There has to be an explanation.
She debated talking to the soldiers; instead she headed toward the woman who stared at her with widened eyes. She was joined by a man with a soft middle. They looked like generic suburbanites. He was probably a paper-pusher at some bloated company, and she kept house, clipping coupons and planning car-pools. Ordinary people shoved into not so normal circumstances. Poppy couldn’t help the horror trying to manifest. Perhaps they were homeless after the explosion? There had been a number of natural disasters in the last decade warranting tents and trailers by FEMA.
But no disaster relief involved barbed-wire and military guards, whispered her sub-conscious, the same part of her warning her not to take this assignment in the first place.
The couple watched her, their expressions guarded. The man put a hand on the woman’s shoulder, and as soon as Poppy was within earshot, the woman spoke in a soft southern cadence indicative of her middle-class upbringing.
“Have you been detained too?”
The words ripped away any lie about science and the justification of research and security. These were detainees, and she was one of them. Poppy swallowed, unable to speak, her throat tight.
My God, what had she set in motion?
Chapter Twenty-Two
THE WARMTH OF THE SUN reached through to her very bones. Face raised and eyes closed, Laurie reveled in the vivid glow of the sun overhead. She stood on the stone terrace built into the mountain and allowed herself a moment of being. For a few minutes, she didn’t feel the weight of all four elements threatening to spill out in a disordered rush or the constant nagging fatigue—her relentless companion these past few weeks. Instead, it was as if the UV rays soaked into her, curling around every cell in her body, stabilizing her.
She wanted more of this quiet.
She didn’t expect amusement.
“There is paperwork to be done, and I find you here,” Mikhail said as he stepped out onto the deck. There wasn’t censure within him, but appreciation at odds with his tone of exasperation.
Cracking open one eye, she looked at her lover. “You hate when I do the paperwork.”
“You think too much.” He reached her, wrapping his arms around her from behind as he kissed the top of her head. “You never like the bribes.”
“I have a certain moral problem with them.” Laurie leaned back into him, enjoying the feel of his muscled arms about her and the hard strength of his chest at her back. This was an old argument. One she’d never win.
“And you would have me out of business in a month.” He laid his cheek on her hair for a moment. The elements encircled them both, a living reminder of their responsibilities and protection. She could’ve stood there forever.
“Why do we need so much vodka?” she said with a sigh. What she meant was why did they have to have this much responsibility. But really, Mikhail brought in more vodka to the US than she thought humanly possible to consume.
“Because everyone needs vodka,” he teased, kissing the side of her neck as she tilted it. He released her, stepping back so she could turn around. He smoothed his face into his severe look. He ran a thumb again over her lip and the scar there. “Now we keep you safe,” he said in a low voice. His anticipation of her being released from the blood-tie was strong enough to be a physical caress along her skin.
Collette, Mikhail’s former fire balance—and now his loyal servant—walked out carrying a silver tray with a heavy, ornately-cut crystal glass and sharp knife. She headed toward a cluster of wicker chairs with soft burgundy cushions surrounding a large frosted glass table. The tray and glass sparkled in the light, making even Laurie squint, as the other woman set her burden down with a small thump.
Straightening, she turned to address Mikhail. “The Mage is on his way, and the Dark should be here shortly,” she informed them. Collette’s once magnificent mahogany hair was now gray-streaked. Normally, the woman preferred dying her hair any number of frighteningly bizarre hues. Today, she’d opted for her natural colors of rich brown and gray, complementing her still-beautiful sloe eyes and generous lips. But no amount of makeup could hide the crepe-paper skin and sagging jowls. She was only a few years older than Laurie, a tragic example of what happened to a burned out Elemental. She tried to remember this even when the woman deliberately presented Laurie with her back to address Mikhail.
Still made her a bitch.
“Very good. Get the vodka and the zakuska,” Mikhail said, dismissing her with a nod. Collette swept past Laurie without a word.
Sad really, when all one had were the petty games. Laurie pretended she didn’t make the breeze pick up enough to push at the heavily hair-sprayed coif, ignoring Mikhail’s lift of a brow at her childish behavior. After his horrible moods and attitude in the last few weeks, she was going to exploit his good humor.
“Let me have my fun,” she said in a low voice.
It wasn’t just Mikhail who experienced a dual emotion of relief and elation. She looked forward to not living in fear of being torn to pieces because of Mina. As if she’d called her, the slender Darkling walked out to join them.
A quick glance and Laurie doubled back to stare. Gone was the Goth girl she’d known for a few months, the one with the dirty short hair and crusty clothes, whose favored fashion was skinny jeans, “Doc Martens,” T-shirts, leather jackets, spiked hair, and silver piercings. There, walking toward them in a smooth, easy style was an elegant female with large black eyes, hair smoothed into a pixie, wearing a simple purple sheath and flats. The scars on her face didn’t mar her features; they were instead interesting, exotic, as if she’d planned to have them there. For the first time since she’d known her, Laurie didn’t think of Mina as younger, but as someone far older. It wasn’t until Mina paused in front of her that Laurie spotted the small paper crane perched on Mina’s head, flapping its tiny wings languidly.
“You clean up well,” Laurie managed, nodding to Thomas Voda, who trailed behind Mina at a far slower pace. He returned the gesture, his face solemn. As their Mage witness, he took his duty seriously. Xander was still recovering and unable to be present. Her friends, Rachel and Nicki, were always late.
Mina twirled, her laugh light and infectious, to show off the dress. “I love purple.”
“I see.” Laurie couldn’t help her answering smile.
Mina stopped and walked close to Laurie. For a fleeting second, the urge to step back and away was strong, and Laurie had to force herself to stay where she was. Mina cocked her head in a curious gesture, reminding Laurie strong of a bird, and widened her eyes. Without asking for permission, Mina placed a hand on Laurie’s cotton-covered stomach so lightly, as if she were made of glass. She’d taken to wearing simple cotton sundresses now summer was here.
“Mina?” Laurie’s unease grew, and she took her earlier inclination and stepped back into Mikhail’s hard frame. The elements she carried reacted to the Dark’s touch, roiling, making her skin itch. The Darkling drew back her hand.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Mina’s voice was reverent.
As if from far away, Laurie heard her friends Nicki and Rachel arrive, their light chatter halting as they stepped out onto the terrace. Absently, she thought how very unfair all of this had been to them. Once again, they’d been ripped from their lives by circumstance and forced to change everything because of her and Mina.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Laurie fought the sudden surge of nausea, making her swallow. “What is it?”
“I couldn’t pick up your emotions because there are more of you!” Mina exclaimed brightly. “Oh, Laurie, what will you name them?”
“Name?” She didn’t want to wrap her mind around the words the Darkling uttered. “Are you saying I’m pregnant?” Impossible.
“I hear them,” Mina told her simply. “Their emotions muddy up yours. I was wondering why I couldn’t feel you all the time.”
Behind her, Mikhail became very still. The bond between them mirrored her shock.
> “How is this possible?” Laurie spluttered.
“Didn’t you take Health in high school?” Rachel’s wry voice intruded, and Laurie turned her shocked gaze to meet her two friends. Even Thomas Voda had a look of incredulity on his drawn face.
“I know how one gets pregnant, but…” What could she say? That she wasn’t expecting it? Laurie turned to look at Mikhail, who pulled her to him, putting a hand on her stomach. She’d been told countless times how difficult it was for Elementals, Mages, and Darks to have children. It wasn’t uncommon to have twenty years difference between siblings. But why did she have to be the exception? Maybe they were wrong?
Oh hell, why didn’t she use birth control?
“I think the key thing here is Mina said they, as in plural,” Nicki added. She clutched two bags of cheese puffs in her hand. Nicki didn’t appear phased by what Mina had said, accepting it far more easily than she would’ve a year ago.
“But, I need to take a test…” Laurie wanted to throw up. Her mind couldn’t focus as images fluttered through her mind. Babies. Crying. Diapers.
“I told you, they’re there. I don’t lie.” Mina’s tone was reproachful even as her eyes slid to the bags Nicki held.
“Nyet. We break the blood-tie, and then you marry me,” Mikhail ordered. He believed the Darkling. She could feel it.
“Whoa!” Laurie cried. The wind picked up at this announcement. “Aren’t you moving a bit too fast here? I mean, you’re taking her word for it?” She held up a hand to Mina. “Please, don’t take offense, but how can you tell and I can’t? Don’t you think I’d know?” She looked from one person to another. Her friends looked at her with surprise and a weird acceptance, and Voda looked…hopeful? Why hopeful? It wasn’t his problem. Mina smiled, her midnight eyes sparkling.
“Da. Darks are known for their perceptions,” Mikhail acknowledged.
Laurie whirled to face him. Even he accepted this nonsense.
She couldn’t be pregnant. She wasn’t ready.
“You’ve been tired and sick most days,” he continued and shook his head. “I should’ve known this. I’ve seen it before, but I didn’t connect it.”
Frustration at his inability to use his perception wormed its way between them. When he held his three elements, he’d been able to pick up on things because of his training. She was only beginning to understand what she could do. His reliance on his elements had been absolute. A flare of empathy sparked within her, along with her own panic and a hysterical bit of humor.
She couldn’t even tell when she was knocked up! Laurie used to be able to time her cycle no matter what went on in her life. When she hit puberty, it had become the most reliable part about her. She’d been so overwhelmed in the last few months adjusting to this new world she found herself in, it was the one thing she’d shoved into the back of her mind.
Counting, she realized…“Two months,” Laurie blurted. “Oh, how could I have missed this?”
Acceptance was sudden as a rock landing on her foot, and just as painful. Clouds overhead threw them all in shadow. She tilted her head and looked at the strong features of the man she’d come to love, no matter how frustrating he was. His eyes glowed almost white. He was happy. She wanted to cry.
“You said marriage?” Laurie accused. For a moment, the blood-tie took a back seat. “You haven’t even said you love me, and you assume I’m going to marry you?” The gall. Marriage and babies—this was too much.
“Of course I love you.” Mikhail sounded insulted. “I don’t have to say it—it is in everything I do. This house. Your friends. All of this—because I love you. There. Better?”
At his mention of her friends, she heard Nicki’s snort. She couldn’t blame them if they were annoyed. Not a good moment for her friends to realize he only tolerated them because of her. To him, it was a complement, but it came across as an insult, and trying to explain this would take too long. Besides, there was another matter more important to discuss.
“That’s not romantic!” Forget the babies. If he was proposing, this totally sucked.
A loud crinkling of plastic and crunching interrupted them, snapping her back to full awareness of where they were—standing on the terrace, preparing to break a tie between her and Mina.
“Please, I want to know if you say yes,” Mina encouraged around a mouth full of orange-colored puffs.
Beside her, Rachel and Nicki were smiling, even Thomas Voda looked—relieved? His expressions were strange for someone they’d tortured.
“I…” Laurie tried, as the first splat of a raindrop hit them. Pausing, she smoothed out the turmoil, threading the power bunching up inside of her back into the atmosphere and Boundary. It was like pulling thread from a spool, and the pressure eased. The clouds dissipated, bringing back the glory of the sun.
“There is no question.” Mikhail held up a hand when Laurie opened her mouth to speak.
Out of a knee-jerk reaction, she stopped, for no other reason than shock. Oh, they’d have words later.
“My beautiful Laurie, we must break this tie. It is your greatest weakness right now.” He inclined his head toward Mina, who hurriedly licked off the orange powder on her fingers. “When you are ready.” His tone, while courteous, held a note of impatience.
“Right. Let’s get on with it.” After the public display of her mini-meltdown, it was a bit of relief to focus on something other than her proof she slept with Mikhail, because wasn’t pregnancy just a big neon sign? He’d be lucky if he’d get within ten feet of her for the next few weeks. Hell, the way her mood was, abstinence was looking better and better.
The burn of her cheeks wasn’t from heat but humiliation as Laurie faced Mina, who smiled at her, a spot of orange on her nose.
Picking up the silver tray, Thomas Voda brought it to them, holding it between them. Nicki grabbed a small side table and set it in front of them so he could place it there. When he’d deposited the tray, Mina picked up the silver knife.
“Stop,” Rachel ordered. Her green purse no longer there, she had a makeshift brown leather bag with her now. She pulled out a small bottle of hand sanitizer. “I know what’s about to happen, and you both need to clean off your hands.” Ignoring Mikhail’s cool look, she squirted the clear stuff onto Laurie’s outstretched hands and then to Mina. “I’d prefer if you washed them…” Rachel’s voice died off as she finished catching Mikhail’s expression. “Fine. Well, at least you know I tried to prevent infection.” She moved to stand beside Nicki with a huff. She was serious about her cleanliness.
“How does this work?” Laurie watched as Mina picked up the knife again. She’d asked Mikhail, but he didn’t know the details. This was usually done between Darks, he told her. He lied. He didn’t want to tell her the details.
“Easy,” Mina chirped as she took the blade and sliced her palm deeply.
Laurie’s stomach lurched, as if making a bid for freedom. Thick, dark blood flowed from Mina’s hand into the crystal goblet below. She murmured a few words, and Laurie could feel the power of them—not violent like an Elemental’s or slick like a Mage spell. No, this was softer, as if she were untying something. When the glass was a quarter of the way full, she lifted her hand and licked it, closing the wound.
Glad I missed lunch today.
“Now you do it.” Mina held the silver knife to her, presenting it handle first.
Laurie swallowed. Lunch or no lunch, this wasn’t going well. Her hand shook as she delicately extracted the knife.
“Do I have to?” She knew her voice sounded high and reedy. Blood wasn’t something she ever liked, especially her own.
Nicki looked pale, but Rachel had an avid expression on her face. Voda had no expression, as if he saw this every day—and probably did in one form or another.
She glanced up at Mikhail, who nodded toward her, sending her encouragement.
“Need help?” Mina didn’t wait for her response, plucking the knife back from her and grasping her hand in a shockingly strong
grip. With a single motion, she sliced Laurie’s palm, the sensation cold and sharp, making her first reaction to jerk away.
“Hey!” Laurie didn’t like this one bit. When she saw her own blood, not as dark but a brighter red, flow into the crystal glass, her world tilted. Black spots danced in front of her eyes. Oh, great, now she was going to embarrass herself by fainting.
Strong arms lifted her up under her arms, keeping her on her feet. Mikhail’s warmth at her back helped the spots dissipate. He stayed there until her vision stopped wanting to go sideways. The glass was now half-full. She looked at her hand; the cut was closing rapidly, the flesh knitting together. She blinked. Laurie wasn’t ever going to get used to magic.
“Now what?” Laurie managed to speak, her voice sounding rough. She expected something more ceremonious. A flash and a bang type thing.
Instead of answering, Mina picked up the crystal goblet, swirling the contents together so their blood mixed. With an encouraging smile, Mina tilted the glass and drank half the contents, making a sound suspiciously like Mmm, good. She held out the goblet to Laurie.
“Now you finish this, and it’s done. The tie will be broken.”
“That’s it?” Laurie looked at the thick, dark fluid. “But…” She didn’t want to drink blood. Wasn’t sure she could. She swallowed. The uncompromising feel she got from Mina and Mikhail—funny how she could pick up on both—told her otherwise.
“It’s good. I promise,” Mina whispered.
I can do this.
“Please, don’t let me get sick,” she muttered. With great reluctance, she took the heavy goblet from Mina. The warmth of the blood heated the glass, and she tried not to express an Eww, gross! as she forced herself to put it to her lips.
Don’t breathe through the nose.
This was a trick she’d perfected when she’d been forced to take some medicine or eat something she hated as a child. She’d quickly swallow whatever it was, like liver, chased by water or milk. This blood would break her connection to Mina. Keep her safer. She chanted these words in her head, hoping if she said them enough they’d be true.
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