Missing Magic (21 page)

“It’s okay.” Carly patted her shoulder.
“Think about it, why don’t you? Even I can see there is more
between you and Cenrick than you realize.”

Dee started to protest, then closed her
mouth. Staring at the other woman, she let her doubt and fear show
in her eyes. “So many changes,” she whispered. “I don’t know.”

“Come on.” Carly led Dee back to the other
room. “Our menfolk await.”

Alrick held out his arms and Carly went
directly to him. They hugged as though they’d been apart for hours
rather than a few minutes.

Feeling awkward, she watched them, jumping
when Cenrick recaptured her hand.

Finally, the other two turned to face them.
Arms around each other, they said their good-byes. Dee echoed them,
startled to realize her throat was tight.

As they walked side by side to the end of the
long, dusty drive, each lost in their own thoughts, they waved at
the couple watching them from the front porch.

“I’ll miss them,” Cenrick said.

“I really like your brother and his wife.”
Dee knew her smile was a tad wistful, but didn’t care. “I wish they
lived closer.”

“It’s even worse when I’m in Rune. Living in
different worlds means I hardly ever see him.”

“What did he mean when he asked you if your
father had finally given you your task?”

Cenrick smiled. “Because Alrick and I are
twins, we’ve long been joint heirs for the throne. Our father
dreamed up the idea of giving us each a test to determine who would
be the best King. Alrick’s task was protecting Carly.”

“But he stayed here? How can he be King if
he’s not in Rune?”

“That’s why I have to complete this task.”
Cenrick’s expression turned serious. “He’s asked me to become King
so he can remain here with Carly and their child.”

Dee felt a piece of her heart crack. She’d
only been deluding herself. She and Cenrick had no future together.
His destiny was to rule Rune. Hers, to remain here among her own
kind, and straighten out the mess her life had become.

Not Soulmates at all. But partners, together
for one assignment, one task, before they went their separate
ways.

BACK IN her own living room, Dee gave in to
her exhaustion and dropped on her couch. She kicked off her shoes
and leaned back, trying to forget Carly’s words.

Soulmates. As if.

“This is so messed up,” she said. “We’re no
closer to figuring out what the Oracle meant than we were
before.”

The cushion dipped as Cenrick sat beside her.
“Forget about the Oracle, for now. We’ll go back to our original
plan. Sending you into the clubs to lure them out.”

She glanced at the clock. “It’s nearly three
a.m. I thought we would come back close to the time we left.”

“With all that happened, us going to the
wrong place and all, no way was I going to try and control
time.”

“It’s way too late to go to clubs now. They
all be closing.” Leaning back, she had to admit she
was
exhausted, both physically and emotionally.

“We’ll do it tomorrow.”

“Do you still think that will work?”

“It has to.”

Silently, she agreed. Images of Peter and the
other Soulless Fae milling about aimlessly, tortured husks of their
former selves, tormented her. “Even though we’re no longer engaged,
I hate to think of Peter like that.”

“Your fiancé.” His voice sounded flat.

“
Former
fiancé,” she corrected. “And
Cenrick, even though Peter and I weren’t together, I wouldn’t wish
such a thing on my own worst enemy.”

“I haven’t forgotten my promise. Once this is
over, I’ll bring him back to you.” His gaze caught hers.

Held.

She looked away first. “Tell me you think
their souls can be restored.”

“The Oracle and Mort have a lot of power. If
anyone can find a way, they can.” Leaning close, he massaged her
neck. “Now. Relax. We can do nothing further without rest.”

Part of her longed to do as he said, and let
her body relax, boneless against him. But the rest of her, still
disturbed by what Carly had said, felt restless. Unsettled.

“I can’t forget the Oracle’s words. She said
two halves were needed. You yourself said she’s never wrong.”

He continued to knead her sore muscles. “If
she meant Alrick needed to help me, she had to know he couldn’t. He
must stay with Carly for the birth of their child. He has his own
destiny to ensure.”

“But they’re his people too.”

“And he’s done his part to save them already.
This is my task.” His voice was sharp. “I will find a way to help
them.”

“No,
we
will find a way to help them.
Hmmm.” She let her eyes drift closed. “That feels good.”

“Then come close to me.” The rumble of his
voice was reassuring. “Let me work the stiffness from your
body.”

A back rub – her secret weakness. She didn’t
have to be asked twice. She scooted closer, resting her head on the
edge of his leg. As his surprisingly talented hands caressed her
aching muscles, she sighed.

Soulhalves? Probably not. Still, she couldn’t
help but think how easy it was to love a man like him. Knowing he
wasn’t here to stay, she could only hope her knowing him hadn’t
forever ruined her for other men, though she suspected it was
already too late. How could any other man measure up to such
perfection?

Two halves of the same soul. She kept coming
back to the Oracle’s prophecy. If not Cenrick and Alrick, what else
could it mean?

Cenrick’s talented fingers hit a sore spot.
She relaxed into his touch, biting back a moan of pleasure. He
eased her over, unresisting, across his entire lap. There, she felt
the swell of his arousal and an answering heat began low in her
belly.

“Dee—.” At the raw need in his voice, she
glanced up. Another mistake. His gaze, full of heat and desire,
called to her.

“Cenrick, I—.”

With a growl, he covered her mouth with his
and she was lost.

Cenrick
.

The feel of his muscular body, the heady
fragrance of his skin, and the way he kissed her, made her head
swim. Swim? Hell, she was drowning.

Apparently, he felt the same. As if helpless
with desire, he pushed his swollen body against her. They shed
their clothes, bodies still touching, and when he entered her, she
felt a rush of joy.

Home
, she thought, before all coherent
thought fled. Home.

Later, as they lay holding each other, she
looked up to find him watching her.

“What is it about you?” he asked, his voice
husky. “How do you do this to me?”

Smiling, she kissed his chest, watching his
eyes darken. “I don’t know, but you do the same thing to me.”

“I want you again.” His lazy tone made her
shiver. “But I think we’d better sleep.” He swept the hair from her
forehead, then placed a kiss on the tip of her nose.

“Tomorrow’s going to be a big day.”

The clock showed noon when she woke,
Cenrick’s arms wrapped around her. She opened her eyes to find him
watching her, desire darkening his eyes to black.

Laughing, she stretched languidly against
him. He growled low in his throat, letting her feel his readiness,
and they made love once more, this time with a fierce urgency.

Later, having showered and dressed, Dee made
pancakes for breakfast. Cenrick had never tried them, and ate with
obvious enjoyment. Dee sipped her coffee, while Cenrick had
milk.

“I’d like to take some sort of action,”
Cenrick grumbled, pacing the small kitchen. His movements reminded
her of a caged leopard, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Crossing to the living room window, Dee
twitched back the curtain. Instantly, she saw the unmarked cruiser,
conspicuously parked in the same place as before. “They’re still
watching us.”

“What can they do if we drive through Mick’s
neighborhood?”

“Nothing, though they’ll think I’m going to
gloat over there results of my crime.”

He stared. “Do you care?”

The question took her aback. Returning to the
kitchen, she refilled her mug and added creamer and artificial
sweetener to her coffee. “Not really,” she said, surprised to find
she meant it.

“Then let’s go by Mick’s. I want to see if
the house is a total loss.”

“All right. We’ve got all afternoon, since I
can’t hit the clubs until at least eight or nine.” She looked down
at herself and grimaced. “I haven’t been clubbing in awhile and I
don’t have anything to wear.”

He flashed a grin. “Yes, you do.”

“No, I’m not wearing that enchanted dress.”
She grinned back. “You know, maybe our tail would enjoy going
shopping. While we’re out, I think we’ll stop at Theodore’s and buy
something.” Her grin widened. “Something really sexy and daring.
Like a Fae woman would wear.”

For the first time, he let himself think
about what she’d be doing. The thought of other men looking at her,
knowing they’d be thinking the same amorous thoughts as he, made
his chest tight.

Thank the Goddess he’d decided to go with
her.

“Come on.” Oblivious to his conflicting
thoughts, she set her mug down. “Are you ready to go?”

He nodded, wondering what was wrong with him.
Since when did he feel proprietary towards a human woman –
any
woman, for that matter?

She drove to a place less than a mile away.
The shop was small and tucked into one end of a strip shopping
center, the neon purple sign over the door proclaiming this was
Theodore’s
. Numerous outfits – short skirts, crop tops and
halters – were on display in the windows. All of them were slinky
or sparkly and left little to the imagination.

“See what I mean?” Dee laughed at his stunned
expression. “I’ll get something like one of those glittery skirt
sets.”

Even though her air conditioning was turned
up full blast, Cenrick felt heat rising. “Dee—,” he began.

“You wait here,” she instructed, pulling into
a parking spot in front of the store. “I’ll leave the car running.
This won’t take long- five minutes max.”

Not that
would
be magic.

“I’ve never met a woman who could shop that
quickly.”

Her grin made his the tightness in his chest
worse. “Then you don’t know me. I hate to shop, unless it’s online.
I’m going to dash in there and buy the first sexy outfit I
see.”

A quick glance at the window made him wince.
“Do they have any other kind?”

She laughed. “No. Sexy fashion is what this
store is known for.”

With a lighthearted wave, she took off.
Watching her stroll across the sidewalk, he saw and older man do a
double take. Another man nearly fell, tripping over the curb while
craning his neck to get a better look at her.

Once she disappeared inside the store, he
released his breath, preparing for a long wait. But, true to her
word, five minutes later, Dee emerged, large, purple shopping bag
in hand, and headed towards the car.

A passing pickup full of guys slowed for a
better look, honking their horn and hooting out the windows. Dee
ignored them. Even the two cops in the unmarked cruiser rolled down
their windows for a better look.

Fae enchantment, he told himself.

“Got it!” Tossing the bag in back, Dee
grinned triumphantly. “I bought you something to wear too.”

He shot a dubious look at the store. “They
really sell clothing, er for men in a place like that?”

“Sure. Now all I have to do is decide which
wig I want to wear tonight and I’m good to go.”

As she backed from her space and headed
towards the exit, their tail did the same. “Are you ready to give
those guys something to talk about?”

“You want to lose them?”

“Sort of.” The laughter sparkling in her eyes
made him want to kiss her. “But I have every right to drive by
Mick’s, so I won’t.”

As he’d feared, Mick’s house had been reduced
to rubble. Only a few charred timbers, on pile of brick, and ash
remained.

Dee slowed the car to a crawl, even going so
far as to wave as their pursuers, trying to keep a discreet
distance, dropped back. Neither officer returned the wave.

“Poor Mick,” Dee said, her voice full of
sorrow. “He loved that house.”

“Poor Mick?” Craning his neck for one last
look before they turned the corner, Cenrick shook his head.
“Whatever happened there, he brought upon himself.”

She bit her lip, but didn’t contradict
him.

Once back at her place, she again waved at
the police cruiser, shaking her head as she climbed the stairs.

“Now what?”

Depositing her shopping bag on the sofa, she
eyed the shredded cushions and grimaced. “I’d go shopping for a new
couch and pillows, but I’m not sure how much longer I’ll have a
job.”

He headed to the kitchen, and began making
them both cheese sandwiches. When he’d loaded up two plates, he
returned to find her in front of her computer.

“Check this out.” She pointed at the screen.
“Natasha Klein no longer works for NASA.”

He read the short piece, which detailed how
the brilliant scientist had become an independent consultant,
moving to the South Worth area and setting up shop.

“I wonder how Mick met her?” Dee mused. “Top
level scientist and cops don’t exactly mix.”

“That’s one question only Mick can tell
us.”

“If he’s able to speak.” Grim, she clicked
off the screen, closing her internet program. “I’m wondering if
she’s making him one of the Soulless too.”

“I doubt that.” He had to scoff. “She’s using
him for something. He wouldn’t be of any use to her if she zapped
his mind.”

“All right, let’s go with that theory. What
do you think she’s using him for?”

“What does Mick have that no one else does?”
In a second, he answered his own question. “He’s Fae.”