by W. J. May
She shot him a bitchy smile and hopped off the bed to examine his ensemble, giving the sleeves and vest a little tug as she muttered things the rest of them would never understand.
Devon waited patiently for the examination to be over. He had been there many times before. It wasn’t until she vanished into the bathroom and came back with a razor that he abandoned his post, casually hiding behind his fiancée.
“I still don’t know why you need a wardrobe budget at all,” he mused, zipping up the back of Rae’s gown, “when one of you has the ability to conjure anything you should desire.”
Molly shook her head firmly back and forth. “If Rae conjured a Valentino dress—even if it looks incredible—it still means that she’ll be wearing a knockoff Valentino.” She shuddered at the very thought. “Is that what you want to do to your fiancée? You want her wearing fraudulent clothes?”
Devon kept a straight face, but rolled his eyes the second she wasn’t looking. “If it saves the government upwards of three thousand pounds, yeah,” he muttered under his breath, “I think I could learn to live with it.
“That’s why no one elected you the president,” Molly countered smugly, skipping off to the door. “I’m going to get changed now myself, but makeup and hair are already done, so I’ll meet you guys by the car in five minutes. DO NOT get anything on those clothes!” she commanded, using that newly-discovered mom voice that she delighted in lording over them. “And, Rae, whatever happens today, make sure not to drop your chin more than an inch or so. There’s only so many bobby-pins I can use to combat your hair…”
Rae and Devon gave an identical salute, and waited until the door was closed behind her before turning to each other in relief.
Rae shook her head. “I’ve been asked to provide protection to the royal family when, in addition to the normal crazies who always show up to these things, we know for a fact that there’s a psychopath on the loose. And the ultimatum Molly gives me is to not drop my chin?”
Devon chuckled and smoothed the jacket of his tux. “Don’t look at me. I’m the one who said we should have left her in Bali.”
Rae smacked him in the chest, but couldn’t hide her grin. While their international road trip to find hybrids had accomplished a great many things, it had also provided endless opportunities for the four friends to geographically sabotage each other every step of the way.
“You look absolutely beautiful.” He kissed her on the cheek, pulling back with a mischievous grin. “But I’m going to like that dress a hell of a lot better when it’s on the floor.”
A delicate blush blossomed in her cheeks, and she made a conscious effort not to drop her chin. “Get out of here,” she teased, shoving him to the door. “A lady cannot abide such vulgarity.”
He did as he was told, pausing only a second in the doorway. “I’m sure I can find a way to convince you…”
He disappeared with a wink, leaving her flushed and grinning in the middle of the room. It wasn’t until the car honked impatiently from the road that she gathered up her purse and hurried down the hall.
Despite the fact that she was equipped with a supernatural tatù, it was still a challenge just to stay upright as she teetered in the precarious shoes. She had only just made it to the top of the stairs, when she heard a softly-uttered profanity from one of the rooms.
She ventured closer, then peeked her head through an open doorway to see Julian standing in the middle of the floor. He was struggling to fasten his bowtie, growing more and more agitated every time Molly impatiently honked the horn.
“Come on,” he muttered, completely unaware that he was being watched, “work with me here. Under and to the right, up through the neck loop…”
Rae cleared her throat, a little grin on her face. “I can’t believe you haven’t had some super-agent class on how to do those.”
He startled, then looked up with a shy smile. “I didn’t pass. Devon usually does it for me.”
“That figures.” She crossed the floor to examine his progress. She was relieved that he’d left thoughts of killing her father aside for now. It took a lot. And things hadn’t smoothed over, but he was smiling. That was a start. “You realize you two are like an old married couple, right?”
He chuckled and lowered his hands to give her a better angle. “Yeah, but don’t worry. I’ve given him permission to marry you as well.”
She lifted his chin, and the both of them fell silent as she got to work.
It was a little strange: Rae and Julian could sit for hours without talking. Reading, watching movies, or generally just relaxing and enjoying each other’s company.
But this felt a little different.
There was a tension that set Rae’s teeth on edge. “We haven’t talked much,” she said quietly, not daring to meet his eyes. “Not since…not since the day you and Gabriel went out drinking.”
It was a lot better to mark the day with that than by saying, ‘that day I handed you a volatile piece of information regarding your past, and you decided to put the culprit in the ground.’
Julian stiffened, just as hesitant to meet her eyes. “Because you’ve been avoiding me.”
She opened her mouth to deny it—staring up in surprise—when all of a sudden she realized that it was true. She had been the one avoiding him. Casually leaving a room the second he entered. Making sure there was always a person seated between them at dinner. Going to bed early when it looked like he and the rest of them were staying up for a night of drinking and cards. “I guess…I guess I thought you wouldn’t want to see me,” she admitted softly, remembering the look in his eyes when he talked about her father. “That it would be easier if I—”
“Why wouldn’t I want to see you?”
She glanced up again to see Julian staring down at her in confusion.
He measured her expression for a moment, shaking his head with a soft sigh. “Rae…I’ve never understood why you keep asking yourself the question, when the answer has always been so simple.” He tilted her chin up, smiling at her. “You’re not Simon Kerrigan.”
It was like the words released something inside her. Unlocked some hidden tension she didn’t even know she was carrying. Maybe it was because Julian was the one saying them. Maybe it was because, after the week she’d had, they were the exact words she needed so badly to hear.
“You’re not responsible for what he’s done,” Julian continued quietly. “You can’t lay claim to any of that guilt. And, for the record, you’re my best friend, Rae. I always want you around.” He gave her hands a squeeze before moving to the bed to retrieve his tuxedo jacket. As the car screeched outside, he slipped it gracefully over his shoulders then offered out his arm.
Rae took it with a tentative smile, and the two of them made their way down the stairs.
* * *
Considering the fact that, over the last few years, Rae had made it a point to risk her life on a semi-regular basis, she couldn’t believe how anxious she was when they got to the palace. Not only had she woken up this morning wielding Riley’s cheetah tatù—an over-caffeinated rush of energy to propel her to her feet—but her body had immediately slipped into Alicia’s self-healing. Anything to curb the waves of nausea twisting at her stomach.
Maybe it was just the fact that it was her first mission back as an agent for the Council, maybe it was the fact that she was standing in the middle of Buckingham Palace…whatever the reason, she was a bundle of nerves.
“Okay, so remember the drill,” she said manically. “Jules and Molly will be out with the rest of the guests, mingling and keeping track of who shows up. Devon and I will go back into the private chambers to keep an eye on Philip and Sarah from the ground floor.”
“Honey,” Devon put a calming hand on her shoulder, “we’ve got this, okay?” She glanced behind him to see the others giving her the same indulgent smile. “It’s a wedding. Not so hard.”
She bristled defensively, smoothing the crystals on her dress. “Just because this is
n’t breaking into a top-secret government agency, or infiltrating a Polish street gang, doesn’t mean that we can let our guard down for even an instant!” she insisted. “Not only are Philip and Sarah personal friends, but there couldn’t possibly be more riding on this—”
“Kerrigan.”
Molly, Julian, and Devon all stared back at her. Arms folded across their chests. Heads tilted to the side. Sarcastic smiles on their faces.
“We know.”
A flush heated Rae’s neck, and she turned away with an air of nonchalance. “Well, in that case, I guess we should get started. Teamwork on three.”
Julian and Molly rolled their eyes and splintered away, while Devon took her hand with a little grin. “I’d forgotten how wound up you get on these things. It’s adorable.”
“I do not get wound up,” she hissed as they breezed past an ice sculpture and flashed their ID badges to gain entrance into the building. “I just want to make sure we’re not caught off guard.”
It was a valid excuse, but the truth was they had already taken every possible precaution.
Nicholas MacGyver, their resident inked genius, had been developing a way to shrink the bulky tatù-inhibitors used by the Council, to great success. The shipment had come in just that morning, and thanks to his hard work every person who walked into the palace that day was handed a little pin. A favor from the royal wedding. One with a tiny inhibitor hidden inside.
While the guests might have no idea that they were being supernaturally protected, the royals were told straight away. And were incredibly grateful. Philip had placed one in his cufflink. Sarah was wearing one in her shoe. Rae was tempted to ask her to take if off. What if she had to talk to some foreign dignitary? She was distracted with she saw their bodyguard. Alfie had pinned one to his handgun, which he pointedly assured Rae and Devon was on his person at all times.
“I swear, he’s going to find a reason to shoot us,” Devon muttered as they were patted down for the millionth time and led inside. “Say that we were stealing the china or something.”
Rae kept a smile fixed on her face.
“Just keep it together for a couple more hours.” She flipped back her dark curls as they headed into the couple’s private study. “Then we’ll have all the time in the world to plot our revenge…oh, my goodness, Sarah! You look so beautiful!”
It was like a fairytale come to life. Every one of those storybook princesses you grew up reading about as a child. The ivory wedding dress clung delicately to her slender shoulders, and her blond hair fell down in graceful rivulets, swept pack with a crystal-encrusted veil.
Molly Skye, eat your heart out.
“Do you think so?” Sarah smoothed the dress with trembling hands. “Thanks. I haven’t really been able to show a lot of people, and I wanted to make sure I got it right…”
It wasn’t often that they saw the princess so unsure. Even when kidnapped a few years back, she still managed to keep her wits about her.
“Trust me,” Rae beamed, stepping forward with a bright smile, “you’re a vision.” The two women shared a school-girly grin before turning back to Devon. “Male perspective?”
“Male perspective?” His face melted into a warm, reassuring smile. “The prince isn’t going to know what hit him.”
Sarah let out a shaky sigh.
“Thank bloody goodness! I swear, I was about to make a break for the back door.”
“Which one?” Devon muttered, glancing casually around the cavernous room.
It was true. The palace was a literal nightmare in terms of security. The place was littered with enough entrances and exits to make your head spin. A virtual paradise for anyone with their heart set on breaking in. Fortunately, they had either a member of palace security or a PC guard stationed at every one.
Rae squeezed her hand with a little wink. “I think Philip might prefer that you marry him first, before you run for the hills.”
Just hearing his name calmed the princess down. Her face melted into a breathtaking smile as she smoothed the billowing veil. “I suppose I could make a quick stop along the way…”
As Devon looked politely away, Rae helped her with any last-minute adjustments. Securing her hair, fastening the clasps on her jewelry, offering her a paper bag to hyperventilate into if she so desired. A minute or so later the door opened, and the room was flooded with a sea of women Rae recognized only from the covers of the various magazines they frequented.
She took a step back, allowing Sarah’s family and friends to take over, but before she could slip away entirely Sarah pulled her back for a sudden embrace.
“Thank you for doing this,” she whispered. “Thank you for being here.”
Rae squeezed her tightly, releasing her with a twinkling smile. “Remember when you were worried that your life might not be as exciting as mine?” She glanced out the windows to the dazzling party going on below. “I think this takes the cake.”
Sarah giggled, and waved farewell as she was swept away in a sea of bridesmaids. Devon and Rae stared after her for a moment, watching with thoughtful smiles as they paraded out the door.
“I can’t wait to do that,” Rae murmured, still listening to the happy processional as it made its way down the hall. “I can’t wait for that to be me.”
Devon caught his breath, gazing down at her with a tender smile. “I was thinking the exact same thing.”
They stayed there for a moment longer, staring into each other’s eyes, before a throat cleared sharply behind them, shattering the touching moment.
“Sorry for the interruption. I was under the impression you two were here to work.”
The couple spun around to see Alfie standing in the doorway. His arms were folded tightly across his chest, but he made sure to angle his body in such a way that both Rae and Devon could see the weapon holstered safely beneath his jacket.
“Duty calls,” Devon murmured, taking great care to shoot Alfie a memorable look as he slipped past him out into the hall. “I guess we’d better get started.”
Rae nodded and followed him outside.
* * *
Rae couldn’t remember ever seeing anything more beautiful. She’d described the wedding as dazzling before, and there was truly no better word for it. She was dazzled.
Every inch of the outdoor courtyard was bedecked with thousands of white flowers. Roses, daisies, stephanotis—everything you could imagine. Little twinkling lights were strung across the grass and set deep into the trees, lighting up the air like a little meteor shower had rained down just for the special day. Crystal flutes of sparking Champagne floated past on silver trays, and as people settled down into their seats a trio of violins played a soft melody in the breeze.
Rae was quick to find Molly and Julian. It was easy to do, as Julian was one of the best-looking men in the crowd, and Molly’s hair made her look like she was always borderline on fire.
They were sitting together in one of the middle rows. His arm was draped casually over her shoulders as the two made idle conversation but their gazes moved defensively around the courtyard, keeping constantly on guard.
Philip was already waiting up by the flowered altar, looking just as nervous as Sarah had been herself. And when the orchestra suddenly swelled, he and everyone else turned to look at the bride.
“What did I tell you?” Devon murmured as he slipped an arm around Rae’s waist. “Nothing but smooth sailing ahead.”
By this point, he really should have known better.
It started with two phone calls. One as chilling as the next.
The first was from a young man. A hyperventilating young man, whose voice Rae hadn’t heard in months. “Nick?” she answered with a frown.
On her other side, Devon’s phone started vibrating as well.
“Rae!” Nick exclaimed, gulping in gasps of air as he struggled to catch his breath. “Rae, I’m so sorry! I would have called earlier, but I just got out of it!”
A chill ran up her spine as she cupp
ed her hand around the phone.
“Got out of what? What’s going on, Nick?”
Beside her Devon glanced at the caller ID, looking at Julian with a frown.
“That girl,” Nick panted, “the one who made everyone attack each other after the trial…I think she was here!”
Rae paled and took a step back. “Where’s here?”
“At my workspace in Guilder!” he wailed. “I drove into work this morning, only to find that whole shipment of favors still sitting on the floor. They were supposed to have been shipped out ages ago!”
“They were shipped out!” Rae hissed, her eyes darting around frantically. “Nick, the wedding has already started and everyone inside is wearing one of the inhibitors!”
“I don’t know what they’re wearing, but they’re not my inhibitors!” he countered with a panicked cry. “They’re all still here at Guilder. Rae, I’m so sorry—”
She hung up the phone, cradling it to her chest in numb panic. Beside her, Devon was trying to make sense of whatever Julian had called to say.
“Slow down, Jules. What are you talking about?”
The psychic slipped down further in his chair, staring fearfully about the crowd. “It’s the whole wedding, Dev!” he hissed under his breath, hiding the phone inside his cupped hand. “I can’t see the wedding!”
That did it. If Julian wasn’t able to see the outcome, it could mean only one thing.
Samantha.
The next few moments seemed to happen in slow motion, unfolding like a nightmare before Rae’s very eyes.
Before she could even think of what to do next, a pricking pain caught her in the back of the neck—hitting sharply before radiating down her spine. She tried to cry out, but found herself strangely numb. Her body locked up, and instead of lunging forward as she’d intended she found herself sinking to her knees.
There was a soft gasp beside her, then Devon tumbled to the ground as well. His hands flew out to stop himself, but before they could even graze the polished stone he was grabbed by someone Rae couldn’t see and lifted back into the air. A second later, she was right there with him.