by Avery Gale
Just shoot me now.
Audric listened as Lilly West gave a detailed description of the insignia and jewels decorating the knife Denali West took from her assailant. He hoped the young woman kept the damned thing, it would be irrefutable evidence against the group the council had been working years to dismantle. The knife would provide the proof they needed that the group’s leader was working actively against the Council and using dark magic for personal and political gain.
The Cardinal Rule in the world of magic was hard and unchanged since the dawn of time—magical gifts should only be used to make the world a better place. Audric knew as well as anyone, at times, working for the greater good looked self-serving to those who didn’t understand the larger picture, but those times were rare and acceptable only when there was no alternative.
There’d been times during Audric’s long life when his magical peers believed he was lining his pockets and leveraging his position to gain magical power. Looking back on his youth, he’d made decisions he regretted but tried to make up for those once he’d been in a position to make changes. Audric had never claimed to be perfect. Even now, he felt as though he’d let this problem snowball to this point when it should have been dealt with a hundred years ago.
“Bristol has a similar necklace. When I asked her about it, she told me after the people she knew as her parents died, she found it. Evidently, it was hidden in a small velvet pouch in a box of baby clothes. After everything she’s learned, she believes it was hidden by her real mother.”
“I’m sure it was.” Audric gave Israel a quick nod. “Bristol’s parents knew they had been targeted, and it’s doubtful they had enough time to make arrangements for their daughter’s care. The couple charged with her care were attendants hired by the Council. Unfortunately, it turned out they were more devoted to money than to the child they were hired to protect. When they hadn’t been able to find the medallion, they’d taken their frustration out on Bristol.”
“It doesn’t seem as though the piece was well hidden. If the couple had really been looking for it, wouldn’t they have gone through everything? They certainly had enough time.” Israel’s comment brought nods from many of those around the table, and Audric understood their confusion.
“Remember, you are not dealing with ordinary people. We are talking about highly trained magicals entrusted with a part of one of the most powerful magical tools ever created. The piece was spelled to reveal itself to one person.”
Now wasn’t the time to ask Bronx if he would be willing to time travel back to the sacred ceremony where the talisman was separated for safekeeping. No one on the Council was present at the ceremony, so there are still many unanswered questions. Audric had been present but hadn’t had a clear view. Since the ceremony took place many years before he’d joined the Magic Council, his presence hadn’t been noteworthy. One of the biggest challenges they’d faced was confirming how many pieces they were looking for and details of the spell that had been used?
Suddenly noting the awkward silence, Audric chuckled. “Mrs. West, please excuse my distraction. As I’m sure your sons will attest, one of the hazards of leading a team is maintaining your own focus while your mind spins in several directions.”
“It was always one of my biggest challenges, and I’ve seen this look,”—Kyle swept his hand around the circle of men—“more often than I want to admit.”
“We may not be able to read minds, but it was always easy to figure out what team members were thinking. Their expressions were always unmistakable. They wanted to know where the hell our minds had gone and an ETA for their return.” Kent West’s words made Audric smile.
His position as the head of the Magic Council demanded a certain amount of respect, so people were often afraid to speak their minds around him. Usually, the magicals he dealt with watered down their opinions and observations, their comments so bland, conversations were damned boring. Audric had been spending a lot of time in Texas since Charlotte married Austin Adler, and he’d been happy to discover Texans were funny, open-minded, and honest to a fault.
Good thing you enjoy Texas since it looks like you’re going to be spending even more time here until we get this mess unraveled.
Auric knew Israel had spoken telepathically in part, to remind him the younger man could hear his thoughts when they were unguarded. He nodded his understanding.
“Before any of you ask, we have people watching every magical we know who is in possession of a piece of the artifact, and I spoke with Catalina before she left—such a remarkable young woman. She was quite helpful and provided us with some missing bits of information pertaining to bringing it back together and the gems mounted on each piece.” He took in the looks of interest and knew he was going to have to make a leap of faith, sharing more information than was usually given to anyone outside the council.
“Like any centuries-old establishment, the Magical Council historically operated in secrecy, but this is a problem that has demanded a great deal of cooperation among the members.” Audric turned to Lilly, smiling warmly.
“You, my lovely young friend, have given us more information than you know. You’ve confirmed our suspicions about who we’re up against. That information is enormously helpful.” Turning to Bronx, Audric said, “I’d like a word with you, but first I’m going to chat with Tobi and her men. I’ll be back shortly.” Looping Tobi’s arm through his, he led the trio to a sheltered area away from the others. Turning to Tobi, he cut straight to the chase. “I understand you lost a baby recently.”
“Damn and double damn. I thought Kyle was blunt, but you just might give him some competition.”
“Darling, girl. I wanted to talk to you because it’s painful to watch people we care about struggle and even more so when they are trying to soldier through the pain in silence.” Tobi’s face flushed a deep red so quickly, Audric hoped she would forgive him for outing her. He knew his observation was news to her husbands—their expressions had already given them away before he heard their impressive mental run-through of curse words.
“Well, thanks so much for throwing me under the bus. Geez, Louise.”
“Kitten, you are already in trouble for keeping this to yourself. I suggest you listen closely to what Audric has to say.”
“Yes, sir, of course, you are right.” Insincerity practically dripped from Tobi’s tone, and Kyle’s expression showed he hadn’t missed it.
“Tobi, I know you weren’t trying to be disrespectful. As much as I’d like to blame my late wife for our youngest daughter’s attitude, I’m afraid I will have to shoulder the blame. Brigitte tends to say exactly what’s on her mind. It’s a trait we share, but I like to consider myself a bit more diplomatic.” He gave a negligent shrug, but when her eyes narrowed, he struggled to hold back his laughter. Smart girl—she wasn’t buying his nonchalance.
“Mr. Stafford, as much as I appreciate what I’m hoping is a genuine concern, I’m trying very hard to let the painful memory rest peacefully in my heart.”
“Young lady, that was one of the prettiest pieces of… what is it you Texans call it? Horse shit? I never did understand nonmagicals fascination with excrement in their slang, but as the youngsters say, it is what it is.” He chuckled when Tobi’s mouth dropped open so far, Kent reached over to lift her jaw back in place with his finger.
“Perhaps you could tell us where you were headed with this conversation since I had the impression you were anxious to speak with Bronx?”
Audric nodded, giving Kyle West a reassuring smile.
“I wanted to say I was sorry to hear about your loss. I’m sure you’ve heard all the platitudes, so I’ll save you suffering through any of them again. I wanted to bring you a message from the other side.” It was always fun to teach open-minded people how close the link was between magicals and the other side.
“Wait. When you say the other side, are you talking about where our souls go after death?”
“A more accurate description would be, it’s where our so
uls return after death. Magicals are in tune with the electrical energy. Every animate and inanimate object has an electrical signature.” Shrugging, he flashed them an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I didn’t intend for this to become a lecture about how the Universe operates.”
“The message?” He could see the hope in Tobi’s eyes and was grateful he didn’t have to disappoint her.
“Being chosen to host the soul of an angel—even for a short time, is a great honor. Angels need opportunities to learn and grow—I was asked to convey her thanks. She wanted you to know how grateful she is for your help. You see, Tobi, your sadness and feelings of guilt are misplaced because you helped a soul grow in a way no one else could. She wanted you to know she visits often and will never be more than a whispered prayer away.”
Watching the change in Tobi’s aura was one of the most gratifying things Audric had ever been granted the opportunity to witness. The rusty brown energy field surrounding her dissipated in a fine mist, replaced by a brilliant yellow he felt pulsing with vibrant energy he suspected was the norm before her miscarriage.
When Tobi’s eyes filled with tears, Kent and Kyle quickly closed the gap between the three of them, each wrapping an arm around her until she was surrounded. Audric was always in awe when he was given a chance to witness unconditional love because he knew what few others took time to learn—everything in this universe and all others is powered by love.
Satisfied he’d fulfilled his mission, Audric took a step back. Before he could turn away, he saw the grateful looks in Kyle and Kent’s eyes. Giving them time alone with Tobi was more important than saying goodbye, so he simply nodded and moved away. His position on the Magic Council usually involved authoritarian decisions in situations where no one was a clear winner. Being able to deliver news, he knew made a positive difference in someone’s life, was a blessing. He was thankful the Universe had given him a chance to recharge a bit before requesting a favor from a man he barely knew.
Chapter Nine
“You know he wants you to time travel, right?” Israel’s question brought Bronx back to the moment. He’d been lost in thought, wondering how they’d all managed to mate with women linked in such a powerful way.
“I suspected as much, but it’s nice to know for sure before he returns.” Time travel was a rare magical gift carrying a great deal of responsibility, and Bronx understood how dangerous it could be. Even the smallest action could have enormous repercussions years later. He’d often wondered if whoever wrote the screenplay for the movie, It’s A Wonderful Life, had experienced time travel because they’d certainly nailed many aspects of it.
Watching Kenya from across the patio, Bronx wasn’t surprised to see her attention focused on the lower part of the face of anyone she was talking to. She admitted it was much more difficult for her to hear women, so he was grateful Lilly and Gracie were making sure they included her in their conversation.
Kenya looked up, her gaze scanning the room until she found him. Bronx was pleased to see her body relax once she knew he was close. He held out his hand to her and smiled at the pink blush staining her cheeks as she moved to him. Tucking her close to his side, Bronx watched Audric approach, the tension in his shoulders easy to see.
“Bronx, let’s move further into the shade. I’m afraid I don’t always remember how warm it is here in the afternoon.”
Kenya smiled at the older man as they walked closer to the building.
“The heat was a huge adjustment for me when I first moved to Texas. We moved a lot when I was a kid, but my mom seemed to avoid the south for some reason.”
“Over the course of my exceptionally long life, I’ve learned people rarely do things without reason. The key is uncovering the hidden as well as the obvious answers.” Audric’s words were as true as any Bronx had ever heard. Being able to dial into a person’s motivation was one of the things he learned early in his business career. Now he wondered how much different it would be to look back on what had driven Kenya’s mother to make what looked like a litany of bad choices.
“I know I should be more interested in why she did certain things, but to be honest, it took me a long time to get past that stage, and I’m not sure I want to go back. There doesn’t seem to be a lot to be gained from rehashing all those painful memories.”
Bronx hated the sadness he felt surround his mate. He was grateful for the distraction when Gracie set down a tray filled with ice-cold glasses of lemonade as Lilly approached with another tray filled with sandwiches and cookies.
“You ladies will spoil me, and my daughters will make a lot of noise about how I shouldn’t get used to being treated like royalty.”
Bronx laughed as the man flirted shamelessly with every woman he encountered—maybe getting older had a few advantages after all since no one seemed to take offense. To their credit, Gracie and Lilly didn’t linger. After they’d made certain everyone was comfortable and promising to check back later, they’d moved back to the pool area.
“I’m not going to waste your time with a lot of small talk, Bronx. The Council tasked me with asking you to time travel back to the ceremony where the magical artifact was divided. Since none of the members of the council were there and we have no written record, we need as much information as we can get to figure out what we’re up against.”
“What makes you believe you’re up against anything?” Bronx was grateful for Israel’s insight and support. He wasn’t afraid to ask Audric the hard questions many people would shy away from because of the man’s position of power in the magical community.
“When all five male members of one magical family are mated with women who have pieces of a powerful magical artifact—something is up. You and I both know there is no such thing as coincidence, Israel.”
“I understand why it looks odd, but I sought Bronx out. My mom didn’t give me any specific information, other than telling me when I found the other half, and the magic would be enough to fix my hearing and make certain I had a place to live. It took me months of reading those blasted books to figure out where I needed to go.”
“Those books were stolen recently, correct?” Kenya’s hesitant nod was her only response to Audric’s question. “Whoever took the books obviously believes they contain more than the location of another piece of the artifact.” Bronx agreed. It would have been easy enough for the thief to simply follow Kenya and take the amulets once she’d located the other half. Whoever took the journals was looking for more than one piece.
“Do you think I’ll ever get them back?” Kenya’s voice cracked with emotion as she asked the question.
Bronx suspected she already knew the answer—there wasn’t a chance in hell those books would be recovered, and his heart ached for her. It had to have been devastating to lose something she obviously treasured. He and his siblings cherished the few personal mementos they’d each kept from their parents’ home—knowing something she loved had been taken from her made Bronx want to hurt those responsible.
“I don’t believe that’s likely, Kenya, and I know it’s disappointing. What I can offer is to recreate them from your memory if you’re willing to allow me inside.” Bronx wasn’t sure who was more surprised by the offer—hell, he hadn’t even known it was possible.
“You can do that? How is it possible?” Kenya waved her hand around in a circle before sighing. “Pickled pigs tails, why am I questioning a man I’m sure is as high ranking as any magical I’ll ever meet? Good grief, sometimes the things that come out of my mouth embarrass me to pieces.” Audric smiled warmly as Bronx and Israel both chuckled softly.
“You’re going to have to step up the embarrassing comments several notches to even be noticed in our family, Kenya.” Israel’s reassurance was not only welcome, it was also accurate. Almost every one of them had gone through phases where they spoke first and put their brains in gear later. Asia was the only one who always seemed to be in control—she was called the Adler Ice Princess for good reason.
“It is a
very complicated spell, and you are right to assume it isn’t something an inexperienced witch or wizard would be able to do.” Audric leaned forward, taking Kenya’s hand, holding it between his own. The differences between them startling, and the picture was one Bronx knew he’d never forget. It was a lesson in life—youth at one end of the spectrum, juxtaposed against age and wisdom at the other. “Did you read the journals in any particular order?”
“I read them in reverse date order, incorrectly assuming my mother wouldn’t have written down anything important until after she’d given me the amulet. As it turned out, all the details of her friendship with Mrs. Adler were in the earliest volumes, including their promises to each other to give their halves to their children.”
“I know you’re feeling a small measure of betrayal because it looks as though you were misled about the number of pieces, but that isn’t the case. Remember, these are pieces of history. They’ve been passed down for generations—generations of magicals who lived long lives. The original magical totem was divided to protect and preserve its power. Without an official from the Council present, they were able to skirt any requirements for written documentation. I was there, but I wasn’t able to see everything.” Audric took a deep breath and turned his attention to Bronx.
“There are only a handful of magicals who have your particular skill set, and you are the only one with a mate who can camouflage to hide our presence.” Every muscle in Bronx’s body tightened when Audric suggested Kenya accompany him while time traveling. What the hell was the man thinking? The elderly wizard held up his hand when Bronx opened his mouth to argue. “I know it’s dangerous, and I wouldn’t ask if I had any other option. I will be tagging along to provide an additional layer of security.”
“I would also like to go along, but I’m not sure it’s wise.” Bronx sensed Israel’s inner struggle as he tried to balance his need to protect his brother and fear of leaving his own mate’s security in someone else’s hands.