Spellbound (36 page)

No boyfriend had ever done anything like that for me. None had even come close.

My feelings for Adam weren't some romantic fantasy my inner twelve-year-old was clinging to. I loved him, and I was never going to love anyone else the way I loved him, and if I didn't take a step—just a tiny step—and find out if this could ever possibly go anywhere, then I deserved to be alone and miserable for the rest of my life.

“You look like I hit you over the head with a baseball bat,” Adam said. “What? You think just because you piss me off, I don't want you to be happy?”

I shook my head dumbly.

“Well, then, take a seat and let's get this show on the road. The longer the buildup, the bigger the letdown if it fails.”

I lowered myself in place on the ritual circle.

“The case studies suggest demon blood is a better conduit than spellcaster blood for this particular ritual.” Adam lowered himself to the floor. “I think that's because in those cases, a demon was clearly responsible. If that's the case here, I should be able to do it. If not, though, we'll call in Paige and Lucas. I haven't told them yet, because they've been busy and because, well, I've been begging off on actual investigative work by saying I need to do research, when the truth is I've already done all I could. Or I had, until you got this immortality angle.”

He paused. “That doesn't sound good, does it? But I figured I can justify it, though, because having you back as a full-powered investigator and fighter is worth more than a couple days of research. And now I'll stop yapping and get casting. Sorry. Just a little nervous.”

While he prepared, his words kept repeating until they pierced the fog.

“I can't do this,” I said.

“What?”

“I can't get my powers back. Not yet. You were saying before that there was no good reason why anyone would take them. I think there is. To teach me.”

“Teach you a lesson, you mean? No, Savannah. If there's a lesson to be learned about not counting on your powers, you've learned it. And if you're thinking this will undo the deal you made, and Paula Thompson will go to jail, we'll monitor the situation and Lucas will get involved if—”

“It's not that,” I said. “Watch this.”

I took a pinch of dried herbs from a censer and put them on the carpet. Then I concentrated until they levitated.

“So your powers are already coming back? That's great. But why not speed it along—”

“They aren't coming back. I can bring them back if I work at it, though.”

“Okay, but—”

“I didn't tell you everything that happened in L.A.”

I explained about the two supernaturals trying to kill Cassandra, and what I'd done.

“So you had a power flare. Huh.” He settled onto the floor and pulled the book over. “I didn't see any of that in the accounts. Maybe this wouldn't work.”

Then I told him about the man in the alley. “Which sounds like whoever is responsible didn't drain my powers for kicks. They want me to work harder. Prepare for . . . I don't know what, but as we know, this exposure threat has everyone on the other side paying attention, too. You said it seems more likely to be a deity than a demon. Presumably, then, they're just holding my power in check until

I get my act together. Then if I need the power—like I did with Cassandra—they'll give it back.”

“That's possible . . .”

“And it's also possible that it's a demon playing tricks and convincing me not to try getting my spells back. Believe me, I've worked out the possibilities. But right now, I think I should hold off. If I can tap into more power, that'll help. We can try your ritual later.”

“Which would be my suggestion . . . except there's an expiry date.”

“Expiry?”

He rose and waved for me to sit beside him on the bed. “Most of the rituals that were successful were done within a week of the power loss. After that, the rate of success drops.”

“Okay.” I settled onto the bed. “But I . . . I think I should wait. See how things go. A few days shouldn't make much difference.”

“If we were talking rate of return on an investment, I'd say it's worth the risk, but . . .”

“We're talking about my powers.” I turned to him. “So you think—”

I stopped myself. That wasn't fair. If I got advice and things went wrong, he'd feel guilty and maybe I wouldn't be able to keep myself from blaming him, just a little bit.

After a minute of silence, he said, “For what it's worth, I think either is a reasonable choice and neither is a sure thing. Just don't . . .” He leaned over to catch my eye. “Don't do what you did with Leah. You were willing to sacrifice yourself to kill her. That's noble, but I don't want you being noble, Savannah. I want you to do what's right for you.”

“If I wait, and I do tap into extra power, that's good for me and everyone else, right?” I took a deep breath. “I'm going to stick to my decision. Hold off and keep working on it, and if I totally freak out, we can still do this, right?”

“Anytime. I'll keep telling the hotel I don't need maid service and we'll leave everything the way it is.”

I nodded and let out a deep shuddering breath. Adam put his arms around me and I leaned against his shoulder and breathed. Just breathed.

When I pulled back, I said, “I'm sorry.”

“For what?”

“This.” I gestured at the room. “You did an amazing thing for me, and I turned it down.”

“Because you have another solution. One that may turn out better.” He leaned toward my ear. “As much as I wanted to give your powers back, I think you're making the right call.”

He pulled back and smiled, his face just a few inches from mine, and I thought I could kiss him. Just cross those three inches. A quick kiss on the lips, and if he just wants it to be a thank-you, then he can pretend it was, and we can carry on.

Three inches. Cross it. Kiss him. Find out what happens.

Only it wasn't three inches anymore. He was already pulling back.

But I could still do it. The moment hadn't passed. Kiss him while I could pass it off as a thank-you.

Then Adam got to his feet. “If you're really feeling guilty, though, my Jeep still needs a new top.”

I took a moment to find a smile. “Didn't I already promise you that? A bribe for not telling anyone you had to rescue me from a drunk guy at a motel?”

“Shit, that's right. Switzerland, then. You can buy me that trip to Switzerland.”

“Big step up from a new convertible top.”

“I earned it. Days of research, when I could have been out with Clay and Elena, kicking ass. Definitely worth a trip. Maybe two.” He waved me to the door. “We should get back and help Aaron and Cassandra.”

And so the moment passed. Again.

While Adam, Cassandra, and Aaron continued their research, I told Paige and Lucas about Adam's ritual and the man in the alley. They thought I'd made the right choice.

I helped Adam for the rest of the day, then spent the evening doing spell practice with Paige and Lucas. I managed a weak light spell and an even weaker energy bolt. In other words, I could see well enough to get to the bathroom in the night and could give an attacker the equivalent of a static shock. Considering I'd only been working at it for less than a day, though, it was a good start. Baby steps, Paige said. Most spellcasters needed to do this at the start of their training. I was just going back and repeating the parts I'd skipped.

Adam came by at ten, and announced that he needed a drink. Paige and Lucas were not welcome to join us because they made lousy drinking buddies—their idea of a night at the bar was a couple of beers, and once that hit them, to sneak off to be alone together.

They said they'd be working for a couple of hours yet. If they were still around when we got back, they'd give Adam a lift to his hotel and take me back to their condo.

 

 

“Oh, please,” I said as we made our way back to headquarters. “Nobody noticed.”

“You were lighting the candle with your fingertips,” Adam said. “They noticed.”

I stopped on the corner and looked both ways. Lights smeared together in a blur. Skyscrapers swayed. I blinked and started to step off the curb. Adam pulled me back.

“Um, car?” Adam said as one whizzed past.

“It was on the other side of the road.”

“No, it wasn't.”

“Yes, it was,” I said. “Apparently you're the one who's had too much to drink. You were also the one lighting the candle with your fingertips.”

“Only after you started it, and only because people were looking, so I figured if we both did it, it would look like a party trick.”

“What else would it look like? I was lighting a candle, not teleporting across the room.”

“Ah-ha, so you were lighting it.”

“Of course, I was. I need all the practice I can get. Now, I'm going to work on my energy bolt. I'll need a target, though.” I gave him a sidelong look.

He laughed. “I'd be a lot more worried if I thought you could hit anything smaller than a barn right now.” He took my shoulders and steered me to a fountain. “Does this look familiar?”

I squinted at it. Wooden benches and mossy rocks surrounded a round waterfall topped by two Cs carved in granite. Cortez Corporation.

“Oh, we're here. I knew that. I was just getting some more air.”

“All the air in the world isn't going to help you right now, Savannah.”

He helped me up the steps and into the foyer, then left me in front of the wall-sized aquarium of tropical fish. I stood there, mesmerized by the flashing rainbow of colors while Adam talked to the desk guard.

“Yes, they're very pretty, aren't they?” Adam said as he came up behind me.

“Is Lucas still here?”

“The guard says no, but from the looks he's giving us, he's ten seconds from calling for backup to escort us to a nice warm holding cell for the night. There's no way he's sending us up to see the heir to the throne. Not in our condition. Fortunately . . .”

He whipped out his security clearance pass at the same time as I pulled out mine. We both laughed. The guard at the desk buzzed someone and whispered into his phone.

“Don't worry,” Adam said as we stumbled past the desk. “We've got our cards. Thanks for the assistance, though. I'll be sure to let Mr. Cortez know how helpful you were.”

We got on the executive elevator before anyone could stop us. When we reached Lucas's office, it was dark, his briefcase gone. There was a note for us on the desk, in Paige's handwriting.

I checked my watch. It was past one.

“The lounge it is,” Adam said. “Flip you for the sofa.”

“Hell, no. I spent the night on a plane. I get the sofa.”

“Excuse me? I was up half the night researching that ritual for you. I deserve . . .”

 

 

We were still bickering when we reached the lounge and found . . .

“The sofa's gone,” Adam said.

“It is? Good. I was starting to think I was even drunker than I feel.”

“Who the hell took the sofa?”

“I have no idea. When you find it, though, it's all yours. I forfeit.”

I headed for the armchair. He lunged and we both scrambled for it. I made it there first and turned around to sit, but he jumped in behind me and I landed in his lap instead.

“Out,” I said.

“Uh-uh. I was here first. Either you go find the sofa or you get to sleep on my lap.”

I twisted, poking him with my elbows and hips.

“That's not going to work,” he said. “I'm staying.”

I sighed and slouched in his lap. He shifted until he was comfortable, then leaned me back against him and put his arms around me. I squirmed until I had my knees pulled up, my chin resting on his shoulder.

“Feeling better?” he said.

“No, you have bony shoulders.”

“I mean, in general. Are you feeling better about everything?”

I nodded.

“Good.”

He smiled at me, and he was so close, I could feel the warmth of his breath on my lips.

His hand moved up, and he touched my cheek, thumb caressing it.

“You're drunk, aren't you?” he said.

“Mmm-hmm.”