Charmed & Ready (15 page)

Darryl was in his office. He runs the Sweet airport, and he waved while he talked on the phone.

My girl looked good. Azir had given her to me right after we first met. I'd tried to give the jet back several times, but he wouldn't have it. The PM is the one who finally convinced me to keep it.

She's glorious, with rich leather interior for the sofas and chairs. A gold-plated bathroom. It's the most ostentatious thing I've ever owned. And I missed it so much.

By the time I got home, I had four messages on my phone. The first was the prime minister asking me to call him back as soon as possible. The second was from Zane, with the same message. The third and fourth were from Miles basically asking the same thing, but not as nice.

"If you're so damn sick, where the hell are you?" Miles mumbled. "Your expertise is needed." And he hung up.

I rang the prime minister's direct line in hopes of bypassing snippy little Miles. It worked.

"Hello, Prime Minister."

"Hello, Bronwyn, how are you feeling?" He was always so polite.

"I'm much better, thank you." It was the truth. It'd been almost three weeks since the attack, and I felt stronger than ever.

"Do you think you might be ready for a new assignment in a week or so?"

Wow. Hadn't really planned to go back for another two weeks. I wanted to work, but I wasn't sure my body was up to it.

"I wouldn't ask so soon, but I need your help with Zane."

"Did something happen?" I realized I hadn't called to check in with Callie for a couple of days. The last time she spoke things had been quiet, and she promised to let me know if the spook squad got anything from the black sludge at the pub.

Usually I did mental checks on Azir and the PM on a daily basis. I hadn't been able to use my magic in so long, I'd gotten out of practice.

"No, it's just that he has to come that way to prepare for his new concert and Callie has to return to Australia. Seems there's a problem only she can deal with and they need her back."

"So do you need me to come to London on Friday?"

"No, this one is a bit closer to home for you. Zane is preparing for the new tour and it begins in Los Angeles. Would it be possible for you to meet him there at the end of the week?"

I thought about it for a few seconds. By the end of the week I'd be even better than I was now. I still get tired, but I'd been tired before on assignments and managed.

"When does his plane get in?"

"He's scheduled for noon. I haven't told him any of this. He seems to think that since Callie took care of those warlocks the threat is over, but I have a feeling it's only just begun."

"Why do you think that sir, if you don't mind my asking?" I moved around the office shuffling papers. I'd really let things stack up while I was sick.

"Just a feeling. Aren't you the one who always tells me to follow my instincts where threats are concerned?"

"Yes, that sounds like me. Okay, I can't be there before noon. Garnout has to check me out on Friday morning before I can leave. He wants it to be a full three weeks. But I'll have Simone, my friend the demon slayer, meet Zane. She'll take him to his home. I'll be there a couple of hours after."

"That's acceptable. Simone? Have I met her?" He sounded distracted.

"Trust me sir, if you'd met her, you'd remember. But she knows Zane. She's the one he asked about in New York."

"Oh yes, that's where I remember the name. I'll have Miles send the itinerary when we have it complete."

"Yes, sir."

"And Bronwyn, thank you. Sheik Azir and I will meet you there by the end of the second week."

"What?" I tried to ask, but he'd hung up.

I sighed. I have to build my stamina, my resistance to Azir, learn to use my new power and get myself into fighting shape in just one week.

That's when it dawned on me. I pulled my iPod out of my purse to check the addresses and phone numbers. Sure enough, there it was. The number on Sam's cell phone. It was Azir who had called him out of my bed.

I couldn't imagine any scenario other than Azir had asked for help with one of his humanitarian missions. It's noble of them both, but if Azir gets Sam killed, I'll have to hurt him in return.

It also explains why Sam acted so strange that morning. Whenever Azir is involved in any of our conversations things tend to get weird.

So they were off saving people. Azir does it all the time. He pulls women and children out of atrocious circumstances and gives them better lives.

I'd had a chance to meet a few of the women he'd saved when I visited his home in Dubai. They nearly worshipped the man for all he had given them. Their stories… well, that those women hadn't lost their faith in humanity was some small miracle.

Okay, so Sam's off saving the world. I do it all the time. I guess I have to give the guy a break.

9 P. M.

Kira's a friggin' genius. I swear she learns faster than anyone I've ever seen in my life. Well, with the exception of Simone.

Within an hour of showing her how to look but not look—that's the secret of aura reading—she was doing it. She could even see Casper's aura. And animals are lot more difficult than people.

We drove into town and sat in Lulu's eating chocolate cream pie. (I swear I'll start eating healthy tomorrow.) She read every single patron correctly. Amazing.

I don't know how I ended up with all of these brilliant friends, but I'm feeling a bit blessed today.

The good news is she's beginning to accept her gifts as a talent and not so much a curse. I explained that these things come to us for a purpose, and she'll soon discover what that is.

I dropped her back at her house.

She reached over and hugged me. "Thank you for being my friend." She smiled. "For the first time in weeks I don't feel like I have a hundred pound weight sitting on my shoulders. I can breathe."

"Thank you. I don't know what I would have done without you and Caleb these last few weeks."

It was just a big old lovefest and we both got a little teary-eyed.

She sniffled. "So tomorrow after work I'll come over and we'll do yoga and we'll work on the meditation thing. Then I'll watch while you practice making earthquakes."

I waved as she got out the door. "Sounds like a plan. See ya tomorrow."

Now, if Sam would call and let me know he's alive and well, this would be a great day. Not going to happen, but a girl can wish.

Saturday, noon

Beverly Hills, California

Drugged, pissed-off witches: 1

Whoohoo! I love L.A. Yep, been here twenty-four hours and so far I've slept twenty-three of them. Oh, and in the first half hour I was shot.

Okay, it was a tranquilizer gun, but still. Come on.

Garnout wouldn't let me take my own plane. He was worried about my power suddenly jumping out and making me crash or something. I'm also not exactly feeling my best. I was so much better until yesterday.

Caleb was still in New York, so I had to take a commercial flight. I get off the plane and since I flew into Burbank, you disembark outside. Being the lucky person that I am, I was shot by a tranq dart meant for some demon, in a human disguise. He was on my plane, but hadn't caused any trouble. The spook squad was after him and they hit me and three others, totally missing the demon, according to Simone.

She and Zane were waiting just outside baggage claim for me with the limo. When the demon came out, she captured him. When I didn't make it out, they sent security to find me. Long story short, they found me in the on-site medical facility, passed out.

I woke up about a half hour ago to find myself inside a bedroom decorated in gold and sapphire blue. Not me, but very elegant.

Turns out it's another of Zane's mansions. He and Simone had been waiting for me to wake up.

I found them downstairs in the kitchen eating lunch.

"Oh, look it's a witch." Zane did a fake scream.

"Cute." I poked him in the shoulder.

"What the hell happened to me?" I grabbed a roll and sat down in the huge breakfast room. Everything was white and black down here. A Zen kitchen and breakfast room. Only in L.A.

They told me the story about the demon and I rolled my eyes. "God, only I could be accidentally shot by a spook squad."

"Well, to be fair, Bron, you send off magic like a crazy person, even when you aren't trying to. I can see why they would get confused." Simone shrugged.

"Hey, you're supposed to be on my side, demon slayer."

She laughed. "Don't get all witchy on me, I am on your side. So, look, I've got appointments tomorrow for both of us with Sir David. And then we are going to Maxie to get our eyebrows done."

She stood and pushed in her chair. Dressed in a skimpy green T-shirt and low-cut jeans so tight I didn't see how she could breathe, she looked like an Amazon princess. I've always been a little envious of her height, natural tan and incredibly straight hair. But I would never in this lifetime tell her that.

She walked around the table and hugged me. "I'm so glad you're here. We're going to have fun, but right now I have to stop by the university to run some numbers, then I'm off to find a demon nest in Huntington Beach. These assholes have been terrorizing swimmers for a week." She pushed on her sunglasses and headed out the door.

Zane sipped his wine. "Did she say university? I didn't think she taught anymore."

It surprised me that he knew so much about her. Simone's good about keeping her lives separate and secret. Her main job is as a demon slayer, but as I said before, she's brilliant with the math. She is Rain Man.

"She doesn't teach, but she's got a bunch of students helping her with research. Of course they have no idea she's having them search for demon nests."

Zane laughed, then turned serious. "I'm glad you're feeling better. I don't think I've ever been so frightened as when you passed out in the kitchen in London. I thought you died. Matt whipped out his phone, but before he could dial, that wizard was there and whisked you away. I'd never seen anything like it. I'm sorry your illness was caused by the demon that attacked us. I feel like all of this is my fault."

I reached across and patted his arm. "Don't worry about it. Honestly, it's a part of the job. If it hadn't been that situation it would have been another one." I yawned. I needed a shower, a serious meal and to rest just awhile longer.

"Let me get you something to eat." It was as if he read my mind.

I waved him away. "Sit down. I'll get it." And I did. The fridge was packed with lots of healthy choices. Fruit, fresh vegetables and about a hundred bottles of Fiji water. I went for the chocolate pudding and frozen White Castle burgers I found. Popped the burgers in the microwave and put them on a fancy china plate with black and white checks. If you stared too long, it would make you dizzy. The pudding went in a bowl with the same pattern.

Zane was at the table talking on his cell phone. I plopped down and dug in. The food tasted so good. I ate about six burgers before I looked up and saw Zane watching me.

"How do you stay so tiny when you eat such an atrocious diet?" He made a weird frowny face. "My God, woman, pudding and hamburgers."

I threw up my hands. "I was hungry, what's the big deal?"

"Most of the time when someone is trying to feel better they eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. If I ate like you I'd crash and burn onstage. I'd never build any kind of stamina or strength."

"Hey, you build your stamina your way, I'll build it mine. It's carbs, protein." I held up the bowl of pudding. "And dairy. Not a damn thing wrong with it."

He grimaced again. "I've got to meet the guys in the studio out back. Why don't you come around a little later?"

"Okay. Hey, I thought you said Zoë was going to travel with you for a while."

He turned back from the door and smiled. "She is, but she wants to finish out the school year. I promised we could hire a tutor, but she really wanted to stay. I know she's lonely, but I don't know what else to do."

I smiled at him. He really was trying. "I'm sure she's fine."

The day I met her was still a bit of a blur. It was just a few hours after that I'd passed out in Zane's kitchen. There was something about her, something I'd wanted to tell him when we were alone, but I couldn't remember what it was.

Oh well. I rinsed the dishes and put them in one of the two dishwashers. Then I came back up here for a shower. The sad thing is, I could take another nap. Damn dart. But I need to get back on Zane's case.

A little meditation might help me recharge. It's so hard for me to sit still and clear my mind, but I need to do it right now.

Saturday, 4 P. M.

I visited the studio out back. It's past the pool and down a little path through the gardens. This place is so big, you get lost. I did twice, just taking the wrong paths off of the pool. There's like six of them. One goes to the studio, another goes to a guesthouse, one to the front of the house and I don't know about the others. I finally found the studio on the third try.