Page 49 of Twisted Fates
“I daresay,” Mr. Stages added, “you shouldn’t be inviting any other magical beings into your home though. We all appreciate the openness with us, especially Cary, but your home needs to be your refuge and a place for you to keep Owen safe.”
Owen looked around the room and then at me. “Damian, you want to break up with me? I-I can stay somewhere else, with maybe a witch or someone that can watch out for me.”
My eyes grew large at what Owen must’ve interpreted from my words. “No, no, Owen, I don’t want you to go. I… It’s justso dangerous. I don’t want you to be in jeopardy because of whatever this is I’ve become.”
He stared at me for several moments, then sighed. “I need some time to figure all this out, and I’ve got some more work to get done in my office…but we can talk tonight,” he said, standing to go. I almost thought he’d sway, considering how much energy we’d taken from him to do the spell, but he remained strong. Maybe the energy flow I’d given him had been enough after all.
When he was gone, the four witches stared at me, none of us talking. “I don’t want him to move out; it’s just I don’t want to put him at risk,” I said more to myself than to them.
“Young wizard, your predecessor went to great lengths to create an environment where your perfect mate would be available for you. He often spoke of being lonely in the last decades of his life. He didn’t want that for you. I’m not sure how he managed it, or why he was able to attract Owen to come work at our firm, but I believe you have an opportunity that none of your predecessors had. You should be very careful before squandering that.”
I nodded, then stood to go. “I will need your help—not just yours, but the magical community you trust. I have resources you don’t, and I will send out scouts to try to help me find Molly and anyone else being held with her. When they’re found, I will need to take the vipers on. I know as a wizard, I should be able to do this alone, and I suspect I can, but being new and still developing a sense of the community, I’d preferto have help so I don’t mess things up or inadvertently get my friends killed.”
Mr. Stages came over and placed his hand on the table in front of me. When he turned it over, palm up, in it was a small gemstone. “You have us and our coven. As the leader, I assure you we will come when you call.”
I took the stone, and it was immediately absorbed into my skin. This was a huge honor, one that witches didn’t bestow easily. I suspected they cared as much about Owen as they did for me. Cary had even liked Molly, although I didn’t think it was enough for such a generous offer. If Molly and Shadow were indeed darklings, I’d need the witches more than ever. I wouldn’t be able to protect them. Wizard’s magic wouldn’t allow it. However, the witches were freer, and their power was more forgiving when it came to the dark.
I nodded, left the conference room, then looked down the hall to where I knew Owen was. I was about to go that way to say goodbye when Cary came up behind me and put his hand on my arm. “Give him a moment,” he said.
I decided not to wait because Cary was right, he needed space, and it was probably best if I just left.
Besides, I needed to get the ghosts started searching for Molly and whoever else was being held anyway. Then, I needed to figure out how to protect Owen. Of course, I also needed to ensure he understood I was there for him and I didn’t want him to leave.
Shit, I’d screwed up. He thought I didn’t want him. He couldn’t be more wrong. I sighed heavily as I walked outside. I looked both ways, trying to discern if anything was amiss. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, except now that I’d detected the vipers, I could feel them, like a small splinter or something. Annoying but not life-threatening.
I certainly hoped that applied to Molly. However it worked out, I needed to concentrate on her right now because I wasn’t at all sure she wasn’t in jeopardy. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I believed she was.
Chapter thirty-six
Owen
My heart broke whenDamian said we should break up. I guess I figured it was just a matter of time. I opened my laptop and found a flight back to Illinois. The so-called vipers were here in Seattle, and I was sure I’d be safe there.
I wouldn’t stay in someone’s home if I wasn't wanted. That was a simple fact. I gazed around the office and sighed.This is a ruse too. I was here because Damian’s predecessor had been playing matchmaker, not because the law firm needed or wanted a nonmagical attorney on their staff.
Hell, I hadn’t had one damned client assigned to me since I’d been here. Okay, I was a new graduate, and even in a regular law firm, I probably wouldn’t have had clients yet. Regardless, I’d been given piles and piles of work better assigned to a legal assistant than a licensed attorney.
I pulled my phone out and texted my mother.
Me: Hey, Mom, I might need to come home for a bit, is that okay with you?
Her: Yeah, what’s wrong?
Me: Boy troubles, nothing major.
Her: Yes, I’m leaving for a legal conference in St. Louis, but you can dog sit for me while you’re home. How long will you be here?
Honestly, I didn’t know the answer to that. Just that I needed to go. It was all way too much, and I needed to get the hell out of this town.
I opened a document, typed a resignation letter, and printed it out. “Cary,” I said via my phone, “can you come into my office for a moment?”
When he arrived, I handed him the letter. “So, I need to ask your advice, and I need you not to go running to Damian. Deal?”
Cary regarded me for a long time before he said, “I won’t promise anything of the sort. You are not safe, and I can tell this letter isn’t something you should be writing.”
I took a deep breath and held it briefly before exhaling slowly. “Let me ask you this,” I said, waiting for him to gesture for me to continue.
“How many nonmagicals has this office hired over the years?”
