Dark Tide (A Mated by Magic Novel) (4 page)

“Hello?” Dr. Alexandria Williams jumped to pick up her office phone, hoping against all hope to hear her daughter’s voice.

“I’d like to speak to Doctor Alex Williams.”

Her heart sank. Not Jenny, after all. Just a bloke with an American accent.

“This is she.” Almost in tears, she sat down in the swivel chair behind her marred oak desk.

Not yet tenured, she shared the small windowless office with several other assistant professors. Perhaps her new storm study would change all that. She eyed the large private office across the hall, with big windows facing the front green lawn, and pictured herself sitting there.

After waiting the usual amount of time, she added in a polite, professional voice. “I’m Doctor
Alexandria
Williams.”

She’d been asking for years to have the name changed in the college registry. Finally, she had to accept that the president preferred to let people think she was male, and let it be.

The Yank’s voice sounded surprised, as did all men when they learned her gender. “Apologies. I was expecting a different, uh, voice.”

“No worries. That happens a lot.” She tried to sound pleasant. Inside her heart was aching for her daughter. They promised they’d call back before the end of the day.

“I wonder if we could talk.”

“I’m just on my way out. Perhaps tomorrow–”

“Actually, it can’t wait. I’m right downstairs. It’s about last night’s storm. I’m investigating it for my brother, Jack Fialko.” His inflection indicated that he was name dropping.

She paused, searching her memory. Then, like a database, the result was found. “Fialko? Like in the New York City Fialkos?”

They were richer than God and one of the most powerful clans on earth. She held her breath. Maybe her luck was finally changing. A plan began to form in her always resourceful brain.

“Yeah, I’m Josh Fialko. Our family has always held great interest in the effects of global warming. This last storm seems like just the proof we’ve been looking for. Proof that the weather is changing, and not for the better.”

Shit. Did he know something?

There was no way. She’d been careful to cover her tracks. Still.

“I hope you don’t mind, but this is urgent. I’ve already spoken to the chair of your department about a special grant, and he seemed anxious to pursue it. I promise not to take up too much of your time.”

Damn it
. Just like that, she couldn’t say no. Not without a lot of explanations to her boss. And a lot of questions. That’s just what she didn’t need now, not with her daughter in the hands of those cretins. Besides, as she remembered, Josh was a widower with a lot of money and influence. With his help, maybe, just maybe, she could get her daughter back.

“Fine. Please come up.”

She gave her consent to Dennis, almost always manning the front desk, hung up, and double-checked her small space. The other professors had left hours ago, leaving two other empty spaces. Her desk was clear, with all of her research in her laptop. He couldn’t possibly be suspicious, but still, best be cautious.

A calm demeanor was in order. This kind of thing happened all the time. Do-gooders wanting to invest in the health of the planet. Hadn’t she wanted the very same thing until last week?

Her hands shook so bad that she almost called back and canceled. But she couldn’t let anyone know. The last time she’d spoken to the evil voice on the phone, they said they’d bugged her office, her home.

And if she told anyone?

They’d kill her daughter.

Alex moaned. Sweet Jenny. Away for a semester abroad in Rome. Who would’ve imagined that a few simple experiments with a few half-breed witches would end up like this?

She prayed for the millionth time that whoever had her daughter wouldn’t hurt her. They’d promised to return her soon, but the malevolent voice on the phone hadn’t alleviated her fears.

A braver woman would’ve called the police. Or the Clan Council. Or taken out a second mortgage to hire a private investigator.

She’d done none of those things. Instead, she’d followed the instructions on the phone to the letter, and not veered.

A moan escaped her lips. If she went to the Clan Council, she’d be arrested for messing with the weather. How could something start out as such a great idea and go so bad so fast? All she’d wanted to do was gather a few weak paranormals together to see if they could generate a storm, and thus, increase the rainfall in the drought ridden areas across the world.

Before she could ponder further, the man knocked on the frame beside her open door.

Oh. My. God.
The man wasn’t just hot, he was delicious. Dark hair, dark bedroom eyes, and a body that would make a woman come just thinking about him.

She was at least ten years older than him, but that didn’t matter. She hadn’t met a man yet that didn’t appreciate what she had to offer.

Tossing her long blond hair, she crossed the room expertly on four-inch heels. His gaze told her that the hours she spent in the gym and salon weren’t wasted.

“Hello Josh, I’m Alex.” She outstretched her hand with perfectly groomed red nails, holding the contact a little longer than necessary.

When his eyebrows shot up, she gave him her best wicked smile and licked her lips. “I am so glad to meet you.”

His eyes watched her every move. “Thank you for seeing me.”

“What can I do for you?” She eased up onto her desk’s top and crossed her legs, making her skirt ride high on her well-toned thighs.

His eyes wandered to where she wanted them to. She still had what it took. She patted the desk beside her. “Sit.”

When he did as told, she feigned to slip as she stretched for her laptop behind her. She put her hand on his upper thigh and clamped tight.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. Just getting my notes. Tell me how I can help you.” A quick squeeze and she released his firm thigh.

He grinned at her antics. That was always a good sign. They both knew the game and how it was played.

“The last storm? It didn’t feel right. Came out of nowhere.”

Shit. He did know something. Or at least he thought he did.

Pressing expensive D-cups against his arm, she leaned in and said, “Storms are like that. Sometimes the heat comes up out of nowhere, the atmosphere charges, the energy releases, and then all goes back to normal.”

She winked and ran her tongue over her bottom lip.

The Yank raised his eyebrows. “Perhaps.”

“We could…talk, later, at my place. It might be a little more comfortable than here on the desk.”

She had never fucked an American and hadn’t had a man this handsome in a long, long time.

“I think you’ve got the wrong idea.” He stood as if ready to go.

She had to give him credit, he had more restraint than most men, but she could smell his pheromones. She’d always had a heightened sense of smell. She probably could’ve made a lot more money as a high-priced whore, but by the time she’d gotten over the whole morality issue, she was too old to start.

“Am I reading you wrong?”

The slight swelling in his jeans indicated she’d gotten to him. But would he take it to the next step?

He cleared his throat. “Do you have equipment that might be able to measure the–”

“You’re not married are you?” She stood, closing the distance between them.

He shook his head, no, and yet his eyes went dark.
Shit
. The wrong thing to say.

If she was going to get him to help her, she needed to do a better job seducing him.

Turning quickly, she shut the door, locked it, then began unbuttoning her blouse.

Her ample boobs brought most men to their knees.

“Dr. Williams–”

“Alex,” she said huskily, running a finger down his chest.

“Alex, I don’t think we should–”

“C’mon now. Just a few minutes of fun never hurt anyone.” She leaned into him, watching his nostrils flare.

Suddenly, a pounding on the door stopped her cold.

“Dr. Williams?” A woman’s voice sounded on the other side.

She held her breath, hoping the person would go away, but her latest conquest must’ve recognized the voice. He cursed like a husband caught cheating.

“I thought you said you weren’t married,” she hissed.

The knocking continued.

“Damn it. I’m not. I just don’t want to be…” He shook his head.

“Don’t want to be caught with the likes of me?” Hurt, she quickly started buttoning her blouse.

“Office hours are over,” she shouted.

“The guard downstairs said you were still here.” The high voice sounded determined.

“Shit.” Josh raked his hand across his unshaved chin. “You need to let her in.”

“I don’t need to do anything. This is my office.”

“She’s no doubt asking the same questions I am, or rather, was.” His cross look, stung. Like he hadn’t been just as willing as she was a few seconds ago.

“Go.” She pointed a finger at the door.

“Excuse me?”

“I said get out.”

When Josh opened the door, there stood a pretty, yet plain woman with a stunned expression.

To her credit, the unwanted guest recovered quickly, and said, “Ah. Mr. Fialko. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

He cleared his throat, with the tops of his cheeks red. “I was, ah, trying to get some details about the storm.”

Alex had enough. She grabbed him by the shirt collar and kissed him hard on the lips.

Pulling back, she said, “Josh and I were just having a little alone time, but he was just leaving. Call me, Hun. Anytime. We’ll do it again.”

She winked, reached into her purse, and handed him her card.

The Yank looked like he’d blown a gasket. She probably shouldn’t push it further.

“Sorry to interrupt.” With cheeks bright red, the young woman turned and headed down the stairs.

“You didn’t have to do that.” He glared, furious.

She shrugged. “She interrupted us. If I had known you had another sheila on the line, I wouldn’t have come on so strong.”

“I don’t,” he growled. “She’s just a…friend.”

“Whatever. If you don’t want to finish what we started, best go after her. Next time, I won’t be so willing.”

He turned and ran down the stairs, “Maya, wait...”

Shit. On her desk, her cell buzzed. The call came from an unknown number.

“Hello?” She held her breath.

The evil voice chuckled and her gut lurched.

“You better not have hurt her. I want to talk to her or not another storm. I mean it.”

The European accent sneered through the speaker. “You do as I say or she dies.”

“H-How do I know you haven’t already h-hurt her. Until I know for sure, no more.”

“You did good with Fialko. I reward you for that now.” His thick accent sent a shiver down her spine.

“I didn’t say anything to him. Please. Let me talk to my daughter.”

The line went silent and then she heard the most wonderful sound ever.

“Mommy?’

She swallowed hard, “Jenny, honey. Did they hurt you? Are you okay?”

The horrid man’s voice spoke next. “Tomorrow. If you good, you talk more. Say nothing to anyone. We tell you when and where to put the next storm. It needs more big. Last more long.”

“Wait, I need time. Stronger resources. There’s training that has to be done.”

“I am sending as you asked. Fire, Wind, Water, and Earth. Expect men in two days.”

“But–”

The man ended the connection.

Alex sat down in her chair, and wept.

Maya ignored Josh’s shouts as she raced down the stairs in the science building. He didn’t owe her any explanations and she didn’t want to hear any. They weren’t a couple. Hell, they weren’t even friends.

When she got to the bottom level, she raced into the bathroom and turned the lock. It would’ve been convenient if there was a window to climb up and out. Instead, pale green tiles covered seven feet of outside wall.

She’d just need to wait him out.

“Maya, open the door.” The handle rattled in its old wood frame.

“Go away.”

“It wasn’t what it looked like.” He banged on the door.

Bullshit. It was exactly what it looked like.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered, the apology muffled. He cursed and his angry footsteps echoed away.

Damn if she’d ever been so embarrassed.

After all that shit about not wanting a relationship? He just didn’t want one with her.

The man was a liar. But weren’t they all?

She rested her head on the cold tile wall and let out a long, uneven sigh.

It was obvious what kind of woman Josh was into. Polished. Educated. Beautiful. All the things she wasn’t.

The gods had a depraved sense of humor, matching her with a man who would never be attracted to her. Well screw them and screw Josh Fialko. She banged her head on the wall.
If only.

His touch had wakened something in her she thought was long dead.
Desire.
The need for a man’s touch. But not just any man.
Him.

She shivered at the thought of those capable hands caressing every inch of her body, then cursed under her breath for letting her imagination warp the reality of her situation.

The bathroom mirror taunted her. Her reflection mocking. Her skin was too pale, her breasts too small. Her red hair was wild, untamed. Her appearance was…ordinary. Average. She wasn’t ugly. But she sure as hell wasn’t beautiful. Not like the professor with her hourglass figure and perfectly coiffed hair.

What man would want her when they could have a woman like that? Hadn’t she learned that lesson already? She’d wasted two years of her life pining over a low grade witch who’d left her the moment a bigger set of tits showed up.

Chris and his supermodel wife could go to hell, along with their perfect life and two perfect kids. At least he’d saved her the misery of being tied down to a man who would never be her equal in power. But then, she’d never met a man who had been. Not until Josh.

But men like Josh didn’t go for women like her. She’d spent last night Googling him. Saw the pictures of his wife. She fit the cookie cutter mold to a tee. Raised with a silver spoon in her mouth, she doubted the woman had ever worked a day in her life.

Shit. The woman was dead, and it wasn’t her fault she’d been every man’s wet dream.

Maya still didn’t know what happened. There were only small clips about the explosion that had killed her. Some of the tabloids speculated that she’d been having an affair, but there wasn’t any real evidence. The articles said she’d been visiting a family friend and an earthquake had damaged an underground gas line.

Her heart broke for the grieving husband in those photos. It was evident by his pained expression that he’d loved the woman. Didn’t make him less of an asshole though.

At least he’d be gone soon. He only had the island rented out for another week. Then he’d be back on American soil and she could resume her boring, everyday life, with no sexy fire witch to get under her skin.

After splashing cold water on her face, she unlocked the bathroom door and poked her head out. Nothing but a long empty hallway of closed classroom doors.

She opened wider. Good. He was gone. She was about to step out when she heard a woman’s voice carrying down the stairwell.

“I’m going to need some time off.”

“That’s not a good idea, Alex.” A male voice replied. “You’re up for tenure next month. I can’t guarantee that–”

“I know.” The woman let out a heavy sigh. “But I need someone to take over my classes.”

At the click of high heels on the stairs, Maya quickly ducked back in the bathroom, keeping the door open just a crack.

“I’ve received new funding for my research on climate change in the South Pacific. It’ll only be a few weeks. Four at the most.”

The pair landed in front of where she stood behind the door, with their backs to her.

The man shook his head at Alex. “I can’t okay this.”

The woman placed her hand on the man’s arm stopping him, then trailed her fingers up his chest, adjusting his tie. Maya couldn’t see the woman’s other hand, but from the location and the man’s sudden frozen stance, she was pretty sure it rested somewhere in his southern region.

Holy hell, the cougar was unbelievable.  

“Paul. We’ve known each other for years.” She shimmied closer. “You need to let me do this.” She whispered in his ear loud enough for Maya to hear. “I’ll make it up to you.”

A choked sound came from the man. “Fine. Two weeks. That’s all.”

“Thank you.” She patted his chest. “I knew you were reasonable. Oh and say hello to Mary and the kids for me.”

He coughed, nodded, then disappeared around the corner.

The professor muttered something under her breath, then pulled out her cell when it buzzed.

“Yes?”

Maya held her breath and slowly closed the door to the smallest slit when the woman paced only a couple feet away.

“That won’t be enough. I need all the low level witches I can get.”

Maya sucked in a breath. Dr. Alex Williams was a witch?

Usually her senses were in tune to picking up other people’s powers. If she was, she was either a half-breed or not very powerful. Now that Maya focused, she could sense a barely tangible wind power in and around the doctor.

“I can’t do that.” Alex’s voice sounded almost panicked. “You have no idea what you’re asking. The Council will crucify me–” She stopped pacing. Her face lost all color and her chin began to quiver. “I understand.”

Alex ended the call, then turned and disappeared from Maya’s view. High heels echoed, a door creaked, then slammed shut.

What was that about?

She’d come here looking for answers about the recent storm, and she was afraid she found her answer.

Dr. Alex Williams was somehow responsible.

She thought about how intimate Josh and the woman had been. Was he a part of it as well? What were the two scheming?

When she was certain the hall was clear, she opened the door and hurried back to her car. Whatever Josh and the woman were up to, she was going to put a stop to it. She just had to figure out what it was first.