Page 38 of Enchanted Hero (The Secret Enchanters #1)

“Business power, political connections, wealth,” he quickly clarified.

She held his gaze, then looked down. “You can’t always take care of everyone. You are only human , after all.” The word held an unmistakable inflection. “You’re also not alone.”

He wasn’t?

He kept his neutral mask in place, didn’t reveal what a simple sentence meant. Although he was surrounded by people, some of whom knew his secret, he was in a singular position. Everything had changed since he’d met Everleigh. “I might just keep you if you’re going to talk like that,” he murmured.

He heard her quick intake of breath. Then her willful response. “I’d like to see you try.”

He was planning on it.

They pulled up to her apartment building. Neither said a word as she gathered her purse and clasped her hands over it. “I’ll see you at work.”

“Of course.” Before he lost his willpower and stole her away, he disembarked and accompanied her down the walkway. She was all feminine beauty, her cheeks tinged pink, her eyes bright. She bit her lower lip as they reached the front door.

He simply couldn’t help himself.

He bent down to pure bliss. For a second, she didn’t move, then she returned the kiss, matching him move for move. She was soft and sexy and vivacious, fitting in his arms like she was meant to be there.

She was meant to be there.

She made a soft mewling sound as he pulled her closer, perfection defined. Yet ever-so-slowly, reality intruded, the truth of this day and the number of people who were waiting for him. With all his strength, he pulled back.

She stared at him with wide eyes and parted lips. Did she know he was the masked man who’d kissed her before? He’d let her see his power then, hoping it would avoid her discovering his identity. Now he controlled his power.

Questions lingered in her eyes, questions he couldn’t answer without changing her life forever. It was inevitable, but it was too soon. First, he had to take care of his people, then he could show Everleigh the future that would be theirs.

“I better go.”

She nodded and didn’t say anything as he walked away, as he entered the car and drove from her home. Yet his thoughts did not stray from the woman who forged his destiny. What was she thinking? What did she know? Amidst a thousand questions, one mattered above all:

What would she do when she discovered the truth?

“Let me sum it up. We’re screwed.”

“Alana,” Alexander chided his youngest sister, just out of her teens.

Pessimistic but not wholly unrealistic, she was standing with a group of several dozen Incantare leaders, including their sister Brynnlee and security expert Carter.

Apprehension thickened the air, warmed by the crackling fire in the massive marble fireplace.

With plush damask sofas, rich oriental rugs and mahogany furnishings, the auburn and gold room was the antithesis of the life-threatening situation.

“We are not, as you say, screwed. Somehow we’ll make them believe it was a hoax. ”

“How?” His sister commanded incredulity like only a strong young woman could. “You’ve gotten us out of a lot of situations, but this time is different. They’ve seen your powers.”

“For once, I agree with Alana.” Carter stepped forward. “You conquered a tornado, vanished multiple times and flew . Thousands – millions – saw the videos. How can we convince them it’s a hoax?”

“You can’t promise it won’t happen again.” Alana fisted her hands. “I know you. If someone needs help, you’ll save them no matter the risk.”

He didn’t deny it. Yet despite her words, no doubt his sister, and any of his people, would do the same. They truly were a good people. “I’ll do everything in my power to safeguard our lives. You know what would happen if the world found out about us.”

They shuddered as one.

Kyla moved forward. “If the government discovers our existence, there will be no escape, despite our powers. We’d be like animals in a zoo for the rest of our lives, poked, prodded, experimented on.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Alexander growled. Everyone looked at him, their leader. The weight of thousands of lives bore on him. “Yet with video evidence, it’s unlikely we can convince the world it’s just pretend. We need to focus on concealing our identities.”

“But you’re already a person of interest.” Fear darkened Alana’s expression. “The agent and scientist suspect you.”

Yes, they did, and they were delving closer to the truth by the minute. “If turning myself in would protect you, I would do it.”

“No!” Alana gasped. “I won’t let you sacrifice yourself.” His kid sister moved forward, all five foot two inches of her, standing up to protect her big brother. “I can help.”

Before Alexander could respond, Carter growled, “You’re not risking yourself. You’ll stay here.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.” Alana pointed a finger at the huge man. “I’m not a kid anymore.”

“I noticed.” Carter’s voice was deep, dark. “But if you don’t have enough sense to stay away from danger, I’ll do it for you.”

Before his sister could sputter a response, Alexander broke in, “If it was as simple as turning myself in to save our people, I would. But the first thing they’ll do is investigate everyone around me. Once they find one of us, everyone becomes suspect.”

Carter gave one last dark look at Alana, then turned back to Alexander. “So we have to make them believe it isn’t you.”

Alexander exhaled. “Too bad shapeshifting is one of the few powers we don’t have. We can’t make Andrews and Garrison see me as the hero and the businessman at the same time.”

“Andrews and Garrison aren’t your only threats.

” Carter gestured to a photograph on the wall, depicting Alexander on a magazine cover.

“You’re a public figure. Others may realize you were at all the events and make the connection.

Once word gets out, so will the truth. What about the owner of that company you took over…

Everleigh Lacey? Does she suspect anything? ”

Alexander regarded the group, the dozens of people who represented thousands more, the loyal and good men and women he’d sworn to protect.

They deserved to know the truth. “Although she lacks proof, she suspects my involvement. At least I solved the mystery of the enchanted books, the original reason I purchased New Age Treasures. Several teenagers accidentally left them at the library. The person who found them sold them to an antique shop, which is how Everleigh attained them. I have both books back in my possession.”

“So you no longer have a reason to stay close to Miss Lacey.” Despite the situation, Alana smiled.

So did everyone else.

Yeah, they all knew.

“Actually, I have a plan for her.”

His sister’s smile widened. “A plan?”

Alexander rolled up his sleeves. “She knows too much. I must ensure she doesn’t reveal anything.” He took a deep breath, then shared what he’d always known deep down. “She is my destiny.”

Delighted murmurs rang through the audience, despite the tumultuous situation. Of course, claiming her had nothing to do with what she suspected, and everything to do with the tremendous emotions she inspired. He held up his hand. “First we must address our crisis, then I’ll tell you more.”

The mood sobered. “Even if she shows discretion, others won’t.

” Carter pointed to the wall, and suddenly it shimmered into a screen playing a dozen news channels at once, every one showing coverage of the mysterious man.

“The hero is mentioned thousands of times a day. This one in particular concerns us.” He waved his hand, and an image of the leading news channel overtook the others.

A fresh-faced journalist clutched a microphone. “As we’ve reported, there will be a major announcement regarding the hero tomorrow. We now bring you Timothy Evans, the man who says he knows hero’s true identity.”

The screen switched to a young man in an 80s sci-fi t-shirt. Alexander bit back a curse. “That’s the conspiracy theorist I saved at the press conference.”

“We hear you have a big reveal for us.” The reporter shoved the microphone in his guest’s face. “Tell us what you know.”

Timothy smiled like a man who had three winning lottery tickets. “I’d love to share, but I have to wait for tomorrow’s press conference. Sponsorship, and all.”

“Can you confirm you’ve learned the identity of our hero?” the reporter questioned.

The man’s grin widened. “Let’s just say the world is going to be shocked, especially when they realize they’ve known him all along.”

“You heard it here first.” The reporter’s deep voice boomed. “Stay tuned for hourly updates on this breaking news.”

For seconds, no one spoke. “This is bad,” Carter finally said. “Does he know it’s you?”

“I don’t know.” Alexander exhaled. He’d covered his tracks, or so he thought, yet it hadn’t fooled Andrews and Garrison. It wasn’t impossible another person had discovered the truth. “The press conference is concerning. They wouldn’t pay attention unless he had something to back it up.”

“Like evidence?” Alana whispered.

“Or logic.” Alexander rubbed the back of his neck. “Anything is possible. I’ve been at multiple scenes with the hero. I have the same body size and shape. Agent Andrews and Dr. Garrison already suspect me. It’s not farfetched someone else might as well.”

“He might not even be talking about you,” Alana offered. Several murmured their agreement, yet most stayed silent.

He could not fault their pessimism. “We should formulate a plan for the worst-case scenario.”

“We just got word of a bank robbery in Miami.” The television once again snagged his attention, as the reporter held a hand to his earpiece.

“Five armed men are holding hostages at Hollowell Bank in Miami. We’re going live to Jill Evans, who is on the scene.

” The image turned to a young blond reporter surrounded by shouting and sirens.

“Police are trying to negotiate,” the newscaster immediately reported, “but sources say it’s not going well. They’re threatening to shoot if authorities don’t provide an immediate escape route.”

Every muscle tightened, the urge to help nearly inescapable.

How could he let people die if he could do something, and yet how could he risk further exposure for his people?

A mere moment passed before he made the only decision he ever could.

“If I do nothing while people die, what use are my powers? I have to help.”

They stood silent, then one by one nodded, not just accepting, but supporting his decision. Sharing that they were willing to risk their lives to save others.

His sister stepped forward. “I want to help.”

“No,” Alexander issued the immediate denial. “I won’t risk anyone else. I will handle the situation.”

He gave her no opportunity to argue as he beckoned his magic, in an instant donning his signature costume.

No use in changing it – they would know him no matter what he wore.

He called his magic once more, and the world disappeared, reforming into a small storage closet.

Yelling sounded directly outside the door.

“I’m tired of waiting! It’s time to convince the police we’re serious. If we shoot one of the hostages now, they’ll know we’re not bluffing.”

Alexander fisted his hands, as cries splintered the air. Using his powers, the door appeared invisible to him. Two dozen hostages, men, women and children , sat huddled on the floor. One hostage stood, a gun pointed straight at his head.

If he barged in there, he’d get shot. And while he would recover from a gunshot wound quickly, it would still hurt him, enough that he could be immobilized, captured or worse. He needed another plan.

Ideas twisted and turned, finally forming something resembling a plan.

It might not be the most subtle way to get it done, and it risked exposure, but it was the only way to ensure no one got shot.

Alexander called his magic and focused on the guns, yet the mist remained with him.

Task accomplished, he opened the door and walked out.

Dozens of shocked people – criminal and captive – stared at him.

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,” he calmly remarked.

“It’s him!”

“That’s the guy!”

“I can’t believe it!”

Murmurs of shock rocked the crowd, with little difference between the hostage takers and hostages.

The criminals were the first to recover.

A giant man with tattoos covering every inch of his body pointed his gun at Alexander’s chest. “No heroics today, buddy. You might be able to fly, but can you take a bullet?”

The man gave no warning. No pretense he was actually going to attempt murder.

He simply pulled the trigger.

The gunshot rang loud and clear. Shouts and cries, yells of pure anguish, sounded as everyone stared at their would-be-hero, searching for the telltale signs of blood.

There would be none.

“Are you all right?” a woman cried.

“Did he hit you?” a frightened child asked.

“Of course, I did!” the criminal yelled. But as everyone looked at Alexander, it was clear he hadn’t. Not after Alexander’s little enchantment.

He stepped forward. “It’s over.”

“No, it’s not.” The man fired once more, yet again no bullet flew. He glared at his gun, then at his cohort. “Tommy, shoot him!” With a growl, the burly man next to him obeyed. Though the gun roared, no bullet emerged.

“The guns are fake!” A hostage yelled. “Let’s go!” They started to rise, even as the criminals rushed forward. They may no longer be armed, but they were far from helpless, as they raced to stop their leverage from leaving.

Not today.

As the leader of the robbers grasped at a child, Alexander grasped him instead.

“Nothing infuriates me more than a man who preys on children.” With his superior strength, he easily hefted the man into the air.

He reached into his pocket, enchanting some handcuffs.

Ten seconds later, the man was secured to a desk.

He turned to the second robber and restrained him as easily, then the third, fourth and fifth. A sudden commotion sounded as police burst through the door, guns drawn, yelling for everyone to get on the ground. Alexander raced back into the closet, pulling the door shut behind him.

That’s when he saw the sixth robber.

“What happened?” the criminal cried as he exited the vault area, waving his fully functional gun in the air. Seeing the chaos before him, he pointed his weapon at the crowd of hostages.

It fired.