Page 35 of The Magic of Discovery
Standing up straight and clearing my throat, I added, “About that... we went on a run last night, and when we were heading off Saige’s property, we picked up on a weird energy tainting the gardens. It smelled terrible, like rotting food, and it reminded me of the scent rogue demons give off. Remember when we went to spy on The Exiled?”
The guys nodded. Yeah, they remembered. How could they forget? One of the most notorious gangs in the country had consisted of five really powerful and really fucking dangerous demons and last year we’d been assigned to go and see what they were up to. It wasn’t the demons themselves that had this scent, but the remnants of their magic. The darker the magic, the worse the stench. I supposed therecouldbe demons whose magic smelled “clean,” but the likelihood of finding an uncorrupted demon was about the same as Sloane not being a dick. So, really fucking unlikely.
“You think there’s a demon hiding out in this town?” Sloane asked eagerly. He loved torching those destructive creatures. I mean, really, he enjoyed a good fight of any kind but found it particularly fun to roast demons. Larson almost exclusively used our team to dispatch the hellspawns when they got too murderous and troublesome. During our training, we’d been taught that there was a demon realm, but sometimes the creatures slipped through a barrier and snuck into our world. Sometimes, they’d go back willingly, but if not, well, it was the end of the road for them and torch time for Sloane.
“I haven’t picked up on any demonic indicators,” Fischer added, taking a swig of his coffee, his brow furrowed in thought. “Granted, they’re pretty similar to humans or witches when they’re wearing a glamour. Sometimes the aura can be a giveaway since demons’ have a heaviness and radiate black and red, but humans can show those colors, too, especially if they’re abusive or destructive in some way.”
“I think we might have just found our first solid lead about whatever is off around here,” Cam said, cracking his knuckles, the tattoos on his hands stretching out with the movement.
“I’ll head there tonight when she’s out with Fish and see if it’s a curse or hex. Maybe that jerk ex is behind this. If it’s something else, I’ll know.” Excitement was sparkling in Sloane’s icy blue eyes. Even more than torching demons, he loved a good mystery. He was worse than a hound dog with the scent of a raccoon; once he had a mission, he was relentless.
“Alright, I’m going to shower and then call Larson to update him. I’ll wait until tomorrow to tell him about the possible lead with the gardens since we’ll hopefully know more then.” Cam looked to Sloane before addressing the rest of us. “I like Saige. I’m going to be honest about that right now. I don’t have any issues with the three of us dating her, but our mission still comes first. Our goal is to find Laura, but we also want to try and keep Saige and the rest of this town as safe as possible. I’m going to go down to the bank where Laura was last seen on the surveillance camera, and I might do some asking around to see if anyone knows her. I don’t want to raise too much suspicion and have word get back to her, but so far, no one has given us a solid lead.”
CamlikedSaige? Interesting. He was usually a love them, leave them kind of guy. She must have really gotten underneath his skin.I smiled.Boss was a good man. I knew he loved each of us, and I was happy he had found a connection with someone outside of our group. He needed a good woman to love on, and Saige was looking more and more perfect with each passing day. What he really needed was a partner, aside from us, that he could depend on, that he could trust implicitly, someone he could show his scars.
“I’m going to pick her up tonight at six. Should I take the rental, you think?” Fischer asked the room, but it was Cam who responded.
“That girl loves to ride. Take your bike. Have fun.” A smile took over his normally stoic face as he clearly remembered something from the previous night. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him look so... dreamy.
“For the love of Jupiter’s cock,” Sloane cursed, standing up and walking out of the room.
“Don’t be salty, Sloaney Baloney!” I yelled at his retreating back, receiving double birds in answer as he stormed out of the kitchen and down the hallway.
“I thought he would have mellowed out considering what the two of you got up to last night,” I directed at Fish.
“He could fuck me every day and still be a crabby bastard,” Fish laughed, and it was the truth. Clearing his throat, he continued, “I’ll talk to him if his shitty attitude toward Saige continues, but we all know how he is.”
Cam and I glanced at each other briefly before agreeing that that would probably be the best route.
“Alright, shower time.” Cam pushed off the island and disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Fish and me behind.
“Do you know what you’re going to do with our girl tonight?” I inquired as Fischer got up and took everyone’s mugs to the sink.
“I want to take her somewhere private, so I can get to know her without anybody else’s emotions mucking up our date. She’s a blank slate, K. I’ve never met another woman like her, and I just... I can’t help but hope that maybe this could really be something. Maybe a picnic?” His fingers were tapping again, this time on his knees, his legs bouncing. He was nervous.Aww, how fucking sweet.
“I’ll whip up some subs and stuff for you to take. Wine?” The relief on his face was instant, and I slung an arm around his shoulder. “Don’t worry, bro. I got you. A successful date means our woman is having a great time, and that makes me and Bagheera very happy.”
“Thanks, Kai.” His arm wrapped around my waist as he leaned his head against my shoulder, squeezing me with a half hug. I took the opportunity and mussed up his thick hair with my hand before he pushed me away, laughing.
Even Fischer, the cold interrogator, was thawing out here in Emerald Lakes. Saige was quickly turning into someone that I didn’t want to have to give up when our time on this assignment was over. Two of my best friends were laughing more in the six days that we’d been here than I’d seen them do in the past several years. Speaking for myself, I loved the rush I got when my phone pinged. My Sprout almost never responded in a way I thought she would, and I lived for that surprise. She was by far the most positive thing that had entered our lives to date.Now, if only she could work some magic on Sloane...
Sliding across the vinyl wood flooring on my socks, I stopped in front of the drawer that held sticky notes and pens. I wanted to make the best picnic for Fish and Saige, and the first step was a grocery list.
About half an hour later, I made my way around the store, grabbing the items on my list and some of those random extras you always grab ‘just because.’ Just as I was heading to the checkout, a familiar scent hit my nose, a growl nearly escaping as Bagheera pushed to the front of my mind when a man walked out of an aisle to my right.The water mage from The Pig. He was shorter than me, probably five foot ten, and built like a bear. His blond hair was buzzed, and I noticed a yellowish purple bruise around his eye and swelling on his cheekbone.
This must be the douchebag that thought he could lay hands on our woman.Why was he skulking around Saige’s shop?Bagheera was snarling at the realization that this bastard was standing right here, so close, and my own lip lifted, but I managed to keep the sound inside. He wanted to tear his throat out, and I had to push his predatory ass down so I didn’t shift and trash the place.
Bryce.I snarled his name in my mind. As if he’d heard my thoughts, he crossed his arms over his chest and locked eyes with me.
“Nice shiner,” I growled.
“Yeah? You like this?” He raised his hand and let his fingers trail over the raised skin. “Some little asshole who doesn’t know how things work in this town thought he’d get stupidly brave.” He smiled darkly at me, not knowing when to back down. “Looks like he’s not the only one since you’re still walking aroundmytown too.”
“Do little assholes make you piss your pants, then? That’s what I heard happened.” I shrugged as I started putting my items on the conveyor belt, unafraid to turn my back to this douchebag.
He laughed.Son of a bitch must have a death wish.
“Do me a favor, tell that little slut that her pussy belongs to me. I don’t care how many of you fuck her. In fact, it’ll just make punishing her all the sweeter. Maybe I’ll just have to fuck her tight ass and remind her—”
