Her First Mistake

Chapter Sixty-Three: Hell, it's in the Name

   Tate already procured food. He pulled a bag from the fridge and tossed the container in the microwave. I didn't want to move. My muscles ached. With every breath, my ribs throbbed. Karrae had not been light in her blows.

   The microwave beeped. Tate popped open the door and snagged the bag. With somewhat of a pointed look, he dropped it onto the table. I knew what he was doing. He was forcing me to get to my feet. Fine. I lifted my arm from under the sheet. Almost instantly, I hesitated, because the mark caught me by surprise. When it wasn't in sight I forgot that my whole arm was covered with it.

   Pulling the sheet aside, I moved my feet to touch the floor. I drew a breath and pushed myself to my feet. My knees wobbled dangerously, but I didn't fall. Tate lingered nearby. By the time I got to the table, my ribs were piercing with sharp stabs. I hissed out as I sat down. "Shit, my ribs."

   "What happened to them?" Tate slid the box over. "I thought you never actually came into contact with anyone."

   I gave him the stink-eye. "Cut the crap. You know that's not true. If your senses are as half as good as I think, then you can smell everyone I came into contact with."

   He smiled wryly. "Caught red-handed. It was the same white-haired woman?"

   Inside of the box sat a normal hotel breakfast: eggs, sausage, bread, waffles, and cereal. Except, there was no way I could eat all of it. My stomach roiled at the thought of food. I stabbed at something random. "Yeah. She intercepted me on the way out."

   Tate nodded as he sat down, pulling water bottles from a bag at his feet. Bottles of Gatorade followed. "How much did I miss?" I asked, changing the subject. The bacon in my mouth tasted like ash, but I kept a straight face. Ugh.

   "Not much," he replied, setting his elbows on the table. "You disappeared. Daniella chased after you, but you were gone the moment you landed. When she left, Gene used one of his spelled walnuts. Simone was okay in seconds."

   My hand froze. Stunned, I looked up. "Simone's alive?"

   Tate paused. His eyebrows pulled together before he registered what I'd said. "Oh . . . I hadn't considered that you didn't know. She's perfectly fine. Gene was given about a dozen spelled walnuts from a witch. They can heal wounds in about five seconds."

   Relief washed over me like an iced sandpaper. I slumped backwards with a shaky exhale. "Oh my god. I thought she was . . ." I swallowed. I'd thought that she was dead. One of the last people I cared about . . . gone. "Where is she?" I wanted to see her. 

   "She's safe," said Tate. "Daniella took her to one of the local Enforcers before we left. She said that Simone was a diluted hybrid, which would explain her lack of magic, so the Enforcer has no idea he's harboring a human. You neutrals really have a poor sense of smell. Otherwise he'd know the difference."

   He was teasing me. I shook my head. "Dani killed six Enforcers in a few minutes. One won't stop her."

   "Maybe when she had you locked up," he said. "But not now. The Enforcer was instructed to flee. Simone's officially dropped off the grid."

   I set down the plastic fork, unsettled. "What else have you figured out?"

   Tate exhaled. "Not much. She got you and returned to take the two captives back. We didn't even know she was there until they had disappeared. Though Daniella told us that you were still alive because your magic would have stopped binding them. Still, we cannot figure out how Dani pulled off that disappearing move. That spell even suppressed her scent."

   "Yeah, I've only seen that in one other spell when Karen--" My voice cut off. The realization was large that I felt slapped. 

   "Rox?" Tate frowned. "Is something wrong? Where else have you seen it?"

   A small noise escaped my throat. For a second, my brain couldn't comprehend the truth. It felt impossible. Yet, it was so obvious that I felt stupid for not realizing it. Dani had used an invisibility spell -- the same spell that only the Jones family knew how to perform. Karen -- no, Daniella's -- family. Hell, the secret was in the name!

   My lips parted. "Uh . . . Do you know where Karen is?"

   "She's probably with everyone in the next room. I haven't heard her voice in a while but I didn't hear her leave. What's wrong?"

   "I'm not sure." I set down the fork, my fingers shaking. I quickly put my hand into my lap. "But . . . why is Karen on this team? Did she say?"

   Tate tilted his head, stormy eyes piercing my face. "I believe she said she was the transportation."

   I leaned back into my seat, eyebrows furrowing. "Now, see, that doesn't make much sense. Why would the Council enlist her? She had been an apprentice less than a day ago when they asked her. Why not get an experienced mage? She'd never even done evasive maneuvers in the nex lines before."

   He realized what I meant. Comprehension dawned on his face. "You're saying she's here for another reason."

   "Yeah." I looked up. "I need to talk to her."

   Tate narrowed his eyes. "You've barely eaten."

   "This is more important."

   "No, it isn't. You're not leaving this room until half of that container is empty."

   "Hell, Tate, I'm not hungry."

   "Too bad. You're sick, Roxie. You should be in a hospital. It's a miracle you're even alive." Tate's arms folded across his chest. I glared. His jaw clenched. "I'm not budging."

    Damn it, this shapeshifter was going to be the death of me.