Bronx leaned back in the padded chair, elbows resting on the armrests, his fingers steepled in front of his face as he watched Kenya walk along the edge of the lake. She retraced the same steps time and again, making him smile as she took in everything around her. He’d listened in on her thoughts until Audric Stafford arrived a few minutes ago. Listening to the remarkable way her mind worked fascinated him.
“She’s quite gifted, you know. I’m surprised Lisa was able to keep it hidden.” Bronx didn’t respond, knowing it was best to let the man tell the story in his own time. “Lisa wasn’t a powerful witch, and what little she learned before striking out on her own, she owed to your mother. It’s true the two of them became friends, but that wasn’t the way it started. Your mother was assigned to mentor Lisa—to help her control her magic and channel it appropriately. Damn, that girl was as wild as the wind.”
“I assume she was a rogue since Kenya hasn’t mentioned any other family.”
“Yes, no one in their family had ever been blessed with magic until Lisa. They had no idea what to do with her and kicked her out of their home when she was sixteen. She came to the attention of the Council when she tried to use magic to steal food. Long story short, she was doing well until a young man from a prominent magical family in Europe decided she was fair game. When she turned up pregnant, his family announced they would take care of Lisa until the baby was born, pay her off, and she would never see her child again.”
Bronx slid his sunglasses down his tanned nose and arched a brow. He wasn’t surprised—wealthy magical families didn’t always play by the rules, and those with old European money were among the worst. Ruthless was the word most often used to describe them.
“Lisa was often a mess of the first order, but she wasn’t stupid. She didn’t believe the Fitzpatricks would hold up their end of the bargain. Lisa was convinced she would hand over the child and be dead before the next sunrise—so she ran. She’d learned enough from Brighten to hide until her drug addiction stole the self-control she needed to maintain the shield. The Council was watching, or at least we felt like we were, but it’s obvious we failed miserably in many ways.”
And Kenya paid the price.
Bronx didn’t know what to say. Actually, there was a lot he wanted to say, but nothing remotely respectful, and there was nothing to be gained by losing an ally.
Audric smiled, “You couldn’t say anything I haven’t said to myself a thousand times. I could have taken Kenya from Lisa at any time. Hell, I traced her magical signature more than once. It was important to know Kenya was safe and to warn Lisa about what the Council considered questionable parenting.”
Bronx could see regret reflected in Stafford’s eyes and wondered how often the man looked back on difficult decisions, second-guessing his choices.
“After your parents died, all hell broke loose. The Council knew we were teetering on the edge of a magical war unlike anything any of us had ever dealt with, and to be honest, I was up to my ass in alligators, as you southerners are fond of saying. I was distracted and thought I was too damned busy to keep track of one young witch and her child.” Audric set aside the cup of coffee he’d brought with him. Bronx shook his head as the ceramic mug slowly faded from view.
“She isn’t going to stay out there much longer. Why don’t you tell me what you’re holding back, so we can work it out before she joins us? Kenya is going to have enough to deal with, so I’d like to shield her from as many problems as possible.”
“The amulet Lisa gave to Kenya wasn’t passed down to her by family. Lisa stole it from Sean Fitzpatrick when she learned she was pregnant with his child, and he made it clear he wasn’t ready for a family. I have little doubt there will be a member of the Fitzpatrick family at the division ceremony. Kenya bears a striking resemblance to her great-grandmother, so it is important to keep her out of sight if it’s at all possible.” There was something amiss with what Audric was telling him—not exactly a lie, but the lines around the truth were certainly being blurred.
“She has every right to have the amulet since it belonged to her father. I realize it was an ill-gotten gain, but I’m assuming her father is deceased since you referred to him in the past tense.”
“Yes, he was killed in an accident eerily similar to the one that claimed your parents. I believe the accidents are related to the amulets, but at this time, we don’t have any way to prove it.” Bronx shifted his attention from Audric to where Kenya stood watching them. She was still at the water’s edge, but it was easy to see her attention was focused on the two men sitting on the terrace. “She’s no fool, Bronx, and she’s far more gifted than her mother. Kenya will take all the pieces she’s picking up from this conversation and fit them together faster than any of us can anticipate.”
“When do you plan to tap into her memory to recreate the journals? I’m looking forward to seeing how the process works. Hell, I didn’t even know it was possible.” Bronx knew there were vast areas of the world of magic he had never been exposed to, and he was looking forward to learning more.
“I’ve already been pulling bits and pieces of the journals from her memory. Recreating the journals is the easy part. I’ve never been comfortable poking around in someone’s memories. I may not have grown up with the importance of privacy protections drilled into me the way you Americans do, but I’ve always understood the implications of exposing secrets the other person had no intention of sharing. The rest of my inquiry could trigger deeply buried memories. I have asked for another gifted magicals help because another woman might anticipate the landmines. She’s going to need your support when she realizes the enormity of her family connections.”
Bronx shook his head as he considered how much deeper this mess was going to get before he and his mate were free to enjoy each other’s company. Damn it all to hell. He’d worked hard his entire life, looking forward to the time he found his mate and started his own family. His father spent a tremendous amount of time with his wife and children, never favoring business over family. Of course, Carrington Adler’s business had been teetering on the brink of collapse when he died—his financial demise in large part due to the time he spent at home rather than taking care of the oil company he’d founded.
There had been many times when Bronx wondered if perhaps his father had somehow known his time on this side of the veil was coming to an end. That knowledge would have driven him to spend as much time with his family as possible. Carrington Adler left a business on the cusp of failure, but the life lessons his children learned during their family’s travels and late-night chats sitting at the kitchen bar were like stones thrown in a still pond. The ripples from his mom and dad’s guidance and ever-patient wisdom overlapped, building one on another, reaching places no one could have ever anticipated.
Bronx knew his business would thrive without him micromanaging the dealerships. He’d worked hard to have everything in place when his mate finally made her appearance. He didn’t want to ever be in a position where he had to make a choice between making certain his wife and children knew how much they meant to him and risking their financial future. Thanks to Austin’s business acumen, all the Adler siblings had trust funds, ensuring they could live comfortably without ever working another day. The last Bronx knew, none of them had touched their accounts for anything other than furthering their education or investing in their respective businesses.
Kenya walked toward them, drawing his undivided attention. She was beauty and grace personified—it was part of what mesmerized him when he’d watched her in the security feeds. The way she moved reminded him of his sister, Brooklyn. Even as a kid, Brooklyn had been able to sneak up on anyone, including Israel, whose telepathic abilities usually ensured he was acutely aware of anyone nearby. Kenya’s ability to camouflage herself reminded him of Brooklyn, eluding the most sophisticated security systems in the world. By the time she retired, B had retrieved over a billion dollars in stolen goods.
“Being compared to your sister is a mixed blessing.” Kenya’s teasing tone pulled Bronx back to the moment. Shaking his head to dislodge the fog of distraction plaguing him this morning, Bronx tried to calm his frustration.
“The fog will clear in a few hours.” Audric’s reassurance was a relief—damn, it was frustrating to have his mind wandering around like an unattended preschooler. “Some shifters experience an increase in their sexual appetite so acute, it’s uncontrollable. I’d say you are functioning rather well, all things considered. At least your pack hasn’t dropped a net over the two of you and locked you in your wing of their home.”
Bronx knew Audric was trying to lighten the mood, but it didn’t appear Kenya was in the mood to be distracted.
“Do you have time to answer some questions, Mr. Stafford?”
“Certainly, but I would prefer you called me Audric—it seems only fitting if I’m going to act as your substitute grandfather.” Bronx chuckled when the older man winked at Kenya. It was impossible to be angry when it obvious Audric had a soft spot for Kenya.
As her mate, it was his job to ensure her safety and provide her with everything she needed to feel satisfied. In his view, making sure she understood everything they were facing fell under that umbrella.
“I know you’re a busy man, and I don’t want to keep you from any pressing… umm, well, what is it do you do exactly?” Kenya’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as Audric leaned back and laughed.
“Dear, that’s a million-dollar question, and one not easily answered. As the head of the Magic Council, I share many duties with the other members, but the one that seems to take up most of my time is censuring magicals who have overstepped their boundaries in one way or another.”
“Is there some kind of chain of command? A lower court? I’m sorry if my questions seem childish, but my mother always became belligerent if I asked any questions about the magical world.”
“Your mother was envious of your gifts, Kenya. She knew your magic was much more powerful than her own. She wanted to keep you hidden for as long as possible.” Audric studied her closely, and Bronx could practically hear the man’s thoughts assessing how much to share… how much she was ready to hear.
“There were a few times when she was drinking or experiencing one of her manic swings, she’d rave on and on, saying my father’s family would kidnap and torture me if they were given a chance. She would never tell me any more about them, so the only way I could make sure I didn’t give myself away to them was to keep myself as isolated as possible.”
“Kenya, your mother had a lot of personal issues unrelated to you. She’d stolen a powerful piece of magical history, and most people felt she wasn’t responsible enough to be entrusted with something so significant. Her ancestors weren’t one of the families originally given one of the pieces to guard—your father’s family was.”
They are going to take it from me. Better to cut and run now.
The unspoken words barely registered in Bronx mind before the unmistakable scent of fear surrounded him. The realization Kenya believed anyone would take what was rightfully hers made his heart ache. Shifters were known for their keen awareness, something he was grateful for now. Between one breath and the next, he saw her pulse pounding at the base of her neck, kicking up several notches as her muscles tensed. Before he could reach for her, Kenya’s fight-or-flight response flipped, and she turned to run. With a simple wave of his hand, Audric froze her in place.
“Kenya, I hate using magic to force you to listen, but panic always trumps logic, so this was the only way I could make certain you heard me out.”
Bronx moved to stand in front of his newly claimed mate, brushing the backs of his fingers over her cheek and pressing a kiss against her sweat-soaked forehead. Her eyes were pleading for his help, but as much as he hated seeing her unhappy, Audric was right. Pure panic had fueled her reaction. There was another trace scent so subtle, he would have missed it if he hadn’t been looking in her eyes and seen the flash of sadness.
Kenya’s breathing was becoming shallow and much too fast. Bronx didn’t want Audric to use a spell to calm her—it would work, but it wouldn’t help build the bond of trust they needed for the challenges he knew they would face traveling back in time. It was important for Kenya to learn she could put herself fully in his hands. She’d need to respond to commands without hesitation to ensure her safety during their trip. Audric’s magic was powerful, but it wouldn’t be enough to pull her back to the present if anything went wrong. The magical skill required for time travel was specific and rare—it was also dangerous.
“Cheŕ, look at me. Listen to my voice. Concentrate on what I’m telling you.” It took her a few seconds to lock her gaze to his and another moment before Bronx knew he had her undivided attention. “No one will take what’s yours. Audric will release you as soon as your panic fades. Don’t listen to your fear, mate.” He could hear her mind rolling his words over as she tried to pull herself back from the edge. Damn, he was proud of her.
In his peripheral vision, Bronx saw Audric wave his hand. Tiny pinpricks of light flew from his fingertips floating through the air to encircle Kenya. Bronx was grateful he already had his hands on her because the subtle release of the spell made Kenya drop like a marionette whose strings had been cut.
“Okay, Audric, we need to have a chat.” Kenya’s words were airy and fainter than usual, but despite her lack of physical strength, Bronx could hear a thread of newfound respect for magic. “Just because you can do something doesn’t always mean you should. I’m a reasonable person… well, most of the time… usually. You could have just yelled like a normal person.” Audric laughed and shook his head.
“I swear, your mother was a hot mess. We warned her too many times about her explosive temper and poor parenting. Yelling is not what normal people do, Kenya.”
“I’m not sure normal people freeze people in their tracks by shooting electric currents out the end of their fingers either, but we’ll save that discussion for another time.” Bronx eased his mate onto his lap, relieved when she relaxed against him. “If you were a doctor, people would question your bedside manner. You might want to read that book about winning friends and influencing people. I can’t remember who wrote it—some librarian.”
“Dale Carnegie wrote the book. He wasn’t a librarian but was a prolific writer and renowned lecturer. Andrew Carnegie was the industrialist whose name adorns many prestigious libraries and other buildings. They weren’t related but were both interesting men.” Audric’s blasé attitude when speaking of historical figures was almost amusing. Bronx had always wished his gift would allow him to spend time with the men and women who’d shaped the world, but those conversations might well influence thinking and therefore, change decisions. History wasn’t his to alter, something his parents stressed repeatedly.