Black Magic Shadows (17 page)

"You can do that?" I was already getting out of my chair.

"Yes." When I halted in front of him, I realized he was my height. Not exactly the most impressive human male façade for a dragon. He looked me in the eye. "Don't move. I will not harm you."

"Okay." I flinched as his hands shimmered, the skin covering with iridescent white scales, and claws shooting from the ends of his fingers. "Maybe I'd better close my eyes."

"If you feel more comfortable that way."

I did, and felt the air move as he began slashing around me. The dragon slashed from the top of my head down to my feet, leaving no gaps. He even had me lift each foot. "All right, the curse is gone."

Opening my eyes, I said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome. You'll still need to find the one who cursed you. It's likely he or she will do so again."

"Right." I narrowed my eyes. "Maybe it was Maeve?"

Kadon shook his head. "No, the curse didn't react to her presence. It would've...leaned toward her, if she were its creator."

"Oh." I'd learned a few too many new things today, but at least that one was comforting.

––––––––

I
teleported home, feeling as though the weight of the world were on my shoulders. Not quite up to the dogs' usual exuberant welcome home, I targeted the drive in front of the garage as my landing place.

Logan was on my porch, bending down in front of my door. I said, "Hey."

He shot upright, turning wide eyes my way, and quickly relaxed. "Hey, I uh," he lifted a bunch of flowers into view over the porch railing. "Brought these for you."

They were Blue Girl tea roses, actually lavender in color in spite of their name. I smiled, walking across the grass to the steps, and he met me at the bottom of them. Taking the roses, I buried my nose into their velvety petals to inhale their fruity fragrance before hugging him. "Thank you. I really kind of needed them."

"You're welcome. Do you need more of them?"

I laughed, resting my cheek against his shoulder, face turned away from his so I could sniff the roses again. "Nope, they and the hug are enough. I already feel better."

Logan began to rub my upper back with one hand, his other hand flat across my lower back. "Why did you feel bad? Too much champagne last night?"

"No, something else, but kind of Thorandryll related."

"Need to talk about it?"

I lifted my head and leaned back enough to look at his face. "Don't know. It might scare you away. Certainly scares me."

"I'm not sure anything can scare me away from you."

"Oh, my God. You just proved it: You are taking classes in how to say the exact right thing.” I kissed him before pulling free, and grabbed his hand to make certain he followed me up the stairs. We sat down at the top of them, and Logan put his arm around me. I held the rose bouquet in my lap.

"No, you just bring out the best in me."

"Yeah, right." My scoffing earned a grin from him.

"We're sitting, which I take to mean you do want to talk about it. Am I right?"

I hesitated before nodding. "The meeting didn't exactly go as planned."

"Thorandryll's still in one piece? Damn." Logan gave me a little squeeze. "So how did it go?"

After I told him, Logan was silent for a moment. He didn't put any space between us, which I took as a good sign. "Lord Kadon's right. Making the best of things is all anyone can do."

"I guess, but geeze, I feel like I have a big, red bull's eye painted on my back. Like just being around me makes life more dangerous for everyone else." I bit my lip before adding, "I was thinking maybe I should stop seeing my family so much. I've already caused them enough trouble."

Logan shook his head. "I think you'd better talk to them, and let them decide."

"Mom and Dad won't like the idea."

"Right, and why should they? They love you."

I sighed, a long exhalation that seemed to come all the way from my toes. "I love them too, or I wouldn't even worry about it. And maybe I should leave the clan. You can throw me out or whatever it takes."

"No."

I turned to look at him. He was looking back. "Maeve wants shifters dead. All shifters. She doesn't like..."

"Who the hell cares what she likes? I don't. Terra doesn't. I'm damn sure O'Meara and the other shifter leaders don't either." Logan's eyes began to lighten. "Much as the elves would like to think otherwise, they are not our leaders. They aren't the leaders of anything but themselves, and maybe a few species that prefer to look to them for guidance. They've held themselves up to humans as our overlords, and they've always considered just about everyone else beneath them, but they aren't in charge."

Whew, I seemed to have struck a nerve. "Okay, then who is in charge?"

"The closest thing the supe community here has to a single leader is Lord Kadon. When he chooses to become involved, which he seldom does." Logan's eyes began to darken again. "Aside from him, it's the Council."

"The vampire Council?"

"No, the High Council, made up from chosen leaders. None of which are shifters." Logan's top lip curled a touch. "We're not considered important enough for seats on it."

That was just wrong, but figuring he already knew that, I didn't say it. "So do shifters have a Council of their own?"

"No." He suddenly grinned. "It's a cat and dog thing."

"Oh, for crying out loud." I lifted the roses for a long, deep breath of their perfume. "That's ridiculous."

He shrugged. "The wolves consider themselves better than the other canid shifters, and all canid shifters think they're better than feline shifters. That general feeling's mutual, because the canids are more prone to act on emotion."

"You're saying they're hot-headed, like me."

"You're not nearly as reactive as wolves can be," he said, squeezing me again.

“Speaking of reactive, I’m having lunch with the family today. Want to come with? There’ll be plenty of food.”

Logan accepted my subject change without pause. “Love to, if you’re sure it’s okay. I know Betty’s not particularly fond of supes.”

“No, but she’s getting better about it.” My step-mother hadn’t twigged to the fact that it was my fault Dalsarin had targeted my little brother, Sean, a couple of months ago.

I hoped Betty never realized that, because our relationship had improved immensely since I’d saved Sean. Now, she was genuinely pleased to see me, instead of pretending she was for my dad’s sake.

Honestly, I couldn’t believe she hadn’t figured it out. Maybe Betty had, but preferred to focus on the positive part of the situation: The part where I’d been willing to risk my own life for Sean’s.

If that was the case, it worked for me. I’d never enjoyed making her uncomfortable.

“Then I’m game,” Logan said.

“Great. Let me get the dogs.”

He laughed. “They’re invited too?”

“Yeah. They’re family.” I pecked him on the cheek before standing.

I
teleported us to Mom’s back yard, and braced myself as my little brothers saw us appear.

“Cordi!” both yelled, racing toward me.

Dropping to my knees, I caught them and laughed. “Hey, how are you guys?”

They didn’t have a chance to answer because Amadeus, their Cocker Spaniel, began screaming in terror.

Mom, Dad, and Betty rushed out of the back door in response, Dad grabbed Amadeus, and the Spaniel peed on him. “Oh, great. That’s just...” Dad held the dog clear, looking down at his clothes. “What’s wrong with him?”

He’s scared of us
, Bone said.
What a wimp
.

“Be nice.” I climbed to my feet. “He’s scared of my big dogs.”

Meanwhile Amadeus was struggling, his back legs kicking wildly. His yelping was incoherent. “Crap. Leglin, can you...”

Squishy barked.
Stop that
.

To my surprise, Amadeus fell silent.

They’re not mean. We live with them
, my chubby Chihuahua said.
And we’re littler than you
.

“I think you can put him down now.”

“Good.” Dad carefully put Amadeus on the ground. The Spaniel cowered at his feet, shivering violently. “Poor boy.”

Prejudice even in the Animal Kingdom. How wonderful. “Let me try talking to him.”

“You do that. I’m going to clean up.” Dad gestured at his shirt and slacks. “Hello, Logan.”

“Hi. Sorry for the noisy arrival.”

My dad laughed. “Never a dull moment.”

“We’d better get back to the food. I’m glad you could join us, Logan.” Mom stooped to pat Amadeus. “It’s alright, boy.”

“It’s nice to see you again.” Betty smiled, her eyes flicking from Logan to my pitties. “Are you sure everything will be okay?”

Sean chose that moment to tackle Diablo. My black pit fell over sideways, grunting as Sean landed on him. Betty’s face went white. Diablo turned his head and swiped his tongue across my brother’s face, reducing Sean to giggles.

I smiled. “Yeah, everything will be fine. Bone and Diablo won’t hurt anyone.”

“Okay.” Betty nibbled her bottom lip, but went inside. Pleased she was trusting me, I walked over to the furry heap that was Amadeus.

“Hey, they won’t hurt you. I promise.”

Amadeus lifted his head, his big, brown eyes sad.
I can’t save my kids if they attack them
.

Aww, the poor thing. I crouched beside him. “They won’t hurt the boys either. Look.”

Bone was allowing Jonah to climb all over him, while Diablo had Sean pinned and was washing his face, while my brother giggled and wiggled. “See? They’re good boys, like you.”

The Spaniel shivered.
They’ve fought
.

“Yeah, they had to. They don’t anymore, except to protect people.” I stroked his back. “They’ll help you protect the kids, if they’re around and something happens.”

Really
?

“Really. Come on, I’ll introduce you to them.” Fortunately, that went well and no more pee fountains occurred.

“Y
ou made front page news.” Mom brandished a newspaper as Logan and I walked in. “Did you have fun?”

“The food was fantastic, but I could’ve done without the rest. Need any help?”

“Just carrying things to the table. Logan, will you please call in the boys? Everyone needs to wash their hands.” My mother was in full Mom Mode, tossing the newspaper onto the kitchen table and nodding to Betty as the latter passed her with a platter of ham.

“Yes, ma’am.” Logan about-faced and went back out. Amusing how he already knew who was in charge during Jones family gatherings.

Twenty minutes later, we were all seated at the dining table. I notice the bottle of non-alcoholic, sparkling grape juice, and smiled. Mom never let kids feel left out.

“Everything looks and smells great. Thanks, Mom and Betty.”

Both women smiled from their seats on either side of Dad, who sat at the head of the table. Jonah sat between Betty and me; Sean between Mom and Logan. The dogs were sitting around or under the table, licking their chops with hopeful expressions.

“Far cry from a fancy ball.” Mom began filling Sean’s plate.

“I think we both prefer this.” Logan glanced across the table at me. “Right?”