I said Id help you, he said quickly, his frustration probably because I wasnt being reasonable, but I couldnt help it. The man was scaring me, and I didnt know why. He never had before. Help me? Why would he help me? And could I trust that?
You need to consider the risk that youre putting yourself and those around you in by choosing to sever your ability to do quick, adaptive magic, he finished softly, persuasively, his beautiful voice coaxing me to just . . . listen.
My head drooped, and I looked past Trent to Wayde, his face down and his hand reaching for nothing. I cant, Trent, I whispered. If I start hurting people, then I start killing them. I dont want to be that person.
I looked up and was shocked by his understanding. I blinked, and he hid it by rubbing his hand over the cup of his ear and ducking his head. I understand where youre coming from, he said. I really do, but this? He gestured behind him to Wayde. This isnt safe for you or anyone else. One good charm could have prevented this altogether.
I know that, I said, feeling the sting of guilt, but he only came closer, his expression softening more.
Instead, you did nothing, letting it escalate until someone else had to step in, and now instead of a sprained wrist, he might have a concussion.
I am not going to kill people! I said, and he winced as my voice echoed in the rain-emptied street.
Im not asking you to, he said, his eyes finally meeting mine. But you are a demon.
Arms wrapped around my middle, I looked up into the misty rain.
That comes with responsibilities and expectations, but it also gives you a way out, Trent was saying, but my gut hurt. My God, Rachel, you have an arsenal of abilities youre ignoring, weapons that can be used to minimize the damage your existence creates. Youre forcing others to pick up your slack. Its time to grow up.
He had me until his last words, and my head snapped down. Stop it. Just stop, I said, and his shoulders slumped as he realized hed gone too far. Thank you for coming over here and rescuing me from my bodyguard.
Trents posture shifted to one of belligerence, his hair dark in the misty rain. Tell me that again when you mean it, and Ill buy you dinner, he said, and my jaw tightened.
I appreciate that you want to help me screw up my life even more, I said, heart pounding, but with all due respect, Mr. Kalamack, when I want the damn bracelet off, Ill ask you.
Is that so?
His words were clipped, and I desperately wanted to say something different, but he was right and I was scared. And when I got scared, I got stubborn. Yes, I said, chin lifted.
For a long moment he looked at me, unknown thoughts making his own jaw clench and a dangerous light catch in his eyes. Mr. Benson cant keep you safe from HAPA.
I stood up straighter, hoping he didnt see me shaking. Im only going out to secure sites. Im making up some earth-magic charms later. If Im prepared, Ill be okay. Its not as if Ive never been under a death threat before.
Trents lips lost their hard slant, and he almost smiled. Head dropping, he stepped closer to say something, but behind him, Wayde moved, his knee scraping on the cement as he sat up.
Damn, the Were breathed, his head still bowed as he felt his chest. What the hell hit me?
Id never find out what Trent was going to say because he bent to help Wayde to his feet. Sorry about that, he said, and I swear I saw a faint glow as he did some healing magic and Wayde blinked fast. I thought you were taking Rachel against her will.
He was, I said, ignored by both men as I fidgeted at the open door.
Wayde squinted up at me in the dark before he dropped his head again and rubbed the back of his neck. He was wet from having been on the cement, and still dazed. I was trying to prove a point.
Trent nodded, that same tight look about his jaw. It would have worked except for one thing, he said, and Wayde looked up.
Whats that? he asked blearily.
Silent, Trent stared at me while my heart hammered, once, twice, three times. Shes got friends, he finally said. His head cocked in challenge, Trent turned his back on me and paced quickly to his car, his steps light and almost silent.
Wayde groaned softly, hunched over as he felt his middle. Are you okay? I asked him as I put a hand on his back, then watched as Trent drove away, his wipers going and his brake lights shining on the damp pavement.
Yeah. Can we go now?
I nodded, taking his elbow to steady him as we went down the steps. Sure. We could go now. Damn it, I was going to get a tattoo. Swell.
Chapter Six
David put his heater-stuffy, gray sports car into park in front of a deserted shop front, and I stared out the front window, the misty black adding to my stellar mood. Even the familiar, pleasant scent of Were mixing with Davids expensive cologne didnt help. There were no cars here, no pedestrian activity, the rain having emptied the usually busy Inderland neighborhood. It was one in the morning in a bad part of town, but seeing that I was sitting next to an alpha Were with an angry bodyguard in the back, Id probably be okay, even if Davids car was likely on three chop-shop lists. Id been in worse neighborhoods on my own.