Surge Of Magic (4 page)

He disconnected and wanted to kick something. Having worked with two werewolves and a werebear for a year, he knew all about the Changelings. Kalan Murdoch, the Beta of the wolf and bear Clan had investigated the case involving the murder of his mate’s parents who were killed over a piece of red onyx. Kip worked with Kalan’s brother Jackson who hopefully would be able to get some inside information about whether the Changelings might have made a knife out of the precious stone. The reason for using a mineral over steel was anyone’s guess, yet something told him what happened to Randy involved those bastard Changelings. The red-bladed knife couldn’t have been a coincidence.

Kip slid into the front seat of his car, closed the door to get away from the chilly air, and called his boss first, but it went to voicemail. Damn. Next, he tried Jackson.

“Hey, what’s up?”

His shoulders sagged at having finally contacted someone. He told him what had gone down with Randy.

“Are you sure his powers are gone?” Jackson asked. His voice had turned low and gravelly, almost as if his inner bear was trying to get out.

“I can attest to the fact he doesn’t have any right now. He said after the one attacker stabbed him, he tried to electrocute them as they ran off by using his uninjured arm, but nothing happened.”

“Randy said he was stabbed with a
red
knife blade?”

“Yes. I’m thinking it was the Changelings,” Kip said.

“I’d bet my license that you’re right. Let me call Kalan. He might be able to help. He still has the red stone those Changelings were after. I need to warn him to be careful too.”

“Good idea. Let me know if he has any idea how we should proceed.” Kip had never heard of stealing magic before. If the Changelings were successful in taking their powers, the whole Wendayans’ existence could be wiped out.

“The hospital has to report the incident, which means the sheriff’s department will need to investigate,” Jackson said.

“They’ve already been to the house, but they said they couldn’t find any prints or anything. In fact, they released the scene.”

“Maybe Kalan can request to lead the case.”

“That would be great. I’d like a shifter to look into who stabbed Randy. I’m still having a hard time understanding how the theft even occurred.”

“Me too, but I’ll ask around and be in touch,” Jackson said.

Once he disconnected, Kip called his sister, Deanna.

“Hello, stranger.”

Her cheery disposition would disappear once he told her what happened. “Can I stop by? I need to talk to you about something.” Deanna was highly intuitive and, as a result, rather sensitive. Learning her older brother had been injured would devastate her, which was why Kip didn’t want to discuss something this important over the phone.

“It sounds serious,” she said.

“It is.”

“Sure. Come on over.”

He should make one more phone call to his parents, but he wanted to hear Deanna’s opinion on how to break the news to them. If he called right away, his folks would rush over to the hospital, and in their haste might let something slip about Randy’s loss.

With a heavy heart, Kip headed on over to Deanna’s place. Most of the Wendayan’s lived in the Cove, including his sister. In fact, she only lived three blocks from Randy and his home.

Kip was halfway up the sidewalk that led to her house when her door opened. She was wearing a white sweater over a long flowered skirt and boots.

“What’s so important that you couldn’t tell me over the phone? Did something happen to Mom or Dad?”

He stepped inside. “Do you have a beer?”

He needed something to do with his hands when he told his sister what happened. The three of them were very close.

“You know I always keep a six-pack in case you or Randy stop by.”

He followed her into the kitchen then pulled out one of the two chairs at the small wooden table that sat underneath the window. Deanna retrieved two beers, set one in front of him, and then sat down across from him. If the number of bowls and stacks of ingredients on the counter were any indication, she was in the middle of fixing dinner.

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Randy’s okay, but two men attacked him while he was at the house.” He tossed back some beer, trying to quell his beating heart.

“Oh my goddess.”

“He was able to call 911, who dispatched an ambulance to transport him to the hospital where he was checked out and had his wound stitched up.”

“His wound?” She placed a hand over her heart.

“He was stabbed in the arm, but he’ll be fine.”

Deanna pushed back her chair. “I need to go see him now.”

Kip feared this was how she’d react. He jumped up to stop her. “Sit down for a minute. I just left him, or rather his room I should say. The doctors are doing some tests and they will be a while.”

A few seconds later, Deanna returned to her seat. “Tell me everything.”

“I have no problem with that, but I was hoping you could do a reading at the house first. If I tell you too much—”

She held up her hand. “You are right. I don’t want to know anything in advance. As long as Randy is going to be okay, I can do this.” She pushed her chair back again. “The fresher the scene the better, but what are you hoping to gain? Randy can give you a better description of the men, right?”

“Not really since they were wearing masks.”

“That makes it more difficult. What do you want to know?”

“Their motivation perhaps?” He hadn’t mentioned these men had stolen Randy’s powers.

“I’ll give it a try. I trust the police are investigating?”

“Yes, but the cops called while I was at the hospital and released the scene because they didn’t find anything. Don’t worry, they will still try to find the identity of the masked men.” He explained that Kalan would try to take over the case.

“That would be good if he did.”

Kip waved his bottle and then chugged half of it down. “You ready?”

Kip drove, and two minutes later, they arrived at his home—a place that had always brought him comfort. Tonight, however, it did not.

Because Randy and he each needed a bedroom and an office, they’d built a two-story, five-bedroom brick Colonial home. They both figured that they’d settle down someday, and when that happened, one of them would move. Thankfully, the five-acre plot of land had plenty of space for a second home.

As soon as he and Deanna walked into the foyer, it was easy to see there’d been a scuffle. Pain sliced through him at the violence inflicted on his brother. The tall blue vase from the entryway table lay shattered on the floor, and the umbrella stand had been knocked over as well, but those were just material things. Kip wondered if Randy would ever be comfortable in their home again. After Deanna finished her reading, Kip would have the unpleasant chore of cleaning up. He didn’t want Randy to come home and see any of the remaining devastation.

Randy claimed that when the front doorbell rang, he’d been in his office upstairs. If only he hadn’t been so focused on how to handle his case, he might have thought to look out the office window. It wasn’t surprising that he didn’t because those who lived in the Cove community rarely experienced any crime. Growing up, his parents never even locked their doors. Given what he and Randy did for a living, though, Kip had wanted to be cautious. It was why he’d installed a security system. A lot of good it did his brother today.

“Do you want me to go into my office so I won’t bother you?” Kip asked.

“No. You can stay but don’t talk.”

He had no problem with that. While Kip had watched his sister work before, it had never been this personal.

She moved closer to the door and stopped. “I’m experiencing anger and some fear from the two men. I’m trying to push Randy’s emotions aside so they don’t conflict. Normally, I couldn’t separate two auras like that, but he is my brother, and I’m tuned into him.”

Kip hoped his sister couldn’t pick up on his own feelings right now. The violation against Randy had him pissed and scared, but it was his growing feelings for Teagan that he wanted to keep hidden.

Deanna had looked at him after she spoke, so he figured it was okay to respond. “That’s helpful, but do you know what they were afraid of?”

“Randy and his powers. I’m sensing these men are not in charge though. They were asked to take something from him.”

“Do you know what?” He knew, but he wanted to see how good her intuition was.

“Something Randy cherished.” Her face scrunched up. “I think they wanted Randy himself.”

Stealing his magic was like taking him. “But they left him alone. What changed their minds?”

Her brows pinched and she stepped closer to the living room as if to clear her mind. “I’m sensing that they could have killed him, but something stopped them. I just can’t tell if they didn’t have orders to kill him or if they didn’t have it in them to carry out their assignment.”

“I think it’s time to fill in the gaps for you. Maybe that will help you figure out the rest.”

Her eyes widened, probably because she believed he’d told her everything. “I’ll try,” she said.

Kip led Deanna into the living room and motioned for her to sit. “The attacker stabbed Randy in the arm with some kind of a special knife that was able to stop or remove his powers.” He wasn’t positive that was how Randy’s magic had been transferred, but it was the only thing that made sense right now.

Her face paled. “His powers; how is that possible?”

“I don’t know. You said they didn’t seem in charge. I’m betting they were sent to rob him of his most cherished possession—his magic.”

Her jaw dropped. “Yes. That’s it. These men aren’t killers, they’re retrievers.”

“Retrievers? That concept frightens me even more.” Did the Changelings have a group whose sole job it was to take the Wendayan’s powers? Chills ran up his spine at that horrid thought.

“I sensed the same vibrations around these men as I had at the Stanley crime scene, only it feels like these men who attacked Randy seem less intent on killing.”

He was more convinced than ever that the Changelings were involved. The big question was how could one Wendayan take down an army of powerful werewolves? The answer was he couldn’t without help. He’d need not only Connor and Jackson but Rye and Kalan as well. He had no doubt that the Alpha and Beta of the shifter Clan would want to be a part of the investigation since the evil werewolves were involved.

“That was really helpful. Are you ready to face Mom and Dad?” he asked.

“No, but we have to tell them.”

Wasn’t that the truth? “Mom will want Randy to move in with them since I need to be out looking for these criminals, and I know he’ll balk. Is there any way you can stay here for a few days to make sure he rests?”

The tight lines around her mouth and eyes disappeared. “I would be happy to. I want to be useful.”

“You already have been.”

*

The talk with
their parents went a little better than Kip had expected. At least his mother hadn’t freaked out, but his father had been visibly shaken. He seemed to understand the big picture that if Randy’s powers had been stolen, other witches would be in danger too.

“What’s our next move?” his dad asked.

“I’m meeting with the security team tomorrow morning to come up with a plan. In the meantime, you need to be careful and keep this to yourself,” Kip said.

His mother wrung her hands then stood. “I want to go to the hospital now.”

“Mom, visiting hours are over. Besides, I’m thinking they’ll give him a sedative and he needs to rest now, not talk for hours.”

She looked over at his dad who nodded. “Fine, we’ll go over early tomorrow morning. Are you sure you’re telling us everything?”

“Yes. His arm was sliced open, that’s all. I don’t know the number of stitches, but it wasn’t a lot.”

“I’ll go with you,” Deanna said to their parents.

“Thank you, sweetie,” Mom said.

As much as he wanted to hash out the details a few more times, his body was calling for Teagan, both mentally as well as physically. She seemed to be in denial that they were destined for each other, but he knew differently. He yearned to mate with her, but the final aura-combining event wouldn’t occur until they both admitted their love for each other.

Kip stood. “I’ll give Deanna a lift home and then I need to take care of some business.”

Since he worked for a private investigation firm, they knew better than to ask for details. They’d assume it had something to do with Randy’s assault.

That was partially true. While Missy hadn’t told him Teagan had a vision, it was a good explanation for why she had pulled away. It was also possible that Teagan could provide him with more clues.

Once he dropped his sister off at her home, he headed over to Teagan’s place, which was only a few streets away. It was a little after nine, but Teagan would still be up. She was a late night person.

When her cute little yellow house came into view, he inhaled to prepare himself for another rejection.

The living room light glowed softly through the mostly closed drapes. Instead of walking up the stone pathway to her door, he stepped across the front lawn. When he peered in, his heart jolted. Teagan was on the sofa reading something on her e-book reader, her long blonde hair piled on top of her head.