and eat?”
“What are you planning?” Roman asked, low.
She put her hands on her hips as she stood. “Have I ever gone back on my word to you?”
He shook his head.
“She’s safe with me. I swear. However, I think she could hold her own.” Evie winked at her. “Come, Nova, let’s do some girl stuff.” She waved for Nova to follow her.
Roman stood.
Evie’s eyes narrowed in a silent order. He planted his butt back in the chair. Nova bit her lip to suppress a giggle.
She followed Evie down two levels of narrow windy staircases to a room that was half library and hal
f TV room. She’d immediately liked Evie, who came off both elegant and self-reliant, yet take-no-prisoners.
“This is a beautiful boat. Or is it a yacht? Everything is so in place and perfect here,” Nova said.
“If you were Coast Guard, it’d seem the perfect luxury.” She angled a book from the gigantic shelving unit on the wall, and an entire bookcase moved away to reveal a wall of weapons. “Tell me which you prefer if we were going to shoot something at 700 yards.”
Wow. Her brain peppered her with information on each weapon. Nova scanned the various handguns, knives, and rifles. “The PSR and LRP-07 are nice if you want to hit a raccoon at a thousand yards. But for me…” She removed a black rifle from its rack and rotated it in the light to view the miniature writing on the side. “The TRG 22AI is perfection. And this one shoots 6.5 Creedmoor, which is far more accurate than the 308.” She looked through the scope. “Nice.”
Evie’s approving grin sent tingles down her spine.
Nova muttered, “Can’t remember my own name, but apparently info on guns and bullets still rattles around up there.”
“Keep the rifle out.” Evie picked up a box of ammo. “Let me see what you can do with her.”
They moved topside, and both sprawled stomach-down on the bow of the boat. Each picked out what the other should shoot on a nearby uninhabited island for a half hour. As proud as she was of the fact she didn’t miss once she sighted in her target, it kind of freaked her out. How had she learned sniper skills?
To distract herself, she asked, “Are you involved with that mage?”
“Wha…what?” Evie sputtered. Wow, she really was terrible at hiding her feelings.
“Uh, that’s a yes. I’ll grant you he’s hot in his own dark, smoldering, and highly disturbing way. Is he nice to you?”
“Are you volunteering to beat him up for me?” Evie’s cheeks flushed, and she grinned broadly.
Oh, hell no. She didn’t want to get within a few thousand miles of Dom again.
“He’s scared of me. And, just so you know, he kissed me. It had nothing, I mean absolutely nothing, to do with us interested in each other. Far from it. Him and me is a definite no. It was done to power a spell.”
Evie rolled her eyes. “He kissed you? Might need to have words with him about it.” The lack of ire in her tone indicated she was secure enough in whatever relationship she had with the mage not to get too bent out of shape. “You like Roman, don’t you?”
Her chest tightened. “Roman is far different than Dom. He’s principled and loyal, even if his curse is demanding he execute me.” She switched on the safety of the rifle she’d been holding and pushed it away from her. “He has to. The king ordered him to do it, and he can’t say no.”
Evie did the same with her weapon and sat up. Nova followed suit. “He’s got honor etched into his soul and integrity rammed up his ass. And a curse that tries to force him to do things, which sometimes put that honor and integrity at odds. But he didn’t kill you the moment he met you, did he?” Evie’s smile sent chills through her. “I think I know why he hesitated. It has nothing to do with honor or integrity or caring about that you’re innocent. Have you kissed him yet?”
“Jesus.” Nova covered her face as her cheeks scorched at the mere memory of their kiss. “He’s your freaking son. This is so awkward.”
“You haven’t?” She threw her hands in the air, clearly exasperated. “I have no idea where the boy gets his moralistic stubbornness. The fireworks between you two are a bloody miracle. Bet it hit him over the head and made his brain go stupid the moment you entered his sphere. Mark my words, Nova. This thing that the two of you feel is a gift you’d better grab ahold of before regret bites you in the ass. You know how rare it is between two of our kind to have the opportunity to feel the connection you found with Roman? To be able to do something about it and not be forced into a mating you don’t want?” She shook her head. “Rarer than a supernova.” She chuckled at her own joke.
“He doesn’t want me.”
“Bull-fucking-shit. He can’t keep his eyes off you. He would’ve protected you against me to the death. He would’ve died to keep you safe against his own mother.” She picked up her rifle and stood, focusing on the horizon. “I would’ve won, of course.”
Again, Nova mimicked her movements, rising up next to her, rifle in hand. “Don’t be so sure. I’m ten times better than him and could easily kick your ass.”
“Ha!” She laughed loud. “You’re a keeper.” Her voice lowered. “A little push and I think he’d walk on the wild side for you.”
Evie had to be kidding. But she kind of wanted to walk on that wild side with Roman.
“Are you trying to set me up with him? Maybe get some grandkids out of the deal?”
Evie paused for a moment, her wry expression turning thoughtful, and a little sad. “I’m trying to see my son be joyful about something again. Ever since he got cursed, what he’s forced to fight slowly sucks more and more of his soul out of him. I don’t know if you’ve gotten to see what he faces off against, but let me tell you, they’re upper-echelon scary. He rarely smiles or laughs anymore. He never cracks a joke. Ever since Shane…he’s gotten darker over the years. Roman is headed somewhere self-destructive. Focus on his missions keeps him sane, I think. But then, apparently, you came along.” She aimed and shot a bit of bark off a tree. “I haven’t seen him this alive and plugged into life in a long time. I’ve explored every option known to reverse that stupid curse binding him to those fuckers, but nothing works.”
Her throat went dry as she remembered her spell had halted the curse’s effect, even if momentarily. “It’s a bad idea wrapped in futility for us to get involved.”
“Life’s short, Nova. One day you’re playing target practice and the next…” Evie shot. Another bit of bark exploded into bits. “You’re gone.”
…
“Where’s Nova?” Roman asked his mother as he leaned against the railing, blocking her path.
“Target practice. Didn’t want to burst her bubble of fun, so I told her to keep going. She’s a good sniper.” She held up a finger. “Let me rephrase that. She’s a trained sniper. As in her skills go way beyond a parent who showed their daughter how to handle a weapon. She’s got military or mercenary training, which raises many questions. How did someone as young as she is—and a lycan woman, too—end up with those abilities? Why would someone with her capabilities do trivial work like assassinate FenCor execs? Strikes me someone was pulling her strings, which meant someone had leverage over her.”
He glanced toward the front of the boat—not that he could see Nova, but he wanted confirmation she was okay.
“You like her,” Evie accused softly in a tone he recognized as one indicating a life lesson on its way.
He wasn’t doing this with his mother.
Time for a subject change. “Dom? Couldn’t you have chosen anyone else?” he asked.
His mom put a dramatic hand over her heart. Then she straightened, and her eyebrows rose as she smirked. “I like men who think they’re indomitable. I knocked Dom to his knees and wrapped him around my finger until he ended up in so many knots, he doesn’t think he can survive without me. It’s fun. Makes for some insane sex.”
“Eww. Just ew. You and Dom? I can’t.” He pressed his fingers into his eyeballs in a failed attempt to shove the imagery out of his brain. “He’s too old for you.”
“We weren’t talking about me, love. We’re talking about you.”
“The king ordered I kill her.” Why did saying it out loud hurt more than the curse that burned his body in punishment over his conflicted goals?
Evie laid a hand on his back, rubbing it in slow, comforting circles. “You hesitated. You rarely waver once given orders. Your brothers have had issues following through in the past, but not you. You’re my dependable soldier. You step in when they can’t
finish a job.”
He gripped the railing, hard. “To save them from the curse hurting them…killing them.”
“It’s why they defer to you as leader. They know you have more backbone to do the disgusting bits. It’s why your handler calls only you in to relay orders most of the time.”
“That’s not true. Sometimes they recall all of us.” Mostly me. I hate it.
“They trust you to follow through. You live by your word. Your honor, which I’m proud as hell of you for having, goes far beyond the curse. But this time, why haven’t you done it?”
He pivoted toward her. “I saw her execute one of the FenCor execs on a recording. She’s not innocent.”
“Isn’t she, though, if she doesn’t remember she did it?” His mom touched his arm. “Roman, you have a special gift to read people and their core intents. Your gut tells you the worth of a person in moments. Has it ever been wrong? Even at times when you thought it might be wrong?”
“No.”
“What did you read off her when she found you?”
“She’s one of us.” She’s exquisite and sexy as fuck and full of life. And, I never wanted anyone the way I want her.
“The reason you didn’t follow an order is because she’s one of us?” His mother’s eyebrows scrunched inward. “Didn’t you take out a lycan last year? A DiMarco brother who messed with an ancient Egyptian artifact, lost his mind, and went on a killing spree?”
Roman swallowed and leaned back against the rail to focus on the stars overhead. “I question the order because she’s…Nova.”
Evie tilted her head and let out a heavy sigh. “Answer the fucking question, Roman. Why do you question the command, now that you’ve seen she wasn’t innocent, when you rarely disobey? I know the curse is hurting you and Flynn. He hides it, but he’s in a lot of pain being around her, too.”
“Uh…” He fiddled with the edge of the railing with his fingers.
“Look at me, Roman. Be honest with me and with yourself.”
Her sharp tone forced him to make eye contact, which he couldn’t maintain for more than a moment. He sucked in his cheeks, unwilling to vocalize his reasons.