My eyes flicked to his mouth, then back to his granite gray eyes, just a shade or two darker than Cole’s and loaded with desire.
“I didn’t use too much magic,” I commented, my voice low and breathy. “I should be fine if you just kissed me a bit.”
“Just a bit?” His lips curved in a sexy smile. “I think I can handle that.” He leaned in, closing the gap between us while my heart thundered in my chest. His lips brushed mine, and we were interrupted by a pop of air pressure all around us that I was coming to identify with magic.
“Kitty Kat,” Caleb called out, striding toward us from the mouth of the alleyway where he had just appeared in a ring of mage runes. “Are you okay? What happened? I felt you use your magic to heal someone.”
“Ah, I guess that answers my question about them sensing your emotions too,” Vali mused, brushing a light kiss across my cheek before stepping back with a sigh that seemed to mirror the disappointment I was feeling.
“I’m fine, Cal.” I smiled at him and rubbed at my bare arms to try and calm the tingling magic left by Vali’s light touch. “Just a random girl that cut herself.”
He watched me intently, a small frown pulling at his forehead before he nodded. “We should get you back before the guys freak out any more than they already are.”
“Sure, yeah, I’ll just go grab Lucy and Elena. They’re probably worried about where we ended up.” I rubbed my tired eyes and started back toward the fire escape door.
“I’ll get them,” Vali murmured, laying a hand over mine on the door handle and meeting my gaze. “They were making out on the dance floor, last I saw them, but I need to be heading back to my jet anyway. Crime empires don’t run themselves you know.” He threw a wink at me and disappeared back into the booming nightclub, leaving me alone in the alleyway with Caleb.
“So you seem to have that trick down,” I commented, turning to squint at him with arms folded over my chest. He at least had the grace to blush a little and scratch the back of his neck as he glanced over to the still glowing ring of Mage runes that he’d appeared in.
“Uh yeah, I didn’t totally ignore the lessons Yoshi gave us as kids.” His shoulders dropped as he sighed, and his hands stuffed into his pockets. “I know you have heaps of questions, but... this whole Mage thing... it’s just hard enough getting my own head around, you know?”
Stepping closer to him I flicked him in the forehead to bring his attention up from the concrete of the alleyway. “Yeah, Cal. I do know. Just found out I’m a whole other species here, remember?” I tugged at his hand, pulling it from his pocket and wrapping it around my waist. “So yeah, I do get what you’re going through. I just wish that we could go through it together.”
“I know.” He frowned. “Just give me some more time. I’m working on getting a handle on my magic, and then I’ll tell you everything. Aus probably didn’t tell you that he won the coin toss with Ink? Metaphorically speaking. His magic is crazy powerful with none of the uncomfortable side-effects of Blood.”
“I don’t understand what that even means, Caleb.” I sighed. “I really want to be understanding and give you space because God knows this whole mess is my fault to begin with, but I’m worried about you.”
“I know,” he replied and said no more.
Ugh, patience has never been my strong suit, either.
Dating five guys was going to be the death of me, purely for their inability to talk.
“Fine, whatever, let’s go meet Vali and the girls at my car. I assume you’re coming home with us now?” I flicked him a bit of a pissy look as I led the way around to where I’d left my car, but whatever, I was pissed. I’d been totally open with them on everything Ban Dia related, so for him to be keeping secrets from me... hell yeah, it stung.
“Kitty Kat,” he groaned, grabbing me by the hand and twirling me around to face him. My back pressed against the door of my car, and I looked up at him, not trying to hide how annoyed I was feeling. “Please, trust me?”
“I do, Cal.” I held his gaze for a long moment. “I just wish you trusted me.”
23
Jewels sparkled in the light as I turned to face the mirror and sucked in a breath of surprise. How the hell the woman in the reflection could possibly be me I had no idea. My hair was perfectly styled into an elaborate up-do, leaving my long neck bare to showcase the staggeringly expensive diamond necklace draped around it.
“Elena,” I breathed, leaning in for a closer look at myself. “You have some serious talent, girl.”
“Oh stop,” she giggled, acting coy even though I knew full well she was anything but. “I just work with the materials I am given.”
She’d done my makeup for me in a sparkling, almost ethereal style, so I looked more like a fairy princess than a real girl. Or Ban Dia as it may be.
Huh, I wonder if faeries are real too?
“Well, I think you look perfect, but how have you managed to attach your weapons? Are they all sorted?” She gave me a stern look, and I smiled. She and Lucy had started officially dating just a few days after that night out with Vali, even though Lucy was also still seeing Finn. She was totally open about it, though, and Elena didn’t seem bothered by it, so who was I to judge?
As well as being just what Lucy needed after the crap of her abduction and near death, Elena was just a joy to be around—for all of us. Hell, she was even charming Austin!
“Uh, haven’t sorted them out yet. That’s next on my list.” I checked the time on my phone and realized I was already running late. Oh well, fashionably late was the in thing, right?
“Go get dressed, and I’ll tell River or Cole to come help with the weapon concealment.” She threw me a saucy wink and sashayed out of the dressing room that I’d been getting ready in.
After taking another long look at the incredible job Elena had done, I stood and stripped off the satin dressing gown I’d been wearing and lined up my arsenal of weapons on the ledge below the mirror. Nervous excitement fluttered in my belly as I ran through the plan for the night. All things considered, it should be almost easier than a lot of the heists I’d pulled in the past. So why was I all jittery?
“Princess, we’re late!” Austin snapped, barging through the half open door and pulling up short with a stunned look on his face.
Not one to cower with modesty, I propped one hip out with a hand on my waist, and casually flipped a knife in my other hand.
“I’m aware of that, Austin,” I snapped back at him, narrowing my eyes. “Some of us require a little more preparation than simply throwing on an old suit and calling it done.”
Oh God, Kit. Fucking listen to yourself sometimes!