Archer muttered, “Jeremy talks too much.”
“Don’t blame him.Before I met Jeremy and Marik, another Deuce–Caido couple approached me to overcome the”—Kye glanced at Lyra—“issues inherent in such a union,” she added cryptically.“It was a challenge I couldn’t resist.I began to play with how to use the principle of the Essex in a permanent way.”
Marik twisted his fingers together.“When we approached Kye six months ago, she told us she was working on a couple of theories.Last week she called to say she was conducting a test study and asked if we wanted to participate.Even with the risks inherent in new magick, we were in.”
“I’ve worked with four couples in total, Jeremy and Marik being the most recent,” Kye said.“There have been two consistent side effects.The magick bonds the couple, which is fine since that’s what they want.The second is problematic.The Cobra releases all the feelings the Caido has buried.One Caido was overwhelmed and went into isolation.The others are enjoying a romantic life with their mates.Everything seemed to go all right with Jeremy.He went through the barrage of emotions and recovered, with Marik’s support.If he was going to crash, it would have happened right away.”
Marik said, “We went home, enjoyed the, uh, benefits of the Cobra, and fell asleep.In the morning, he was different.Quiet.Said he’d had bad dreams.Then he pushed me away, told me he had to go deal with some issues that had come up.That was three days ago.”Marik gave Archer a beseeching look.“You haven’t heard from him?”
“That’s why I’m here.”He waved to include the hell that was the nightclub for him.
Marik rubbed the bridge of his nose.“I could feel Jeremy’s presence after we did the Cobra.The bond.”He rubbed the center of his chest.“I still feel him, but the connection is very faint.As though he’s…injured.”Emotion filled his voice.“Like he’s fading away.”
Lyra was having trouble following the conversation.Pleasure without pain?Issues inherent in a Caido/Crescent union?Essex?But she had her own agenda.She pulled a picture from her purse.“Have you seen this man?His name is Stein Slade, and he’s my father.”
Marik gave her a guileless shake of his head.
Kye’s expression shuttered.“I can’t discuss my clients.”
“Wait, what?My father wasyour client?”Lyra got right in her face, feeling her Dragon push against her skin.“He was with Jeremy a few days ago, and he’s missing, too.Something terrible happened to them.If you know anything…” Her teeth tingled, fangs ready to extend.“Don’t make me eat you.”
Kye stepped away, her droll gaze on Archer.“Pull your Dragon back.”
He shrugged.“She’s not my Dragon.But I do know she’s impulsive and headstrong and she’ll do whatever it takes to find her father.It’s made her a pain in my ass.”He gave her a sterile smile.“Now she can be a pain in your ass.”
“Gee, thanks.”Kye released a quick breath, meeting Lyra’s gaze.“I’ll tell you what I can.I wasn’t counseling Stein directly.About five months ago, he accompanied a woman who came to see me.She identified him as a friend who was there for moral support.”
“That woman.”Lyra’s heart tightened.“Was her name Tara Becker?”
Something flickered across Kye’s expression.She was about as good at hiding her thoughts as Lyra.“I can’t discuss the actual client.”
“Which means Tarawasyour client.She went missing right after she saw you.Three missing people connected to you.Confidentiality or not, we need answers.”Lyra moved closer.“Jeremy and my father are probably in danger.Talk.”She shot Archer aGive me some backup herelook, but he lifted his eyebrow in aYou’ve got it coveredresponse.
Gee, thanks.
Kye sank down to the couch, picking at a rivet on her sleeve.“I can only give you generalities, understand?”She was clearly figuring out how much to say while preserving her professional oath.When Lyra and Archer sat down across from her, she said, “One of my abilities is telling inter-Crescent couples which type of magick the baby’s going to inherit.As an example, if you and Archer came to me, I could tell whether your fetus was Dragon or Caido.
“Let's just say that Tara’s request went beyond not only my abilities, but one of the Hidden laws.She was so desperate that I asked Jeremy if he knew someone who could help, since he mentioned having some powerful acquaintances in the Caido community.He made some calls but had no luck.When I heard Tara went missing, I thought she had probably taken time away from everyone to…handle the situation privately.She made me promise that I would never divulge her reason for seeing me.”
Lyra rubbed her chin.How could sex or babies be illegal?She heard Archer ask Kye something, but her mind kept poking and prodding until an idea hit her.“Tara was pregnant, which would have been a surprise at her age.She was going to terminate the pregnancy.”
Kye shook her head.“I have nothing to do with abortions.”
“So Tara discovers she’s pregnant.”Lyra snapped her fingers.“And she wanted to know if the baby was Dragon like her or Deuce like her husband.Huff hates Dragons.”Her eyes widened.“Her baby was going to be Dragon.”
Kye blinked, giving away that at least something Lyra said was on target.
Lyra went on.“She wanted to change the fetus’ magick orientation, didn’t she?To preserve her marriage.”
Not only was it illegal to change a fetus and risky to both mother and baby, but also the fact that she’d tried to eradicate a Dragon would make her and even her family anathema to all Dragons.
Kye neither confirmed nor denied Lyra’s statement, keeping her client confidentiality intact and letting Lyra know she was on the right track.
Lyra stood.“Thank you.”
Kye rose, too.“I’m not sure how something that happened five months ago factors in to Jeremy’s and your father’s disappearances, but hopefully it helps.”
They exchanged numbers, and Kye said, “Please let me—us”—she added, nodding toward Marik— “know when you find him.”
