Sin & Salvation (Demigod of San Francisco #3)(30)

“It’s a hard lesson,” Mordecai agreed.

“But I’m in charge, and so I’ll get the heat for not bothering.” I lifted my eyebrows.

Daisy glanced at Mordecai, then didn’t glance at Thane, still standing behind us. The non-action spoke volumes. She didn’t want to admit she liked my idea when a potential tattletale was in our midst.

“I can change and take care of the perimeter really fast,” Mordecai said.

I thought about it for a second, trying to fight past the butterflies and excitement that gave me the mad desire to sprint through the trees, over some sort of fence, and into Kieran’s arms. I had to be rational. I had to think about our training. Kieran was counting on me to step it up. There was a reason he didn’t want me wasting my heart on him. He knew he needed to focus on the battle ahead, which he doubted he’d survive. We might not survive either if we didn’t—

“Oh screw it, let’s just go.”

His services might not have originally included sex, but he’d opened that floodgate. He could deal with the repercussions.

Mordecai stopped me. “Wait…there is less tree smell over here.”

He led the way, stopping at a wall of green and sticking out his hand. It passed through without disturbing the foliage. Another illusion.

I stopped relying so heavily on my vision and reverted back to focusing on the spirit around us. It still clung to trees and branches, outlining them, and showed an open space of about three feet wide where Mordecai’s hand had been.

“Oh my God,” I breathed, stepping in front of him. I could see through the illusion.

“Good looking out, Mordie,” Daisy said softly from behind me.

“Yes, that was excellent work,” I said over my shoulder. “Now that we know about this facet of Zorn’s magic, we’ll want to keep our eyes open.”

“I can’t spot them.” Daisy’s voice rang with frustration and defeat. “I can’t do anything helpful. A non-magical person doesn’t have any chance in the magical world.”

The urgency to run to Kieran pulled at me, but a stronger sensation stayed my feet. I needed to look after my kid.

“Wait.” I turned to face her. Her soul glowed bright and beautiful in her chest, and I smiled at the sight.

Mordecai pushed closer. “Your eyes are serious, but you’re smiling weirdly. Are you okay?”

“You look really creepy,” Daisy said.

My urge to smile vanished.

“Listen, Daisy, I know magic seems like a leg up. And honestly, it is. It’s a cheat. That’s why the non-magical section us off and live without us. They think they’re safer keeping the two groups segregated.

“But here’s the thing. Batman didn’t have any super powers. He was a normal man who got a fright from a bunch of bats when he was a kid, then tried to overcome his fears and went a little nuts. What made him noteworthy was an excellent fighting ability and a bunch of gadgets. Other than that, he was just a slightly crazy dude in a costume. So learn to fight like no one else can, get Kieran to buy you a bunch of shit, and settle for a sidekick with a genie robe instead of spandex. Voila. You’re golden.”

Daisy’s lips pulled to the side before she nodded thoughtfully. “That’s true, I guess.”

Mordecai was nodding, too.

Thane was looking at me like I’d just sprouted two horns while stealing Daisy’s milk money. He just didn’t get it.

“Remember, too.” I held up a finger. “A lot of magical people focus on their specific form of magic. They train in that magic. So, sure, they’re really good at that one thing, but their other skills are underdeveloped. Bria’s a garden-variety psychopath without her dead bodies, Jack needs water to shift, and Thane could’ve ripped Donovan’s head off. See what I mean? You’ll only have a disadvantage in that one thing your magical adversary is good at. So make sure you’re good at everything else, and capture that fucker the instant they’re not in their element.”

Daisy heaved a sigh as Mordecai rubbed her back. “It’ll be a lot of work,” she said.

“Yup. It will.” I shrugged. “But someone else is paying for it, and what else have you got to do?”

Thane leaned around the kids to better see my face. His expression was one of incredulity. I couldn’t tell whether that was a good thing.

“Okay, let’s go see what Kieran is nervous about.” I about-faced.

“I can’t speak or open doors when I use my magic,” I heard Mordecai say in a soft, comforting tone. “Changing form quickly is really tiring and painful, and so is changing a lot. I’m mostly stuck in one form or the other unless I plan out good times to change. At least you can always stay in human form.”

“I guess,” Daisy said glumly, but I could tell she was coming around.

Grass met the line of trees, an expanse of it spreading out behind a huge two-story house with two chimneys. Sensor lights lined the wall behind the house and cameras covered every inch of the spacious backyard. My heart quickened as I hurried to the side, ignoring the kids’ comments on the size of the place. Through the plain, stained wood gate (yes, I noticed those things now, thanks to Bria and her fixation on decorating) and around the house—

My heart leapt.

His deep black eyebrows arched over those entrancing stormy blue eyes. His sharp cheekbones and strong jaw gave his face a severity that said badass, but his shapely lips softened his overall look into a rugged, godly beauty. Raven hair was cut short on the sides and longer on top, trendy yet wild. A tight white T-shirt hugged his broad, muscular chest and loosened over what I knew was a washboard stomach. His stylishly distressed jeans hugged his powerful thighs.