by T. S. Ryder
“Brock is my best trainer and closest friend,” Cain said. Throwing his arm over Brock’s shoulder. “We’re practically brothers. Nobody pushes me like this guy does. I wouldn't be half the athlete I am without him.”
“That’s high praise,” Michelle said appraising him anew.
“There you are! Why are you hiding in the kitchen?” Cain’s publicist Elizabeth rushed into the room. She had two cellphones, one in each hand. She shoved one in her purse as she grabbed Cain by the hand and pulled him towards the doorway.
“There’s a guy from SpikeTV here who you have to meet,” she ordered.
“I don’t want to-.”
“It’s just a conversation. We’re not agreeing to anything and Brock and Michelle will still be here when we’re done.” Cain gave one last desperate look over his shoulder. But Brock was glad for the interruption. He wanted to talk to Michelle alone so he gave a wave as his closest friend was pulled out of the kitchen.
“Finally, we’re alone,” he said pouring them each another glass.
“We only met about four minutes ago,” Michelle said.
“But already it feels like I’ve known you forever,” he said.
“That’s a pretty corny line.”
“It’s working a little bit, though. Right?”
“Maybe a little,” she said with a shrug.
“So,” Brock said. “Anything ever happen between you and Cain?”
“Would it matter if something did?”
“No,” he said shaking his thread. “I just wanted to ask you out, but if you had dated Cain I would run it by him first. He is my best friend and the guy code, though a great secret, does exist.”
“Nothing ever happened between me and Cain. As his attorney, it would be unethical for us to date. I could actually get into a lot of trouble for something like that.”
“Even though Cain says you’re the best, I’m glad you’re not my lawyer.” That smile appeared again. Her entire face lit up and he had the sudden urge to lean in and kiss her. He wanted to taste her lips and run his hands all over her body. It had been a long time since he felt an attraction this strong. “So, what are you doing this weekend? Can I take you out to a very fancy dinner?”
“You’re sure you don’t want to check in with Cain first?” Michelle asked.
“I was never a very patient man,” he said taking a step towards her. “Besides, Cain had his chance. If he didn’t jump the moment he saw you, that’s his loss. Not mine.”
She looked up at him through her lashes and bit her lip as she debated something in her mind. There was something fantastic in that thoughtful look of hers and his body was urging him ever closer. He couldn’t hold himself back any longer. He reached out and touched her arm, his hand caressing her smooth, dark skin.
“Alright. One date, but no funny business,” she said with a shake of her head, her curly hair bouncing in a halo. “I’m not that kind of girl.”
“Fair enough,” he said giving her arm one last touch before pulling away. She pulled out her phone and gave him her number as he snapped a quick picture of her perfect face before saving the contact. “Are you allergic to anything? Gluten-free? Vegan?”
“Nope,” she said. “I have a very adventurous palate.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Brock said. “I’ll try and live up to that challenge.”
“It’s a date,” she said grabbing her glass. “I have never actually been in Cain’s house before and so far the kitchen is the only part I’ve seen.”
“Let me give you the full tour,” Brock said. He had to fight the urge to touch her. He wanted to put his hand on the small of her back, he wanted to stroke her arms, hold her hand. But he held himself back. She had said no funny business and she was the kind of woman who meant what she said.
He led her around Cain’s penthouse until they ended up out on the balcony with a handful of other people. The Chicago skyline was a light in the darkness. It was a beautiful view. Far below them people hurried in the streets.
“So, why did you become a lawyer?” he asked. It was quieter out here and for the first time, he didn’t have to yell over the music. The wind was pushing her hair over her eyes and she brushed it aside.
“I was always fascinated with the law. I would choose CourtTV over Sesame Street every time. It’s the only thing I ever wanted to be. I got into contract law in law school. It sounds strange, but I really like reading through contracts. I like figuring them out and finding loopholes.”
He nodded. She was going to be a challenge, but the best kind. She was smart, smarter than him for sure. She wasn’t going to be the kind of girl who was going to put up with any bullshit. She wasn’t just going to fall into his arms. But Brock didn’t mind. He loved a challenge.
Chapter Four
She couldn’t help but look up Brock Thaddeus online. After the party, she lounged back in her bed and turned her laptop on. She entered Brock Thaddeus into Google. There were hundreds of pages of results. Under the image tab, there were countless pictures of Brock. He was standing with his arms crossed in front of a weight bench, he was doing a one-handed pull-up, and he was smiling halfway up a rope ladder.
He had won Men’s Fitness Trainer of the Year four times. His weightlifting books were international bestsellers. He had appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America and the Daily Show where he had taught proper weightlifting form to the anchors. He had a degree in sports medicine from John’s Hopkins.
She found out that he used to be a hockey player, but he shattered his right leg during a practice in his freshman year of college. He had to rebuild his entire life in the aftermath. But opportunity can bloom from tragedy. Once he could no longer play hockey professionally he devoted himself to his studies and graduated top of his class.
Now he was interested in her. Michelle sat back against her headboard and looked at the handsome face of the man she had a date with. She wasn’t the kind of girl who went for famous boys. She wasn’t interested in her life becoming public fodder. While Brock was famous, he wasn’t that famous. He wasn’t followed by paparazzi and he seemed to live something resembling a normal life.
He was also wonderfully human. There was no magic in him at all. His aura was a good one, though. It was bright yellow and smelled like a meadow in the early morning. It floated around his body in a calm wave. He had a quick wit and was ready with a smile. She couldn’t ignore the butterflies that started to fly in her stomach when she thought about him.
It had been a long time since she’d been on a good date. She was a high-powered attorney who made a lot of money. She worked with politicians and music artists and professional athletes. She had encountered a lot of men who couldn’t handle that. Somehow her success made them feel inadequate. It seemed impossible to these men that Michelle had a life of her own that had nothing to do with them. They took her success as a personal threat and the relationship usually ended before it really got off the ground.
It bothered her, but she never doubted herself. She wasn’t going to be the kind of woman who hid her light to make a man feel better. She had worked damn hard to get where she was and she had no intention of going backward. It was hard to find a good guy, but she was sure he was out there. She had kissed a lot of frogs but was still searching for her prince.
Maybe it would be Brock. He was well-off and successful in his own right. But even if he didn’t have all that success, she felt that he still wouldn't be threatened by hers. Brock was self-possessed with an easy, relaxed report that spoke of strong confidence. He could have been a bartender and he still would have been cool with Michelle’s job.
***
Three days later, Michelle was back in a business suit with her briefcase in hand. Cain was having a press conference to announce the signing of his new contract with the Black Hawks. They were in a large auditorium in the United Center. There was a long table up front for Cain, Liz and the coach. The rest of the room was filled with reporters milling about waiti
ng for the press conference to begin.
Michelle was there in case there were any questions about the contract. But she had never really been needed, no one had ever asked her anything. She was pretty sure Cain invited her so he could show off. He wanted her to see him in front of all these people. He would be the center of attention. This whole thing was a celebration of him and he wanted Michelle there to witness it. She didn’t mind, it got her out of the office for the morning. She arrived on time with a smile on her face.
Michelle was sitting at an empty bar. The stadium wasn’t technically open. They were just having the press conference here. There were no bartenders, waitresses or patrons, just Michelle on a barstool flipping through a thick contract for one of her other clients. The sound of the paper rustling echoed in the empty room around her.
It felt strange, being in an empty place that would normally be crowded. She kept expecting someone to come over to her and ask for her number. Empty stools lined the bar and there were empty tables and chairs all around her with a great view of the rink.
“Hey,” she recognized Cain’s deep voice. He was standing in the doorway to the bar, leaning against the door jam and looking over at her.
“Hi,” she said smiling at him.
“Is that my contract?” he asked as he walked towards her.
“No,” she said closing the file. “It’s for a different client.” Her smile wavered as he approached. Something about his aura was different. It was red and angry and lashing out. His aura looked like a fire, flames licking the air around him it as if it was desperate to catch hold of something else and set it ablaze.
She noticed his aura before she noticed his expression. His face was set in a hard frown and their normal flirty banter was missing. Her stomach dropped and she quickly looked past him and towards the rink.
He sat down on a barstool next to her. But instead of saying something charming, he just ran his finger around a circular water stain on the bar. Michelle could tell that he had something to say and her stomach clenched as she waited. Had he discovered that she was another Magical? She waited for him to speak, the seconds passing slowly.
“You’re going out with Brock?” he finally asked.
“Um...yeah. Is that a problem?” she replied. Was this what he was mad about, really?
He ran his hands through his hair and frowned.
“Why?” he asked.
“What do you mean, why?” she asked. “He’s an eligible bachelor, I’m a single woman. He asked, I thought about it and I said yes. It’s just a date. We’re not getting married.”
“Why did you say yes to him, but no to me?” her heart sunk when she looked at him. He didn’t look angry anymore. He looked miserable. His handsome face was hanging and he had perfected that whole “puppy-dog” eye thing. Her heart hurt from looking at him. This was the last thing she had wanted.
She was used to viewing Cain as a Hockey God. She was used to seeing a smirk on his face and confidence in his eyes. She was so obsessed with him being a Magical, that sometimes she forgot he was also a person. She didn’t think he was capable of being this sad about something. She hadn’t realized how serious his feelings for her were. It wasn’t just silly, fun flirting, there had been something real behind all of that.
“Cain,” she said, reaching out to put her hand on top of his. “I’m your lawyer. We can’t date. I would get fired for that. Plus, it’s very unethical. I work in your best interest. If we date, then personal considerations can come into play and then I’m not an objective lawyer looking over your financial interests, but your girlfriend. I can’t let emotions like that come into play when I’m working with your contracts. The rules against clients and lawyers dating are good rules and they should be followed. There are too many ways for that relationship to end badly and for the client to be negatively affected. This is for your own good.”
“I know what’s good for me,” Cain said pulling his hand out from under hers. “I wasn’t joking all of those times I asked you out. I wanted - I want - to be with you.”
Michelle didn’t know what to say to that. The aura around him had died down a little bit, the flames were subdued with his sadness. But it was still there, those lights, that burning smell. He was her client and he was a Magical, it was too complicated. She didn’t want complicated. She wanted simple, human Brock.
“I’m sorry,” she said with a shake of her head. “You’re a great guy and you’re gonna find someone who’s perfect for you.”
He got up off the bench in a huff. He was breathing deeply and shaking his head as if he were arguing with himself. He was about to storm off when he stopped and turned to her one more time.
It was a credit to Cain that she wasn’t afraid of him. He was bigger than she was and he held powerful magic within him, but she trusted that he would never hurt her. She didn’t need to wince or pull back. Cain wasn’t the kind of man who would hit a woman.
She sat in her seat and looked up at him. She felt awful. He was a good guy and he deserved better than this. Should she tell him the truth? That she was Magical and she knew he was too, but where would that lead? She imagined telling him was like a dark well that she would have to jump into. She had no idea what would happen once she was inside. There would be no coming back from that conversation.
“I wish I had fired you,” he said, his aura flaring up dangerously around him. It reached up to the ceiling and traveled down beneath the floor. His frown deepened as he turned around and walked out of the bar.
Michelle let out a long sigh and slumped down. She hadn’t wanted to break Cain’s heart. She had always thought this joking flirtatiousness was just that, a joke. But he had been serious and sincere the entire time.
From far away she could hear the snapping of cameras and the shouting of reporters. She looked around the lonely bar as a few doors down people fought and yelled for Cain’s attention.
Chapter Five
He wanted to burn something. He wanted to let the fire consume and transform him. He would revert to his true form and fly over the city. He would burn it to the ground and destroy it. The air would reek of smoke. Fire would be everywhere. The images consumed his mind, it was all he could think about.
Breathe, he reminded himself. Deep, calming breaths. He would not transform. He was in control of the dragon, it was not in control of him. He was the master of his anger, only he could let himself transform. Calm. He needed to be calm.
Remembering his old meditation training, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath counting to ten. He imagined his long body rising from the ground. His powerful wings beat the air as he lifted himself up higher and higher.
He was over a forest. A deep forest with no people in it. Beyond the forest was a chain of low mountains, rounded off and covered with tall green trees. He flew up in the air and then dove down into the trees before rising up again. He was huge and powerful. Fire burned inside of him.
He flew towards the mountains and quickly zoomed between two of them. Underneath him was a wide, calm, blue lake. Flying over it, he could see his own reflection. His long snout was lined with sharp teeth, the yellow and green scales that covered his body, the dark wings that stretched on either side of him. He flew over the lake, the water rippling from the beating of his wings.
This was his memory palace. The peaceful place that existed just in his mind. It was the place he went when he needed to calm the angry beast that was always lurking inside of him. His father had taught him this trick and he had been perfecting it his entire life.
The dragon was always in him. It was always angry. It always wanted to feed. It had taken Cain a long time to gain control over the dragon within him. But he was the master now. He was in control, but it was a constant fight. The dragon always wanted to come out. It never rested. It had been over eight years since he had last lost control and transformed. He wasn’t interested in ending that streak, he had to keep the dragon under control.
He couldn’t stop thinki
ng about Michelle. Why did she have to be his attorney? Why couldn’t she have been a girl he had met at a club or a bar? Why did she have to be so good at her job and so perfect for him? It wasn’t fair. They belonged together. They would have been perfect together. But now she was going to date his best friend and there was nothing he could do about it.
Cain slammed his fist into the locker. The pain radiated from his knuckles up through his arm. A stinging, electric shock of pain that reverberated through his body. It didn’t help. It only made him angrier. The dragon inside of him was rearing up and screaming to be released.
Everyone was waiting for him on the ice. He had a training to get to. He was acting like a diva and slowing everyone down. But he didn’t want to train. Normally he couldn’t wait to get out onto the ice. He would be laced up well before the rest of the team. But today he felt tired and sluggish. The only thing he wanted to do was transform and fly, the one thing he couldn’t do.
He pushed himself up and off the bench. He felt weighed down, like he was carrying heavy weights on his shoulders. He wasn’t in the mood to train. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with his teammates. Mostly, he didn’t want to deal with Brock.
Cain made his way out onto the ice where his teammates were skating between plastic orange cones. Their voices echoed in the rink and he could hear their skates as they scraped against the smooth ice.
He saw Brock hanging back near the penalty box. Brock was the offensive coach for the whole team, but mostly he worked with Cain. Normally, Cain was grateful to have his best friend training him, but today he wished he had never met Brock Thaddeus.
Traitor, turncoat, betrayer, double-crosser, snake, sneak, two-timer, the words echoed around in his head as he glared at his former best friend. Who did he think he was? Who was Brock compared to Cain? Cain was a three-time Hart Trophy winner, he led the Olympic team, he had won the Stanley Cup three times and Brock was stealing his girl? It was impossible. It was wrong and he couldn’t stand it.