CARLYLE

The house was barely-controlled chaos. Kana was zipping around, herding the kids left and right like a sheep dog. Several of them had minor injuries we could treat at the house, but a few had more serious breaks or wounds that would take time. We couldn’t exactly take any of them to a hospital.

Sol and Killian got busy setting up the basement as sleeping quarters, and I helped by setting out all the food I could find. The kids swarmed on the meat, cheese, and chips like vultures. As they ate, I edged out of the room, taking advantage of the bustle to slip up to my bedroom.

I changed into what clean clothes I could find, wishing I had my bag - everything I’d packed before was still in the van in Georgia. I’d just have to make do.

Heading down the hall, I noticed the door to Dair’s room was cracked. I peeked in, finding him stretched back in bed, already asleep. He’d barely been rested from the first fight with the Ringmaster when he’d gone to find Toro, then last night’s fight. He looked drained.

I slipped into the room and leaned over his bed. I pressed my lips to his forehead, kissing the smooth skin as I brushed a lock of his dark hair back. He shifted in his sleep, turning his face more toward me.

I couldn’t resist pressing another kiss to his full lips, my heart aching that I had to betray him again. He wouldn’t want me to go - he would side with Jai.

His lips began to respond to my kiss, and I realized I’d woken him up. My stomach fluttered - now I’d have to give him an explanation.

His eyes opened, and he reached for my hand, placing it on his bare chest, just over his heart. “Be safe, Cariño,” he whispered, and I startled.

“You’d let me go?” I asked, keeping my voice low. I really hoped Jai was too busy with the kids to be searching the night for my thoughts.

Dair’s navy eyes searched mine a long moment. “You were right when you said we don’t control your decisions, Carlyle. If you need to go, I would never stand in your way. I have no claim on you to keep you here.”

There was an odd bitter note in his words, but he reached up to pull me closer. I settled on the bed next to him, and he rolled me onto his chest, kissing me with his usual carefully-controlled passion.

“Take what you need,” he whispered, so low I thought I’d imagined it. He was still kissing me, though, his fingers tunneled into my hair. He knew what I might gain from just a kiss. I closed my eyes and imagined his power.

It was fainter than it should be, the vibrant yellow now muted.

Yet my body thrummed with Jack’s life force from his dragon ring. I wondered... without thinking about it too much, I reached for Dair’s  magic, twining it together with Jack’s and even a bit of Sol’s strength. I would take enough from Dair to siphon to Texas, but I’d give him something back.

He gasped as the healing energy flowed into his body, and his grip on my hair tightened. His eyes flew open, and he stared at me in wonder.

“You,” he whispered, kissing me fiercely before dropping back to the pillow. His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were bright. My heart soared, knowing I had done that. I hadn’t just taken some of his magic - I’d helped him heal. This was the true possibility of my power as a channel or a vessel.

This was the sort of intel I could get behind.

I grinned. “If you’ll excuse me, mage, this magical taxi cab has a quick pick-up to make.”

“I’ll excuse you, but remember, we have unfinished business, Qilin. The matter of your prior disobedience will be addressed.” He smirked, sliding his hand down to grab a handful of my ass. Squeezing low between my legs, he kissed me lightly on the lips, then shoved me off the bed.

“Go, before I change my mind and tie you to the bed,” he growled.

I took his advice and hurried from the room before I could change my own mind.

My nerves were strumming as I debated how to best get out of the house. I didn’t think I could handle seeing Sol. Kana would lecture me to death, and Jai might very well lock me up somewhere.

I didn’t want to risk the stairs or the kitchen, but I didn’t want to be in the house when I siphoned out, because they would feel it. They might even force Dair to follow me, and I didn’t want to pull any of them back into a mess they’d already chosen to stay out of.

So, I climbed out my bedroom window.

It was easier than I’d expected, actually. My new strength made climbing the rough stone a simple enough task, and my tennis shoes dropped softly onto the sand within a couple of minutes.

I grinned up at the house. Nobody except Dair would know I’d gone. Well, and Killian, but I didn’t think he’d tell anyone.

Either I’d be successful and be back here with Jack tonight, or everything would go horribly wrong and they’d have to plan a rescue mission.

Either way, Jack would get rescued, I gloated to myself.

Still, I hesitated to make the jump. I needed a few minutes to collect my thoughts. As much as I’d spouted off about going on gut and acting, I did want some sort of plan. I walked toward the water’s edge, keeping to the packed sand just beyond the lapping waves.

Best case, I would siphon exactly to where Jack was, gather him up, and siphon back.

That wouldn’t get me the ring, though. I had a feeling that was going to be my biggest problem, other than finding Jack if he’d been moved again. I couldn’t let the Ringmaster keep that gold band.

Worst case, Jack would be gone again, and I’d have to fight the Ringmaster. He knew so many of my secrets now. What I needed was a wild card - something he wouldn’t be expecting.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught movement from the house. Ah, fuck. Someone had figured me out. I turned to see who I’d have to deal with, gathering my twists of Dair’s yellow magic in case I had to just siphon away.