Flashfire (15 page)

Chapter 8

D
iavolo
. How had Marco known that Lorenzo had been thinking that word? How much more did the Sleeper know? For the first time, Lorenzo cursed himself for not paying much attention to
Pyr
lore over the years. He didn’t know what the Sleeper could do, much less why—all he knew was that this
Pyr
had a claim on the darkfire crystal.

Actually, Lorenzo didn’t even know what that stone could do or what its importance was. That had been before the blue-green flame of darkfire had rippled in the core of the stone, before Rafferty’s own firestorm had been touched by the challenging force of the mythic darkfire.

Once upon a time, none of this had been Lorenzo’s business. It wasn’t unreasonable for him to yearn for that to be his situation once again.

Saturday. He’d be done with all of them on Saturday.

He didn’t dare even think about flashfire, much less the song the Cantor had given him.

He slanted a sidelong glance at his passenger and wondered how much the other
Pyr
knew about him. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know.

He hated that Marco smiled right then.

Lorenzo didn’t make conversation. He drove. He wasn’t fooled by Marco’s calm demeanor. The Sleeper was a
Pyr
, which meant he was a dragon, which meant the fire burned hot within him. It might be banked, or he might simply be disguising its heat, but if cornered or vexed, Marco would fight.

Just like all the
Pyr
. They were primitive creatures. Dangerous. Violent. Inclined to anger and destruction.

He could only hope his companion didn’t do something absurd, like toss a challenge coin at him and demand a duel to the death over the crystal. Such practices were barbaric.

Lorenzo drove and acknowledged that he loathed his dragon nature. He was good with the longevity and his control over the element of fire. He liked having the ability to beguile—mostly because those powers had ensured that he’d been able to live as luxuriously as he desired.

But the ripping, tearing, fighting, and biting side of his nature he found vulgar. Ill mannered.

That was why he never shifted shape.

Except for the incident the day before—provoked by Cassie’s presence and her question—he couldn’t recall the last time he had let himself shift.

It was a point of pride that he never lost control, but he
had
lost control in the theater.

And he’d threatened JP in old-speak.

Lorenzo frowned and accelerated, telling himself that it wouldn’t happen again.

“Yes, it will,” Marco murmured beside him.

Lorenzo glanced at his companion in wary surprise. Had he heard Lorenzo’s thoughts?

“I did,” Marco supplied, with a serenity that annoyed Lorenzo. “Again. It’s the legacy of the darkfire, I think. I can hear the thoughts of all the
Pyr
.”

“I am not on Erik’s team.”

“But you can’t deny your own nature,” Marco said, watching the scenery with apparent fascination. “You have tried to do so for enough time that you should know that.”

“What I know is that I
can
deny it.”

Marco’s smile broadened. “The way you denied the firestorm?”

“I satisfied the firestorm, to rid myself of its inconvenience.”

“Ah.” Marco was clearly not persuaded. “Then why did you pursue your mate to her hotel?”

Mate
. Lorenzo wanted to snarl at the choice of word. “I smelled
Slayer
,” he confessed through gritted teeth.

“And isn’t it our nature to defend our mates from
Slayers
?”

“Believe what you need to,” Lorenzo said. “I do not adhere to Erik’s philosophy and I will not be governed by base instincts.”

“I see.” Marco nodded. “Why the second interlude, then? The firestorm was satisfied, so you should have had no need or desire for her—unless she really is your destiny.”

“There is no such thing as destiny.”

Marco smiled. “Perhaps your so-called base nature is more a part of you than you think.”

Lorenzo felt his own banked fire begin to simmer. “I owe you no explanation.”

“True.” That maddening smile curved Marco’s lips even wider. “I note only that you can’t deny what you are.” He gave Lorenzo a look. “You can’t run from it and you can’t hide from it.”

Lorenzo turned savagely into his own driveway. “You
were
sent by Erik! You can tell him that I’m not signing up. I’m not joining the
Pyr
!”

“Believe what you need to,” Marco said mildly.

“Why can’t you leave me alone? Why can’t you all go and harass another
Pyr
, one who actually wants to be involved with you?”

Marco smiled. “Because you need us, Lorenzo, whether you realize it or not.”

“I don’t need
anyone
!”

Marco chuckled.

Lorenzo fumed. He didn’t slow down as he approached the closed gates, knowing the timing perfectly. If he’d thought to spook his companion, he was doomed to be disappointed. He saw a slight glitter in Marco’s eyes, no more than that; then the gates swung open in the nick of time. He squealed to a halt before his own front door, just as the gates clanged shut.

“You’re wrong,” Marco said. “But the good thing is that when you ask for the help of the
Pyr
, we will come—despite your attitude.”

“I will never ask for the help of the
Pyr
.”

Marco smiled that infuriating smile. “We’ll see.”

Before Lorenzo could argue with him, the Sleeper got out of the car. He stood staring at the house, his eyes narrowed as he scanned its height and breadth.

It was magnificent. Lorenzo looked at it with admiration and knew he would miss it, as well.

On the other hand, the one he was going to occupy had its own charm, and its own challenges. He knew he would love living there, as well.

Life was to be savored in the moment.

But Marco wasn’t impressed by the house. He flicked a glance toward Lorenzo, and smiled again. “It is gone, after all,” he murmured. This time, humor danced in his eyes. “I should have known it would choose its own destination.”

“Who took it?” Lorenzo demanded. “And how?”

Marco smiled again. “Ask your father.” Before Lorenzo could ask, the other
Pyr
inclined his head slightly. “I thank you for your assistance.” Marco shimmered blue, shifted shape, then took flight in Lorenzo’s courtyard.

In broad daylight.

Right in front of the new housekeeper, who had opened the door to greet Lorenzo and stood there, astonished.

Lorenzo could have spit sparks in frustration.

Not
again
.

But the housekeeper’s mouth fell open and her eyes went round and Lorenzo knew he had more beguiling to do.

At least Marco hadn’t demanded the flashfire song. Lorenzo could still remember it, much to his relief.

Something was going right.

“So?” Stacy was bouncing on Cassie’s bed, an activity guaranteed to ensure that Cassie woke up.

She did. She sat up, noted that it was almost lunchtime, and was surprised that she felt as good as she did.

“So what?” she asked, noting that her friend was showered, dressed, and pretty in purple on this particular day.

Stacy’s eyes shone. “Soooooo, you never told me and I couldn’t ask because JP was there and later I was too tired to grill you for details. Tell me! Did you have
fun
yesterday afternoon?”

Cassie blushed. She tried to hide it by heading for the bathroom, but no luck—Stacy followed her. “You’ve already guessed.”

“But I want all the details!”

“Well, you’re not getting any.” Cassie met her friend’s gaze. “Look. I feel really bad about leaving you at the show.”

Stacy waved this off. “I’m a big girl. And you were past due for some fun. Now,
dish
!”

“No!”

“Come on. Was it fun? Was he amazing?” Stacy’s eyes shone. “Is it true love forever?”

“Okay.” Cassie froze in the act of brushing her teeth. “Yes. And yes. And no, absolutely not. Satisfied?”

Stacy laughed. “No!” She leaned in the doorway and grinned. “Enough fun that you had to go back for more?”

Cassie continued brushing, ignoring Stacy’s pointed remark. A person couldn’t be too careful with good dental hygiene.

Stacy laughed again. “Good. I’m glad. When you can’t get enough, it’s a good sign, you know. Kismet.” Cassie rolled her eyes and Stacy sobered. “Is sex with Lorenzo fixing whatever’s been bothering you?”

Cassie was going to deny that anything had been bothering her, but she met her own gaze in the mirror, surprised by Stacy’s intuitive response. She turned to Stacy. “You know, it is.”

“Great! Then I don’t mind that you’ve been too busy to tell me all your secrets. We can catch up later.”

Cassie felt guilty at that. “Let’s grab some lunch together. . . .”

“Not today. I have a date and he’s good for what ails me. I told you years ago that you needed a vacation. I’ve been telling you for months that a little fun would set you straight. Maybe you’ll believe me from now on.” Stacy left the doorway, and Cassie heard her rummaging in the closet. She reappeared, posing with a pair of metallic purple sandals with stiletto heels. “What about these shoes?”

“Who’s the lucky guy?”

“JP.” Stacy inhaled and closed her eyes, as if she were giddy at the prospect. “Gorgeous man with gorgeous taste.”

Cassie recalled what JP had said about temptation, and decided not to tell Stacy what he’d said. It sounded as if he was serious about her friend, and she liked that he was thinking of the longer term.

Stacy made an appreciative purr in her throat. “I could just pack him in my suitcase and take him home.”

“You might get the chance.”

Stacy grinned. “Don’t tempt me. Your Jeep could be full of yummy men when we head home. We’ll grab Lorenzo on our way past his show.”

Cassie laughed at the very idea of getting Lorenzo out of Vegas. She laughed harder at the idea of JP and Lorenzo jammed into the back of her Jeep for the long drive back to L.A. Which illusionist would make the other disappear?

“What’s so funny?”

“I don’t think they like each other. I was imagining them both locked in the back of the Jeep together.”

Stacy laughed then too. “Don’t worry. Lorenzo can ride in the front with you and I’ll hop in the back with JP.” She winked and grabbed her purse.

Cassie supposed her interludes with Lorenzo had served their purpose. She felt more invigorated. Still not ready to rush back to work, but happier.

She indicated Stacy’s choice of shoes. “Those look good, especially if you don’t have to walk far.” Cassie knew better than to expect that Stacy’s interrogation was done. She turned on the shower and pretended not to notice that her pal was hovering.

“So, are you seeing
him
today?”

“I don’t think so.” Cassie tried to sound casual. “It was
fun
, you know, and that’s that.”

“It was kismet. I saw you two together,” Stacy said, and Cassie tried to not roll her eyes at Stacy’s favorite word. Or maybe it was her favorite idea. “Did he tell you about your dragon dudes?”

“No, actually, he didn’t. There was just that illusion.”

“See? He wants you to come after him.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Do you think he did that illusion again at last night’s show?”

“He didn’t. I guess it was a one-off.”

“He didn’t? How do you know?” Stacy grinned. “You went
back
!”

Cassie felt herself blushing. “I wanted to know.”

“Uh-huh. Don’t go getting married while I’m having lunch. I get to be a bridesmaid.”

“Not a chance of that happening.”

“So maybe Lorenzo knows more about the
Pyr
than he’s admitting.” Stacy grinned. “Maybe he
is
one. How else would he have done that trick?”

“He’s an illusionist,” Cassie insisted. “It’s his job to make people believe things that aren’t true.”

Stacy smiled. “Are you sure?”

“Yes! The
Pyr
don’t exist.”

“Lots of people think they do. Remember YouTube.”

Rather than keep arguing, Cassie shut the door, peeled down, and got into the shower instead. She realized that Stacy had followed her when her friend abruptly pulled back the edge of the curtain. “Maybe you should find out for sure,” Stacy whispered.

“I don’t think Lorenzo’s going to play Twenty Questions with me.”

“Maybe Truth or Dare,” Stacy teased. “Or Spin the Bottle.” She primped in front of the mirror. “Maybe you just need an excuse to see him again.”

“Maybe I don’t.”

“Maybe you
should
.” Stacy disappeared, her heels clicking on the bathroom floor. “Seeing as he’s going to die on Saturday. Make every moment count and all that.”

“What are you talking about?” Cassie ripped open the shower curtain and looked after her friend, who smiled.

“The spectacle.” Stacy reminded her, waving the brochure with Lorenzo’s picture on it. “Didn’t you read the brochure? Oh no, I forgot, you were too busy ogling his picture.” Stacy rolled her eyes to show her skepticism. “Checking on the competition in the photography game.”

“I’m sure it’s a stunt. He’s not going to die.”

“That’s not what the bookies are saying. You should see the odds. If he survives this trick, Lorenzo could be a kabillionaire.”

Cassie eyed the shower and thought about Lorenzo dying.

It wasn’t a good thought.

She was sure that he would work out the illusion so he survived—but what if he was wrong? Anyone could miscalculate.

Stacy grabbed her purse and flashed a smile. “Gotta go. Be good—or if you can’t be good, be careful.”

“Right back at you.”

Stacy laughed, and then she was gone.

Cassie stood under the deluge of hot water. Was Lorenzo’s feat going to kill him?

Or was there more going on than anyone—even the bookies—realized?

By the time she got out of the shower, Cassie was determined to find out.

Not because she imagined that she had any future with a sexy illusionist. Cassie knew better than to believe in the long term.