Intoxicating Magic (17 page)

His lips pressed together in a tight line. “That’s odd. I swear it felt like you were right there with me. Like we were sharing the connection.”

I’d been too occupied altering the plants, so I couldn’t say. Shrugging, I said, “You were in mine, but we weren’t at the beach. We were spending the day on Magazine Street in one and in the other we were… at my house.” I’d almost told him I’d envisioned us in bed together. But that wasn’t something we needed to talk about right then.

“Interesting.” Tal’s eyes lit up with excitement. “We’ll need to compare notes to see if anything was the same and what the visions mean.”

I gave him a nervous smile but said nothing. It was fascinating that we’d both had visions, but talking about what they meant? No. Just no. I already knew what mine meant. I was still hung up on Tal. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

The door swung open and in walked David and Allcot.

“Ms. Rhoswen. Kavanagh,” Allcot drawled in his cool tone. “Have you come up with a solution for my employees?”

I waved at the pots on the burners. “We’re working on it.”

He raised one perfectly groomed eyebrow. “And your plan?”

I bit my tongue and let Talisen explain. When he was done, Allcot narrowed his eyes at us. “And what makes you think your magic combined with Rhoswen’s is going to do anything of consequence?”

Oh no. Had he really just said that? We were doing the best we could. I puffed up, ready to tell him to take a leap, when Tal’s hand landed on my shoulder, sending a lazy stream of magic down my left arm. I shivered from the unexpected jolt of desire.

I clutched the edge of the table, trying to push the thoughts away. It was the magic and the fact we’d been working together. That’s all. Uh-huh. I could keep lying to myself, but it wouldn’t help anything.

“Father,” David warned. “They both have powerful magic. I’m sure they feel that if they combine forces, they’ll stumble on something that will help.”

“Thanks,” I mouthed to David. I had to give him credit. Lately he’d taken to standing up to Allcot when no one else would. I was starting to admire him for it.

David cracked just the barest whisper of a smile and quirked one eyebrow as if to say no problem. The smile vanished as he strode over to Harrison’s side. The look of despair on his face nearly broke me. David didn’t have many friends. Nate, another vampire who was one of Carrie’s guards, me, and Harrison. Everyone else was loyal to Allcot.

Allcot stood near our makeshift lab table, studying our concoctions. “What is your plan if this doesn’t work?”

“We’re going to measure these results, and depending on what happens, I’ll want to secure a few natural stones,” Talisen said. “Ones indigenous to New Orleans. Preferably ones that reside on the estate of a witch family. More power. Also, there are more plants Willow can try. I think we’ve used the ones that are the most promising, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop there. But the very best thing to do would be to analyze the ingredients in the poison the fae used. If we had that information, my job would be much easier.”

Allcot pursed his lips and nodded. “Yes. Solid plan. We’re working on uncovering the poison.” He turned to me. “Your Truth Clusters and Orange Influence are being put to use on some of our informants and a suspect or two.”

I gaped as my blood boiled. He wasn’t authorized to use Orange Influence. No vampire held that privilege. I could try to fight him on it, but it would be a wasted effort. He did what he pleased, regardless of law. Besides, he already had it thanks to the order he’d placed when I hadn’t been in the shop. I would’ve stood up to him, but my employees couldn’t be expected to do that same. It was too dangerous for them.

“Keep me informed on any changes. Got that?” Allcot ordered.

Tal gave him an emotionless stare. “I’ve think I’ve got it.”

“Rhoswen,” he said without looking at me.

I cleared my throat. “What?”

“Make sure you keep your fae in line. I’d hate for anything to happen to him.”

This time I couldn’t keep my big mouth shut. He’d gone way too far and with no freakin’ reason. “Was that necessary? He’s here, isn’t he? He’s been—” Shit. I was about to say he’d been working for Allcot, his new mob boss, without complaint, but I wasn’t supposed to know Tal worked for him.

“He’s been what, Rhoswen?” Allcot’s voice was cold and uncaring.

“Nothing.” I averted my eyes.

Allcot’s slicked-back blond hair didn’t move an inch as he glanced between Tal and me. Finally he pulled out a cigarette and lit it right there in our little hospital area.

“Some of us are allergic to smoke,” I said as clearly as possible amid a coughing fit.

“I’ll do whatever I damned well please, faery.” He took a long drag, savoring it as if it were a lover.

“Your house. Your rules,” I said flippantly.

“My city. My rules. And don’t forget it.”

God, I hated his arrogant ass.

“Davidson,” he snapped. “Let’s go. I have a chore for you.”

David didn’t look at him. He only continued to watch Harrison.

“Fine,” Allcot said, relenting. “Come to my office when you’re done chaperoning these two fae.” Allcot disappeared, the door slamming shut behind him.

Talisen turned the burners off and waved me over to the lab table. “Time to work.”

***

“Ready?” I asked Talisen as I hung the IV bags full of magical potions on the rack.

“Yes. Who do we want to start with?”

“Harrison,” David said, startling us. He hadn’t said a word since Allcot had left.

“You sure, Laveaux? The first round is often the trickiest.” Talisen wheeled the IV pole with him as he moved toward Harrison.

“He’d insist on it himself,” David said.

I nodded, knowing David was right. Harrison always put himself on the line first, before his team.

“All right,” Tal said. He pulled up a rolling stool and went to work on switching the IV line to the concoction we’d made.

“Does he know what he’s doing?” David asked, eyeing Tal.

“Seriously?” I shook my head in exasperation. “He’s a healer, David. Of course he knows what he’s doing.”

David cast me an irritated look. “He’s a magical healer. The question wasn’t out of line.”

I refrained from rolling my eyes at him and sat on the other side of Harrison’s bed, across from Tal. “Let me know when you’re ready,” I said to Tal. He’d asked me to participate when it was time to use the crystal. Since it held my energy as well as his, he thought the magic we unleashed would be more powerful if we did it together instead of just him.

After a few adjustments, Tal said, “Hold your hand out.”

I did as he asked.

He clasped his hand over mine, trapping the crystal between our palms. Warm magic pulsed to the tips of my fingers. The euphoria spread and my wings fluttered until I was hovering just off the ground.

Amused at my reaction, Tal smiled at me. Heat crawled up my neck as I flushed in embarrassment. But I couldn’t do anything about my reaction. And honestly, I didn’t even care. The happiness claiming me was all too welcome.

Tal guided our hands to hover over Harrison’s chest. Then he pressed the crystal and my hand over his heart and covered my hand with his, slipping his fingers through mine. “Just relax, Wil.”

Right. He had no idea what he was asking of me. My body was tingling from head to toe.

“When I say go, I want you to push the magic filling you into Harrison. Got it?”

I nodded, praying that this would work.

Tal used his free hand to press two fingers to Harrison’s pulse. Beneath my hand, I felt Harrison’s heart skip a beat and then speed up. Whatever Tal was doing, it was having an effect on the guard.

“Ready?” Tal asked me.

“Yes.”

His eyes met mine. “Go.”

Because the magic from the stone had already filled me up, there was no need for me to pull at Harrison’s already depleted energy. Instead, I focused on filtering the magic from the stone into Harrison while Tal worked his magic with his healing touch.

The magic pooled at my fingertips, resistant to my will. What usually flowed easily into my intended subject hit a barrier and wouldn’t budge.

“Damn,” I muttered.

“Don’t give up,” Tal said. “Force it if you have to.”

I glanced up at his determined expression and strengthened my will. I’d been hesitant to do anything that might harm Harrison, such as force my magic where it didn’t belong, but seeing how hard Tal was working gave me the courage I needed.

“Okay,” I said, concentrating on the barrier at my fingertips. I imagined the magic bursting forth like a breach, envisioned it transferring to Harrison and healing him as if nothing was more natural.

The magic buoyed between my fingers and Harrison’s breastbone, refusing to obey my mental command. Pressing harder against the crystal and his chest, I leaned into him and looked up into Tal’s penetrating stare.

“You’ve got this.”

His words of encouragement were all it took for my magic to blast through into Harrison. The force was so intense I nearly collapsed on his torso from the sheer velocity of it. Catching myself on the edge of the bed, I righted myself and forgot everything around me except the magic coursing from me into Harrison.

My mind blurred with vague shapes of muted colors. Green faded into blue and the blue faded to gray. The blurry fog lifted, and I was transformed into a world of Technicolor. CGI images splayed on a large screen as Harrison sat in a production booth with a man who shared many of his features. Dark skin, angled jaw, expressive dark eyes that were shaped the same. They were related. A younger brother, maybe? They studied each image carefully and spoke with conviction about which to use.

They were producing a movie, I realized as I watched them. Only they were dead serious about the work while also laughing and clearly having the time of their lives. There was so much joy in the room; happiness filled me up until my wings fluttered unconsciously and I lifted right off the ground. My hand slipped from Tal’s and the connection was lost.

Reality crashed back into me in the form of harsh white walls and cold, sterile stainless-steel lab tables. My feet hit the floor, jarring my bones.

I blinked, trying to get my bearings. Tal was staring down at Harrison, a curious expression on his face. He hadn’t seemed to notice I’d moved.

“Welcome back,” Tal said with a smile. But he wasn’t talking to me.

“Harrison?” I called and rushed back to his side.

The man’s gaze shifted from Tal to me. But there wasn’t any recognition in his dark eyes.

“Harrison?” I said again.

His brow furrowed. He turned his head to take in Tal again. “Who are you?”

“Talisen Kavanagh. I’m a healer.” Tal didn’t seem to be surprised Harrison was disoriented. “And this is Willow Rhoswen. You’ve been on her security detail for a number of months.”

I opened my mouth to protest. Harrison hadn’t been keeping an eye on me for a few months now, but then I closed it when Harrison shook his head.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m a filmmaker. I don’t work… security.” His face was contorted into confused irritation.

Tal waved David over. And David, still surly, scowled at Tal. Then his scowl morphed into a concerned frown as he strode to the other side of Harrison’s bed.

“Harrison,” Tal said conversationally. “Do you know this man?”

Harrison stared up at David. He pushed himself up on his elbows, as if trying to get a closer look or trying to figure something out. But then his body stiffened and he sat straight up, swinging his legs off the bed on Tal’s side.

“Whoa.” Tal placed a hand on his shoulder, keeping him from getting out of the bed. “You better stay right here for a little longer. Just until we’re sure you’re steady on your feet.”

Harrison’s gaze shot between Tal and David before he focused on Tal and leaned in toward him. He dropped his voice and whispered, “We have to get out of here.”

Tal’s facial expression didn’t change, but his entire frame stiffened with what I’d come to know as concern. Harrison was awake, but he was far from okay.

Harrison covered the side of his mouth and jabbed his head once toward David. “I’m almost positive that man is no man at all. He’s a vampire.”

Chapter 17

Talisen and I glanced at each other; then in unison we turned to catch David’s eye. There was no doubt he’d heard Harrison’s strained words. There was a crease between his brows as he frowned.

“You’re correct,” Tal said evenly. “He’s a vampire. Do you know who he is?”

Harrison shook his head.

“I see.” Tal pulled out a notepad and scribbled something down. “Okay. Let’s deal with the vamp later.”

David’s frown deepened, but he stayed near the lab table and didn’t come closer.

“Do you mind answering a few questions for me?” Tal asked Harrison.

Harrison’s expression went blank. “I guess not.”

“Great.” Tal gestured to me. “Do you know who this is?”

Harrison tilted his head and studied me. He nodded hesitantly. “I think so. She’s familiar. Like I should know her, but I can’t place her.” He turned his gaze to Tal. “You, too. You’re both friends of mine, right?”