Arcane Solutions (15 page)

My breath caught.
“Zoe.”

Nick looked from the boss to me, eyes widening.
“That was a jump I’m not quite following, Cordi.”

“
I’m not sure it’s a good jump.” My admission caused him to frown, but all I could offer was a shrug. “It’s just a hunch. Kate, can you find out what the Mitchells do?”

“
Mrs. Mitchell works for the mayor. She’s in public relations.” The witch frowned. “Her husband didn’t give any work information, since she was the one writing the check.”

“
Mitchell and Associates, I’ll ask her myself what his business is. It’s about time I gave her a personal update.”

“
Not until you have the promised protection,” Whitehaven said. “In fact, I think you should go home. Eat and rest, encourage your injuries to heal.”

Touching my throat while checking the shimmer to assure myself Zoe was still among the living, I reluctantly agreed.

Eighteen

Ronnie wasn’t certain how the demon had passed through the ward without causing the bell tone that was supposed to have occurred. That didn’t send me home in a hopeful mood, and it wasn’t a restful night.

Nick was out of bed, sword in hand, at every tiny sound. No cuddling. The only good point was he didn’t think to ask about my car until we were driving to work the next morning.
“Where’s your little tin can?”

“
It’s a classic.”

“
A classic tin can. Where is it?”

“
In the garage for some work. Can we stop and pick up some donuts?” With all the jumping up last night, we’d ended up sleeping through my alarm. There hadn’t been time to make a real breakfast.

Slowing for a red light, he looked at me.
“Yeah. What kind of work?”

Damn it, I’d forgotten to call Logan back, and hadn’t even thought of calling the insurance company yet.
“Some body work.”

The light changed, and he let the truck roll slowly forward.
“I thought you could drive blind-folded. You had an accident? When?”

“
Night before last. There’s a donut shop a block ahead. I hope they have the chocolate-and-nut-topped ones. Those are my favorite.” He turned to pay attention to traffic, but didn’t cooperate with my attempt to change the subject.

Hardly fair. I always cooperated when he did it.

“You went out after telling me you needed some alone time?” His knuckles were turning white, and I wondered if he’d rip the steering wheel loose or something. Checking the rearview mirror, he signaled a lane change, and asked, “Did you go to see Logan?”

No way to avoid it.
“Not on purpose. I did try to call you, and left a message.”

“
I didn’t have any messages last night. There weren’t any calls.”

My anger blazed to life.
“Are you calling me a liar? I called you, damn it. Left a message telling you that I had to head into the Palisades again.”

Nick didn’t say another word until we were parked in the donut shop’s lot. He turned off the engine and unbuckled his seatbelt. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
“Let me guess. Your tracking sense blipped. What happened to your car, Cordi?”

“
I pissed off some vampires, and they trashed it. Logan showed up, and he gave me a ride home. It’s at his garage.”

His jaw bunched.
“That’s twice he’s shown up at the right time. Don’t you think that’s a little suspicious?”

Staring out the window at the shop, I decided it probably wasn’t a good idea to tell him no. The only internal alarm Logan set off for me was my hotness radar.
“He told me he likes taking walks at night. I didn’t ask, but he probably heard it when I screamed.”

Head snapping upright, Nick turned his murky gold eyes to me.
“Why were you screaming?”

“
Dude, I was fighting vampires. They’re scary, and sometimes, there’s screaming. It’s like a reflex or something, okay? And then this big tiger showed up, except it wasn’t a real tiger, but Logan.”

“
He saved you.”

That stung. Man, did it sting.
“For your information, I was holding my own. Even ashed two before it was all over, thank you very much. You and the boss think I’m totally helpless, and you can both kiss my ass for that. Now, I want some damn donuts.”

Climbing out of the truck, I slammed the door shut and stomped my way into the shop. They had my favorite kind. With a half dozen of those, and a mixed dozen for everyone else, I returned to the truck.

Nick started the engine. It was a silent drive to the office, and there was a client present in the cleaned out reception area, so my donuts had to wait. She was a rich, elderly woman whose pedigreed cat had disappeared. She suspected foul play.

I suspected kitty hormones, but made arrangements to be at her place by three to look around. Nick stepped into my office the second she left. I’d just shoved half a donut into my mouth.

He shut the door and took a seat, lips twitching while taking in my temporary chipmunk cheeks. “I know that you don’t like to talk personal business at work, but I have some things to say.”

The best response I could manage was a nod.

“Maybe it’s strange, but I care about you, even if we haven’t known each other very long. I’m not human, Cordi.” He paused, but I was still chewing. “I’m not going to act just like your previous boyfriend. Boyfriends. Whatever.”

Finally able to swallow, I needed a gulp of coffee to help wash down donut.
“Okay.”

“
I’m a shifter, and the elf is making my instincts boil. So is Logan. One’s put you in serious danger, and the other keeps showing up when you’re alone and in trouble.” He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

“
It’s not like Logan has tried anything. We’re just kind of friends. Having guy friends isn’t against the law. David and Damian are my friends too.”

“
Right.” He nodded, eyes leaving mine to survey the desk’s top. “Did you really try to call me?”

“
I did call you. There wasn’t any trying to it. I left a message.”

He offered his cell phone to me. I took it and scrolled down the list of received calls. None from me for the night in question. Frowning, I pulled out mine and showed him the outgoing call list.
“See? I called you.”

“
Okay. Then something weird happened.” We traded phones, and he sat back. “You called, but I didn’t get it for some reason. Are we okay on that now?”

“
Sure.”

“
Good. You have chocolate,” he tapped one corner of his mouth. “Right there.”

Licking it off, I picked the box up and held it out.
“Donut?”

***

I was polishing off the last donut when someone knocked on the door. Nick was at the sideboard, pouring fresh coffee. “It’s the elf.”

“
Yay.” I didn’t care if Thorandryll heard it or not, and went to answer the door. Wanting to make certain he realized I was still extremely pissed, I turned back to my desk instead of looking while opening it. “Come in.”

Nick turned around, sounding a deep growl as his eyes flashed gold. Something in the hallway growled back. I turned for a look, only to scramble for cover behind my desk.

“What the hell is that?” I pointed at the huge dog following Thorandryll into my office once behind my desk. It bared its teeth at Nick, still growling.

“
Quiet.” The elf’s order shut off the dog’s growl. “The protection I promised. His name is Leglin.”

“
It’s the breed they use to hunt us.” Nick’s eyes were on the beast.

My mouth fell open as I looked from him to the elf.
“Are you serious? Get it out of here!”

Nick smirked at Thorandryll, who ignored him.
“Leglin has never hunted shifters, Miss Jones.”

“
Yeah? Then why does it look like it wants to eat Nick?”

“
Perhaps because he recognizes the unnatural when he sees it,” the elf snapped.

“
Get out.” My voice didn’t sound like mine. It was low and menacing. “Get out, or so help me, I’ll teleport you into a wall and leave you there.”

“
I believe she means that.” Kate appeared in the doorway and lofted Percy toward me. The parrot chortled, buzzing the dog’s head before landing on my desk.

“
Bad dog. Bad elf.
Vous troublez la petite déesse
!”

“
Take this beast away. It’s tainted.” Kate was glaring at Thorandryll before he completed his turn toward her. “There’s demon blood in its veins.”

“
Which is why I’ve brought him. He can protect her.” The tips of his ears were flushing pink. “Don’t you want her kept safe?”

Her red nail jabbed at him, just missing the tip of his nose.
“Don’t try the divide and conquer bit, old man.”

Nick and I traded a confused look. I was the one who asked
“What?”

“
Don’t be dense, Jones. He wants you, and you haven’t swooned into his arms. He thinks that if he can make you doubt us, he’ll be able to convince you that he’s the only one capable of protecting you.”

I was stunned.
“Is that what you’re trying to do?”

Thorandryll sighed, turning to me.
“I’m responsible for the danger you face. It’s my task, and honor, to see that you remained unharmed.”

“
She’s not one of your people.” Nick’s hackles rose, at least figuratively. For once, Thorandryll looked directly at him. About to say something, probably incredibly snarky, he froze and stared at the shifter.

Kate chuckled. Crossing her arms and leaning a shoulder against the doorframe, she raised an eyebrow.
“Ooh, bet that stings.”

I was hopelessly lost.
“What the hell is going on?”

“
Mr. High-and-Mighty just realized how close you and I are,” the shifter answered.

I watched the elf drag his gaze from Nick to me. There was something in his stony expression that sent dread sliding down my spine.

“It’s true? You’ve shared yourself with him?” he asked. Struck dumb and unable to take my eyes off his, I nodded. “That was an incredibly stupid mistake.”

My flaring anger returned my voice to me.
“You arrogant prick.”

“
I merely state the truth.”

“
You’re not winning any points insulting me.”

Nick smiled.
“I think that insult was aimed in my direction, Cordi.”

“
Either way, he can get the hell out of my office and stay away.” I scowled, eyes going back to Thorandryll’s. Anger seemed proof against the haze. “You don’t get to be a jerk to my boyfriend. If you don’t like it, then hop your happy ass back to your faerie mound and stay there.”

“
You’re so young.” The elf shook his head, blonde hair shimmering. “You don’t know what he is.”

I looked at Kate for help, but she shrugged, eyes narrowing to shoot daggers at the elf’s back.
“I know he’s a shifter. It doesn’t matter to me.”

Mr. Whitehaven loomed into sight behind Kate. He must have overheard the conversation, because he said,
“The hound is an acceptable guardian, if you bind it to Discordia.”

“
You have got to be kidding me.” My eyes returned to the dog. It was tall, with a short, sleek, thick-looking black and tan coat. It rather looked like a cross between an Irish wolfhound and a Rottweiler. Just bigger and scarier.

“
The breed was originally established to hunt demons, which slaughtered normal hunting hounds with ease. He will protect you until his last breath, and it would require quite a few demons to cause that.”

“
It wants to eat Nick,” I protested. “And what do you mean by ‘bind it to me’?”

The shifter carried my coffee cup over.
“I’m okay with the hound if it’s bound to you. We might even get some sleep tonight.”

Which sounded good, and caused an elven frown, but I wanted more information about the binding deal.
“If you’re sure, but first, I want to know what the hell he meant by binding.”

With a touch of Thorandryll’s hand, the dog sat.
“A drop of your blood placed on this jewel.” The elf bent slightly, pointing to a large, pale blue stone set in the front of the dog’s wide leather collar. “That’s all that’s needed. He will obey you faithfully, until this matter is settled and you return him to me.”

Scanning my friends’ faces, I discovered that Kate seemed to be the only one who still wasn’t sold on the idea.
“What do you think?”

“
It’s a perversion of Nature.” The witch scowled. “Yet, it’s perfectly capable of killing demons, so I suppose it’s temporarily useful.”

Damn. She was my last hope for refusing.
“All right.”

The witch insisted on handling the bloodletting once I left the safety of my desk. After jabbing my thumb with a needle, she gathered it and the alcohol wipe.
“I’ll dispose of these.”

The blood I’d smeared over the dog’s jewel was sinking in. Watching it turn lavender, I absently encouraged the pinprick to heal. Leglin’s steady gaze left Nick, and the dog looked up at me.

He seemed to be waiting for something. “No attacking anything or anyone except demons unless I say different.” To my surprise, the dog lifted and dropped his muzzle slightly. “Did he just nod yes?”

“
He’s quite intelligent.” Thorandryll had returned to ignoring Nick, who wore a smug little smirk. “And he will not disobey you, even should it mean death.”

That was a rather important fact, which required some clarification.
“His or mine?”