Fire Kissed (25 page)
Jenn Ripley held her cell phone between her ear and shoulder so she could use a ready wipe to clean the yogurt off her daughter Emily’s face while keeping one eye on Ben, toddling around the playground’s sandbox.
“Mom, you’ll love him,” she said of her boyfriend. “And he has a little girl of his own.”
Ben squatted to dig with his shovel. She’d already checked for old cigarette butts. “All done,” Jenn said to Emmie, who ran back to the sandbox, allowing Jenn to get a look at the sand-crusted yogurt smear on the side of her pants. Baths, first thing, when they got home.
“Yes, he’s met them, but not like that,” Jenn argued. Her mom questioned everything. The paranoia on the news. The men she dated. “We had a playdate, and it went great.” She couldn’t stop smiling about it. He might just be the one. “He even—”
The ground lurched, and Emmie fell back on her bum in the sand. She giggled.
“Wait,” Jenn said, standing. The sippy cups fell on their sides and rolled off the bench. The ground seemed to roll under her feet. Her heart stopped beating. “Earthquake.”
In D.C.?
Ben’s face was getting red, a prelude to a cry. But it was the leaning wooden structure of the fort slide, its shadow growing over the sandbox, that had Jenn stretching into flight.
Chapter 12
“Kindly remember, I was with you last night,” Kaye said from her chair opposite Ferro’s desk.
Ferro watched her for signs of deceit. She was striking in black. The lightweight cashmere sweater covered her up to her collarbones, but the cut glorified the sensuality of her body. Her pants were slim and long, and she wore bright blue shoes, so high they made her long legs longer, even seated. Her hair was knotted off her face, her composure cool.
He was getting hard again for the woman who thought she could betray him. Verity’s Shadow had dwindled in his blood, so he didn’t know for certain whether or not she was telling the truth. Resolving the issue of his missing angel didn’t require too much effort, however. Only he, Kaye, and Camilla knew about the prisoner in the basement. And Camilla had been loyal for more than twenty years.
“You want me weak,” Ferro said to bait her. “You plot with the other Houses against me.”
But she looked bored. “What good would that do me? I’m curious. Enlighten me why I should bother myself about an angel and why I’d want you weak when I could have set you and this house on fire while you were sleeping. And how can I be plotting with the other Houses if they are loyal to you? Or do you have doubts about some of them too? You’re paranoid, and that irritates me.”
He. Irritated. Her? “Do you have an alternative explanation ?”
“Maybe it’s Shadow,” she said. “Have you considered that? Just ask Arman Maya. His daughter was attacked by a creature from Twilight just yesterday in your very own house.”
Ferro felt his mind pause, as if his train of thought had just met an unexpected switch in the tracks.
A creature of faerie in his house. Absurd. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t worry, Shana is just fine.” There was some kind of judgment in Kaye’s tone.
But he wasn’t about to pretend he cared about the girl. “Go on.”
Kaye sighed. “The creature was about the size of a squirrel or some other nasty rodent. Fortunately for
me
, my Shadowfire scared it off. But if that thing can cross, other creatures from faerie might be able to as well, especially in this dark house.” Now Kaye smiled satisfaction. “For example, if a mage child attracted that freakish rodent, I’d imagine an angel’s light would hook something a bit bigger. Your angel might have easily been carried away by the fae.”
me
, my Shadowfire scared it off. But if that thing can cross, other creatures from faerie might be able to as well, especially in this dark house.” Now Kaye smiled satisfaction. “For example, if a mage child attracted that freakish rodent, I’d imagine an angel’s light would hook something a bit bigger. Your angel might have easily been carried away by the fae.”
This was too bald a story, even for her.
She huffed. Lifted her hand and lit a bright faefire. Instantly the room filled with cobwebs of Shadow, but gray and white and layered and strange.
“Ferro.” Kaye’s eyes were big.
He turned his head and fell off his chair. A naked creature stood next to him, human in proportion, alien in features. And the eyes ... It reached a four-fingered hand his way, but some distance must have remained between their realms, because Ferro couldn’t feel its touch.
The fae crossing into his House? The thought made him giddy-scared.
This one was very close. So beautiful. So foreign to his understanding.
“See?” Kaye said.
With her fire, Ferro could. A fae had taken the angel away. Kaye was still loyal. He preferred her loyal. And why shouldn’t she be, with all that he could give her?
And now this. He wanted her by his side.
Fae in this world. The ever-present watchers joining the game.
“Are we done?” Kaye asked, fisting her hand over the fire. The room returned to its usual murk. “I have to get my nails done and be back in time to prepare for our meeting with Segue. You have no idea what it takes for a woman to get ready.”
He laughed outright. “Oh, I remember. I was married for forty years.” Nevertheless. “You’re not going anywhere.”
At least in the chaos of the next few days, another angel should be easy to find, one with bright light to take into himself and make him strong.
Another huff from Kaye. “This isn’t going to work if you doubt and control my every move. I’ll tell you that right now.”
He eased his tone, tried to pull from the angel light he still had, tried to infuse the sound of reason into his voice. “It’ll be dangerous out in the world today. Order whatever service you need to come here. If they can make it.”
“How dangerous?”
So smart. If she was loyal—and it was possible that she was—then he might still be able to love her.
Ferro checked his watch, then smiled broadly at Kaye as the earth began to jerk and move and lurch. A rattle on the wall brought his attention over to his painting,
The Fall of Magic.
Never again would magic be under the sword of Heaven.
The Fall of Magic.
Never again would magic be under the sword of Heaven.
Terre House was right on time.
“Shall we turn on the news and watch the pandemonium as it unfolds?”
And so it would begin. A warning shot before the first strike.
The current infrastructure would be strained. Soon it would break. Though Grey House was set back from the road, he thought he could imagine the faint sounds of sirens.
“You’re doing this?” Kaye looked horrified. Dear Shadow, her eyes were tearing up.
Did she care so much about humanity? Did she have some twisted moral concern for humankind’s welfare? It would be a problem if she did. The race was about to endure a mage-styled end of the world.
She was on her feet. “What about our meeting? I was to sit in my Council seat today.”
So not humanity.
Yes, definitely, he could love her.
“Why should the earthquake have anything to do with it? I will be here. And you will be here. And the Council Houses as well.” He smiled smugly. “And if this Khan and his Segue are as powerful and connected as it seems, then they should have no trouble either. Humanity will suffer, but we will go on as planned.”
Adam got off the phone, but Jack had the information already from his head: 6.2 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the quake was the National Mall in D.C. Most quakes originated from deep within the strata of Earth’s layers. This came at ground level, more akin to the impact of a bomb, if not for the extended time the motion had continued.
But that was not the worst of it. Paris, Hong Kong, and Abu Dhabi had also experienced city-centered quakes. This was not a geological event. This was an attack.
The members of The Order would be dispersing to help where they could and to minimize the loss of life. At Segue there was very little damage. Broken glass. A knock or bruise. Its wraith containment had held.
Adam turned on the massive view screen in his office and selected “TV.” Got news anchors at their desks concentrating on their earpieces while reporting what Jack already knew. The reports were too early for on-site footage, but Jack had no problem seeing the damage. He’d witnessed it time and time again in Kaye’s visions. Rubble. Darkness. Smoke and fire. Cracks in the white buildings and monuments. Over the coming weeks and months and years, they would all fall.
“You don’t look surprised,” Adam said.
“I’ve had a preview of what’s to come,” Jack replied. “This is only the beginning.”
The sound of helicopter rotors seemed to beat against Kaye’s chest. Or maybe it was her heart going wild because a helicopter meant a new arrival. And since everyone else was gathered—the Council and selected heads of other Houses—the arrival could only be the group from Segue.
Kaye liked Layla, who had a point of view that resonated with hers. Angels, mages, and humanity—there had to be a dialogue on equal terms.
And though Khan frightened Kaye, he seemed to respect her. He’d issued no threats, had made no attempts to intimidate (more than his presence already did), and most of all, he’d given her a choice to work with him, and wasn’t angry when she’d refused.
How Khan would get along with Ferro was another matter.
She and Ferro stood in the grand foyer, side by side, surrounded by the tall, lit candles. The other mages gathered in a great semicircle behind them to witness the approach of the pureblood. Shadow misted the floor, whispers rising.
Movement beyond the windows. A group approaching.
Ferro took her hand, and she could almost feel the pulse of energy go through him as he released the wards so each of them could enter.
The double doors opened to welcome the new arrivals.
Adam Thorne, handsome in a dark business suit. Layla, with her magnetic smile.
And—Kaye inhaled hugely—that angel who was also a fae, Custo. He gleamed while his gray veins pumped Shadow.
He moved to the side just enough for Bastian to come into view. Then Kaye couldn’t breathe at all.
No Khan.
“Kaye?” Ferro said in a low voice.
But Layla was already stepping forward with her hand outstretched.
Kaye returned the grasp. It felt like a lifeline.
“Kaye,” Layla said as if they were old friends, “it’s wonderful to see you again. Thank you so much for inviting us this evening. And congratulations on your engagement. Did the earthquake affect you at all, so close to the epicenter? Anyone hurt? Any damage?”
“Layla. No, we’re all good here. I’m glad you could make it. Handy having a helicopter when the roads are so bad.” Kaye turned her body slightly toward Ferro. “This is my fiancé, Ferrol Grey, High Seat of the Council of Houses.”
Layla’s handshake transferred to Ferro. “So nice to finally meet you.”
“Likewise,” Ferro said, with all his charm. Kaye saw how his gaze moved to the three men in her group, paused long on Bastian, then came to rest on Custo.
“Is this your ... ?” Ferro began.
Layla laughed. “No, no. I’m so sorry, but Khan elected not to come. We were given to understand that his presence has caused tension among the Houses. Yours was the third communication we received, so he decided it was sensible not to attend any at this time.”
Ferro’s charm withered somewhat. “Sensible? One who used to be fae is
sensible
now? A pureblood cares what others think of his decisions?”
sensible
now? A pureblood cares what others think of his decisions?”
Layla chuckled. “I should’ve known that you, being so well acquainted with Shadow, might see through that excuse. Okay, the truth: Khan is profoundly uninterested in anything political, organized, or polite. How’s that? I decided the event
I
would attend, and he is satisfied with the men who accompany me.”
I
would attend, and he is satisfied with the men who accompany me.”
“He sounds scarcely human,” Ferro said, which Kaye knew was for the benefit of her and the other mages, to show himself the better leader.
Layla’s expression was threat serene. “Scarcely human at all, but as ever, a dark lord of Shadow.”
Kaye blinked extra long, imagining Grey’s inner displeasure. And the Council watched from the circle behind them. This was a disaster. Where was Khan?
Thank Shadow that Adam stepped forward, holding out his hand. “Ms. Brand.”
Kaye gave him hers. “It’s so nice to see you again too, Mr. Thorne.”
“Adam,” he corrected. “My wife, Talia, sends her congratulations. She would have attended as well, but the fae have taken an interest in our boys and she won’t leave them for anything. ’Course it doesn’t help that the boys take an interest back.”
Ferro’s attention snapped from Layla to Adam. “You’re married to a mage?”
Adam shifted to shake his hand. “Talia is half fae. She’s Khan’s daughter from before he made the transformation from fae to mage.”
Ferro shot Kaye a look, which she interpreted as,
Why didn’t you tell me all this?
Why didn’t you tell me all this?
“I had no idea,” Kaye said to Adam, answering Ferro at the same time. “And of course, I’d love to meet her. We had a bit of trouble here with the fae too, so I understand why she’d want to stay close to the children.”
Adam’s brow furrowed. “That’s one more thing for us to talk about, I think. The fae, even the ones I love, are
all
trouble.”
all
trouble.”
Custo stepped up to Kaye. Gray-veined, wild-looking, yet shining in angelic glory. She wondered what the group assembled thought of him. An angel in this House. Was everyone at Segue crazy?
“You need more Shadow,” Custo said. “I thought I warned you about that.”
“In this House, I’m surrounded by it,” she replied. “I have to admit, I didn’t expect you, but I’m glad you’re here.”
Custo shifted to look at Grey. They stood eye to eye, each regarding the other.
“Darling,” Kaye said, with a hint of warning in her voice, “this is Custo Santovari. He’s both fae and
angel
.”
angel
.”
“Angel,” Ferro said. Flat voice.
Custo cocked his head to the side. “Most of The Order want me dead, if it helps.”
“And fae,” Ferro continued.
“Wolf, to be specific,” Custo offered. “Shadow in every cell and drop of blood.”
Kaye forced herself not to show exasperation with all the problems each person presented Ferro. Each was a wild card, and Bastian, her former lover, was up next. And this was supposed to be a good idea?
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