Page 53 of The Magic of Discovery
“Trust us when we say we can, and will, do everything in our power to protect your granddaughter,” Cam promised, the sincerity in his tone causing my heart to skip a few beats. K and Fish were nodding in agreement. Lifting an arm, I ran my fingers through my hair until I felt eyes on me once more. Red was studying me from across the table, an indecipherable look on her face, like she was once again trying to figure me out but coming up short. The corner of my mouth lifted in a smirk, and I winked at her. She narrowed her eyes at me and brought her hand up to her face, propping her chin on her palm then tucking every finger down into her fist except the middle one.
Without thought, a bark of laughter escaped me. Everyone looked at me to see what was so funny during such a serious conversation, and Red put her middle finger away, feigning innocence with a shrug when their gazes landed on her. Damn if that didn’t ignite some fire in my bones.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt,” I apologized, unfazed by Fischer’s stare that told me he knew I was full of shit.
“How about you three help me clean this stuff up, and Sloane and Saige can go out to the gardens to see if he can figure out anything with her magic?” Gran suggested, and when my eyes snapped to hers, she feigned her innocence even more successfully than her granddaughter. She didn’t blink, but I could see the mischief dancing there. With agreement from the group and a pat on the back from Kai, my fate was sealed. Son of a bitch.
“Oh, I don’t know if tha-” Red started, but I cut her off, rising out of my chair and glowering down at her until her face pinched at my expression.Shit, happy face, man, happy face.
“Let’s do this, Red. Come on,” I ordered, spinning on my heel and walking away from the table toward the patio. A resigned sigh and the sound of a chair sliding across the floor reached my ears, and I grinned. So, sheiscapable of following commands. My dick perked up at that idea, the sick fuck.
Trudging across the yard, Red didn’t ask me to wait up or slow down. She just ran up beside me, breathing a little heavier than normal.
“For fuck’s sake, Sloane. I didn’t know we were racing,” she huffed.
Tossing her a side eye, I didn’t respond, continuing at my fast pace until we reached the pathways that led into the gardens. There must’ve been over twenty different beds, and over half of them were being affected by whatever this demonic bullshit was.
“Show me your magic. Make shit bloom or anything else you want to try. I’ll feel it out with my magic and see if I can detect anything. It’ll confirm whether it’s the grounds that are the problem, or if it’s... well, you.” I shrugged, not knowing another way to say it.
“Why are you even helping me, Sloane? I know you don’t like me. And now probably less than you originally did since I started seeing Fischer...” She kept pace beside me as I stalked across the pea gravel paths that wove between the gardens. I had no idea where I was headed, but I didn’t want to stop moving.
“Ah, so he told you about us?” I glanced down at her face, noticing it was beginning to turn a nice shade of crimson.Christ, I bet her ass lights up like a stop light after one solid slap.
“Yes. He did. Are you okay with it? He told me you weren’t exclusive, but I still want to know that you’re comfortable,” she murmured, wringing her hands.
Stopping suddenly, I spun her toward me and looked down at her.Why does she give a shit if I’m comfortable?
“Red, if I weren’t okay with it, it wouldn’t be happening. We’re here for a job, a job I thought would’ve been done and over with by now.” Her face displayed shock at that statement, so I guessed the guys hadn’t emphasized the finite aspect of their relationships. “Yeah, it’s been just over a week, but I truly didn’t expect to be here for more than a few days. We’ve had some... issues with the real estate we were looking into,” I explained, sticking to our cover.
“Well, okay then. The last thing I want is to cause any issues and make you dislike me even more. You four are so close, and I wish I had friends like that. Or family.”
“Where are your parents?” I asked gently. She was the one who’d brought up family; she wouldn’t have done that had she not been willing to talk about it.
She shrugged. “Who knows where my dad is, never met him and never will. I’m the product of a one night stand with way too much alcohol and too little common sense.”
“And your mom?” I pushed softly.
“Probably in some big city doing gods know what with her job. She’s a consultant for magical businesses. At least, that’s what I heard last.”
“You don’t have a relationship with her then?”
I kept my reactions to her words neutral, knowing this was the best chance I had at getting information on Laura without raising any suspicion.She’s the one who brought her up, not me. I’m just showing interest.
Sighing, she looked out past my tall body, eyes trailing along the tree line that bordered the back of her property.
“No. Not a good one, anyway. She pops up randomly, stays a couple of days. Says shitty things, and then she’s gone again. I don’t hear from her while she’s away, and that’s perfectly fine. She’s toxic. A black hole of negativity. Gran raised me, and she’s all the mom I need,” Saige elaborated.
Nodding in understanding, I opened my mouth. “Sounds like you’re better off. If I’ve learned anything in my thirty years on this shit hole, it’s that family is what you make it. Cut out the blackened, energy sucking parts and fill the holes with the people who deserve to share your life. Blood doesn’t mean shit, Red.”
Her right foot swept back and forth over the small rocks as she nearly whispered, “I really like them, Sloane.”
The setting sun illuminated the red gold strands in her hair, calling to the fire god who lurked beneath my skin.
“They really like you too, Red. And I don’t dislike you. Spoiler alert, I’m not the best with people.” I grinned, and she shook her head as a giggle slipped out of her plump red lips. My eyes dropped to the source of the sweet sound and then back to her eyes. Reaching out, I tucked a strand of her glittering hair behind her ear. She swallowed at my touch and shifted her weight to her other leg. Nervous, perhaps?
“Why would I try to get involved with somebody when I didn’t expect to be here long-term? Seems like a lot of work to me, so yeah, I held back. I’m not blind. I see the way you care about my brothers and the way they look at you. I’m not a good guy, Red. My heart pumps blackness through these tainted veins. You’re too pure for me. I’d corrupt your sweet mind with a whisper of the wicked things I’d like to do to your sexy body.” I leaned down, dropping my mouth to her smooth neck, a whisper away from making contact, “I’d torment your bright soul with a single brush of my depraved lips against your ivory skin.”
Her hands came up, and she pressed against my chest, her eyes wide. “I’m not some porcelain princess, Sloane. I’m not as good as you seem to think, and I’m willing to bet you aren’t as bad as you think, either. Sometimes we have to take a risk and let people in. It’s good to let someone see all the sides of yourself. I know what I see when I look at you,” she murmured, her grassy green eyes lost in my icy blues. It felt like this woman was stripping back my layers and seeing what my poor shriveled up soul looked like, and my heart sped up at the thought. I wanted to storm away from her, break this moment. I felt exposed, and the hairs on the back of my neck started tingling, but I couldn’t move, and I wanted to know what she saw.
