Natural Mage (Magical Mayhem #2)(114)

“Is it Penny, or Penelope?” Ja asked, her voice deep and sultry.

“My real name is Penelope, but people call me Penny,” I said, taking the seat next to Reagan that Emery held out for me.

“Penelope suits her better,” Marie said.

“It does.” Ja nodded minutely. “I shall use that. It is good to see you again, Penelope. I owe you a debt.”

“No,” my mother said. She made a slash across her neck as Callie and Dizzy shook their heads. “You don’t.”

“You do not,” Callie mimicked. When the two agreed, people tended to just get out of the way. When they didn’t…well, the cops had been called a few times from neighbors worried about domestic violence.

Ja’s eyes sparkled, still on mine. “They are wise, not wanting you to have a connection with a vampire.” Her gaze slowly made its way to Darius. “I would press the point, but doing so would impose on the merriment of the gathering.”

“You are free to speak your mind, I am sure,” he said. “They will let you know when they no longer welcome a particular topic.” He glanced down at us, and Reagan reached over and took his hand, twining her fingers in his.

In that moment, I saw it. His eyes flicked to her and softened, the deep light of emotion shining within them. A small smile curved her lips. While she always tried to make his life hell, and he tried to manipulate hers, they were doing it out of mutual adoration.

Their relationship was still weird. Strong and deep, sure, but still weird.

“Yes.” Ja smiled and followed my eyes, her gaze flicking back and forth between Reagan and Darius. “Quite a surprise, isn’t it? An elder with emotion. I would not have believed it if I hadn’t witnessed it myself.”

“I can scarcely believe it myself, I can assure you.” He bowed his head a mere fraction. “As we’ve discussed.”

“Of course.” She refocused on me, and I got the impression something had just passed between them in a subtle exchange I’d probably never understand. “Penelope, I would like to apologize for our meeting. I was not in a place to appreciate it. It took me by surprise, I must admit.”

“She is truly exceptional, is she not?” Darius asked.

“Truly. One of only a handful I have met throughout my many long years to capture my notice. Capable of great things. And discovered by…”

“Reagan,” Darius said.

“I found her in a closet.” Reagan took a sip of her wine as servers filed in with the soup course. “She’s mine.”

I frowned at them and opened my mouth to interject, but Marie flashed me a hard stare and Callie lightly shook her head. Emery took my hand, and I could tell something was at work that I didn’t understand.

As usual. I’d be surprised the day I did understand everything.

“And Emery,” Marie said softly. “It was he who showed her the way, isn’t that right, Penelope?”

Callie huffed. I didn’t need to ask why—she’d wanted to be the one to take that mantle.

“He was the first to show me what it was to be a mage, yes,” I said. “Then Callie and Dizzy showed me what it was to be part of a community.”

The dual-mages beamed, and I felt my heart squish. It was true, and I would always value everything they had done for me.

But it was Emery’s turn to feel the force of Ja’s beguiling stare. Heat kindled deep in her dark eyes. “A handsome young natural. And your choice is made, I see.”

“Yes.” He squeezed my hand as Reagan bristled. She was still hell-bent on beating people away from Emery for me. Even a passing glance from another woman was enough to set her off. Where was she when I got hit on, though? Laughing and nudging Emery to start a fight, that was where.

“Pity.” Ja’s smile said she was joking. Or maybe hungry. It was hard to tell. “I sense a natural pairing. How extremely rare. My goodness. If only I had been awake to have discovered you two. The things we could do.” She dipped her head and smiled coyly, and I realized I was staring at her in rapture, hanging on her every word. It wasn’t even that interesting, what she was saying, but her musical voice lulled me. That was probably part of her magic. She was even more wily and dangerous than Darius. “Forgive me, please,” she continued. “How crass of me.”

“I’ll say,” Reagan said in a dry voice, and Dizzy started chuckling.

“Well, Penelope,” Ja said, “you have my eternal gratitude. Based on what I have gleaned, we are heading into some turbulent times.” Her gaze rooted to Reagan. “This happens in cycles, of course. Powers awaken, or are found…” Reagan’s eyes started to burn now, but Ja just smiled. “Stands are made. Agendas pushed. Kingdoms toppled. Darius is amassing some serious players in anticipation of what’s to come, as any well-positioned elder ought to. I am late to the game.”

A wave of vertigo swept over me and I felt Reagan and Emery stiffen. Kingdoms toppled. My mother looked more closely at Ja, then at Darius, her wheels turning.

“I am not interested in the politics of the Realm just yet,” Darius said, dipping his spoon elegantly into his soup. I looked down at my own dripping spoon before accidentally clattering it against the bowl.

“I was not talking about the Realm.” Ja’s eyes sparked, and a pulse of her ancient power cut through my middle.