Micaela's Big Bad

Which made me wonder… “Why am I alive?”

“What?”

“You found out I was supposed to be a distraction.” I was now thinking about that, if that had actually happened how Quesadilla wanted. I would’ve been sexed up, and then what? Tossed out as Nikki would’ve been killed? “Quesadilla did all that so she could make a move on the underground? I didn’t know you guys were so ambitious.”

“Everyone wants more power, and you’re talking as if you’re not one of us.”

“Right. So why haven’t you killed me yet?”

“I’m asking myself the same question right now.”

He said that under his breath, and he paused a moment, blinked, then went back to the phone.

“How’d you find all that out about my ex?”

He gave me a look.

“Right. You read her mind. I know you can read mine, so does that mean you can read all minds?”

“Yes.”

“Whoa.” I thought about that. “Is that annoying? Or handy? Or—” I looked over.

He was glaring at me.

“Right.” I grinned and pointed to my head. “I can just think my questions to you, which is probably for the best because I have a lot.”

“I am not telling you about my dragon.”

“I’m noting that you didn’t say ‘me’ when you’re referring to your dragon. So it’s like my creature and me?”

No. It’s not the same—

I felt a full blast of energy at me, which would’ve made me happy. Right now, not so much. He forced me out of his head. Or were we in my head? I was losing track. There was so much new information happening, and to think, when I started my trek tonight, I just thought I could convince Nikki to go back to her apartment with me and get drunk. Maybe we’d dress up as ourselves and go trick-or-treating. Some old people were happy anyone rang their doorbell for treats. They didn’t care how old we were, or if our breaths matched the smell of their mouth wash.

“I should’ve listened to Ralph.”

“Who’s Ralph?”

“My cousin. He told me not to go to Bass tonight.” I side-eyed him. “You wouldn’t have met me. How much better would your night have been?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re right. I would’ve just killed all the vampires myself, then tracked down Quessadiline who would’ve gone on the run.”

“Right.”

He was eyeing me back, with the hint of a faint smile. “I could’ve been at Quessadiline’s in an instant, and I could be back at Bass just as fast. Maybe think on that?”

I did, and…me! It was me.

I was the reason.

What did that mean?

Stop. Just stop.

Stopping.

A break.

Can we stop at Harry Bahls’ again?

Yes, please. I need liquor at this point, too.

See. I loved how I could grow on a dragon.13Anti-ClimacticIt was almost anti-climactic when we got back to Bass.

I knew what he wanted this time, and we walked inside. I saw that when he said he had ‘people’ holding everything for me, he meant witches. There were four of them in the building and they were chanting their spells.

Witches and I don’t get along either.

They always instantly know who I am, and are paranoid I’m going to take their energy.

I used to think they were crazy, but now I know what I can actually do and note to self, I may do just that to torture them in the future.

Again: witches and I don’t get along.

Three of the four glared at me. The fourth didn’t. She must’ve been the ‘me’ of the group because she gave me a bright smile. She didn’t look altogether, if you get my drift. But back to the business at hand.

Kieran said everything was on hold…and he really meant it. The vampires and demons were frozen in mid-battle. I had to make sure Nikki was safe, so I did a scan, and spotting her on the second floor, I went over. Taking her hand, I dragged her after me. She was still ‘frozen,’ so it was a weird sensation, but I gave Kieran a look.

I’ll be back. You can wait a few more minutes.

Nadeem.

It was the first time he said my last name, and looking back, I thought, Since when did you take the time to learn my name?

He raised an eyebrow back at me. Micaela Nadeem. You were born to Avi and Henrietta Nadeem. You have three sisters and four brothers. You have eighteen cousins in the Twin Cities’ area. Thirty relatives total here. You’re best friends to Nikki Atkinson, who is sleeping with—

Okay, okay. My night’s not too bad. Don’t destroy it completely by saying his name.

I faked a shudder but grabbed for Nikki’s phone and called Ralph.

He pulled up ten minutes later, and I seat-belted her in.

“Wha— Is she going to be like that the whole time? I don’t do personal arrivals, Ca—”

“You will this time, because if you don’t, I’ll tell your mother you smoke pot when you’re working.”