Chapter 6 #6
Am I interested in researching the ways ancient humans used magic so I can apply that learning to my own magic use?
“Yes! Uh, yeah. That could be cool.”
“You can thank me now,” Andrew says, and I must have some kind of brain fart that makes me momentarily forget where I am and who I’m with, because I flip him the bird.
Percy clears his throat, and horror smacks into me, but he’s smiling. “Andrew, can you please arrange it so Noah’s current job is given to someone else?”
Andrew opens his mouth, outrage on his face, but Percy’s still talking.
“And I think that in light of the sensitive nature of this research, Noah should be moved up here. Can you find room for him, David? Somewhere secure where people won’t be able to look over his shoulder?”
If it weren’t for the fact that I’d really like to be moved, I’d point out to Percy that very few people have looked over my shoulder since I started here… and definitely nobody’s done it twice. Maybe it is my fault that I don’t have any work friends.
“We could probably get another desk into our office,” David muses. “But Noah would have to take the super-secret oath to never tell anyone what he learns in there.”
“I would never breach CSG security,” I say, a little hurt that he thinks I might. Sure, this isn’t where I ever wanted to be, but these people literally saved me and gave me a new life. I could never betray them.
“He’s not talking about security stuff,” Andrew informs me. “He’s trying to protect his secret stash of chocolate bars. And probably also save the team’s dignity. Alistair can be a bit boisterous sometimes.”
David nods. “That’s right.” The second Andrew looks away, David rolls his eyes and points at him, making a face that clearly tells me Andrew is also bad for the team’s reputation.
Percy coughs. “Well, that’s settled, then. There’s just one more thing.”
We all look at him.
“Noah, you are now the only living human being that we’re aware of who can manipulate magic at will with no trappings or limits.
You’re also known to Dr. Tish, and while we still believe he thinks you’re dead, there’s a chance that he’s been able to access information that would tell him otherwise. ”
I sit up straight, dread forming a heavy ball in my gut.
“What?” Andrew demands, just as David says,
“When—”
“I planned to tell you and the team later this morning,” Percy tells them. “I got some information last night that indicates Tish may have a source inside CSG.”
The blood rushes from my head in a dizzying wave. Tish can’t find me. He can’t. I’m not going back there.
A hand clamps on my nape. “Breathe,” Andrew demands, and I suck in air. The world spins back into place.
“…begin investigating,” David’s saying grimly. “I know we definitely shut down his last source. We can take what we learned then and apply it now, hopefully find this leak faster.”
Percy nods. “I’ve already spoken with the head of security and had the magic check him and his team. They’re all still loyal and have initiated a search for this possible source. It’s still not definite that there is one.”
I breathe a little easier.
“But,” Percy’s gaze swings to me, “if there is and news of Noah’s survival does reach Tish, we have to assume he’d want to take you back.
He’s aware now after kidnapping Sam that the work he did on the first generation of his victims breaks down over time.
It’s highly likely that he’d want to do further research on Sam and you. ”
I nod, barely able to move my head. I’m not going back there. If I’m not safe here, I’ll disappear. I have the magic now, and if it helped me hide before when I knew nothing about it, then it will definitely help me now.
“So we need to make sure you’re protected at all times.” He turns to David. “His apartment is warded, yes?”
“Ye-es…” David makes a face. “But standard wards only. I didn’t think he needed more, since he’s officially dead and Tish had no reason to search for him. They’d keep out a casual incursion, but not a determined sorcerer who knows what they’re doing. I can beef them up, but—”
“Those kinds of wards take a few days and a lot of effort, neither of which you have to give right now,” Andrew says, and the fact that David doesn’t argue tells me more clearly than anything else could that he’s right.
“Then I’m sorry, Noah, but you can’t stay there until we can ensure it’s safe. I’ll ask Sam and Gideon if you can stay with them. Anybody who gets through their wards—if that’s even possible, after Gideon had them reinforced—will have to get through Gideon, and that’s no easy task.”
While part of me hates the idea of giving up my independence, and another chunk really doesn’t want to live under the same roof as scary Gideon—what if he doesn’t like the way I breathe in his house?
—most of me really doesn’t want to be kidnapped by Tish and experimented on, locked in a lab for the rest of my life, so I’m willing to agree to anything.
“I don’t think that’s the best idea,” David says thoughtfully. “It would put Sam and Noah in the same place and make them one single target. It might be better to separate them. That way, if Tish attacks one, we’ll have warning to protect the other.”
I shudder, and Andrew’s hand tightens on my neck. “Besides,” he says, a fake jovial note in his voice, “you don’t want to live with Sam and Gideon. They have sex all the time. Who can sleep with a constant porn soundtrack?”
David winces. “Actually, yeah. Gideon might not be happy to have someone staying. He beefed up those wards to keep us all out so he and Sam could have more privacy.”
“Gideon wouldn’t leave Noah at risk just so he and Sam can have more privacy,” Percy insists, and David and Andrew immediately agree.
“Never.”
“Definitely not.”
There’s a momentary pause.
“But he wouldn’t be happy about it,” Andrew adds. “And Gideon’s not exactly kind and welcoming even when he is happy. I wouldn’t want to be the one who has to live with him when he’s in a mood, and I’ve literally known him since he was a baby.”
I whip my head around to stare at him. He has? Wait, Gideon was a baby? I just assumed he was spawned as a murderous adult ready to lay waste to anyone who displeased him. It’s hard to imagine him as a baby. Did he do baby stuff?
Oh my god, does that mean Andrew was once a baby? He’s talked about young vampires, but I just can’t quite picture him as an infant. In my head, he still has silver hair and a smug smirk.
“Noah can stay with me,” David volunteers, then turns to smile at me. “It’ll be fun.”
“No,” Percy says before I can even decide if I’m okay with that idea. “You’ve only got one bedroom. Noah can stay with Andrew.”
“What?”
“With me?”
I jerk away from Andrew in horror. I can’t stay with him. In his house. With him there. I’d go bananas. Or I’d try to kill him, and that wouldn’t end well for either of us.
“It’s the best option,” Percy continues.
“Andrew can counter any telepathic assault that might get thrown at him and still protect you physically. It’s one of the benefits that comes with age and strength.
Plus, he has a lovely three-bedroom penthouse with a pool and a roof terrace.
The perfect place to practice using the magic in private. ”
A penthouse with a pool and a roof terrace ? I guess being a million years old has benefits after all—a shitload of time to collect money.
It does sound nice… and I can’t deny that Andrew could protect me… but…
I say nothing.
He heaves a huge sigh. “Fine. Noah can stay with me.”
“I think Gideon would be more welcoming,” I mutter, and David nods solemnly, biting his lip.
“He really would. Honestly, Andrew, you could be a bit more gracious.”
Did I mention that I’m really starting to like David?
Andrew stretches his mouth in the widest fake smile I’ve ever seen and says, “Noah, I would love for you to come and stay with me! We can give each other facials and talk about our first sexual experiences.”
I blush hotly.
I can’t help it. I’m normally not the blushing type—a flush of fury, sure, but an innocent blush? Nope. Not me.
But then, I wasn’t expecting him to talk about sexual experiences.
Of which I’ve had my fair share, but I’ve been in a dry spell for two years now.
I got around quite a bit in high school—there’s a spot behind the gym that’s been blanketed with my DNA—but what with the abduction and being experimented on and all that, sex suddenly wasn’t a priority.
And since being rescued, the idea of making myself vulnerable with a stranger gives me actual anxiety.
Considering I don’t really know many people anymore, much less people I could trust like that, my recent sexual escapades are limited to my right hand and internet porn.
Andrew stares at me, obviously noticing the ridiculously red color I’ve gone and my inability to say a single word. A delighted grin spreads across his face, and he opens his mouth—presumably to say something I’m going to hate.
“Great!” David practically yells, proving himself to be a master of diplomacy. “It’s all settled then. Come on, Noah, let’s get to work. Why don’t you go and pack up your stuff downstairs while I get a desk brought in for you?”
Percy claps his hands and stands. “Excellent plan. David, the wards?”
A minute later, I’m walking down the hall toward the elevator to pack up my desk and move to my new job, researching magic use so I can use magic , and wondering how the hell I’m going to stay with Andrew without starting a new species war.