Smoke and Mirrors

by Jess Haines

  A real dragon. It may have scared her to pieces, but it had saved her. Even if it wanted something from her in return, Cormac’s plan had worked. It might take her a little time to wrap her wits around the idea of working with such a powerful Other again after her latest experience.

  “I’m not sure how I feel about that,” she admitted. “After what happened with Viper…”

  His lips twitched, a ghost of his humor returning. “He’s nothing like Viper, and very impressed by your credentials. He’s quite anxious to help you. So you have an extra incentive to rebuild your strength and get back on your feet. Dragons don’t like to be kept waiting.”

  She nodded, though she couldn’t help how stiff she’d gone at the thought, heartbeat thudding in her ears. Cormac traced a fingertip over her lips, jerking her out of the dark pit of doubt growing in her mind. She was brought very much back to the present at his touch, his voice turning husky as the sly twinkle in his eyes grew brighter.

  “Not that I mind having you in my bed… but I think we’ll both enjoy it more when you’re here because you want to be, not because you have to be.”

  Another blush heated her cheeks. She was all too aware of his warmth, his strength, the comfortable way he had settled and molded his body along hers. It would have been nice to share that intimacy with him, but she was so exhausted and achy that he was right. It wasn’t the time. It would be—that decision was surprisingly easy to make—but not until she was better and they were both ready.

  Tired and stressed as she was, she hesitated before whispering one last request.

  “Will you stay with me? Until I fall asleep? I’m scared to be alone.”

  His expression turned grave as he pulled back, eyes searching her face. She bit her lip, feeling stupid for asking until he sat up and scooted under the covers with her. His arms slid around her to hold her close, tucking her head under his chin. She almost lost it again, squeezing her eyes tightly closed to keep any more tears from spilling all over his naked chest, even if they were from gratitude this time.

  “I’m here,” he murmured, fingertips lightly stroking her back. “For as long as you want me, I’ll always be here.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  After that first night awake, it didn’t take Kimberly long to recover her strength. Cormac had briefly woken her up a second time to get some food in her, helping her sit up to eat the soup and drink the fae-infused water Rieva had delivered. She devoured every bite, promptly fell back asleep, and slept the rest of the night through and a good chunk of the following day.

  She woke up alone in the bed, refreshed, charged with energy, and ready to take on the world.

  Her legs didn’t agree, wobbling the moment she put her weight on them. Cormac found her a few minutes later, spitting curses as she fought to get herself out of her indignant sprawl she’d fallen into.

  A bark of laughter was surprised out of him at the sight. He set aside the tray he’d been carrying, kneeling down to scoop her up in his arms. She grumbled under her breath about it and yanked at the long shirt she was wearing to keep her bare legs covered, but settled down as he picked her up and took the few steps necessary to deposit her back on the bed.

  “What part of rest was unclear?” he asked.

  His scolding might have been more effective if his shoulders weren’t still shaking from suppressed laughter, his eyes glittering with mirth. She stuck her tongue out at him and fell back into the pillows with a huff.

  “I’m fine. I feel great.”

  “That’s the water from the Black Star talking.” He lightly ran a fingertip from the inside of her elbow all the way down to her wrist, making a parade of goose bumps march down her arm. “Your spark is running hot, but the rest of you needs time to catch up.”

  She made a low sound of frustration, folding her arms. “I hate this. I need to move.”

  “Eat something, then I’ll help you wander around all you like.”

  He got up to retrieve the tray, setting it down in her lap. She was only slightly alarmed to see that the surface was still aglow with some kind of power from the faded runes etched in the tarnished metal surface. They were all ancient, of a brand she wasn’t familiar with. This tray had been used for spells and perhaps as an altar in the past. Not to mention it was a relic, probably worth more than the entire combined contents of her apartment. She was a tad nonplussed that Cormac thought it made an appropriate breakfast tray.

  The plate in the center had eggs, bacon, and toast. A smaller dish held an arrangement of sliced fruit. There was a steaming cup of coffee and a glass bottle of water stoppered with a cork. A quick peek with her Sight showed the by now familiar elemental energy from the Black Star swirling in the drinks. A hint of it in the food as well.

  Cormac was clearly determined to have her wired on elemental energy. Never mind that she had no idea how to use it. It had to be doing some good, considering how much better she was feeling and how much her Sight had been improving since she first started drinking the potent stuff.

  He stayed beside her, watching intently as she picked at the food. Despite her embarrassment at being watched and waited on, hunger got the better of her. Within a couple of bites, she was devouring the meal with gusto. When there was nothing left but crumbs, she reached for the coffee, eyeing him over the rim of the mug.

  “Are you sure I’m not being a bother?”

  He grinned. “Believe me, if I thought you were a bother, you would know it. I’m finding I’m enjoying having someone to take care of.”

  She avoided his gaze, sipping the coffee. He slid the tray from her lap, placing it on the bedside table, then held out his hand for the mug as soon as she lowered it from her lips. With a sigh, she relinquished it, and he set that aside on the table as well. That done, he rose, offering his arm to her for support.

  “Rieva will be here any minute,” he said. “If you’re feeling up to it, you can come down to speak with her.”

  Kimberly gave him a dubious look before taking his hand, rising shakily back to her feet. He helped her steady herself, but she wasn’t quite so wobbly this time around, standing under her own power before long.

  “I’m not exactly dressed for it.”

  “Neither am I,” he said, shrugging. Considering he was only wearing a pair of jeans, no shirt, she couldn’t help but agree. “She won’t care. And if she does, she can always come back some other time. Besides, I thought you might like to choose a book or two, or find some other things to occupy yourself while you’re recuperating.”

  Kimberly fidgeted in place, considering. She wasn’t used to lying around doing nothing. It would get boring before long if she didn’t have some form of entertainment to distract herself. Rieva had already seen her disheveled state, anyway. There was no reason to cling to her squeamishness and embarrassment if Cormac wasn’t worried about it either. Though Kimberly did have some reservations about the woman, Rieva had helped her. She couldn’t be all bad.

  “I’ll take any excuse to get out of this room for a while, but I’m not sure why you think she’d want to talk to me. Doesn’t she hate me?”

  “Of course not. She wanted to apologize for siccing Viper on you.”

  No effort was made to disguise her doubt. Rather than continue to worry about what the changeling might do to her in her current condition, she focused on keeping her balance and staying upright on the long trek across the room. Cormac stayed close, ready to catch her should she stumble, but she did a fair job of maintaining her footing.

  The extraordinarily complex series of glyphs etched into the door frame blazed to life when she got within a yard of them. Flinching back with a startled gasp, he had to catch her before she could fall.

  “Cripes,” she said, voice shaking. “Were you planning to use this place as a bomb shelter during the next World War?”

  He chuckled. “Something like that. There’s no safer place in the city for you to recover. I thought you might appreciate the security.”

&
nbsp; The glyphs snapped with energy that rippled and fizzed against her skin as they passed through the doorway. All her hair was standing on end as if she’d been scooting around on a carpet in wool socks. When she glanced up, she couldn’t help giggling when she saw his own hair was doing the same, like he’d just stuck his finger in an electric socket.

  His puzzled frown when he looked at her had her laughing harder. Then he noted how her hair was floating around her head in a messy halo. With a snort, he ran a hand raggedly through his own hair, smoothing the crackling spikes.

  “Perhaps they are a bit overcharged,” he admitted.

  “Just a teensy bit.”

  With a snort of amusement, he took her arm and led her across his apartment above the Wild Hunt. She peered around with interest, though there wasn’t much to see. Like his bedroom, the place didn’t look very lived in. It was tremendous and spotlessly clean, but there were no signs of habitation beyond a sparse scattering of furniture and candles providing illumination in addition to the dim, watery sunlight filtering through the rain-spattered windows. Not even a stray sock on the floor to make the place look like somebody lived there.

  She nudged his ribs with her elbow. “Are you sure this is your apartment?”

  “Of course. Why?”

  She waved at all the empty space with her free hand. “It doesn’t look anything like your store. I wouldn’t have pegged you for a Spartan.”

  “Ah. No, I would never call myself that. This is just a place for me to rest my head when I’m in the city and don’t feel up to making the trip home to the Catskills.”

  She pursed her lips, looking around again. If he lived all the way in the Catskills, at least a hundred miles away, it was no wonder he kept an apartment in the city. Then again, a trip back and forth like that had to be a bit much to take every few days. Even if he only came in for a couple of days a week to tend his shop, she would think he might have left a few personal items in his apartment here. A couple of pictures, or a book or two. Something to give a hint about the interests and personality of the man behind the incredible clutter of the shop.

  There were more glyphs on the door frame leading out of the apartment. They glimmered an angry, harsh red with the heat burning inside them, ready to toast any unwanted visitors to a crisp. She stared over her shoulder at them as he led her out and into a dim stairwell.

  He took her down a couple of flights, then held the door for her leading into his store. Rieva was already waiting, sitting beside the register, her heels drumming against the counter as she stared up at the ceiling. The moment they stepped inside, she hopped down, her pallor somehow more pronounced by the dark circles under her eyes and crackle to her voice as she rushed forward.

  “Oh, Kimberly, I am so sorry. I never intended—”

  Shocked by the woman’s obvious remorse, Kimberly stopped her tracks, going stiff as the girl grabbed her cheeks and yanked her down to eye level. She hadn’t realized just how short the albino was until she was standing next to her. Kimberly was only average in height, but the top of Rieva’s head barely came up to her shoulder. With all the danger and power she exuded, until that moment Kimberly had thought she was much taller.

  Rieva stared deeply into her eyes. The piercing, icy blue so like Cormac’s glimmered with some kind of power. Cormac didn’t make any move to prevent it, either. He kept a steadying hand on Kimberly’s back, but otherwise did nothing to interfere.

  There was a bit of pressure near the back of her skull, nothing more. It was the only hint she had that the changeling was digging around in her head. By the time she realized it, the woman was done, her shoulders sagging as she puffed out a breath of relief.

  “Good, no permanent damage. You should have full use of your spark again in a day or so.”

  Hair prickling with unease, though it was a little late for it, Kimberly scooted closer to Cormac, one hand clutching at him in alarm. He slid his arm around her shoulder.

  Rieva pulled back and her eyes widened in surprise. Her sharp look became calculating as she looked back and forth between them.

  “Well,” she said, “I won’t keep you long. Truly, I am very sorry for involving Viper. I was hoping it might prompt someone else to act sooner…” Her gaze flicked to Cormac, then away. He made a soft sound between his teeth, almost a hiss, and she took a quick step back. “Never mind that. Let’s just say things didn’t turn out as I intended.”

  Kimberly bit her lip before replying, leaning away and fighting the urge to hide behind Cormac. Rieva had the power to see into her thoughts and memories. That was no minor gift. No wonder her power shone like her café’s namesake.

  “I’m sure you didn’t,” Kimberly replied, extending a shaking hand. The last thing she wanted to do was offend this woman by spurning her apology. “Everybody makes mistakes. Don’t worry about it.”

  Rieva clasped her fingers in both hands, her relieved smile transforming her whole face. It was terrifying how quickly she went from scary to angelic.

  “You really are sweet. Continue to be the exception, Kimberly. It will serve you well in the trials ahead.”

  Cormac made another low sound in his throat which Rieva took as her cue to change the subject.

  “Listen, I brought you some fresh clothes and a few other necessities. If you need a hand and don’t want this big galoot to see you naked, I’ll help you out with a shower and change of clothes.”

  He shifted, tightening his grip on Kimberly as he turned a fearsome glare on Rieva that would have sent anyone else cowering under the furniture. The changeling didn’t bat a lash.

  “No one’s going to see her naked but me.”

  Kimberly huffed, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment. “Oh my God, no one is going to see me naked! I can shower myself!”

  Cormac frowned, peering down at her with a wistful expression. “Are you sure? I certainly wouldn’t mind.”

  “Sure you wouldn’t,” Rieva said, grinning as Kimberly ducked her face so neither of them could see how her cheeks burned crimson. “She’s the one who minds, you silly oaf. Go count your money for a few minutes, the girls need to talk.”

  Fear threaded through Kimberly at that. What on earth could the changeling have to say to her that she couldn’t talk about in front of Cormac?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Cormac’s fierce expression returned. Rieva returned his stare, not giving an inch. After a long, tense moment, he bared his teeth at her in a semblance of a grin, the warning in it crystal clear.

  “Fine,” he ground out. “A few minutes.”

  He helped Kimberly over to one of the chairs by the bookshelves, ignoring the impatient tapping of Rieva’s foot as she waited for him to go away. He took his time ensuring Kimberly was settled comfortably, crouching before her as he lightly touched her cheek, giving her a reassuring smile before he rose to head over to the register. He poked through the things Rieva had brought, sniffing at the coffee and making every effort to appear as if he had no interest in their conversation and wasn’t hanging on their every word.

  As soon as he was gone, Rieva settled on a nearby footstool, somehow managing to look elegant in her silk and silver and combat boots as she crossed her legs and primly folded her hands over one knee. Her white-blond hair fell in artfully arranged spikes as she leaned forward to stage whisper, knowing full well Cormac was listening in.

  “Things may not have turned out as I intended, but I think you’ll get what you were looking for. If not, I just wanted to let you know that I’ve got a laundry list of local Others and even a few out-of-towners who would love to take you up on your offer. As soon as they heard you were legit and meant what you said about only wanting someone temporarily, they came out of the woodwork.”

  Kimberly fiddled with the hem of the long shirt, a sudden chill prompting her to roll down the long sleeves over her arms. “I don’t know. I’m still a little freaked out about Viper.”

  Rieva shook her head, her expression turning grave. “
He was a mistake. A very bad mistake. I didn’t think he was truly stupid enough to try to make a mage his familiar again. If I had checked his intentions, I would have been able to do something about it. It was foolish of me not to, and for that I can’t begin to express my regrets. I know you have your doubts about me—no, no, I saw it when I checked on the progress of your recovery, so don’t try to deny it. You’re right to be afraid. I’m a fucking monster, and I’ll act like it when I think someone is a danger to me or my friends.”

  A faint choking noise was the only response Kimberly could come up with, her eyes going wide with shock and not a little fear.

  “You have nothing to fear from me, Kimberly. I know what it must look like after our initial introduction, but believe me, I’ve seen enough about you to know you’re not a threat. I have no intention of doing you harm.”

  “I’m sorry you don’t like me,” Kimberly muttered. “If you’re just here to apologize, I accept.”

  Rieva blew out a breath, leaning back. “No, not exactly. That’s certainly part of it. I was hoping you might be interested in something of a partnership.”

  At the look Kimberly gave her, she laughed.

  “Hey, I like making money, and I thought you might like to earn a few extra bucks, too. You’d be surprised how many Others jump at the chance to work with a mage they can trust not to trap them in the process. I know enough about you to know you wouldn’t hurt a fly, and I have the contacts to bring in the business, so if you like, we could pool our resources and work together.”

  That was one of the last things Kimberly was expecting. A partnership with the bane of her kind? That would take a great deal of thought before jumping into any kind of decision.

  Good thing she had nothing but time on her hands while she recovered.

  “Are you sure that’s safe?” she ventured.

  “You know what I can do and what I’m capable of. I can manage the offers, use my skills to pre-screen and wash out the types like Viper. If I had thought to check beforehand, he never would have heard about you from me. Now that I know what to look for, it will never happen again. Think about it. Could be a lucrative business for you.”