Natural Mage (Magical Mayhem #2)(96)

“Penelope Bristol, if you have something to say, you say it so everyone can hear it,” my mother badgered.

I picked at my nail as Reagan cocked her head the other way, taking another step closer. It was like she was hearing a dog whistle.

“It’s just, we were in trouble, and I couldn’t even leave a voicemail for him,” I said, trying not to be sulky, and failing. Old habits, as they said.

“We’ll get to that,” my mother said. “Reagan, honey, have a seat and let’s talk about this sensibly.”

Reagan, who usually hated terms of endearment from strangers, moved as though in a trance to an open seat, looking mildly confused and a little delighted.

“Emery, you might…close the door,” I said, glancing back at the entryway where part of it was in view, splayed on the ground. “Or maybe just prop it up so the whole neighborhood isn’t peeking in.”

“While he does that,” my mother said, not asking about it, as though propping up kicked-in doors was a normal occurrence, “let’s go over this again, shall we? Let’s start with the change in your training.”

A half-hour later, after helping walk my mom through setting up the DVR, which really shouldn’t have been so hard, she was mostly caught up on the broad strokes of the situation, plus a few details. Other details she’d already known from randomly using her various Seer abilities to check on me.

Turned out she’d known all along about the larger milestones of my journey in New Orleans, but in an effort to stay true to her word, she had stayed out of it, letting me get a grip on my own. I was, quite frankly, gobsmacked by her self-restraint.

Gobsmacked.

“So you are now in league with vampires and shifters,” my mother said in a disapproving voice.

“Join the club,” Reagan muttered.

“Young lady, if you have something to say, say it loud enough for us all to hear.”

Reagan frowned at the phone and, amazingly, entwined her fingers in front of her and hunched forward a little. “Darius’s phone disappeared earlier this evening, right about the time Penny must have called. He already has a new one. It seemed like a minor issue until he learned of the…coincidence in timing.”

“Only dimwitted fools believe in coincidences,” my mother said.

“Right.” Reagan nodded. “I would not have thought it possible, but clearly they have someone on the inside. Vampires. It seems the Mages’ Guild has made alliances of their own, and they are, in essence, taking on Darius. For him not to have seen this before now… It’s surprising. He’s really slipping.”

Rustling filled the phone, probably the sound of my mother shifting. “Even elders can get complacent as time progresses. Things go moderately smoothly for a few hundred years, and they get into a rhythm. This little shake-up will be good for him. It’ll sharpen his edges. We need that going forward. I hate to say it, but he’s a strong ally. It’d be better to have him with us than against us.”

“He’ll stay with me, and I’ll stay with Penny. That’s a certainty,” Reagan said with a gravity to her words that squished my heart. She wasn’t in league with many people. That she would cast her lot with me, when I was at the heart of a boatload of danger, really spoke volumes about her loyalty.

I smiled at her and touched her forearm.

“No.” She shook me off. “Don’t get weepy. It’s gross.”

We dealt with touching moments in different ways.

“Fine,” my mother said. “The question we need answered is what to do now.” Movement sounded in the background.

“Darius thinks—”

Emery held up his hand to stall Reagan. He shook his head. “She is one of the most gifted Seers I’ve ever come across. Wait to hear what she has to say. She was integral in keeping us alive in Seattle.”

Reagan’s lips downturned and she pulled her chair closer. “Really? Neat. I’ve only come across a few decent tarot readers. All assholes. So this fits.”

I stared at the phone wide-eyed, wondering if my mom would retort. When she didn’t, I let out a breath. I really didn’t want to see the two butt heads. That would probably make my life hell.

“Did you get anything much out of the mages?” I asked quietly, not wanting to disturb whatever my mother was doing.

Reagan pulled her gaze up from the phone. “Sadly, no. A couple were hired from different areas of the country. They answered an ad, of all things. I also talked to Red. Well…” She put her elbows on the table. “I kicked him around the place, actually, when I found out he knew you were in trouble and didn’t tell me.” Her jaw clenched. “We’re having a rift in our friendship, he and I.”

“That’s probably better for him,” I said. She gave me a blank stare. “That you stay away, I mean. You scare him, I think.”

Emery chuckled helplessly, bending over his clasped hands, his body shaking. The guy could find a joke in anything.

Reagan’s smile gave me nervous shivers. “No. It is not better for him.”

“What he said about the Guild bringing in people was true, then?” Emery asked with a lopsided smile.

Reagan blew out a breath and sat back. “They know what they’re up against. And I’m not talking about two powerful naturals. I’m talking about a rogue mage with no friends, a newbie with no clue, an easily infiltrated ragtag crew of New Orleans magical social drinkers, vampires that can’t help in the daytime, and shifters that aren’t totally sure they want to fully engage in a full-out magical battle. We’re all over the place. Our side is a mess. We—and I really mean you two—stirred up the hornets’ nest without any plan. And yes, sure, we thought the New Orleans contingent was a decrepit, disorganized faction, fat and happy. But surprise, they’re not. So now we have to figure out how to bail ourselves out. Do we go guerilla and plan lots of little, stealthy attacks? Do we…” She rubbed her hands over her face. “That’s actually all I have. I don’t even know what we do. And given how much Darius has screwed up lately, I don’t trust anything he said. So forget that I was going to offer advice.”