Green Mage, page 8
part #2 of Mackenzie Green Series
Lucan sighed with an apologetic look. “What I said earlier was all true, but you’re my last stop. Everyone else agreed with the Triad. I figured if I locked you into a contract, my level of paranoia wouldn’t matter.”
He was right. His reasons didn’t matter. I was under contract to assist him and keep him safe. Too bad, it felt like a punch to the gut when he admitted it. And goodie me, he wasn’t done.
“I also needed someone who’s a mystery in the noble circles. Someone adept at avoiding attention.” Lucan was leaning back in his chair, observing me. I dug past the hurt, trying to lighten the mood again.
“Avoiding attention is my middle name.”
Lucan continued to stare at me. “Despite being a member of a well-regarded guild, until recently, you’ve managed to stay under the radar. You’ve also worked with every supernatural faction attending.” Ah, was he trying to make me feel better? It wasn’t working.
“I’m not ashamed to bring you,” he stated, and I didn’t need him to project to hear the sincerity in his voice. “You don’t have to hide. But if someone goes looking into you, they will have a hell of a time finding anything. I know I did.”
Shit! Lucan had looked into me, and he had a lot of resources at his disposal. The fact that he couldn’t find anything would send up a big red flag. I was equal parts proud and terrified.
“Why is there nothing on you before three years ago?” I should have expected the question, but still, it hit me out of left field.
My brain stalled for a moment. I needed a witty comeback. Why couldn’t I think of a witty comeback? I plastered what I hoped was a secretive smile on my face. “Just because you can’t find it doesn’t mean it’s not there.”
Why did I just say that? Now Lucan would think there was more to find. FYI, there wasn’t. Until three years ago, Mackenzie Green didn’t exist. At least, not on paper.
Lucan was tenacious. He would pursue this until he got his answers, and if Lucan got answers, we’d have to run.
I tensed, ready to spring to my feet and beat a hasty retreat, but Lucan didn’t seem to notice my panic as he threw one final bomb.
“Back to the job, we have to pretend this is real. You and your boss are the only ones who know this is a contract, or that I’m paying for it.” I only barely noted the amusement he tried to put into the last line. He didn’t wait for me to answer or absorb. He just kept plowing on. “We’ll have to come up with a back story. Something mysterious enough to keep the vampires on their toes.”
I nodded, trying to take it all in, resisting the urge to cover my face and hide. I’d never been in a real relationship. How the hell was I going to fake being Lucan’s girlfriend?
It hit me, another punch to the gut. Lunch was a ruse. The staring I’d ignored until now made more sense. Lucan had planned this, showing me off in public and giving us a credible back story. Even his comment to Maisy, so innocent at the time, would only add fuel to the fire. Something withered and died inside me. Anger quickly replaced the crushing hurt. Why was it so hard for him to keep me in the loop?
I stood and walked around the table to his side. Some of my anger must have shown through my mask because he stiffened in his seat. I leaned forward, eyes locked on his face.
“If we're going to go on any more fake dates to sell this act, I would appreciate a heads up.” His shock was evident. Yes, you underestimated me.
Lucan leaned back as I leaned forward, wary of what I was going to do. It fed a dark pleasure in me as the anger raged. I hated the joy I felt. It was darkness born in my childhood, and it urged me to make a scene. But I was a professional, so instead, I gave him a peck on the cheek and turned away.
“I’ll call you later.”
With an extra swing in my hips, I walked out of the deli. If he wanted to sell this, I would fake it all day.
Outside, I paused and brought a hand to my forehead. Dammit, I hadn’t found out when the Summit started. Guess I was going to have to ruin my dramatic exit and talk to Lucan sooner than I’d hoped.
Chapter 9
A message pinged on my phone as I rounded the corner from the deli.
Unknown sender: The Summit starts in two days. Tomorrow, we’re going to dinner. Dress nice. Location to follow.
Guess I don’t have to contact Lucan after all. I saved the Protector's name under “Blue-eyed Menace.” Petty? Maybe. But it blended in with the other weird nicknames in my phone.
Chris got bored sitting at a desk all day. So to alleviate her boredom, she’d perfected the art of pickpocketing over the years and developed a habit of stealing phones and changing the names of the contacts. If she teamed up with Liz on a prank, the rest of us would be doomed.
Last time she’d messed with mine, I hadn’t noticed until hours later. The woman was a damn ninja.
I slowed my hasty retreat a block from the deli. It was enough distance that if Lucan left, we wouldn’t have an awkward run-in that would ruin my exit.
Now that I had a moment to digest, I could focus on my next step. And there was only one place to get the information I needed on the current movers and shakers—the Hall of Records.
That meant a trip to Unity Square, a neutral zone sandwiched between Dracos and Gryphos territory. The Hall of Records contained all public documents on Mythos shifters—births, deaths, marriages, who served on what Council in what year. The trick was knowing where to look and having access to the closed files. Catch and Release paid a hefty sum each year for that access. Right now, I was glad it did. Hopefully, I could get there before they closed.
***
Unity Square spanned an entire city block, a hub of sorts. The Hall of Records loomed on the north side. Directly across from it was the Justice building, the home base of the Mythos Heads and the other Protectors and Enforcers, including Lucan. The other two buildings were the library and the Rec center.
I turned away from the Hall of Records. I wouldn’t know what, until I knew the who to search for. Dread tugged at me. That meant paying a visit to the Hall of Justice and potentially running into the Dragon Head, Jasper—someone I was eager to avoid at all costs.
The grey stone temple-like structure had six pillars holding up an overhang along the front. Men and women in smart suits rushed past me as I ascended the stairs, chattering on about one case or another. I didn’t bother trying to focus on their words. The legal jargon would go right over my head anyway.
I blinked as the light of the sun suddenly became inky darkness. Seconds passed as I waited for my eyes to adjust.
The inside of the Hall was the same grey stone as the outside. A long hallway stretched the length of the building and towered the full two stories, giving me an unobstructed view of the back doors. Windows dotted the second-floor walls, giving their occupants a great vantage to people watch. Benches and doors lined the hallway. A door on the right opened, and a man stepped out. He didn’t see me, too focused on the stack of papers in his hand.
My body acted without thought as I ducked behind a large plant. The man looked up, glancing up and down the hallway before turning and heading out the front door. A fire burned in my lungs from holding my breath, and I inhaled sharply. That was close. I’d gotten hints and breadcrumbs over the last few months that led me to believe Jasper was the mastermind behind the Purity Movement—a radical and growing group, mainly within the Mythos Clan, who believed that shifters should only choose mates who shared their beast.
When Lucan’s niece went missing, I’d found her with Lucan’s younger brother, Kris. Skye, it turns out, was a perfect meld of her dragon father and gryphon mother and was living proof that all those purity bastards were batshit crazy.
Clare, Skye’s stepmother and member of the group, had inferred that the Dragon Head was not only responsible for the hunt, but that he was also a guiding force for the Purity Movement. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a lick of hard evidence, and digging some up was high on my to-do list.
Shifters could only produce children after creating a mating bond. It was a quirk of their species. Unless the Purity Movement found a way to force the bond, they were condemning their clan to a slow, lonely death.
I waited until the Dragon Head passed through the doors and out into the sunshine before resuming my trek. I looked left and right. What I needed was to get the names of the current Triad Heads, and their Protectors and Enforcers. Then I’d know who to research. There must be a list of the people who have offices in this building. The lists usually came with titles, which would save me a lot of fuss.
Shit, I didn’t see one. I’d have to talk to whoever was at the information desk. I deflated. Talking to strangers sucks.
I paused, mentally reviewing what I was going to say. I’d be less likely to make a fool of myself if I had a plan. A light cough shook me from my preparations.
“Can I help you?”
Dammit. I’d stopped too close to the desk. Now one of the two people staffing the counter was staring at me. The young man was in his early twenties and radiated helpfulness. Maybe this wouldn’t be too bad.
He smiled at me when I didn’t say anything. “You look lost. Maybe I can direct you.” A grey sheen rolled over his eyes—stone shifter.
“Sorry, lost in thought.” I gave him a sheepish smile. “Maybe you can help me.” I prayed he’d take my nervousness as awe for the building.
I shuffled from foot to foot. “I’m looking for a list of the current Heads and their Enforcers and Protectors.”
It wasn’t uncommon knowledge, but other than the members of Catch and Release, I hadn’t had much interaction with shifters. I’d only known who Lucan was through Arthur, a dragon shifter client I had outside the guild who I grew rare plants for. I also had a vague idea on the rest but hadn’t taken the time to memorize their names let alone the names of their mates. None of them had hired me, so it hadn’t seemed important at the time. I was now regretting not being better informed.
“May I ask why?” He didn’t seem suspicious. It was more like an ingrained question, one he was used to asking.
I scrambled for a compelling reason, then blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “I’m gathering information on the leaders and nobles attending the upcoming Summit ball.”
The young man’s eyes brightened. “Oh, are you doing an article for the paper? You must be new. I’ve never seen you around before.” He couldn’t entirely hide the excitement in his voice.
I nodded, not confident in voicing the lie.
Wendel, according to the man’s nametag, puffed out his chest. “Let me get right on that.” A short time later, he passed me a sheet of paper with the names and titles of the nine individuals. I would have to use this to get the names of their mates from the Hall of Records.
“Thank you, Wendel. These names will be a big help.” I gave him a genuine smile and turned to leave.
As I marched down the hallway, I passed a woman in a skintight miniskirt and revealing blue blouse. She looked me up and down before dismissing me. Whatever. I heard her approach the desk and ask Wendel a question too low for me to hear.
Wendel’s response, however, came in loud and clear.
“Oh, you should just ask your colleague. I just gave her that information. She’s right there.” I didn’t look over my shoulder, but I could imagine helpful Wendel pointing directly at me. I picked up my pace. The woman’s raised voice followed me as I hustled towards the door.
“What? That street trash? She doesn’t work for our paper.”
Wendel’s response was lost on me as I bolted out of the building.
My speed didn’t slow until I had pushed through the doors to the Hall of Records. I shivered as the cool air washed over me. My mad dash across the square had caused sweat to coat my skin. My side burned with a stitch. Slowly, I walked in a circle, trying to loosen the tight muscles.
While I moved, I looked to see who was manning the desk. Please, please, please, let it be Amber. Of course, my luck wasn’t that good. I hung my head and marched forward. There was no way this encounter was going to be anything less than awkward. Today just wasn’t my day.
Why? Because Walter, the sphinx shifter currently manning the desk, had a completely unhealthy and creepy interest in me.
Sphinxes were puzzle masters. They couldn’t resist a good brain teaser or challenge, and to Walter, I was one big puzzle. One who refused to indulge him. I debated coming back later, but I was on a time crunch, and the Hall closed soon. This information was more important than my discomfort at Walter’s unprofessional behavior.
Resolve sitting heavy in my stomach, I marched up to the front desk.
Walter looked up as I approached. I could see his leer as he finished with his current customer.
“Miss Green. How lovely to see you,” he said, causing a shiver to run through me. His words felt like bugs crawling on my skin. “What can I do for you?”
“Hello, Walter. I need access to the current record archives, please.” I tried to keep my face blank.
“Hmm, is this for a hunt? I will have to contact Catch and Release and get confirmation. It may take some time.” He smiled. The asshole knew it was only an hour to closing and was willing to drag this out. “Why don’t you wait over there. I’ll call you when I get confirmation.”
Technically, he was within his rights to challenge me and to call the guild. However, none of the other clerks would have made me wait. They would have rung Chris right away.
“No problem.” I smiled, trying not to fidget at the wait. If I implied I was in a hurry, he’d make me wait longer.
Walter frowned. He’d been expecting a fight. I’d no sooner turned my back, and he was calling out to me.
“Wait, Mackenzie.” There was a little too much desperation in his voice. I wasn’t playing his game, so he was convinced I was playing a game of my own. “I’m sure we could come to some arrangement.” I’m sure we can’t.
“Walter, you and I both know that’s not going to happen.” I shook my head, a sad smile on my face. “You may be willing to forego your professionalism, but I cannot.”
“I am every bit a professional.” Excellent, he was annoyed with me now.
“No, you’re not.” I walked back over to the desk. “You use your power to make people dance to your tune. That’s not professionalism.” I was tired of feeling uncomfortable.
“Psh! You know nothing of power.” There was a hiss in his voice. He was angry. “You walk in here, demanding things. You’re nice to the others, but you dismiss me.”
Probably true. The other clerks were female, and I found them less intimidating to talk to. That was on me.
Walter pointed his finger at me. “I tried nice. You brushed me off, just like everyone else.”
Unfortunately, his nice had come with the condition of a dinner. When I’d politely rebuffed him, he made me wait hours, and someone almost died.
I stood my ground, even though every instinct screamed at me to run. Silver rolled across Walter’s golden-bronze eyes. His emotions were allowing his sphinx to rise closer to the surface.
The shifter licked his lips. “Final offer, have dinner with me, or I’ll get you banned from the Hall.” And he wonders why I treat him differently…
Rage coursed through me. I was so done letting him blackmail me. Striding forward, I got in Walter’s face. “Get Sylvia!” Despite my anger, I kept my voice even.
He blanched. Sylvia was his supervisor, and I knew for a fact he had multiple complaints against him.
“She’s not in right now.” His voice held a tinge of fear. His fingers twined in front of him in an unconscious gesture that told me he was lying.
I leaned on the counter. “You’re telling me that if I go to the back, I won’t find your supervisor working away in her office?”
Walter leaned back. “No.” The word came out as a stutter. Liar, liar, tail on fire. Walter gathered himself, plucking up his nerve for his next volley.
“Now, look here, you have two choices. Go out with me or come back tomorrow when I’ve gotten confirmation on your hunt.” Look who found his spine.
Thankfully, I didn’t need to answer him.
“Are those her only choices, Walter?” Sylvia stood behind the clerk, her arms crossed over her chest. Walter’s shoulders hunched and all his bravado deflated. He looked smaller than before, the fight gone right out of him.
I didn’t smile, even if the dark part of me crowed in victory. To the empathic part of my soul, what happened next didn’t feel like a win.
“You were warned, Walter. Go and wait in my office.” Walter glared at me, then walked into one of the offices.
Sylvia gave me a stern look. “Miss Green, while Walter was out of line with his comments, I do not appreciate yelling in my hall. Are we clear?” It was shocking how intimidating someone who was five-foot-five and only a hundred pounds could be.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Sylvia nodded. She took my information and waved me through.
I noticed Amber, who I considered an acquaintance, standing off to one side staring at me, her sky-blue eyes wide. She was human, but her son, Trey, had presented as a gryphon. Most parents would have fostered the child out to a gryphon family, as was tradition, but Amber had fought tooth and nail to keep her son, and I had been more than happy to help her get the job here.
“He went too far.” She pursed her lips.
I nodded, not knowing how to respond.
Amber shook her head. “What are you here to find?” she asked, taking her eyes off her boss's door and turning to look at me.
“Current information on the Heads, their subordinates and mates.”
Her eyes lit up. “Why?” I had to smile. Amber had tried hard to extend the hand of friendship over the years, and as with everyone else, I pushed her away. Maybe it was time to change that. “When do you need the info for?”
