A Little Street Magic (10 page)

“Yeah. My skin was shiny pink and I think they were bigger.”

“They should disappear in a few hours on their own. Are you feeling any discomfort?”

“Big headache, nothing else.”

He nodded, made a little gesture, and Logan’s sniff sounded right before an old-fashioned, black medical bag appeared on the table. “I’ll mix a draught for you.”

“I’d appreciate it, and thank you for coming over so late.”

Alleryn waved away my thanks, and stood to open his bag. “Have you heard the news?”

“‘Mayor Thorandryll’? Yeah, it just doesn’t have that certain ring to it.” I accepted a cup of coffee from Dane. “Mm, thanks.”

He gave Logan the other cup he carried, and asked the elf, “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

Alleryn nodded, pulling out little glass bottles. I cleared my throat. “You know, it’s considered polite to reply verbally.”

He paused to look at me. One of his eyebrows rose. “Beg pardon?”

“We’re friends. These two aren’t only my friends, but part of my clan. I like it when all my friends can play nicely with each other.”

The elf blinked, glanced at Logan then Dane. Both smiled at him. “You’re saying my manners are lacking.”

“Yes, that’s what I’m saying.”

“My apologies.” Alleryn inclined his head to me before looking at Dane. “Yes, I would enjoy a cup, and thank you for offering.”

“You’re welcome, and I’ll have it ready in just a minute.” Dane didn’t look or sound smug, but he did wink at me while turning away.

Alleryn returned to selecting bottles. “Not that I mind making house calls, but this is a relatively simple remedy. It does work best freshly mixed, but the ingredients are easily obtainable.”

“Great, if you’d write...” was as far as I got.

“Considering the condition you’re often in when needing one of these, I don’t think you’re the best choice as student.” The elf looked across the table at Logan. “You’re a much better choice.”

Aw, he was trying. I sat back and sipped my coffee, watching Logan move to the elf’s side. Herbs were named, Alleryn pausing to politely thank Dane again when his coffee was delivered. Measurements were in pinches, dashes, and drops.

I followed along until Dane asked, “Do you want me to go get the dogs?”

“I can have Leglin bring them home, but they’d probably enjoy the walk if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t.” With a pat to my shoulder, he left. The touch reminded me that my latest vision had ended when they’d both touched me. Coincidence?

I didn’t know, and having an elf handy, decided to ask. Not until they’d finished and Logan left the table to check my fridge for something to mix the result into.

“Maybe you can answer a question for me.”

Alleryn flipped his mahogany hair over his shoulders. “I’ll try.”

“It’s about visions. Do they stop only when they decide to?”

“I’m far from an expert on the subject, but there is an old story that’s relevant. It’s said there once was a mage who was plagued by visions. They near filled his waking hours, and the poor man couldn’t touch a thing without having a vision result.” He paused, noticing Logan holding up a carton for approval. “Yes, juice is fine. Just a small glass.”

“What happened to him?”

Alleryn began putting his little bottles away, checking the cork stoppers on each before placing them in the bag. “After years of suffering, someone gave him a cat. The cat proved able to sense when his master was in distress, and would run to him when the visions held sway. Whether it was the physical contact or purring, I can’t say, but the mage’s visions rapidly began to lessen in both intensity and quantity.”

Interesting. I decided to tell him about something else. “I’ve recently pulled a few people into my visions. Not just people, but Leglin too.”

Alleryn sat down, his face going slack. He rallied and leaned forward. “That’s not usual. However, blood magic is quite powerful, and the hound is blood-bonded to you. Which people?”

“Logan, Dane, and Moira.”

“Members of the clan by which you are tied by blood.” He nodded, straightening to push the small bowl holding the results of their efforts to Logan. “Just mix it in well, and it’s ready. It must be the blood bonds, but that’s not actually pertinent to your question.”

I’d finished my coffee, and put the cup down. “The vision tonight stopped when he and Dane touched me. One second, I was burning, the next, I was fine. Well, aside from looking burned and having a sore throat from screaming.”

“Fascinating.” Alleryn abruptly turned to Logan. “What were you thinking?”

Logan froze, spoon an inch above the powdery surface of the juice. “What?”

“When you touched her. What were you thinking?”

My boyfriend—too soon? Had I been calling him that?—began to stir. “She was screaming with pain, and I wanted her to stop hurting.”

“You touched her, and she did. Hm.” The elf leaned back, tapping his chin with one long finger. “Could be coincidence. Or not. Perhaps the blood ties? Then again, it may be something far simpler.”

“As in?” It was kind of fun, watching Alleryn think. The chin tapping, his eyes darting around, and even his eyebrows got in on the act, twitching up and down. He wasn’t a quiet thinker. More like a toned down, mad scientist thinker.

“Love.” He practically trilled the word. I met Logan’s eyes, and we both found something else to do. He stirred, and I admired the shiny surface of my dining table.

Alleryn laughed. “Really? You’re both adults. But I didn’t necessarily mean the romantic sort. There are others: the love of a parent for a child, vice versa, and etcetera. Friends care for one another, and that’s yet another sort.”

“Dane would’ve been thinking the same thing,” Logan said. “Friends and clan. Cordi is one of our queens.”

The elf pointed at him. “Exactly, and you male tigers do have that instinctive urge to protect your queens.”

It sounded logical, but of course, we didn’t know whether or not it had been a coincidence. “I guess we’ll have to test that theory next chance we have.”

“Please do, and let me know the results.” Alleryn beamed. “If it works, it could be helpful to the others.”

“Uh, what others?” I watched his smile dim.

“There are only a few, and the cat idea didn’t work for them. Neither did dogs, rabbits, or horses. We even tried llamas and alpacas.”

It sounded as though I’d been right to fear being stuck permanently in a vision. “Are you saying that there are psychics having constant visions right now?”

“Five, over the entire world. At least, only five that my colleagues and I know of. We’ve been trying to help them without success. But if this,” he waggled his hand between Logan and me, “works, I’ll suggest we attempt a blood bond to a service dog.”

I wished there were something handy guaranteed to trigger a strong vision. Oh, but wait. We’d be at the station tomorrow, and they had murder weapons galore. “I’ll see about arranging opportunities for another strong vision.”

Logan brought me the juice, which had a herb-flecked froth on top. “Here you are, madame.”

“Thank you.” I downed it. “Delicious. Orange juice is definitely preferred from now on.”

“Noted.” He took the glass back with a grin, and went to the kitchen.

“Perhaps not too strong of a vision,” Alleryn said. “I don’t know how the physical manifestations may affect you over time.”

“Do the ones having constant visions ever have them?”

“It’s rare,” he reminded me. “You’re the first to have them that I know of, since the Sundering.”

Discord Jones, head of the psychic class. I was just too lucky.

D
ane arrived with all the dogs shortly after Alleryn finished his coffee and left.

Six dogs. I was in danger of becoming an animal hoarder. The thought struck my funny bone, making me giggle. My mind was getting fuzzy from the pain remedy.

“Go on home,” Logan told Dane. “And thanks. I’ll get everyone tucked in and lock up.”

“Okay.” Dane ruffled my hair in passing. “Night, Cordi.”

“Night night.” I waved at him, knowing my smile was goofy, but not really caring. Elf meds were better than prescription drugs and all-natural, to boot.

He chuckled, waving back. “You’re drunk. Go to bed.”

“Drugged.” There
was
a difference.

“Yeah. See you tomorrow.” He left, quietly shutting the front door behind him.

“I’ll help you upstairs before cleaning up down here.” Logan held out his hand.

“You don’t have to clean. I can do it tomorrow.” I completely missed trying to take his hand, and laughed. “No Coordination Cordi is in the house.”

Bone reared to plant his front paws on my thigh. “
You smell funny. Like blood and plants.
”

“It’s been one hell of a night.”

“
And Chinese food
.” His one ear went flat, and every pair of dog eyeballs present began burning a hole in me. “
Did you save us any?
”

I looked up at Logan. “They want Chinese food.”

“It’s after three. They can wait. Come on, sweetheart. You’re going to be out cold in a few minutes.”

“Okay.”

“
Not fair
,” Bone muttered, but he dropped to all fours. The others, except for Rufus and Leglin, complained too.

“Sorry, guys.”

Logan pulled me to my feet, and I swayed. “Maybe I’d better carry you.”

“That is a fantastic idea.” I had a better one. “I have one too. You could stay here tonight.”

He swooped me up and the room spun. “You’re wearing my emergency pajamas.”

“Oh.” I had to think about that for a second. “I can change.”

Logan chuckled, heading for the stairs. “If you can manage to change, I’ll stay.”

“Yay.” I let my head fall to his shoulder. “Cuddling.”

Upstairs, he deposited me on the bed and followed my increasingly slurred directions to retrieve panties and a PJ set. “Here you go. I’ll settle the dogs and lock up.”

“Uh huh.” I began struggling with the drawstring on the sweatpants.

“Let me get that.” Logan made short work of the slipknot. “Okay, you’re good to go.”

“Thank you,” I sang, and he left the room laughing.

My mission was simple: change clothes. Completing it wasn’t so simple. I couldn’t get my fingers to work well, as more fuzz filled my mind. A sudden ear bug had me trying to remember the words to “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” I sang the words I knew and made nonsense noises to fill the gaps.

The sweats were relatively easy, though I somehow managed to stick my head in a sleeve while pulling off the top. My sleeveless PJ shirt went on without trouble, but I had my panties to my knees before realizing both legs were in a single leg hole. Reversing, I fixed that issue while laughing at myself.

Once they were properly on, I blew hair off my forehead while regarding the shorts. Putting those on seemed like overkill, and way too much trouble. I shoved them under my pillow and managed to navigate my way under the covers.

I was out like a light maybe three seconds later.

H
alf-awake, I snuggled closer to Logan, happy to have a cuddle buddy. “You stayed.”

“We had a deal.” He sounded drowsy, and patted my arm, which was across his waist. His other arm was trapped between us. “My arm’s asleep.”

“Sorry.” I kissed his shoulder and rolled onto my back. “I slept like a log.”

“Not exactly.”

I froze in mid-stretch. “Oh?”

He opened his eyes and turned his head, the seriously cute grin I loved appearing on his face. “Don’t worry, nothing you said while under the influence will be held or used against you.”

Oh, hell. What had I said? “I don’t remember anything.”

“That’s probably for the best.” The flecks of gold in his eyes seemed to be dancing. “But the part about rap music was funny.”

I didn’t like rap music, so why would I even talk about it? “What did I say about it?”

Logan sat, rearranged his pillow against the headboard, and scooted until his back was against it. “I’m very clear on the fact that you don’t have any appreciation for that particular musical form.”

I winced. “And?”

“You made up your own rap, consisting of all the things you find offensive about it.” He tilted his head. “Words were said that I didn’t know you used.”