Darknight(21)

Connor replied, “Black Forest Society. You’ve heard of them?”

That was it. I’d only been able to catch one of their shows because they traveled around the state a lot, and the one time they’d played the Spirit Room when I was there, they didn’t even have a CD available yet. “I saw them once in Jerome about six months ago, I think.” Yes, that sounded right. It had been a warm summer evening, with the doors of the bar open to the streets and people coming and going. Back then I’d thought I’d have plenty of time to find my consort.

Instead, he’d found me.

Connor put a tamale on his plate, then picked up another one and set it on mine. I murmured a thank-you as he said, “They play up here in Flag off and on. One club they play at is just a couple of streets over from here. I’ve always liked their music, so I was glad when they finally got their CD out there.”

“I didn’t even know they had one. It’s good.”

A pause as he took a bite of tamale. His eyes widened. After he was done chewing, he said, “And these are amazing. I’m surprised your aunt runs a shop and not a restaurant.”

I didn’t bother to ask how he knew that. It was pretty clear to me that the Wilcoxes knew a lot more about us McAllisters than we did about them. Or at least, than I knew about them. There’d been a lot of secret-keeping back in Jerome, and I still didn’t have any clear idea as to how much I’d been kept in the dark.

Connor seemed to realize his slip-up, because he glanced away from me and took a sip of his wine. Because I was feeling slightly irritated, I only said, “Thanks,” then added, “so what did Damon want today?”

Of course he didn’t answer right away. He took another bite of tamale, shut his eyes as if savoring the taste, then answered my question with another of his own. “You saw him?”

“Yes, I was taking a break and looking out the window, and I saw him drive up.”

Now it was Connor’s turn to look annoyed. “Nothing. Just checking in.”

“He doesn’t have a phone?”

“Doesn’t trust them for the important stuff.”

Wow, he really was paranoid. Then again, what with our own government sniffing through our phone calls and emails, I supposed that was one thing I couldn’t really give Damon Wilcox much grief over.

“I think he needs a hobby,” I remarked, and finally sipped at my tempranillo.

It was on off-hand remark, the sort of thing I’d said about more than one person on occasion, but Connor didn’t appear amused by it. “Oh, he has hobbies. I’m just pretty sure you wouldn’t approve of them.”

“So why don’t you tell me about it?” I said the words as a challenge, not expecting to get an honest answer.

To my surprise, Connor seemed to take my question seriously. Maybe the tamales had loosened him up. “You know he’s a physics professor, right?”

“No. I mean, I knew he was a professor of some sort at Northern Pines, but I didn’t know what he taught.” I did my best to keep my tone neutral. I didn’t want to say anything that might keep Connor from talking.

“Well, he’s been using his work to aid him in altering spells, making them stronger, making them do things no one else has been able to.” He spooned some beans onto his plate and then handed the bowl to me. I took it from him with a slight smile, but remained silent so as not to interrupt. “I’m not an expert, so I can’t begin to explain half of it, but he tells me that spells are energy, will is energy, and he’s learned to work with that energy in ways no other primus — no other warlock — ever has. So neither you nor anyone in your clan should beat themselves up too much over being bested by Damon Wilcox, because it’s hard to defend against something you never even knew existed.”

“That’s…impressive,” I said after a pause. Well, that was one word for it, anyway. “Frightening” was another that came to mind, but I didn’t say it out loud.

Connor shrugged. “He’s driven. It’s good for the clan, I suppose, but it’s…a little tiring.”

I could imagine, even though I didn’t really want to think too hard about what it would be like to have Damon Wilcox as my older brother. But since Connor seemed to finally be talking, I thought I’d better see if I could get anything else out of him. “So….” Now that I thought I had an opportunity to ask questions, I didn’t even know which one to ask first.

“So why do I put up with it?”

I nodded.

“It’s complicated.”

“You told me that before.” I picked up the tongs and set another tamale on his plate, since he’d already finished off the first one. “You just didn’t tell me why.”