You think? Jenks sifted a glittering silver dust as he darted in excitement. A little protective, are we?
Peeved, I frowned. My control was better than this, much better. I shouldnt have tweaked the no-magic ward, much less exploded the ball, even if I had shouted the word of invocation. The men in their pastels and plaids were clustered together talking loudly. The other caddies were in their own group, staring at me. Arms swinging aggressively, Mr. Lime-Green Pants strode forward, distant but closing the gap. The rest of his team stayed on the tee.
Calm and relaxed as always, Trent meandered over, squinting at me from under his cap. Are you okay?
Embarrassed, I brushed a chunk of dirt off him. Yeah, I said, hand hurting. I mean, yes. Does my aura look funny to you?
No. My head jerked up as he took my hand, turning it over to look at my red fingertips. Youre burned! he said softly, shocked, and I pulled away.
I am so sorry, I said, hiding it behind my back, but I could feel Jenks sifting dust down on it with the sensation of pinpricks as he checked it out himself. I only tapped it. It shouldnt have exploded. I didnt use any more line strength than any other time.
Jenks snickered and I froze, mortified as I watched understanding cross Trents face.
You . . . he started, and I flushed. All last month?
Now its out, Rache, Jenks said, then darted away to check out the crater.
Wincing, I nodded, but Trents expression was one of amusement, almost laughing as he touched my arm to tell me he thought me messing with his game was funny. That is, until his gaze went past my shoulder to the man in the lime-green pants stomping down the fairway. Trents hand fell from me with a reluctant slowness, and his attention shifted to his team, waiting to find out what had happened. This isnt going to be pretty.
The guilt swam up anew. Im really sorry. It shouldnt have happened. Trent, you know Im better than this! I said. But it was hard to argue with a ten-foot hole in the ground.
Jenks hummed close to drop the twisted mass of rubber and plastic into Trents hand. Dude, it looks like a giant spider scrotum. Damn, Rache! What did you do to it?
Trent held the thing with two fingers. Ill take care of it, he said to make me feel small. Dont worry about it. No one got hurt. They can use a sand trap on this hole anyway.
Yeah. Jenks landed on Trents shoulder to look right there somehow. It could have been an assassination attempt, and your charm prematurely triggered it.
I jerked upright, embarrassment gone. Excuse me, I said as I snatched the ball away, wanting to do some postinvocation tests on it later. Eyes narrowed, I turned to Mr. Lime-Green Pants, his pace slowing as he huffed red-faced up the slight rise.
Rachel . . . Trent said in warning, and I got in front of him, the ley line humming through me, prickly through the courses no-magic ward. The alarm had stopped, and the ward was back in place. Not that it mattered.
He doesnt look like an assassin, Jenks said.
He doesnt look like an assassin, Jenks said.
And I dont look like a demon, I said, pulse fast. Do another sweep, will you?
You got it.
Rachel, it was an accident, Trent said as Jenks darted away, but there was a new slant to his eyes that hadnt been there a second ago.
It blew up, I said tightly. Dont let him touch you.
Worry crossed his face, satisfying me that he was taking it seriously, and together we turned to the man, puffing and sweating as he stormed closer. Where the hell is my ball? the big man shouted, clearly enjoying that everyone was watching him.
Calm as ever, Trent smiled soothingly. I am sorry, Mr. . . .
Limbcus, the man in the green pants said, and I pulled Trent back a step.
We had an accident, Trent said, and one of the caddies laughed nervously. Please accept my apologies, and perhaps a bottle of wine at the clubs restaurant this afternoon.
Bribe? Youre bribing me? Limbcus shouted, and the first hints of red shaded Trents cheeks. You used magic during tournament play. You interfered with the lay of my ball!
I couldnt let that go. I wouldnt have blown it up if you hadnt dropped it into his game.
Sputtering, Limbcus pointed, focusing everyones attention on me. She admits it! he said loudly. She used magic to influence the game! You are out, Kalamack. If I get my way, you are out of the club entirely!
Trent looked up from his phone, the smallest tick of his lips giving away his irritation. Mr. Limbcus. Im sure we can come to some understanding.
Limbcus jerked, shocked when Jenks circled us, silver dust spilling down to tell me that the course was clear. I didnt know if that pleased me or not. A thwarted assassination attempt might be preferable to having overreacted.
Were good, Jenks said, alighting on Trents shoulder instead of mine. My hair was frizzy enough on its own, and seeing it snarling under the clubs ward was scary. I think it was an honest mistake, but the guy is a class-A dick.
Limbcus almost had kittens, and the pixy laughed, sounding like wind chimes. Peeved, I made a finger motion for Jenks to knock it off, and he sobered. A black-and-gold cart belonging to the pro shop was careening over the course toward us. I relaxed for almost half a second before tensing up again. Id broken their no-magic ward. I was going to get banned. The best I could hope for was to not take Trent with me.
Ah! Aha! Limbcus said, his bulk quivering as he saw the cart as well. Now well see! Kevin! he shouted. Kalamack altered the lay of my ball! I want him scratched!
I cringed as Kevin, apparently, brought the electric cart to a halt, the youngish man blanching at the crater as he got out. Knowing what was going to happen, I waved at him. It was me, actually. Sorry!
Kevin looked professional in his black slacks and matching polo top, a crackling radio on his hip and a worn cap on his head. Is everyone okay? he asked, his few wrinkles bunching up to make him look older.
Trent nodded, and Limbcus pushed to the front. She tampered with my game! the red-faced, pear-shaped man shouted. Magic during tournament play is grounds for disqualification. Kalamack is out! Scratch him. Right now.
Ever the gentleman, Trent cleared his throat. Im afraid this is my fault.
Ah, no. Actually it isnt, I said. He dropped his ball into our game and I deflected it.
More like demolished it, Jenks said, snickering, and I wished hed shut up.
She admits it! the heavyset man exclaimed, pointing again. Scratch him!
Kevin met Trents eyes, and Trent shrugged. Clearly unhappy, the manager nervously pushed in between them. Mr. Limbcus. Is there any way you can see to overlook the lapse? Seeing as it was your ball that instigated the problem?
At least let me replace your equipment, Trent said.
Limbcuss eyes widened as he realized theyd sided against him. I dont give a rats ass about the ball! Were under tournament rules, and your caddie used magic! Your entire teams scores are suspect, and you should be expelled from the club entirely!
Ms. Morgan isnt my caddie, Trent said coolly. Shes my security.
Ill bet. The man leered at me, and my chin lifted. It didnt help that I didnt look the part today, dressed in a pair of shorts, sneakers, and a fashion-deprived polo shirt in an effort to blend in. Oh, I was athletic enough, but when a man like that sees curves, he assumes theres no brain or skills attached. But the way I saw it was the less you looked like security, the more likely you were to catch them off guard.
The uncomfortable silence stretched. Mistaking it for agreement, the man shifted his bulk aggressively. Golf is a gentlemans game. Having women on the course is bad enough, but she doesnt even know how to play!
My eyes narrowed. Easy, Rache, Jenks warned.
Shes a demon! the man bellowed, and there were gasps from the surrounding men. Shes been fixing the game. Can your ward handle demon magic? You dont know!
Mr. Limbcus, the golf pro protested nervously.
Kalamack could be doing his elf magic and youd never know about it either!
Uh-oh . . . Jenks rose up on a glittering column of blue-tinted black sparkles.
Sneakers silent on the grass, I drifted closer. Trent had gone whitenot in fear, but in anger. You think hes going to do something? Jenks said, hovering at my ear.
Doubt it, I said, but I felt a chill when Trent took his hat off. If he had been wearing his spelling cap under it, he had just removed temptation. His ironclad cool had been cracking a lot lately, and I didnt like it.
His kind shouldnt be allowed to play with decent folk, the man said with a sneer.
That did it. Trent might be downplaying his abilities in order to soothe interspecies relations, but I didnt have to. It wasnt my job to keep Trent out of the papers for assaulting idiots, but Quen would thank me.
With a thought, I reached past the country clubs ward of no-magic and strengthened my hold on the ley line. Pissed, I yanked a huge wad of it to me, shattering the annoying ward yet again to make it shrivel up and fold into itself, broken for good this time. In the distance, that warning hoot started up, and Kevin paled, knowing Id taken out their ward with the ease of a stallion breaking a string. Mr. Lime-Green Pants turned, his anger faltering as he saw me.
Ah, Rachel?
I pushed Trents hand off my arm. His kind? I said, hands on my hips as I came to a stop inches from the mans bulging middle and looked up at him. His kind is what kept your momma and daddy alive through the Turn!
I pushed Trents hand off my arm. His kind? I said, hands on my hips as I came to a stop inches from the mans bulging middle and looked up at him. His kind is what kept your momma and daddy alive through the Turn!
Trent smelled like broken fern. Were fine, he said. Rachel, Ive got this.
Were not fine! I exclaimed, a sliver of satisfaction plinking through me when Limbcus backed up. That ball wouldve put you in the hospital and hes griping about me blowing it up?
Rachel?
I leaned in until I could smell Limbcuss toothpaste. How about it, Limbcus? You want that I should call the FIB and file an attempted assault form? I have a license that tells me I can do magic any time I damn well please to protect the person Im working for. Ticked, I brandished the mass of rubber and burnt plastic under his nose. Id shove this ball somewhere nasty if I didnt need it for evidence!
Rachel!
I blinked, rocking back when I realized Id shoved Limbcus all the way to Kevins cart. Jenks was hovering behind him, grinning, and that, more than the mans terrified expression, cooled me off. I wasnt doing myself any favors, and sniffing, I stalked to Trents bag, yanking it up and dropping the blown-out ball into a pocket so I could check it out for tampering later. You need to read your history before someone makes you part of it, I muttered, jumping when Trents hand landed lightly on my shoulder. Jenks was dusting an amused bright gold, and sullen, I hoisted Trents clubs onto my shoulder. It might have been a mistake to butt in, but it was harder to swallow the insults when they werent aimed at me.