Thoroughly Kissed (30 page)

“I don't like being threatened,” Emma said.

Michael's lips twitched as if he found that comment amusing. But he was being good and not saying anything at all.

“I wasn't trying to threaten you, my dear. I was just trying to find out who would squander such a marvelous resource.” The man shrugged his shoulders forward. “Will you call off this beast?”

Emma almost called Darnell by name and then realized what the man was trying to get her to do. If he knew Darnell's name, he could control the cat.

Emma looked at Michael. “Would you calm him please?”

Michael went to Darnell and touched the back of his mane. Darnell roared so loud that the walls shook, but he sat down, giant tail twitching. He watched the stranger like a house cat staring at a mouse.

“Who are you?” Emma asked.

The man made a slight clicking sound with his tongue. “You know better than that, my dear. I'll tell you my name if you tell me yours.”

“I'm Bonita Sueña,” Emma said.

The man laughed. “Then I am El Vaquero Feo. You may call me El.”

“Feo will do just fine,” Emma said.

“And your companion?”

“Is just a mortal. Nothing to be concerned with.”

Michael's eyes narrowed. Emma couldn't let him know that she was trying to protect him. She hoped he would forgive her later.

Feo shot a quick glance at Darnell. He clearly didn't trust the cat. Emma wondered how many times Darnell had bitten and scratched him while they were alone together. Darnell at larger than life sized had to be a bit terrifying to anyone who'd already felt the cat's sharp teeth.

“There's a lot of loose magic swirling around you, Bonita,” Feo said. “I've never experienced anything like it before.”

“What concern is it of yours?” Emma asked.

“It seems that you don't want it. Your ability to use it seems rather”—he looked at Darnell—“limited.”

“So?”

Feo leaned back on the love seat. He was trying to look relaxed and casual, but it was clear that Darnell made him nervous. “I've met a few others like you. Newly minted and uncomfortable with their futures. See their magic as a burden. You seem to have the added discomfort of coming into yours quite early.”

“Actually,” Emma said, “I got mine a lot later than usual.”

Darnell's tail was twitching faster and faster. Michael kept one hand on Darnell's mane.

“I'm prepared to relieve you of that burden,” Feo said. “And you can name your own price.”

“I can sell my magic to you?” Emma asked.

Feo opened his hands like a benevolent ruler. “It would make your life so much simpler, wouldn't it?”

“What would it do to yours?”

Feo shrugged. “I am but a humble man who had humble talents. Over the years I learned that I could augment them. It's not the same as being born with great abilities, but it is better than what I originally had.”

So that was why Darnell made him nervous. Emma suppressed a smile. The man was a minor wizard whose spells were easily dissolved. No wonder he was angry that she had completely destroyed his shadows. They must have taken him weeks to build.

“And if I were to sell you my—talent,” Emma said, “what would I get in return?”

“Em—um, Bonita,” Michael said. “Don't.”

She didn't even look at him. Neither did Feo. It was as if Michael didn't even exist.

“Name your price,” Feo said.

“I could ask for all your magic in return, couldn't I?” Emma said. “Or your control?”

“That would be ridiculous,” Feo said. “It would defeat the purpose of my visit. I'm trying to free you of this burden, not make it worse.”

“Oh,” Emma said. “So anything but your magic.”

“I could extend the life of your toy there,” Feo said. “Make him pretty as long as he lives.”

“I could do that,” Emma said.

“Then why haven't you?”

Emma smiled. “I haven't tried him out yet. No use wasting magic on something that's untried, don't you agree?”

Michael shot a glance at her.

“Yes,” Feo said. “Besides, there are so many of them. Why keep just one?”

“Your price?” Emma said, reminding him of the discussion.

Feo shrugged. “Whatever you want.”

“And if I say no?”

He stood, acting like a powerful man in control of a situation. Darnell yowled, the hair rising on his back. Feo glanced nervously at him. It ruined the effect.

“I'm afraid I'd just have to take that loose magic,” he said. “And then you wouldn't get anything for it at all.”

Darnell's yowl got higher pitched. Michael's hand on his mane seemed more and more ineffective.

Emma held out a hand. The command usually worked with Darnell—the smaller Darnell, anyway. She wondered if the larger one would listen.

“You can't take my magic,” Emma said. “No one can. I have to give it away.”

He tilted his head back, studying her. “You're more educated than I thought.”

“I told you,” Emma said, “I'm in control.”

His smile was small. “If you were, your magic wouldn't be running loose on hillsides waiting for anyone to use it.”

She started. The horse-wishes were here too? How far had that spell spread? “Unless I meant that to happen.”

“Nonsense,” he said. “No one willingly lets loose that kind of power.”

“You seem to think someone would give it away,” she said.

He snapped his fingers and both Michael and Darnell froze in place. They looked like a man and lion statue, gleaming under the lights. “I could kill them both if you don't give me that magic.”

His spells were small, Emma had to remind herself. The last time she had summoned ghosts that had destroyed his magic using pointed things. All she needed was something pointed—a knife, a car key—and she'd get Michael and Darnell back.

“You could,” Emma said, “but that wouldn't work in the eyes of the Fates. A gift coerced is not a true gift.”

He cursed. “Who taught you?”

“Ealhswith,” she said, and it was her turn to smile. She did it slowly, the nastiest smile she could muster. She tried, in her mind, to imitate her evil mentor's smile as best she could. “Are you sure you want to mess with me?”

The self-assurance left his face. “Is this some kind of trick? Are you working for the Fates?”

“I might be.” Her smile got nastier. “Think of it. A multidimensional sting operation.”

He looked up, then down, then back at her. “I'll know if you're lying.”

“Sure you will,” she said, sarcastically. “Your magic is just that strong.”

“There are others in this area who know that your magic is loose. They'll know that I didn't get it. They'll come after you.”

“My magic isn't loose,” Emma said calmly. “I'm sure you'll tell them that.”

“They don't listen to me.”

“I'm beginning to understand why,” Emma said. “Now, unfreeze my cat and my mortal.”

“Are you sure you won't change your mind?” Feo asked.

“Feo, I'm within my legal rights to turn you into a toad. I believe I could get at least a century's worth of toadness out of you before the Fates even protested. Do you want me to do that?”

He was trembling visibly now. He snapped his fingers. Both Michael and Darnell stopped glistening. Darnell was growling again. His tail started twitching so fast that Emma knew he was going to pounce in a moment. She bet that Feo had forgotten to put his little force field back up.

“Okay,” Feo said, his voice trembling as much as his hands. “I'm leaving. But you have to promise me that you won't mess with me again.”

“I'm not promising anything,” Emma said.

And then Darnell launched. Michael didn't even try to grab at him. Darnell was growling like a lion in a nature documentary. He soared at Feo who clapped his hands together, and vanished in a cloud of noxious smoke.

Darnell leapt through the smoke and landed, coughing, on the cheap coffee table. The table buckled, and then collapsed.

Darnell lay there for a moment, obviously trying to catch his breath. Then he sighed.

“I don't suppose I can convince you both that I did that on purpose,” Darnell said.

“I know it was on purpose,” Emma said. “You meant to hit Feo. He disappeared. It was his fault.”

“Of course. Exactly.” Darnell sat up and started licking himself. Then he stopped and glared at her. “If the prey is gone, can I revert to my normal size? Otherwise this bath will take forever.”

“I'll see what I can do,” Emma said.

“Don't try the reverse spell,” Darnell said. “Tell me to shut up and clap your hands. That's how you did it the last time.”

“I don't need you telling me how to do spells.”

“Well, someone has to tell you. No matter how you bluffed that idiot. He must really be one weak-assed magician if he's stealing powers from others.”

“If he's afraid of you,” Emma said.

Darnell sat even straighter. “I'm extremely intimidating at this size.”

“Naw,” Emma said. “You're just a pussycat.”

Darnell stood up. “Lady, I like you. You feed me. But don't push me.”

“Why not?” she said. “If you attack me, Michael will call animal control and they'll capture you, cage you, and put you down.”

“Not if I talk to them.”

“Darnell has a point,” Michael said.

“Who asked you?” Emma said, not turning to him.

“You're the one who mentioned his name,” Darnell said.

“Shut up,” Emma said.

“Okay.”

“I thought you said that would work,” Emma said to Darnell.

“You didn't clap your hands. Do I have to do all of this for you?”

“You haven't done anything so far.”

“So far, I've been forced into the backseat of a car, I've had to listen to gooey love talk. I've had to share your attention with that guy—”

“Hey!” Michael said.

“—and I got cheated out of several meals. Then I get held prisoner by a piece of prey, who wore too much cologne, thank you very much, and I have to get it off my fur and—”

“Shut up!” Emma said and clapped her hands. The clap turned into thunder and then a lightning bolt sizzled through the room, illuminating everything, including the dirt on the furniture. Emma felt the energy leave her and go directly toward Darnell. The light surrounded him for a moment—he seemed to grin as if he knew he had manipulated her—and then he shrank down to normal size.

He didn't even try to thank her. He just returned to licking his shoulder as if that were the most important thing in life.

Which, to him, it probably was.

Michael let out a small sigh. He hadn't left his post near the love seat. “You think that man is gone?”

“Yeah,” Emma said.

“Bonita Sueña? You know what that means?”

“I was trying for Sleeping Beauty.”

“You weren't even close.”

“I was close,” Emma said.

“No, you got Beautiful Dreamer.” Then he frowned. “Actually, that would be La Sueña Bonita.”

“No,” Emma said. “That's the beautiful dream.”

“I thought you didn't speak Spanish.”

“I didn't say that. I just don't think fast in it.”

“Then why didn't you use your native tongue?”

“Because he already had enough clues about who I was,” Emma said. “No need to give him any more.”

“So that's why you chose to call him Feo.”

She smiled. “The Ugly Cowboy didn't suit him, but Ugly sure did.”

Michael smiled back at her. His eyes warmed. She went to him and he put his arms around her, holding her close. They rocked together. He felt very, very good.

After a moment, Michael said, “Is Feo right? Do you think there're others?”

She nodded against his shirt. That was probably what she had felt when she had been entering this region. The dark magic.

“Do you think they're more powerful?”

“Than me? I'm sure of it.”

“Than him.”

She considered for a moment. “Their powers don't matter that much since they have to get my permission to take my magic, and it can't be coerced.”

“That could be a fine line, though.” Michael rubbed his hand up and down her back. “You might not even know you're being coerced.”

“Michael, I'd know.”

He shook his head. “Magic can work on you, just like the rest of us.”

“Any spell would be coercion.”

“The person who spelled you would have to get caught.” He put a finger under her chin and brought her face up to his. “Right?”

She looked away. “Right.”

He turned her face back toward his and kissed her. A long, slow, sweet kiss that had passion, but also had a sorrow to it. Then he leaned his forehead against hers. “I think,” he said softly, “we should go.”

“Go?”

“Drive to Oregon. Nonstop.”

“But, Michael.” She gestured toward the bed. “We were going to stay the night.”

He kissed her again. This kiss was less sweet and a lot more passionate. She slid her hands under his shirt, feeling that firm, strong back of his. His hands were in her hair, easing her closer.

“Jeez, guys, get a room.”

Emma and Michael pulled apart. They both looked at Darnell. His golden eyes twinkled.

“That is the phrase, isn't it?” he asked. “Get a room?”

“I thought you lost your voice,” Michael said.

“Not this time. She got the size, not the voice. I was annoyed at first, but I think this is going to be useful. I can weigh in with my opinion without having to throw myself at windows. And I say, ‘Get a room.'”

“We have a room,” Emma said.

Darnell sighed. “You persist in that activity with that—man”—there was enough disgust in Darnell's voice to freeze all of Lake Mendota—“I will simply have to find a way to stop you.”