The Mage in Black (6 page)

I shook my head. The thought of where I’d sleep hadn’t even occurred to me. I guess on some level I’d figured I’d be staying with Adam, but it made sense Maisie would want me to stay with her. She certainly had plenty of room, whereas I had no idea where Adam lived or if he even wanted to put up with Giguhl and me as houseguests. “Sure, that’d be fine. Thanks.”

“Excellent.” Maisie smiled. “Your room is right next to mine, so we’ll be able to catch up on the last fifty or so years of each other’s lives.”

I forced a chuckle. “Great.”

“Wait,” Giguhl said. “Does this mean I finally have my own room?”

“If it’s okay with Sabina?” she said, glancing my way.

Giguhl looked at me hopefully. I shrugged and nodded. Sharing a room with Giguhl wasn’t high on my list of priorities, especially once he morphed back into demon form.

“Will I have cable?” he asked.

Maisie smiled curiously at the demon. “Of course.”

He pumped a paw in the air. “Yes!”

Back in L.A., Giguhl had discovered the home shopping channel. Back then, I’d tolerated the purchases because it kept him out of trouble. But now I had no job and was living off savings. “Don’t get too excited there, demon. The home shopping channel is off-limits.”

“Aww, c’mon!”

I glared at him. “I said no.”

Giguhl crossed his arms. “Fine.”

Maisie cleared her throat. I looked over, embarrassed. “Sorry, Giguhl has a small shopping addiction.”

She nodded slowly. “Ah.” She was obviously still confused but polite enough not to push the issue. “So now that the cleansing is done, we can get started on your magical training right away. Rhea, when do you want to do the vision quest?”

I looked at Adam, who wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Wait a second,” I said. “I thought Adam was going to continue teaching me magic.”

Maisie and Orpheus exchanged a look. “Actually,” Orpheus said, “there’s been a change of plans. I’ve asked Adam to work on a special project for me, so he’ll be unavailable to teach you.”

“What kind of project? Surely he can fit in a few magic—”

Orpheus cut me off. “I’m afraid that’s impossible.”

“Why?” I knew I sounded argumentative, but part of the deal I’d cut with Adam before agreeing to come to New York was that he’d teach me magic. I didn’t like the idea that less than an hour into this, they were already reneging on the agreement.

Orpheus’s jaw went tight; he obviously didn’t like being challenged. “It’s none of your damned bus—”

“Sir,” Adam said suddenly. “If I may? I’d like to speak with Sabina alone.”

Orpheus glared at Adam for the interruption but finally relented. “Fine.”

Adam nodded at me. Frowning, I rose slowly and followed him into the hall. Before the door was even closed, I rounded on him. “What the hell’s going on?”

Adam sighed. “The mission Orpheus gave me is in North Carolina. That’s why I can’t continue our lessons—I won’t be here.”

My stomach dipped. “What? Why?”

He leaned in, as if he wasn’t supposed to be telling me this. “Queen Maeve is dragging her feet on committing to helping the council if we go to war. Orpheus needs me to go to the fae court and find out why.”

I crossed my arms. “When?”

“Tonight.”

“What!” Panic gripped my chest. Even though everyone I’d met so far was nice enough, the thought of being stuck here alone with a bunch of virtual strangers didn’t appeal. “So you’re just dumping me off and leaving me alone with a bunch of strangers?”

Adam ran a hand through his sandy hair. “Sabina, it’s not like that. Believe me, I’d rather stay, but my first responsibility is to the council.”

A dark suspicion rose in my mind. “Oh, I get it. Fine. See you around.” I turned to go, but he grabbed my arm.

“What do you mean you get it?”

I shrugged. “You’ve been acting on orders this whole time. You were supposed to do whatever it took to get me here. So you promised me things knowing the council never intended to follow through. And now that I’m here, you’re finally off the hook.”

He glared at me for a moment. Then he threw back his head and laughed. Laughed!

“Nice. Have a good chuckle. Asshole.” I turned to storm off, but he grabbed my arm and spun me around. I slammed into his chest, and before I could open my mouth to tell him to go to hell, his lips landed on mine.

Taken totally off guard, it didn’t occur to me to fight unexpected intimacy. His lips were warm and insistent on mine. As the warmth of his lips registered, my brain switched off and my libido took over. I’d kissed Adam before—once. But that had been different. Then, I’d been reeling from the revelation I had a sister I never knew about, and Adam provided a welcome distraction to extreme emotional distress. Luckily the make-out session was interrupted before it could get too out of hand, and I decided it would never happen again. He was a mage, after all, and cross-racial mating was forbidden. I mean, look where it got my parents. But now, as Adam’s tongue caressed mine, it was fairly apparent he hadn’t gotten that memo.

He cupped my face with his warm palms. Unlike last time, there was no urgent groping or wild need. No, this kiss was almost tender, but no less dangerous for my equilibrium. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and gave myself into the kiss. I was still angry with him for leaving, but I also knew this might be my last chance to touch him for Goddess knew how long.

Finally, slowly, he pulled back. When I opened my eyes, he was smiling down at me.

I cleared my throat. “Um.”

“Now, are you going to stop being an idiot and tell me good-bye?”

I opened my mouth to protest being called an idiot, but he shook his head. “Don’t start an argument. Not now. We can talk about all the reasons this is a bad idea when I get back, okay?”

I swallowed. He was so close. I could still taste him on my lips, and his sandalwood and hot-male scent made me feel a little drunk. “Bad idea?” For some reason, I was having trouble remembering why I’d thought that myself.

“We both have jobs to do, and right now neither of us can afford distractions.” His voice deepened, and he leaned in so his lips were a fraction away from mine. “But please understand, if I could stay there’s nothing I’d want more than to have you distract the shit out of me.”

My stomach flip-flopped. I blew out a long, slow breath to ease the flutters there and farther south. “Wow, mancy, you sure know how to sweet-talk a girl.”

His lips curled into a crooked smile. “I could recite sonnets if you’d prefer, but I figured you’d appreciate a more direct approach.”

He leaned in again, but before he could deliver on the promise in his eyes, the door burst open. We stopped like two deer in headlights and turned to see Maisie framed in the doorway holding Giguhl. “Oh! I’m sorry!” Maisie exclaimed, her cheeks as red as mine felt.

“That’s okay. Adam and I were just… talking.” I stepped back. Adam frowned at me, clearly resenting the distance. But the truth was, I needed the space to clear my head. Adam was sex on a stick, no doubt about it. But he was leaving. And he was a mage. And, and, and. The list could go on.

“Don’t stop on our account,” Giguhl said. “It’s about time you two got it over with.”

Maisie covered her mouth, clearly amused.

“Giguhl,” I said, a warning clear in my tone.

“Oh, please, Red—”

Right then, Orpheus and Rhea came to the door to see what the commotion was about. Oblivious to the new arrivals, Giguhl continued.

“—I was stuck in that godsforsaken car with you two for four days, remember? The pheromones were so thick I had to roll down the window.”

I glared at the demon. If looks could kill, he would have dropped dead on the floor. Instead, he merely snuggled closer to Maisie and said, “I’m just sayin’.”

My cheeks burned at Rhea and Maisie’s knowing grins. Adam cleared his throat. “On that note, I should head out.”

“Lazarus, be sure you report as soon as you arrive. I want hourly updates.”

“Yes, sir.” He turned to me. “Well, see you.”

Hyperaware of our audience, I ignored the banked heat in his eyes and held out my hand. “See you.”

He cocked his head and shot me a smirk. His warm hand closed around mine, and I swear I felt the touch all the way to my toes. “Try to stay out of trouble, okay?”

I opened my mouth to get the last word in, but he disappeared. I stood there with my hand extended like an idiot for a second. Then a cat snicker brought my attention back to the audience that had just observed one of the most awkward moments of my life. I lowered my hand and wiped it on the cloth of my dress.

“Well,” I said lamely. “I guess that’s that.”

“Hmm, yes. I’d say so,” Rhea said. I scanned her face for signs of judgment but found none. Overall, she seemed downright amused by the whole thing.

“If you’ll excuse me,” I said. “I think I’m going to take a walk to, ah, get some fresh air. Giguhl, you coming?”

The cat shook his head. “I’m good here. But if I could make a suggestion?”

I sighed, waiting for the punch line.

“You might want to consider a wardrobe change.”

I looked down. Adam had me so flustered I’d forgotten I was still wearing the red chiton. “Maisie?”

“I’m on it.” Static swirled around my body, replacing the dress with my old clothes. I patted my pockets, relieved to find my weapons back where they belonged.

“Thanks,” I said. Having my own clothes—and weapons—improved my mood considerably.

“Where are you going?” Maisie asked.

“Just around the block to clear my head a little.”

Giguhl snorted. “You might try a cold shower instead.”

With a final glare at the demon cat, I turned on my heel and walked away. Over my shoulder I called, “Giguhl, change into demon form.”

Poof
. The hall filled with the acrid scent of brimstone.

Maisie gasped.

“Good gods,” Orpheus said.

I smiled and kept walking. When Giguhl switched forms, he always ended up naked. I won’t go into details, but a naked demon is a sight you don’t want to behold more than once. I was about to turn the corner when Rhea finally spoke.

“Why is it forked?”

T
hus far, the food in New York left a lot to be desired. Granted, I’d only been in the city about four hours, but back in California, none of my meals ever bit back.

“Ouch!” I reared back and checked to be sure my ear was still attached. My meal stared back with glittering eyes, black in the dim light. He had a few days’ worth of scruff, and a diamond stud glinted from beneath greasy black hair.

“Fuck you, bitch.” His attitude—and his blood—left a bitter taste in my mouth. Frustrated and too tired to deal with this shit, I pushed him away. Instead of running like a normal person, he had the nerve to pull a gun on me.

“Seriously?” I said. If I weren’t so annoyed, I probably would have laughed. “I think you better hand over the gun before you hurt yourself—or I do it for you.”

He pulled the trigger. The bullet ripped through the flesh just below my right collarbone. I might have been immune to the damage, but it fucking hurt.

“Godsdammit!” I yelled, pressing a hand to my chest. “Gimme that thing.” I jerked the gun out of his hands and threw it into a wooded area off the trail. His eyes widened and he stumbled back, mumbling prayers to the Virgin Mary.

“She can’t help you now,” I said menacingly. He tripped over his feet and ran off into the night. I briefly considered giving chase but decided it wasn’t worth the effort.

Despite the empty trails this time of night, Central Park still hummed with energy. In the tree line, dark shadows shifted in my peripheral vision. A screech came from overhead. I looked up to see Stryx flying in tight circles over me.

“Go away,” I grumbled. Ignoring the owl, I trudged on through the trails, hoping to find another meal. Not an hour ago I was puking out my spleen, and now my body had to heal the gunshot wound. That meant blood had gone from a want to being a need.

The chill October air held the promise of rain. Under that, the city scents of trash, exhaust, and humanity were muted and mixed with the smoky aroma of fallen leaves. I slowed my pace and took a deep lungful of air. Wincing, I pressed a hand against the chest wound. The hole was already closing, entombing the bullet lodged there—a morbid souvenir of my first visit to the Big Apple.

Needing a minute, I sat on a bench near the intersection of three trails. The famous “Imagine” mosaic memorializing John Lennon lay a few feet away. Someone had left an offering of red roses in the center of the circle. All around me, trees reached up toward the inky night sky, and just beyond, the spires of New York’s cathedrals to the gods of commerce loomed.

What the fuck was I doing here? I settled back into the bench and allowed myself to wallow. Self-pity wasn’t an emotion I indulged often. It was easier to avoid wallowing when I thought I was in control of my life. But now control was the last thing I had.

When I’d agreed to come to New York with Adam, I’d been pissed off and ready to leave everything behind. My need to make my grandmother pay for betraying me was stronger than my worries over leaving everything behind. I knew mages were different from vampires, but I figured I’d adjust. I was half mage after all—how hard could it be?