Barely Bewitched (15 page)

Chapter 23

It took me another half hour to extract myself from Bryn. I took a shower and crookedly slapped a couple of gauze pads on the wounds, which throbbed.

Mr. Jenson had laid out some clothes for me that must have belonged to one of Bryn’s former girlfriends. The knit shirt was a little oversized and a weird yellow-green color that I suspected would clash with some skintones, like any that occurred in nature. The pants were off-white, a color I didn’t have a lot of confidence I’d be able to maintain with my presently rough-and-tumble life. They were also too long for me, but with a few safety pins, I created a hem and was ready for the world. Sort of.

I thought I’d head out, but I was distracted by a delivery that Steve signed for at the gate and brought to the front hall. Two heavy boxes that seemed to have been overnight mailed by FedEx from the Witches’ Brew.

“Tell the boss his books are here from Austin,” Steve said to Mr. Jenson.

“Let me see those,” I said, putting out a hand. Answers that I needed might be in those books.

He moved them beyond my reach. “You’ll have to ask Mr. Lyons,” Steve said, taking the boxes down the hall.

I ventured upstairs to Bryn’s room and knocked. He called for me to come in. Inside, steam billowed from the master bathroom, where he’d recently showered. I looked him over. He’d dressed like we were in for a freak snowstorm, wearing a heavy sweater, jeans, wool socks, black gloves, and a blue-and-white-striped scarf wrapped twice around his neck and partially covering his stubbled jaw.

I smiled at him. “That’s a real interesting look. I think
Gentlemen’s Quarterly
might take you off their—”

“Is making fun of my wardrobe really the best use of your time?”

I chuckled. “Sorry. It’s just that there’s never anything good to tease you about normally. This might be my only chance.”

“I didn’t mind the way you teased me last week. You’re free to do that whenever you like.”

Oh boy.
Remembering the night when we’d gone too far curled my toes, but it also made me think of the aftermath, how I’d been hungover, how it had hurt Zach. The pang of guilt brought a flush to my cheeks. I was even more caught between Bryn and Zach now than I had been last week.

“You got a delivery of books from Austin,” I said, in a hurry to avoid thinking about my personal life.

“Good. I didn’t have much in my library specifically about the fae. I bought out the reference section on them from the Brew.”

“Can I look through them with you?”

He nodded, dragging his fancy down-filled duvet from the bed. It trailed behind him as he left the room.

We went downstairs, and he lay on the couch under the thick cloud of bedding, while I opened the boxes and looked at the expensive collection of books.

“Why don’t you lie here with me, and we’ll look at them together?” he said.

I perched on the low table across from him and shook my head. “You rest.”

“I’ll rest better if you come closer.” He raised the edge of the duvet.

“Bryn, you know Zach and I are still involved. I don’t . . .” I tucked my hair behind my ears. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

He let the duvet drop. “Your relationship with Sutton has already been proven a failure. It’s time for you to move on.”

I blinked, feeling the sentences stab at my heart. I didn’t like Bryn saying with such confidence that my relationship with Zach couldn’t work, even though I did have my own doubts about it, especially now.

“He and I got together too young is all.”

“First love gets its hooks in deep, but that doesn’t mean it’s supposed to last forever,” he said, his voice smooth and utterly confident, but not harsh. “Sutton needs someone to stand in his shadow. You’re not that woman anymore, Tamara. Your potential shouldn’t be squandered.”

I cleared my throat, my emotions all jumbled. I liked hearing that he thought I had potential, but I wasn’t ready to deal with the rest.

“Let’s see what these books know about faery dust.”

“You read. I’ll rest my eyes,” he said, closing them.

I read aloud until he fell asleep, then scoured the books silently. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any information about how to re-collect pixie dust. I started flipping through books on witchcraft, too, looking for a spell that might help me break into Jenna’s house undetected.

Mercutio sat next to me, licking his paws.

“Listen to this, Merc. Says here some witches and wizards have something called magical synergy. Each one’s power feeds the other’s and enhances it. One plus one equals three. Says it’s really rare to have that happen. Only a dozen reported cases in the last four hundred years.” I glanced at Bryn, who was sound asleep, and then back to Merc. “You know, I’ve been thinking. When did my power spark to life? When I came into contact with he-who-shall-not-be-kissed over there,” I said, nodding at the couch. “Yep, and it works best after I’ve just seen him, or when you’re around and I go barefoot. If I’m going to try to fix the town and survive the challenge, I’ll bet that’s the key somehow.” I nodded to myself. “And you know who knows the trick to re-collecting the dust? That little two-faced Abby imposter. Maybe I can trap her in a circle and make her tell.”

I moved closer to Bryn, whose lips were bluish despite the fact that he was well bundled. I sat on the edge of the couch and nudged him. It took a few firm pokes before his eyelids rose.

“Hey there,” I said.

“I’m cold. Lie down with me,” he said, the words slower and less crisp than usual.

My muscles tightened anxiously. “Why don’t you sit up? That’s enough sleeping for now.”

“I’m cold,” he mumbled, his lids drifting shut.

My heart thudded in my chest. I didn’t like this one little bit. I nudged him. “Bryn, wake up.”

He didn’t respond. I jumped up and darted down the hall, calling for Mr. Jenson.

“What is it?” Mr. Jenson asked when I found him in the kitchen.

“He’s worse. Can you make some more of that tea he had you brew last night? We need to keep him awake and drinking hot stuff. Maybe we can turn up the thermostat, too.”

“Yes, of course.”

I chewed my lip. “I thought he’d be better by now.”

“He said his chills were not as severe when you were nearby,” Mr. Jenson said, giving me a pointed look for several seconds. “And you realize that last night when you were ill, he was quite adamant about staying with you.”

“Yeah, I know he saved me,” I said, turning to hurry back down the hall. In the study, I slipped under the covers with Bryn and lay on top of him. Even through the clothes I could feel his body leeching heat from me. I raised my shirt up partway and his, too, so we were belly to belly, skin touching. Then I kissed him. His lips were cold and almost rubbery beneath mine. The magic between us was so faint that I almost couldn’t sense it. Worry was quickly turning to panic.

I moved up and down, sliding my skin over his, creating some friction. “Bryn, wake up,” I mumbled against his mouth. He exhaled slowly, and I drew his icy breath into my lungs, warming it, and gave it back to him.

His lids fluttered open, and his cool lips softened under mine.

“Give me back some of that poison,” I said. He didn’t answer. “You hear? My shoulder’s throbbing something fierce,” I lied. “Gimme some of that stuff back to make it numb again. Do your spell.”

“I’m tired,” he slurred.

I poked his ribs and kissed him some more. The power flared a little stronger. I felt his arms slide around me.

“That’s it. Give me some poisoned magic.”

He mumbled against my mouth, kissing me, and I felt the chill in my spine. I shivered, but was happy to see his pupils constrict, and his gaze sharpen.

The numbness tingled through my body, making my hands ache.

“You stay up. Mr. Jenson’s bringing you some hot tea, and you’re gonna drink every bit of it.” I waited for him to answer, but he just looked at me. “You hear me about the tea?”

“I heard you. If you kiss me again, I’ll do anything you say.”

I took the flirting as a very good sign and bent closer, kissing the side of his face gently and whispering near his ear. “Please try not to let the poison win out. If you die, I don’t think Mr. Jenson will be my friend anymore.”

I crawled off him and stood up, then tucked him in tighter against his protests.

“Stay,” he said.

I was torn. He did seem to need me, but us snuggling together wasn’t going to save the town from having a meltdown on Halloween and it wasn’t going to help me face the challenge or get Aunt Mel’s earrings back. I couldn’t work on those things from Bryn’s couch. And maybe Bryn’s system would fight off the poison, if I just let him rest. Then I had a sudden brainstorm.

“Bryn, do you think that spring that we used last week to cure the werewolf bites for Lennox and Zach would save you from an elfish poison?”

“Might.” Bryn closed his eyes, shivering.

“Sit up,” I said, pulling him as Mr. Jenson came with the tea. “Mr. Jenson, I’ve got an idea that might work. Will you help me get him in the car?”

“I don’t need help getting in the car,” Bryn said, through chattering teeth. “Just get her the keys to the Mercedes.”

Chapter 24

We were a few miles out of town when Mercutio seemed to want me to turn left onto a dirt road. “That’s not the way, Merc. We’ve got to take care of Bryn.”

Merc stood with his front paws on the dashboard, watching the road go by.

I drove another mile and spotted Jordan’s rented convertible behind us.

Shoot!
“What’s he doing back there?”

Bryn licked his lips and pulled the blanket around him tighter.

“Who?”

“Jordan Perth.”

Bryn checked his side mirror. “He either suspects you’re in the car, or he wants to talk to me.”

“With the tinted windows, he can’t know I’m in here. I’m going to ignore him.”

“If we’re going to Leon’s Spring, he’ll see you when we get out. Why don’t you take me back? I’ll have Steve drive me.”

“No, I don’t want to waste any more time. I want you back to normal so you can do research and make strategies and, more importantly, so that if we need to share power to cast some save-the-town spells, you’re up for it.”

The corner of his mouth edged up. “So you’re just defying the Conclave to save me, so I can be a power source for you? Thought you were one of the good guys.”

I laughed softly, recognizing my own complaint. “Well, now you know better.” I parked near the path that led to the spring.

“Stay in the car for a minute,” I said, thinking Bryn looked exhausted and would be better off keeping warm under the blanket.

“No. Let me talk to him alone. He may not be looking for you, and I might be able to get rid of him.”

“But—”

He held out a hand to silence me. “When things settle down, I’m going to teach you to play chess.”

“Huh?”

“The game helps train the mind to think several steps ahead of what’s happening. Strategic planning is key in this life.”

“Hmm. Was it you or was it me who thought of bringing you to the spring to fix you?”

He smiled. “Fair enough.” He slid a hand over and pulled my head to his. The kiss was brief, but I was glad to feel the power arc between us. “You’re chewing through small doses of poison very fast,” he said. “The bit I gave you at the house, I can’t even taste it.” He pushed his door open and got out, leaving it ajar. “What can I do for you?” Bryn said to Jordan, who was out of his car and approaching us. Bryn raised his hand.

“That’s close enough,” he said. “What do you want?”

“What are you doing out here, Lyons?”

“I left something out here a few nights ago. I’m here to retrieve it. And you?”

“Who’s your driver?”

I saw Jordan slide his wand out in a subtle move that Bryn, on the opposite side of the car, probably couldn’t see. Was he going to attack Bryn? That seemed extreme and unlikely, but should I let him get the chance? Bryn
had
said that strategic planning was a good thing.

In a couple of steps, Jordan was next to my door and I flung it open, knocking him flat. The wand bounced a foot from his hand, and I scrambled out to get it before he did.

“What precisely are you doing?” Jordan asked, his voice sending a chill through me.

“This here is Texas, and when someone pulls a weapon it’s usually ’cause they’re thinking of using it.”

He stood up and held out his hand. “I suggest you return my wand. You’re in an unimaginable amount of trouble already,” he said, nodding toward Bryn.

“Well, seeing as I’m already in all that trouble, I’ll just hang on to this until we finish our business here.” I moved around the car to Bryn, who had leaned up against it and was shaking his head.

“She’s new to all this,” Bryn said to Jordan.

“
She
is. What’s your excuse?”

Bryn’s gaze slid to me for a moment and then back to Jordan. “I’ll save that for court.”

“Bryn, c’mon,” I said, tugging his arm. Jordan followed us, staying about ten feet back. I kept a firm grip on his wand. We got to Leon’s Spring, but the water was gone. The hole in the ground was dry and cracked like we were in the middle of the desert and it had evaporated a hundred years before.

“What happened to it?” I mumbled.

Bryn sighed, his lips blue-tinged from the frigid poison consuming him again. “This is . . . disappointing.”

Jordan approached us. “Problem?” he asked in a tone way too cheerful for my taste.

I squared my shoulders and faced him, holding the two ends of his wand in each hand. “I may not be much of a witch, but I could break this wand into a couple of pieces without any trouble at all. If you want it back safe and sound, you’ll go on back to your car.”

“Love, please. You’re signing up for a death sentence,” Jordan said. “Give me back my wand, and distance yourself from him right now.” When I didn’t respond, he looked at Bryn. “Lyons, I’m going to retrieve my wand. If I cast, will you interfere?”

My heart thumped in my chest. Bryn didn’t answer Jordan, but Jordan didn’t wait long. He raised a hand toward me.

Bryn raised a hand, too, and shook his head at Jordan. “She’ll return your wand intact unless you attack us.”

Jordan narrowed his eyes, scowling. “You’re in violation of the law. Both of you!”

Bryn shrugged. “I’ll answer for it when the time comes. Now go back to your car.” Bryn held himself starch-stiff, but I saw him shudder involuntarily.

Jordan saw it, too. His eyes widened for a second as he realized that Bryn was weaker than usual.

“Bryn—”

Before I could get out a warning, Jordan spewed a spell. I reached for Bryn to knock him out of the way, but Bryn yelled in Gaelic and flung his hand toward Jordan.

Jordan and Bryn both fell backward as their energies crashed into each other. My skin burned, and I looked down to see a slice along my forearm where the splintering magic had cut me.

I rushed over to Bryn and was plenty relieved when he licked his chapped lips.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

His teeth chattered. “No, I don’t think I’d characterize how I am as okay.”

“I meant other than being poisoned.”

“Oh, then yes, I’m just great,” he said, shivering as he rolled onto his hands and knees. He ignored me trying to hurry him and took several long seconds to stand. I paced, anxiously eyeing Jordan’s unconscious body a few feet away.

“Let’s hurry,” I said, clutching Bryn’s arm.

Bryn looked at Jordan as we passed him. “As negotiations go, the outcome of that one was suboptimal. Let’s try not to get into any more duels with the Conclave’s representatives.”

“He started it.”

Bryn smiled, stopping to lean on me for a moment. “Rules from the playground don’t always fly in a court of law. Who started it will likely be beside the point.”

“If you ask me, the rules of this Conclave are kind of dumb.” I opened the passenger door.

“Let’s keep that opinion to ourselves, too.” Bryn dropped into the passenger seat and I covered him with the blanket, tucking it around his shoulders.

“Where’s Merc?” I said, realizing for the first time that he hadn’t come with us to the hole formerly known as a spring. I spotted Mercutio a few hundred yards away on the road we’d driven in on. Nice place for him.

“Mercutio,” I called. He didn’t come. I got in the car and started it up. I U-turned to get it on the road and tossed Jordan’s wand out the window as I pulled away.