by Tate James
29
River’s fingers linked with mine as we walked down the silent hallway toward Jonathan’s office. It was late, already dark, but I knew he’d still be in his office.
“You okay, love?” River asked quietly, his fingers tightening around mine.
“Yep.” I gave a sharp nod, not trusting myself to elaborate on that any further. We’d only just got back from Toronto an hour or so before, having flown back on the Omega jet. After Austin and his tiger had invaded my bed, sleep had actually come surprisingly quick, and I’d slept like the dead until Wesley had woken us up.
To my utter embarrassment though, Austin’s tiger familiar must have gotten bored while we slept and had disappeared—leaving me tangled up in the Ink Mage’s strong, decorated arms. Neither of us had said a word when we woke wrapped around one another like some sort of twisted pretzel. We just politely pretended it hadn’t happened and left it at that.
Healthy, I know.
The halls were totally deserted at such a late hour, and my fur-lined ankle boots clicked on the marble floor as we approached Jonathan’s office. The door was closed, and we could hear nothing from the other side. Made sense, I guess, that the director of a spy organization might have soundproofed his office.
Sucking in a deep breath, I tapped lightly on the door. The contents of my stomach threatened to spill as I stood there waiting for my dad to answer his door and potentially confirm my worst fears—that he’d been using me all along.
“Maybe he’s gone home?” River suggested when the door didn’t open.
“No,” I murmured quietly. “The light is on, see?” From the crack of space below the door, a sliver of light was showing, suggesting someone was still in there.
Frowning, I knocked again. Still, no one answered.
River gave me a look and sighed. “You’re going to break in, aren’t you?”
“You know me so well.” I grinned, sliding a couple of pins from my hair and straightening them out. “Don’t give me that face, Alpha. He’s my dad, so best-case scenario, he scolds me for breaking into his office.”
“Uh-huh, and the worst?” River retorted, and I shrugged.
“What’s worse than him trying to blow us up with a car bomb?” I meant it as an offhand comment, but a chill ran down my spine and my mind whirled with all the worse that could happen. “One way to find out, right?”
“Gods, woman,” River muttered under his breath while I made quick work of the lock, silently manipulating the tumblers and pins. “You’re bloody lucky I’d jump off a cliff for you.”
Releasing the now unlocked door knob, I leaned up and kissed him lightly on the lips, stroking my hand over his stubbled jaw.
“I am bloody lucky,” I whispered back with sincerity, then turned the door handle and pushed open Jonathan’s office door with a dramatic flourish, only to find... no one.
“Well, that’s odd,” I commented, looking around the brightly lit room. “Why would he leave the light on if he’d gone home?”
“No, love, what’s odd is that he didn’t have any more security on his office than just a simple door lock.” River raised an eyebrow at me, and I shrugged.
“I guess when you’re inside the headquarters of one of the world’s top spy organizations, you figure your shit is pretty safe?” I suggested. “Or maybe just that he knows every man and his dog in here is trained to break into places, so why bother? Then again, knowing Jonathan, he simply has nothing confidential or important lying around in here.”
As I said this, a panel of the wall swung open, and River grabbed my hand, yanking me behind the open panel and hiding us from view as my adopted dad stepped through from his secret room while talking to someone on the phone.
“That’s right; I need you to try again. She definitely has the power, but she’ll need all of her guardians before we can move forward with the plan.” There was a pause, and he stood there with his back to us while my world came crashing down around me. “Yes, by whatever means necessary. This war is coming, and I intend to be prepared.” He paused again while the person on the phone spoke, but this time he didn’t reply as he turned to close his secret door and saw me standing there with River.
“Kit,” he exclaimed, ending his call and slipping the phone back into his pocket. “What the hell are you doing in my office?” His gaze shifted to River and hardened. “This is totally unacceptable behavior, Mr. Morgan.”
“Oh, do not try and pretend we didn’t just hear you right now,” I snarled, my hands shaking with the burning rage I was feeling. “You’ve been using me! For how long?”
“Kiddo, I don’t know what you think you just heard, but I assure you, you’re wrong.” He tried to look confident and calm, but I could see straight through him. He was nervous as hell, and I knew in my gut I wasn’t wrong.
“How long have you known what I am?” I demanded, my fists curling by my sides.
“Listen, kiddo,” Jonathan sighed. “Why don’t you take a seat, and I can explain? I promise you it’s not all as bad as it seems right now. I’m not your enemy.”
“So you’re saying you didn’t set up other recruits to be hurt and potentially killed for the sole purpose of having me change them?” I challenged, and he looked uncomfortable.
“Well, yes, but Kit—”
“Right.” I cut him off. “And I guess you also didn’t explode a car bomb outside our townhouse or crash a damn truck into our car a few weeks ago, nearly killing me both times? You didn’t do any of that?”
“If you’ll just sit and let me explain—” Jonathan tried again, but I was done.
“No, Jonathan, I really don’t think I want to hear a fucking thing your lying mouth has to say right now,” I spat. “I trusted you when I had no one else on this entire fucking planet except Lucy, and you were using me. I’m done here.”
Hands bunched in fists, I stormed out of his office, feeling the burning sting of betrayal in my gut like I’d just swallowed poison. River didn’t immediately follow but caught up with me at the end of the hallway as I slammed through the doors and out into the night.
“What did you say to him?” I asked as he took my hand in his and linked our fingers once more.
“Nothing much,” he murmured, matching my pace as we headed back to the apartment block. “I just handed in Alpha Team’s resignation, effective immediately.”
“River.” I frowned, but he shook his head.
“Don’t even try and say anything,” he scolded. “You’re not safe here anymore, and I have no intention of letting you leave without us. We need to move quickly though, before the Director decides you’re too valuable to lose.”
Pulling him to a stop as we passed under a huge oak tree, I bit my lip and looked into his serious, golden eyes.
“River, I have been meaning to tell you something, but the timing was never quite right,” I blurted out because when the one man who was supposed to love me is trying to kill my friends... who knew when I’d have another chance?
“What is it, Kitten?” he asked, rubbing a thumb over my cheekbone where a tear had slipped out.
“I think I’m falling in love with you too,” I whispered before I could lose the nerve.
A grin spread across his rugged face, totally unlike anything I’d seen on him before, and he dipped his head down to kiss me.
“Thank the gods,” he murmured when we broke apart. “Now, let’s get the boys and get the hell off this property before something blows up.”
The crawling sensation of someone watching us had me looking around, but the only culprit I could find was a bushy, red and white tail disappearing into the bushes.
River took my hand in his once more, and we hurried back to the apartment where my dianoch waited. Sure, they may not all be bonded, or even changed, but they were my chosen guardians and I knew they’d never betray me.
Whatever came next, I knew we would be facing it together.
Epilogue
Caleb
Th
e house was silent as I slipped out the door. It was three in the morning, and everyone had only just gone to bed an hour ago after having moved our shit out of the Omega compound and into a house that was hopefully untraceable, as Vali had organized it through his dodgy contacts in the crime scene.
Logically, I should be sleeping like the rest of my team and Kit. But she was the reason I was out here at this ungodly hour of the night.
Be there in twenty. I sent the message to my mentor, Madam Zelda, and prayed she would be awake. She hadn’t replied to any of my messages tonight, but I could see by the read receipts that she’d seen them.
Austin had made a really valid point when he’d talked about me not having control over my magic. Until I did, it wasn’t safe to bond with Kit as her dianoch. There was no way in hell I’d wish the shit I was going through on anyone else, let alone the woman I loved.
No, I needed to get my magic under control. Fast.
Zelda was just a regular mage, lower case m, but she’d been helping me a lot with learning the basic disciplines and skills I needed for magic mastery. She could only offer theoretical ideas when it came to controlling my Blood though. Truly, the only person who could help me with that for real was Jackson, but he was a good-for-nothing piece of shit who wouldn’t piss on me if I was on fire, let alone help train me.
My car door closed with a thunk, and I glanced back at the house to check that no one had woken up. Not that I was doing anything bad; of course they all knew I’d been out most every night since we first arrived in Seattle almost a month ago. But I really wanted them—Kit—to think I was getting a better handle on things, not worse.
Walking into that room that she’d been held in by Mr. Gray, seeing all that blood, had put things in perspective for me. My control was severely lacking, and I needed help. Better help than Zelda had been able to provide.
She’d mentioned to me a while back that she knew someone infinitely more qualified to teach me, but I’d declined. The fewer people who knew that there were new Blood and Ink Mages, the better. Already we had been “in charge” of the mages for close to a month and yet done nothing to assert our leadership. If we could get away with it, we never would. But even I knew that was wishful thinking.
Alone with my thoughts for the twenty minute drive into the city and Zelda’s shop, I was a mess of nerves by the time I pulled into the empty parking lot and turned off the ignition.
I’d messaged Zelda earlier in the evening when we landed back in Seattle and told her I was ready to meet her friend, if they were still willing to help. Since watching Austin seal his bond with my Kitty Kat, all I could focus on was the burning need to do the same. But he was right, as he always was; if I couldn’t control the Blood, how could I expect that of her too?
Sucking up my courage, I locked my car then let myself into the shop through the unlocked back door. My stomach was twisting like I was doing the wrong thing here, but I was convinced this was my best choice. An out-of-control Blood Mage could cause irreparable damage and thousands of deaths, if not millions. Just ask Vlad the Impaler.
“Caleb,” Zelda greeted me warmly. “Tea?”
She was hunched over her little stove-top kettle like a frail old lady, despite her middle-aged appearance. Technically, I supposed, she was an old lady. Zelda was one of the oldest living mages in this country, which was why I’d turned to her for help after I was changed.
We’d met once or twice when I was a kid and Yoshi was trying to teach Austin and I the craft. Not that I’d paid any attention at the time—something I had seriously come to regret. But I was glad for having met Zelda. She’d provided guidance when I was going out of my mind after my magic manifested almost instantly following Kit’s healing of me.
“Thanks,” I smiled, taking the cup of tea from her and sitting in my usual spot at her kitchen table. “So, you got my messages?”
“I did.” She nodded, pouring a cup for herself and coming to join me with a weary groan.
“And will your friend be willing to help?” I pressed, frustrated at her lack of urgency.
“Answer me this first, Caleb.” She narrowed her eyes at me shrewdly. “Why the sudden rush? A few days ago you were happy with the progress you’d made and happy to keep working on control a little bit at a time. What’s happened since then?”
“My girlfriend got injured,” I hedged, not willing to spill about Kit being a Ban Dia or all that entailed. “Pretty badly too... there was a lot of blood. A lot.”
“I see.” Zelda pursed her lips thoughtfully. “And how is she now?”
“My girlfriend?” I clarified. “Um, she’s... recovering.” Not a total lie. It was going to take her a long time to work through all that had just happened, and to lump Jonathan’s betrayal on top... I was worried for her. The sooner I could bond to her, the better.
“Well, I called my friend when I got your message that you were on your way.” Zelda nodded, sipping her tea. “She should be here shortly; however, there is one thing before she arrives.”
Why does she seem so damn shifty all of a sudden? “What’s that?”
“She’s a very private person, and if she is to help you with this, you must first consent to a confidentiality agreement.” Zelda didn’t meet my eyes as I glared at her, instead swirling her spoon in her teacup. I wasn’t a total magic newbie; I knew full well that this type of confidentiality agreement was not a piece of paper that could be easily torn up. No, this was a magically binding contract with dire consequences if broken.
“What are the terms?” I asked finally, and Zelda sighed.
“Just the standard pain punishments if broken. But that’s not usually an issue with most people because these things are so damn hard to break in the first place you have to be really trying. Then again, you’re the Blood Mage, so if anyone can break it...” She was rambling and it wasn’t making me feel any better about this decision.
“Give me your honest opinion, Zel,” I pleaded. “Do I need this woman’s help? Can I figure it out on my own?”
She finally met my gaze, and her eyes were full of sympathy. “I’d hoped you could, but if your reaction to seeing your girlfriend’s blood was strong enough to send you here in the middle of the night seeking help... no, I don’t think you can do it alone. Your only choices here are to track down Jackson and force him to train you or accept the confidentiality agreement from my friend and start your training tonight.”
I heaved a sigh and scrubbed a hand over my face. “Let’s do it then.”
Zelda nodded and quickly whipped out the tools she needed for the spell. Unlike Austin and myself, mages with a little m required more effort to use their magic, whether it be casting circles or spells or even potions. The strongest among them could use a gesture and short phrase, but none could wield their powers with the casual abandon that Austin enjoyed with his ink. Hopefully I would too, once my Blood was controlled.
The confidentiality spell snapped into place mere moments before a soft knock sounded at Zelda’s back door, drawing both out gazes to it.
“Come in, dear!” Zelda called out. “Spell is done. You’re safe.”
Safe? Why did that sound like a strange choice of word to use?
“Good, it was awfully cold outside tonight.” A woman’s lilting Irish voice sounded from beneath a deep hood as she stepped into the kitchen and closed the door behind her.
“You must be Caleb, then?” she asked, tossing back her hood and causing me to suck in a sharp breath. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Bridget.”
To Be Continued in The Viper’s Nest… coming 2018
About the Author
Hello! I’m Tate, or TJ, or Goldie 2. I write books about people who do things, meet other people, things happen and stuff gets said. I am a wine and coffee addict who swears too much and thinks of sarcasm as the highest form of wit.
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Also by Tate James
Kit Davenport
#1 The Vixen’s Lead
#2 The Dragon’s Wing
#3 The Tiger’s Ambush
#4 The Viper’s Nest (2018)
#5 The Crow’s Murder (2018)
#6 The Alpha’s Pack (2018)
Co-Authored by Tate James and CM Stunich
The Hijinx Harem
#1 Elements of Mischief
#2 Elements of Ruin
#3 Elements of Desire (2018)
The Wild Hunt Motorcycle Club
#1 Dark Glitter
#2 Cruel Glamour (2018)
Foxfire Burning
#1 The Nine (2018)
Turn page for a sneak peek of Dark Glitter and Pack Ebon Red, Tate’s Recommended Read…
DARK GLITTER
By Tate James and C.M. Stunich
Ciarah O’Rourke was born into torture.
A human spirit reincarnated in the body of an ancient fae goddess, she’s spent the last five years in iron shackles, her mind poisoned with magic for secrets she doesn’t know.
Waking up in a dirty alley with no memory of her escape, Ciarah finds herself in the hands of The Wild Hunt Motorcycle Club--a ruthless and violent group of bikers with faerie blood in their veins.
Arlo. Reece. Killian.
Three men drenched in death, sin, and old magic.
From their clubhouse in the middle of the Louisiana bayou, they’ll offer Ciarah the keys to unlock her memories and control the veil between worlds. But even her knights can’t erase the twisted scars that remind her they aren’t the only ones who hunt.