Helena tipped her chin slightly and Toshio knew it was a sign of thanks and respect. Thats a nice thing to hear. His and Tegans Enforcer team is something I admire a great deal. We should get moving to the airport now. Ive received several reports that Others can get hassled quite a bit going through security so we should build in the extra time. Im spoiled in that Ive been flying privately of late, so Ive been able to avoid most of that nonsense.
Delilahs mouth hardened. The last time I flew I was chosen for an enhanced pat-down. They held me up for an entire hour. Everything was fine until they ran my ticket through. Ive asked about whether or not theres some sort of TSA tracking system for Others, but I cant get any answers. Which only says there is one.
Helena nodded. Oh yes, you know theres a list.
That turned Toshs stomach. Lists of Others got very close to what had happened over and over throughout history. Keeping track of people because they were differentand not in a way that protects society like lists of sex offenders or violent felonswasnt the America he believed in.
Im sorry. He sighed.
Helena shrugged. Youre trying to stop it. Thats what counts. In the meantime, we cant make a huge deal of it or we get picked on even worse. Theyve got so much power these days that even raising this treatment as an issue while its occurring is cause for them to not let someone fly. So for now, we plan ahead and document everything.
Doesnt mean we have to like it. Delilah stood, brushing the front of her skirt down. But shes right. Lets get moving. Id like to sleep in my own bed tonight and we all need the rest before we deal with Marlon tomorrow.
Tosh nearly snarled at his fellow senators name. Marlon Hayes had become a legislative mouthpiece for the PURITY movement and it turned his stomach every time he had to deal with the man. Thered be a hearing first thing in the morning on the companion bill to House Bill 877, the Domestic Security Act. A fine-sounding name for a bill that would strip Others of their civil and human rights along with their property and citizenship.
At least they got to move through security in a shorter line, but Helena was pulled aside for an enhanced check, which took an extra half hour. She was far more patient than he was, and it wasnt until he started making calls and taking down names that things moved more quickly. They still checked her, but the overt slowing down of the process stopped and they got on with it.
The unfairness of it deeply bothered him. No one should be treated this way and yet it was happening. It happened every day to many people. And it wasnt right.
He was relieved when they finally boarded and got settled in. The flight attendants were friendly and helpful and he was seated next to Delilah. It did wonders for his mood.
The entire flight Tosh considered ways to ask Delilah over for a drink when they arrived back in DC. But things kept coming up. He got interrupted by his aide many times over. The times he spoke to Delilah they were in a group and it wasnt the right place to ask.
And by the time they landed he was so tired his eyes burned and all he could think about was a hot shower and a good nights sleep. Still, hed made a decision to move forward and, that done, he rarely lost sight of something hed set his mind to do. Within the next two days he would ask Delilah over for a drink. He could do this. It was long past time.
* * *
THE plane touched down and Helena managed to get everyone into a car and safely delivered to their Washington, DC, homes, where they all had personal security, and she and Faine joined the rest of the Others at a huge house owned by the National Pack.
You should go to sleep. Faine shouldered her bag once theyd entered the front gates and she let him. Too tired to refuse.
Im surprised there arent any protesters.
I suppose they may not know this location is Other-owned yet. Are you even listening? Youre dead on your feet. As usual. You should rest.
She grinned at the agitation in his voice, for some reason cheered by needling him. Stupid, really, to poke at a giant beast wearing a mans skin. But she liked to live dangerously. No. Come on. Im hungry.
He frowned at her, but followed her into the house where the magick of all the Others inside greeted his senses, easing his tension.
Its so nice to be in a friendly space. He watched as the frown lines around her eyes eased back and that made him feel better.
I was just thinking that.
Molly got up as they entered the main living room. Hello, you two. Glad you got in all right. Come on upstairs. Ill show you your rooms and you can put your bags down.
They followed her up the stairs and down a long hallway to the end. Molly turned to Helena. I put you facing the courtyard. The plants out there make me feel better. I figured youd think so as well.
The room was nice sized and had an en suite bathroom.
Faine is on the other side.
He nodded. Thank you, Molly. He turned to Helena. Ill be back in a moment and then you and I are eating some dinner.
Theres a huge kitchen here. Cade Warden sent a chef down so theres a lot of food as well. Are you all right?
Its been a challenging day, Faine said as he came back into Helenas bedroom. We were chosen for an enhanced search at the airport. There was a fight between three security people, one of whom was an asshole but the other two, also human, were not. Sato had to intervene and make calls to get it moved along. The plane trip was long, but thankfully, as we took up the entire first-class cabin, we didnt have to deal with much animosity.
Molly looked to Helena. But you felt it.
Helena nodded, pressing her fingers to her temples.
You can feel it? He pushed his anger that she hadnt said so down as far as he could. She wasnt a natural sharer, this one, but he wanted her to lighten her damned load with him sometimes just the same.
It was Molly who spoke to explain. A lot of negative energy, especially when its aimed at you and youre in a confined space, is toxic. Planes tend to amplify our magick as well, so its a one-two punch. Molly took Helenas hands. Why dont you go out into the courtyard for a recharge? Ill let the chef know youll be eating in a few minutes. But clear out all that bad energy, youll feel better and the food will go down easier too.
Faine wanted to scoop her up and cosset her. He had no idea all the dirty looks and nasty comments people made under their breath would affect her like that.
Is it all right if I come along?
Helena shrugged. Sure.
Molly took them down a back staircaseslowly and carefully in her walking castand showed them through large French doors into an enclosed courtyard, full of life. Container gardens spilled with plants and flowers.
Gage and I are in the living room watching movies when youre ready. Molly hugged Helena and then Faine and went back inside.
Faine settled on a bench and watched as Helena took her shoes and socks off, along with her sweater, leaving her in a T-shirt that showed the whipcord strength of her upper body. She freed her hair from the bun shed been wearing, running her fingers through it as she did.
Then she wandered through the path, letting her outstretched fingertips brush over the plants, against the bark of the trees, through the rushing water of the water feature. She stepped up and then down into the bed of a large garden space.
He saw it then, the light of her aura as she drew all the magick around her. It settled against her skin like snowflakes and then seemed to melt into her. She breathed slow and deep as she walked. Occasionally shed pause, burying her face in a bunch of leaves or flowers.
This side of her was soft. Lush and so achingly intimate it was as if hed been spying on her. But shed allowed it. Moved around knowing he was there watching.
A gift of her inner life and the weight of that settled. Not crushing. Anchoring.
Shed been sort of tattered when theyd arrived. Her spine hunched, the tension rolling from her in waves. But when she came back to him, settling next to him on the bench, that was gone. Her ragged spaces seemed to have filled in. Her aura was brilliant, sunny yellow, the blue of the sky at summer.
She stretched. This garden is fantastic. Whoever tends it does so with love. Every leaf seems to vibrate with it.
You can feel things like that?
Not always. But living things most especially. My mother says we get it through her. Lark is much the same, though shes got this crazy affinity with birds. Weve always loved being outdoors. Theres so much ambient magick in a garden. If its tended by someone who truly loves the work, the magick seems to leap to you when you call for it. The energy, the life force of the plant life fills in all your empty spots. I dont know how to explain it.
Seems to me youre doing just fine.
I have a lot of plants in my apartment, but at the house I used to share with Lark, we had an inner courtyard like this and it was full of plants. After crazy shifts wed often just sit out there and have a glass of wine, letting all the bad business wisp away. My mother is a big gardener. She loves it. All the stuff from her teas comes from her gardens at their house. I guess we do get it from her, though Im not that gifted with green things. Shes special that way.
He smiled. Thank you.
For what? She clearly had no idea.
For letting me share in this with you. This private side of yourself.
Oh. Well. I figured youd find something restorative out here too. Shifters have that connection with nature as well. Different, but its there.
He snorted. Im not a shifter.
She turned, a mischievous grin on her lips, and his heart lightened.
Youre human and you shift into a wolf.
You enjoy poking at me, dont you?
She raised a brow, but said nothing else and he chuckled.
Im Lycian. I am a beast who wears a mans skin sometimes. And other times I wear fur. But I am always who I am, no matter the skin I wear. I do not need the moon or the tides. If I bit you, youd bleed, but you wouldnt be infected.
Did I insult you? Her levity was gone, her question genuine.
He snorted a laugh and took her hand, squeezing it a moment. No. Were related in a distant manner, to shifters. But we are not the same.
Thank you for educating me. Theres so much I dont know about everything out there in the universe. I thought I did until the Magister. Not knowing things makes me nervous.
Theres so much out there. Miraculous things.
I envy you that knowledge.
I can share it with you. If you like. I already said wed go to Lycia when theres a lull of a few days. There are other places. Beyond the Veil, I mean. I can part it, we can travel so you can see it all.
Id really like that.
And so hed make it happen.
Her stomach growled. Shall we go in and eat?
He leaned in close. After.
After?
He reached out, cupping the back of her neck as he brushed his lips over hers. Hed intended a brief kiss, but she opened, sighing into him. Once that breath entered his system there was nothing brief about it.
He sank into her mouth, sliding his tongue over her juicy bottom lip and then inside, tasting the sweetness of her, the spice of her magick as it rose against him, twining around his.
Loam and fur, sun-dappled leaves and the lap of a lake against the shore filled him. Her magick, snowflakes and pomegranate slid around it. They were opposites and yet complementary.
Something clicked in him. An utter surety that hed felt rarely enough that he trusted it to his toes.
He took her hand, squeezing it as he pulled away.
She nipped his bottom lip and he was back for more, deepening, his tongue dancing with hers. The sounds of the night all around them began to filter through the heat of their kiss. Of traffic on the street, voices just inside the house, the merrily running water just a few feet away.
When he broke the kiss, it was only because he knew there would be more.
Laughter sounded from inside and she smiled. Lets go in.
He stood and she took his outstretched hand, letting him pull her up.
Chapter 7
SO, you want to talk about anything? Molly tried to hide her smile when she sidled up to Helena as they both filled their plates at breakfast.
You scare me. Its so early and youre so perky. I do, however, covet that blouse.
Molly preened a little. Its so nice to be around someone else who loves clothes as much as I do. Also? Fifty percent off. Sale rack. It was missing a button, but I can sew enough for that.
Nice score. The color is good on you. It was true, Mollys coloring worked well with the deep blue of the silk.
Thanks. One of these days Im going to take you shopping with me so you can show me all the places I can find clothes with enough pockets to hide weapons.
Helena laughed. You have Gage. You dont need to hide weapons.
He does come in handy. Molly blushed. I have no idea how you manage to look like youve walked out of an ad for designer clothes when I know youve got guns and knives on your person, and youll still be able to run and kick people in the face.
They moved to the table and sipped coffee.
Its a gift. Helena winked. It is hard to find pants cut right for ease of face-kicking though. The thing is, magick is easier to use, I dont need special clothes for it and its free. Unfortunately, when Im doing four things at once, a nice face kick clears the decks for me to do other things and not run my power down. Plus? Its really satisfying to kick a jackwagon in the face.