Magicorum Box Set (Books 1-5)

27. Chapter Twenty-Seven-2

About an hour later, we’re all hanging in the kitchen: Elle, Alec, Knox, and me. Like the rest of Knox’s place, the kitchen has bare-cement walls, black furniture, and wood floors. We’re all dressed in jeans and sweats, except for Alec who’s always wearing his ever-present sport coat packed with jewels.

Elle sits across from me at a black granite high-top table. Her shoulders are slumped, and she won’t even look at me.

“Elle.”

“Hmm?”

I lower my voice a little. “Elle.”

“What?” She still won’t look at me, though. I turn to Knox. “Can you guys give us a second?”

Knox gives me one of those chin-nods that only hot guys can get away with.

Alec looks ready to burst with excitement. He beams his most winning surfer-boy smile. “Are you sure? I have some amazing news.”

“Come on, Captain Excitement.” Knox gives him a playful punch on the shoulder. “I’ll show you my new gaming console.”

Alec heaves out a dramatic sigh. “If we must, we must.”

Once they finally leave the kitchen, I take the barstool next to Elle’s. “Can we talk now?”

“I feel terrible.”

“Elle. Give me your eyes.”

At last, Elle looks up. Her huge blue eyes are watery. “I didn’t tell you I was a fairy. That’s the same as lying. I’m so sorry.”

I raise my hand, palm forward. “Did you have a good reason to keep the truth form me?”

Elle nods.

“And did that reason have something to do with your stepfamily?”

“Yes.”

“There’s more to it, isn’t there? You have to keep other things from me because of them.”

Her voice cracks. “I’m so sorry.”

“Stop torturing yourself. I understand.”

“You do?”

“How many times have you had my back when thing were crap? I trust you enough to know that you’ll tell me when you can.”

“I don’t believe this. So you’re not mad?”

“Well, I’m not thrilled about the situation, but that’s not your fault. Come on. You just faced down a zombie army for me, and yet, you’re moping around some dude’s kitchen because your crazy stepfamily is making your life hell? We got this, girlfriend.” I offer her my fist to bump. “Team?”

She bumps me back. “Team.”

Leaning over, I give Elle a major hug. You know the kind. We’re laughing a little bit while rocking from side to side. Elle’s the best.

Alec marches into the kitchen. “You ready for my news?”

Knox follows him. “That’s just rude, man. They were doing their girl-thing in here.”

Elle breaks the hug, sits back, and pats the tears from under her eyes. “No, we’re good. Right, Bry?”

“Absolutely.” Elle and I share a smile. I really am super-lucky to have a best friend like her. We’re about to hug again when Alec steps between us. It should be a rude move, but Alec looks so excited, it’s hard to be upset with him.

“Hold on,” says Alec. “Wait until you hear what I’ve been up to this morning.”

Knox rubs his neck and yawns. “Besides hanging in my kitchen and making a ton of calls?”

Alec rolls his eyes. “It’s my kitchen, technically.”

Elle turns to me. Her bright smile is back, which is great to see. “Alec has been on the phone for hours.” She lowers her voice to a hush. “He’s working on some secret project.”

Alec leans his elbow against the counter in another classic menswear catalog pose. “My news is about West Lake Prep.”

His words send my pulse into high gear. It feels like a million years ago that I was sitting in a basement with Madame, dealing with her crazy in the far-fetched hope that I could maybe-possibly get into this school.

“What about it?” I ask.

“I got you in. I got you all in.” Alec beams. “Isn’t that great?”

No one jumps for joy. Sure, it’s awesome that I got into the school, but that still leaves a ton of questions out there. Like how I’ll pay for school and where I’ll live. Both of which Alec promised to cover at one time or another, but I’m not sure it’s a great idea to go from relying on my aunties to relying on Alec.

Alec narrows his eyes. “I can’t help but notice the lack of excitement here.” And he has a point. Elle looks freaked. Knox looks wary. And me? Cautiously optimistic.

“Look, I appreciate what you’re offering, but I just walked out on my aunties. I need to find a job before I worry about anything else.”

“And that’s the beauty of the whole thing. I’m starting an Egyptian Studies club. You’ll be doing the same work you were doing on your internship: putting the papyri back together. We still need to find the fountain that’s the source of all magic. And to get that job done, the same deal applies. You’ll get a salary and an apartment. I’ve even gotten you a scholarship. How’s that for amazing?”

I scrub my hands over my face. “It’s super-generous, Alec. I just don’t feel right taking you up on it. It’s like I’m taking advantage of you or something.”

Alec rolls his eyes again. “Please. The benefit is all mine. The Magicorum have been trying to translate those papyri for thousands of years. You’ve made more progress than we ever have. You’d be doing me a favor.”

“That’s nice of you to say, but a job, scholarship, and a place to live?”

“Don’t forget your salary.”

“That makes it worse, Alec. Now I really feel like I’m taking advantage.”

Alec’s face turns serious. “Your help is worth even more than all that. You know I’m a warden, right?”

“I guessed.”

“And you know what that means?”

“Out of all your people, you have the most power over wizard magic.”

“There’s more to it than that.” Alec sighs. “Wardens are supposed to guard the fountain of magic, but it was lost thousands of years ago. Now, we have no clue where it is. As long as that thing’s hidden, we can’t get married. Our spouses die.”

I gasp. “What about all those girls you date at parties?”

“Knox told you about that, eh?” Alec glares in Knox’s direction. “Casual hookups don’t count. It’s getting married that causes the trouble. You may not think I’m a serious person, but I do want a wife and family someday.” His gaze flickers to Elle. “If you find the fountain, then all the wardens can have families and a future. That hasn’t happened for thousands of years. I don’t have a shot unless you help me. So, will you help me?”

When Alec puts it that way, I feel like a total creep for turning him down. “Sure, Alec. I’ll help you.”

Alec’s million-watt smile returns. “I’ve got the best apartment picked out for you, too.” He rubs his palms together and turns to Knox. “So you’re going?”

Elle frowns. “Why wouldn’t Knox want to go?”

A muscle twitches along Knox’s neck. “There are a lot of werewolves at West Lake. Some want me to lead them. Others want to fight me for dominance. It’s a total pain in my ass. That’s why I’ve been taking online classes.”

“Wait a second.” I hold up my pointer finger. “Madame said that West Lake was all humans.”

Alec chuckles. “What Madame didn’t know is a lot. Folks at West Lake act like regular humans, but they aren’t regular at all.” He focuses on Knox once more. “What do you say?”

Knox fixes me with a look so intense, I’m glad I’m sitting down, or I might get wobbly. “If Bry is there, then I’m in.”

My chest warms. He’s going to West Lake Prep for me…even if it’s actually a school full of crazy Magicorum.

“Excellent. Bry and Knox are a go.” Alec rounds on Elle. “And how about you?”

Elle shakes her head. “I have to avoid any kind of typical school. If my stepfamily found out where I was, it would be terrible. I’m really better off on the streets.”

Suddenly, the thought of going to West Lake Prep without Elle seems like an awful idea. I’m about to say just that when Alec steps in.

“I’ve thought about that already.” Alec smirks. “After pulling in some favors with a few especially shady characters, I’ve gotten you a new identity, Miss Evelyn LeCharme.”

Elle’s eyes widen. “LeCharme?”

“You’re my long-lost cousin. And by long-lost, I mean that the Le Charme family is shocked to discover that our dearly departed—and incredibly randy—old Uncle Aaron had yet another illegitimate child with a Las Vegas showgirl.”

Elle is trying to keep a straight face, but I can tell she loves this idea. “So I’m a bastardess?”

“A Vegas showgirl bastardess. That’s very exalted company.” He bobs his eyebrows. “And you’ll be doing me a favor.” He lowers his voice. “Bry seems rather shady. I think she’ll get more work done if you keep an eye on her.”

“So it’s all about the papyri?” asks Elle.

“What else?” These two are such flirts, this could go on for hours.

Knox seems to feel the same way I do. He pointedly checks his watch. “What do you say, Elle?”

“It’s tempting.”

“Clearly, I need to sweeten the deal. And the apartment next to this one has tons of extra space. You and Bry can live here. Commute together. Save on groceries and maid service, that kind of thing.”

Knox shakes his head. “And then they’ll be at your beck and call, too.”

Alec winks. “That never occurred to me at all.”

“Watch the scheming there, mastermind.” Knox turns to me. “Are you cool with that? I know the apartment Alec is talking about. The place is still under construction, but it’s huge. You and Elle will have your own rooms.”

It’s a good question. Am I cool with all this? Moving into an apartment next to Knox is certainly intimidating, but it would have its good points, too. And living with Elle would be awesome.

What am I thinking? Of course, I’m cool with it. The whole thing is amazing. It’s everything I’ve wanted.

I shoot a thumbs-up. “I’m in.”

Alec beams. “I knew you’d love my plan.”

“Wait a second,” says Knox. “We haven’t covered all the details yet.” He steps closer. “Remember when I said there was some stuff we needed to talk about?”

“You and me?” I ask.

“Yeah.”

The hair on my neck stands on end. Somehow, I don’t think I’ll like this conversation. “I remember.”

“Before you commit to Alec’s offer here, you need to know the full story.”

Alec pulls out a barstool and sits down. “This is going to be interesting.”

“No, it’s not.” Knox points toward the door. “Why don’t you show Elle her new apartment? Bry and I need to talk.”

“I thought we could make microwave s’mores and hang out,” says Alec. “I’m sure you want my opinion on whatever it is you think is preventing my plan here.”

“Out. Seriously. Before I set loose my wolf on you.”

Alec offers Elle his arm. “My lady?”

She sets her hand on his forearm. “Sir.”

Their gazes lock as they walk away. In fact, I’m not sure how the two of them don’t slam into a wall. They certainly aren’t looking where they’re going.

Funny the things that stick in your mind when you’re about to get bad news.

At last, I hear the far-off snick of the door shutting. I try to keep my features level, but my voice comes out at least two octaves too high. “What’s going on?”

“You remember how Alec said he’s a warden?”

“Sure.”

“I’m a warden, too.”

“Yeah. I guessed that, remember?”

“Well, what Alec said about a wife and kids. I want that too. Only, werewolves don’t get married. We have a mating ceremony. After that, we can have cubs.” He tilts his head and winces. “My wolf really wants to have cubs.”

Sure, this is problem for a long-term relationship. However, I see a super-easy solution. “This is fine.”

“Really?” Knox frowns. “Because Alec undersold the process a little there. Finding the fountain isn’t enough. It needs to be active, too.” He takes my hands in his. “That said, I want you to know something. I trust you, Bry. I trust us. We’ll figure it out, one way or another. The important thing is that we’re together.”

“I see this as a nonissue, really.”

Knox’s features tighten. “Why?”

“Because I don’t have to embrace my wolf side. I can act like a regular human, and so can you. We don’t need to worry about mating ceremonies and cubs. Like last night? I dreamed I saw my wolf like five different times. I just ignored her, and she went away.”

“You did, huh.” Knox doesn’t seem at all happy about my plan here, which doesn’t make any sense. Maybe I just need to explain things more clearly.

“I’m not really all that magical. I’m a regular girl, mostly. We can just act like two regular humans and take every day as it comes. What do you think?” The more I talk about it, the more I love this idea.

Knox stares at me for a long time. His ice-blue eyes turn super-intense. I’d worry that he’s about to go wolf on me, but his irises aren’t gold. Finally, he speaks. And what he says almost makes me fall out of my chair.

“How did Jules die?”

“I don’t know,” I say quickly. “That is, I don’t remember.”

“Which one is it? You don’t know…or you don’t remember?”

“Okay, I know I sound really sketchy. I’m just not ready to talk about it.”

“But you’re certain you don’t have a lot of magic.”

Something inside me snaps. I press my palms to my eyes. “Honestly, I don’t know what I am, Knox. I don’t know who my parents are. I have no clue what my real powers might be. The whole situation is a mess. I’m best off keeping everything on a human level. Come to think of it, that whole West Lake Prep thing is a bad idea.” I scrub my hands over my face. “I don’t want to be Magicorum.”

He steps closer. “I’m Magicorum.”

“And you’ve been amazing. It’s just that the rest of it—my aunties, Jules, the battle—it’s pretty much been a nightmare. Can’t we pretend to be human, just for a little while?”

“That’s not how it works with werewolves.”

A lead weight settles onto my shoulders. “I see.”

“Being Magicorum isn’t all horrible, you know.”

“I get it. I’ve really liked our time together.” Sure, I’d love to hang with Knox as a werewolf, but the more I think about it, the more it seems like a bad idea. What if I open the lockbox again and blow away lower Manhattan by mistake?

“That’s not what I mean. Can I show you something? We’ll have to ride my bike to get there.”

I worry my lower lip with my teeth. “What are we doing to do, exactly?”

“Have some fun, that’s all.” Knox offers me his hand. “What do you say?”

Knox looks so handsome and hopeful, there’s only one answer I can give him. I set my palm on his. “Yes.”

Once we’re done having fun, we can get back to this conversation about living a normal human life. That’s all I’ve ever wanted in the past. I’m sure it’s all I want for my future.

Definitely.

Maybe.

Possibly.

Oh, crap. I really have no idea.

Being around Knox makes everything a lot more confusing.