Corrigan Magic (Corrigan: Blood Destiny Book 2) (9 page)

I had to say this much about the Fae - he might enjoy yanking my chain but he was a dab hand at portals.  I emerged smack bang on the grand front porch of the Ministry, much to the frightened bemusement of a nearby mage.  Within seconds, I was surrounded by several more.  I frowned at them all.  They weren’t normally so jumpy.  I could only guess that Mack had done something to put them all on edge.  It would hardly be surprising, given what I knew of her nature.  Or then again it could be the damn onesie I was wearing.

“I wish to see the Arch-Mage at his earliest convenience.”

An older man, clearly hierarchically superior to the others, stepped forward.  “The Arch-Mage is busy, Lord Alpha.”  To his credit, he didn’t so much as glance at my bizarre get-up.  “You are free to make an appointment for a more convenient time, however.”

I took a threatening step forward.  It wasn’t exactly planned but the thought of Mack trapped inside was starting to really get to me.  “Actually, that’s not good enough.  I want to see him now.”

The mage didn’t blink.  “Not possible.”

I growled.  “Then in the interests of our continued alliance, please convey to him that if he doesn’t release my shifter in the next five minutes, all bets are off.”

Again, the mage acting as spokesperson didn’t react.  The others around him were less circumspect, however.  To a man, they sucked in a breath of collective dismay.  My stomach sank as I realised Solus hadn’t been lying.  Mack really was here.  And she really was being kept captive.
“Perhaps you could remind the Arch-Mage as well of the Aberstrong Treaty.  By neither informing me or requesting permission to imprison her, the Ministry is breaking a contract that has stood for over a hundred years.  I’m fairly certain that he’s not looking for the kind of fallout that will ensue from such an action.”

I received a long assessing look in return.  I straightened my shoulders and hardened my eyes.  I wasn’t bluffing and it was important everyone understood that.

Eventually, the mage nodded.  “So be it.  I shall inform the Arch-Mage of your demand.  In the mean time, can I offer you some tea?”

I stared at him as if he were mad.  Then, because I couldn’t think of what else to say, I merely shrugged.  “Sure.  Milk and one sugar please.”

He bowed in my direction then glanced over at one of the other waiting mages.  “Take the Lord Alpha to the His Magnificence’s office.  He may wait outside.”

“But what about the…?”  The mage’s panicked voice trailed away when he received a stern look of rebuke. 

I banked down the wave of seething rage that was building inside me. At this point I wasn’t sure whether it was directed at the mages or at Mack herself.  Either way it would do none of us any good.  I simply did my best to act like the calm, authoritative Brethren Lord Alpha that I should be and trailed after the mage.  I knew perfectly well where the Arch-Mage’s office was – I’d been there enough times, after all.  But I also knew when it was best to play along.  As I walked, I tried to use my Voice to contact her.  Unfortunately it was a wasted effort.  The Ministry were far too stringent about keeping things on their terms while on their territory.  Whatever spells they had in place to stop such communication were bloody effective.

My escort was clearly not about to let me out of his sight.  He gestured towards a chair in the hall right outside the Arch-Mage’s office then stood against the far wall with his arms folded and his eyes on me.  Rather than sit down, however, I focused on the devastation in front of me.  There were several deep scorch marks in what had once been a beautiful unblemished marble floor.  I raised my eyebrows although refrained from commenting.  It was difficult not to gasp, however, when I turned and saw the door leading to the office itself hanging off its hinges.  Through the gap I could see a scene of utter devastation inside.  I cursed Mack internally.  She had better have had a damned good reason for doing this. 

I craned my neck in further to get a better view. I wanted to assess just exactly what had happened.  Any clues I could glean would allow me to better negotiate with the Arch-Mage – and to discern truth from lie when he finally deigned to speak to me.  What I saw gave me pause, however.  Mack couldn’t be responsible for all this.  From the pattern of the burns, it appeared as if there had been two magic wielders fighting each other.  Mack, whatever she had done, was out of the running.  I heaved a silent sigh of relief just as heavy footsteps sounded along what remained of the shiny floor.  I turned to greet him.  Or, rather, to snarl at him.

“Why have you kidnapped one of my shifters?”

The man standing in front of me blinked rapidly several times.  He turned his hands over and over.  I gritted my teeth.  This was what happened when Mack got to me.  I stopped paying attention to my surroundings and started acting like a newborn.  No shifter worth their salt would have mistaken this man’s scent for the Arch-Mage’s.  I cleared my throat and tried to appear as if I’d not made a stupid error.

“Well?  I’m waiting for an answer.  I can only assume that you have been sent in the Arch-Mage’s absence to provide me with one.”

“Uh, uh…” he stammered, his cheeks suffused with pink embarrassment. 

I leaned towards him.  “If I don’t start getting some answers right now, you are personally going to regret it.”

“I’m sorry, Lord Alpha!” he burst out.  “His Magnificence asks that you wait just a little bit longer.  He’ll be here soon.”
“I thought you were a cat,” interrupted the older mage wandering in behind, followed by a younger woman carrying a tray.  “Aren’t cats supposed to be famed for their patience?”

“Actually,” I said, baring my teeth, “I’m a panther.  I’m a bit more … predatory than a cat.  And when one of my shifters is being threatened, patience is not a virtue.”

“You keep saying that,” the mage responded, taking a delicate cup from the tray and passing it to me.

“Saying what?”

“’One of my shifters.  It’s an interesting turn of phrase.”

I stiffened.  “Is it?”

He gave me a perfunctory smile.  “The Arch-Mage will be with you shortly.”  Then he turned and left.

I stared down at the tea cup.  What I really wanted to do was to dash it and its contents against the wall.  Instead, I took a sip and seated myself finally on the chair.

*

It felt like an age before the Arch-Mage showed up.  Not only I had finished the ridiculously small and far too sweet cup of tea long before, but I was also about ready to start tearing the place apart to find Mack.  Propriety and alliances be damned. 

When he did appear, his face remained as impassive as usual although his robes were in unaccustomed disarray.  Not that I was in any position to comment on fashion.

The Arch-Mage glanced at my outfit and his mouth twitched.  “New look for you?”

I shrugged.  “What can I say?  I’m keeping up with the times.  Now where the fuck is she?”

He winced.  “Your language is as bad as hers.  I hope you can remain more rational and less … angry.”

“That depends, frankly.  Bring her to me now – unharmed, I might add – and I may just be persuaded to stay calm.”

He gestured to my long-suffering escort who bowed so deeply I was afraid he was about to topple over and left.  “I would invite you into my office,” the Arch-Mage said, “but we’re re-modelling.”

“Is that what you call it?  Who did all that?  It looks like two giants with magical wands had simultaneous epileptic fits.”

“Does it matter?” he asked mildly.

I pursed my lips.  “I suppose not.  Bring her.”

“Mackenzie Smith has decided that she does not wish to see you.  She is under the impression that you wouldn’t be very happy with her.”  He looked me over.  “I tend to concur.”

“I don’t care what she wants or what she’s decided,” I hiss, my spine stiffening so much it was painful, “she is a shifter.  She belongs with me.”

The Arch-Mage looked thoughtful and scratched his chin.  “I’m not sure that’s quite true, to be honest.”

My eyes narrowed.  “What do you mean?”

“Well,” he said, “she’s gone rogue of course.  Technically, she’s no longer yours.”  He watched me carefully.

“It makes no difference.”

“Actually, I think it makes every difference.  After all, the Brethren aren’t often known for their forgiveness in such matters.”

I struggled to keep a rein on my temper.  “That was before.  There’s a new order in place.”

“Regardless, I can assure you that in her case, the Aberstrong Treaty doesn’t stand.”

My knowledge of the finer details of archaic law wasn’t strong enough to make a coherent argument.  I shouldn’t have let Solus talk me into coming straight here.  Preparation was always key.  It didn’t mean I was about to walk away though.

Before I could say anything further, the Arch-Mage spoke again.  “I can offer you a boon.”

“What?” I snapped.

“I will release the nullifying spell that prevents you from contacting her with your Voice for five minutes.”  He smiled.  “That way you can communicate with her yourself and be assured that she is not a prisoner and is, indeed, more than fine.”

I knew what Staines would say.  That Mack had caused us enough problems as it was and that as long as we weren’t losing face as a result of her presence here, then I should wash my hands of her.  It would be the sensible move.  To do otherwise would be to jeopardise any future we might have of getting along with the Ministry. 

I took a deep breath.  “If she is unharmed and under no duress when I communicate with her, then I shall take my leave.”  I ignored the sharp shaft of pain through my chest at my own words.  I needed something to take back to the rest of the Brethren so that I didn’t look like a total idiot when word of this got out.  “However, I will also expect your attendance at the future gatherings we are planning with the vampires.”  The bloodsuckers might have pulled out for now but I reckoned I could bring them back.  Somehow.  It would help when they realised the shifters weren’t on the verge of becoming suddenly extinct.

The Arch-Mage snapped his fingers.  “Done.”  He checked his elaborate fob watch.  “You have five minutes. I will give you some privacy.”

The moment he ducked into his warzone of an office, I opened up the link. 
Mackenzie?

Her returning Voice was shaky but she sounded alright. 
I’m here.

I quashed down my relief that she was still alive and seemingly unhurt.  I was still Lord Alpha, whether she was rogue or not
. Would you mind explaining to me what the fuck is going on?

As I believe I’ve mentioned before, I’m no longer part of the Pack.
There was less fire in her answer than normal.
This is not your concern.

It’s my damn concern when the Ministry takes a shifter off the street and holds them against their will. 
It irritated me that I was one the losing my temper.

I came here of my own free will.  I’m not a prisoner.

So tell me why you are here.

No,
she snapped.
It’s got nothing to do with you and nothing to do with the Pack.  It’s time you left me alone.

I
punched the wall and ignored the hole my fist managed to create.  Big deal.  The Arch-Mage was already ‘re-modelling’
. I will not allow a rogue shifter to wander around the streets of London making unauthorised deals with the mages!  There are rules, Mackenzie.

Screw your rules, Corrigan, and get with the programme.  I left, so get over it.  Go play with the shifters who want you.

It was her flippancy that made me get personal. 
Well, it’s funny you say that, kitten, because I could swear that when you materialised in my bedroom, you wanted me too.

You’ve been Lord Alpha for too long, Corrigan.  Your ego is letting your mind play tricks on you.

I don’t think so, sweetheart.  But why don’t you come and prove that to me in person,
I goaded
.  We are in the same building, after all.

I’m busy. 

Goddamnit, Mack!
I tried – and failed – to keep the desperation out of my Voice.
I need to see you to make sure that you’re alright.

It took her a moment to answer, which worried me.
And I’ve told you that it’s not your concern.

I thought about the red fever and prodded her just in case. 
You’re not feeling ill in any way?

I assure you that I am perfectly fine and I thank you for the thought.  But it’s not necessary.  Now, with all due respect, fuck off.

And then – yet again – she was gone.

Before I hailed a cab to take me back to the Brethren headquarters, I used my Voice to contact Lucy and Logan, instructing them to get to the Ministry and to keep an eye out for Mack.  She’d stated quite categorically that she wasn’t a prisoner and, if that really was the case, then she’d have to leave some time.  Something was going on and I was determined to find out exactly what.  It meant the pair of them would miss out on the ‘fun’ of seeing me pull up in the ridiculous dragon onesie but I was fairly certain enough hilarity would ensue from everyone else to make up for their absence.  I wasn’t disappointed.  My only saving grace was that at least Staines didn’t see me.  After I’d changed and gone looking for him, I found out the reason why.

“Doctor Higgins is in there,” the gruff werebear said, nodding towards a closed door.

“Is he asleep?”

“No.  He’s quarantined.”

I raised my eyebrows.  “Is that really necessary?”

“Yes, my Lord.  In fact, he insisted on it.”

I was tempted to screw the quarantine and go straight in.  He’d already seemed confident that, despite the sudden lapse of the last few days, Somerset was getting the disease under control.  I wasn’t about to gainsay an esteemed member of the medical profession though.  Besides, Staines had been right before; as Lord Alpha, I couldn’t afford to allow myself to get sick too.

I knocked on the door and called through.  I could have used the Voice but I felt it was necessary to let him know I was there if he needed me.  “Higgins?  Is everything alright?”

“Quite, my Lord,” came the reply.  “I left the Somerset pack in the care of their own medic.  It really does appear that the worst of the red fever is over.”

“I’m glad to hear it.  How long are you planning to stay in there for?”

“A couple of days should do it.”  At least he sounded cheerful.

The good news made me hungry so before I checked my daily messages, I wandered over in the direction of the kitchen.  Unfortunately, however, I didn’t get very far.  I’d just crossed the main lobby when, right in front of my eyes, a small werehyena called Jeannie collapsed.  I rushed over to help.  That’s when everything started going wrong all at once.

“I’m fine, my Lord,” Jeannie protested.  “I probably just need to eat something.”

I stared down at her pale face.  “How do your eyes feel?” I asked quietly.

“Itchy and sore.” She blinked at me.  “You don’t think it’s conjunctivitis, do you?”

Looking at her red eyeballs, somehow I didn’t think so.  I picked her up as gently as I could manage and carried her back to where I’d just left Higgins, laying her down on a bed in a nearby room.  Before I could speak to the doctor, however, a breathless Philippa appeared.

“One of the lab techs is here.  In person.  They said they have to talk to you immediately.”

The sick feeling in my stomach intensified.  “Keep this door closed,” I told her.  ‘And don’t go in.”

She nodded, a troubled expression on her face.  I opened up a Voice communication to every Brethren member.

Go to your rooms and stay there.  The keep is under quarantine until further notice.  And no-one is to come near me.

There was an immediate ripple of scared uneasiness.  I broke off the communication so I could avoid answering any difficult questions that I didn’t yet have answers for and began striding out towards the front.

“Lord Corrigan!” Staines shouted, running towards me.  “What’s happened?”

“Stay away,” I growled.

He didn’t stop.  Cursing under my breath, I used the Voice to compel him. 
I said stay away.

He halted in his tracks but the strain of the action, along with his unhappiness, were palpable.

“I might be infected,” I told him flatly.

He gaped.  “But Higgins said…”

“I know.  Don’t move.  Someone from the lab is here.  Maybe they’ve finally managed to get their arses in gear and come up with some answers.”

I left him where he was, continuing on until I spotted the technician.  “Don’t move,” I told him, “and don’t come any closer.”

His eyes widened.  “You think you have it?  Do you feel unwell?”

“No.  I feel fine.  But I’ve just been in contact with one of our shifters…”

“Who?” he snapped.

“Jeannie.  She’s…”

The technician nodded, relief all over his face.  “That’s alright then.  You don’t have it.”  He looked away and dropped his voice.  “Yet.”

I eyed the slump of his shoulders and the shadow across his eyes.  “Talk to me.”

“It’s mutating.  The red fever, I mean.  Jeannie can’t infect you because she’s a hyena and they’re dogs.  You’re from the cat family.”

I was puzzled.  “You mean cats are immune?”

“No.  Only cats can infect other cats now.  And dogs other dogs.  It’s the same for every species.”

“Higgins is a damn rat.  He’s the only person who’s been near Somerset who’s in London right now.  How else could she have caught it?”

“From a dog.”

“But…”

“No, my Lord,” he interrupted, his previous terror of speaking up in my presence now all forgotten, “a real dog.  They’re carriers but they don’t get sick.”

“The Cwnn Annwn…”

“Are Otherworlders with genetics close to our own.”

“They were getting better in Somerset!” I almost shouted.  “They had a lapse and now they’re on the mend!”

The technician wouldn’t meet my eyes.  “The lapse was the fever mutating.  Now that ordinary animals can carry it…”

Jesus.  Every shifter in the land was at risk.  “What can we do?  How do we stop it?”

He shook his head.  “I don’t know.  I really don’t know. It’s airborne though and the particles are so small,” he swallowed, “well, unless you have thousands of hermetically sealed chambers, no kind of quarantine is going to help.  We can’t escape this.”

I put my hand over my eyes and reached out for Andrew in Somerset. 
How are things?

My Lord!
He gasped. 
The lubber fiends you sent here are growing crazy.  They’ve said we’re all dirty and they need to leave.  I’ve never seen anything like it!

I took away my hand and gazed at the technician.  “The end is nigh,” he whispered.

*

“The herbal woman from Cornwall is on her way,” Staines said.

“Julia.”

“That’s the one.  And I’ve made sure everyone knows that the quarantine isn’t compulsory.  I did suggest they still kept themselves closed away but it appears that no-one is doing it.”  There was a faintly irritated edge to Staines’s voice but I felt kind of proud.  We were in this together, one way or another.

“What do we do, Staines?  How do we beat this?”

“I don’t know.  But we will. The lab is still looking for some kind of antidote.  Any maybe the disease will mutate again.”

“Maybe.”  I flicked him a look.  “Still, as a werebear, you have a good chance of staying infection free for a long time.  Surely the only real bears in the city are at London zoo.”

“Yes,” he agreed.  “The more exotic shifters might do well.”  He massaged his shoulders.  “When was the last time you saw a real cat?”

I thought of the friendly black one I’d come across barely hours before and decided it was best not to mention it.  “I’m not sure,” I lied.

Staines gazed at me suspiciously but didn’t comment.  For that, at least, I was glad.

“There might not be an antidote,” I said, “but the lab has at least come up with a blood test.  It’ll let us know how many of us are already affected.”

“I’ll get right on it,” he replied.  “Everyone is essentially here.  We can probably get them all checked before the day is out.”

I nodded distractedly.  “One thing to be thankful for,” I interjected, aiming for an air of optimism, “is that we’re an island.  The disease doesn’t seem to be affecting any other countries just now.  I’ve spoken to all the British Alphas. They’ve agreed to compel their Packs to stay where they are.  We should be able to contain it and keep the disease within these shores.”  I sighed.  “We’ve already had reports of symptoms appearing up and down the country.  How does it spread so quickly?”

“Humans and their pets,” Staines said.  “They take them bloody everywhere.”

“I don’t suppose there’s much we can do about that,” I said, half to myself.

Staines shifted his weight awkwardly. 

“What is it?”

He coughed.  “The Packs aren’t the only shifters in Britain, my Lord.”

“You mean rogues?  I got word out to that trio in Northumberland.  They’ve said they’ll cooperate and the Pack there will keep an eye on them to be sure.”

“Those three aren’t the only ones, my Lord.”

I sighed and rubbed my forehead.  “Mack.”

“You need to force the mage to give her up.  Whatever it takes.  Our alliance with the Ministry means nothing now.  What’s important is making sure she stays put.  The woman is a law unto herself and if she decides to up sticks and go abroad, we might not be able to stop her.”

“I’m sure she wouldn’t…”

“And she’s friends with the sodding faeries,” he spat.  “Watching the borders isn’t going to help us.  One flick of their fingers and she’ll be in goddamn Timbuktu.”

“My Lord?”

Both Staines and I jumped.  It was Tom, standing in the doorway and looking incredibly unhappy.

“What’s wrong?”

“Lucy just checked in.” He licked his lips and glanced down at his feet.

“Well?” Staines demanded.

“Mack’s left the Ministry,” he answered in a small voice.  “She’s at Hampstead Heath.”

I met Staines’ eyes.  “Speak of the devil.  Let’s go and get her.”  Unfortunately I couldn’t find even the slightest part of me that was happy about it.