Deception (39 page)

Weylin's confusion ebbed as a smile crept back onto his lips. Then he leaned close, speaking in a quiet voice for the first time since she’d met him. “Where's your aura, gorgeous?”

“Where do you think it is?” she returned.

He laughed then clarified. “Why is it there?”

“Because that's where I want it.”

“You hide it extremely well,” Nevyn noted. “If you didn't look like a goddess, I wouldn't have known you're one of us.”

Layla blushed and was reminded why her aura was hidden. The only other time she'd been referred to as a goddess was when Quin had been staring at her naked body, and the mere recollection sent arousing tingles down her spine. “Well it's in there, Nevyn, I promise.”

Quin moved her hair aside and touched her neck, and Layla knew he was checking her pulse, trying to gauge if she was uncomfortable. Apparently what he found satisfied him, because he pulled his hand away and let her hair fall into place. “And it's the most beautiful aura I've ever seen,” he claimed. “If you guys quit acting like idiots, she might let you see it.”

“Then we'll earn the mysterious angel's trust,” Weylin vowed, “and hope to see the elusive beauty soon.”

“What elusive beauty?” Brietta asked, walking up behind them.

Weylin straightened and wrapped his thick arm around Brietta’s tiny waist. “Hey, gorgeous. You my date today?”

Brietta rolled her eyes and removed his arm. “Keep dreaming, Wey. So who's the elusive beauty?”

He motioned to Layla and lowered his voice. “This angel's aura.”

“Oh,” Brietta hummed. “It is a beauty. No wonder she refuses to grace you pack of wolves with it. So,” she added, glancing around, “everyone ready?”

Weylin, Nevyn and Brynton answered by abandoning their chairs. Then they placed their mugs on the counter before following Caitlyn, Maeveen and Kennet outside.

Moving at a slower pace, Layla and Quin got to their feet. Then a cheerful voice called from behind the counter. “Layla!”

She knew the voice, and it made her smile as she looked over.

Banning threw on an apron then emerged from the bar, picking her up into a warm hug. “It’s great to see you. Now I can quit worrying. You look bright-eyed and beautiful.”

“Thanks,” she replied.

Banning's expression sobered as he scanned Quin's aura and punched his shoulder. “Hey.”

“How’s it going, Bann?”

“Better now. Saturday was rough.”

“Yes it was,” Quin agreed, pulling Layla closer. “Too bad you have to work. You could take my place in the game.”

Brietta rolled her eyes as she walked away, and Banning glanced at his sister in confusion before turning back to Quin. “I doubt the guys would find me as useful.”

“Half of them have no room to talk,” Quin countered.

Banning laughed then gave Layla another hug. “Have fun. And try to take it easy, okay? I don't enjoy heart attacks.”

“I'll do my best,” she agreed. “See you later.”

He smiled and waved as he returned to the counter, and Quin led Layla to the door, where Brietta and Kegan waited for them. As the four of them exited the café, Kegan wrapped his arm around Brietta's shoulders and pulled her close.

Layla watched the gesture, waiting for Brietta to dismiss it as she had with Weylin, but Brietta let the arm stay, and Layla tried to remember if her cousin had mentioned a boyfriend.

“What do you think of Layla, Keg?” Brietta asked. “Isn’t she something?”

Kegan glanced over his shoulder and smiled. “She's beautiful, Quin. You're a lucky man.”

Quin reached up with his free hand, caressing Layla’s blush as he replied. “You have no idea.”

“She's not just beautiful,” Brietta added. “Are you, Layla? Wait until you see her in action, Keg. She's amazing.”

“I have no doubt,” Kegan replied. “Quin's aura told me as much.”

“He’s got it bad,” Brietta teased.

Kegan laughed and gave a nod. “About damn time.”

Quin shook his head at their banter, but stayed quiet, and Layla barely paid attention. She was too busy trying to read the haze around her cousin, wondering if she
had it bad
for Quin’s best friend.

Kegan grinned as he leaned in and whispered in Brietta’s ear. “Wanna race?”

“A foot race?” she returned. “You'll beat me.”

His grin widened. “I'll go easy on you.”

“Okay,” she agreed, taking off.

Despite her head start, Kegan quickly caught up then maintained her pace. They must have used magic, because they practically flew, gracefully bounding down the sidewalk like gazelles in an open field. They dodged other pedestrians with ease, and they soon overtook the other magicians, who joined in the race behind them. When Kegan pushed ahead of Brietta, she made a soaring leap and landed on his back.

Layla laughed at their game then looked at Quin. “Are Bri and Kegan a couple?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure if they call themselves one or not.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means they’re stubborn. They grew up together, like siblings, so Kegan flipped out when he found himself wanting more. For years he tried to hide the fact that she had his head reeling, but Bri, staying true to form, eventually called him out. That was more than two years ago, and they've been seeing each other since. Technically.”

“Why technically?”

“Because they didn’t commit and kept dating other people. The others gradually disappeared, and they've been exclusive for about six months, but as far as I know, they still haven’t committed to the relationship. It’s just there, like a loyal pet that doesn’t need water. But I have a feeling that will change soon. They may not realize it yet, but I see it in their auras. They’ve grown dependant on each other.”

“They seem to mesh well.”

“Yes they do. I predicted a relationship between them on Bri's fifteenth birthday, but I kept my thoughts to myself. Kegan wouldn't have approved of my theory at the time.” Quin abandoned the subject and swept her hair from her face. “Does it bother you when the guys flirt with you?”

“Does it bother you?”

“Only if it makes you uncomfortable. I know how those guys are. They hit on every witch they meet, so it would be next to impossible for them to pass up the opportunity to flatter the most beautiful witch in the world. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I'll put a stop to it. Just say the word.”

She looked forward and smiled. “They’re funny. I couldn’t take them seriously even if I wanted to, so no, it doesn’t bother me, and if it starts to, I’ll let them know.”

“My beautiful firecracker,” he whispered, smelling her hair. “Should we catch up?”

“I don't know if I can run in these shoes.”

“You can run in stilettos, love. You're a witch.”

“Oh.”

“Come on, give it a shot.” He pulled his arm from around her shoulders and took her hand. “Ready?”

“Um… yeah.”

They both took off, and Layla was pleased to find she
could
run in the sandals. In fact, she ran faster than ever due to her magic. She could use it to cushion the landing of her feet and create an ideal running surface, and she could spring forward with abandon, knowing her magic would be there should she lose her balance. Quin released her hand when they needed to steer clear of people, but he always found it again once they passed their obstacles. Soon, they were leaving North Hemlock Street and heading for a thick cluster of tall trees.

The others had stopped near the timber and were watching Quin and Layla’s approach, clearly judging her running style. She blushed as she and Quin came to halt in front of the group. Then she tucked herself into his side, unnerved by all the stares.

Quin pulled her hand to his chest and nuzzled her windblown locks. “I'd say the sandals work fine.”

She smiled up at him, finding confidence in his gaze. “It would seem so.”

“That was a graceful bit of running, new girl,” Brynton offered.

“Wait until you see her fly,” Brietta noted. “She'd beat every single one of you in a race.”

A fresh wave of heat flushed Layla's face as she shot Brietta an agitated look, but it went unnoticed as Nevyn loudly laughed his disbelief. “Whatever, Bri.”

Brietta propped her hands on her hips and tilted her chin. “I'm serious.”

“Is that supposed to include Quin?”

“I don't know,” Brietta mumbled. “It would be really close between them, but I think she might take him this time.”

“Maybe,” Quin agreed, giving Layla a wink.

Nevyn shook his head. “No way. I won't believe it ’til I see it.”

“Then we'll set up a race when we get to the clearing,” Brietta argued, smacking him on the head, “and you can eat your doubts while bowing to our new champion.”

“We'll see,” Nevyn agreed, his skepticism firmly in place.

To Layla's relief, the subject was dropped, and everyone made their way into the timber. The wizards slipped off their shoes. Then they caught the shoes the witches threw at them before tucking the footwear into the bags at their waists. Layla watched their routine then removed her sandals and handed them to Quin.

Once they were under the cover of trees, everyone's bodies disappeared, but their auras stayed visible as they darted into the air, leaving Quin and Layla behind.

He leaned in for a slow kiss. Then he straightened and sighed. “Would you like to conceal us?”

“Just your body?”

“Yes, love. Leave my aura alone.”

“Okay.”

They both disappeared, and Quin took a deep breath as he squeezed her hand. “Please don't let go. I can't see you at all.”

She pulled his hand to her lips and gave it a reassuring kiss. Then they looked up and soared into the air.

Chapter 26

Flying at a leisurely pace, Quin and Layla still managed to overtake the others, which forced her to depend on him for guidance. Not that she minded. Letting him lead the way gave her a chance to concentrate on other things… things like kissing his invisible fingers and wrist.

As she worked her way up the inside of his forearm, he spun her into him, positioning her back against his chest. Then he swept her hair aside and kissed the nape of her neck, filling her with magical heat. “You are the most amazing flying partner, my love.”

As if he needed further convincing, she rolled over and found his throat, kissing while pressing herself tighter against him.

All too soon, he descended, but he kept her in his arms long after he landed, letting her stay lost in his neck. The others eventually landed around them and lifted their concealment spells, but Layla was too busy to lift hers.

“I see Quin’s aura,” Weylin observed, “but the angel remains elusive.”

Brietta laughed. “I bet I know
right
where she is.”

Layla quietly giggled as she worked her way up for a kiss, and Quin pulled her into a deep one before lowering her feet to the ground.

They both appeared, and Layla looked around, finding herself in the middle of a clear cut with tidy grass and tall trees on all sides. She wondered why they would choose such a place to play hockey, but didn’t ask. Quin was leading her toward the others, and Brietta was pointing at her while looking at Nevyn.

“Layla beat us here, Nevyn. Do you still think I'm lying?”

“Quin carried her,” Nevyn suggested.

Brietta rolled her eyes. “Let's settle this. What do you say, Layla? May we race?”

Layla hesitated, somewhat aggravated by the shove into the spotlight, but she couldn't stay mad at her enthusiastic cousin. “Sure.”

“Goody,” Brietta approved. Then she turned to Nevyn. “Watch closely, or you'll lose her. Who else?”

Everyone agreed save for Caitlyn, who graciously declined and sat on the grass. “I'll judge.”

Magically sealing her dress around her thighs, Layla followed the other contestants into the air. Once they were lined up, Quin pulled Layla's hand to his lips and gave her a strong dose of heat. “Good luck, love.”

“Don't hold back,” she insisted.

His dimples deepened. “You'd embarrass me if I did.”

“Three laps,” Caitlyn called from below. “On the count of three. One . . . two . . . three.”

The nine competitors shot forward, and there was no contest between Layla and the others. Even Quin fell behind in the first five seconds, and she smiled as she glanced over her shoulder, finding him near her feet. Unwilling to compromise her lead, she maintained her concentration, and it felt wonderful – flying at maximum speed. Part of her wanted to soar straight up, perform a flip then nosedive back down, like a kite right before it finds the wind. But there was a race to win, so she’d have to take the plunge some other time.

As she approached the end of her laps, she rolled over and flashed Quin a grin. Then she did a back flip across the invisible finish line. He laughed as he finished right behind her. Then he straightened and pulled her into a hug.

“That was a fancy win, my speedy angel.”

She grinned and cuddled his chest. “It felt great.”