“I wouldn’t mind living here all the time. I’m a man who needs very little in life. But, I do have a condo.”
“What do you do for a living? Never mind.” My stupid question already had an answer. I forgot myself because Logan had a way of speaking which put me at ease. It was as if he had an internal switch that went between ruthless killer and normal guy. I had to remind myself they were one in the same.
He pointed his chopsticks at me. “Funny you mention that. I am… in-between jobs. If you hear of any openings, be sure to let me know.”
I turned my mouth and set the fork down, wiping my fingers on a paper napkin.
“I’m serious. I’m beginning to think it’s a dead end job.”
“Enough,” I said, raising my hand. Under normal circumstances, I might have laughed, but I struggled with appreciating his dark humor about kills when I was still his captive.
His cheeks puffed when he took a breath. “I know you’re not mad at me, little raven.” He licked sauce from his thumb. “I can scent it.”
“Maybe you just smell the broccoli.”
“Then I’ll be sure to order that off the menu next time, as I’ve never been so aroused by vegetables.”
My cheeks heated. His fervent gaze and candid remarks were only trying to provoke a response out of me. If he kept it up, I might be the first person in history to take out a Chitah with a plastic spoon.
I closed my eyes and thought of Simon—wondering how much he heard over the phone. That’s when a giant light bulb flashed over my head. I often forgot myself as a Mage, not remembering that I could go to the Grey Veil to call to Justus and let them know I was safe.
Something gritty touched my lips and my eyes snapped open.
“I’ve watched you staring at this donut,” he said, with an outstretched arm. “Are you going to eat it, or make love to it with those fetching eyes?”
Logan hovered over the food, balancing on the knuckles of his left hand. The muscles in his arms were taut, and even as close as we were, I couldn’t look him directly in the eye. I wanted to throw my power at him, but all I could hear in the back of my head was Simon’s voice, warning me to choose my opportunities wisely. He would say, “There’s a difference between fighting a man who’s pointing a gun at you, and fighting with a gun against your head.”
He tracked every shift of my body, slide of my foot, and direction of my gaze. Justus watched me in the training room in a similar manner, as did Simon when we played a game. Logan was a man who anticipated moves, and our proximity offered little comfort.
“Eat from my hand, little bird.”
When I reached for it, he pulled back. “From my
hand
,” he demanded.
I narrowed my eyes and dove for the donuts, when he blocked my move and grabbed them. There he stood—holding a donut in one hand and the bag in the other in a game of keep away.
“You are
ridiculous
!” I shouted.
He strolled across the room with a smug expression and sat down, dropping the bag between his legs. The donut disappeared down his throat and he wiped his hand across his chest.
“Sure you don’t want one? Mmm, tasty.”
“I don’t want anything between your legs,” I snapped.
I could have sworn color flared in his cheeks. He chewed the donut, watching me with irritated eyes. Lifting a second one, he dramatically waved it beneath his nose.
“While you’re busy having foreplay with a pastry, I’m going to crash for a while.”
“You just woke up,” he said in a flat voice.
“Your broccoli gave me a stomachache.”
Logan drew in a deep breath and licked his lips.
I turned my back to him and tucked an arm beneath my head, slipping into the Grey Veil.
Chapter 15
I called out to Simon a second time, leaping from the black rock nestled against a sparkling river.
The Grey Veil was a realm that existed between dream and reality. Justus created his own private place because of a gift. When it came to gifts—some magic I would never understand. According to Justus, a Mage could only enter if they shared his light,
and
he showed them the way. Simon and I partially binded, therefore I was able to call to him. The more time that elapsed between light sharing, the harder it was to call to the other. Perhaps that’s why he periodically snapped me with his light, sharing small enough increments to keep the connection open. I chose Simon because I was afraid to face Justus.
I always wondered about Simon. He was a private man when it came to his gifts. As a strategist, he was never one to show his cards. Simon either held a royal flush, or a bluff.
He appeared from the trees and approached, touching my face with his hands. “Where are you?”
“I’m being held in a cave, if you can believe that.”
“We thought the worst. How are you unharmed?” he asked, looking me over. “We know a Chitah took you, and
bloody hell,
your room reeks of it.”
“The Mage, he was taking me to them and, they tried to—”
“Slow down,” he said. “Take a breath.”
I did as he said. There was no time for details. “He killed a Mage, Simon. Two of them.”
“Where would he take you?” Simon asked himself.
“I forgot to bring a map.” I met his worried glance, noticing his face was unshaven. Not a very becoming look for Simon; it was patchy and looked like a boyish attempt at a beard. “The next razor’s on me.”
“I’m delighted to see you can manage a sense of humor at a time like this.”
I gave an elegant shrug. “Did you know that we could pull energy from a Chitah to heal? Justus tells me things that I shouldn’t do, but he never tells me why.”
His jaw unhinged. If it was one thing I loved about Simon, it was his flair for the dramatic.
“You let a Chitah lay a hand on you?”
“Must I have this discussion with a man wearing a ponytail?” I sighed. “I thought the benefactor would have forgotten about me.”
“I think I can reason with him.”
“You cannot reason with a Chitah.” Simon took hold of my shoulders. “Unless he has given you his
word
that he will not harm you, do not trust him. Keep your distance; they can kill a Mage. Do you understand me?” Light pulsed in his eyes.
“I understand you perfectly, Mage,” a voice interrupted. “Now remove your hands from the female, or I will rip out your throat.”
My blood ran cold. Logan stood as an exquisite threat; his predatory eyes glued to Simon like an unwanted inevitability. They judged him from the scuff on his boots to the wave in his hair.
“You are not invited here, dreamwalker. This is the Mage realm.”
“Sorry, I seem to have missed the ‘no trespassing’ sign. Would you mind pointing it out? I do not require an invitation, Mage. My only limitation is that I cannot physically tear you apart in this place. If you want to test that theory, then touch her again. The female is
mine
.”
“She is in your custody, but Silver is not
yours
.”
“Her Ghuardian does an inadequate job protecting his own.” Logan strolled to the edge of the water with a steady eye on us. “It was foolish of him to leave her unattended when a Mage is hunting her. She couldn’t be safer than with a Chitah. Do you not agree, Simon the strategist?” His brow winked up on the last word.
“You know me?”
“You’ve made a lot of enemies. Your reputation precedes you like a red carpet.”
Simon’s lips disappeared into thin lines. With folded arms, he paced in a circle. “I don’t bloody well believe this. Release her and you will be compensated. We will top his price or… be in your debt.” Simon wasn’t happy about the offer, and frankly neither was I.
“Not enough,” Logan said, lifting his chin. “I want full involvement in locating this Mage. Let’s just say it’s personal.”
I could see all kinds of profanities marked above Simon’s head in a thought bubble, but he stared at Logan with pressed lips. “Agreed.”
“Is this a job offer?” Logan perked up, running his fingers along the collar of his shirt. “I’m in the midst of a career change. You might be surprised at the type of information a man like me has.”
“Of that I have no doubt,” Simon muttered. “I’m not an unemployment service. Return her to us and we’ll come to an arrangement.”
Logan dropped his chin and stepped forward. I put my body between them, but Simon kicked up some dirt and cursed at me to move.
A rolling chuckle shook from Logan’s chest. “Jiminy. Your kind never ceases to amuse me.”
“Let us form an alliance and we will make you a fair trade.” Simon held up a hand in good faith.
“I cannot scent if you are truthful here but know this: if you deceive me and fall through on our bargain, I will hunt you down. Cross me, and I will not forget.”
Simon nodded once in a silent agreement between men.
“Come,” Logan said, cupping his finger at me.
Simon was about to protest, but I touched his arm. “Simon, I’ll see you soon.”
I took Logan’s hand and walked into the light.
***
“What can a dreamwalker do?” I asked.
“Some of us jump into dreams. We can’t do it with everyone and I’m not sure why,” he said, popping his gum. “If I could control minds or even the subject matter of the dream…”
“Then you would be a pervert.”
A loud snap of gum showed his annoyance.
Logan had a unique way of speaking. It was smooth and masculine, but his sentences often trailed off in a deep rumble. He occasionally used old-fashioned phrases, which made me curious of his true age.
“Do me a favor, Mr. Cross, and stay out of my dreams.”
The tires crunched over the remaining dead leaves of winter as we rolled up the path leading to the house. Not twenty-four hours ago this man was about to deliver me to my worst nightmare. Now, he was tag teaming with Simon.
“Question?”
He downshifted and looked at me. “Ask me whatever you want.”
“Is there any offer that you wouldn’t take?”
He lifted the visor and pulled the aviator sunglasses from his face. “Perhaps one day, I’ll find out.”
The car jerked to a stop, right along with my heart. Justus stood on the edge of the path with his arms folded, pushing out his biceps like a man trying to throw around his macho.
“You are afraid?”
“I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” I mumbled, rubbing my face. “I just want a shower and a nap, but I can already see he’s upset with me.”
“Remain in the car,” he said, unbuckling his seatbelt.
“What are you going to do?”
Ignoring me, Logan exited the vehicle and approached Justus with a confidence that couldn’t be matched. I always thought Justus had swagger, but next to Logan, it was a tough call. Logan towered over him and even their body types were dramatically different. I wondered if the two of them battled it out—who would win.
I waited for Justus to wield his unholy light on Logan, but nothing happened as they spoke. Hiding in the car was a bit childish, so I made my way over to the circle, rolling up the sleeves of my sweater. I was relieved to be home, but ashamed of the error in judgment I made. Live and learn.
Justus took three hard steps until he loomed over me.
“Were you treated well? Don’t lie to me.”
Logan swept his hair out of his face. “Easy there, hoss. No need to snap your cap.”
Justus scraped him from top to bottom with his gaze. “You are the Chitah?”
Logan’s incisors descended to answer with absolute certainty. “The one and only.”
Chapter 16
Lately, my life was either no drama, or an overdose of it. I was a woman living in a new world with old beliefs, concealing a powerful gift, but the kidnapping was beginning to wear thin.
I was no one’s object to possess
.
Logan’s voice rumbled from the shadows at Simon, who was staring at his cell phone. “The number doesn’t come up,” he said. “He takes extra measures to hide himself. If you punch the redial it will call, but he doesn’t pick up unless he’s expecting it.”