Black Wings, Gray Skies (Black Hat Bureau 4)

“Oh, well.” I sighed dramatically. “There’s always next time.” I nudged him. “Ask.”

“Does the water call to you?” He gazed out at the ocean. “I wondered if it did, if it ever has.”

“No.” I joined him in watching the bustling harbor, filled with yachts and…a floating tiki hut? “I don’t have an affinity for it, as far as I can tell. I was surprised to learn I came from aquatic daemons. I thought I would feel something, but I don’t.” I rested my chin on his shoulder. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Do you have an affinity for fire or some other element?”

Until Delma used her power to allow us to view Calixta through a column of water, I hadn’t known it was a talent some daemon possessed, and I had no thoughts either way on my lack of talent in aquatic areas.

I was a witch. I had magic. Magic could do pretty much anything. I saw no reason to be greedy or bitter.

“No,” he said softly. “My father’s legacy is pain.”

“Orion Pollux Stavros,” I murmured. “Master of Agonae.” I thought about it. “As in agony?”

“Yes.” He angled his head toward me. “I didn’t inherit the gift, if that’s what you want to call it.”

“So, there are more than elemental daemons?” I really ought to knuckle down on researching daemons, and fae, rather than showcasing my ignorance to Asa. “There are types that control or affect emotions?”

“There are all manner of daemons. Dae are even more diverse in our talents.”

Uncertain how to ask, I tiptoed around my intentions. “Are there many with your unique skill set?”

“You’re asking about the daemon. How separate we are from each other.” He watched a gull soar past. “I’m not the only dae with issues that manifest in a split personality.” He dipped his gaze. “It’s common. Not the level of autonomy that my other half has, but some degree of independent thought or action.”

As far as I could tell, he and his daemon were two wholly separate identities who shared a body. But not the same form. I wasn’t sure what bound them. Their soul? And, if he grew to accept that part of himself as an equal and integral part of the whole, would the daemon meld with Asa until they were one being?

All good intentions aside, his mother had encouraged his extreme body dysmorphia until he reached this point. I didn’t want Asa to be at odds with any parts of himself, but I also hoped the daemon was here to stay. Which meant I would keep my lips zipped on my personal preference. Mine didn’t matter. Only his.

If a day came when he had to make that choice, he had to do it himself, for himself. Himselves?

“You’re not the only special snowflake,” I teased to get us out of our funk. “I’m evil incarnate, so there.”

“Yes.” He brushed his lips across my forehead. “I could tell when you were willing to put your life between Colby and anyone who crossed her. I thought to myself—that woman is a vile stain on witchdom.”

“You kind of did think that,” I reminded him. “You hated me on sight.”

“I wanted to bite you on sight,” he countered. “It wasn’t until I saw Colby that I misjudged you.”

“Bite me?” I jerked back. “Are you serious?”

“Just a nibble.” His smile bared straight white teeth. “I was fascinated from the moment I met you.”

Fascinated with a capital F? Or intrigued? I was too chicken to even tease him about that.

“I wanted to punch your face in.” I smiled through a wince. “I don’t react well to people threatening Colby, or me, or threatening to take Colby from me.” I held up a finger. “It was a very pretty face, though, and I would have been sad about ruining it.”

“I somehow doubt that.”

Static crackled as the intercom woke, and the captain began reciting safety instructions for our excursion.

Reminded we were on a job, I sat upright, tucking away thoughts of Asa biting me to savor later.

* * *

Before we were allowed off the boat, a wiry park ranger climbed aboard to bark a second set of rules for exploring the island. The entire speech was safety conscious, but it didn’t mean much to young kids who had been cooped up for thirty minutes and who wanted to run wild as soon as their feet hit the ground.