Smoke and Mirrors

by Jess Haines

  She thought having the legitimate excuse to be in the school after hours would make things easy. If only.

  At the end of the school day, once most of the students, save for the few who also had meetings in the dean’s office, were gone, she went out to the street and led Cormac and Eddie through the portal.

  It wasn’t her imagination that the portal had seemed reluctant to let the dragon through, taking longer than usual to deposit them on the other side, even with her hand on Cormac to act as a temporary key to let him pass. Once they reached the other side of the gate, the runes around it were tinted an angry red, and a dull, pulsing alarm was ringing through the halls.

  Eddie nearly smothered Kimberly when he threw his arms around her, looking every which way for the source of the danger. Cormac’s growl drove Eddie to thrust her behind him instead, lifting his fists in a valiant—albeit misguided—attempt to protect her.

  Cormac’s reassurances that they would all be fine was the only thing that kept Kimberly from hyperventilating and rushing straight to the dean’s office to apologize. She was too frazzled to notice the fine lines appearing around his eyes as he spotted the dragon skeleton on display only a few yards from where they stood. Assuming his low, rumbling growl was due to Eddie’s overprotectiveness, she straightened and tried to put on a brave face.

  Only to slump again as Professor Lim rushed into the gate room to investigate the alarm. The look he shot Kimberly made her shrink into herself, biting her lip, which had the centaur bristling and stepping forward aggressively.

  Cormac ushered her aside as the professor, ignoring the centaur’s posturing, stalked up to the gate. He examined it briefly before laying a hand on one of the runes to deactivate the alarm.

  He then turned on the trio, demanding to know who Cormac was and what he was doing there. It took a great deal of convincing to get the professor to believe that the dragon was there for her meeting with the dean that night. It was only after telling him to check with Professor Reed that Professor Lim backed off, but with the promise to have her head in a basket if he found out that she was only there to cause mischief.

  Once the professor left, Kimberly was shaking so badly that Eddie stepped in to support her as they headed to the summoning room. That drew another irritated growl from Cormac, which made Eddie tilt his head up and go tense, his arms tightening around Kimberly until she squeaked for air.

  As soon as Eddie let her go, Cormac stepped in to wrap his arms around her instead, glaring at the centaur over her head. Eddie’s nostrils flared and his eyes went wide, putting Kimberly in mind of a horse preparing to charge.

  Between their posturing and aggressive behavior, she didn’t need to worry about the magi killing her. These two would give her a heart attack first.

  It was only her sharp, “Knock it off!” that got them to stop glaring daggers at each other long enough for her to shrug off their hands and take the lead, stomping her way to the summoning room.

  With all of the stress and worry destroying her concentration, the spell to release the bond with Eddie backfired. Cormac had to step in and walk her through how to get the backlash giving her a screaming headache under control.

  Half an hour later, Eddie was free and saying his goodbyes, Cormac was doing his best to rush the centaur out the door, and Kimberly was trying to keep her head in one piece with nothing but her hands and a handful of aspirin.

  Cormac had to coax her through the steps of starting the binding spell, verbally walking her through the process until instinct kicked in and she powered the circle on her own.

  When his thoughts and memories swirled through her head, she burst into tears. That sent him into a panic, thinking something was going wrong with the spell. It took her several minutes to get herself together enough to choke out that nothing was wrong.

  Seeing how much he loved her, how sorry he was for everything he’d done to hurt her, and how badly he wanted her to be safe and happy had been the straw that broke her composure. Hearing the words was one thing. Feeling what he felt, knowing for the first time in weeks with certainty just how much he wanted her, and how much of a struggle it had been for him to step aside for her to make her own choices instead of acting like the possessive beast he was born to be, filled her with such a combination of love and relief, it was all she could do to finish the spell.

  The immense rush of power when she completed the binding made her black out, which had Cormac in a panic all over again. As soon as the circle disintegrated, the dragon dashed forward, scooping her up in his arms and checking her over for injuries.

  She flinched and opened her eyes with a gasp as he shoved even more power into her in an effort to heal whatever was wrong. With a flail and a wheezed “Stop!” he did.

  “Oh, god, my head,” she groaned.

  “Are you okay?”

  “No. I will never be okay. All the Tylenol in the world will never make this okay.”

  He snorted, running his fingers through her hair. “You gave me a scare. I thought something was misfiring on the spell.”

  “Yeah. Me. Owwww.”

  “I would ask what you saw, but I think that will have to wait. What time did you say you needed to be at that meeting?”

  Her gaze went to the oversized clock hanging on the wall. With a strangled sound, she shot to her feet and pulled on his arm, dragging him with her. He snagged her bag for her on their way out.

  When they reached the front office, the dean’s secretary put down the scrying stone she was staring at and frowned at the two. “Kimberly Wells? You’re late. Go on in, everyone is waiting.”

  Cormac held the door for her. She paused, fiddling with the hem of her shirt as the attention of Dean Colin Morrell, Professor Reed, Arnold Moore, and a woman Kimberly didn’t know, was focused with keen intent upon her. The newcomer had steel gray hair done in a severe bun, green eyes sharp enough to cut glass, and a pinstripe suit that immediately put her in mind of old gangster movies.

  Dean Morrell waved Kimberly in, though his brows shot up near his receding hairline as he noted her pallor and the man trailing behind her. Cormac briefly inclined his head in greeting to everyone, though his lips thinned when he spotted the woman in the suit. He took a deliberate protective stance behind Kimberly when she sat in the chair the dean indicated.

  “Well, Ms. Wells,” the dean said, “it seems you’ve survived the trials and tribulations of receiving an education at Blackhollow with enough distinction that you’ve garnered some intense interest from a very prestigious coven. You know Mr. Moore and Professor Reed, of course. Let me introduce you to Alexandra Peterson, CEO and coven leader of The Circle. And is this…?”

  Cormac’s eyes narrowed; the only visible sign of the discomfiture Kimberly could feel was twisting his stomach in knots. His voice, though deeper in timbre than usual, was steady. “Her familiar.”

  The dean rose from his seat, sketching a formal bow with his hand over his heart. “We are deeply honored by your presence, wise one.” The other magi followed suit, murmuring their own greetings.

  “Mr. Hunter, it’s been too long,” Alexandra said, nodding to him briefly before turning to Kimberly. She leaned over to extend her hand, which Kimberly shook in a daze. She wasn’t sure yet if it was how upset Cormac was or the presence of the leader of The Circle that had her so out of sorts. Maybe both. “How do you do. I have heard a great deal about you from Mrs. Reed and Mr. Moore. They speak very highly of you.”

  “I… oh, I… uh…”

  Arnold clapped Kimberly on the back, making her jump and Cormac glare at him. “She’s good people. No security threat to us.”

  “Yes. Aside from all her other qualities I was telling you about, Mr. Hunter tells me she’s got a knack for making unusual allies,” added Professor Reed.

  Kimberly twisted around to give Cormac a questioning look. He stared hard at Professor Reed instead of meeting her gaze.

  “What do you say, Ms. Wells?” Alexandra asked.

  Ki
mberly stared blankly, unable to process what was being asked of her around the headache pulsing at her temples.

  The dean cleared his throat. “It is quite an honor for one of our students to be accepted to such an esteemed coven directly out of the academy.”

  Kimberly shook her head and stood up, backing toward the door. “Thank you, but I wasn’t prepared—this is too much—”

  Professor Reed stepped in, her no nonsense tone cutting through any building arguments. “Of course it is. We couldn’t formally extend the invitation until you finished your finals, so of course you had no reason to think you would be accepted into a coven so soon.”

  Alexandra added, “I’ve had Colin and Eleanor here keep a close eye on you ever since I heard we had a sorcerer in our midst. There is a great deal I would like to discuss with you, young lady. It’s quite possible that this coven’s intervention is the reason you are alive at this moment, with your magic intact. If nothing else, I want you to understand how much your contributions to The Circle would mean, not only to you, but to future sorcerers who wish to train at Blackhollow.”

  Kimberly bit her lip, glancing first at Professor Reed, who nodded and folded her arms, making the polished school charm at her wrist—teacher’s gold instead of student silver—wink in the light. Then Kimberly shifted her gaze to the dean.

  His thin lips quirked briefly in a smile. There was no humor in it. “You’re very lucky, Kimberly. I’m not sure if anyone has told you just how lucky you are that Professor Reed figured it out before the rest of us. She’s been your silent supporter for longer than you’ve known.”

  Alexandra continued before Kimberly could fully process that statement.

  “You will have the rest of the week to have the opportunity to meet with the other local covens, naturally, but—and I am speaking from experience, my dear—The Circle provides more stability, opportunity, and protection than any other coven on the eastern seaboard.”

  “Plus the pay can’t be beat,” Arnold added.

  Alexandra smiled. It reminded Kimberly of a shark; it never reached her eyes. “We would like to work with you, Ms. Wells. The potential power in blending sorcery and magecraft could bring a great deal of benefit to this city.”

  “I’m not sure if I’m ready for a coven. Not after what I’ve been learning these last few weeks.”

  “Ms. Wells,” Alexandra said, “you’re not the first sorcerer to be offered a place at The Circle. We could use someone with your gift in Other relations in our outreach programs for obtaining familiar volunteers. You would be very well compensated. Think it over and let us know.”

  Kimberly bowed her head and wrapped her hand over the stamped coin on her wrist. It took every ounce of concentration she had to avoid flinching at the influx of Cormac’s angry emotions roiling beneath the impassive surface. Flashes of his thoughts about the skeletons in the entrance of the school, Rieva’s scars, and both friends and enemies lost to servitude to magi, made her stomach take a sick plunge.

  When she had learned what the covens were, and about The Circle, it had been her dream to be offered a job working for them. It had been everything she thought she wanted.

  Now she knew they wanted to buy her knowledge and contacts to draw more earthbound familiars into their web, to become pawns to the magi who worked there. The thought of seeing Rieva or Eddie go through that special hell of emotional trauma because of her was enough to remind her of the choice she’d made days ago. Not that it was any easier to get the words out.

  This. This is what Professor Reed was talking about, she thought, her hand tightening over the school symbol until the wire band of the bracelet cut into her palm. Growing as a person. Taking my place in the social order. But maybe that doesn’t mean fitting someone else’s idea of what makes me whole anymore.

  When she looked up, Professor Reed’s normally impassive features were more closed than usual, her lips a thin white slash. Whatever she thought about the situation, by the growing collection of fine lines around her eyes, Kimberly guessed it wasn’t anything good. Whatever her opinions, she was keeping them to herself.

  Sensing Kimberly’s trepidation, Cormac placed his hand on her shoulder, and she let go of the bracelet to lightly touch her fingers to his in a silent show of appreciation. Despite his feelings—so strong she couldn’t possibly ignore them—he stayed quiet, leaving the decision in her hands. Though it frightened her enormously to know what she was about to do, she knew Cormac would be behind her, no matter her choice.

  “Thank you. All of you. Very much.”

  She bit her lip, then continued in a rush, knowing there was danger here.

  It was time to grow up.

  “I’m afraid I can’t accept your offer. I’ve already made plans to act as a business partner and consultant with Rieva Ke’rin. However”—she had to speak up to be heard over the gasps and sputtering—“however, I would be happy to act as a consultant to The Circle in matters of sorcery. We can discuss arrangements for my services after I finish school and officially open for business.”

  Cormac gave her a light squeeze, pride radiating through the simple touch. Kimberly drew strength from it, and smiled because she knew that—no matter what—she was ready to face anything as long as he had her back.

  EPILOGUE

  “I still can’t believe you turned The Circle down,” Xander exclaimed, his eyes aglow from all the energy rushing through his veins after his first taste of Black Star Café coffee. It had cheered him up enormously after his girlfriend had not showed up for their little graduation party. “The Circle! What I wouldn’t give to have a job there.”

  Rieva snorted, pointing her forkful of brown sugar cheesecake at him before shoving it in her mouth. “You, little man, have a lot to learn about your own people if you’re still surprised at her decision.”

  Xander rubbed the back of his neck, then looked around the café again, taking in the occupants for the umpteenth time since Cormac and Kimberly had brought him. Most of them didn’t appear to mind his scrutiny, save for a woman with skin as white as snow and hair dark as a raven’s wing who kept hiding behind her paperback every time she noticed he was looking in her direction. It only served to make him more curious about her, though at the nudge on his foot from Kimberly’s sneaker he was soon brought back to the conversation at hand.

  “Hey, don’t sweat it. I know it probably seems crazy now, but if you ever get to feel what it’s like having a fae familiar’s thoughts in your head, you’ll understand why I turned it down.”

  Cormac huffed, his hand settling over hers. “Don’t tell me you’re still regretting—”

  “Not you, silly. Never you.”

  As they leaned in for a kiss, Heather lightly flicked her napkin at her daughter, though her steely gaze of disapproval was mostly for Cormac. “That’s quite enough PDA, you two. Mom is watching.”

  Rieva smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “It’s best not to come between a dragon and his treasure, Heather. You’ll learn these things on the job.”

  Heather shook her head, her eyes rolling heavenward. “What am I doing working around dragons and unicorns and what have you? I must be mad.”

  “Not mad, Mom. Wasn’t it you who said that supernatural creatures have to eat, too?”

  Rieva barked out a laugh as Heather nodded. Cormac grinned as he took another bite of cheesecake, wisely saying nothing.

  Rieva turned to Xander. “Speaking of jobs, what is it you plan to do? You graduated as well, yes?”

  He nodded. “I did. I’m still trying to figure that out. I took a pile of applications for covens home with me to fill out, but after hearing Kimberly’s plan, I’m not sure if that’s the right path for me either. I might try striking out on my own, too.”

  The changeling nodded sagely, as if he had said the wisest thing she had ever heard.

  “Not a bad choice. You have some raw power and potential as a freelancer,” Cormac said.

  “You really think so?”
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  At Cormac’s nod, Xander beamed, the pride radiating from him at the dragon’s approval making everyone else smile and laugh.

  “So, Kimberly,” Rieva said a moment later, reaching over her plate of cheesecake to grab her mug of fae-infused coffee and lift it, “I think we have a few things to toast, don’t you? To new partnerships.”

  Xander reached for his. “To graduating.”

  Heather smiled and lifted her mug. “New jobs.”

  Cormac lifted his mug. “New beginnings.”

  Kimberly reached for her mug, then paused. She looked around at her gathered friends and family. To Rieva, whose respect she finally felt she had earned. Xander, who held no other expectations than those of friendship. Her mom who, for the first time she could recall, no longer had dark circles under her eyes. Cormac, whose blue eyes were aglow with love and need for her.

  With a smile, she lifted her mug, and toasted.

  “To the things that matter most. The people we love, and who love us in return.”

  And to that, they drank, and laughed, and took the first steps toward a happy, prosperous future together.

  THANK YOU FOR READING!

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