Moonlight and Magick. Isobael Liu
though holding a book. Looking into her palms, she mentally focused on the issues at hand.
The Custodes Secreti agents were a problem.
She’d have to go away again. If they found her here, they wouldn’t leave her alone until she disappeared or joined them.
Ever since her first experience with them, Lilian had managed to keep her abilities reined in and under strict control. She didn’t want to alert anyone sensitive enough to pick up on psychic vibrations, nor did she want to alert CS agents of her whereabouts. Her gift to sense when someone nearby used their abilities was another reason why CS wanted her on their side.
What about Stephan? His re-entry into her life was definitely under the heading of “not a good thing”. She was certain the sudden appearance of the CS agents and Stephan was no coincidence. How did he get her phone number, anyway? However much as she hated speaking to the local law enforcement, she knew she’d better do it soon, before things escalated.
Lilian stood and stretched; her mind more organized than earlier. She still had to address the nightmare and what it meant, but she’d need the library.
* * * *
Armed with notebook, pencil, and a stack of books on dreams, Lilian tackled the project like a defensive lineman on a quarterback.
Her first entry was the white stag. She looked it up and found the stag symbolized male sexuality, virility, grace, agility, regeneration, and growth. She scribbled the info into her notebook.
The next entry was forest. She went over the notes and tried to put them into perspective. It could mean she wanted to escape to a simpler life, which made sense considering the agents and Stephan were after her.
Again.
However, when she looked up the entry for woods, Lilian found it signified a return to an aspect of oneself which was innocent and spiritual. Hounds, in dreams, indicated something or someone may be “hounding” her and being unable to run away from it until the issue or person is confronted.
Hmm. This most assuredly fits my life right now.
To hear howling referred to loneliness or solitude. Ahh. Now that was interesting.
Lilian sighed and sat back in her chair. So, what did it mean? What was it supposed to mean?
* * * *
Matthias was waiting for her at the diner when Lilian arrived for her shift. Anticipation fluttered through her at the sight of him, but she nixed it. She wasn’t here to date, nor was she looking for any attachments.
He met her at the entrance, still wearing his sunglasses and dressed in black jeans and a t-shirt.
She saw his lips tighten as she chose to ignore him, walking past him to the door of the diner. He reached out and touched her arm.
“Lilian,” he said, “what’s wrong?”
Well, gee, where to start? “I’m going to be late for work.”
“We need to talk about what happened last night.”
“Look, thank you for helping me out—” she started.
“But?” he interrupted.
“But I like my life the way it is, peaceful and without…” She tried to find the right words.
He drew back a bit. She didn’t need to see his eyes to detect the surprise that came over his face. Lilian turned and reached for the door, but he grabbed her hand and turned her around to face him.
“Those men, what do you know about them?”
The blood rushed from her face and her heart stuttered. “Why?”
“Oh, no, you don’t. You’re going to answer my question.”
She tensed and narrowed her eyes on him. “I don’t have to answer any question you ask me, Matthias. Now, either release me, or I’ll start screaming. You can deal with the police.”
A black eyebrow quirked up over the rim of his sunglasses at her outburst and his lips tilted in a smile. She couldn’t help but glance at his lips, just like she couldn’t help the little tingle of awareness which shot through her when she did.
“I don’t know why that amused you.” Lilian tried to pull her arm from his grip. “Let go of me!”
“Answer my question.”
She pressed her lips together and fell still, glaring up at him. She could see in the reflection of his sunglasses how her eyes darkened to stormy gray. As her anger grew, she watched her eyes darken even more, until they were almost black. She closed her eyes, and dragged ragged breaths in to try and calm herself.
Must not lose control.
“You have to let me go,” she whispered. “Please.”
His grip loosened and she backed away until she hit the diner’s wall. She leaned back, laying her hands flat against the wall so her palms were pressed against the bricks. She concentrated on the tactile sensations, of the rough edged clay blocks, the coarse mortar which held them together, the overall warmth from the sun’s rays.
When Lilian opened her eyes once more, she was much calmer. Matthias stood nearby. He must have watched her the whole time because she could read the suspicion on his face.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yeah.” A weak smile followed her reply.
“You don’t look it.”
“Thanks.”
“You aren’t human.” He studied her eyes.
“I am too!” She stood up from the wall.
Before she could try to get to the door, Matthias used his body to pen her, crowding her until she was pressed back against the wall once more. While he didn’t pin her to the wall, Lilian couldn’t escape either.
“You’re not human,” he reiterated.
“Don’t be an idiot. What else would I be?” She cringed at the sound of her breathless voice.
“Those two men are after you for a reason. You’re something more than human.”
He really is rather handsome, in a nosy, pain in the ass sort of way. She couldn’t stop herself from watching his lips move as he talked.
“Stop that,” he growled under his breath.
Lilian jerked her eyes up from his lips to his concealed eyes. “What?”
“You’re staring at my mouth.”
She was aware of the sudden warmth in her face and knew she was blushing.
“If you wanted to kiss me, all you had to do was say so.”
Lilian pushed at him. “You’re a jerk. Move.”
He leaned his head down toward hers but she jerked back, only to crack her head against the wall.
“Ow!”
Matthias pulled back from her to stand upright and reached for her head, his fingers delving through her hair to feel the back of her head. His touch was incredibly gentle, and, damn it, she liked it.
“Want me to kiss it and make it better?” he asked.
“Stop it. I’m going to be late for work and you’re not helping.”
He chuckled. “I’ll pick you up after your shift.”
“No need.”
“You think those men are finished with you?”
“Did your gang kill them?” she asked.
“No.”
Not