by Dannika Dark
Drifting from the stretch of darkness was a deep, throaty growl that was indescribable. It was as if he had his own internal generator—a soothing sound.
A seductive sound.
Chapter 17
I blinked through a tangle of lashes.
“Wakey-wakey,” someone spoke.
Logan drifted into focus. He combed his hair nicely this morning, and it looked like Justus lent him a straight razor. Mysterious deep-set eyes looked down expectantly. The candlelight flickered in their lustrous amber and honey depths.
I crossed my eyes and stared down my nose. He pushed a donut against my lips, grinning like the devil.
I groaned, shoving his arm away.
“I made a special trip this morning; Justus already ate nine of them.”
“Did he eat them from your hand?” I laughed.
Logan sighed and tilted his head to the side. “You have the most bewitching green eyes.”
“My brown ones were prettier,” I yawned, rubbing the sleep out of them.
I never liked compliments on my eyes. They were an unusual shade of bright green that attracted attention. They were also the same eyes as my maker, Samil. I accepted my new body, but every time I looked in the mirror, Samil was staring back at me. I carried his mark and his eyes, but I would never carry his black heart.
Logan tucked the donut inside his cheek. “They certainly look attached to you. Do your eyes normally shift colors, or are you pulling my leg?” He sucked his thumb and wiped it on his shirt.
I untangled my foot from the blanket and coughed. “I didn’t used to look like this, but something happened after the first spark, and I changed.”
“A Shifter? Aren’t you full of surprises.” He watched me with a pensive stare.
“You know we can’t mix species. That much I picked up from my studies. It’s more like a metamorphosis, I guess.” I frowned at Logan. “Why doesn’t that shock you?”
“I’m Breed,” he said indifferently. “The longer you live, the more you learn to accept the unexplainable.”
I grumbled and sat up to face him.
“Hmm… maybe I should call you butterfly.”
I really hoped he didn’t. I warmed up a little to the fact that he called me raven, although at times I felt more like a phoenix rising from the ashes of one catastrophe after another.
“Is Justus still here? He needs to escort me to the grocery store.”
“Why is that?”
Logan pressed his finger on my clavicle, picking up specks of sugar and sucking on the tips of his fingers. I pushed him away and got off the sofa, dragging the blanket to the floor.
“This Learner must be escorted by her Ghuardian in public. That’s the rule.”
He sat down in my place and slipped on a sneaker, tying the laces. “I’ve always enjoyed breaking the rules.”
***
The dynamic of Breed relationships was fascinating, and their behavior was nothing like humans. When Logan gave his word to Justus that he would look after me—abduction or not—that was gold. If we were human, Logan would be sitting behind bars. They had a different system and way of life, one I needed to learn more about as it was my world now.
It was refreshing to go in public with someone other than Justus. I could push my grocery cart in peace without a cleanup on aisle five because some floozy decided to seduce my Ghuardian by the macaroni. Logan turned a few heads with his stature and penetrating eyes, which he kept low, as they attracted unwanted attention. He carried himself like a man of importance; he also knew his way around the produce aisle. I peered over a mountain of apples and watched him roll a cantaloupe in his hand, lifting it to his nose before he dropped it in the basket.
A dinner party was an informal affair that would allow Justus to strengthen his connections with the Council, but it also served as a needed distraction. Opportunities were arising for a more social climate, and I was looking for any way to incorporate normalcy into my life. I filled five paper sacks and headed home to prepare the meal.
“Who accepted the invitation?” I asked, pulling an avocado out of the bag.
“Everyone,” Justus confirmed.
My stomach turned and I stared at the food skeptically.
Logan leaned against the counter on his elbow. “Have you never given a dinner party?”
“Can’t be that hard,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.
Justus cleared his throat. “We all saw what you did to the turkey.”
“I didn’t know it had to thaw,” I bit out.
I spent hours in the kitchen, chopping and preparing. It was surreal to be passing a knife back and forth to a man who held me captive not twenty-four hours prior. Logan was comfortable in the kitchen. This man knew how to mince and measure where most men barely understood the mechanics of a toaster.
I rarely had an occasion to doll myself up. My black dress was nothing less than sophistication on a hanger, another hand-selected item by Justus. He was nervous about impressing Novis, and wore a dark dress shirt tucked into a pair of expensive slacks. The gold watch was overkill because a Mage didn’t need to tell time, but it was his favorite. While Justus usually went to a barber, I heard him in the bathroom shaving his head for what seemed like an hour. Simon was his scandalous self in ass-grabbing jeans. He even applied a smudge of eyeliner for the occasion. Sometimes I adored his spirited personality, but this was not one of those times.
The guests arrived. Knox proudly held Sunny’s hand, black hair neatly combed—no hat. I hugged her excitedly and stepped back to look at her date.
“Hey, dollface,” Knox greeted, giving me a one-armed hug.
I bowed to Novis and faced Adam, who was memorizing my ensemble. Adam didn’t know what had transpired over the past forty-eight hours, and I flicked a glance at Knox. Sunny looked at me with worried eyes, but said nothing. Maybe Justus was embarrassed that it reflected poor judgment on his part by leaving his Learner alone, and asked them for silence.
Adam leaned in for a polite kiss when Logan wedged an arm between us.
“I’m Logan Cross, and you are?”
His eyes snapped open to look up at Logan, who stood taller. “Adam.”
“Is that your cologne I smell, Mage?” Logan wrinkled his nose. “I never understood the purpose of cologne; the male scent is the most intoxicating thing to a female. Yours must be the exception if you have to bury it beneath layers of—what is that,” he asked leaning in, “…buffalo musk?”
Logan stood proudly without a hint of cologne, and I turned my mouth to the side, wondering why he was provoking Adam.
“Could someone crack open the wine?” I asked. “The table is set, so everyone please go in and have a seat while I bring out a few more things.”
“Let me help you,” Adam volunteered.
Logan raised his hand, “No, this one I got. We spent hours together, churning, and mixing. It’s the least I can do.” He searched Adam’s face, nostrils flaring as he pulled in a scent.
“Boys, boys,” Sunny chimed in, “I’ll help Silver, and you can all duke it out like gentlemen. I’m Sunny, by the way—Silver’s best girl. This is Knox.” She placed her hands on his bicep.
“Her best guy,” Knox cut in.
I almost let out a snort when I saw the jealousy fire up in his eyes, but I didn’t. Knox claiming her that way was the most romantic thing I’d seen in a while.
Logan lifted her hand and bowed to it—something he sure never did with me. There was respect on his face, and we could all see it because his long hair was neatly tied back. He inclined his head respectfully to Knox, who slipped an arm around Sunny’s waist. Tight.
“Who’s the hunk?” Sunny teased, when the kitchen door shut behind us.
“Justus hired him to help catch the Mage I told you about.”
“I hope you aren’t dating him, he kind of scares me with those eyes. Oh hon, are you okay?” Sunny gave me a tight squeeze and I backed up.
“Everything worked out,�
�� I said, not really knowing how to answer. “What did they tell you?”
“We agreed not to talk about it, something about an investigation and if Adam found out, then he would tell Novis,” she shrugged. “Simon said the intruder didn’t get all the way in. I’m just glad you’re not hurt… I was so worried.”
I squeezed her hand and moved to the stove. “We’ll talk about it someday, but I’m fine,” I reassured her. “What’s up with you and Knox? I wasn’t sure if that was a dress you were wearing, or him. Simon mentioned something.”
She giggled and gathered up the bowls from the fridge. “Simon’s still mad at us.”
“I heard all about that,” I said, dropping the tortillas on a plate in disgust.
“Oh, you know about that?” Her cheeks flushed. “It’s not as if we planned it. He was just feeding me some ice cream and the next thing I knew I was polishing the cabinets with my derriere.”
“I’m never setting foot in that kitchen again without protection,” I sighed.
“Oh, please.” Sunny dramatically rolled her eyes. “He’s thoughtful and attentive. We spent several days getting to know each other; I feel like he’s really looking out for me. Knox has even tried to stop cussing as much; you know how I hate swearing. I didn’t ask him to do it, but the other day he actually used the word ‘motherfudger’. I laughed so hard I almost peed myself,” she snickered. “I want to give it a chance.”
“All that from a couple of days?” I arched a brow. How could anyone feel that sure about something so fast?
She lifted a shoulder and ran her fingers through those wavy locks. “Stranger things have been known to happen. How do you like my dress?” She twirled, and the fabric spun like a pinwheel.
“You still manage to make me look like a wallflower, Sunshine. Why not Simon? He’s sexy, and a really intelligent guy.” Not that I wanted her dating Simon, but I thought he had a better chance with her than Knox.
Her eyes sharpened. “So is Knox. Besides, Simon isn’t my type. Did you see that metal thing on his tongue?”
“I’m beginning to think I don’t know what your type is anymore,” I replied. “Got to keep getting back on the horse, right?”
She snorted. “Yep, and they just keep bucking me off.”
“Is that when you decided to ride the bull instead?”
Sunny shoved me playfully and I returned to the cabinet, peeling the lids from the bowls. “How are you going to manage to get through this evening with Justus throwing off his charm? I didn’t really plan for this, but if we end up with War of the Worlds at the table tonight because you start making out with the host—”
“I have it under control,” she said. “Now that I know what he can do, it makes it easier to block out. Truthfully, when Knox is near I barely notice. I guess that’s why he’s stuck to me like glue—not that I mind being stuck to him either,” she whispered, taking a handful of plates out the door with a wink.
Candles illuminated the small dining room. We set the table with fine china that came from a box I found in the pantry, and broke out the crystal. Justus took his usual spot at the head of the table, and Novis sat opposite him. I expected Sunny and Knox would sit side by side, which would give me the last seat on that row. Instead, they faced each other.
I stared at the four vacant seats as the remaining three men waited; it was like musical chairs from hell, and Simon mocking me with his dramatic expressions didn’t help. I was so thrilled he found this amusing. I touched the chair next to Justus and chickened out, excusing myself to get a bottle of wine.
When I emerged from the kitchen with a bottle of port, Logan won the chair beside mine and stood up as I approached.
“You did all this yourself?” Sunny asked. “Wow, I never in my wildest dreams imagined one day I would see this from a girl who considered tater tots and hot dogs gourmet.”
“Thank you, Sunshine,” I said, exaggerating my smile. I sat down and lifted my glass, but Logan caught my wrist. A few drops of red wine blotted the white napkin.
“It’s bad luck to drink without a toast.”
Logan stood up and commanded everyone’s attention.
“To a bountiful meal—may we always have friends to share our spoils. To our quests in life—may we always learn from failure and be humbled by success. To those who have found love,” he said pointedly to Sunny and Knox, “and to those who seek it—may we deserve what fate puts in our hand. Finally, to our enchanting hostess...”
Logan spun on his heel staring down at me, and I turned five shades of red.
“Your efforts will be rewarded with my appetite. Should the beef be tough and undercooked—then I will lick my plate clean.”
Everyone tapped glasses and began conversation.
Logan flipped out the napkin across his lap and whispered in my direction, “You should wear red more often.”
I put the back of my hand on my cheek to test if it was still hot. When I heard Justus’s stomach growl, I forgot my embarrassment and passed him the guacamole.
Adam lifted his fork. “What line of work are you in, Logan Cross?”
A bell pepper flew down the wrong pipe and I coughed.
Logan lightly patted my back and replied, “I’m between jobs at the moment, but I see an opportunity in my horizon. I’m offering my services to Justus at a reasonable fee.”
Logan’s hand lingered on my back. I felt the warm stroke of a finger across my skin. I shivered, dabbing the napkin against my lips.
His answer avoided the dreaded question of how we met. If Adam knew the truth, he would have pointed out that my forgiving Logan was a character flaw.
Justus leaned over his plate and bit into a fajita, grunting his praise as his eyes floated across the table.
“Novis, we have made progress with our case and hope to bring the truth to light with this Mage.” He lifted his crystal glass and removed a quarter of the wine in a swallow. “I have a request to ask of the Council: permission to access the Mageri records on behalf of HALO. What you provide us will remain confidential.” Justus cleared his throat nervously.
Novis smoothed a finger across his thin lips. Age seeped through his youthful eyes; you couldn’t let the spiky bedhead fool you. He reached for the sour cream with his long slender fingers and spooned it over his beans. I had only met him a couple of times, but I liked him. There was wisdom in every groove of his aura.
“Explore your alternatives, Justus. As the keeper of the records, I’m reluctant to hand over information that will not produce results. While HALO is a separate entity, you continue to involve us in your efforts and that is a conflict of interest. A breach would bring severe consequences.”
Novis bit into a tortilla chip. “Explore your alternatives first, and be sure you don’t neglect your other cases. Last month was a stellar success with the capture of a conspirator, and the Relics are grateful.”
Justus offered a respectful nod. “You have our gratitude. The records will be a last resort.”
It was evident he respected Novis and sought to gain his trust. The conversation also brought to light the importance of Justus’s role with HALO. He spent hours in his room, and I was beginning to see how valued he was.
Knox broke the silence. “Pass me some of that red sh—stuff. My girl needs more for her chips.”
Adam’s wine went down the wrong way as he laughed into his glass.
We paid attention to every exchange between Sunny and Knox, passing amused glances across the table. Neither of us could have predicted this unexpected pairing.
“You’ve outdone yourself, love,” Simon applauded—literally—at the end of the meal. After I announced I made the enchiladas myself, a competition began between him and Logan to polish off the dish. Simon never backed down from a challenge, even a silent one.
Amid conversation, I flattened my fingers on the table, pulling the energy from Adam’s knife. It slid towards me clumsily, and Justus dropped his hand over it.
“Don’t use yo
ur gifts at the table, Learner.”
I watched the interaction between Sunny and Knox—the soft way she smiled at him, how he noticed where her eyes went and quickly brought food within her reach. He was attentive, and I wondered if I wasn’t being too harsh with my judgment.
“Novis, I can’t thank you enough for taking in Sunny. I know she’s anxious to find a place of her own and get out of your hair. Are there any safe areas of the city you would recommend? I’m concerned about Marco.”
Knox threw his shoulders back, pressing a finger on the table. “That fucker isn’t coming within a ten mile radius of her. She’ll have the tightest security in place; that’s my specialty.”
Well, that settled that.
“Don’t worry about me, Silver. I have a feeling I’m going to be inside Fort Knox.”
Simon tucked the last of the enchilada in his cheek. “No doubt Fort Knox will be inside of—”
Adam punched his arm, cutting off the thought before it left his mouth. Simon didn’t always think before speaking, and I had a feeling Knox wouldn’t have seen the humor.
“I want to help find this guy,” I announced. “This all began with me, and nothing would make me happier than spoiling his plans.”
“No, Learner, you have done enough,” Justus said.
The tone was accusatory, and my face heated. Novis was an important guest, and confronting my Ghuardian in his presence would have been inappropriate.
When the conversations resumed, I looked at Logan. Something made me turn, and I caught him staring at his empty plate with vacant eyes. He was growling. Maybe I was more attuned to it after spending time alone with him, because no one else noticed.
“Stop that,” I whispered, getting out of my chair and leaving the room.
I paced back and forth in the kitchen, blowing out a breath. I couldn’t get used to someone dictating my life, making decisions in my interest, and reprimanding me.
I returned with churros, which I had no part in making. It was a cinnamon stick with a rich dipping sauce, and Logan made them.
“You underestimate the female, it’s a pity that you can’t see how invaluable her abilities are,” Logan said, wiping the corner of his mouth with the cloth napkin and tossing it on his plate. “You must always know your enemy. Stupidity is walking into a trap; the advantage comes in setting one. He thinks he’s pulling the strings. Well, I for one never cared for puppeteers.”