The Darkest Midnight. R. A. Finley

you got scared.”

      “Of course! Who wouldn’t?”

      “You thought you were losing control—so you did.” That, from Kendra.

      “Huh?”

      “Before you started,” Abby asked, “were you worried about losing control?”

      As Thia thought back, her gaze drifted again to the lone man as he accepted his check. He said something to make the server laugh as he put cash into the payment folio, and then handed it back with a charming smile.

      “Probably,” she said at last and located her wine glass for a much-welcome drink. Swallowing, she cringed at her friends’ knowing expressions. “Okay, I was. You know I was. I always am.”

      “And so you always do,” Kendra said gently.

      She blew out a resigned breath. “What are you saying?”

      “The problem might not be the power.” Abby’s violet eyes were dark with concern. “The problem might be you.”

      And didn’t that make it all worse.

      “What am I supposed to do about me? I can’t not be afraid.” She set her glass down clumsily. “I’ve seen what the power inside me can do—just some of it—and it’s terrifying. I can’t just snap my fingers and have that knowledge disappear. I can’t meditate it away. I’m scared, plain and simple. I can’t fix that.”

      She looked over, met the man’s gaze. He was familiar, she realized. Not just his hands, but his whole bearing. His whole being. Her vision tunneled. The rest of the room fell away.

      “What is it?” Abby turned in her seat. Her voice seemed to come from a greater distance than that. “Dammit.”

      “What?” Kendra’s voice was no closer.

      The man stood and turned to leave. With his table so close to the entrance, it wouldn’t be long before he reached it.

      Abruptly, Thia’s senses cleared. Sound rushed in and the whole room snapped into sharp focus.

      “It’s nothing,” she said, sorry to have gotten her friends worked up. “I think I must be hungry, that’s all.”

      She forced herself to look away from the man. “I got light-headed or something.”

      “‘Or something’ is right,” Abby said, and pointed. “Is he what’s had more than half your attention since we got here?”

      That was certainly an exaggeration. “I only noticed him when—”

      “Power,” Kendra said, staring after the man. “He’s masking. A lot, if he’s bothering to do it in here.” She frowned. “And he’s using a glamour.”

      “You’re sure?” Abby fairly vibrated with tension, like a hunting dog on point.

      The man stepped into the hall, out of sight.

      “Yeah.” Kendra stood, flung her napkin on the table as she moved off. “That’s a glamour, alright.”

      Thia stood as well. “What are you doing? You’re not going after him. Kendra?” But she was already halfway to the exit. Abby pushed her chair back, sprang to her feet. “Abby?”

      “Stay here.” Her friends passed a startled Danny as he approached with their meals.

      “We’ll be right back,” Thia told him and joined the chase. “I think.”

      She hoped.

      CHAPTER 4

      Landmark Hotel, Granite Springs

      18 December

      “Excuse me. Sorry,” Thia said, narrowly avoiding a woman who was also leaving, but at a much more reasonable pace.

      “No, no—I’m sorry.” Without turning, the slim woman stepped aside. She had dark hair, simply pulled back, and a cell phone held to her ear. She sounded British.

      Thia managed to catch up to her friends at the elevator. The call button was illuminated and the digital indicator detailed the car’s descent. Presumably, the man rode inside. Kendra was on her cell while Abby closed the door to the adjacent stairs, apparently deciding against using them.

      Mindful of the phone call, Thia mouthed a silent, “What is going on?”

      To which Abby shook her head in a “not now.”

      Thia forced down a swell of frustration. Yes, she had only a fraction of the knowledge her friends did when it came to a lot of things lately, but she was sick of being left out of the damn loop. And this loop in particular felt like a mistake.

      “About six-two, one-seventy,” Kendra said to whoever was on the other end of her call. “Graying hair, slicked back. Dark three-piece suit with a candy-cane striped tie. Yeah, red and white.” She paused, listened. Then, “Really? No, just watch him. I’ll handle it.”

      Thia noted the flashing number above the door stayed at seven for several seconds before counting back up.

      Reversing course—which she was suddenly convinced they should do as well. Forget whatever it was they were doing and return to the restaurant.

      “All he did was eat dinner.”

      Abby shook her head. “He’s hiding his identity. And his power. We need to know if he’s a threat. If he is, then we need to put a stop to it.”

      Jesus. Talk about threat. Things were on a fast track to getting out of hand, and for nothing more than her friends’ protective instincts had been triggered.

      “He’s probably Cormac.” There. She should have said it sooner.

      Except Abby didn’t seem at all surprised. “Yeah?” she asked sharply. “And what if he isn’t?”

      Thia didn’t have an answer for that. Hadn’t considered, really, that they were chasing after anyone else.

      Abby cast a quick look toward Kendra, still on her phone, before leaning in to say quietly, “First the guy this morning, and now this one. It could be a coincidence, or it could be part of something. But even if both are Cormac, I wouldn’t trust him any farther than I can throw him, and I doubt that’s very far at all. So I intend to find out what he’s up to, no matter who that he is.”

      The elevator chimed its arrival, and Kendra and Abby darted in as soon as the doors allowed—and then blocked Thia’s way.

      Exasperation became something more like anger.

      “If you won’t let me,” she said, her jaw tight, “I’ll just go after.” She pointed up at the digital display.

      Kendra moved aside.

      Thia entered. “Thank you.”

      Abby reached over to punch the button for the seventh floor and then repeatedly hit “close” for doors that already were doing so.

      “Whoever he is, he’s a guest,” Kendra said, taking a quick break from her call. “He wouldn’t have access to the seventh floor if he wasn’t registered. What’s that?” she asked into her phone. “Still got him?”

      The elevator began to slow, and Abby moved in front of Thia. “Let us go first,” she said. “Or better yet, stay here.”

      “I’m coming.” But she wouldn’t bother arguing the other.

      Abby’s demeanor softened. “Have you considered that you’re projecting?” she asked quietly. “That maybe you’re seeing Cormac in places and people because you want him to be there?”

      “Of course I have.”