Falling Into Place (7 page)

“You’re family, Liz. Congratulations on
graduation. Since I won’t see you directly afterward, go have a
great summer.”

She dipped her head and waved as James came
down the stairs. Not wanting to deal with him, she hurried out the
front door.

Finally, a break from all the social events
Kathryn insisted they all attend, she would be away from stuffy
mages with judging glances, and she could enjoy time away from
Emily and James.

Robert opened the trunk as she made her way
to the car. He reached for one of her bags.

She swept them to the side with a raised
brow. “I got this.”

“I know you do,” his voice was low with an
edge of amusement. “I never mind helping.”

“I know,” and she did. She was afraid of
what his help made her feel. Then again, she was terrified of the
way
he
made her feel. She wasn’t sure if she should tell him
she shared the same feelings for him.

He shrugged and walked to the car door,
which he opened.

Feeling flustered, she deposited her bags,
and her eyes landed on the monstrous chest that Kathryn had packed.
She glared at it before slamming the trunk.

Robert smiled as she walked to him. She
ducked her head and slid past him. He climbed in beside her.

“Ready for an exciting summer full of
mystery and intrigue?” His eyes locked onto hers and her heart
started to race.

“I am,” she replied, and blushed. Changing
topics, she asked, “Are we picking Preston up?”

Robert glanced away. “We’re heading there
now.”

Tremaine turned around in his seat. “I don’t
even get a hello?” he asked with amusement laced irritation.

Liz smiled back at the man who had been
right to bring her to the McAllister’s. Even if things weren’t
always perfect, she did have a stable home, and good friends.

Tremaine gave her a few weeks to recalibrate
into life with the McAllister’s before he started to come around.
He was always there for major holidays, and he had a knack for
showing up when she needed his guidance the most.

She leaned over the seat to give him a hug.
“Good to see you, Trem.”

“You too, doll. You ready for graduation
before heading to the train? We won’t have time for the
reception.”

“Honestly, I can’t wait. The reception is
yet another opportunity for Kathryn to try to set me up with
another well to do mage. I don’t think she understands that boys
are not interested in me.”

She noticed the way Tremaine’s eyes flicked
to Robert with a hint of a smirk before turning forward. “Yeah,
well you’re a little young to find yourself a man. So, remember
that.”

Liz snorted as she sat back. “Yeah, just
don’t tell Kathryn that. I made that mistake once.”

Robert nodded. “It didn’t slow Mother down
either. If anything, she’s only being more discreet in the way she
goes about it.” She couldn’t help smiling at the disapproval in his
tone.

Tremaine fired up the car and drove back
down the driveway. “She means well. It’s how she was raised.”

“Yeah, I know.” Liz sighed. “I don’t believe
there is anyone out there who could put up with me for that
long.”

“That’s not true,” Robert murmured.

Turning her head, she closed her eyes. She
wanted to believe things would be perfect between them, but she
didn’t see how they could ever be together. His mother would never
approve. Emily would have a fit. James still made pathetic attempts
at gaining her interest. Still, she wanted to try.

Tremaine cleared his throat. “You ready for
graduation?”

“I’m ready to be on a train,” Liz
muttered.

* * * *

Emily stood at the window, watching Liz
climb into the car with Robert right behind her. She wished she
could escape the house for the summer, but she would be stuck here,
alone.

Even James was going away with Jarvis, and
his father Maynard. Something about a lead to find out who killed
Uncle Sinclair.

She wouldn’t miss her twin. He made her skin
crawl with the way he looked at her, the way he touched her. It
wasn’t right, but he wouldn’t listen to her protests. He always
hurt her worse if she tried to stop him.

A tear fell down her face. She was alone,
and no one knew the pain she carried. She didn’t have anyone to
talk to.

“Aren’t you going to miss me, Emily?” James
spoke against her ear. He pressed her against the window.

“Don’t,” she whispered. She felt the spell
close in all sound as James hands smoothed down her thighs. “No,
James, this isn’t right.

“One more time before I go,” he told her,
his hands gliding up her stockings. His fingers slipping under her
panties.

“Please don’t,” she begged, but he didn’t
listen.

* * * *

Robert pulled Tremaine aside as Preston and
Liz went to unload their things. Tremaine’s brow arched as he
looked at him.

“Can I ask you a favor?” Robert
whispered.

One side of Tremaine’s mouth quirked up.
“Distract Preston so you can talk to Liz?”

It really shouldn’t have surprised Robert
that Tremaine would know. He knew he was fairly transparent, but
Liz still didn’t get it. “Yeah.”

“Here’s fair warning.” Tremaine dropped his
voice. “You hurt her, and I won’t go easy on you just because your
old man and I are close. I think you’re a good guy, Robert, but she
is my number one priority and I’m not sure she’s ready.”

Robert’s eyes narrowed in challenge. “I
simply want a moment alone with her. I have never, and will never,
do anything Liz does not want. She is my number one priority.”

Tremaine smiled, his head nodding. “I
believe you, kid. Don’t be disappointed if she turns you down.” He
looked over Liz. Robert followed his gaze. She was laughing at
whatever Preston told her. “For the record, she feels it too, but
she’s terrified. You’re going to have your work cut out for you if
you plan to win her heart.”

Robert nodded. He had all the time in the
world and he wasn’t in a rush. She was the only one he wanted, and
always would be.

Tremaine nudged his shoulder, nodding in her
direction. “Good luck.”

Robert nodded before making his way to
Liz.

“Hey, Preston. I need a word with you,”
Tremaine called.

Robert walked up to Liz. He jammed his hands
into his pockets as he closed the distance. She smiled up at him
and his heart nearly stopped.

She played with the hem of her jacket as her
eyes shifted to the ground. “I can’t wait until we’re chugging away
from here. I’m so ready to be far away from home.”

“Me too,” Robert replied breathlessly. “Did
you open the letter?” He blurted out and then half turned away.

“I did. I uh…,” she hesitated and he looked
back. She stared off into the distance with her lip caught between
her teeth.

“I’m not rushing you, Liz. You hold my
heart. You have since the moment I saw you. I’ll wait forever if
you’ll at least think about it.”

She brought her gaze back to his, and there
was happiness mixed with fear in her green gold eyes. “I don’t
deserve your patience, Robert. I’ll be honest. I’m scared.”

He nodded, his heart cracking, but he
expected that. “You don’t have to answer.”

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath,
and then let it out slowly. When she looked up at him, she
whispered, “If you can be patient with me, and you can wait until
we figure out what to tell your family, you have my heart.”

Robert didn’t dare breathe as hope filled
him, threatening to shatter him in case he had heard wrong. Her
hand fluttered to her collar and she pulled a silver chain out. His
ring hung from it. “I put it on the necklace so no one asked about
it. In case you change your mind.”

He reached out to caress her face. Liz
leaned into his touch, placing her hand over his. She turned her
head and placed a light kiss on his palm before she let go and
slipped the chain under her blouse.

Liz took a step back, her eyes drifting to
the car where Tremaine and Preston stood talking. “We better get on
the train before Preston gives us hell.”

Nodding, he took her hand. She squeezed back
before they climbed aboard.

* * * *

Tremaine and Preston took the last of the
bags as Liz and Robert boarded the train hand in hand. Shaking his
head, he looked to Preston. “That went better than I expected.”

“Why do you say that? They’re both over the
moon for each other.” Preston smirked. “Liz is only worried that
the McCallister’s won’t accept Robert choosing her.”

Tremaine’s brow arched. For being a
smartass, Preston was observant. “True, but it’s more than that.
She still doesn’t believe she deserves anyone’s love.”

“That’s bullshit. That girl deserves the
best kind of love.” He glanced over and shook his head. “She’s too
much work for me. Robert, though, that’s all he wants, to make her
happy.”

“I know. I hope she figures that out.” He
sighed before stowing the luggage.

“So, tell me something I don’t know.”
Preston pushed his fingers through his hair. “Why us for this
mission? Everyone knows that you would be fine to handle this one
on your own, but it’s too dangerous for any of our class.”

“Can you keep a secret?” Tremaine asked.

“Of course,” Preston answered with a
glare.

“I wanted to prove to the damned Silver
Council that Liz isn’t a threat to them, but will likely be one of
their best Enforcers if she chooses to stick to this course.”

Preston snorted. “She’s not a threat. She
just wants to be left alone.”

He had to give it to the kid, he was right.
Tremaine added, “They see what she’s capable of, and they think
she’ll go rogue.”

Preston’s brow drew together. “And how do
the rest of us factor in?”

“You think Robert would let her go without
him?”

He shook his head.

Tremaine nodded. “If I’m trying to make Liz
look better, then it doesn’t hurt to make you look better too. Your
mixed parentage shouldn’t hold you back. You have your own set of
talents. I haven’t met a mage who can track as well as you in
ages.”

Preston snorted. “I don’t care what anyone
thinks of me.”

“Which is another reason I want to see you
do well. We need more people who are going to do the right thing,
regardless of what the inner circle thinks.”

“Yeah, well they aren’t ever going to change
their minds.”

“That is the wrong attitude. Everything
changes in the end. All we can do is try to make it the right
change.”

They climbed onto the train, and Tremaine
found Liz in the corridor between their rooms. “Liz, I need a
moment of your time,” he told her.

She nodded, and gave Robert a reassuring
smile before stepping into her room.

“She’ll be right back,” Tremaine promised.
He stepped into her room and shut the door.

Liz stared out the window, not looking back.
“Are you going to warn me away, or tell me he’s the one?”

“Neither. I’m going to tell you to follow
your heart, not your head.”

“I thought you might say that. Did you know
what he was planning?”

“No, but I know he puts you first. That
right there gives me faith that he means what he says.”

There was a tremor in her voice. “He gave me
a promise ring and wrote me a beautiful letter. He loves me,
Tremaine, but what happens when he finally realizes I’m not good
enough.”

“What makes you think you aren’t?

“You know why. You witnessed it. He would
hate me if he ever found out.”

“No, Liz. You’re wrong about that. First,
you acted in self-defense. Second, what that monster did was wrong.
You fought for your life.”

“I would have died there. I couldn’t have
escaped on my own.”

Tremaine closed the distanced and turned her
around. When she finally looked up at him, he promised her, “You
wouldn’t have. You would have found a way. I’m glad you didn’t have
to. You gave my life meaning.”

“You gave me a life worth living.” She
wrapped her arms around him and squeezed. He held her. Liz had
become a strong young woman, and he hated to see her torn up over
something she had overcome.

“You can trust Robert. He won’t judge you,
no matter what.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Tremaine chuckled. “You own his heart.”

“He owns mine,” she whispered.

“Good, just don’t forget the talk we had
about giving into desires. You, young lady, are not old enough for
more than a kiss.”

She shoved him back, a real smile on her
face. “Don’t worry about that. I’m more interested in proving this
girl can keep up with the boys.”

“That’s my Liz,” he squeezed her shoulders
before stepping back. “Trust your heart, and give him a chance. He
makes you happy.”

James walked through the ruins of Sinclair’s
estate. There wasn’t much left but charred wood and ash. Nothing
had grown over the ruins, even after four long years.

In the blackest part of the wreckage, he
could feel Liz’s magic. He breathed deep, pulling it into himself.
He felt the breeze stir.

“Your gift is illusion,” Maynard said. “Why
don’t you attempt a recounting spell?”

“Isn’t that a little above our ability?”
Jarvis asked.

Maynard glared at the near clone of himself.
“James can, even if you can’t.”

Jarvis glanced away, kicking a broken beam.
He yelped in pain.

Maynard had a point though. He could likely
pull the past from the remains and see what had led to the
fire.

James walked to what appeared to be a melted
bed frame. He stared on the mess before him, spreading his hands as
he wove the spell, focusing on the day before the house was found
burnt to a husk.

A transparent scene formed around them. An
extravagant room, a magnificent bed with silk sheets and fine rope
bindings fastened to the posts. His pulse quickened as he took a
look around. There was a rack lined with riding crops, whips,
floggers and other instruments James did not recognize.