Quin closed his eyes and tilted his head back. “Do we still have guards watching the community?”
“Yes,” Caitrin answered.
“How long is the warning time?”
“A little over a minute.”
Quin raised his head and opened his eyes. “A minute isn't long enough to get everyone out of the community, but we might be able to move away from the lawn. Then Layla and I can conceal everyone before going any further.” He reached up, taking Layla's chin and forcing her to meet his stare. “If Agro manages to locate us before we finish setting the spells, it's every man for himself and we flee. All of us. No one stays to face him. We'll conceal the slowest fliers first to give them a better chance, but that means no waiting for them.”
“Fine,” she agreed. “Where will everyone meet?”
“We believe his camp is northwest,” Caitrin noted, “so we'll gather on the east border of the lawn, behind Lann and Rhiannon's.”
Quin finished his coffee and vanished his cup. Then he hugged Layla close. “It's going to have to work for now. What about help?”
“We have a few people in mind,” Serafin answered. “There's a handful from our home state, and a few others scattered around the U.S. and Canada. There's also one in Nova Scotia and two in Mexico.”
Layla turned her face into Quin's chest, and he tucked his chin in, whispering as he drifted his lips through her hair. “You okay?”
“No,” she answered, “but I'm going to have to learn to deal with it, right? Don't stop the conversation on my account.” No one said anything, so she spoke again. “Just a few people, huh? Will that be enough?”
“No,” Quin answered. “We need more. The more we get, the better everyone's chances will be.”
“Naturally,” Serafin agreed, “but we have a problem.”
“What’s that?”
“You stipulated the volunteers be trustworthy, which severely limits our options. There are magicians all over this continent wishing they could watch Agro die, dreaming they could have a hand in it, but we don't know them, so we can't trust them.”
Quin contemplated this as he ran a lock of Layla's hair beneath his nose. “It’s dangerous to let strangers see what we've become.”
“Yes,” Serafin agreed.
“What about those we know?” Quin asked. “Where will they be staying?”
“Everyone we've thought of so far would be welcome in the community.”
Quin was undecided, and he was tired of thinking about it. “Go ahead and make the calls to those you know. Tally up how many will join us. We'll decide if we want to risk bringing strangers in once we see where our numbers stand.”
Serafin nodded. “We'll try to have them tallied by tomorrow evening.”
“The sooner the better. Is there anything else we need to discuss tonight?”
No one answered, but when Quin looked up, he could tell they had something on their minds. “What’s going on?”
Several of them exchanged hesitant glances. Then Kemble cleared his throat and answered. “We’ve been discussing the situation all afternoon, contemplating different theories, and we're curious what you two think of them.”
“You’ll have to be more specific,” Quin urged.
“Well,” Kemble replied, linking his fingers with Cordelia's, “we were discussing the possibility of a preordained union.”
Layla left her sanctuary and glanced around. “You mean destiny?”
“Yes,” Kemble confirmed. “Under the circumstances, we wonder if you and Quinlan's relationship isn't meant to lead to bigger things.”
“Right,” Layla mumbled, cuddling back into Quin.
He shifted her into a cradle hold and stood. “The bizarre circumstances haven’t escaped our attention, but we haven't discussed it or decided how we feel about it. What do you think, love? Got an opinion on the matter?”
She shrugged, her eyes glued to his chest, her fingernail tracing hearts on his pecs. “Not so much at the moment. Ask me again when Agro's dead.”
“Good answer,” Quin approved. “Our future is worth considering, but for now, we're going to concentrate on surviving our confrontation with Agro. Is there anything else we need to deal with tonight?”
“No,” Caitrin answered. “Stay alert and be ready to meet behind Lann's.”
“Will do,” Quin assured, carrying Layla to the door.
“And don't reveal your auras and bonded lights until everyone's here tomorrow,” Caitrin added. “You'll answer far less questions if you answer them all at once.”
“That's fine. We won't be leaving the house until they're here.” He burrowed into Layla’s curls and whispered in her ear. “Conceal us.”
She did. Then they both mumbled goodnight as the door swung open.
“Goodnight,” their family called back. Then Caitrin laughed as he shut the door.
Chapter Thirteen
The desert sun crept through polished windows and across a woven rug, pouring over Guthrie’s eyelids. He blinked while shielding the harsh rays with his hand. Then he looked around, finding Lynette sitting beside him, magically scrawling something on a piece of paper. Last night’s love puppet was draped over his midsection, mere inches from his manhood.
He sighed and rubbed his eyes. “What are you writing?”
“A list,” Lynette answered.
The sleeping woman stirred, and Guthrie groaned as her soft murmur whispered across his stomach. “Damn you, Lynette.”
“What?” Lynette coyly returned. “She was fun… and well rewarded for her willingness.”
Guthrie looked down. “I hope she isn’t one of the soothsayers we’re taking with us.”
“She isn’t. I checked. She cleanses auras; they call themselves expurgators.”
“Good. The last thing we need is a soothsayer looking to screw her way to a better life. I doubt she has it any easier than we did at that age.”
“Are you kidding me, Guthrie? Look around. We never had shelter like this, or food like we ate last night. Not even the most privileged soldiers in the Dark Elite see amenities like these. Vortigern’s students may be his pawns, but at least he allows them daily comforts.”
Guthrie curiously met Lynette’s stormy stare. “You think that makes it better?”
“Yes,” she firmly answered, “square meals and soft beds are better than tents and community cauldrons.”
“I guess,” he conceded, looking away. “We need to get her out of here. We don’t have time to waste.”
Lynette was quiet for a moment. Then she gave him her list and scooted closer, laying her head on the hip opposite the one the student occupied.
Guthrie scanned the paper, finding the names of several Dark Elite soldiers. “What’s this?”
“That,” Lynette answered, sensually rubbing his thigh, “is a list of soldiers who’d kill to upgrade from soup to steak… soldiers who’d welcome a shift in power.”
Guthrie balled up the paper and threw it across the room. Then he opened his mouth to reprimand her mutinous behavior, but he couldn’t find the words… only a groan elicited by her roaming hands.
Chapter Fourteen
Layla was having a good dream… a very good dream. She was walking down the beach, her hand in Quin’s, her bare soles sinking into silky sand. Haystack Rock jutted from frothy waves, a mere silhouette against a bright moon, and a puppy – a teeny King Charles spaniel – bounded beside them, occasionally distracted by a clump of kelp.
Quin squeezed Layla’s hand, and as she turned to smile at him, he dove in for a deep kiss. The tide crept up, soaking their feet, and she shivered as he gripped her backside and picked her up. Only then did she realize she was naked. There was nothing to stop him from making love to her, which he did, right there on the beach!
Yes, it was an incredible dream… and it merged into sweet reality when she awoke to his passionate kisses and tantalizing touches, which were followed by a steamy shower.
The family gathering w
as minutes away by the time Layla and Quin emerged from the bathroom, and she stared at the curtains while scarfing down a piece of toast and rushing through a cup of coffee. Their entire family was on the other side of the velvet, waiting for news that would change their lives.
“Are you worried?” Quin asked, refilling her coffee.
“Yes,” she confessed, finding his stare. “I know they'll be happy for us, but they've already had their lives flipped upside down because of me. Now I’m piling more on their plates.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and looked at the window. “They won't mind.”
She sighed and took one more sip of coffee. Then she sent her mug to the table and headed for the closet. “I better get dressed. Will you be able to summon clothes from your parents’?”
“Yep,” he answered, doing just that.
She glanced over her shoulder, happy to see he’d merely donned shorts and no shirt. Then she entered the closet and shuffled through the multitude of dresses. When she emerged, she wore a black maxi dress boasting several layers of chiffon and a neckline deep enough to display the chrome tourmaline necklace he’d given her.
She walked to the dresser to get the jewelry, and his gaze followed her across the room. “Black looks good on you.”
“You say that about everything I wear.”
He approached and took her necklace, motioning for her to turn around. “I mean it.”
“I know,” she whispered, shivering as his fingers brushed the back of her neck.
After securing the necklace around her throat and the bracelet around her wrist, he turned her into his arms and gave her a deep kiss. “Are you ready?”
“I guess.”
“We need to conceal the proof,” he noted, gathering her skirt in his fists. Then he grasped her butt and picked her up, urging her to wrap her legs around his waist.
“Let's wait until we get to the front door,” she suggested. “I don't want to hide our lights longer than necessary.”
“Good idea,” he agreed, carrying her down the hallway.
She laid her head on his shoulder, but when they entered the living room, she blinked and straightened. “Quin!”
In the corner, between the fireplace and window, stood a wooden table holding a large TV and a wide range of accessories.
“I forgot about that,” he mumbled.
“What do you mean you forgot about that?”
“I got it Sunday,” he explained, “before we bonded. You made me forget.”
“But I don't need a TV.”
“I know you don't need it, Layla.”
“Then why did you get it?”
“I told you – I want you to show me the things you enjoyed before moving here, and you can show your grandparents your home movies on it.”
“It's huge.”
“Not really. Besides, if you're going to watch TV, you might as well do it right.”
She sighed and met his stare. “Well thank you, but you didn't need to do that.”
“I have to be honest with you, Layla – this wasn't a sacrifice for me. I've been working for my parents for years, getting paid very well to do so, and I don't have anything to spend money on. No house, no car, no bills, my parents refuse to let me pitch in on overhead for the business, and the same goes for upkeep on their house. I don't even buy my own food most the time. I have plenty of money, love, so indulge me by letting me indulge you. Please.”
She smirked and narrowed her eyes in mock suspicion. “Do I have a new library as well?”
He took a measured breath. Then he looked away and headed for the front door.
“Quin!”
“What?”
“Did you really?”
“We have a lot of people waiting for us. Let's argue about this later.”
“You did! Where did you put it?”
“I'll show you when we get home.”
“I can't believe you, Quin. You really built me a library?”
He stopped at the door and found her eyes. “Yes. Well, kind of.”
“When?”
“Sunday.”
“But you were only gone a couple of hours.”
“Yes, and that's why it's not really accurate to say I built it. My mom and dad did most the work.”
“Oh my god, Quin. Your mom and dad built me a library?”
“No, they built me a library. I set the groundwork and told them what I wanted, and they did me a favor by putting it together. It was easy and only took them a few hours.”
“A few hours? Yeah right.”
“I swear. All the material was in our warehouse, and the furnishings and woodwork were things I'd already made. They just had to transfer everything and put it in the right spot, a task they were thrilled to see through. They’ve wanted to use the design for years, but I wouldn't sell it, because I made it with my own home in mind, so I’m sure they enjoyed putting it together. It's what they do. Dad builds it; mom fills it.”
“And what do you do?”
“I do it all.”
“Of course,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I can't believe you did this, Quin. You shouldn't have gone to all that trouble.”
“When we get done dealing with all this,” he replied, motioning toward the lawn, “we can come back here, take off that lovely dress you're wearing, and go sit in our library while you scold me for building it for you. I'll be okay with that.”
A smile twitched her lips, but she tried to hide it. “Fine. Prepare to be scolded by your naked angel.”
“Sounds like heaven,” he approved, leaning in for a kiss. “Now show me that smile you're hiding before I have to watch you conceal your aura.”
The entire coven sat in a circle when Quin carried Layla onto the lawn, and as they drew close, the family did a double-take, scowling at the empty air around Quin.
Several of them questioned him, but he ignored them and looked at Caitrin. “Let's get this over with.”
Caitrin stood and moved to the middle of the circle, and Quin followed, lowering Layla’s feet to the ground beside him. Her cheeks were on fire and her stomach was a knotted mess, so she turned and hid her face in Quin’s chest.
Caitrin leaned close and whispered. “Would you like to tell them or should I?”
“We'll just show them,” Quin answered.
Caitrin gave a nod then looked at their family. “Quinlan and Layla have... news.”
“Quin's getting married,” Banning assumed, shooting magical sparks in the air.
Several members expressed favor toward the idea, and Layla laughed as Quin rubbed her back.
“I was beginning to think we’d never see the day,” Catigern noted.
Caitrin laughed, but he put a stop to the excitement by raising a hand. “That's not the news. Maybe someday.” He looked at Quin. “Go ahead. They’re as prepared as they’re going to get.”
Quin leaned in and kissed Layla's head. “Ready?”
She nodded. Then they both sighed as they released their auras and bonded lights, filling the inner circle with a dazzling mixture of bright colors, silver ribbons, and golden mist.
A collective gasp pulled lungfuls of oxygen from the atmosphere, but Quin ignored the family’s shock as he whispered through Layla’s hair. “That feels better.”
“Much better,” she agreed.
He looked up, but she stayed hidden. “How are they doing?”
“It's what we expected,” he answered. “They can't believe what they're seeing.”
“Disbelieving is better than horrified.”
“Of course they're not horrified, love.”
Staying true to form, Brietta broke the coven's silence. “But… but…” She stood, propping one hand on her hip as she pointed. “You weren't bonded Monday, at the hockey game… were you?”
“No,” Quin answered. “We bonded that night.”
“But how is that possible?”
“Be more specific.”
“Well...” Bri
etta glanced at the back of Layla's head then met Quin’s stare. “I mean... doesn't it happen when... you know, other things happen?”
“Yes.”
“So you're saying you two hadn't... you know, before Monday?”
“Yes.”
Her mouth fell open, her eyes wide as she stared at him for several seconds. Then she laughed and sat down. “Geez, Quin, when did you become such a prude?”
This broke the tension, and several people laughed, including Layla, which eased Quin’s tension. “I'll let the jab slide, Bri, but only because you made my angel laugh.”
Catigern stood, and Zenith shook her feathers before taking flight from his shoulder. “This is huge, Caitrin.”
“Yes it is,” Caitrin agreed.
Lann stood as well, his stunned gaze glued to his grandson. “This is bigger than huge.” He paused and found Kemble. “What do you think of this?”
“I think it's amazing,” Kemble answered, giving his dad a shrug, “and yes, it's bigger than huge.”
“It is amazing,” Catigern agreed, “but we can't ignore what else it is.”
“It's insane,” Banning interjected. “Look at their power-bands.”
“Unbelievable,” Kearny and Enid whispered.
“It's destiny,” several people murmured.
“I think it's lovely,” Skyla dreamily noted.
Her parakeets tweeted their agreement from her shoulders. Then a hush fell over the family as they reverently stared at the lights.
Catigern eventually cleared his throat and sadly broke the silence. “It is lovely, but it's also a number of more unpleasant things.”
“We understand what else it is,” Quin sharply returned.
“Good,” Catigern countered, “because we're talking about a lifetime of worries and lurking danger, and at the present time, Agro's right around the corner.”
“We're well aware of our predicament,” Quin assured, “and I'm glad you understand as well. If everyone fully comprehends the situation, we can move on to discussing what to do about it.”
“What's to discuss?” Rhiannon cut in, rising from her chair. “You have to hide. You have to stay away from that man at all costs.”
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