“Yeah.” I paced the small apartment. “But he knows everything else.”
Cass sighed. “Being a FireSoul is a pretty big deal, dude. It’s who we are. It’s shaped our whole lives. So I can see how that one secret is actually many secrets.”
“Yeah,” Nix added. “It’s the reason we met in the Monster’s prison. We’ve built our whole business on it. We run our lives around it. It’s the reason none of us trust worth a damn and have two friends besides each other.”
“I mean, we live fairly weird lives,” Cass said. “Roarke’s bound to have noticed and wondered why.”
“Well, he lives a pretty weird life himself,” I said.
“Which is why you should maybe consider fessing up to him,” Nix said. “Laying it all out there.”
Shocked, I whirled to look at her. “You trust him with that kind of information? You?”
Cass’s brows had jumped up almost to her hairline. “I can see me making that suggestion, but you, Nix?”
“Yeah.” She nodded decisively. “I know I’ve been suspicious of him, but I’ve been watching him and thinking about it. After the thing with that asshole Orson and how he took care of business and stayed by your side, I’m cool with him. If he was ever going to turn you in, it would have been when that jerk walked in here blathering his accusations.”
“True accusations,” I said.
“Exactly. And all of it leads back to Roarke. He’s got a stake in this. If the Order of the Magica finds out he’s protecting you, he’s in just as much trouble as you are. But he looked an Order member in the face, then hit him over the head and massively broke rules that we know make him uncomfortable. For you. I see no benefit for him in any kind of long con. If he wanted to turn you in, he’d have done it by now. So I think you’ve got to trust him. Tell him the whole lot.”
Stunned, I stared at her. “But then you guys are at risk, too.”
Nix shrugged. “We’re always at risk. And ever since Cass hooked up with Aidan and told him the whole, dirty truth, our lives have been better.”
She was right. But Aidan was so clearly trustworthy.
Or was I only thinking that in hindsight because I’d watched him with Cass for the last few months? He’d protected her, helped her, loved her.
Didn’t I want something like that?
Whoa, Nelly. The cart was really getting ahead of the horse here. Sure, we had the hots for each other and I liked him a lot, but we hadn’t even known each other two weeks.
“You got a circus going on behind your eyes there,” Cass said. “Care to share?”
“No.” It was embarrassing. My whole life was embarrassing these days. “But don’t you think it’s just a bit too good to be true? Cass meets a great guy, gets her memory back, saves the day. Now I’ve met a dude, am maybe getting my memory back…” I didn’t even want to mention me saving the day. What if I couldn’t? “I mean, it’s all just too good to be true.”
“Or maybe it’s just time something started to go right,” Cass said. “Face it, we’ve had a rough slog the last ten years. But it’s only been getting better. Maybe things are finally, really, truly working out.”
“Yeah.” Nix nodded. “I like the sound of this. Because it means I’m next, and I want to meet my own smart, nice, hot dude and remember where the hell I’m from. So fess up to Roarke. Let’s keep the good things coming.”
A grin tugged at my lips. Maybe they were right. “Fine. I will. When the time is right. For now, I have to follow a mysterious map to who the hell knows what on the other end.”
“Want us to come?” Nix asked.
“No,” I said. “You guys gotta keep Ancient Magic going. We’re going to need the money to pay back Mordaca and Aerdeca for the memory spells.”
Cass grimaced. “Yeah, that wasn’t cheap.”
“You’d think they’d give us a discount because we’re friends,” Nix said.
Cass and I laughed at the absurdity. Aerdeca and Mordaca, giving discounts?
“If I really need you guys—like I know we’ve got a big fight ahead—I’ll let you know,” I said.
Nix grinned. “Good. I like our team outings.”
“Team outings?” I asked. “Like a field trip?”
“Yeah, but more violent.” Nix punched the air. “Keeps me in fighting shape.”
I laughed. “I thought beating up the jerks who try to rob the shop did that.”
“It does. Sorta. But they’re easy targets. I like a challenge.”
A challenge. I had a feeling that whatever was at the other end of this Guardian situation I was dealing with would probably be considered a challenge.
A big one.
Chapter Nine
It was with heavy footsteps that I made my way back up to my place. Would Roarke still be there? Did I owe him an apology?
Maybe. Probably.
Ah, hell, I’d have to figure it out.
When I opened the door and heard the shower running, my shoulders relaxed.
A reprieve.
I would take it.
I hurried into my bedroom, then into my trove. The piles of books, gleam of gold, and scatter of lucky charms calmed me. I ran my fingertips over a book that teetered on top of a pile as I went to a small chest that contained some of my favorite lucky charms.
It didn’t take long to pick out a variety of lucky talismans. Four, to be precise. Two necklaces, a belt, and a bracelet. All were gold, which gave them a bit of extra lucky something, as far as I was concerned. It was more than I normally wore, but less than I wanted to, so I called it a victory. Semi-self-control for the win.
Wearing my battle gear, I returned to my bedroom just as the water shut off.
Whew. I planned to tell Roarke what I was, but I didn’t want him catching me walking out of the wall as I exited my trove. Better to do it on my terms—not by being caught.
I gave him a moment to get dressed, then went out into the living room. He standing near the couch, tugging his shirt on as I entered.
His head popped over the top. “Hey.”
“Hey.” I stood awkwardly on my side of the room, not quite sure how I wanted to admit that I was wrong. To say it wasn’t my favorite activity would be an understatement. “So, uh, maybe you have a point that there are some things I haven’t been telling you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. But I have good reasons.”
“I know.”
And the thing was, he looked like he really did know. It made this easier.
“Well, anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I will tell you…stuff. That stuff I haven’t been telling you, that is.” Oh boy, I was handling this super well. This was why I normally stayed away from real relationships. “But let’s just get this demon thing under control first, okay? I’m worried that the longer I hang out in one place, the more I’ll attract. So I’d like to get a move on. That is, if you’re still helping me.”
His gaze softened, and he approached me. “I’m still helping you.”
“Thank you.” My heart thudded. “Really.”