Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Daniel
“I got them,” Daniel announced as he sat back in his seat and stared at the computer. “I’ve got the address.” He looked over at Noel. “I’ve got to go tell Xavier.”
“No need, I’m here,” Xavier said as he walked into Daniel’s office. “I was on my way in here to check on your progress. Seems I picked the right moment.”
Daniel knew better. Xavier had a way of knowing things, so he wasn’t surprised.
He often wondered why Xavier employed him at all when the sorcerer probably had spells that could track people down.
But Daniel did so much more than that, so he didn’t worry about his job.
He did, however, have a request this time.
“I’d like to go with you guys to get the amulet back.”
Xavier studied him for several moments before he nodded. “I think your talents could be of great use this time, so yes.”
Excitement shot though Daniel. “When are we going?”
“Is there a better time than now? I’ll be going on this one myself.”
“The thief is less than four blocks from here,” Daniel said as he stood. “If this is a jinn, what do you plan to do?”
“Trap him with magic, of course. But we’ll have to be very careful entering the property. His use of the amulet could very well stall us all. We’ll be bringing Lake with us.”
Lake was a warper wizard who could instantaneously teleport them into places—his magic would be very effective against a jinn. The only one Daniel was worried about was Noel.
Daniel took a deep breath and faced him. “It would be better if you didn’t come with us.”
Noel frowned. “This is my job, Daniel. I’ve been up against preternaturals many times. And honestly, I’m in a better position here because he can’t use the amulet against me. No magic.”
“That’s not exactly true,” Xavier said. “The amulet can control human minds as well.”
Noel’s eyes widened in surprise before narrowing. “I’m still coming.”
Daniel’s gut told him that he didn’t want Noel anywhere near a jinn with an evil agenda. But he couldn’t force him to stay, so he just nodded, then raised on his toes to press a kiss to Noel’s mouth. “Stay safe,” he whispered against his lips.
Noel’s surprise over the gesture was obvious in his widened eyes. Yes, they’d spent the last night in bed together, but they’d not spoken at all about staying together. “You’re the one who’ll be in more danger. Just so you know, I’ll have your back.”
“I know.”
With Lake’s magic, it took no time at all to arrive at the construction site where Daniel had tracked the internet address. Then the warper wizard disappeared inside the building to get a look around. He reappeared a few minutes later.
“There are three inside, including the jinn. The other two are wizards. The idiots were talking about their plans, which involve you, Xavier. Seems they want to take you out because you’re getting too close to something—I didn’t hear what that something is, though.
Maybe another case you’re investigating? ”
Xavier’s brows met in a frown, but he didn’t say anything.
Though Daniel had an idea what that case might be.
He’d been working on gathering data on a group of magic users across the country for over a year now.
Ones that dabbled in the darker magics. It was how he’d stumbled upon the thefts to begin with.
He met Xavier’s gaze only to have Xavier nod at him.
“What’s the plan?” Noel asked, voice low.
“Surprise them?” Lake suggested. “I warp you inside right next to them, and you can take the amulet. One of the wizards is wearing it, and I got the feeling he was in charge.”
“You could always do that thing you did in Arizona,” Daniel said, keeping his voice low.
Xavier gave him a stern look.
“Or not,” he muttered. Xavier had stripped a warper wizard of his powers, but maybe he didn’t want Arcane learning about that ability.
He felt bad for saying anything. He should have known better.
The thing was… When he really broke it down, he loved Noel.
On a deep level, he still did. He looked at this man and realized that though that love was there, trust was still an issue.
But he did want to have that. He wanted it so much that he made a decision.
Despite their audience, he strode to Noel and reached up to cradle his face in his palms. “You have to stay safe in there. Do you understand me?”
Noel quirked a crooked smile, his eyes lighting up. “Are you saying what I think you are?”
“Yes, I’m giving you a chance, and I want that chance, so no heroics. Promise me.”
“Daniel, I will do my best, but if I get the chance to get that amulet, I’ll take it.”
“Fair enough.”
Noel leaned down and kissed him softly, whispering, “I love you, Daniel Ravenwood.”
“You fucker, I love you, too.” He kissed Noel this time before turning to the others. “Let’s do this.”
Lake held out his arms, and they all put their hands on him.
The warp was fast and, thankfully, not as disorienting as usual, since it was for a short distance.
But still, Daniel arrived inside the building dizzy.
He blinked rapidly as the things around them came into focus.
Sheets of plastic on some walls, tables, sawhorses and several wood pallets with stacks of pipe and roofing materials.
There were three preternaturals, one of whom was holding out his hand to cast a spell. The other wizard wore the amulet, and his mouth moved as he muttered words.
Xavier froze in place, but his features tightened in pure determination as he slowly raised his hand.
“Xavier,” the wizard with the amulet said, drawing out his name. “How nice of you to come to us. You just made everything far too easy.”
Xavier didn’t respond—probably couldn’t respond because of the amulet’s magic. Still, his hand continued to slowly lift.
Daniel watched in shock that was mirrored on that wizard’s face. Xavier was stronger than the amulet. It was only slowing him down.
The other wizard had obviously cast a binding spell on Xavier as well, and with all their attention on the most powerful man in the room, they weren’t paying attention to Daniel.
He threw a wraith hallucination into their minds, and they immediately started dodging the beings only they could see. But he knew what they saw—monstrous ghosts who came at them with extended claws and sharp teeth.
The jinn misted, and Daniel quickly dodged to the left because that preternatural could go right through him.
He solidified, and Daniel turned his world into a living hell with another hallucination, making him feel like he was trapped in lava.
The jinn screamed, and Daniel smashed his fist into his face, making him fly back into a stack of boxes.
He left him writhing on the floor and turned back—only to be trapped in his own worst nightmare.
Noel was slowly lifting his gun to his own head.
The panic that ripped through Daniel felt like a hundred knives, and he raced toward the wizard wearing the amulet.
But the wizard turned his furious gaze toward Daniel.
Daniel froze, unable to throw out any more suggestions.
He was helpless as he watched Noel start to lift his gun again.
He fought against the amulet’s magic, but it was like being buried in heavy sludge. He couldn’t move. Could only watch while he struggled against power that completely took him over.
Xavier had managed to get his hand up, and a swirl of wind filled the building, sending papers from the one desk flying into the air.
But Daniel could see that Noel was still raising his gun. The panic that filled Noel’s eyes speared through Daniel, and he couldn’t breathe as that gaze zeroed in on him, flooded with raw emotion. There was so much there. Fear, yes, but true regret, remorse, and a wave of love and apology.
Noel couldn’t speak, but his eyes told Daniel that he loved him. And that he was sorry it would end like this.
The gun reached his temple.
Daniel’s fear and panic reached epic levels, and his magic rose despite the amulet’s power. The scream built in his stomach and chest until it felt like it would explode through his ribs. With absolutely everything on the line, he didn’t stop it.
He let his scream free.
The high-pitched wail exploded out of him. Windows shattered, and the desk flew off the floor, knocking the wizard back. The amulet came loose, went flying, and Xavier caught it with his raised hand.
Still, Daniel screamed. Walls began to crumble and broken glass swirled into the air. PVC pipe spun about wildly along with plastic tubing. The other wizard fell to his knees with his hands over his ears. Lake yelled before he warped out of the building.
Still, Daniel screamed as more windows shattered. It was like letting a separate monster loose, the scream obliterating everyone and everything. His throat grew raw, his lungs burned, yet he didn’t stop.
Hands landed on his shoulders.
“Daniel,” Xavier ordered in a firm, but calm voice that somehow penetrated his scream. “You can stop now. Noel is safe.”
He shut his mouth.
The abrupt silence actually hurt Daniel’s ears as exhaustion slammed into him. He fell to the floor, working hard to catch his breath as his mind grew muddy with dizziness. Every muscle in his body felt weighted and sore, so he couldn’t move as Xavier turned his anger on the three preternaturals.
Daniel just closed his eyes and let the exhaustion take over.
Still, he heard their cries, and when he finally could bring himself to open his eyes, it was to find them writhing on the floor.
Xavier had stripped them all of their powers.
It was a sentence worse than death for a preternatural.
They deserved it.
Daniel slowly sat up as Noel knelt beside him, his hand gripping Daniel’s arm. “Holy shit, Daniel. That’s some power you have.”
He looked Noel over, seeing a few small cuts on his face from the flying debris. “It’s dangerous. That’s only the fourth time I’ve ever let it loose. But he was going to make you kill yourself.” He swallowed, his throat feeling full of razors. “I was so damn scared.”
Noel’s hand tightened on his arm. “Because you love me.”
Daniel stared at him, his heart beating hard. “I do. I love you so much.”
“But do feel you can trust me?” Those blue eyes went shiny with moisture, his need for that last step stamped on his face.
Daniel continued to stare at him while he searched his own feelings.
Yes, he did. There had been circumstances beyond their control and Noel was here now to make it right. Daniel needed to trust him again. “You can’t leave me again, Noel.”
“I won’t. I’ll stay with you and make you miserable someday when I finally age and pass away. I’m too selfish not to stay with you even knowing that.”
A smile pulled up one corner of Daniel’s mouth. “You are, huh?”
The corner of his mouth quirked. “Very, very selfish. I want time with you. I know that preternaturals have soulmates, and I can’t be one because I’m human. I know I’m asking you to give that up.” He paused, visibly swallowing hard. “But I want all the time I have left with you.”
Daniel’s heart just melted. “All your research, and you still got one thing wrong.”
“What’s that?” Noel asked.
Daniel cupped Noel’s cheek. “Humans can be soulmates. Humans with the ability to see through glamours. So, I won’t be giving that up and instead gaining something I’ve always wanted. We’re going to have many, many years to drive each other crazy.”
Pure joy spilled into Noel’s face. He turned and kissed Daniel’s palm, nestling his face there. He closed his eyes and whispered, “Thank you for trusting me. I promise to spend all those many years loving you with everything I am.”
And Daniel believed him.