Smoke and Mirrors - 49

As they were preparing to go back to Kenton’s to have another face-to-face with him, Jared told Mor and Aidan about rescuing the kittersals. When he got to the part about what the little girl had said about Daniel, his partner shot him a glare that said better than words that if he repeated it, Jared might be in for a long dry spell. Discretion being the better part of valor Jared slid over it and finished the story.

“I think he’s holding something back,” Mor said with a knowing look.

“Nope, that’s just how it went down,” Daniel told her quickly. “And now we have to see how things will go down with Kenton. Is everyone ready?”

“Almost,” Aidan said as he paced back and forth muttering under his breath. “Need to get the last of my spells set.”

Daniel bit back the desire to make a comment about magical fireworks, knowing that it was quite possible there would be some, if things went wrong. When he looked at Mor he saw she was concentrating too.

“Antsy,” Jared asked softly so as not to disturb the others.

“More like worried. If we are walking into some sort of trap to catch Aidan, I hope we’re able to handle it. You know magic isn’t our thing.”

“But it is theirs and they’re both powerful. We’ll all be just fine. We do the physical, they do the mental.”

“That’s great in theory, but you’re not a fighter.”

“Let’s just say I’m not you, I don’t go pell-mell into the fray. But I have certain powers that I can use when needs be, as well as claws and fangs.” Jared gave him a slight smile as he opened his jacket to reveal a pistol in a shoulder holster. “I also have this, just in case.”

Daniel stared at him. “Since when have you started carrying?”

“Since today. That’s where I went once we were finished with the Council job, to pick this up from a man I know. It’s loaded with silver because you never know what could be thrown at us, if anything.”

Daniel grinned a bit as he said, “Just don’t shoot yourself in the foot. Or me as far as that goes. Damned silver hurts like a son of a bitch.”

Jared pulled him into a hard hug. “Not planning on it. I hate digging bullets out of people, especially you.”

Leaning back in Jared’s arms Daniel gave him a long look. “If this comes down the way it might, we’re both going to come out the other side alive and in one piece. Got that?”

“Got it,” Jared replied with a smile just before Daniel sealed their lips together in a deep kiss.

“Do you two think you could abstain, at least until we get back,” Mor growled, but she was chuckling as she patted Jared on the shoulder.

“Yes mother dearest,” Daniel replied as he stepped away from his partner. “Now are we ready to go?”

“We are,” Aidan said tightly as he joined them.