CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
It took Jake a day or two to get back to Japan with reinforcements, and by the time they went back to Jin’s father’s mansion, the frustration was strong and persistent as he bombarded himself with scolding about how he should have gotten help sooner. But Lucy had been near-fainting, and he wasn’t in any good shape, either, making the journey back home harder and slower than it should have been.
Dylan had been rightfully shocked about the connection between the sexual charms and the demon, as it hit two birds with one stone. Then he got to action right away, calling for a witch named Red Denver and his dragon shifter mate, who was also the leader of the dragon clan.
Lucy disappeared as soon as she got to headquarters, whisked away by her father almost instantly. Jake, for his part, was so hungry that he went to the kitchen first, gulping down so much food that he was pretty sure they would need to stock up soon. Then he went back to Dylan’s office to find the ones he summoned already there, waiting for him and his mission report as he gave it in brief, precise sentences.
The three got to moving right away, with the witch opening up a portal for them back to Japan. He guided them to the compound, where they avoided the guards and headed straight to the back garden. Jake did his best to explain how he got into the maze and how Robin opened up the second portal where she got dragged by Jin, and amazement overtook everything when Red followed the steps precisely. Apparently, Robin had left some kind of invisible magic trail for them to follow.
Before he knew it, they were back in the maze where everything was clear, too, then in another place that looked like a cave and a prison at the same time.
Unlike the compound and the maze, the cave still had that ominous feeling in the air, however weak. Jake could sense it, and he knew his two companions could, too, based on how Henrik tensed and how Red prepared her hands in case something came to attack. But nothing came, and they delved deeper until they were near a pool of water and what had to be the clearest part of the cave.
Beside the pool of water lay Simon and Robin, sleeping in each other’s arms.
Simon sat up instantly at the sound of their footsteps, his eyes widening at the sight. He shook Robin awake, and she was slower to do so, though her hands did the same thing as Red when she noticed that they were no longer alone.
Robin and Red stared at each other in the ensuing silence. Then Jake watched as she stood up, and the two women hugged.
“I tried my best,” Robin murmured.
“And your best is more than enough,” Red confirmed.
Maybe witches weren’t so bad, after all.
*****
He’d been meaning to visit Lucy right after he got back, but certain things took his time—particularly, helping the team in figuring out the details they gathered so they could round out anyone else involved in the charm bust operation. Apparently, Jin’s father had no idea that his actual son was already gone, to be replaced by an entity that had been living with them for a good few years now. That had caused more confusion, and they had to alter the poor man’s memory to ease some of the pain away.
Three days later, he found himself standing right outside her apartment building after the guard refused to let him in. He waited and waited, spending the entire day until it turned to night.
Finally, Lucy came down the stairs from the front lobby, taking his breath away with how gorgeous she looked in a simple silver dress. She was laughing at something over the phone, but the laugh froze when she saw him. She murmured her goodbye and hung up quickly, and they walked towards each other.
Jake took her in—all the light makeup that only accentuated her distinct features, such as those sensual lips and pretty gold eyes. He felt something stir in him, and he made a move closer, wanting to reach out and touch her.
But she stepped back, as if anticipating the movement. “What are you doing here?” she asked coolly.
He dropped his hand to his side. “I wanted to see how you were doing.”
“I’m fine,” she said. Her voice had absolutely no tone in it, baffling him. Where was the worry he saw in her eyes? The compassion? The sweet woman behind the polished façade?
The polish was back now, and suddenly Jake wasn’t so sure it was a façade. Maybe it hadn’t been, after all.
“You really should go,” she spoke again, keeping her voice low. “I’ve got somewhere to go, and I really don’t see any reason for us to see each other again.”
Jake frowned, still trying to figure things out. But Lucy didn’t give him a chance, already stepping back and making a move to leave. His hand snapped up and held her elbow before he could think it over, and she paused, looking at his hand with her eyes flickering.
But when she turned back to look at him, all he saw was cool derision.
“Yes?” she asked calmly.
Jake slowly eased his hand away.
“Nothing,” he muttered.
This time, he was the one who stepped back, letting her go and watching as she sashayed towards her waiting limousine with barely a glance in his direction. He watched it drive off, then simply stared into the distance as he wondered what had happened to that connection they had back there in the maze. She felt like a different woman then, and Jake had to wonder if he was deluded.
When the limousine finally disappeared around the corner, Jake sighed.
Then he turned back and walked away.