Impractical Magic Part 4

"Step back. Keep away." The calm tones of two police officers penetrated the screaming women.

Thank G.o.d.

As the officers cleared a path for him, Brand noticed that Rose had drawn closer, her hands raised palm out as if to cast a spell. Had she finally decided to stop this a.s.sault? Too late now. The police had saved him. Not her.

It wasn't bad enough that she wanted to ruin his career. Now she was trying to destroy him physically as well. He should have known. Hadn't his father warned him of the perniciousness of the Fae?

Brand sucked in a deep breath as some officers formed a protective wall around him and led him toward the hotel door. Though he limped from where some women with their vicious heels had stabbed his foot, Brand hurried to get inside to relative safety.

In the lobby, order reigned. The screaming mob remained outside and the tension eased from Brand's chest. He ached from head to toe, had scratches on his chest, arms and neck, lipstick smeared across his face, and his s.h.i.+rt had been nearly torn in two. Enthusiastic fans were one thing. Crazies like that were another.

Carter approached with room keys and handed one to Brand. "I'll add extra security for the rest of the trip."

"Do that." Brand started for the elevator, eager to reach the quiet of his room. An officer fell into step with him and Brand grimaced. A grown man should be able to defend himself from a group of women without police interference. d.a.m.n Rose and her warped sense of humor.

"Brand."

He turned to see Sequoia and Rose approaching. They both looked concerned. Good. They should be. He glared at Rose, part of him wanting to shake her, another part wanting to get as far away from her as possible. No, he needed to know why the h.e.l.l she'd done this. "You two come with me," he ordered. Exchanging tentative glances, Rose and Sequoia joined him in the elevator. Tension filled the small s.p.a.ce as the doors slid shut, so heavy Brand found it difficult to believe the elevator could rise to the penthouse level.

"I'm anxious to see your show," the officer said, breaking into the thick silence. "My wife and I have tickets."

"Thank you. Let Carter know where you're sitting and we'll get you onto the stage." Brand managed to keep his tone polite, but he couldn't lose the rigid formality of anger. From the look of unease on the officer's face, Brand a.s.sumed the man wasn't sure if he actually wanted to get on the stage. Especially with Brand's current foul mood. By the time they reached the suite doorway, the officer appeared anxious to get away and left as soon as Brand had the door open. Rose looked as if she wanted to flee with the officer. Well, she wasn't going anywhere. Not yet. Brand caught her arm and pulled her inside, leaving Sequoia to follow. Once the door closed after them, he pushed Rose away from him, unable to endure the feel of her warm, soft skin beneath his fingers. d.a.m.n her. He stalked to the bar on the opposite wall and poured himself a tumbler of bourbon. They stocked the good stuff here and he downed it in one shot. The burn eased the tightness of his throat and soothed the wrenching in his gut. Hearing someone move behind him, he turned and impaled Rose with his gaze. Her eyes were wide and filled with trepidation, her face pale, her lips parted. Why did she have to look so d.a.m.ned enticing? He swallowed in an attempt to control his anger, to resist the urge to yell. "Do you hate me so much that you'd get me killed?" Though he kept his voice calm, his inner violence vibrated beneath the words.

Rose straightened, defiance replacing the fear in her gaze. "I didn't do anything, Brand."

"Those barriers disappeared." He saw them vanish. "The only way that can happen is magic. Your magic."

"But I didn't do it. I swear it."

She sounded convincing, but he knew better. Barriers didn't just disappear on their own.

She held out her hands toward him. "Think, Brand. Why would I do something like that?"

"You tell me." Was she jealous of the attention he received? "Did you enjoy seeing me crushed by that mob? Did that fulfill some sick secret fantasy?"

He couldn't look at her anymore. Her expression of innocence was too good. He hadn't realized what a consummate liar she'd become over the years. But then it went with her job. His hands shook as he poured himself another drink. "Are you all right?" Rose asked. He whirled around to find her close behind him, and she froze, dropping her outstretched hand. "No, I'm not all right." Couldn't she see that for herself? "My watch was ripped right off my arm. I'm bruised and scratched and I think someone snipped some of my hair." It was ridiculous.

"I'm sorry. I wouldn't put you through that. Surely you know me that well."

Sincerity shone in her eyes, and for a moment he wavered. No, magic had been involved here. He didn't doubt that at all.

"I might have once, but I don't now." He downed another tumbler of bourbon. "You have no conscience. h.e.l.l, you write exposes on people merely doing their job. I don't know you at all."

She flinched, which didn't give him nearly the satisfaction he'd expected. Instead, he wanted to rea.s.sure her he hadn't meant it. G.o.d, what was she doing to him?

Rose sent a pleading look toward Sequoia, who finally stepped forward. "She was as surprised as I was when this happened, Brand. I don't think she did it."

"Then you explain it." What other answer could there be?

"I can't. It had to be magic. Perhaps someone else."

Someone else? Sure, he believed that. How many Fae were likely to be hanging around? "Like who?" He directed the question at Rose. Had she acquired some magical buddies he didn't know about?

She shook her head. "I don't know. None of this makes sense. I... I felt something, a pull. But I didn't do it. You know I can't lie, Brand."

So he'd been told, but he'd always had trouble believing that.

"It's too late." All at once, weariness washed over him. She'd never admit to using her magic. Once she did she'd also have to acknowledge reneging on her end of their deal. "It's over. You lost. Go back to your magazine and find another victim."

"But-"

"Go." He snapped the word, needing her gone before he weakened.

Her eyes watered and he clenched his fists to keep from touching her. "You're making a mistake," she murmured.

"No." Magic had done this. The only possible answer was Rose. "You already made it."

She didn't respond, but accusation shone in her gaze before she turned to the door. Now he felt guilty. Dammit. She was the one who'd nearly gotten him killed. What did he have to feel guilty about?

Turning away, he poured another drink, then paused upon hearing the door click shut after her.

d.a.m.n.

Thankful that Carter had given her a room key, Rose rushed to the elevator and sagged against the wall once the doors slid closed. This can't be happening. I didn't make those barriers disappear.

But someone had used magic. She'd stake her life on that.

She just had to find out who.

Reaching her room, she stomped to the window and stared outside as if the answer would appear in the wispy clouds. She clenched her fists, fighting the urge to hit something. This was so unfair. "What the h.e.l.l is going on here?"

"Your magic is leaking."

She whirled around to find Ewan leaning against the door, arms crossed, still wearing nothing more than tight pants and an insolent smile. "What are you doing here?"

"I have to bring you to t.i.tania." He straightened. "I don't dare return home otherwise."

And no doubt he'd do anything to get her to go with him. Including risking Brand's life.

Rose rushed toward him and jabbed her finger against his bare chest, her anger hot. "Why did you make those barriers disappear? You almost got Brand killed."

"I didn't." Ewan met her gaze. "You did."

Dropping her hand, Rose shook her head. "I didn't."

"Not on purpose, but it was your magic that was used." He gave her a tentative smile. "Didn't you feel a tug on your power?"

"A little one, yes, but I didn't do a spell."

"You're right. You didn't. But a mortal made a wish."

Rose frowned. She remembered hearing a woman wish the barriers were gone, but it hadn't meant anything. Mortals had no magic. "I don't understand. How can someone else use my magic? It doesn't work that way."

'This is one of the reasons why t.i.tania wants you in the realm. This foolish deal you made with Brand Good-fellow."

"How does she know about that?" The words emerged before Rose thought. t.i.tania had spies everywhere.

"She's made it her business to keep tabs on you. You're unique among the Fae, Rose, and now you're becoming a liability."

"Why is that?" How could she possibly be a danger to the Fae?

"You've used your magic regularly since you first came into it."

She opened her mouth to protest, then stopped. This deal with Brand had forced her to admit she did use her gift more than a little. "So?"

"Now that you have not used it for three days, the power is building up within you."

"Building up?" He made it sound as if she would explode. She hadn't felt anything different... other than frustration at doing things the manual way.

Ewan nodded. "So much so that it's emitting from you, surrounding you, leaking."

"Leaking?" Rose glanced around the room, half expecting to see magic sprinkles in the air.

"Thus, if a mortal makes a wish, this excess power allows the wish to come true."

Rose sank onto the bed. Her magic had made the barriers disappear. This was too unreal. "I don't believe it."

"I can't he."

Fae couldn't lie, which had caused Rose no amount of grief as a teenager. Though she had become adept at circling the truth on occasion.

"How do I stop it?"

"Use your magic again."

Somehow she'd expected him to say that. "I can't. I'll lose the bet."

"This bet is a mortal custom. You are Fae." Ewan knelt down before her, his gaze intense. "You don't belong here. You belong with the Fae."

For a brief instant she considered it. To be where she wasn't a freak, where no one hated her for using her magic. "No. I belong here." Though Fae, she was more mortal in temperament. A large loving family had seen to that. She not only had two younger, very mortal brothers, but oodles of aunts and uncles and cousins-all of them warm and loving. "But nice try, Ewan."

He sighed. "You are more difficult than I expected."

Rose had to grin. "Chalk it up to my mortal nature. I'm a lost cause. Give up and go home." She had other problems right now.

"I cannot return until my mission is complete." Ewan stood, but didn't move away.

"Then you're going to be in the mortal world a long, long time." Ewan could wait forever. She wasn't going with him.

But what could she do about Brand? Rose covered her face with her hands. He had no right to cast her out. Okay, so she had caused the barriers to disappear, though totally without her knowledge. Surely he could understand that.

She jerked up. Especially if Ewan vouched for her.

s.n.a.t.c.hing his hand, she tugged him toward the door. "Come with me."

"You've changed your mind?"

"No. I need you to talk to someone for me." She pulled him along to the penthouse, returning wide-eyed stares from people they pa.s.sed with a broad smile. What else could she expect, dragging a handsome half-naked faery?

Reaching the penthouse, she pounded on the door. Brand had to give her another chance. He had to believe Ewan.

As soon as Brand opened the door, she pushed inside, not giving him a chance to deny her entry. "I know what happened," she announced.

Sequoia stood by the patio window, her arms crossed, her expression obstinate. Rose didn't have to be a genius to know her cousin had been defending her.

Brand slammed the door shut. "I already know what happened. You and ..." He caught sight of Ewan and his voice trailed off. "... your magic."

"As it turns out, you're half right." Rose faced him, daring him to say a word. "And half wrong."

"Who's that?" Sequoia asked, her gaze fixed on Rose's companion.

"This is Ewan, one of the Fae. He knows how the barriers disappeared."

"That's Ewan?" Sequoia came to Rose's side, a slight smile framing her lips. "Hmm, he is yummy."

"And stubborn." But for once Rose was glad he'd appeared. "Ewan, tell Brand what you told me about my magic, about what happened."

Brand had his arms crossed now. "Where did you get him?"

"He keeps appearing. Wants me to go to the magical realm, but that's another story. I want you to listen to him."

"Why should I?" Brand's gaze hadn't warmed at all while she'd been gone.

Forcing back the angry words that wanted to emerge, Rose stepped closer and touched his arm. "Because I didn't lie. I didn't do it. Not on purpose anyway."

Brand remained silent for several long seconds. Finally he nodded. "Fine. What happened, then?"

"Rose has made a foolish agreement in which she refuses to use her magic," Ewan said. Before he continued, Rose lifted one eyebrow at Brand. Basically, this was all his own fault for talking her into such a stupid deal to start with.

"Because of this, her unused magic is building into dangerous levels, spilling over into the mortal realm. All it takes is for someone to make a wish and this extra magic will grant it." Ewan motioned toward Rose. "Rose has no control over it. She leaks."

"So you're saying the woman who wished the barriers gone made it happen?" Brand asked.

"Yes."

"Why should I believe you? I don't know you. I've never seen you before. Rose could have plucked you from anywhere." Ewan straightened, majestic and powerful but still appeared diminished beside Brand's fiery presence. "I am Fae. I cannot tell other than the truth."

"Yeah, I've heard that one." Brand darted a look at Rose. 'Try again."