Chapter Two

 

“So then he said, ‘Charity, would you rather the dragon sleep in the bed?’”

Callie chuckled along with the others at the hairdresser’s punch line. Her laughter was more hysterical relief than reaction to the woman’s tale of woe at her Magian mates and their unusual pets.

She was doing it. Fooling them. No one had questioned the story Harrison had devised, that Callie was a distant cousin from an obscure branch of the Abbott family. Harrison, being the powerful, benevolent wunderkind that she was, had decided to take her under her wing, and introduce her to the eligible Magian males of Boston. Yes, the women in the chairs beside her were eyeing her up and down as potential competition, but none of them knew she wasn’t a witch. Wasn’t magical.

She wasn’t even sure anymore. When she’d wakened yesterday, she’d felt nauseous, disoriented. Different. Jenner had fed her a light broth and cooed over her, taking care of her as she always had. She’d told Callie that she would have to take it slow, until they discovered what kind of power the spell had drawn out of her. Harrison had done her best to make it innocuous, she’d said, something she couldn’t accidentally injure herself with. Only time would tell.

Both of the women had been extremely satisfied, though Harrison seemed less and less sure of their plan as the hours passed. But even she agreed, her senses were telling her Callie was Magian. Like them. Though they knew differently, it was still strong enough that it would fool everyone who mattered. Including, Callie hoped, the one they were searching for.

There was something on the edge of her memory, something she’d wanted to ask her about what happened during the spell, but for the life of her Callie couldn’t remember what it was.

Now she was sitting in an exquisitely beautiful day spa, getting her hair done by a Magian stylist. The only problem was, this place shouldn’t exist. Yesterday when she’d passed this building it had been abandoned, boarded up. Jenner had told her the Magian world worked a little differently than hers. That, in order for them to thrive and co-exist with humans, they’d had to make a few minor dimensional adjustments.

This didn’t seem minor. She didn’t think anything with the word dimensional in it could be. To Callie it was all so…so…wonderful. Right out of a dream or a movie. A large spa filled with gold and marble, bustling with women in various stages of undress, some in facial masks, some in wraps that glistened with magical light. Her fellow human beings were walking and driving by, none of them knowing the wonders that were a sprinkling of fairy dust away. But this was no fairytale. It was real. She was here. And Charity, the chatty hairdresser, was asking her a question. “What?”

Charity wrinkled her nose as she studied Callie’s long, dirty-blonde hair. “I was just wondering where you’d had your hair done before today. Did your family go to those human chop shops? I know some Magians aspire to fit in, but there are standards that no one should ever have to drop below.” She shook her head sadly. “These ends are just abysmal, and you need a condition spell in the worst way.”

Callie blushed, ducking her chin in embarrassment. Harrison, her own dark locks wrapped in a towel that was literally massaging her head as Callie looked on, stomped over to glare at the woman. “My cousin lost her mother when she was young. She never had anyone to show her how to pamper herself.” She looked Charity up and down. “I brought her here because I heard you were the best, that a Magian left this place feeling like a queen. Was it all hype? A false advertising enchantment?”

Charity paled and swallowed as she studied Harrison Abbott. Callie could see the hairdresser’s mental wheels spinning. The Abbott family was a prestigious one. She did not want to risk her job, her reputation, by pissing them off.

The woman shook her head. “No, no. I only meant…well, she is naturally beautiful, of that there is no doubt. Truly, it would hardly take much work on my part to make her the belle of the Triune.” She began to run her fingers through Callie’s hair again. “Yes. This can be fixed. A shimmer rinse, a snip here and there. You’ll hardly recognize yourself. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

Harrison winked at Callie before strolling leisurely back to the table where she’d been getting a manicure. A young woman shifting uncomfortably beside her drew her attention.

Callie had never seen a Magian biting her nails before. The telling tickle up her spine was going crazy. As Charity began to work in industrious silence, Callie made eye contact. “You okay?”

The girl’s hazel eyes widened, and she glanced around quickly to see if her mother, talking to a group of older women in the corner, had heard the question. When it became obvious she hadn’t, her neighbor responded in hushed, intimidated tones. “F-fine. You’re Harrison Abbott’s cousin?”

“Something like third cousin twice removed on my mother’s side, but yes.” She saw the girl’s lip twitch at her attempt at humor, and smiled. “My name is Callie, what’s yours?”

“Veronica. My friends call me Ronnie.” She bit her thumbnail anxiously, watching Charity’s efficient movements before connecting with Callie’s gaze once more. “You don’t seem nervous about next week.”

“I don’t? Well, I am a little. I feel like a piece of meat about to be put on display.” Callie saw the relief in Ronnie’s eyes, and knew she’d found the right opening. “You too, huh?”

“Yes.” Her voice lowered. “I don’t know why Mama is insisting. Father thought I could wait one or two of the Triune’s out, because of what’s happened.”

“What’s happened?” Callie drew her brows together to form a look of confusion. The less she seemed to know the better. She was from out of town after all.

Ronnie leaned forward. “You mean no one told you?”

Charity was slowing her movements behind her, and Callie knew she was listening intently to their conversation. Apparently her new Magian hairdresser was no different from the girl at her usual chop shop in that respect. Perfect. “Told me what, Ronnie?”

“Four Magian women have been attacked at Triune in the last few weeks. Most were just roughed up, a little shaken, but the last one was beaten fairly badly. Next week is the last time the ritual will happen until the solstice. Nobody knows how or why it has been happening, but I’m afraid one of us may be next.”

Charity made a soothing noise as she bent down and whispered conspiratorially. “Miss Ronnie, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. From what I heard… Each of those poor girls has a particular type of magic, and it’s fairly rare. I’m just surprised there have been so many coming out in one season.”

Callie turned her head and met Charity’s knowing gaze. “What kind of magic?”

Charity bit her lip as she considered her client. “The power to compel. None of them had the same type of course. Some had mental, some physical, but it is distinctive and rare, as I said. I know only a handful of Magians who have any aspect of compelling in their genetic makeup. Most of them are men, and none of them are in this room. Meanwhile, the rest of us have to mix up complicated and time consuming spells to recreate weak, temporary versions of the power.” The hairdresser sighed. “Trust me, I have to re- enchant my styling scissors once a week.”

Callie looked over to Ronnie, now beaming in relief. “You look like you feel better. You don’t have that kind of magic I take it?”

The smiling girl shook her head, holding out her hands until a glowing lime green energy sparked in her palms. The vase of flowers on the hairdresser’s counter brightened, blooms bursting to life before their eyes. Callie gasped.

Ronnie shrugged, misinterpreting the sound. “I know. Not that amazing. I’m just a grower by nature, like my father. Before this started, Mama was lamenting the fact that I had the misfortune to be of age for the Triune at the same time as…” she looked over at the preoccupied Harrison, blushing, “…so many powerful Magians. But now I’m just glad I’m not a part of this curse or whatever it is.”

It wasn’t a curse. It was a crime spree. Charity and Veronica had just given her a vital piece of the puzzle. A clue she couldn't believe the Magian law had missed. Unless they had been trying to keep that information to themselves. But why?

She found herself wishing Tucker was here. He was a cop, like her. He lived, ate and slept Magian law. He would find out why they’d been shuffling their feet. Why they were allowing innocent young women to go into Triune without the information that could protect them. Surely Tucker didn’t know about it. If he did he would be here, sitting on his sister if he had to, to stop her from going.

What would he think of Callie’s disguise? Her actions? Would he be disappointed that she had gotten herself involved, or would he admire her ingenuity? Why did she still care so much? He wasn’t here.

Tyghe was.

That was another mystery in and of itself. In her experience, Tyghe rarely did anything without a reason. Usually self-motivated. Other than having the opportunity to play hero to his sister, and be a pain in Callie’s ass, she couldn’t see his angle.

Yet.

 

 

She wanted to go back to the pampering massage portion of her spa day. Why had Harrison taken her from those heavenly hands and into this torture chamber? She came out of the changing room, trying to take a breath in the skin tight cat-suit that was, according to her witchy pal, all the rage for the modern, fashion-conscious Magian. Or prostitutes.

A woman with teased hair the color of a ripe mango came forward with her hands raised. “Ohhh, Miss Callie. Now that outfit makes a statement. No man will be able to resist you.”

“I won’t be able to resist them either, since I can hardly move,” Callie grumbled, causing Harrison to snort some of her peach margarita up her nose. Callie stuck out her tongue. “You deserve it, cousin. You no longer get to pick out what I’m trying on. By the way, I don’t see you parading around in any of these outfits. Do I get my turn to chuckle at your expense?”

“I’d love to wear something like that. But Mom insists I wear the dress she wore, the dress her mother wore etcetera, etcetera. I’ll look old-fashioned and ridiculous. You’ll definitely chuckle.” Hannah smiled at the saleslady hovering beside them. “Madame Aubrey? I think Callie would like something a little softer. Something a little less revealing.”

Madame Aubrey tapped her chin, tilting her head as she studied Callie’s body. “I think I have just the thing for the discerning connoisseur. It’s our newest arrival. Enchanted to perfectly match the wearer’s personality.”

“Now that should be interesting.”

Oh God. Could this get any worse? She held in her stomach. “What are you doing here, Tyghe? I thought this place was females only.”

He smiled at Madame Aubrey as she passed him slowly with a curious grin. He turned to Callie, looking her up and down. His gaze narrowed on the plunging neckline that made her breasts look two sizes bigger than they were. She crossed her arms and glared, but he only quirked his lips. “They make an exception for me. I’m very…generous with my female friends. I may have to buy that for you, Callie. As long as you promise to wear it only in the bedroom. And only for me.”

Harrison stood. “I’m suddenly nauseous. I think I need another margarita, maybe a few straws to shove in my ears.”

Callie watched her follow the eavesdropping saleswoman out the door, grumbling under her breath at her best friend’s abandonment.

Tyghe shut the door, eating up the distance between them with long, swift strides. He leaned close to her ear, gripping her arms when she started to move away. Callie inhaled sharply at the jolt of electric energy zapping through her at the contact. She could almost hear the sizzle.

His grey eyes darkened. Had he felt it too? “Just doing my job, sweetheart. Madame Aubrey knows me, knows I only show up when I want something. Someone. Now she’ll tell everyone in the salon that I’m after you. But you have to do your part. This illusion only works if you pretend you want me, Callie, just a little.” He caressed her bare arms, his gaze on her lips. “The passion between Magian matches is not a subtle thing. It is powerful. Undeniable. Electric. If I’m one half of your match, you won’t be able to stay away from me, just as I won’t be able to stay away from you…especially before we find our third and join together officially.”

Callie’s breath came faster. His touch was taking away her ability to think. Had he ever touched her before today? No. Surely not. She would have remembered the sparks, the intensity. Unless it was a part of Harrison’s spell. Her magic, such as it was, reacting to his.

She licked her lower lip, and Tyghe groaned. “We should practice. Pretend you can’t keep your hands off me, Callie. I’ll make it easy on you. Pretend I’m Tucker.”

Her mouth opened to protest and he was there, tongue tangling with hers, lips opening hers wider, taking more, taking everything. Callie closed her eyes and saw swirls of violet and silver sparks burst to life behind her lids.

Tyghe Abbott was kissing her.

He’d driven her crazy with his taunts and sarcastic smiles for over a decade, and now he tasted her like an addict desperate for a fix, like a lover who craved her with a hunger he couldn’t control. And Callie was kissing him back. Kissing him back and loving it.

His tongue slid across hers as his hand glided down her back to grip her hip, dragging her body roughly against his. She took a shuddering breath, the sensation of his hard erection pressed against her stomach making her ache.

Her arms entwined behind his neck and when he growled and lifted her higher in his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist. She felt him moving, felt her back hit the wall and then his hips were pressed between her thighs, his cock thrusting against her through their clothes as he continued to feast on her lips.

No fumbled groping in the car after a dinner date, no sweet kiss at the door after a dance had ever felt like this. Not even her one year-long relationship with Mitchell, the man she had thought she might actually marry, ever made her feel this. This was desire. Hunger.

Callie pulled back to gasp for air. Her outfit and Tyghe’s touch were making it hard for her to breathe. She wanted it gone, wanted to shred it from her body so she could feel him everywhere. On her. Inside her.

Her eyes opened in shock when she heard the shredding sound. She looked down to watch the outfit fall in small pieces toward the ground, merging back together in a neatly folded pile at Tyghe’s feet. But he was still holding her. How…?

“Madame Aubrey didn’t tell you about this particular outfit did she? The designer knew it would be too hard to take off in the heat of the moment, so they charmed it to fall away.” His sparkling eyes met hers and he grinned wickedly. “But only when the wearer really wants it to.”

Callie felt her face heat, but she could hardly deny it. She couldn’t bring herself to feel embarrassed or ashamed either. That would come later. Now she needed him. Needed more. She could feel the rough denim of his jeans against her bare sex, and she rubbed against him, her legs tightening around him. “Are we done practicing?”

His smile disappeared, and his jaw clenched. “Not even close.” He shifted, and she felt his hand cup her damp sex, his thumb searching for, and finding, her sensitive clit. “Wicked little Callie,” he murmured against her cheek. “I know exactly what you need.”

Yes. She felt that electric jolt again as he slipped one finger inside her, both of them groaning at the tight, delicious fit. She bit his chin, rocking her hips against his hand, all instinct and demand. She had no thoughts but this. Him.

“That’s right. Moan for me, Callie. Like my touch drives you crazy. Magian matches love touching. They need it. It strengthens their magic, charges their spirits.”

It felt amazing. The heat in her belly became a fiery blaze as another finger joined the first, the stretch made easier by her liquid arousal. He pumped inside her, faster and faster, driving her crazy with need. She slid her hands into his hair and placed desperate, open-mouthed kisses on his neck. He smelled good, spicy. His taste was addictive.

“Callie, I—” But she didn’t want him to talk. Didn’t want to think. She covered his lips with her own and slung her hips forward, feeling his fingers press deep inside her. Oh God, so deep.

Her climax took her by surprise, like a summer storm, lightning crashing around her, electricity vibrating up her spine and shooting through her limbs. “Tyghe.”

“Yes. Fuck. I can feel you coming around my fingers. So tight, Callie. Would you squeeze my cock that tightly? Callie? Baby?”

Callie felt him lowering her to her feet, heard the worry in his voice as though from a distance. It wasn’t stopping. The waves of energy rolling through her body were growing stronger. Pulsing within her like a powerful drumbeat. Pleasure so intense it was almost pain.

She opened her eyes again and gasped in shock. Violet arcs of light swirled around her, around him. She could see his silver aura around his body, strong with his arousal.

Callie pushed out of his arms, her body tingling more intensely where he touched her. “What’s happening? Oh shit, Tyghe. I feel… How do I make it stop?” How did she feel? Aroused? Scared? Vulnerable? Yes to all of the above. A sudden awareness of her nakedness, and her wild reaction to Tyghe, made her wrap her arms around herself and bend down to reach for the black suit, using the cloth to cover herself.

“Callie, calm down. It’s just the magic. Though it shouldn’t be affecting you like this. This only happens when Magians... Shit, Callie, let me…” He reached out to take her in his arms again, his expression gentle, concerned, but Callie didn’t trust that. He would use this to tease her, to make her feel like she couldn’t handle the gift Harrison had given her. Couldn’t handle Magian passion. She should never have lost control. Should never have let him touch her.

She held up her hand. “Stop. Just go. Get out of here.”

Tyghe froze mid step, his eyes widening, expression stunned as he began to walk backwards. A slow, awkward retreat that sent Callie’s eyebrows into her hairline. What was he doing?

He glared, the tendons in his jaw straining as his body seemed to be moving against his will. “Son of a bitch. I’m going to kill Harrison for playing around with this kind of magic. If I’d known—” He bumped into the door, his hand reaching behind him to open it so he could leave. He gripped the frame of the door, the wood creaking as he tried to still his retreat. “This isn’t over, Callie. You can send me away and go back to pretending you hate me. But you called my name as you came. Mine. Don’t forget that.” As he disappeared around the corner, she heard him mumble, “I sure as hell won’t.”