Chapter Six
Mik sat with the alphas and raised her finger to create silence around them. “So, what are you curious about?”
Ymer looked at her in a predatory manner. “You are Elite?”
She made the same noise as an error buzzer. “Ehh. Nope. I am solid human. Born of this earth and carry it in my veins.”
Brexel asked, “You are completely self-taught?”
“Yes. I know there are grimoires around from the shadow mage zone. I haven’t been able to talk to Win yet. Every time I get close, a child steps up, and she takes a picture.”
She shrugged. “I am dangerous enough on my own, without structured destruction classes.”
Brexel blinked. “You knew what we were on sight?”
“Yeah. Your power signature glows bright.”
Ymer said, “Yours is bright but not as bright as it could be.”
“I am in a building with a lot of sensitives, but if you want to see it.” She smiled and dropped the barriers she held around her. It was funny to watch all three of them flinch and shield their eyes.
She tucked her energy signature away again. “See? Noticeable.”
Ymer was blinking to clear his vision. “That is... a lot.”
Mik sipped at her tea. “Oh, you know, it isn’t the size that matters. I am sure you guys do fine.”
Ymer stared at her, and she beamed.
Oren stared at her.
Brexel started laughing.
They began a conversation about power dynamics and energy manipulation. She stopped and got up to take selfies with men, women, and girls and boys dressed like the chaos mage.
When she sat down again, they were amused. Brexel asked, “You don’t mind dressing like that?”
“It’s fine. The wardrobe and makeup are the character. The irritation is all me.” She smiled. She checked her watch. “Oh, I have to go do a thing.”
The guys looked at her, and Ymer said, “Don’t infer anything, but we would like to speak with you again.”
“Sure. Iris has my card.”
They looked relieved. She got to her feet and saw the gathering near the door to the outside. Helen was talking with someone who looked like family, and Mik smiled. “Come on, this is for you.”
Helen looked wary. “What are you up to?”
“Just a little chaos and a small flash mob. Come on.” She linked arms with her friend, and they walked out the doors. The excited folks came with them, streaming out to the lawn where an area had been cordoned off. There was a slim chair with arms set up.
Helen muttered, “Priority seating.”
“Yup. And everyone is here.”
The night was pleasant, and once she was sure Helen was comfortable, Mik walked into the crowd and spoke softly without making any noise. The instructions were going directly to the minds of the other chaos mages who had gathered for this.
A crowd was spilling out of the hotel and gathering to watch.
Mik rotated her wrist, creating a crystal in her palm. She walked up to Helen and said, “Hold this.”
Helen smiled. “What are you up to?”
“Shenanigans.” She winked. “Just a little chaos.”
Mik walked back to the crowd, and music blared. Mik started to sing, and the words weren’t words but a spell that called on the earth and stars to give a little energy to a beloved child.
* * * *
Helen couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Mik had always been goofy and generous, but now, she was liquid starlight, and so were all the dancers who matched her move for move. As she watched, the other dancers became Mik.
A rich, deep voice murmured, “She cares for you very much.”
Helen didn’t look up. “I didn’t know this is what she was.”
“I have seen mages before. This is not something that is trained into them.”
Helen chuckled. “Mik is excellent at being self-taught, and she’s always been magic.”
She watched until the stone in her hands was glowing wildly, and when the song was over, riotous applause struck from everywhere around them. It seemed the entire convention had come out to watch.
Nyssa ran and hugged Mik. Dina and her friend Tamara were still with her.
Helen saw someone move near her, and she looked up at the man she had been speaking to. “Holy shit.”
The tall man with skin made of the night sky looked down with a smile. “Are there any more mages and blood djinn around?”
“No. Just the ones that are here, as far as I know. What are you going to do?”
“Nothing. They are coming to me.”
Helen chuckled weakly. “Actually, they are coming to me.”
Mik and Nyssa were walking toward her. Nyssa was beaming. “Well, Helen, you aren’t going to be leaving us anytime soon.”
Helen blinked. “What?”
Mik crouched and tapped the crystal. “This filtered the light from the stars and the energy from the soil underneath our feet. No human, djinn, or elf was injured in this process. No life force from a living being was offered to you, but stars know radiation, and the earth knows wild growth. You are now on the road to recovery, but you are still brittle for now, so just accept that your numbers will get better, and the growth of the cancer has ceased. Still go to your appointments, but you will recover, you will get stronger, and it will look like spontaneous remission. You still have chemo buddies if you want them. We can chat and watch the drip, racing your IV with the others.”
Helen stared at her. “I didn’t want healing.”
“This isn’t healing, this is having a conversation with your disease and telling it to fuck off. Your body still has to heal itself, but now it has the power to fight. That’s all.” Mik smiled and leaned up to kiss her cheek. Now, who is the big blue yutz, and why is he glaring at Nyssa and me?”
“No idea. He just showed up and started talking.”
The man made a soft sound.
Mik said, “Should I speak to him?”
“You are the chatty one, after all.”
She smiled and straightened. Helen watched.
* * * *
Mik looked at the djinn and used power to get her up to his height. Basically, she was standing on a glowing beach ball. “Hello. Why are you here?”
His lips quirked. “I was notified that there were unusual beings rising in the wake of my bride’s interference.”
She nodded. “Some of us are, and some of us just showed up in our own good time.”
He nodded slowly, tilting his head from side to side.
She mimicked his movements.
He grinned. “You aren’t afraid?”
“Why would I be? An attack on me would have an unknown effect on the local energy systems. Might just blow the dicks off all the warriors that were left here. Set the dragons free. Who knows?”
The man made of stars with the armour that was a cosplayer’s wet dream looked at her. “What do you know of the blood djinn?”
“She’s great. She’s a guardian to a lost child, an excellent worker, and a fabulous friend. She has enough power to rearrange anyone biologically in her vicinity, but she likes working for the game company, so she’s stable.”
“And you keep her grounded.”
“Yes.”
“Would she accept a mate?”
Mik grinned. “One of yours?”
“Yes.”
“Female. She has a preference for females.”
He blinked. “Ah. Unexpected.”
“I think that it might be more understandable if you had actually asked. She would accept a male, but a female is her preference. Her daughter is an omega, though, so any candidates would have to take that into account. One wrong move and their entrails are extrails.”
He blinked in surprise. “Ah. Interesting. What about you? Would you—”
“Consider a tether? A leash? A collar?” She smiled. “They would have to have a high tolerance for magic. I haven’t run into one of those in my own kind. My energy makes most of your people uneasy. If that turned to physical action, I would simply fire them through the heart of a star.”
He nodded. “I see. Those are very specific needs.”
“Yeah. I bet you never thought becoming an emperor would involve so much matchmaking.”
“My bride has explained that once you find your match, you begin to seek matches for others. One of my warriors notified me that there are imperial djinn developing here. The blood djinn was unknown at that time, but the report was updated.”
“Ah, well, she’s stable. Safe. Even if you figure out exactly what she needs, she might not accept it. Them. They?” She smiled.
“What about you?”
“If I don’t like them, it would be a return-to-sender issue.”
He looked at her and nodded slowly. “The earth-born djinn are a surprise. The blood djinn is a shock. The imperial djinn is nearly impossible. And you? You defy description.”
She grinned and swayed like a kid. “Aw, shucks.”
“If you didn’t appear so good-natured, I would be tempted to try destroying you.”
Her expression flattened, and she removed her bindings. “Try it. I hope your mate is already pregnant because you will be going home with a stump.”
His eyes widened in shock. “I see.”
“I hope so because if you feel it, you won’t like it.” She paused. “Would you like to take a sample home to see if it freaks the guys out? Then you wouldn’t have to deal with me figuring out how to teleport people. I think I can manage one big piece, but I am not sure.”
Helen snickered.
“You have had no training?”
“Nope. There are books around, but I don’t have access to them.”
“Interesting. I will offer you an education into your own magic.”
“Interesting. So, a giant pile of books?”
“An instructor will come with them.”
“Hmm. If I am to consider one as a lover, you will have to be direct. I do not catch onto romantic subtleties. I get irritated when I try to figure them out.”
He blinked. “I see. So, no slow seduction?”
She laughed. “Statement of intent, then flirting, then seduction.” She frowned at him. “Should I write it down?”
“I think that would amuse Kaido.”
“Yeah. She was so fun but so stressed but so full of joy.”
“She still is.” He smiled. “And this time, I will be there when my child is born.”
“You might have lucked out. A dragon in labour would not be great.”
He sighed and looked around at the gathering. “Why are so many dressed in your garb?”
“Oh, this was a character designed by the lady with the crystal. Well, the clothing and makeup. The hair and eyes are all me.”
He nodded. “I see.”
She looked at the armour. “Do you have pockets?”
“Why?”