Return of the Fae (11 page)

Except the hotel wasn’t life. Not real life like at home. With the bar. With April. Hell, she even missed Dragon. It had been years since she’d slept without the ten pounds of buff fluff she called her dog at her feet.

She was homesick. She couldn’t deny the feeling any longer.

The two ate in silence. Finally, Parris broke the tension. “So now it’s your turn. You said you would tell me about Zander.”

Ty sighed and put the fork down. He closed his eyes for a second. When he opened his eyes, he started. “Zander and I were best friends until high school. Derek arrived freshman year and things changed. I mean it was great having someone I could talk to about school who got the whole witchcraft thing. Believe me, going through puberty as a witch is no laughing matter. I can’t count the number of accidents kids who gave me a hard time had.” Ty stopped and took a swig of his beer. “I’m assuming Derek’s family moved into my district for one purpose. To meet me. Zander faded out, and Derek took his place.”

“Who would do that? I mean tell a family to move so two kids could become friends.” Parris stopped. “You think The Council set you and Derek up to meet.”

“I know they did. Derek’s finding talent mirrors my own skills, making us an unusually amazing team in the hunter world. A few years ago, The Council Gazette called us the most promising duo to come out of the New Orleans program in a lifetime, hell, maybe two.” Ty pushed food around on his plate. “Zander got lonely. I should have thought more about him, gave him more attention. I partially blame myself for his actions.”

“What happened?”

“Rowena came into my life a few years ago. She was everything I wanted, or believed I wanted. Fun, exciting, dangerous, she loved life. I thought she loved me. Unfortunately, so did Zander. She’d put a Leanan Sidhe spell on him.”

Parris leaned back in her chair, “A what?”

“A fairy sweetheart spell. She’d bound him to her even though he was my fairy guardian. I didn’t even see it. I thought it sweet the way the two of them got along. Zander became more and more attached. When I realized what Rowena had done, I tried to banish her or bring her up on charges before The Council. Zander defended her.” Ty pushed his plate away. “I’m done talking. I’ve got to check in on Robert.”

Parris watched him leave, wondering what Ty hadn’t said. Zander tried to kill him because of his girlfriend? No wonder he held her at arm’s length. The guy didn’t have good luck with women.

Girlfriend? The term felt right at times, especially over dinner, or while they looked for Robert and talked. She wanted to giggle, to call April to tell her, but something held her back. According to the magical folk in her life, someone wanted to kill her and she was acting like a teenage school girl with a crush? No, she wouldn’t be the too-stupid-to-live girl in horror movies.

Parris grabbed the plate with her slice of cheese cake, finished with her meal. Pouring a cup of coffee, she settled on the bed, and grabbed her cell phone. She dialed the bar’s number and waited.

When a man’s voice answered, she frowned. “Hey, Jake, I thought April worked tonight?”

“She wasn’t feeling great so I told her to go home. Aren’t you supposed to be on vacation?” Jake had worked at the bar long before Parris bought the establishment. His employment came with the contract.

“I am. Making sure everything’s alright.” Parris felt her cheeks flush, happy Ty wasn’t here giving her the ‘I told you so’ look.

“The bar’s hopping tonight. We’ve got a dart tournament going–bar’s matching the pot like a normal Friday night. Now you’re caught up. Anything else you want to know?” She heard Jake call to a customer.

“Sounds like you’re busy. I’ll see you when I get back.” Parris remembered how pale April’s skin looked Thursday. She shouldn’t have left town. Not with April sick.

“Stop worrying. We’re fine.” Jake hung up the phone.

Frowning, Parris dialed April’s home number. The phone rang several times.
She probably has it on mute so she could get some sleep.
Finally the voice mail picked up the call and Parris left her a message. “Hey, Jake told me you aren’t feeling well. Let me know if you need me to cover for you. We’ll be heading back tomorrow.”

Hanging up, Parris tossed the phone close enough to hear it ring, even if she fell asleep. Grabbing the remote, she turned on the television. Iron Chef filled the screen as she nestled on the comfortable bed with a fork in one hand, the plate with her cheesecake in the other. Thoughts of April ran through her mind.

Chapter 10

By now, you have learned enough from the old stories to realize your life ahead will not be easy or lacking danger. Make sure you know who your friends are, and especially, who are your foes. Enemies of The Council are real. Even if you never run into one, it’s a true-ism that it’s better to be safe than sorry. Watch out for Dragons. They bite. –The Academy of Witchcraft Manual, Volume 3, page 963.

“I should have answered.” April stared at the cell on the night stand. Alex had put her to bed when she’d started vomiting that morning.

He pressed a cold washcloth on her forehead. He’d never see anyone this bad and she was worried about some dumb call? “They’ll call back or they’ll deal with the issue. You’re too sick to be going anywhere anyway. What are you going to do, talk some drunk out of being a jerk over the phone?”

April huffed, then smiled. “You’re right. What did I do to deserve you?” As she reached to touch his cheek, he grabbed her hand and held it.

“Just by being you.” He kissed the palm of her hand. “I’m going to the kitchen for some club soda. You want anything else?”

“Besides a new stomach?” April groaned. “I hate being sick.”

“I’ll bring you up some more Tylenol. I’m sure it’s been long enough.” He closed the door, flipping open his cell as he walked downstairs to the kitchen.

When he heard her voice on the other end, he started talking. “Mom? I think I’m in trouble.” He pulled a club soda from the fridge and sat at the table, listening.

“You weren’t supposed to sleep with the cow, just use her to get close to Parris.”

“I know, but, I think–”

“There’s no excuse. Learn to keep it in your pants. I pulled strings to get you this assignment and now you’ve messed it all up by sleeping with the girl.”

Alex tuned out. He’d listened to this lecture before. She’d tell him what a disappointment he was to the family, then berate him for his latest screw-up. Finally, she took a breath. He jumped into the pause, “I need to go.”

Being a Cabot wasn’t an easy life, even as a kid. Everyone expected so much of him, especially his parents. Apparently his dad had felt the same way when he’d started out serving the coven. Alex believed in the covenant. He believed in his mission. Somehow, he would bring The Council to their knees, forcing them to acknowledge the coven and let them shine in the world. This staying locked up, hidden from human existence had to stop. Witchcraft was a glorious thing and those who practiced the art should be worshiped like gods by the human race.

He glanced up like he could see through floorboards into the bedroom above. Cocky humans, like April, thought their race the only intelligent life living on earth. April’s name rolled off his tongue. If only she had a speck of witch heritage, he could turn her to the coven and she could be his. As it stood, she was only a gateway to gain information about and access to his cousin, Parris.

He grabbed the club soda and the mystery novel she’d been reading earlier and jogged up the stairs, stopping right outside her doorway. The girl was only a distraction, a gateway. He cracked the door open a sliver and watched her sleep, her red lips pursed and her ivory skin even paler than normal. He didn’t love her. He was almost sure of the fact.

He stayed paused at the door for several minutes watching the girl in the bed. He didn’t love her.

Yet.

Chapter 11

Loving inter-species is a real fairy tale. You need to choose mates in your own species in order to make a relationship work, in any world. Please do not bring petitions to The Council for permission to marry outside your species. There are never allowable exceptions granted. Never. Marriage outside your assigned classification will result in banishment or more appropriate punishment, including extreme termination. –The Academy of Witchcraft, Volume 3, page 1053.

Ty kept waiting for Robert to start with Parris, but the car remained quiet most of the drive home. Parris seemed surprised when she’d found him sleeping, not in the bed next to her, but on the two wing chairs he’d pushed together. After his discussion with Robert, he’d felt putting some distance between himself and Parris wasn’t a bad idea. He knew she felt hurt. He’d left the room without explanation, staying away until he knew she’d fallen asleep. Actions of a coward, he knew, his fingers itched even now to reach to take her hand, or caress her face while she read. The less time they spent alone together until they found Coven X, the better.

Then he’d approach The Council. They owed him this. He’d never asked for anything.

“I need to pee.” Robert’s voice came from the back seat. Parris had offered the man the prize shotgun seat, but he’d refused. “And my right leg is asleep. Can’t you afford a full size car being a big shot lawyer and all?”

“We’ll pull over at the next exit and get some breakfast. This is a full size car.” Ty glanced up in the rearview mirror catching Robert’s gaze. The man’s eyes twinkled. “Can’t you sleep or something until we reach St. Louis?”

“Ty.” Parris’ gasp made him laugh.

“He is kind of a whiner.” Ty flipped the blinker and took the exit, barely slowing as he merged the car into the traffic on the road to the truck stop. “Aren’t you, old man?”

“I wonder if you’d rather be a toad or a snake?” Robert’s voice sounded cool and calm.

“Promises, promises. Have you even done a transmutation in the last ten years?” Ty pulled the car into a parking spot and turned off the engine. “I think I’m getting pancakes.”

Parris climbed out of the car and met him on the sidewalk waiting for Robert. When he got out, he shuddered, glancing around the sky–frowning.

“What?” The look on his mentor’s face dashed all Ty’s good humor.

Robert joined them on the sidewalk, all three staring at the nearly deserted parking lot. “I thought I felt a watcher. I would have sworn…”

Ty put his hand on Robert’s shoulder and guided him into the restaurant. “I’ll check the wards before we leave. I’m pretty sure no one knew where we went.”

“The boy does.” Robert held the door for Parris. “Ready for breakfast?”

Parris glanced at Ty, worry crinkling her forehead. He thought he might be forgiven for his disappearing act last night. She stood close waiting for a hostess, then whispered, “The boy?”

“Someone looking for Robert at the university. I’ll catch you up in a few minutes.” The trio waited to talk until they’d been seated and coffee placed in front of them. After ordering food, Robert excused himself to use the restroom.

As he walked away, Parris nudged Ty’s arm. “Well?”

Ty explained the conversation with the history professor included feeling someone searching for Robert. “The problem is I’m not quite sure what they thought he’d know. We talked for hours last night and still didn’t come up with anything solid. He’s thinking it’s something he knew on your parents. Or Coven X. Hell, it could be anything.”

Parris took a sip of her coffee. He could tell she watched him, weighing her words. Finally she sat the cup down and took a deep breath. “Look, I know we took things way too fast and too far. I feel like there could be something with us. I mean once this whole Coven X reveal and my training is done.” She paused again. “I mean, I’d like us to be a possibility.”

He took her hand and gently squeezed. “Me, too.”

Robert reappeared and plopped on the bench seat next to Ty. “Young love.” He took five sugar packs and ripped them open, pouring the contents into his coffee. “You two bop like bunnies last night?”

Plates arrived in front of them, delivered by their waitress.

“Saved by the food.” Parris grinned while pouring maple syrup over her French toast.

“None of your business.” Ty nudged Robert in the side with an elbow, cutting into his omelet and took a large bite.

Robert looked at his companions and smiled. “Don’t humor an old man, then.” He dug into the stack of pancakes in front of him.