Page 19 of Quiver of Cobras
‘It’s a communication device,’ he said shortly.
I stared at it. ‘I’m pretty sure it’s a shell.’
Morgan sighed. ‘It’s a communication shell.’ He pulled out an identical one. ‘I have its pair. You speak into it and I’ll hear you. It’s completely secure and easy to conceal.’
I burst out laughing. ‘So what you’re really saying is that this is a shell phone.’
‘Why is that so funny?’ he enquired.
‘You know. Shell. Cell.’ At his expression, I gave up. ‘If I have to explain it, it doesn’t work.’ I eyed the thing. It would come in handy. Another thought occurred to me. ‘Hang on a gasbudlikin minute,’ I said. ‘You’re carrying this around so youwereexpecting to see me. You were planning to give it to me all along,’ I crowed.
Morgan shrugged. ‘So?’
‘You really did come here to look for me.’
‘I really didn’t.’
I pointed to the shell. ‘This proves otherwise.’
Irritated, he ran a hand through his hair. ‘Let’s just say that I had the feeling I’d bump into you again before too long. I didn’t come here with any expectation of finding you.’
‘Yeah, yeah. You keep telling yourself that.’
He tutted.
I smiled. ‘For what it’s worth,’ I murmured, ‘I’m glad you’re here. And I’m grateful for the shell.’
For the first time Morgan seemed unable to meet my eyes. ‘You’re welcome.’
‘Now I can booty call you whenever I want,’ I beamed.
Morgan’s gaze flashed to mine. ‘That’s not why I’ve given it to you.’
‘Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much,’ I whispered. I breathed in his heady masculine scent. Mmmm. As if agreeing with me, the building around us creaked. I shook myself; we were here for a reason and it wasn’t to have mind-blowing, no-holds-barred sex. Unfortunately.
‘Anyway,’ I prodded, getting back to our earlier conversation, ‘what did you mean? What might work?’
Morgan took a moment to answer. Apparently I wasn’t the only one who’d been using their imagination for things other than arson investigations. He licked his lips. ‘Along with slowing down time, we can also make use of magic to reveal what used to be.’ At my look, he explained hastily, ‘I can’t bring back your memory or reveal who you used to be inside.’ He tapped his temple. ‘The sort of magic I’m talking about affects only surface appearances. The complexity of the mind is a completely different thing. Affecting the biology of living things, rather than just their appearance, is far too complex for even the most adept faery.’ He waved a hand around. ‘But as far as this place is concerned, I can hinge onto the undamaged spots and use them to create an image – a reality-based glamour, if you will – of what once was.’
‘That’s all as clear as mud,’ I said cheerfully. ‘This faery shit is complicated.’
Morgan laughed. ‘Yes, I suppose it is.’ He shot me a look and jerked his thumb at my head. ‘Either that or your wheel is still spinning even though the hamster is dead.’
I gasped. ‘I’m really jealous of people who don’t know you, Morgan.’
His grin broadened and he blew me a kiss. I stuck my tongue out at him but my insides were doing a happy cha-cha-cha. If we could hang around here for the rest of the year and do nothing more than throw insults at each other, my life would be perfect. Would that it could be so.
Morgan fixed his eyes on the cabinet in the corner, his pupils narrowing into pinpricks as he focused. ‘Watch,’ he murmured.
He extended his arms, his thumbs lightly touching his middle fingers. It seemed as if he were drawing power from the very air around him. I could almost hear the buzz.
Our surroundings started to flicker and blur. I blinked to clear my vision and, a moment later, not only had the cabinet repaired itself but the walls shimmered with green-and-gold wallpaper. What had been bare scorched floorboards beneath my feet were now strips of burnished mahogany, complete with a carpet runner in rich red.
I gazed around, my mouth hanging open. ‘This is amazing.’ I stepped forward to touch an oil painting and marvel at its texture but, as I did so, my foot went straight through the floor. There was a tremendous sound of splintering wood.
Morgan leapt forward, grabbing my arm and hauling me upwards. ‘Careful,’ he warned. ‘It’s only an image of what was. This entire building is still unsafe.’
I could feel his heartbeat thrum next to mine. For the briefest of seconds, I enjoyed the sensation of being pressed against him then I pulled away. ‘Let’s see what there is to see.’
