Enchantment (13 page)

Gray rattled off several sentences in Spanish
right before the waiter disappeared. Adrian didn’t speak until his
beer arrived, and he’d downed half of it.

“What’s the matter?” Gray asked. She stared
hard then pushed back into her seat with an aggravated sigh. “I
can’t read minds . . . unlike some people I know,” she mumbled.

Adrian took another sip of beer then hit the
table with his pint glass. “You tried to take my powers away from
me.”

There were many things he could forgive Gray
for, but this was not one of them. He’d had this conversation with
her in his head a hundred times before. This might be his only
opportunity to do so face to face.

Gray glared at him. “That’s entirely your
fault!” she said a bit too loudly. The people around them looked
over.

Adrian swept a dark gaze over everyone in
their immediate vicinity. Let them think they were in the presence
of loud Americans. He’d been out enough times with his nan to be
used to women who made scenes.

Adrian loved it when Gray got worked up. She
was on the edge of her seat, practically snarling at him. For a
moment he could pretend like he was really with her—not enchanted
Gray, but the real Gray in all her pissed-off glory.

“You put a spell over the ENTIRE city,” she
continued, pointing a finger at him. “Because of you Mr. Holloway
and Marc Phillips threatened my mom.”

Adrian frowned. “They threatened your
mother?”

“Pretty much. Holloway cornered me inside his
office.”

Adrian sat up. “You told Holloway you were
back from the dead?”

Gray smirked. “No, I told him I was Charlene
returned from Paris.”

They shared a smile, but not for long. Gray
looked angry again. “I’m the one who ought to be angry.” She turned
her hands over, palms facing up.

Adrian looked over his handiwork. The cuts
were fading, but he could still trace the faint letter in each
palm. He knew he shouldn’t, but he smiled anyway. “I had to mix my
blood with your sister’s in order to bring you back.”

“You didn’t have to carve your initials into
her hands.”

Adrian smirked. “You’re right. That was a
little something extra.”

Gray tilted her head when she looked at him.
“Why?”

There were about ten reasons. Adrian chose
the worst one to come to mind. “I did it so that if you ever
touched another man you couldn’t do so without thinking about
me.”

Gray’s face changed. Her eyes shimmered and
then flashed like thunder.

Adrian’s first thought was that the spell had
been broken. A part of him felt relieved. He waited, curious to see
what she would say.

Then she took a deep breath. “Why me?”

That’s not what he expected.

“Why did you help me?” Gray asked.

“Because you helped me.”

Gray leaned forward and stared into his eyes.
“Why do you keep helping me?”

Adrian held her gaze as long as he could then
looked away. “I don’t know. You’re interesting.” He wrapped his
fingers around his pint glass and took a swallow of beer.

“Have you been in many relationships?” Gray
asked.

Adrian snorted. “If that’s what you want to
call them.”

“When’s the last time you had a girlfriend?”
she tried again.

Adrian’s eyes flicked over her. “I’m not big
on commitment.”

Gray propped her chin on her hands. “What are
you afraid of?”

“Annoying conversations like this one.”

Gray leaned back and laughed. “I think I’m
starting to like you.”

“I thought you loved me.”

“I mean it. I really like you. You’re
interesting.”

“That’s what I said about you.”

Gray nodded. “Exactly. We’re birds of a
feather.”

Adrian studied her face. “I do like your
vengeful streak.”

“It’s a weakness.”

“I like it all the same.”

Their waiter appeared with two large plates
topped with wafer-thin pizzas. He set the first in front of Gray
and the other in front of Adrian.

Adrian shot a look at Gray. “Did you order
for me?”

Gray smiled and looked down at the table.

Adrian nodded at the pie in front of Gray
covered in tomato sauce, basil, and sliced garlic. “What if I want
yours instead?”

Gray’s lip folded over. “Do you want mine
instead?”

Adrian chuckled at the look on her face. “I’m
only teasing. I’ve never seen a skinny girl so into food.”

“Skinny?” Gray said and laughed. “Tell that
to my sister. I’ve got a small pouch, right here.” She lowered her
hand under the table and set it gently on her abdomen. Adrian
followed the motion. He stroked the edge of the table with this
thumb.

“You forget that I’ve seen it,” he said,
meeting her eye. “And I recall nothing but perfection.”

When Gray blushed, it took all of Adrian’s
willpower not to freeze everyone around them, swipe the plates and
silverware off their table, and take her right there. If only
Adrian could freeze people’s consciousness with their bodies.

There was always a memory wipe.

But this was a girl who had been a virgin
twenty-four hours ago.

Adrian flattened his fingers on the table and
sat up. He saw Gray’s hand shake slightly when she picked up her
knife and fork. Once she’d taken her first bite of pizza she seemed
to forget Adrian’s suggestive hints. Or perhaps that was simply an
act.

“This is the best Spanish pizza I’ve ever
had. You should try yours.” Gray looked pointedly at Adrian’s pizza
as if to say, “Stop staring at me, and concentrate on your
food.”

Adrian grinned and grabbed his knife and
fork. After he’d cut off a bite-size piece and swallowed it he
said, “Not bad, but you should try the pizza in Paris.”

“Is it good?”

“Second only to Italy.”

Gray stopped cutting into her next bite.
“Have you been to Italy?”

Adrian’s lips twitched. “I’ve been
everywhere.”

“Everywhere,” Gray repeated dubiously.
“Africa?”

“Yes.”

“Cuba.”

Adrian grinned. “Umm-hmm.”

“Siberia?”

“Everyone loves magic, Gray.”

“So you’ve performed in all these
places?”

“Well, no.” Adrian stared her in the eye. “I
was hired for my gift of avenging in some cases . . . many
cases.”

Gray’s eyes narrowed. “But you’re out of the
business?”

Adrian leaned his weight to one arm. “Only
when it interferes with my performance schedule. Even a wizard
needs to make a living. I tried turning paper into money once. It
didn’t work.” Adrian chuckled.

Gray was frowning at him. “What about your
magic shop?”

Adrian shook his head slowly. Poor innocent.
Eighteen and still so unaware of the way the world worked. “I
didn’t even break even. This is no economy for retail.”

“You were Hedrick the Healer when we first
met.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “I hired Raj to do
the healing.”

“But that was only because you didn’t have
your powers.”

He should have relished her quick defense of
him, but Adrian simply shook his head again. “I have no talent for
healing.”

“No talent or no interest?” Gray
demanded.

“I’m not Raj, Gray.” The sooner she realized
that the better. Adrian was sick of the boy. If he’d known what a
thorn Raj McKenna would turn out to be, he never would have hired
him.

The boy had shown such promise. Troubled, but
talented. Delinquent, but dependable. He was a hard breed to come
by. Then Graylee Perez had come along and domesticated the poor
fool. Adrian wasn’t about to fall into the same trap.

“You were happy enough to solicit my help
with your sister.”

Gray frowned. “That was for a body
transfer.”

“And on the off chance that didn’t work you
mentioned something about a purge.” Adrian wasn’t letting her off
that easy. “Then there was Nolan Knapp. I’d say you are one of the
most vengeful people I know.” Adrian placed a hand on his chest.
“After myself, naturally.”

Gray blinked several times before saying,
“You’re right, I’m a horrible person.”

“You’re not horrible. You’re human.”

“Worse,” Gray said. “I’m a witch.”

“Thank goodness for that,” Adrian said and
laughed.

Gray’s face relaxed. “Why? Do you only
associate with the magically inclined?”

“I accept payment from anyone, but yes, in
answer to your question. I only associate with the gifted on an
intimate level.”

Gray scrutinized him. “So if I had no powers
I’d have no chance with you?”

“That about sums it up.”

Gray pulled apart a piece of pizza crust and
threw it at him. She laughed as she did so. “Good thing I’m a
witch.”

And good thing she was under a spell or there
was no way they’d be sharing a meal, having a laugh together. No
chance in hell.

* * *

“Let me walk you home,” Adrian said after
dinner.

“To my place of lodging?” Gray chuckled then
nodded. “Okay.” She grabbed his hand, and this time he didn’t pull
away. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“I have one more matinee and evening
performance and then the curtain closes on Montez’s Barcelona
performance.”

Gray stared straight ahead rather than look
at him. “Will you stay after tomorrow?”

“That depends on you. Do you want me to
stay?”

“Yes.” She looked at him now.

“Then I’ll stay . . . until we find a way to
reverse this spell.” Adrian caught the flicker of disappointment in
Gray’s eyes. Better she express the emotion than him. Once she was
cured, the only thing she’d regret was allowing him to make love to
her.

As much as Adrian wanted to get what he could
out of Gray while he had the chance, sex was out of the question.
If he hadn’t been blitzed it never would’ve happened the first
time. He wasn’t sure what would have. He tried to imagine Gray
coming on to him in his right frame of mind . . . and Adrian
fighting her off. He snorted softly. Unlikely.

They were lucky he’d had the foresight to put
an anti-pregnancy spell over himself before going out. That sort of
spell was second nature to Adrian when he hit a bar. Not that it
was a common occurrence. He had his nan to think about, and the old
woman worried if he stayed out all night. If he had the bad idea to
return home with a woman, heaven help her come morning when Nan
banged on Adrian’s door to send the hussy packing.

Now he had no idea where his nan had
gone.

The privacy was kinda nice, although he
worried about her constantly. Was she in Paris? Where was she
staying? Was she all alone? Would Nan and Gray get along?

Adrian shook his head. Why even wonder?

Gray placed her free hand over her stomach as
they waited for the train.

Adrian wished she wouldn’t do that. For one
fanciful moment he’d allowed himself to imagine what it would be
like to have a child with Gray. To have a family again.

As he had when Gray first brought it up,
Adrian shoved the hope as far away from his thoughts as he could.
There was only so much disappointment he could take.

After they boarded the train Gray let go of
his hand, but only so she could nestle against him in the corner
where they stood.

“What did that old woman say?”

Gray murmured against his chest. “She said
that she could see we were meant to be together.”

Adrian had never managed to pause time, but
if he could, this would have been the moment. Instead he rested his
chin on Gray’s head.

Gray lay on the top bunk of the dorm listening to
people return from clubbing in the early hours. It would have been
much simpler if she had magic smelling salts and could knock
herself out instead of obsessing over Adrian and what to do now
that she was no longer part of Benita’s summer program.

She could go to Paris with him.

No, scratch that. Number one, it was Paris,
as in Paris, France. Been there done that—for five hours—but still,
France was Charlene’s territory. Not to mention she was fawning
over Adrian enough already without humiliating herself further by
following him to Paris. If Adrian wanted to be with her then he
could damn well stay in Spain. Gray hadn’t even checked out Madrid
yet, and there’d be no more speaking Spanish once she crossed the
border.

The girl in the bunk below Gray began to
whimper and then talk in her sleep. “
Ich sagte . . . Nein! Ich
sagte sie
.”

Gray turned to the wall as though it might
block the sounds of breathing and snoring surrounding her in the
dorm room.

Gradually, sounds from the street came to
life as the room lightened bit by bit. Gray was the first out of
bed. The metal ladder squeaked as she made her way to the floor and
headed for the showers.

Showering had always been one of those
monotonous tasks she zoned out on. Now that she’d slept with
Adrian, she regarded her body in a new light, soaping her arms and
legs gingerly and watching the water run rivers down her skin.

After towel drying herself, Gray glanced
around the empty locker room and snapped into a light, white floral
embroidered shirt she’d bought from one of the street vendors and a
pair of shorts in green denim.

Once on the street, she purchased a women’s
Spanish magazine and settled into a spot at a café after ordering a
croissant with orange juice and coffee. Gray spent more time
reading captions under photos than the full articles as she paged
through the magazine. She alternated between coffee and orange
juice. That was probably weird, but whatever.

Gray had a few hours to kill before Adrian’s
matinee. She’d decided to go. She wanted to watch him perform. The
first time she had been too shocked and angry to pay attention to
what Adrian was doing. Now she was dying to see him in action.