Surviving Enchantment, Part 2 (An Obscure Magic #14)

Chapter One

B eing bullied into showering and dressing was already bizarrely normal. Kaitha was enjoying pushing her older sister around. Of course, she also liked having Nylora in her house, which is something that always astonished the elder sibling.

Nylora blinked. “Work is back thataway.” She watched her sister driving past the exit and turning down a road that led to some expansive homes with enormous acreages attached.

“I am taking you to Solor and Demuel’s place. And we are bringing muffins for your shift.”

Nylora was resigned but perked up. “And the cookies?”

“The cookies are for you, and you can give them to whomever you like.”

“Hooray. Is Jacqueline coming over?”

Kaitha spoke breezily. “Nope. I will see her Friday night, and she will stay over on the weekend, unless something comes up.”

“Do you want me to make myself scarce?”

“No. I want us to have a family meal together.”

“Ah. Okay. I think I freak her out.”

“She’s not used to your dark fae look. It startled her. I also did have a chat with her, and she has requested your file due to family association.”

“Good. I authorized it a few days ago.” Nylora chuckled. “All the reports your parents filled out are in there.”

“Good. She needs to understand that you are just dark magic, not a cartoon villain.”

“I think it’s the demon association. She’s mage guild. Demons freak them out.” They drove past the entrance to the minotaur palace.

“Right. Is it, oh, here it is.” Kaitha put her blinker on and slowly turned and headed down the long drive. “Wow, this thing goes on forever.”

“Shifters don’t like to be seen casually on their time off.” She chuckled. “They like to get their freak on, and they like to do it outdoors.”

Kaitha laughed. “You like to be in a natural state as well.”

“Yeah, but I don’t because I live with people.”

“Me. You live with me.”

“And you would not appreciate dark fae naked day.”

“Uh. Okay, I see your point.”

“I have been renovating a house.”

The car swerved. “What?”

“I bought a house when I finished school, and I kept up all the payments, and it was paid off about a decade ago. Since I have been pregnant, I have been going there on my days off and fixing it up. I know your marriage is coming up fairly soon, I think, and I want to give you guys a good start.”

“Uh-huh. Why haven’t you responded to the RSVP? I know you live with me, but I need everything solid.”

“Oh, you sent the invitations out already?”

“Yeah. Months ago.”

“I guess mine got lost.” She looked out the window.

“What? No. Jax said she invited all the important people to us.”

“Fine. I will check my room again.”

Kaitha paused. “It never came in the mail. I collect your mail, and it wasn’t there.”

“Uh, okay. Maybe she handed it to me, and I lost it.”

“Nyl, you don’t lose paperwork.”

“I don’t know what to tell you. When is the wedding?”

“In five weeks.”

“Ok. Can you text me the information?”

“You need an invitation to enter. Jax’s insistence.” Kaitha pulled up outside the enormous and sprawling building. “I am going to chat with her today. I am going to keep it casual. Just mentioning how strange it was that you hadn’t RSVP’d. You love parties.”

“Uh-huh. I am just going to conceal this conversation if you don’t mind. Just tell her we were talking about shifter sex. That freaks her out, too.”

Kaitha chuckled. “I am going to be hella involved in Bump’s life, so she’s not putting a wedge in between us.”

“Right. How many guys are lined up on the steps right now?”

“Six. Wait, is that Myor?”

“Solor’s sister. Yes. Did you want to meet her?”

Kaitha nodded slowly. “Yes. Please.”

Kaitha made sure they were parked, and Nylora grabbed all her bags of food and snacks, and she crept out of the passenger side.

Demuel met her and took her bags, transferring them to their vehicle. Kaitha followed him and explained which bag was which.

When they returned, Demuel was eating a cookie. Solor looked at him. “Why do you get a cookie?”

Demuel smiled. “Because I memorized what bag is what.”

Nylora snorted, and Kaitha beamed.

Solor’s hands were clenching and relaxing, and Nylora sighed and stepped into his contact zone. He wrapped his arms around her and inhaled deeply. “I like your shampoo.”

She chuckled. “Of course. I smell like apples.”

“Yeah.”

She looked to the side. “Myor, this is my sister, Kaitha. Kaitha, Solor’s sister, Myor.”

Kaitha smiled and shook the other woman’s hand.

Demuel pressed up against her back, and his head dipped as well. She was surrounded.

She looked down at Bump. “And this is how you got started.”

The men laughed as she startled them.

Kaitha sighed. “Really, Nyl?”

“Yup. Really. Well, we were horizontal, but other than that, the clothes are the big difference.”

Myor laughed.

Solor’s hand was on her abdomen, and Bump was saying hello to its father.

She could almost see the excitement in his body. In fact, she could see it if she dropped her gaze a little. “Okay, so why did you want me dropped off here?”

“Because there is a change to the setup today.”

“There is?” She slowly raised her head, and his dark amber and green eyes were focused on her.

“Yes. Demuel is going to be riding in your ambulance.”

“Why? Is he feeling poorly?” She knew where this was going.

Solor said, “After discussing it with some community heads, who have recently seen you in action, they agree that the paramedics are experiencing things that are beyond their pay grade. An XIA agent is being assigned to each rig to watch your back.”

“Oh. That will be interesting. Demuel, when I say apple, stand back out of earshot.”

“Why?”

“Because I will be dealing with a sexual assault victim. Some might find you comforting, and others might freak out. I will let you know which is which.”

He nodded. “No corset today?”

“Nope, just a wrap. I have to do a new fitting once the mock-up is done. Thanks for getting them the Kevlar, by the way.”

Solor smiled. “It’s treated, and the tailor you are using has been informed on how to use it.”

Kaitha nodded. “Vaia just needs to adapt it to your growing bustline.”

“Oh, right. Yeah. They are late bloomers.”

Solor looked down and kept his mouth shut. Smart. He chuckled. “Right. The reason I asked you two to come here.”

He stepped back, and her little warm cocoon was gone. She grimaced and looked at the line of folks waiting behind him. He put his hands on her shoulders and said, “This is Nylora. If she comes to this door, give her every hospitality, and call me immediately. Oh, and avoid coffee.”

“I also look like this.” She flared her dark fae appearance. “Why would I be coming here when you aren’t here?”

He snorted. “I am planning for every eventuality. If you need shelter, you have it.”

Nylora looked to Kaitha. “Squealer.”

“You said I could answer anything. I just volunteered a few things.”

“Yeah, well, dark fae usually have communities. I am just a lone weirdo.”

Kaitha hissed. “You are not a weirdo, and you are not alone.”

She shrugged. “Right. How long until we need to get going?”

Solor said, “You would never run here, would you?”

“I never run.”

“Not even for Bump?”

“I would fight for Bump, not run for it. If you run, claws dig into your back.” She looked at him.

“Another two weeks and it is plausible that Bump can survive outside of me. I mean, it would be in an incubator, but it might survive. So, after two weeks, if you claim it, if anything happens to me, it is yours. But if I am still around, we will arrange visitation.”

There was a gasp from an older man who was lined up. “You would deny him the joy of waking to his child?”

She shrugged. “I don’t actually know him.

He and Demuel left me alone in a hotel room, barely able to move.

There wasn’t affection there. It was need, and then it was gone.

He gave me a cell, and I am building a child with it.

He had nothing to do with that decision and didn’t even know my name, nor I his.

It isn’t a star-crossed romance; it was a hookup with a result. ”

The man looked appalled.

She looked at Solor. “You didn’t tell them.”

“No. I said we were lovers.”

She started laughing, and Kaitha was in front of her, hugging her a moment later. Kaitha whispered, “This isn’t going to work. I am so sorry that I did this.”

“It’s fine. It’s my last night, and then I am off for five. Can we just go to the hub so I can get in my rig and go?”

Solor nodded slowly. “That would be best, I think.”

Demuel took charge of her and got her to the SUV. He said softly, “You don’t socialize?”

“You mean date? No. My body gives off the dark magic frequencies that upset standard mages, and since my family were standard mages and socialized with standard mages, I was considered an exotic adventure that didn’t merit a second date.”

“Was there violence?”

“Occasionally. That is where I learned not to turn my back.”

“When did you get your tattoos?”

She knew that he was distracting her. “Oh, a friend helped me design the most effective focus we could find for my frequency, and she helped tattoo and carve it into my skin. The precision is astonishing. I can pull light and dark magic in either form.”

“You can? Why aren’t you a mage then?”

“I am a mage, much to the guild’s disgust. I was able to hide myself until I got the master rank. That was when I let myself out at a cocktail hour, and everything hit the fan. Kaitha and I went for pizza after that. Ohhh, pizza.”

Kaitha laughed. “There is some in your pack.”

“Woohoo.”

Solor joined them and said, “Ready to go?”

Demuel nodded, and she said, “Sure. Just glad you haven’t put a booster seat in the back.”

Solor paused as if it were an idea.

“No, and I am not sitting in the middle either.”

Demuel grinned. “I’ll get you a lollipop.”

She made a face, got in, and buckled up.

They were on the way to a new style of work a few moments later.

Skip was driving while Nylora was on the computer. “You have a babysitter now?”