Chapter 15 #2
The object hadn’t required a lot of room, just a small nook behind an electrical panel. Getting around the panel had been the toughest part. I was honestly surprised whatever this was hadn’t short-circuited the thing.
Martin fiddled with his phone a few more seconds before I heard the whoosh sound of the pictures being sent.
“Keir?” I asked, and Martin nodded.
“We’ll start with him. My guess is that he’ll need to either consult with a witch or warlock. My bet’s on one of them knowing.”
I shivered, not liking the vibes this thing gave off.
I’d hated its song even more. Unlike the wyvern eggs, this object’s song hadn’t been one of sadness, anger, and longing.
It was difficult to describe, but this treasure’s song had been more cajoling.
Something in the song sounded wrong, or maybe untrue.
It was as if the treasure was trying to lure me in for nefarious reasons, its intentions far from pure.
This treasure wanted to be found, but not just for finding’s sake.
It wanted to be used and whatever that usage was, I did not get the impression it was for the betterment of society.
Martin’s phone dinged and his lips pulled into a slight frown. “Keir doesn’t know. He’s reaching out to Warlock Holland first.”
That made sense, given that Nikodemus Holland was now head of the Warlock Council and that Keir was on relatively friendly terms with him. It was odd to even consider those words in the same sentence. Friendly and Warlock Council didn’t traditionally mesh well.
I got the feeling Martin wanted to poke at it again and I said, “Don’t even think about it.” Martin’s raised eyebrows and wide eyes appeared innocent, but I knew better. Tapping my chest, I said, “I’ve got a piece of you sitting right here. You can’t fool me.”
Martin’s lips parted before lifting into a pleased grin. “No? Well, guess what, that goes both ways.” He made a similar tapping against his own chest.
Heat radiated up my neck, filling my cheeks with warmth.
By all rights, I shouldn’t feel this warm and fuzzy given the suspicious item sitting in front of us.
We hadn’t really had time to talk about us, if there even really was an us beyond this crazy search.
That piece of Martin flared, warming my insides and radiating outward. I had to believe that meant something.
Since sitting around and wondering never did anyone any good, I decided to take this dryad by the roots and blurted, “I like you.”
The smile dropped from Martin’s face, but his eyes remained wide. Head tilted to the side, Martin said, “Um…I like you too? I mean, I know I wasn’t the nicest when Keir hired you.”
I scoffed. “A bit of an understatement, but okay.”
My answer flustered Martin, making him appear even more adorable than normal. “That’s… I mean, you have to admit that our two species don’t have the best track record.”
I nodded. “Fair point.” There was no use arguing the truth. Waving away the current discussion, I went back to my original point, one that I think Martin didn’t fully grasp. “When I say I like you, I mean I like-like you.” There, that should make the situation clear.
“You like-like me? As in…?”
Evidently not. I needed to step up my game. Going up on tiptoes, I gripped the back of Martin’s head and pulled the dryad down. “Damn, you’re so tall,” I whispered before I pressed our lips together.
That first touch sent little sparks jolting down my spine, curling my toes.
That happy aura faded when Martin just stood there, as stoic and unmoving as the tree he transformed into.
Sadness consumed me, along with shame. Pulling away, I gazed down at the ground.
“I’m sorry. I should have asked first. I just kind of assumed that—”
Martin yanked my head up and slammed his lips into mine. His arms wrapped around me, lifting me off the ground, fitting us together better. This was nothing like a few seconds ago. I’d thought Martin was uninterested. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Lips pliable, Martin molded his mouth to mine, slipping his tongue past my lips when I gasped. Martin’s magic intertwined with mine, dancing and sliding past each other, their edges temporarily melding before slipping apart. It was a heady feeling that rivaled the call of any previous treasure.
I gasped for air when Martin finally pulled away. If my eyes were a reflection of his, then I probably looked stoned.
Clapping sounded behind me, along with a whistled catcall. “Don’t stop on our account. That’s a damn good show. And here I was thinking Martin was hung up on Keir. Can you believe I was wrong, Niki?”
Martin loosened his grip enough for me to turn in his embrace.
I was greeted by Hikaru’s mischievous grin, his gold-green eyes alight with something that promised further razzing.
A broad warlock stood slightly to the side and behind Hikaru, his expression far tamer and stoic.
Hikaru’s tails flicked about, dancing across the warlock’s body, lovingly touching him here and there.
With a groan, Martin lamented, “Dear Gaia, save me.” Hikaru only laughed harder. Or maybe it was more of a cackle. Either way, it was a far better sound than the grief I’d heard the last time we met.
“Oh, this is way better than I thought this trip would go. Don’t you agree, Niki?”
“Indeed, it is not what I expected.” Nikodemus Holland’s voice was deep and sonorous, just like every warlock I’d met in the past. What wasn’t the same was the touch of fondness underlying his words.
Clearing his throat, Holland turned his attention to the minuscule item I’d found. Any softness immediately evaporated as his jaw clenched, his lips pulled into little more than a thin line.
Hikaru’s joyous mood instantly dimmed. “What is it, Niki?”
The kitsune moved toward the object. I thought Holland would tell him to stop, but he didn’t. Instead, he asked, “What do you see?”
Hikaru frowned and this time, the rapid flick of his tails was far different from their earlier playfulness.
Hikaru was definitely agitated. “Nothing good.” He shivered.
“I don’t like the look of this, Niki. I don’t like it at all.
It’s magic, but it’s been corrupted to the point it barely feels like it.
” Hikaru stepped back, moving until his body came into contact with Holland’s.
“As I feared,” Holland said as Keir arrived.
“Thank you for coming,” Keir said, not the least bit winded from walking down countless halls to get to…wherever the hell we were. “I hope I didn’t take you away from anything important.”
Holland waved Keir off. “Only idiotic rhetoric,” Holland answered, those few words filled with disdain.
Hikaru patted Holland on the chest before snuggling in. “Poor Niki finds running the Warlock Council tedious.”
“It is beyond irritating,” Holland ground out. “I do not know what possessed me to agree to such a ludicrous idea.”
Hikaru’s head tilted so he could look Holland in the eyes. “Yes, you do, and you’d do it again if given another choice.”
Holland’s coiled muscles relaxed as he gave a single, agreeing nod. “As usual, you are correct.”
Hikaru beamed. “I’m always right! Except about Martin and Keir.” Twisting so he could see Keir better, Hikaru sounded scandalized when he asked, “Did you know Martin’s stepping out on you?”
“Oh, for the love of—”
I smacked Martin on the chest before he could complete that sentence.
Amusement filled Keir’s amber eyes. “I am perfectly aware and more than pleased by this development.”
“Oh, well then. I suppose that’s okay. You may carry on with your tryst then,” Hikaru stated with an authority he didn’t have. I had the distinct impression such things mattered little to the kitsune.
While the banter was nice, the small object pulsing within the wall wasn’t. Keir moved around our gathered bodies, leaning forward to get a better look.
“I wouldn’t recommend touching it,” Martin warned. “I got singed before making contact.”
Keir pulled back, eyebrows raising before dropping with concern. “Do you know what this is, Holland?”
Stretching out his hand, Nikodemus Holland pulled on the magic surrounding him. It twined between his fingers, rolling over his skin as it inched forward, only to recoil as if it had been slapped.
Lowering his hand, Holland’s eyes slipped closed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “It is as I feared.”
“Feared?” My gaze darted around the room. “Coming from the powerful warlock, that doesn’t sound good.” It didn’t sound good at all.