Intoxicating Magic (5 page)

“Fine. And remember, time’s running out.” With that, he turned and slipped into the back of his black Town Car.

Link and I watched the car disappear behind one of the hangars.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come?” David said from the doorway. He’d boarded to talk to the pilot and to make sure we had food and drinks for the five-and-a-half-hour flight. Since vampires didn’t need food, the plane was rarely stocked with the necessities the rest of us needed. “I could stay at a hotel and just be nearby if you need anything.”

I suppressed a sigh. “No. It’s not a good idea.”

He stepped aside to let Link and me board.

Trying to calm my nerves, I took a seat facing the cockpit. Flying always drained me. It was the metal of the plane that depleted my energy. Once I landed and was near nature, I’d be fine, but after a few hours on the flight, I’d be weak and vulnerable. My body tensed with unease from the thought. Clutching the armrests, I glanced up at David. He was so handsome standing there with the sunlight washing over him. It always shook me to see him appearing human, the way he’d been when we’d been together. Before I’d been sucked into his crazy vampire world.

“I’ll call you later tonight,” I said quietly.

“Okay.” He hesitated at the door.

Then he took two steps and pulled me out of the chair. His arms came around me, and for once I didn’t lose my breath or find myself lost in his embrace. The coolness of his skin only served as another stark reminder that he’d always be a vampire, always be tied to Allcot. If I was with him, I could never take him home to California. Never have a family of my own. Never be a part of Talisen’s life. Now that I was going home to see Tal, this thing, whatever it was David and I had been dancing around, seemed too much like a betrayal. As if I’d only proven Talisen right when he’d left. My stomach twisted into a ball of knots.

“Be careful,” he whispered into my ear.

“I will.” Out of habit, I hugged him back, but all I wanted was for him to go so we could get this show on the road. I hadn’t seen Tal in over three months. Had barely even talked to him. And I had things to say.

Finally David let me go. With one last look, he exited the plane. A crew member shut the door and within a few minutes we were in the air. In less than six hours, I’d be back home. The thought comforted me as I petted Link’s Shih Tzu head lying in my lap. My eyes closed, and I tried to push away all the turmoil crowding my brain.

But it was no use. What would Tal say when he saw me? Would he talk to me? Ignore me? Spit in my face? No, he wouldn’t do that. But he just might shut me out, and I was certain I couldn’t handle that. Sadness started to overwhelm me. We’d had something special. We’d been best friends, had almost become lovers. Then he’d left me and cut off all communication. Getting back to even being just friends seemed impossible.

Damn him! Why was I agonizing so much over this? He’d been the one to leave. The one to not answer my phone calls or keep in touch. He was being an idiot as far as I was concerned. He’d promised we’d never let anything damage our friendship. But he had. He’d let Allcot and his jealousy over David come between us. Sure, I wasn’t totally blameless, but did that give him the right to just cut me off? I would’ve never done that to him.

All of the anger and hurt I’d been burying for the past three months rushed to the surface, and five hours later when the plane was circling the landing strip, I was seething. I was done feeling guilty. Tal was going to hear what I had to say whether he liked it or not.

***

I’d been so agitated when we’d landed that Link had shifted in the plane. I hadn’t even bothered to tell him to shift back. If he wanted to wander around as a wolf, fine with me. There’d been a Jeep waiting for us. I’d requested it, knowing I’d have to go into the woods to look for Hunter. But first I made a stop at Mom’s nursery.

The metal from the plane had done its worst on my energy levels, and the quickest way to recovery was to be surrounded by nature. Not to mention Mom had a couple of plants I could modify for an energy boost. I’d been too rushed before I left to stop by my shop for any of my own creations.

The lush ferns lining the porch of her shop made me smile. They were twice as big as they had been the last time I’d been there. Tal was taking good care of her plants while she spent time in New Orleans with Carrie and Beau Jr.

Nervousness skittered through me. What if Tal was inside? His truck wasn’t in the parking lot, so chances were slim, but if he was, I wasn’t quite ready to confront him yet. I needed to replenish.

The bell chimed as Link and I poked our heads in.

“Be with you in a moment,” a woman called from the back. I recognized her voice instantly: Regan, the full-time shopkeeper Mom kept on staff. She was great at keeping the retail shop thriving, but the greenhouses needed something extra. Thus the reason Tal was helping out.

“Regan,” I called.

“Willow?” She bustled out of the back room, her arms full of cut flowers. “Oh, wow. I didn’t know you were coming. Your mom didn’t tell me anything.” The flowers floated to the counter as she thrust her wings and fluttered to my side, her arms open wide.

I laughed and hugged her. She was the sister I never had. “Last-minute trip. Mom doesn’t even know I’m here yet. Better let me call to tell her or I’ll be waist deep in manure.”

She pulled back, holding me at arm’s length. “You look exhausted. Let me get you some Mocha in Motion.”

I let out a sigh of relief. I wouldn’t have to expend any magic to recharge. “Oh, great. I didn’t know if you’d have any.”

She smiled. “Your mom has your shop ship it every couple of weeks.”

Really? That was interesting. I’d had no idea. My assistant Tami handled all the mail-order items. Perhaps Mom had become a little addicted since she’d come to New Orleans.

After Regan supplied me with an iced Mocha in Motion, I headed outside to sit on a giant redwood limb. Mom had placed a set of wooden stairs at the base of it years ago so any human friend of ours wouldn’t have to climb the trunk. Getting to the top was a breeze for fae. Males climbed and females flew. It was my favorite place in her gardens.

Rows and rows of herbs and other greens filled the grounds. They were surrounded by large greenhouses that grew anything that required more sunlight. Everything was lush and utterly inviting for a life faery such as myself.

The sea-scented air mixed with the pungent scent of the redwood tree, calming my nerves. Link, who’d shifted back to Shih Tzu form not long after we’d come outside, lay curled at the base of the tree, sleeping soundlessly. I’d have happily stayed right where I was for the rest of the day, but Harrison’s face swam in my mind. It was time to get to work. Reluctantly, I climbed down and picked Link up, carrying him back into the shop.

“Awww,” Regan cooed, petting Link’s ear. “He’s so adorable.” Her voice went high pitched as she leaned in closer to him. “Aren’t you, buddy? You’re mama’s little wolf. So, so cute. I just wanna take you home and snuggle you all night long.”

Link lifted his head and let out a small growl.

I laughed. “He’s not one for being babied.”

She straightened and backed away. “I guess not.”

“Don’t worry. He’s not going to shift or anything. He likes being petted. He’s grumpy ’cause he just woke up.”

“If you say so.” But she eyed him like he was going to eat her hand.

Maybe he was. If someone talked to me like that, I’d be growly, too. “Is Talisen at the university today?”

She shrugged. “I don’t really know. Ever since he got back from New Orleans, he hasn’t been very talkative. He’s very private all of a sudden. You can check.”

Hmm. That was unsettling. Tal was outgoing and friendly to everyone. Did he resent taking care of Mom’s shop now? Crap. I hated this. “Okay, thanks. I’m sure I’ll find him.”

“Good luck.” She handed me another Mocha in Motion and waved as Link and I scooted back outside.

The weather had turned drizzly. Perfect. Just what I needed. Rain. My hair would be frizzy and unmanageable, making me look twelve. I sighed and tucked one of the long locks behind my ear.

Within minutes, Link and I were standing outside the science building where Tal had worked for the past five years. Yet again, I hadn’t seen his truck in the parking lot, but that wasn’t saying much for a school that had over seven thousand students. His truck could be anywhere.

Still carrying Link, I strode into the building and headed to Tal’s lab. But when I got there, I found a fae I didn’t know. She had long dark hair that was piled up in a haphazard bun, secured with a pencil. Her eyes were rimmed in tortoiseshell reading glasses and she wore a stark white lab coat. She should have been the ultimate nerd, but in reality, she was gorgeous. Librarian hot with perfectly shaped lips, flawless skin that didn’t need a speck of makeup, and the greenest eyes I’d ever seen besides Tal’s. Not to mention her perfect figure. Ample cleavage, shapely long legs, and curves that even her tentlike white lab coat couldn’t hide. How utterly unfair.

“Can I help you?” She peered at me over her glasses.

“Yeah, hi. I’m looking for Talisen. Is he working today?”

She frowned. “And you would be?”

“Oh, sorry.” I set Link down and strode to her, my hand outstretched. “I’m Willow Rhoswen, a close family friend. I just got in town and it’s imperative that I speak with him.”

She glanced at my hand, her annoyed expression pissing me off. Could she be any colder? She’d be the perfect match for Allcot—if she didn’t have wings. Then she reluctantly shook my hand.

Gods, did I have cooties or something? A booger hanging out of my nose? Or maybe she had something with Tal and was jealous? The thought made my stomach turn.

“I’m sorry. I just find it hard to believe such a good friend wouldn’t know Talisen doesn’t work here anymore.” Her piercing stare was full of judgment.

I pulled my hand from her tight grip. “What? Since when? I thought when he got back from New Orleans he went back to work here. Did something happen?” Had this ice queen taken his job? I hit Tal’s number on my iPhone even though I knew he wouldn’t answer. He hadn’t for the past three months. There was no reason to suspect he would now. It went straight to voice mail like it always did. Damn him.

“He did. But he quit a few weeks later. And that’s all I’m going to say. I’m sorry I can’t help you further. Good day, Ms. Rhoswen.” She glanced back at her report and continued to scribble notes as if I’d never entered her lab.

Good day? Who the hell did she think she was? The Queen of England? Well, who cared? All that mattered was that Tal wasn’t here. I just prayed he was at home, otherwise I had no idea where to look for him.

“Thank you,” I said to the faery. But she didn’t even acknowledge I’d spoken. Whatever. “Let’s go, Link.”

Chapter 5

Tal’s house was on the same street as my mother’s. It was the same one he’d grown up in. When his parents had moved, he’d stayed and bought it from them. Since his house was only five doors down, I parked the Jeep in Mom’s driveway and slipped into her house to try to tame my wild hair and freshen up before I faced him. He was there. Or at least there was a high chance he was since his red truck was parked in his driveway.

My pulse sped up. I hadn’t seen him since he’d broken my heart. If I was honest with myself, it was still bruised. He’d always been the one person I’d counted on, and he’d left without even so much as a plausible explanation. Then, to make matters worse, he’d kept his distance. I’d lost more than a potential lover that day. I’d lost family. Again.

Seeing him at his house was going to be way worse than in public. It was too personal. Too easy to say all the things we probably shouldn’t say. Too many memories. I paused outside Beau’s old room for a moment but didn’t go in. If I did, I’d be too raw to talk to anyone. Instead, I pressed my hand to the door and said, “Miss you, brother. What I wouldn’t give to have a hug right now.”

Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them back. There was no time for blubbering. Later, after I’d spoken to Tal, I’d let it all out.

After combing and smoothing my hair, I squared my shoulders and woman’d up. Time to face the music. Link trotted beside me, his tongue wagging in happy bliss. Link loved Tal and Tal loved him. At least that reunion should go well. Except Tal’s truck was no longer parked in front of his house. I scanned the street and caught the taillights of his red truck as it turned left onto an adjoining street.

“Son of a bitch,” I cried and ran to the Jeep. “Come on, Link. Let’s figure out where the hell he’s going.”

The Jeep fired to life, and I tore down the street as fast as I safely could. Right turn, and then I had a decision to make. Left toward the freeway or right toward town? I went left, figuring if I didn’t see him right away, I’d turn around and search the town.

“You see him?” I asked Link, who was staring out the window. My dog didn’t even acknowledge I’d spoken. As far as he was concerned, we were just out for a joyride.

I pressed on the gas, quickly passed a large four-wheel-drive yellow truck, and then spotted Tal’s small truck. He was turning to head south on Highway 101. “Found him.”