Impractical Magic Part 24

He needed to walk off his frustration, and the vast hotel gave him room to roam. He should have known Sequoia would defend Rose. They were best friends as well as cousins. Yet he couldn't deny the truth of her words.

Rose had been honest with him from the start. She'd never hinted that she wouldn't write her expose. And it wasn't as if he couldn't create new illusions. He had some he'd been working on for years that no one knew about. Any good magician constantly worked on new illusions.

Like levitation. With an exaggerated swish, he motioned for a nearby planter to rise, then gaped when it lifted several inches off the floor.

Glancing around to make sure no one had noticed, he lowered it again, his heart thudding, a warm buzz in his veins. How had that happened? Magic, of course. It had to be a residual effect from his ability to fly. Fantastic. His career was far from over after all.

Yet Rose couldn't know that. She'd still written her article, revealing his secrets. Why should he have expected different? Because they were having great s.e.x? h.e.l.l, awesome s.e.x. s.e.x that left him tingling for several minutes afterward.

Or because he cared about her and had a.s.sumed that maybe she cared about him?

He grimaced. No a.s.suming about it. She cared about him. Her lips, her eyes, her body had told him that in so many ways.

Was that why the betrayal hurt so much? She cared more for her work man for him?

A job that proved to her she was more than her magic. How could she not know that she was so much more than that? She was intelligent, good-natured, lighthearted, fun to be with, s.e.xy, caring. She was Rose and her magic was a part of that, an integral part of who she was, yet it wasn't all she was.

Brand froze in midstep and slapped his hand against his forehead. "I have been a total idiot."

"I would agree with that."

He spun around to see Ewan standing behind him. "Will you stop that? I hate when you Fae just appear."

"I didn't. I followed you."

"Oh." He'd been so engrossed in his thoughts, he hadn't noticed. "What do you want?"

"I need to talk to someone. Without Rose here, you are the next best choice."

What an honor. Brand's first reaction called for him to ignore the faery, but a glance at Ewan's serious expression stayed him. "What?"

"Since I have met Sequoia, I am experiencing unusual feelings, things I do not understand."

Welcome to the club. Brand had yet to understand any woman. "Like what?"

"I have lost my desire to return to the magical realm. I find I want to be with Sequoia, to hear her laugh, to share my thoughts with her, to have s.e.x with her."

Brand scowled. The thought of Ewan boinking his a.s.sistant made him s.h.i.+ver. "So?"

"I feel... confused." Ewan spread his hands. "Uncertain. I am never uncertain. I have never been influenced by any female like this before. What does it mean?"

Brand had to laugh, though he noticed it contained more than a touch of bitterness. "Welcome to the mortal world, Ewan. You're in.love."

"Love?" Ewan's face reflected horror. "This is human love?" '

" 'Fraid so." Brand narrowed his eyes. "And if I know Sequoia at all, which I do, she's crazy about you." Not a pleasant thought. Was he about to lose his a.s.sistant as well as his career?

A thoughtful gleam entered Ewan's eyes. 'This is love," he repeated, his tone more reverent now.

The d.a.m.ned faery didn't deserve Sequoia. And he would leave her. Brand knew it. "And if you hurt Sequoia, I will find a way to destroy you," he said, enunciating each word.

Ewan lifted a corner of his lips, as if amused at Brand's threat. "I have no intention of hurting her. She is very special to me."

"Me, too." Sequoia had been a part of his life since childhood.

"Why is that?" Ewan appeared actually curious.

"She's my friend. I've known her forever." Brand glared at him. "I've seen her cry over guys who weren't worthy of her, and you aren't, either."

"She seems to feel I am." The faery sounded smug now.

"Sequoia doesn't always have the best judgment when it comes to men." Brand had tried to s.h.i.+eld her in the past and often failed. Just as he had failed now.

"I am not a man."

Brand grimaced. A perfectly good reason why Ewan and Sequoia didn't belong together. "You're telling me?"

Ewan c.o.c.ked his head, studying Brand. "Do you love her?"

"Of course." She meant as much as his younger sister.

"Is this love confusing? Does it make you feel a burning within?"

"No, it's different from that. It's a family type of love." Brand had never l.u.s.ted for Sequoia, but he had shared her pain and her joy throughout her life.

"Then how would you describe the love you feel for Rose?"

"Consuming, frustrating, agonizing, and wonderful." Brand answered at once, listing the twisting emotions within him. "Yes." Ewan nodded. "Just what I experience with Sequoia. She is everything that makes life important to me." Brand stared at the faery. Ewan really did love Sequoia. Lord help them both. Worse, he'd forced Brand to be honest with himself. He loved Rose. Loved her beyond reason, beyond desire. "I am so screwed," he muttered. "I love Rose."

"Of course you do." A twinkle appeared in Ewan's eyes as he grinned and vanished.

Brand shoved his fingers through his hair. He really was an idiot. Somehow, somewhere, he'd accepted Rose, accepted her power, and fallen in love with her. He had to find her, had to tell her. Grimacing, he. turned toward the elevators. After the stupid things he'd said, he really was going to need some magic now.

Sequoia jumped when Ewan appeared beside her in the elevator. Thank goodness she was alone. The way he constantly ignored the people around them was going to get him into trouble.

Not that he cared.

She smiled. He'd tell anyone exactly what he was, and none of them would believe him.

"Did you find Brand?" she asked. Ewan had taken off after her friend with no explanation except that he needed to talk to him.

"I did."

"Did you talk?" She studied him. "About Rose?"

"This was not about Rose." Ewan paused, as if searching for words.

Sequoia frowned. Ewan was never at a loss for words. "What, then?"

He hesitated, then spoke quickly. "I am returning to the magical realm."

Her heart froze, then sank to her stomach. "What?"

The elevator doors opened at her floor, but she didn't move, couldn't move. She could only stare at him, her world shattering around her.

Now? He was leaving now? She'd hoped for more time, for a chance to convince him they had something special together.

When the doors closed again, Ewan took her hand in his and transported them into her room.

His touch jarred her from her stupor. "Why?"

"Rose will not come to my world. I am obliged to inform t.i.tania."

"But she'll destroy you." Sequoia had heard enough horror stories about the Queen of the Fae to know her temper ran hot. And mean.

"She won't do that." Ewan spoke with a.s.surance, but Sequoia wasn't sure if it was for her benefit or his.

"Let me come with you." Her words escaped ahead of her brain, but she meant them. Going for broke, she met his gaze. "I love you, Ewan."

"I know." He drew her close, wrapping her in his embrace. "But I cannot take you with me. t.i.tania hates mortals. You, she would destroy."

Sequoia blinked away the threatening tears. She'd failed to teach him about love. Otherwise he'd know how much he meant to her, how much his leaving would hurt. "I don't want you to go."

He drew one finger along her cheek in a tender caress. "I do not want to go, but I must. I must fulfill my obligation to my queen."

"Can't you wait a little longer?" Even another day would be a precious gift.

"The longer I wait, the more difficult it will be." He held her chin in his palm. "You are a special woman, Sequoia."

"Please-"

His kiss cut her off-a soul-searing kiss that flooded her senses and wove her heart with his. She loved him. Would always love him.

And would never see him again.

He pressed his lips against the tears streaming down her cheek. "I will be back."

"Will you?" As much as she wanted to believe him, she knew how fickle the Fae were. She'd been an amus.e.m.e.nt, nothing more. Once back in the magical realm, he'd find many sensual faeries eager to share their bodies with him. "I swear it." He drew her away from him, his eyes gleaming. "You have taught me much about mortals and emotions, more than I wanted to know."

She forced a watery smile. "Guess you're a good learner."

His fingers clung to hers, his smile sad. "I will be back," he repeated with a firmness that gave her hope. Maybe he meant it.

"You'd better."

Sliding his hands out from under hers, he met her gaze. "I love you, Sequoia."

Her jaw dropped. "What?"

But she spoke to empty air.

He was gone.

And had taken her heart with him.

Yet he'd left her with the fragile hope that he'd meant his last words. That he would be back. That he loved her.

So, she would wait.

Brand waited until the end of dinner with his parents to invite his father to join him on a walk. He needed to review the outdoor stage setup for his moon illusion the next night and wanted to speak to his father. Though Robin blinked with surprise, he quickly agreed.

Now walking beside his father, Brand couldn't find the words to begin. What could he say?

"You were quiet at dinner," Robin said. "Bad day?"

"The worst." Brand had been unable to find Rose anywhere. Her magazine said she wasn't there. If she'd returned to her apartment, she'd refused to answer her phone. Her parents, surprised by his phone call, told him she planned to visit soon, but wasn't there yet. Calling out for her in the privacy of his room had brought nothing but a feeling of foolishness.

It was as if she'd disappeared off the face of the Earth.

Had she gone to the magical realm? Had he driven her away forever?

He walked in silence with Robin until they emerged outside. The approaching thunderstorm and its brilliant streaks of lightning illuminating the sky competed with the flas.h.i.+ng neon of Vegas. Brand paused and sucked in a fortifying breath. "I'm sorry," he blurted.

Robin shot him a quizzical glance.

"I thought you were stupid. I didn't understand why you'd give up everything for Mom. Magic always seemed far more important to me."

"And now you understand?" Robin asked, his voice quiet.

"Yeah, I do." Brand was willing to do anything to win Rose back, but he had nothing to offer, no magic to sacrifice. All he had was the knowledge that he'd been so d.a.m.ned stubborn and stupid he might have lost the best thing in his life.

Robin rested his hand on Brand's shoulder. "You must love her very much."

Brand grimaced. "You could say that."

"Is Rose willing to give up her magic to be with you?"

Startled, Brand drew back. "I don't want her to do that. Her magic is part of who she is. I love Rose-with her magic." He'd taken long enough to realize that and wasn't about to change his mind now.

"What kind of future can you have together?" The obvious concern in his father's voice kept Brand from bristling.

"Whatever future she'll give me." He stared out toward the darkened stage, briefly revealed by a nearby flash of lightning. "It'll be a difficult life for both of you. I know." Robin turned to stand beside Brand. "You'll age, she won't. You'll die and she'll be left to go on without you."

"But if we're lucky, we'll share many good years before that." He wanted every moment he could have with Rose.

Of course, he was a.s.suming she'd agree. If he could find her. If she would ever talk to him again.

Robin wrapped his arm around Brand's shoulders in a fatherly hug. Brand enjoyed the surge of warmth that support gave him. He'd missed this. Years ago they'd been close. Maybe they could find that again.