She Blinded Me With Science by Michelle L. Levigne Page B

preparations of yours, the spells and barriers and incense and all that rot actually
worked?"
    "Not as logical as I thought, huh?"
    "Sweetheart, if it worked, you would have killed me with the density of all that magic
you were trying."
    "So when it comes to magic, I'm totally useless." She shrugged.
    "This is the best kind, as far as I'm concerned." He brushed the ball of his thumb gently
over her lips. That silent, triumphant growl rumbled through his chest when her sweet, swollen
lips curved up, meaning she agreed with him.
    "So, tell me again why you played along?"
    Sophie didn't move off his lap while he told her about the Enclave Hunters, which meant
he had to explain about his family, their traditions, why he didn't want to be an Advocate and
even some of the steps he had taken to stay hidden. He told her about the close calls he had with
the Hunters at the convention.
    "I thought I heard something. It wasn't in English, but I could understand some of it."
She shook her head. "Weird."
    "That's just the tip of the iceberg."
    "Whatever. You were invisible during that fight in the lounge, weren't you? So
how come I could see you a lot of the time?" she hurried on, when he nodded.
    "Where'd you get this?" He touched the beaded choker around her neck for the first
time. Just as he had expected, a numbing sensation coated his fingertips for a few seconds.
    "Great-aunt Serena sent it to me for my tenth birthday. Mom was furious that she found
us, but she let me keep it, at least." Sophie's eyes went wide and she sat up a little straighter.
"This affected your magic?"
    "This is real magic, elemental, something the Fae and a lot of Humans learn how to use,
even if we can't really affect it. If that makes sense."
    "Kind of like not really understanding electricity and the principles behind it, but still
being able to use light bulbs and electric stoves?" She grinned and nodded. "Okay, so most of
what I know is trash. I can accept that. If Jennifer tries to do anything with it, she's toast when it
comes to her credibility in the field. Which is a good enough reason to let her get away with
stealing all my work."
    "Hmm. Maybe." Kevyn thought that leaving all that evidence in Jennifer's nasty,
thieving hands might turn around to bite them someday. He'd deal with that later. The fact that
Sophie wasn't angry that he tricked her and used her for camouflage was the most important
thing in his mind. When he told her that, she laughed.
    "How can you be worried about how I feel, when I did so much worse to you?"
    "Did you ever consider that we've been helping each other? I stayed because you
intrigued me. And I really had to know what kind of kisser you are."
    "And?" Her eyes sparkled and she blushed even darker. She laughed when he just
whistled and rolled his eyes.
    Kevyn liked laughing with Sophie. He liked holding Sophie when she laughed. He
intended for that to happen quite often.
    "I like being here with you," he said, and slid his arms around her again. She didn't resist
when he drew her head down on his shoulder. "I want to stay here with you. Or better yet, take
you away with me. Think about it, Sophie. Exploring the whole world. The Human side and the
magical side. Anywhere you want to go, anything you want to see and learn and do, we
can."
    "Sounds great."
    Her too-quiet voice didn't echo the sentiment. Kevyn cradled her closer and stroked her
hair.
    "So, what's wrong with my plan? Too irresponsible? Too vague? I know you like being
organized. We could make a plan for the first ten, twenty years, and then when they're over,
make a plan for the next fifty years, if that'll make you feel better. Anything you want. Just name
it."
    "I can't," she said. That tired tone was back. Kevyn wondered if he had slammed her
with too many revelations and new concepts and stretched her powers of belief too far.
    "Yes, you can. Anything is possible."
    Was she rejecting him before they had even begun? He wouldn't let it happen. He'd do
anything