A half hour later, the car swerved toward the curb and stopped in front of a single-story brick building mashed between a liquor store and a pet grooming salon. There was a blinking neon sign that promised easy credit loans although the large front window was dark and empty.
“This is it.”
Tia tilted back her head, opening her mind. This time she didn’t try to connect with anyone. She simply absorbed the thoughts and emotions that drifted toward her.
She brushed away the nearby humans walking down the sidewalk arm in arm. And the handful of fairies stumbling out of a nearby bar. Impatience blasted through her, and it was only years of training that kept her from leaping from the car and charging into the building.
There was no point in alerting anyone that she was searching for Joe until she knew his exact location. Surprise might very well be her only advantage.
At last she felt a familiar mental pattern, easing the icy fear that had somehow wrapped around her heart.
“He’s here,” she announced, opening her eyes. “But his power is muted.”
“Maybe he’s trying to stay incognito,” Maya suggested. “I assumed he was a homeless man for years.”
“Maybe.” Tia had been around Joe when he was in one of his human disguises, but there’d never been this strange static that continued to buzz in her head like an angry wasp. “But this feels different.” Reaching out, she shoved open the door, glancing toward her companion. “Ready?”
A smile of anticipation curved Maya’s lips. “Always.”
Tia returned her smile as they climbed out of the vehicle. This was the Maya Rosen she’d known and loved when they’d been imprisoned together in Batu’s lair. The woman who always had her back and never retreated from any challenge, no matter what the risk.
Moving in silence, Maya led Tia around the side of the building and up a narrow flight of stairs to an upper-story apartment. The younger mage paused to pull a glass vial from her satchel, pouring it over the door to reveal any hidden snares.
Tia ground her teeth. It was smart to make sure they weren’t charging into a trap. But she wasn’t in the mood to be smart. She wanted to bust through the door and kick the ass of whoever was hurting Joe.
As if sensing her seething impatience, Maya sent her a warning glance before opening the door and stepping over the threshold. Once again, she halted, this time to bend down and create a web of magic that spread over the floor. It would reveal anyone who might be inside, even if they’d created an illusion to hide their presence.
“Empty,” Maya at last announced, straightening to switch on the overhead light. A bare bulb hanging from an overhead wire sparked to life, spilling out a dull yellowish glow. “But you’re right the thief was here.” Maya reached out to grab the crystals that had been left on top of a plastic tote, her expression suddenly grim. “These were stolen from my vault.”
Tia couldn’t sense the thief, which was weird, but she did feel something. A power signature hummed through the air, as if it was so powerful that it’d engraved itself in the very fabric of the building, continuing to vibrate long after the creature had disappeared.
“Something else too. A dangerous power,” she breathed, reluctantly squeezing between the stacks of boxes to search the disgusting apartment. Whatever had been there might very well be responsible for...
Her thoughts were shattered as she caught sight of the crumpled form lying motionless on the floor. Even with the ridiculous pajamas and a towel thrown over his head, she knew exactly who it was.
“Joe!”
“Tia, no.” Maya grasped her arm, trying to keep her from rushing forward. “We don’t know what happened to him.”
“He’s in trouble.” Jerking her arm free, Tia moved to kneel next to the unconscious male, shoving aside the towel as she laid her hand on his chest.
“Dammit, Tia,” Maya muttered.
Tia ignored her friend, concentrating on the steady beat of Joe’s heart. He was alive, thank the goddess. And seemingly uninjured. At least physically.
Which meant that the attack was on a psychic level.
Tia didn’t hesitate as she opened her mental connection with the unconscious male. Whatever was attacking Joehad to be incredibly strong. Far stronger than a mere mage, but she was a dream teller. This place was her specialty.
On cue, Tia found herself standing in the middle of a swirling mist, the coppery scent of Joe settling around her. She sucked in a deep breath, allowing his presence to ease the fear that had scrubbed her nerves raw. Only when her emotions were tightly under control did she use his scent to lead her through the mist to discover him bound from head to foot in thick tentacles that glowed with a sickly green light. The same green sludge bubbled in a large pool near his feet.
Tia halted, her fear returning with a blast of urgency. What the hell was that? It looked like a malignant goo, but she sensed a cunning awareness in the foamy depths. Whatever the thing was, it was alive and aware of what it was doing.
“Joe, can you hear me?” she rasped.
There was no answer. Hardly a surprise. The male was hidden from head to toe by the tentacles. It was only the epic crash of powers that battled against one another, rattling the ground beneath her feet and thickening the air, that reassured her that he was holding his own against the evil slime.
So what could she do? Right now it felt as if they were at a stalemate, but the balance was so fragile any distraction might cause a disaster.
