“Of course not.” Mort’s voice was soothing.
But Dee would not be soothed. Agitated, she jumped to her feet. “I can’t believe this.” Then, to her horror, she started to cry.
Exhaustion and shock taking their toll on her, she cried great, gulping sobs. Dimly conscious of Mort and the Oracle watching her, she wrapped her arms around her waist and turned away.
Everything she’d lived for had turned out to be a lie. She was no longer certain she believed in the fairness of the justice system she’d been sworn to uphold. She’d been setup and convicted, all without a trial. She no longer wanted any part of law enforcement.
In addition, she’d been betrayed by her best friend – no, worse – her own brother. Mick had known how deeply she’d longed for family, but he’d chosen to keep their relationship a secret. Though she knew she’d forgive Mick someday – he was her brother, after all – right now she felt too raw, too wounded, to even speak to him.
Saying good-bye to Cenrick would be the final straw. She didn’t know that she could do it, as fragile and defenseless as she felt.
Though she’d never been a coward, this time she took the coward’s way out.
When her cries had subsided into soft gasps, she wiped at her eyes. “I’d like to go home,” she said.
“Would you?” The Oracle’s soft voice pierced Dee’s fog of pain. “I can send you there.”
Dee opened her eyes. “Yes. Back to my apartment, in my own world.”
“Of course.” The Oracle held out her hand. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” Straightening, Dee stepped forward.
“Wait!” Mort moved between them, breaking the Oracle’s hold on Dee’s hand. “Take this.” He handed Dee a stone. “If you need me or wish to return, you only need to hold it and think of me.”
“I-—.” Dee swallowed. “Thank you. I’d like to go now.”
The Oracle took her hand and sent her.
Back in her familiar apartment, Dee stumbled into the bathroom, turned the shower on hot, and shed her clothes. Once she’d scrubbed herself clean, she dried off, wincing at her reddened skin. Then, with her heart aching as much as her body, she crawled beneath the covers of her still-rumpled bed, and slept.
The sound of the phone ringing woke her. Sitting up with a groan, she glanced at the alarm clock. Nearly noon. She’d been asleep for five hours.
“This is Chief Ferguson.”
Her heart began to pound. Now wide awake, she dragged her hand through her hair and cleared her throat. “Yes, sir?”
He wanted her to come in to the station. Internal Affairs had concluded its investigation. She’d been cleared of all wrongdoing. Both the prostitute and the store owner had recanted their allegations under questioning.
“I want to give you back your badge.”
She agreed to be there in an hour. Hanging up, she wondered why victory felt so anticlimactic.
Never had the drive to the police station seemed to take so long. She parked her car, fiddled with her purse, checked her appearance in the rear view mirror, and touched up her lipstick.
She hadn’t been back since the last time she’d talked to Internal Affairs. Her co-workers, those who she’d once counted as friends, had by and large turned their back on her, as if by supporting her they could be tarred with the same brush.
She wondered what they thought now that she’d been cleared of any wrongdoing. Then, as she lifted her chin and grasped the handle of the glass door to go in, realized she didn’t care.
Those people – other officers – weren’t the reason she’d joined the police force.
As though he’d been watching from his office window, Chief Ferguson met her at the door.
“Welcome back.” His voice boomed around the suddenly silent squad room. Where before when she’d visited, every officer and clerk and found something urgent to do, this time they smiled and nodded. “Glad to have you back,” the Chief continued.
“Thanks.” Dee met his gaze squarely. Oddly enough, though she’d longed for this day, now she felt no vindication, no sense of pleasure. True, she’d been cleared of any wrongdoing. An investigation had even been started to learn who’d been trying to frame her, though now that Mick had chosen to remain in Rune, she knew they’d never find him.
Everyone in South Worth now knew she’d done nothing wrong. The newspaper had been given a statement, as had all the media, and the story would run on both the early and late news.
Dee discovered she no longer cared.
Though Mick hadn’t even tendered his resignation, choosing to simply disappear, Dee carried a typed letter, neatly folded, inside her purse.
Once this unfinished part of her former life had been closed, she could look to the future – and Cenrick.
Rune. Her new family. And, she briefly closed her eyes, swallowing, the man she loved.
Not knowing how he felt about her was torture.
“Follow me.” Smiling broadly, the Chief led the way into his office, closing the door behind them. Dee waited until he’d taken his seat behind the desk. Then, she extracted her paper and handed it to him.
“I’m leaving,” she said. “No regrets, no hard feelings. But I’m done.”
“Dee,” he protested, exactly as she’d known he would. “Don’t let this incident discourage you. Stuff happens. Always has, always will. We’re targets simply because we’re cops, you more so because you’re a woman.”
She’d thought her heart would pound, and that her hands would tremble. Instead, she felt cool, calm, and very, very certain. “I’m doing the right thing. I no longer want to be a cop.”
“Mick will turn up. Every officer in the state is looking for him.”
This time, she simply nodded, knowing Mick would never be found, at least not here.
“Please. Read the letter.”
With a disappointed frown, he did as she requested. “You have vacation time coming to you.”
“Yes. I’d like to use that as my notice. I’d like to quit, effective today.”
His bushy eyebrows rose. “So soon?”
“The sooner I can put all this behind me, the quicker I can move forward.” And across the veil.
“You were born to be a cop.” He was fishing now.
Slowly, Dee shook her head. “No. I became a cop for the wrong reasons. I followed Mick into law enforcement. Not because I had any calling for it, but because he did.”
He nodded, his gaze steady behind his wire-rimmed glasses. “What will you do now?”
“I’m not sure.” She shrugged. “Maybe I’ll sell shoes.”
He laughed at her joke. Her obsession with shoes was well known around the department.
The department. Dee shivered. Once, she’d thought of them as her family. Fellow officers, always there to get her back.
She’d been wrong.
Back at her apartment, she took one last look around at her possessions. Things, that’s all they were. Nothing here that she couldn’t live without.
When she was ready, she took out the stone the Mage had given her. All she had to do was hold it, he’d said. Hold it and think of him, and he’d come to take her home.
Home. Even thinking of Rune in that context made her shiver with mingled longing and fear.
It was time.
Drawing the stone out, she studied the smooth blue surface. The color felt soothing, the temperature cool, though warming in her hand.
She thought of Mort, picturing him appearing in her living room, ready to take her hand and lead her back to Rune.
Nothing happened.
She tried again.
Sparkles of light swirled on the edges of her vision. Ahhh, now something was happening.
The sparkles became blinding. Blinking, she shielded her eyes with her hand. “Mort? Is that you?”
“No, it’s me.”
That achingly familiar voice.
Cenrick.
Her heartbeat stuttered.
Once he
’d materialized, he stood staring at her, his gaze dark, his expression tortured.
She let her gaze roam unabashedly, taking in each beloved detail. His chocolate eyes, his raven hair.
Cenrick. The other half of her soul.
“You called?” He asked, grinning.
“I was expecting Mort,” she said stiffly. “He told me if I called upon him, he would come.”
“I had to see you,” he said. “I’m sorry, I know I should let you resume your life, but I couldn’t stay away.”
“Why have you?” Glad she could ask the simple question, she held herself utterly still, afraid she might shatter.
“I’ve been waiting for you to come and get me.” Her voice caught, faltered.
“He's all right?” She couldn’t contain her happiness. “The way Natasha was talking, I feared he might be dying.”
The heat in his gaze scorched her. “She’d hidden him in a motel room in Houston. We had to employ ancient magics to learn where we might find him. I researched the spells and helped Mort work the magic.” Satisfaction rang in his voice. “In this a scholar was needed, rather than a warrior.”
“You’re both,” she told him, tentative hope flaring into joy. He hadn’t forgotten about her after all. “How is King Roark?”
“He’s recovering. And,” he lifted his head, his expression full of pride. “He’s announced I’m to be the next King. I’ve proven my right to lead.”
Just like that, the faint flare of hope inside her was extinguished. “Congratulations!” So what if her smile felt a bit wobbly? She couldn’t let her love for him destroy his life. She guessed she’d better get used to once again being completely alone. After all, she’d had lots of practice.
“Will you come with me to Rune, where you belong?” he asked, shocking her.
Tentatively, she took a step towards him. “Why? Wouldn’t it be easier on us both to say good-bye now?”
“Good-bye?” His dark brows rose. “Is that what you think I came here for?”
Biting her lip, she held his gaze. “Isn’t it?”
In the space of a heartbeat, he closed the distance between them, covering her mouth with his. His searing kiss sent heat all through her entire body.
When they broke apart, he touched his nose to hers. “There, Dee Bishop. Do you still doubt the way I feel about you?”
Again hope, that traitorous longing, blossomed. “I—.”
“Let me also tell you.” Satisfaction and love rang in his deep voice. "You are all I ever want and need, the woman who fills my nights with longing. You are the mate I want to stand beside me – as my lover and my friend. I love you, Dee Biship. You, and only you. You are the other half of my soul. You complete me.
He kissed her again, and this time she kissed him back, pouring every bit of her love for him into the kiss. But then she remembered. Cenrick was to be King.
Immediately, she broke the embrace. “Wait. I can’t think when we do that. What about the throne?”
The look he gave her was thoroughly male and supremely confident. “Do you have objections to becoming my queen?”
“But I’m—.”
“Half-fae. Warrior to my scholar. And my soulmate.”
For a moment she couldn’t catch her breath.
“I love you,” he said.
Dee raised her head, deciding finally to simply follow her heart. “If you’re sure…”
“I’ve never been more certain of anything.”
She took the plunge. Wrapped her arms around him and gazed up into his eyes, letting him see the depths of emotion in hers. “I love you too, Cenrick of Rune. And I will joyfully become your queen.”
“And return to your rightful place, where you belong?”
“Yes.” Her smile was full of wonder, and love. “Home.”
A look of joy crossed his features. Covering her mouth once more with his, he kissed her. “Now that I’ve found you, know that I will never let you go.”
At the fierce look of love in his gaze, her own tears spilled from her eyes, while the awful tightness in her chest eased. “Nor I you,” she swore, sealing their bond. “You are mine.”
“As you are mine.” Pulling her to him, he held her tightly, while her tears dampened his shirt, and the beat of their hearts spoke of one rhythm, one soul, one love.
“Cry no more, beloved. We’ve found each other now. We’ll never be apart again.”
When he slipped the crystal ring on her finger, the clouds lifted. Every last scrap of missing magic had now returned to Rune.
The End
Missing Magic Page 23