Captivating Magic (The Thorne Witches #14)

Chapter 30

30

L aszlo teleported behind the Mountain, aka Niall, sparing only a moment to knock him out. Although he should probably feel bad because the lug was only trying to protect Ebba, he experienced no remorse when Niall’s head thudded off the tiled floor.

After a quick check to make sure the guy was still breathing, Lo teleported back into the apartment. Not in time to prevent Kyrella’s lunge, but at least he was able to create a rebound effect for the wall, causing her to bounce off without penetrating the barrier.

Spencer looked both relieved and disappointed. With a certainty, the guy had something up his sleeve.

“If you want to get out of your cage, my dude, I’d suggest you show whatever you’re packing.” When Kyrella and Spencer did a double take with a shocked stare, Lo replayed what he’d said and cringed. Yeah, it sounded dirty to the most innocent of minds. “Not that! For Christ’s sake! The artifact.”

Spencer’s expression turned crafty. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The wolf growled and scratched at the barrier.

“Yeah, sure you don’t,” Lo replied dryly. The guy was fooling no one, especially not Kyrella, whose innate instincts were like a built-in lie detector.

Whipping out his phone, he dialed Alastair. “Can you contact the Aether? We’ve got a serious problem on our hands.”

Within minutes, the magical dream team had gathered.

A knock sounded during their discussion.

“I invited your cousins, Spring and Nash,” Alastair said. “If an artifact exists that allows a body swap, they’ll know about it.”

Though she refused to budge from her spot in front of the circle, Kyrella lifted her head and yipped, assuring Laszlo their company was friend, not foe.

He opened the door and offered a moment of silence for the beautiful couple before him. One had to do that when they met Spring and her husband, Knox. If or when AI robotics gained traction, inventors should design robots to look like this couple. The word flawless came to mind. With her chestnut hair, sparkling green eyes, and dainty build, she was the perfect foil to his blond-blue-eyed gorgeousness.

“Lo!” She kissed his cheek in passing, pausing only when she sensed the circle’s rim. As she edged around to reach the others, she called back over her shoulder, “Did you know a guy was lying on your doorstep? I healed his headache and sent him on his way.”

“Appreciated,” Lo said, then offered Knox his hand to shake.

“Sorry for barging in. Where she goes, I follow.”

“Understood.” And it was. Laszlo had secondhand knowledge of Spring’s story, revolving around her abduction a few years back. Knox had been destroyed when he reached her too late. To keep him from tearing the world apart with his godlike powers, Isis had cut a deal with him, returning Spring to the bosom of the Thornes.

And it was necessary for their family. Spring was their jewel, spreading light and love. With her photographic memory, she was also the primary source of their knowledge. Isis’s compassionate act healed the fracture her death had caused.

As Laszlo was closing the door, another person approached.

Nash. Alastair’s son, similarly to Spring, held a wealth of information in that big brain of his. Lo wished he could retain half of what they managed to do.

“Welcome.”

“Thanks for hosting this shindig.” Nash grinned, and his smile was so like his father, it was easy to see the charming rogue Alastair had been forty years earlier.

“Beer’s in the fridge, and if you want something stronger, the liquor cabinet is on the far wall.”

He, too, sensed the circle wall and glanced upward. “Nice. I don’t know if I’d have considered attaching one to the ceiling.”

“You would’ve in a pinch,” Lo assured him.

Kyrella rose, crossed to Laszlo, and rubbed her massive head against his chest, showing affection and allegiance.

His cousin whistled low and long. “She’s beautiful.”

“Yes. As is her counterpart,” Lo said, stroking the inky fur between her golden eyes. “You can let Ebba return, Ky. She’ll be okay.”

She padded toward the bedroom but stopped to nudge the Aether’s hand.

“Hello, Kyrella,” he said with fondness. “Are you adjusting well?”

“Yes.”

They all froze.

“She can speak?”

Her black head swiveled in Lo’s direction, and he swore she winked.

Narrowing his eyes with promised retribution, he said, “This better not be your way of flirting with that man, Ebba James.”

The wolf’s husky laugh was eerily similar to hers. “As king to all creatures and our magical community, he deserves deference.”

“A talking wolf. Now I’ve seen almost everything,” Castor quipped.

“The actual shift is brutal to watch,” Spencer said with a surly tone. “Forcing her to?—”

“Let me stop you right there.” Damian approached him. “Ebba and Kyrella were given a choice, with the former knowing the painful toll it would extract. She did it willingly so Kyrella would have some semblance of a life.”

“She’s just a dumb animal!” Spencer shouted.

“Watch your tone, Barlowe. You won’t like how I react.” The chill in the Aether’s words raised the hairs on Laszlo’s neck. Even his voice wielded power.

Their staring contest ended with Spencer dropping his gaze and nodding his understanding.

Lo released a breath he hadn’t been aware of holding, and based on the other exhalations, he wasn’t the only one. Only Alastair appeared unfazed.

With an irritated huff, the wolf stalked away.

“I think she was hoping you’d smite him,” Castor told Damian. To Lo, he said, “Your wolf is bloodthirsty.”

“Don’t I know it!”

Ebba shoved aside her need for sleep after transitioning to human. Her standard practice was to fall into bed for about twelve hours after Kyrella’s three-day takeover.

This time, she’d had hours of on-again-off-again sex with Laszlo to add to her exhaustion in addition to a spontaneous shift on Kyrella’s part. Jaw-popping yawns from fatigue aside, she needed to be party to what was happening in her living room. She splashed water on her face and fought the urge to pass out. Once she touched Lo, she’d receive an energy boost.

After checking all her shirt buttons were fastened properly and no skin was showing, she joined the group. Five feet into the room, she stopped short and gaped at the blond male beside Laszlo. Next to the Aether, he was the most gorgeous thing she’d ever seen. Yes, Castor was hot, but whoever this new guy was, he was unbelievable and utterly delicious.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Lo muttered. “Am I going to be constantly picking your jaw up off the floor?”

Ebba jabbed his ribs. “Yes, if you keep hosting house parties for hotties. Is he single?”

“Ebba James, I swear to?—”

“I’m fucking with you. I can see the wedding band.”

Lo’s scowl was priceless, and she lost the fight not to laugh. “Okay, and yes, I’m with you.”

“Better.”

“Who knew you were so territorial?” She didn’t give him time to answer before standing on tiptoe to kiss him. “I like it,” she confessed. “It turns me on.”

His wicked grin woke the millions of butterflies living in her belly.

“Okay, stop that right now, mister. We have the hottie house party happening, and I can’t be all flustered and shit.”

“Too late,” he murmured with a kiss of her temple. “You passed that point the second you cleared the doorway and registered Knox’s presence.”

“Knox.” She tried the name on for size. “It fits him.”

With a snort and exaggerated eye roll, Laszlo guided her forward for introductions.

After, he asked, “Do you need some coffee to get through this? You look exhausted.”

“I want to see Spencer dispatched for good. Of course, I don’t remember his possession the first time, but his behavior is over the line.”

“Dispatched?” Spring’s light laughter caused Ebba to smile.

“It sounds antiquated, but I don’t know how else to say it. Would ‘ejected from Clutch’s body and sent to hell’ be better?” she asked.

“Works for me.” The other woman’s wide smile was like a beacon of light, and Ebba appreciated the friendliness offered. With looks like hers, Spring could easily head up a Mean Girls Club. Yet she exuded nothing but sweetness.

Ebba had long since realized the Thornes were beautiful people, both inside and out. Their innate kindness set them apart from the rest of the world and had her gravitating toward them, creating lifelong connections.

Spring approached the circle and cocked her head to study Spencer. “Will you show me your artifact, Mr. Barlowe? Please?”

She’d said it so prettily, and Ebba was surprised he didn’t fall right down at her feet, holding the object up like a sacrifice to a goddess. His expression was dazed, though, and she smiled, feeling her first kinship with him.

Knox walked up beside her. “She’s something, isn’t she?”

“Yes,” Ebba gushed. “I think I’m experiencing my first female crush.”

He chuckled. “I was a goner the instant I laid eyes on her.”

“I can see why.” She glanced up and tried like hell to keep from batting her lashes. “Also, why she was a goner when she saw you.”

“It’s a glamour on my part. A scar runs here to here.” He drew a line from temple to jaw. “Courtesy of my father.”

“Ohmygod! I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you, but there’s no need for you to be. My uncle and aunt acted as foster parents and were the best influence a kid could have. And the Thornes have welcomed me with open arms.”

“They do that, don’t they?” she mused aloud, glancing back at the gathered family as they discussed options. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the fact magic actually exists in the world.”

“And yet, you’re magical yourself now,” Knox reminded her.

“Yes. I’d feel like I’m dreaming if it wasn’t for the pain when Kyrella takes over.”

“Talk to Spring when this thing with Spencer is resolved. She may be able to concoct something to ease your discomfort while still allowing your wolf to be alert.”

“I never thought of that,” Laszlo said as he joined them, indicating he’d been listening to their conversation.

Likely, it was one part jealousy, and the other two-thirds was his need to stay informed.

“It hurts like a mofo, but either way, I’m happy to do it if it means Ky can live on,” Ebba said.

“Thank you,” Kyrella said.

She clutched the amulet to feel the connection to her wolf and show support. A warming peace filled her, assuring her their bond was real.

“What’s the next step?” she asked them.

Knox winked. “I believe it’s my turn to shine.”