Darkest Nyte Page 4

  Very conscious of the man in question watching her carefully, she glanced toward him. To her surprise, rather than staring at her, he stared at Rand. And not with an expression of irate possessiveness over her, but with a narrow-eyed gaze, as if he were trying to solve a puzzle.

  "What am I thinking?" Rand continued. "Of course you don’t know."

  She frowned and drew her hand away, not wanting to enflame the situation. All she needed now was for her amnesiac guest to fly into a jealous rage.

  "No, and neither does he, but clearly you do. Do you want to shed a little light on the matter for us?"

  Rand’s finger pierced the air as he pointed at her tall stranger. "He’s trying to make you believe he doesn’t remember who he is? Don’t fall for it, Lucinda. It’s a trick."

  She stiffened, expecting a violent reaction from her guest, but it didn’t come. Rand had essentially called him a liar and still he held his silence. Her admiration for him rose sharply. Any other macho hunk she knew would explode at an accusation like that.

  She glanced at him. He held his face in an expressionless mask. Watching. Waiting. An aura of supreme confidence veiled him. No sign of weakness there.

  She planted her hands on her hips and turned back to face Randalph.

  "Really, Rand. Why would he try to trick me?"

  Rand stepped forward and took hold of her upper arms. From the corner of her eye, she saw their observer’s mouth compress. So, he wasn’t totally unaffected by the situation.

  "You don’t know Nyte like I do."

  Nyte. So that was his name.

  "Maybe not, but I will."

  Once she explained the whole situation, Rand would understand. Nervousness tickled the inside of her stomach at the thought he might be jealous of her attachment to another man.

  "Rand, he needs me. There’s a link between us. I’m meant to teach him how to use his powers." She took his hands, knowing he’d find this hard to believe. "I felt The Call last night."

  Rand stared at her, incredulous, shaking his head. "That’s impossible."

  "I know I shouldn’t have because of...." She glanced away, uneasy at how Rand would react to her being linked to another man. "You and I. And because I’m not ... you know...."

  Damn. He knew the rules of mentorship as well as she did. Better. She didn’t have to tell him that a wizard never went into a second mentor relationship, nor that only children of wizards became mentors.

  He stared into her eyes with that penetrating look of his. "Lucinda, you’re mistaken. It could not have been The Call."

  "I’m not wrong about this." She disengaged herself from his grip and stepped away, sensing that, despite the relaxed stance of her guest, he wouldn’t tolerate much more touching between her and Rand. "I don’t understand why it didn’t happen when he was born. Maybe his talent was dormant and an accident of some sort triggered it. I know that sounds bizarre, but--"

  "Don’t believe it." Rand’s expression grew fierce. "I don’t know why he’s here but it’s for no good. Of that I am certain."

  Why was Rand behaving this way? Could it be jealousy? After all, he had found her in bed with this man he called Nyte.

  Did Rand still hope to form a Love Bond with her? They had never discussed the situation, both too embarrassed to broach the subject, but she had wondered if he had given up on the possibility.

  "Lucinda, you’ve always been so strong." The anger had trickled out of Rand’s voice and concern etched his words. He stroked her cheek and she noticed the slight clenching of the other man’s hands. "I’ve never had to worry about you. But with him...." Rand gripped her shoulders. "He’s different."

  She’d never seen Rand like this. His obvious agitation shook her. She glanced at the attractive stranger. His mouth was drawn into a straight line and he held his back rigid.

  What did she really know about the man Rand called Nyte? He was strong, there was no doubt about that. And confident. But was he a liar?

  He watched her, clearly awaiting her judgment. Her inner senses told her Nyte needed her, and that his amnesia was real.

  "Rand, he’s telling the truth. You know I’d be able to sense if he wasn’t. He doesn’t remember anything." She gripped Rand’s arm. "No matter what you think he is, or was, he needs my help now. Do you understand? I can’t just turn him away."

  Rand grasped her shoulders, his eyes piercing hers with their blue intensity.

  "Lucinda--"

  "Why don’t you listen to the lady?" Nyte’s voice cut through their argument. "Or don’t you trust her judgment?"

  Rand narrowed his eyes as he turned his head to face him. "I trust Lucinda. It’s you I don’t trust." He turned back to Lucinda. "And what he could do to you."

  Chapter 3

  "Are you suggesting that I would hurt Lucinda?" Menace crept into Nyte’s voice. He barely suppressed his anger as he glared at the man named Randalph.

  Obviously, Lucinda trusted him--so Nyte had stood silently by, ignoring the insults the man flung at him. But now this Randalph insinuated he would cause Lucinda pain. That he could not allow.

  "I know what you’re capable of," Randalph responded.

  Blind anger jolted forth at the words. Nyte felt it singe through him in a blaze of heat. He wanted the man to leave. Now. Power surged from his body without control and, suddenly, the man named Randalph was gone.

  Shock thundered through him as he realized he was responsible.

  Lucinda blinked at the spot where Rand had stood a second before, startled by his sudden departure.

  "He sure left in a hurry."

  It wasn’t Rand’s usual style of exit. But then, he was sometimes obsessive about having the last word.

  The whole discussion with Rand confused her, but it was way too early in the morning to think logically. She needed coffee desperately. But first she must face her guest.

  At least now she had a name for him. Nyte.

  It suited him. Dark and full of mystery.

  "Um, that was Rand. He’s not usually quite so inhospitable, but...."

  Nyte still stared at the spot where Randalph had been, a preoccupied expression on his face. One that told her he wouldn’t hear anything she said.

  Typical male. Wanted to know everything but wouldn’t listen to a word.

  Caffeine jumped to the top of her priority list. She marched past the man cluttering her living room and pushed open the kitchen door. Merlin greeted her with a meow and rubbed against her legs.

  "Well, you’re unusually chipper this morning." She padded across the room, the light blue ceramic tile cool against her bare feet. "I notice you stayed out of Rand’s way."

  He murred and lapped some water from his dish, then sat down and proceeded to lick his front paw. The old nonchalant act.

  "Chicken."

  She stepped past him and opened the fridge. Diet Coke. A faster source of caffeine. She popped open a can and downed half of it before the fizzle finished echoing through her brain. The jolt of caffeine shocked her synapses into some kind of coherent order. Questions dropped into her mind like rain falling from the sky.

  Rand had said the person he sought was a wizard. Did that mean the man Fate had called her to mentor was a full-fledged wizard, not someone who had just gained power and didn’t know how to use it? If so, what did it mean to be his mentor?

  Rand obviously knew him, but how well? And how long ago? Rand had said Nyte had been ‘out of touch.’ Whatever that meant. Since she’d never sensed him before, could it be he’d disappeared before she was born? That meant he’d been missing for more than three centuries. Where had he been all that time?

  And what could possibly cause a wizard to suffer memory loss? She shuddered, not wanting to think about that.

  Then the most disturbing thought of all settled into her mind, pushing the others aside. Why was it that the two men who affected her most--Rand, whose wisdom and affection she relied on, and Nyte, who sent her hormones reeling--had to be so totally at odds? As
if her life weren’t complicated enough. Clearly, the two men were enemies, but why?

  "You two are obviously close." Her guest’s voice drew her from her thoughts.

  "Yes, very close." She turned to face him. "So, now we know your name is Nyte. Does it ring any bells?"

  He shook his head, his ponytail sweeping back and forth across his shoulders. "Afraid not."

  "Well, I’ll give you some time to think about it. I’ve got to go out for a while."

  She had an appointment with one of her clients this afternoon, so she had to go into the office. Also, she’d have to make arrangements for someone to take over her cases while she trained Nyte. She intended to give her full attention to mentoring him, at least until she taught him the basics. Sensing his powers to be quite advanced, she assumed that wouldn’t take too long. Maybe a few months. Once they got into higher-level magic, he could study on his own some of the time.

  He eyed the red can in her hand. "What about breakfast?"

  She swished the cola around. "I’m not much of a morning person. I don’t usually bother."

  He stepped toward her, a little too close for comfort. The hairs on her arms stood up and the blood flowing through her felt charged with electricity. Static, most likely.

  "But you must begin the day with a proper meal."

  Great. He was already trying to control her life. Just like a man.

  "Look, if I don’t want to eat, then it’s really none of your business."

  Merlin leaped onto the counter beside her and bleated. She stared at him.

  Was she forgetting her manners? Nyte was her guest and he would probably like some breakfast. And she felt sure he wouldn’t want to eat alone. Her gaze returned to his broad, muscular shoulders. And by the look of him, he’d want a substantial meal to start the day.

  Okay, so she’d have breakfast this once.

  She debated whether to use a spell to make breakfast or cook it on the stove. It threatened to be a long, tiring day, especially after such an abbreviated night’s sleep, so she wanted to conserve her magical strength. She headed to the stove and pulled out a couple of frying pans.

  Half an hour and several greasy pans later, she carried the food to the kitchen table. The bacon strips looked a little crunchier than she’d intended, but she liked it crisp. She placed a plate with a relatively intact omelet in front of Nyte. He raised an eyebrow but made no comment.

  "Bacon?" She lifted four slices from the platter in the centre of the table and set them on her plate.

  "If you mean those black strips, I think I’d rather not."

  She picked one up and waved it in front of her. "It’s delicious this way. You should try it." She bit into it and flinched as her teeth threatened to give before the bacon did. Okay, so maybe it was beyond crisp. Regardless, she crunched through the whole piece, taking care not to break a tooth in the process.

  As she sipped her coffee, she heard Merlin mew near her feet. Expecting him to hop onto the table, as was his habit anytime food was there--and any other inconvenient time, come to think of it--she was surprised when he leaped onto Nyte’s lap then climbed onto his shoulder. She watched Nyte’s large hand stroke her cat’s head.

  Merlin being friendly? Her jaw dropped as his purring drowned out all coherent thought.

  "Nice cat you have." Nyte scratched Merlin behind his ears and Merlin’s eyes closed halfway.

  "Nice? I guess."

  Merlin had never been particularly nice before. He was good company, she supposed, ignoring the fact that he destroyed her plants, always laid in her favorite chair, and slept most of the time. When he wasn’t nagging her, of course. But he never purred like that for her.

  She finished her breakfast, trying to ignore how Merlin draped himself over Nyte’s shoulder, an obscenely content expression on his face. Taking one final mouthful of coffee, she glanced at her watch. Ten o’clock.

  "I have to go to my office."

  If she didn’t hurry she’d be late for her appointment. She stood up and cast a quick spell to change her sweater and jeans into a tailored violet suit with a jade silk blouse.

  Nyte stood up and his gaze skimmed her outfit. His smile and the glitter in his eyes told her he liked what he saw, filling her with deep feminine satisfaction, despite herself.

  "I will go, too."

  Oh, great. That was all she needed. Some hulking man trailing after her at work.

  "No, I’ve got things to do. I won’t have time to...."

  She hesitated, watching his eyes narrow dangerously and she realized she’d better not suggest she needed to take care of him. A man’s pride was not something to be trifled with, especially this man’s. But if he came, she would have to watch him. What would she do with him during the meeting with her client? She couldn’t have him just wandering around the office.

  Merlin hopped onto the table and purred.

  "Well, I suppose it wouldn’t be a good idea to leave him here," she said to Merlin, her gaze reluctantly drifting back to Nyte.

  Nyte raised one eyebrow. "Do you mean me or the cat?"

  "Hmm? Oh, I’m sorry I was talking to...." Merlin. How would she explain to Nyte that she talked to her cat? After all, it wasn’t a true communication. Merlin wasn’t her familiar, he was just a plain old cat. He didn’t send thoughts to her or anything like that. She just ... thought things around him. But ... the thoughts were just her own bubbling up from her subconscious.

  Her gaze lanced back to Merlin. Weren’t they?

  Right. He blinked at her with those green cat eyes of his and she could almost swear that he was smiling at her. Or more likely laughing, if she knew Merlin. Which she thought she had, until Nyte had arrived. She’d never seen Merlin so friendly with anyone.

  "All right," she said to Nyte, "you can come with me to the office, but don’t draw any attention to yourself, okay? I have a business to run."

  "Around you no one would even notice me."

  An hour later, every eye focused on Nyte as he followed Lucinda into the lobby of the high-rise building that housed her office. Every female eye anyway. Lucinda had never noticed how many women passed through this lobby at eleven in the morning. Of course, none of them were exactly passing through right now. They were all standing around gaping.

  Yeah, right, like I’ll ever believe him again.

  She stopped at reception to sign in her guest. The female security guard performed the whole procedure of grabbing an "Escort Required" security badge, filling in the information on the sign-in sheet, then thrusting a pen at Lucinda, all without removing her gaze from Nyte. Her idiotic smile bared white teeth too straight to be natural. Lucinda glanced at Nyte and felt a niggle of irritation when she saw him smile back at the woman.

  Sure, Lucinda supposed the woman would be attractive to someone who liked shiny auburn hair, flawless skin, and enormous emerald eyes.

  The woman stood up to help Nyte fasten the badge onto his sweater. So she was five-eleven--topping Lucinda by five inches--with a stunning figure? The woman batted her disgustingly long eyelashes at Nyte and Lucinda jammed down the urge to belt her one. After all, what had she really done? Other than spark Nyte’s interest, judging by the glint in his eyes and that devilish smile of his. She should be happy he was turning his attention to someone else.

  But she wasn’t.

  She marched to the elevator door and jabbed the up button, trying to dampen the storm building inside her. She took a deep breath. Why was she letting herself get worked up over this guy looking at another woman? Appreciating another woman. Wanting another woman! Her fists clenched.

  The elevator door opened and she felt his presence behind her as she stepped inside. His fiery, masculine presence that kept her hormones engaged for battle.

  So what if last night he had ignited her inner desire like a lightning bolt hitting her dead center? So what if now he wanted to light another woman’s fire? Why should she care?

  She jabbed number seventeen. As the doors closed, she
stared at the list of companies on the elevator wall, her focus settling on ‘Divine Intervention,’ her company name, emblazoned in gold letters below three others on the same floor. The elevator started to move and she drummed her fingers on the leather bag hanging from her shoulder. Anything to distract herself from Nyte’s prickly presence beside her.

  "What’s wrong, little one?" he murmured in a low, sexy rumble. "Is it possible you’re ... jealous?"

  She swung around and glared at him. Just as she’d feared, that ever-present glint of amusement lit his eyes.

  There might be no point denying her feelings, but she saw no point in admitting them, either. "Not in this lifetime."

  The elevator dinged and the doors whooshed open. She marched down the hall to her office and pushed open the door.

  "Oh, hi, boss." Fiona, her secretary, grinned over the Macintosh computer on her desk.

  Fiona wore a bright fuchsia pant set, which set off her black, shoulder length hair quite nicely. An elaborate pattern of jewels and glitter paint decorated her top, which Lucinda knew was probably one of her own designs. Lucinda had always admired her talent.

  "Made it in before noon today, I see. And your first appointment is still an hour away. I’m impressed."

  Lucinda rolled her eyes. Why did she put up with this abuse? Of course, the answer was that Fiona did a great job. And besides that, how many secretaries would be willing to work for a boss who was a wizard? Most mortals were nervous around anyone who worked magic, but Fiona took it all in stride. For that reason alone, Lucinda would put up with a great deal more than the occasional teasing. Besides, she liked Fiona.

  She glanced at the spreadsheet visible on the computer screen. Things must have been pretty quiet this morning. Why Fiona bothered pulling up that phony screen display she kept under the Apple menu to hide her solitaire game, Lucinda could never understand. Fiona never used a spreadsheet and they both knew it.

  Lucinda grabbed the heap of mail stacked on the corner of the desk and flipped through it. A stationery catalogue, an invitation to attend a time management conference, and a brochure suggesting she advertise on the Internet. She dropped it all in file ‘G’, for garbage. It hit the bottom of the black wastebasket with a thunk.