Burned (A Magic Bullet Novel Book 1) (11 page)

Farah nodded. "She owes me money and it makes her unhappy."

I winced at the reminder.

"If you stumble across any more corpses be sure to give me a call." He smiled pleasantly.

"There will be no stumbling. I am as graceful as a cat."

"Ooh, remember when you shifted into that Siamese cat?" Farah said and laughed. "The landlord was so pissed off." She looked at Reed. "He was allergic, so Alyse would sneak into his place at night as mist and then shift into the cat. He got so frustrated. He couldn't understand where all the cat hair came from."

"He was not a nice landlord," I said. In actual fact, he was a slumlord and he deserved far worse than he got.

"Well, I appreciate you ladies taking the time out of your busy schedules to chat with me."

"Anytime," Farah said. "Really. I mean anytime."

I grabbed her arm and hauled her away from the table.

We left the coffee shop with my head in a fog. I couldn't tell from our chat whether Reed believed I was innocent. I decided to stay out of his way for now. It seemed smarter than offering my help, which would only be met with suspicion at this point. More than that, I couldn't afford any more marks against me or I'd never clear my name. Hell, the cuffs could even be used to build a case against me here. Only the truly dangerous djinn warranted cuffs. I thought I was already at my lowest point, yet, somehow, I managed to make things worse. Typical.

A
fter one too many
run-ins with mobsters and corpses, I decided it was time to ramp up my physical training. As much as I hated to admit it, I'd gone soft in the human department. When you have the power to summon objects, shift at will, control the weather, and channel the essential fire from your soul, trust me, your human form gets a tiny bit neglected. It was time to step up. For that, I needed a hard-ass to train with me and the only hard-ass in town who had the chops was the one djinni I preferred to avoid.

I knocked on the front door, inwardly cursing myself for what I was about to do.

Flynn opened the door, fresh from the shower. His dark hair glistened with water droplets and his lower half was, mercifully, wrapped in a towel, revealing a finely sculpted torso. When he saw me on the doorstep, he let out a low whistle.

"I knew you'd come back eventually. Thought it might take longer, though."

Nobody should be this smug. "If I'd known you were half naked, I would have waited."

He grinned. "Until I was entirely naked? Because that can be easily arranged." He started to release the two ends of the towel he was holding.

"Drop that towel and you'll regret it," I said, shielding my eyes. Been there, done that. Not interested in a return trip.

He chuckled and stepped aside to let me pass. "Come in, my blue diamond."

My eyes narrowed. "I told you never to call me that again."

"Why not? The name still suits you." He ambled into the kitchen and I followed him, avoiding the pictures on the wall this time. I didn't want to see Tessa's smiling face judging me, even from the confines of a wooden Pottery Barn frame.

"Tessa's not here," he said. "She went to the store."

In truth, I already knew that because I waited for her to leave before I gathered the courage to knock.

I sucked in a breath. "I need your help," I said. Might as well get straight to the point, as much as it pained me.

"I still haven't heard anything about your situation."

I shook my head and leaned my back against the kitchen counter. "I need to up my game while I'm in this form."

His brow lifted. "Trouble?"

"Always."

"I like that it isn't me for a change."

"You'd have to get in line."

"Let me guess. Your court found out you're here?"

"Among other things." Now it was only a matter of time before Prince Simdan demanded my presence at court. I dreaded that particular reunion. It was one more reason to hone my physical skills. "If I'm going to be stuck in this body for an indefinite amount of time, I need to get in better shape."

"Your shape looks pretty good from where I'm standing," he replied.

I fought my natural urge to punch him in the gut. Or kick him in the balls. All were common feelings when I was with Flynn.

"I'm not talking about my looks. I'm talking about training and conditioning this body. Going back to the basics. Martial arts, hand-to-hand combat, spears and swords."

He nodded sagely. "So you came to me."

"As much as it pains me to say it, you have the skills I need. You were always good about focusing on your human form."

"That's because I was never as powerful as you. I needed it more."

I knew that was hard for him to admit. Part of our relationship difficulties had involved his desire to protect me and my desire to not need his protection.

"So will you help me?" I asked.

"I think I can work it into my busy schedule. Any place in mind?"

I looked around his domestic hideout with its tasteful window dressings and neutral throw rugs. "I'm guessing your house is out of the question." An idea sprang to mind. "What about the warehouse you sent me to? The one where I found the dead Protector." Even if mobsters or supernaturals used to meet there, they won't anymore. Not after it became a crime scene.

"Okay. Name the day and time and I'll be there."

I gave him a hard stare. "You don't look busy now."

"You've persuaded me," he said. "I'm throwing in the towel." He moved to drop his towel again and I spun on my heel and hurried from the kitchen.

"I'll meet you there in an hour," I called over my shoulder. "Make sure you're fully dressed or I reserve the right to declare open season on any exposed bits."

His laughter followed me even as my feet hit the pavement outside.

T
o keep
Flynn and I from tearing each other to pieces, Farah made the executive decision to accompany me to the warehouse. As we unloaded two sacks of weapons from the back of the Prius, I prayed that no one saw us. Farah could turn invisible, but I couldn't. I'd literally be left holding the bag.

Flynn was already inside when we arrived. He rolled his eyes at the sight of Farah.

"I didn't know we were supposed to bring our own cheerleaders."

Flynn and Farah had always had a healthy distrust of one another.

"I consider myself more of a referee," Farah said.

We opened our sacks and dumped the weapons onto the floor. Flynn came over to inspect the haul.

"Are you serious?" he asked, his gaze flickering over the assortment of blades, spears and staffs. "I thought the plan was to punch each other until one of us was knocked unconscious."

"This isn't a bar brawl," I chastised him. "Otherwise, Farah would be training me."

She folded her arms and nodded in agreement.

"I need to get comfortable fighting without my djinn powers." I picked up a tiger's claw and tested it in my hand. Great for a surprise attack. I continued poking through the supplies.

"If you're going with the bagh naka," Farah said, "I'd take a second weapon for your other hand. Maybe a sword."

"I think I'll save it for another time." I set it down and chose another. A misericorde. These knives were perfect for dealing a deathblow. I could pierce the brain or the heart, easy peasy.

"Why do I get the sense that you intend to skewer me?" Flynn asked.

"Only in my dreams," I said. I liked the feel of the knife, but it was too dangerous for a training exercise. If Flynn pissed me off, I didn't necessarily want to kill him.

"Start with the crescent moon knives," Farah encouraged. "It's the kind of weapon you'd keep concealed, so you might want to consider carrying them anyway."

I held a blade in each hand. "Don't worry," I told him. "These are steel. I won't use cold iron in training."

He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "Let's go, sweetness. I need to be home for dinner. Tessa's making a quinoa salad with mango."

Of course she is.

"Wait, you need a safe word," Farah said.

We both looked at her.

"You know, a safe word, like in BDSM." When neither of us responded, she groaned in exasperation. "If Flynn's methods get out of hand, you need a special word to tell him to back the hell off."

He grinned. "How about 'blue diamond'?"

"That's two words," I shot back.

"Fine. I know another word you like. How about cocktail?"

I put a hand on my hip. "How about just cock?" Inviting Flynn back into my life was starting to seem like a bad idea.

Farah stepped between us. "Listen up, you two adult-sized toddlers. Either play nice together or don't play at all." She looked at me. "Alyse, given your history with him, he doesn't have to help you. He's actually being quite generous with his time." She turned to Flynn. "And you don't need to be so smug. Alyse is dealing with a traumatic change in circumstances, so be a freakin' gentleman about it."

He dipped his head in acknowledgement and Farah returned to her place against the wall.

"The safe word is vengeance," I said.

"Don't need to dig deep on that one," he replied. "Okay, let's get started." With those words, he disappeared.

I stood in the middle of the room, trying to identify where he'd turn up next. I put myself in his shoes. Where would I go?

I spun around as he materialized behind me. His fist moved toward me, but I was faster. I blocked his blow with the hand guard.

"No need for blindfolds when your opponent can disappear," I said, moving into an offensive position.

"But blindfolds can be so much fun," he said. "Remember Miami?"

Was he seriously bringing up Miami?

My temper flared. "I told you never to mention that again."

I sliced with both hands. One at his throat and the other at his stomach. He dodged my blades with a graceful turn. I laughed when he summoned a folding metal chair.

"A chair? Have I tired you out already?"

He smirked. "Hardly."

"Then what do you expect to do with that?"

He held it over his head and threw it at me. I ducked and it skimmed the top of my head.

"Hey, that almost hit me."

"Kinda the point," he said.

I rushed him, but he enveloped himself in shadow before I reached him. Foiled again.

Flynn reappeared behind me and plucked a sword from the pile of weapons. He sauntered toward me, circling his wrist with every step.

"While I have your attention," I began, "who's the mystery mobster in charge of organ trafficking?"

"Alyse, you always have my attention."

He lunged and I stumbled back. Quickly, I regained my balance and surprised him by reaching forward, using the crescent moon knives for their intended purpose -- to disarm an assailant. I trapped his sword between my curved blades and sent it sailing into the air.

"I don't know his name," he replied. He danced out of reach and grabbed another sword, a single-edged dao designed for slashing and chopping.

"But I bet you can tell me someone who does."

"What's in it for me?"

I smiled. "Patience, grasshopper."

Flynn looked intrigued. "If memory serves, Hugo Munson used to work with that particular group."

Hugo? Where had I heard that name? "You mean the mob accountant?"

He shifted to mist and I spun around to see where he would reform.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Flynn behind me. Pain shot down my arm. A blow to my right shoulder.

"Wow," he said, staring at the blood as it trickled down my chest. "I guess this is what's in it for me."

I glanced at the wound. It hurt, but the cut wasn't deep.

"Do you want to stop?" he asked.

I straightened and faced him. "Tell me about Hugo."

"Apparently, he requested a transfer," Flynn continued. "O'Leary offered to take him on since he had an accounting background."

"How accommodating." Maybe I should have asked for a transfer within the agency. Of course, it would've helped to know who hated me enough to cuff me.

"Fair warning," Flynn said. "As much as you love the sound of my voice, I'm switching to silent mode now."

Silent mode. That couldn't be good.

I watched chocolate brown fur sprout all over Flynn's body as it expanded upward and outward. His rugged face pulled and stretched until I was looking into the eyes of a six hundred pound black bear.

"Are you kidding me?" I yelled. "Foul play."

The bear growled in response. He seemed to disagree.

Farah observed the transformation from the sidelines. "Flynn's right." She pretended to choke on those particular words. "Just because you're in human form doesn't mean your enemies will be. If a Ghul comes at you in all his ghoulish glory, he doesn't care that you can't shift. In fact, he'll probably like those odds."

I listened to Farah while keeping my eyes fixed on my new furry opponent. He paced in front of me on all fours, probably debating his next move.

I tossed the crescent moon knives aside and crouched low in a defensive position. How could I fight a bear with my bare hands? No pun intended.

"Use your jade daggers," Farah called.

They'd never pierce his thick coat. "Too small," I said, my eyes still trained on the bear. He roared and the floor shook beneath my feet.

"You have thirty weapons at your disposal right now that you won't have in a real fight," Farah advised. "What can you use to your advantage against a bear?"

"I'll never make it over there in time," I said. I'd seen Flynn in his bear form before. As big as he was, he was still fast over short distances.

I had to try, though. There was no other choice.

I broke left, hoping to grab the spear before he reached me. I wasn't quick enough. His bear body intercepted me and I went crashing down. My tailbone smashed against the concrete floor and I howled in pain. I'd relied on shadows and light for too long and now this body was paying the price.

Flynn didn't need a weapon. He had six hundred pounds on his side. He simply laid on top of me and wrapped his fuzzy arms around me. I heard a bone crack and pain exploded inside me like canon fire. I muffled a cry as an icy burn set in. I struggled to reach one of the jade daggers strapped to my calf, but it was no use. He had me pinned firmly to the floor.

His bear hug was going to be the death of me. He continued to hold me down, crushing me with his weight. My lungs felt flattened. As I was about to utter 'vengeance,' a rush of wind rolled over us and six hundred pounds of bear went flying across the room. It took me a second to understand what was happening.

Someone was astride Bear Flynn, pummeling him with two of the fastest fists I'd ever seen in action.

My would-be rescuer unsheathed the sword on his back and lifted it high.

"Captain," I yelled, finding my voice. "Reed, stop!"

Before he could strike, a small red fox leaped into the air and grabbed his arm between her teeth. She clamped down and refused to let go. The sword clattered to the floor.

I hobbled over, dripping blood and coddling my rib as I went. By the time I got there, Reed's two strong hands had the bear in a chokehold. I grabbed the arm that wasn't attached to Farah's teeth.

"Reed, no. He wasn't attacking me."

Captain Hero Hair looked at me like I was delusional.

"Okay, he was attacking me, but only because I asked him to." That didn't sound much better.

The bear's growl lowered and deepened. This wasn't going to end well.

"Let him go," I ordered, "or I will skewer you with about thirty different weapons."