I sighed and threw myself an internal pity party while imagining Diana Diamond losing clients by the dozen. She’d go broke and slink away in misery to leave all the lovers in town for me. “Strikes me as a fake from roots to boots. Or maybe I’m being dramatic.”
“Well, that is your default setting, Lexi darling. But that doesn’t mean you’re wrong. Carl says we don’t trust our instincts enough anymore; we ignore physical cues and focus too much on society’s expectation of treating everyone as equals. It’s become politically incorrect to simply not like someone for no apparent reason, but really it’s nature’s way of letting us know when something isn’t right.”
“Sounds like a good enough justification for judgmental bitchiness. I’ll take it.” I laughed.
“See, having a professor of anthropology in the family has its benefits. Plus, Carl looks hot in those jackets with the suede elbow patches. Win-win.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hold back a grin. Flix and I were still getting over our worst fight ever, and he’d finally come back to work after an extended vacation. Regular clients had been clamoring for one of his legendary hairstyles and had flocked to the salon in the back of the office since his return. I heard one harried woman offer him the diamond pendant she was wearing if he’d skip lunch to do her highlights. I’m pretty sure he declined.
“You like your elbow patches; I like my man with a guitar in his hand. Whatever floats your boat.”
“When is your rock star boyfriend coming back to town, anyway? Mona Katz keeps calling about setting up a double date.”
“He’s not a rock star. Yet. And I hope he never becomes one. He’s just filling in for Rain of Thirteen’s guitarist while they find a permanent replacement. He’ll be back in a few days, and I’ll call Mona then. Otherwise, I’ll never get her off the phone.”
I’d begun to wonder if Kin had caught the travel bug during his trip, which was originally slated to last four weeks but had dragged on for another two and was now threatening to eclipse the Thanksgiving holiday. There was no point setting up a dinner with Mona and her boyfriend if he got delayed again because it increased the chances of her forcing a heart-to-heart talk over my feelings. I didn’t want to talk about the tour. Or Kin. Or anything else, for that matter. Not yet, anyway.
Kin hadn’t seemed particularly enthused about the idea of extending our separation, but he'd been making good contacts on the tour, so I’d pasted a smile on my face and acted like I was happy for him. Flix knew better. Mona would have, too, and that’s precisely why I’d been avoiding her calls.
“You’re radiating fear, and I can smell the freakout oozing from your pores. I don’t know why you try to lie to a faerie—especially me, considering I know you better than anyone on the planet.” Extreme empathy was one of Flix's gifts. Or maybe it was a curse, I hadn't ever asked because, while a little too open about his romantic entanglements, he tended to clam up about certain personal details.
“Turn off your spidey senses or whatever you want to call them. We’re not having this conversation now. Everything will be fine.” Avoiding making eye contact for fear I might prove him right and burst into tears, I reiterated.
It might seem like I had more going for me than most people—I’m a witch, the demigod daughter of Cupid, Keeper of the sacred Balefire flame, and last but not least, a Fate Weaver. But damn it all, I still cared more about the one title that meant little in my supernaturally-enhanced world: girlfriend.
“Whatever you say, Lexi. Whatever you say.”
Chapter Two
“PHONE TAG. YOU’RE IT.” Kin’s husky drawl warmed my voicemail box. “I'm in...Baltimore, I think. It’s hard to keep track, and it feels like a hundred years since I’ve seen your beautiful face. Wish you’d have picked up. I miss you, babe. Counting the days.”
I played the message a second time. Figures Kin’s call would come in just as I walked into the business that housed the one and only dead cell spot in the entire city of Port Harbor. Five minutes was enough to miss him again because when I returned the call, it went straight to his voicemail.
“Me, too. Counting the days, I mean. I miss you so much. Call me later, I promise to stay out of Deli Delight until you come back. Love you.”
What I wanted more than anything in the world was to skip up Kin’s front steps and throw my arms around him, but his windows were just as dark and empty as my heart. Thankfully, there was another person who needed my help, and the distraction was much appreciated. I turned toward the one place no one who knew me would ever expect me to go. The home of my sworn enemy, Serena Snodgrass.
Okay, we weren’t really enemies anymore, but I wouldn’t call us fast friends even if our relationship had undergone a recent, uneasy truce. Joining up to defend against a rogue witch with a demented pet would do that for even the most tumultuous of relationships. And Serena had been my best friend once upon a time—probably precisely why we’d been so hard on each other over the years.
“I’m glad to see you. What took you so long?” Serena asked warily. I blamed hormones for the flip-flop between gratefulness and snark. “I called hours ago, and I’m really freaking out here.”
“I’m sorry, but haven’t you ever heard of work? I do have a job, you know.” How long I could keep saying that was anyone’s guess, and as soon as I said it, I felt like a jerk for snapping at a pregnant woman. “Sorry. I keep forgetting I don’t hate you anymore. I hope you’re still having those tuna and pickle cravings because I brought you a sandwich.”
A lukewarm apology, but it would have to do. Serena didn’t seem terribly concerned; our verbal sparring matches hadn’t stopped just because we were about to become inextricably linked.
My good for nothing half-brother Jett being the father of her baby meant I had new family on the way. The jerk had no idea he would become a dad in a few months, and as far as I was concerned, Serena was better off without him. Bitter about a family history I’d had nothing to do with, Jett had taken his wrath out on me before I even knew we were related. I could forgive him that if he hadn’t chosen Kin as his pawn in the battle not once but twice.
The second episode of my family saga landed Carl in danger and resulted in Flix sending Jett on what was supposed to be a permanent vacation to the Faelands. He’d managed to escape weeks ago and hadn’t even notified Serena of his return.
“Thanks, I’m starved. All the time, actually. I swear this baby is going to be twelve pounds the way she’s going.” Serena bit into the sandwich and closed her eyes as though tasting the nectar of the gods.
“Is it a girl for sure?” Male witches are quite rare, but I had no idea whether the same could be said for babies born to demigods and witches.
“No idea. Don’t tell anyone in the coven, but I went in for an ultrasound because I wanted, you know, visual proof and the doctor couldn’t seem to get a good enough look. Whatever is in there has a highly developed sense of modesty, if nothing else.”
“You know, impending motherhood agrees with you.” On Serena’s formerly rail-thin frame, the added pounds showed off a more rounded figure and filled out her narrow face.
“Thanks.” I could almost smell the curiosity coming off her, but only an arched eyebrow indicated skepticism, and she decided to let the compliment pass.
I watched her put away the sandwich in no time flat, then Serena rose to retrieve an elaborately-decorated potion bottle from a narrow cabinet between the stove and refrigerator. “Before I forget, I’ve got something for your grandmother. She sent this over to help with the morning sickness, and I have to tell you, it was like a minor miracle.” Strong emotions shadowed her face. “Right when I needed one most. Thank her for me, won’t you?”
Serena’s hands quivered as she laid the bottle on the table beside me, her expression twisted into one I assessed as miserable and scared before she crossed the room to stare out the window. “How did she get through it?”
“Who?” Rising, I circled the table to gently put an
arm around her waist and lead her back to her chair.
Seated across from Serena, I waited.
“Your mother. I mean, you’re a demigod,” in the past, she would have let acid coat the word as it dripped off her tongue, but today she kept her tone neutral. “How bad was it? I need to know.”
To me, the question was clear as three-day-old coffee—my mother might have understood what Serena was asking, but she wasn’t around to consult. I’d run Sylvana off the day she made the grave mistake of nearly letting my boyfriend die. I’d expected as much from an enemy like Jett, but my mother’s betrayal had cut deep. We hadn’t taken time to bond over stories of my early babyhood.
“I don’t know what you’re asking, and even if she were here, I wouldn’t believe her if she told me the sky was blue. How bad was what?”
“The birth, you idiot.” There was a taste of the old Serena. “You know it’s not going to be normal, right? There are protocols for these things: spells, incantations, protections to be put in place. One mistake could cost me everything; my life, the baby. Everything.”
“Really? Gran never mentioned anything like that to me.” Oversight, or another family mystery no one thought Lexi should know about?
Arms wrapped around her waist, Serena rocked back and forth. “Clara’s going to help, and she says I shouldn’t worry, she and Mag have everything under control, but I can’t stop that scene from Alien playing in my head. I’m scared to death. Can you talk to her for me? See if she’ll give you more details? Anything to set my mind at rest.”
Reaching across the table, I curled my fingers around hers, gave them a squeeze and tried to transfer a little of my warmth to her chilled flesh. Serena was asking me to do the one thing I’d been trying to avoid ever since I’d found out Jett was back from the Faelands—bring up his name to my family. How could I say no?
“I will. But if she says she has a plan for helping you through this, you can trust her. Gran’s nothing like my mother.” Well, in looks, they were nearly identical, but I meant in spirit. “Try to put it out of your mind, for now, all this worry can’t be good for the baby.”
“See, there’s another problem, and it’s the reason I called you today. Here’s the list Clara sent over, and I’m supposed to gather all these things to assist with the birth. Problem is, I can’t find the most important item—my family’s talisman of power.”
My hand reached instinctively for the stone of blood pendant hanging around my neck—the Balefire family heirloom. Giving it to me had been the one nice thing my mother had done for me my entire life unless you count getting banished to a nexus for twenty-five years and leaving me with my faerie godmother and her sisters as nice—and in my book, it definitely counted.
“I thought you only needed the talisman for Awakenings?” It had been the one piece of the puzzle I’d lacked, causing a decade-long delay in gaining my witch powers. Sylvana’s motives hadn’t been entirely pure—I didn’t think she had an altruistic bone in her body—but even considering what I’d endured since, I was grateful she’d made an effort.
“Apparently not, and I’m afraid to ask my mother where she keeps it. She’s not too happy with me for going to your grandmother for help. Even less so because the baby is related to you. No offense.”
“None taken.” I lied.
“If I saw what she did with it after my Awakening, I don’t remember, and even if I did have the guts to call and ask, she probably wouldn’t answer the phone. She’s at some symposium or retreat in the Andes, and I have no idea when she’ll be back.”
“You’re all alone? Are you sure you don’t want to come stay with us?” I’d already asked Serena a half dozen times if she would be more comfortable with friendly witches around, and I doubted her answer would be any different this time.
“About two seconds after Ma left, Daddy got a call for a big, out-of-town job. To be honest, I’m enjoying the peace and quiet, aside from obsessing about the labor. But I still can’t believe I gave up my apartment. Now I’m stuck here for who knows how long.”
“You haven’t heard from...”
“Jett? No. And I hope I don’t. The less he knows about the baby, the better.”
Before I had a chance to answer, we heard a series of rapid knocks on the front door.
“Serena, let me in.”
Speak of the devil, and he appears. Not that my half-brother was on the same level as the ruler of the underworld. Not even close, though you couldn’t tell it from the way he postured. That man was the most deluded individual I’d ever met.
A haunted look on her face, Serena called out, “Go away, you jerk. I don’t want to see you.”
He pounded again. “Let me in, Serena. I need to talk to you.”
“You don’t have to open the door. Do you want me to get rid of him?” Yeah, I butted in. Sue me.
Not that my talking to him would be any more effective than peeing on a forest fire, given our brief history. Jett would never forgive me for committing the grave sin of existing. Like it was my choice or something.
Or for Flix banishing him to the Faelands for his part in Kin’s near demise the day we retrieved the Bow of Destiny from my grandmother’s hiding place. If he was waiting for an apology from me, it would come about three days after they held the winter Olympics in hell.
“No, but I'm glad you’re here.” A sentence I think neither of us ever expected Serena to utter.
“I’ll just go in the other room so you can have a little privacy. Call if you need me.”
Serena squared her shoulders, straightened her spine, and moved toward the door. The look she threw over her shoulder held the fire of a she-bear protecting her young.
“Go get him,” I murmured as I rounded the corner and positioned myself to eavesdrop from the hallway without a shred of shame. I told you I had stalker tendencies.
A sharp creak announced the door swinging open with some force.
“What do you want?” Serena practically growled.
“Nice greeting after all I’ve been through. Come on, baby, aren’t you glad to see me?” I heard the shuffling of feet which I imagined was Serena taking herself out of arm’s reach. “You look good, doll. A little soft around the edges, but the extra weight works on you. Just makes you more luscious.” Oily scumbag. One consolation: he didn’t trip for me as Serena’s soul mate.
“Nice try, jerk. I know you’ve been back for ages, so if you think you can show up now and I’ll fall all over you, it’s not happening.”
I chanced a peek around the corner and saw Serena angling her body away to keep the burgeoning baby bump from showing as she settled back into her spot at the table. His back to me, Jett took the adjacent seat and tried to capture her hand. Over his shoulder, her gaze met mine and she treated me to a small smirk.
“Who told you that? The pitiful excuse of a Fae halfling who sent me on a trip to hell?” Jett scoffed. “That’s always been your problem, Reen. You’re so gullible.”
Arrogant moron didn’t feel the mounting power of Serena’s fury?
“Not anymore, Jett. You’d be surprised the way things have changed while you were gone.”
Confident he could get around her show of rejection, Jett brushed off Serena’s assurance and launched into his reason for being there. “Stupid Fae had no idea he was doing me a favor when he banished me to Faerie. I found a guy who knows someone who says she saw my father a few months ago. It’s not a solid lead, but it’s the best I’ve had in a long time. Will you help me find him? Once he’s restored to power, Lexi will have to give up the bow, and he’ll make me his right-hand man. You know I’ll need you by my side. You’re with me, Reen. Right?”
Jett’s words struck a chord. Wishing for the chance to meet my dead mother featured high in my fantasies until it finally happened and the reality of her flaws set in. I’d feel sorry for Jett if he hadn’t done everything in his power to try and keep me from finding the Bow of Destiny and using it for its intended purpose. Somewhere i
n his twisted mind, he thought our father might come back to fix the situation if Jett could tip the scales of cosmic balance toward lovelessness.
Since my work planted me firmly in the love conquers all camp, we were pitted against each other.
Typical abandoned child, seeking attention from the one source unavailable to provide it. Positive or negative in nature mattered little; it was all the same to Jett, who fit into every negative male stereotype in existence. He was possessive, controlling, selfish, and egotistical enough to make Narcissus blanch. Who cared if dear old Dad ever did show up and was disappointed? At least Jett would be the center of his focus, no matter what the consequences.
Tip the scales...the phrase triggered my memory. Of course, why hadn’t I put the pieces together before? That opposing force I’d felt in the alley yesterday must have been Jett. It hadn’t felt like Jett; had contained more power than I thought him capable of wielding, but who else could it be?
“Like I said, things have changed. Lexi!” Serena called my name, and I stepped into the room.
In an act of satisfying pettiness, I cuffed my half-brother on the back of the head as I passed by him to take a seat where I had a good view of his shocked face. Still sporting the sharply-plucked eyebrows beneath a heart-shaped scar and Mephistophelian goatee, he looked no worse for his unplanned vacation to the world of Faerie—in fact, the trip seemed to have fortified him somehow.
Enough to account for a major power boost? Maybe.
It would be colossally stupid to use Fae magic against a witch with at least three faerie godmothers at her disposal. Typical Jett. I made a quick mental note to pick said godmothers’ brains for more information and fixed my brother with my most withering stare.
“Interesting company you’re keeping these days.” Jett’s voice turned cool.
“If by interesting you mean infinitely better than a half-witted slug, you’d be right.”
Spell Hath No Fury Page 2