Relentless (3 page)

Leesa frowned. She had not been expecting this. She didn’t see how she could keep her baby away from her mom and Bradley, or even her aunt and uncle. Cali might be in tune enough with her magic to gain some protection, but what was she going to do about the others?

“I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens,” she said. “Maybe I’ll be able to figure out a way to wrap our baby in a fire protection spell—stopping any fire at the source, rather than at a target. I won’t be able to do it twenty-four hours a day, but maybe for as long as other humans are around. I’ve got six months to experiment.”

Balin nodded. “That sounds like a good idea. You might not need it, but it’s always best to be prepared.” His eyes dropped to Leesa’s stomach for a few seconds. “Can you sense anything more about your child other than that he exists? I know it’s early, but since you can feel that it’s there, maybe you can pick up something else. The more information we have—and the sooner we get it—the better prepared we will can be.”

Leesa had been so consumed by the joy and surprise of her immediate pregnancy that she hadn’t thought about trying to connect with the life inside her in any other way.

“I don’t know. But I can certainly try.”

She closed her eyes and turned her concentration inward, focusing on the tiny piece of warm energy she felt deep in her belly. It was not yet anything that could remotely be called a fetus, but she had no doubt about what it would become—a child created by the love she and Rave shared. She used a variation of her everywhere/nowhere technique to block out all other thoughts and sensations out as she tried to let her mind and spirit join with the energy.

After a few moments, she could tell that the energy was pulsating, very slowly and very faintly. She couldn’t be sure, but she felt like the energy had a light green hue to it—the result of the merging of Rave’s blue inner fire with her own yellow magic, perhaps. And then she felt one more thing, and of this aspect she had no doubt. A smile curved her lips as she opened her eyes and turned to Rave.

“It’s a boy. You’re going to have a son, Daddy.”

Normally, the concept of father and son would have been foreign to Rave. Volkaane children were taken from their mothers at birth and raised communally. There were no fathers or mothers, sons or daughters. There were only members of the clan. The closest thing to parents were the mentors who taught each child, like Balin had been to Rave.

Rave had learned a lot from Leesa, though, watching the way she interacted with her mother and her brother. He had seen the sacrifices she had been willing to make for them, had felt the bond of love that united them. He had his own powerful love for Leesa to guide him as well. The bond between parent and child had become much more familiar to him than to most volkaanes. He was ready and eager to experience it himself.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

Leesa nodded. “One-hundred percent. It’s a boy, for sure.”

Rave wrapped Leesa up in a loving hug. “That’s wonderful, darling.”

“That’s wonderful news indeed,” Balin said from across the table. “Were you able to glean anything else about him?”

Leesa turned back to face the old volkaane, keeping one arm around Rave’s back.

“His aura is light green, I think. A mixture of Rave’s and mine. I believe he’ll posses at least some of both of our magics.”

Balin nodded. “I would have guessed that would be the case. What we do not know is what the effect of that combination will be.”

None of them knew just how soon they would begin to find out.

5. VISITING FRIENDS

AFTER DEFEATING THE NECROMANCER
and his minions—and losing Dominic in the process—Leesa had seen no reason to return to Weston College for the fall semester. The only book she was interested in now was the book of magic Dominic had given her. It contained all the lessons she needed, and she spent at least several hours with it every day, learning and practicing spells and magic. She was the last of the waziri now, and she was determined to become the very best wizard she could.

Progress was slow without Dominic here to guide her, but she had vowed that she was going to make him proud, even if he wasn’t around to see it. Jenna came by now and then to help, but witch magic and wizard magic were very different, so the amount of assistance she could provide was limited. Rave usually watched Leesa practice, lending encouragement and support. For the most part, though, she was having to learn it all on her own.

Just because she hadn’t enrolled at Weston didn’t mean she never visited the campus. She still had friends there, and she dropped in on Dr. Clerval now and then, too. The old professor was always happy to see her, though he seemed a bit disappointed at how seemingly ordinary her life had become. He had learned far more about the supernatural world in his months with Leesa than in all his long decades of research. He had even met a real-life vampire face-to-face when he accompanied Leesa to her meeting with Stefan to save Bradley.

Tonight, she was heading up the stairs of her old dorm to touch bases with Cali, Stacie and Caitlin. She hadn’t seen Stacie and Caitlin since before the wedding, though Cali had told them about it—without revealing Rave’s secret, of course.

Cali’s door was open, and Leesa’s three friends were waiting in the room for her. Cali sat on her bed with her back resting against the wall. She was wearing hot pink shorts and a black T-shirt with “I Was Kissed by a VAMPIRE” written in blood red letters on the front. The two outside legs of the “M” in vampire were curved inward like fangs, and each had a drop of blood dripping from it.

Leesa trusted that Cali would never reveal anything about Stefan—who had kissed Cali’s hand several times, much to her delight—but Cali was not above an inside joke, as shown by her shirt.

Caitlin, who also liked to express messages with her T-shirts, was sitting in Cali’s desk chair, which she had turned around to face the bed and the door. Her burnt orange shirt was stretched tight across her full breasts. This one read “Always Up For Fun,” which was among the tamer messages Leesa had seen on her friend. Stacie sat cross-legged on the floor, the way she often did. Even with Leesa’s bad leg having been healed by Dominic, she doubted she could cross her legs the way Stacie did. In keeping with her more reserved nature, Stacie wore a simple light and dark blue striped shirt and khaki shorts.

As usual, Cali was the first to speak.

“Hey, Leesa, c’mon in.” Cali patted the bed beside her. “Come take a load off.”

Leesa crossed the room and joined Cali atop the bed.

“Hey, newlywed,” Caitlin said. “Long time no see.”

“Congratulations, Leesa,” Stacie added. “Was the wedding amazing? Cali wouldn’t give us any details.”

“Yeah, c’mon, Leesa, spill it,” Caitlin prodded. “How do those Maston folks get married?”

Since neither Caitlin nor Stacie knew anything about volkaanes, they used the name most people used when talking about the eccentric, keep-to-themselves volkaane clan.

“We were thinking maybe there was a human sacrifice involved or something,” Caitlin continued, “and that’s why Cali wouldn’t tell us anything.”

Leesa smiled at the old joke. Cali had been the first to repeat the human sacrifice rumor back when she was warning Leesa about getting involved with Rave. Ironically, one of the other common rumors, about strange blue fires, turned out to be truer than anyone could imagine.

“Sorry to disappoint,” Leesa said. “But nothing so exciting. It was a pretty simple ceremony. Rave and I exchanged vows in a beautiful outdoor setting. No priest or anything. Pretty much just us, family, and a few very close friends. I’m sorry I couldn’t invite you guys.”

Stacie waved off Leesa’s apology. “Don’t worry. We understand. We know those Mastons pretty much like to keep to themselves.”

“Yeah, no worries,” Caitlin said. “I’m more interested in the wedding NIGHT, anyhow. I’m guessing we can’t tease you about being a virgin anymore, huh?”

Such talk used to make Leesa blush, but no longer. “No, Caitlin, that’s been taken care of, for sure.” Not only wasn’t she a virgin any longer, but she was pregnant. She wasn’t about to share that with the girls yet, though she expected she would tell Cali sooner rather than later. Cali had proven many times how good she was at keeping secrets.

“I bet Rave is really hot in bed,” Caitlin said. “He certainly looks like he would be.”

Leesa heard Cali stifle a giggle beside her.

“You have no idea, Caitlin,” Leesa said, grinning. “No idea at all.”

“We’re really happy for you, Leesa,” Stacie said, a little uncomfortable as always with blatant sex talk. “Rave seems like a great guy.”

“And it doesn’t hurt that he looks like a Greek god,” Caitlin added.

Leesa grinned again. “No, that doesn’t hurt at all.”

“So, are you still allowed to drive a car and use your cell phone?” Stacie asked. “Or have you had to adopt their ways?”

Like everyone else, Stacie and Caitlin thought the reason behind the Mastons refusal to use modern technology sprang from religious beliefs. Leesa understood where Stacie’s question was coming from.

“No, I’m allowed to do everything I’ve always done,” she replied. “They don’t push their habits on anyone else.”

“That’s cool,” Stacie said. “Do you think you’ll be able to get Rave into a car one of these days?”

“Or at least get him a cell?” Caitlin asked. “I couldn’t live without my phone. I don’t know how he does it.”

Leesa shook her head. “I’m pretty sure neither of those is going to happen. Rave’s pretty set in his ways…and I don’t want to change him. I love him just the way he is.” She pulled her feet up under her on the bed. “So, what have you guys been up to?” she asked, wanting to change the subject.

They spent the next hour or so talking about classes, parties, a guy Stacie had started dating—normal girl stuff. Leesa loved every minute of it—but she was equally happy when it was time to call it an evening and head back home to Rave.

6. A CHALLENGING SPELL

LEESA NEVER PRACTICED HER MAGIC
in the vicinity of the volkaane settlement. To do so risked awakening the fell power that slumbered beneath the earth there, a magic so powerful Dominic said it dwarfed anything he had ever experienced. “Let sleeping magic lie” was a fitting switch on a familiar old saying.

While inconvenient, the need to travel to work on her magic had its benefits. Pretty much every day, Leesa got to enjoy a ten or fifteen mile ride in Rave’s arms, cradled snug against his muscular chest and feeling his inner warmth soaking into her body. Being carried by Rave as he raced swiftly through the trees was still far and away her favorite way to travel.

She had a few favorite places to practice, most of them spots where she had trained with Dominic. She varied them so she wouldn’t become too accustomed to wielding her powers in any one place. For the same reason, she and Rave occasionally tried a new spot. Almost all of them were deep in the woods somewhere, hidden from sight by any prying eyes. Sometimes, though, she practiced in more public places, like parks or parking lots, always taking care that no one could see. She wanted to be confident that she could use her magic swiftly and successfully in any kind of environment should the need arise.

Today, however, they were in a familiar location, far back in the State Forest near Higganum. This was an especially pretty spot, and one of Leesa’s favorites. A wide stream cut through the woods, allowing a ribbon of bright sunlight to shine down through the otherwise thick foliage. Motes of dust floated in the sunlight like magical fairy dust, while the gurgling water created a peaceful soundtrack for the scene. A large rock out in the middle of the stream was pockmarked with round holes of varying sizes. This was the place where Leesa and Dominic had learned that Cali could actually employ magic, if she stood close enough to Leesa. The holes in the rock had been drilled by Leesa’s energy beam back on that day, which seemed so long ago now.

A smaller rock near the bank of the stream was marked by a half-dozen shallower holes—indentations more than holes, really—left by Cali’s practice with the energy beam magic.

Leesa warmed up by blasting a few more deep holes into the large rock while Rave settled comfortably atop a fallen tree trunk to watch. Short bursts of bright yellow energy shot from Leesa’s palm, striking the stone exactly where her eyes aimed them. Aiming and controlling her powerful beam were almost second nature to her now, but it still a good way to gather and focus her magic as she readied herself for newer, more difficult challenges.

After firing four or five bursts, Leesa levitated herself a few feet into the air and then sent another couple of blasts at the rock, again with unerring accuracy. Combining the two spells increased the difficulty, but not by much. She had practiced both countless times, separately and together. She had become so proficient at both that she no longer needed to chant the incantations that created the spells—she simply had to think them in her head.

As she allowed herself to float back down to the ground, Rave clapped in appreciation.

“Bravo!” he shouted. “Well done.”

Leesa smiled. “Oh, hush. You’ve seen me do both of those so many times I’m surprised you’re not sick of them.”

Rave grinned. “I might be, if it was anyone else but you doing them. I never get tired of looking at you, no matter what you’re doing.”

Leesa felt the familiar warm glow begin to spread inside her that she always felt when Rave talked to her like this. She fastened her gaze on his chest and pictured him floating across the clearing, trying to use her telekinesis to bring him to her. As usual, nothing happened. Rave was simply too heavy, plus his magic caused some kind of barrier that weakened her power. On a good day, she could move rocks or logs as heavy as Rave, but she’d never been able to transport him. Not yet, anyhow.

Suddenly, Rave flew off the log and soared across the ten feet between them, right into her arms.

“Congratulations, sweetheart,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her. “You did it!”

“Ha, ha. Very funny. I saw you push off with your hands and feet. But thanks for making the effort.”

“I could feel the pull of your magic tugging at me,” Rave said, “so I just gave you a little help.” He kissed her on the lips. “I’ll take any excuse I can get to hold you like this.”

Leesa kissed him back. “You don’t need an excuse,” she said when she pulled her lips away from his. “We’re married now. You can have me any time you wish.”

Rave feigned astonishment. “Really? That’s one human custom I could get definitely get used to.”

Leesa tightened her embrace. “See that you do, lover boy.”

“I guess there’s no time like the present,” Rave said. He bent his head and began kissing and licking the side of Leesa’s neck, directly atop the faint puncture scars left by Stefan’s vampire fangs.

Leesa sighed as Rave’s heat flowed into her. She swore that each time he kissed her there the scars faded a little bit, but she wasn’t positive it was not just in her mind.

She raised her arms from behind Rave’s back and pressed his head more tightly against her skin. He responded by kissing her neck harder. Dropping his hands, he cradled them under Leesa’s butt and lifted her easily off the ground. She wrapped her legs around his waist and moved her head so she could kiss him on the mouth. When his tongue pressed against her lips, she opened her mouth and let her tongue dance with his. As their passion mounted, so did the heat flowing into Leesa’s body. She knew she would never tire of the feeling.

Finally, she pulled her mouth away from Rave’s. Keeping her legs around his waist, she locked her hands behind his neck and leaned back so she could look at him.

“Whew. I could do this all day. But….”

“But we came out here for you to practice your magic,” Rave said, finishing Leesa’s thought.

“Yeah,” she agreed. “It is kind of important. Not that kissing you isn’t important,” she added quickly.

Rave nodded solemnly. “I understand completely. Magic is important.” His serious expression turned into a grin. “I was getting a little tired of kissing you, anyhow.”

Leesa punched him playfully on the shoulder. “You were not! You like it just as much as I do.”

Rave’s grin widened. “Maybe I do. And maybe I….”

Leesa put her hand over Rave’s mouth, cutting him off. “You’d better not finish that sentence if you know what’s good for you, mister.” Her smile showed she was not at all annoyed. She unwrapped her legs from around Rave’s waist, and he lowered her to the ground.

Rave returned to his perch on the log so Leesa could resume her practicing. She knew what spell she wanted to work on most. It was one that could be critically important in the future, but one she had never yet performed successfully. There were a few things she needed to do before trying again.

She turned toward the stream and fastened her gaze upon a small brown boulder the size of a bowling ball. Using her telekinesis, she lifted the rock from the water and floated it across the clearing. She let it land softly a few feet in front of her.

Next, she looked down at a scraggly weed poking up from the ground near where the rock had settled.

Blitha egras sumuss,
she thought, chanting the plant growth spell inside her head as she pictured the weed growing taller and sprouting new leaves. The plant began to grow. In less than ten seconds, it had nearly tripled in height and bore twice as many slender leaves.

Leesa was unimpressed with her success. This was one of the very first spells Dominic had taught her and one she had performed many times. Still, it was a good warm-up for what was to come next.

She took a couple of deep breaths to help center herself and then stared down at the rock.

“
Blitha morun sumuss
,” she chanted aloud while trying to visualize the stone becoming twice as large.

Nothing happened—which was exactly what had occurred every other time she tried this spell. She forced down her disappointment. Negative thoughts only got in the way, Dominic had drilled into her.

She didn’t need to look inside her book of magic to know she was using the proper incantation—she had read the section at least a dozen times. The middle word in the spell determined whether the magic would make a living thing like a plant or flower grow or cause an inanimate object like a rock to become larger. She had no trouble doing the former, but so far had been unable to make even a start at the latter. She was certain Dominic would have been able to tell her why, but Dominic was not here. She needed to figure this one out on her own. But where to start?

A flutter of wings above her drew her attention. She looked up, smiling when she saw a large brown and white owl descending gracefully to the ground. As soon as it landed, a bright silver flash engulfed the bird. A moment later, Jenna stood where the owl had been.