I shrugged and gave an uneasy laugh. “I tell you everything, anyway.”
“All right,” Marcus replied skeptically. “You asked for it. What am I looking for?”
“Find one of Charlie’s secrets,” Chloe encouraged. “Something he hasn’t told you— something he may not even realize he hasn’t revealed.”
There wasn’t much Marcus didn’t know, but even so, I stiffened. I didn’t want him finding out abouteverything. Some stuff I wasn’t ready to reveal.
“Here we go,” Marcus said. He began muttering under his breath again.
I opened up my mind to him and waited, then waited some more. I felt his magic swell and settle over the table, but I never felt it enter me. “So… are we going to get started, or what?”
“Shh…” Marcus hissed. “I’m concentrating.”
That’s when I realized hewasworking his magic on me. It certainly was a tricky spell, because I couldn’t tell he was inside my mind. I didn’t feel it at all.
I was anxious about what he might find, until Marcus burst out laughing, startling me. “That’syour secret? Sounds like some kinky shit.”
“Hey,” I snapped. “I don’t want you looking at any memories of me and Ava.”
“Relax,” Marcus said casually. “I only saw where that mirror in your bedroom leads. I didn’t know you two had a secret sex dungeon.”
“Marcus,” I warned.
Marcus snickered. “I always wondered why we never heard you guys going at it from the other room, because you’re literally right next to us. I know Ava’s a screamer.”
“Leave my wife out of this,” I growled.
“Please,” Kallie chuckled. “It’s not like it’s a secret. Some nights I could swear I heard Ava screaming at the Institute, and I wasn’t even in the same cellblock as you. And let me tell you, those werenotscreams of torture.”
I shrugged. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Ava would wear this information as a badge of honor.”
Chloe gave a sigh. “Goddess. Do I remember what it was like to be your age. Not much has changed, has it?”
“Pleasedon’t tell me any stories about you and Uncle Miles. I’ve heard enough about my Mom and Dad’s super happy fun times, and don’t need to listen to yours, thanks,” Marcus grumbled.
“You deserve it, for poking around in my head and immediately finding mine and Ava’s hidden room,” I replied. He didn’t discover the worst things he could’ve, but he still found one of my secrets, so I guess that was great progress. This spell was actually going to work to get us the information we needed.
Marcus slumped in his chair. “It took a lot of energy for me to get just that little bit of information. I need time to perfect this strategy, because if I’m tired now, it’s not going to look pretty if I go poking around in six people’s heads at once. I need to learn how to do this with more people without getting so tuckered out. Otherwise, I’ll pass out when I’m trying to read the minds of those vampire gangsters, and they’re not gonna stop to ask if I need a minute. I’ve got to be able to do this flawlessly when the time comes to do the job.”
Chloe stood. “Take the afternoon to recover. We’ll continue these lessons tomorrow.”
“Thank you for believing in me, Priestess,” Marcus said.
“Of course,” she replied softly. “I know you’re capable of wonderful things. You just have to learn how to harness what’s already inside of you.”
We left the demigod training room. Priestess Chloe went one way, while Kallie, Marcus and I went the other. Rishi followed along at Marcus’ feet.
“What are you two up to the rest of the day?” Kallie asked. “My schedule is free.”
“Mine, too,” Marcus said. “There’s an indie film premiering at the theater this afternoon I wanted to go to. Do you want to come, Kallie?”
“Absolutely,” Kallie answered. For a girl who wanted nothing to do with Marcus a few months ago, she seemed eager to spend time with him now. I wondered just how much of their connection had been a magical bond, and how much of it had been because they naturally worked well together. I was really glad they could be friends now without feeling pressured to be more, because it seemed like they really did get each other.
“Sorry, but I can’t come with,” I told them. “I don’t get much free time these days, and I’ve got to take what I can. I’m working on a special project for Ava.”
“Oh…that,” Marcus teased. “I saw that in your mind, too, but I didn’t want to say anything.”
“That’s it, you’re officially banned from my mind,” I said. “I don’t want you ruining the surprise.”
