Arcane Solutions (22 page)

“
Cover story.”

“
Oh, right.” Standing up, he smiled and left me to it.

I somehow managed to undress, slip into warm water, and attempt to scrub myself. The tub didn’t have a faucet, but two tiny slits at either end. Warm water poured from one, and the cloud of demon grit, stained pink with blood, flowed into the other to disappear.

Elven plumbing was pretty nifty.

Crawling out of the tub, I sat on a thick bathmat and slowly dried off. It took a few minutes of looking before I realized my clothing was gone, and that a sleeveless white nightgown had replaced it. No one had come in, unless he or she was invisible and silent. After putting it on, I levered myself to my feet and used the wall as support. The door stymied me.
“Hello?”

“
I’m here. What do you need?” Logan sounded anxious.

“
Help getting out of here. Can you open the door for me?”

He did, and carefully picked me up. A moment later, he was tucking me into the bed that dominated the outer room.
“The elf left this for you to drink.”

I eyed the golden goblet he showed me.
“What’s in it?”

“
Wine with herbs for pain. They’re safe, Discord. I watched him mix it up.”

“
Okay.” I drank it down with his assistance. “Where’s Leglin?”

“
He had some wounds. The healer decided to stitch them while you cleaned up.”

The doctored wine left a bitter aftertaste, but worked quickly. Cotton seemed to insulate my mind, cushioning it against reality.
“He can’t heal like you do?”

“
Not as fast. He’ll be fine within a day or less.”

“
You’re dirty too. Why don’t you take a bath?”

Logan collected a chair, settling beside the bed.
“I’m not leaving you alone here. I told that elf that I’m your bodyguard, when he made noises about moving me down the hall to a guest room.”

Realizing I was actually in Thorandryll’s bed, gratitude spilled over.
“Good, thank you. Yeah, I don’t want to be alone with either of them.”

“
You won’t be.” He patted the chair’s arm. “I’ll stay right here until you wake up, Discord.”

“
You can’t,” My eyes drifted shut, and it took effort to open them again. “Sleep in a chair.”

“
Don’t worry about me. Get some rest. That girl is counting on you.”

“
Right.” When my eyes shut, I left them that way. More cotton muffling, but sleep was in the mood for a slow dance. I was vaguely aware of voices, and someone messing with my arm.

The bed gave, something warm and wet sliding over my cheek. Fur brushed my arm as a large body settled beside me. My hound had returned. More voices then a quiet click. After a little bit, someone lay down on my other side, and a hand slipped over mine.

My smile grew just before sleep ended its teasing dance.

Twenty-six

Soft, silvery light shone through the windows when my eyes opened. I stood beside the massive bed.

Thorandryll lay on his back, asleep with an arm around the dark-haired woman cuddled to his side. Peering at what I could see of her face, I knew she was the one from the vision I’d had when I’d first handled the red silk.

Climbing onto the bed for a better look, I froze when the elf moved. His free hand slid up the arm she’d rested upon his chest. Eyes opening, he stroked hair from her face and laid a kiss on her forehead.

A chill shivered through me. She was the woman whose body we’d found earlier. The sacrifice.

I’ll be damned, Thorandryll had been led around by his gonads. No wonder he wanted discretion.

My curiosity flared, watching her tilt her head back and smile. Why had she volunteered for such a horrible death? Thorandryll was a prick, sure, but I wouldn’t trade him for a demon.

Without thinking it through, I reached over Thorandryll and touched her shoulder. My hand went through it, and silvery red light blazed, obliterating the scene.

A few blinks, and the soft moonlight returned. Same room, only now, I was in the bed with the elf spooned against my back. His hand slipped from my stomach to my breasts, and forged a warm trail upwards to settle his fingertips against my jaw. Head turning at his gentle urging, I received a kiss on the corner of my lips.

The resulting tingles made every little hair on my arms stand at attention.

No, not my arms. I was definitely in her place, from the strands of black hair visible from the corner of my eye.

Pure terror sank claws deep into my soul. The only other time I’d found myself taking someone’s place in a vision, I’d lived through hours of torture. Watched and suffered as a straight razor sliced skin away in thin strips. This one might not be a painful experience now, but I didn’t trust the vision not to time-warp, and drop me right into the middle of being sacrificed on that stone altar.

While I tried to no avail to wake up or break the vision, it continued. Thorandryll shifted to recline, moving me onto my back. Her back. Whatever.

He murmured something and began kissing my neck.

Head tilting, eyes half closed, a movement caught my attention. Thomas Merricott, AKA Dead Fake Elf Guy, stood just outside one window.

Fingers in Thorandryll’s hair, which was as soft as I’d imagined, my eyes opened wide. Merricott held up the grimoire, the concealment spell a thin, black line around his left wrist.

I felt a smile grow on my face. I mean, her face. Mission accomplished.

With a nod, Merricott disappeared from sight, and all of my –her!- attention returned to the elf. I suppose she couldn’t just get up and leave with an “It’s been fun, see you around”.

Thorandryll proved no slouch when it came to foreplay, and seemed more than happy to draw it out as long as possible. Trapped, I was along for the ride.

Not the most painful vision I’d ever had. He kissed me and I noticed that he didn’t taste like I remembered.

No sunshine or spring breezes. Instead, he tasted of copper-flavored pine, laced with something both sweet and faintly nutty.

The vision flickered as I buried my hands in his hair. It didn’t feel as soft as before, and I was relatively certain that elves didn’t purr.

“
I don’t allow animals in my bed, Miss Jones.” That icy statement broke the vision to a thousand pieces, leaving me staring into a pair of wide, clear green, gold-flecked eyes.

Logan’s purr cut off as though a switch flipped, dark green flooding over the pale.
“The hell?”

My response was utterly brilliant.
“Ah…”

“
You are taking far too much advantage of my hospitality.” Thorandryll had reached the side of the bed. “I believe it’s time…”

Logan slid off me and sat up. I followed suit, mouth already running to put the awkward situation behind us.
“What was her name? The woman you were seeing? She had black hair.”

The elf’s angry expression became one of confusion.
“Why do you need that information?”

“
Oh, come on. She took you for a ride. Distracted you with sex while the dead guy stole your damn book.” I barely paused for breath. “Another lie. You said you had no idea who took it.”

Logan had made the edge of the bed by then. Looking over his shoulder at Thorandryll while settling the sword across his lap, he chuckled.
“Thanks for the loan of your bed. It was an illuminating experience.”

Thorandryll flinched and took a step backwards before gritting out,
“Carole Bronson.”

Offering a hand to Logan and grabbing Leglin’s collar, I said,
“She’s dead.”

The elf’s eyes widened, but I missed anything else by teleporting us back to my place. My bedroom, to be exact. Logan frowned, quickly standing up.
“You didn’t give me time to grab my boots.”

“
Damn. I forgot my purse too.” Waving that aside, I said, “Okay, the first thing we need to do…”

Logan interrupted me.
“Is take showers. I’ve got a change of clothes in my truck.”

“
We don’t have time for…”

He cut in again.
“Do you care about Nick, Discord? He’s going to be really unhappy when he smells my scent on you.”

“
Oh.” Yeah, personal problems that could be avoided should be, especially right now. I needed to be somewhere. “Okay. You go first, while I make coffee and get online. I need to find her address.”

The shifter nodded.
“I have to run out to my truck.”

***

He was out of the shower by the time I’d figured out which of three Carol Bronsons listed in the Santo Trueno phone book was the right one, and had written down the address. “Hey, coffee’s ready.”

“
Do you want a cup?”

“
Please.” I reached for my purse, only to remember. “Damn it. Do you have your phone?”

Logan deposited a cup on the table.
“No, it’s sitting on the elf’s dresser, right next to your purse.”

“
Crap.” I wasn’t quite able to meet his eyes. “I should go back and get our stuff.”

“
I would like to have my boots,” he agreed, glancing down at the brand new-looking running shoes he had on. “These don’t feel like mine yet.”

“
Okay, let me take a shower. I want to return this.” I plucked at the lace edging the square neckline of the gown. “Um, I guess the vision stuff is changing. I’m sorry you were dragged in like that.”

His coffee cup seemed to become immensely fascinating when I finally managed to look up. Logan stared into it.
“No harm done. It might be better if we didn’t tell Nick about it though.”

I winced.
“He’ll go ballistic, huh?”

“
Probably.”

“
Okay. Wait. Thorandryll might open his big mouth. That would be worse.”

Logan frowned.
“True. Awkward situation.”

“
Tell me about it.” I hesitated before I took a drink of coffee, because I could still taste him, sweet and weirdly familiar. The coffee washed it away.

“
I’m not seeing anyone, so I don’t know if Nick will believe nothing really happened.”

“
Why would whether you’re seeing someone or not have anything to do with it?”

“
Because he’s a wolf, and I’m a tiger.”

I had to put a hand over my mouth to control the urge to laugh. Voice muffled, I said,
“This is a dog and cat thing? Really?”

“
It sounds dumb, I know, but yeah, it’s a cat and dog thing, and a territorial thing.”

“
Okay, I’m not anyone’s ‘territory’.” Rising from my seat, I had another swallow of coffee before setting the cup down. “Nick can either believe the truth, or not. If he doesn’t, that means he doesn’t trust me.”

Logan seemed about to say something, but didn’t. He nodded instead.
“All right.”

“
I’m going to take a shower. Be back in a few.” Leaving the kitchen, I ran over the last week. Aside from the lie about the elf kissing me – which wasn’t my fault anyway – I hadn’t done anything horrible enough to make Nick not trust me.

But if he didn’t, well, our relationship was over just as it was beginning to be one to me.

Twenty-seven

My plan was simple: get in, get our things, and get out.

To my relief, no one was present when I popped into Thorandryll’s bedroom to leave the gown and retrieve our things. While Logan exchanged running shoes for boots, I called the office.
“It’s me. Any word on Kate?”

“
Good morning. She is awake and demanding a hair regrowth spell.” Whitehaven’s response conveyed a smile.

“
Great. Did Nick find anything last night?” I collected the laptop and my purse when Logan stood up. He pointed at the door, and when I nodded in response, led the way outside.

“
No.”

“
Is he there?”

“
Yes.”

“
Would you ask him to meet us at 2214 East Belvedere, Apt 16 B? I have a lead I want to check out.” Locking the front door, I turned in time to see Logan letting the hound in on the passenger side of his truck.

“
He’ll be there,” Whitehaven replied after a moment. “Logan and the hound are still with you?”

“
Yeah, and we’re heading there now.” I glanced around while walking toward the truck. “We’re all fine.”

“
Excellent.” We ended the call as I slid to the middle of the seat, and after promising to report the results of my new lead. I’d already checked the Zoe shimmer several times, but did again while wondering what sort of horrors the girl had suffered.

My decision to call Mitchell was met by his secretary informing me that he’d yet to arrive at the office. There was no answer at the Mitchell house. Uneasiness caused a case of the internal squirms, so I called the Detective Division. Schumacher answered.
“It’s probably nothing, but can you go check an address for me? I have a client we haven’t been able to get in touch with.”

“
This client involved with last night’s dead body?”

“
I think so, but not as a suspect.”

He grunted.
“All right. I’ll let you know what I find.”

“
Thanks.” Ending the call, I dropped the phone in my purse and sighed. Leglin snuffled my hair. “Are you all better now?”

“
He’s fine.” Logan signaled a turn. “Had a look while you were showering.”

“
Thanks.” Petting the hound, I tried to ignore my growing uneasiness, and the weird spikes of urgency that punctuated it. Rushing seldom helped anything.

We arrived before Nick, and I remembered to call my mom. Reassuring her that I was fine, followed by a promise to call again later, calmed her anxiety to a dull roar.

“There’s Nick.” I left my purse in the truck. He was out of his before we reached it and half-crushed me with a hug.

He kissed me, a grin followed on its heels.
“Cordi.”

“
Hi.” Returning the grin, I basked in his relieved happiness. “Ready for some work?”

“
Sure.” He nodded a greeting to Logan, who returned the gesture.

“
Number 16 B,” I said, and we began searching.

Less than five minutes passed before Logan called,
“Here.”

We met in front of the dark gray door trimmed in white. The complex’s color scheme of choice was subdued and tasteful, with each building painted a soft, pale gray with white accents. A small, brushed-nickel plate beside the door was engraved with 16 B in flowing script. I bet the rent was twice as high as mine.

“Let me check.” I used telepathy to determine the apartment was empty, as were those around it, aside from pets. “All clear.”

Just a second of concentration and the lock clicked. I grabbed Nick’s wrist as he reached for the doorknob.
“Don’t touch anything.”

“
Let me go in.”

“
Sure.” Stepping back and using TK to push the door wide open, I said, “Take a really good sniff.”

He nodded.
“What am I sniffing for?”

“
Dead Guy and Mitchell.”

Nick went inside, and we watched him sniff the air. Once he disappeared through a door, I studied the living room. No signs of any struggle. He reappeared.
“Dead Guy, no. Mitchell, yes. His scent’s all over the bed, mixed with hers.”

“
Okay. They were involved. Our new question is whether Mitchell knew about her being a member of the cult or not.” Frowning, I used my abilities to shut and lock the door once Nick was outside. “We’re going to his office.”

My cell phone rang while we walked back to the vehicles.
“Jones here.”

“
Hope you already got paid.” Schumacher paused. “Woman, age about forty, apparent suicide at the address you sent me to.”

Failure washed over me. Poor Mrs. Mitchell.
“I’ll bet five it wasn’t suicide. Her husband may be involved in her daughter’s disappearance.”

“
I’ll pay him a visit.”

“
We’re about to do that. If he’s involved, demons could show up.”

The detective cursed for a whole minute.
“Fine. You handle him, but I want full disclosure, Jones.”

“
That’s my middle name.”

He snorted.
“Your middle name’s Angel. Go, and call me after.”

Ending the call, I marshaled my troops.
“Nick and I will go talk to Mitchell. Logan, will you go to the office and fill Whitehaven in?”

“
Sure.” Opening his truck, he pulled out the sword to hand it over to Nick. My purse followed. “Laptop?”

“
It can go with you.”

“
All right. You three be careful.”

“
We will.” Nick was putting the sword in the backseat of his truck. Leglin came at my call, and we piled in. I waved at the other shifter as he pulled out of the parking lot.

A moment later, we were doing the same. Nick glanced at me.
“So what happened last night?”

I filled him in, including the vision and how Logan was pulled into it.
“Before you say anything, he was dressed and on top of the covers. It wasn’t his fault.”

Jaw clenched, he stared ahead.
“Nick?”

“
What the hell was he doing in bed with you?”

I winced.
“Protecting me. It was Thorandryll’s bedroom, and I didn’t want to be left alone.”

Another glance, this one more searching. Nick growled.
“You lied to me about the elf. He kissed you that day.”

Crap.
“Yeah, I did, and he did. It wasn’t any of your business and I handled it.”

“
We’re sleeping together. How the hell can it not be my business?” He hit the brakes, narrowly avoiding the rear end of a car ahead of us that was stopping for a light.

My seatbelt tightened as I jerked forward.
“Ouch. It wasn’t your business because I didn’t know what we were doing then. I didn’t ask him to kiss me or flirt with him.”

Nick was grinding his teeth, so I kept talking.
“That vision I had handling the red silk? It appeared again, from a different perspective when I was checking out the crime scene. Thorandryll took advantage of the moment.”

He was glaring at the light, and his eyes had changed colors.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, okay? But personal life can’t be a consideration on the job.” No response. Piqued, I added, “Just so you know, if I did ever decide to do something with another guy, I’d break up with you first. I don’t cheat, Nick.”

Expelling a hard sigh, he relaxed.
“You told him we were involved. Are we, or did you say it because you were mad?”

“
Well, we didn’t start out the way I’m used to doing this kind of thing, but….” The light changed, so I paused until the truck was moving again. “Yeah. You’re my boyfriend.”

“
Which is why you told me about Logan.” It wasn’t a question. “If the elf pulls something else…?”

“
I’ll tell you ASAP,” I promised.

“
Okay.”

“
You’re not mad at Logan, are you? It really wasn’t his fault. He didn’t do anything on purpose.”

Nick half-smiled.
“Yeah, I am, but I’ll get over it.”

His eyes were brown again. I smiled back.
“Okay. Good.”

He patted the empty space next to him, and I unbuc
kled the seatbelt to scoot over.