Destiny's Fire - By Trisha Wolfe Page 0,17

see your boyfriend.”

“So,” she said. “We can ignore them. I told Devon we’d be there.” She pouted, pursing her lips. I honestly felt bad for her. Then something hit me.

At the Chowhound, Jace had made a comment that didn’t resonate with me until now. I waved my hand, gaining their attention. “Jace, you said before that you thought the Narcos wanted to try and harness our power for their own use.”

He furrowed his eyebrows. “Yeah? What are you getting at?”

“Cogs.” I sat down beside him. “They’re hanging out at Cogs.” I opened my eyes wide.

“Crap,” he breathed.

“Exactly.” I looked over to Lana and Nick. “Devon infuses crystals with Charge. Like the one on the hilt of my Charge Dagger. They aren’t displayed where everyone can see them, but I’m sure the Narcos will become curious after a while, wondering how he’s able to distort the sound of instruments and the light show.”

Nick cursed. “We can’t let them find out. We have to warn Devon.”

Lana grabbed her data communicator. “I’ll give him a heads up before he opens the club. But we should be there diverting their attention so they don’t figure anything out.”

I looked over to Jace. His eyes were unfocused, as if his thoughts were far away. “What are you thinking?” I asked him.

He shook his head once, lightly. “That they might have already figured out something. That maybe that’s why they were so intent on going back to the club.”

“Naw,” Nick said. “I think that Narco really just wanted to push your button, man. He saw how you were about D—”

“Right,” Jace said, giving him a stern look. “They probably haven’t put it together yet. But Dez and Lana are right. We have to keep them from snooping around the club.” He jumped to his feet. “Looks like we’re partying at Cogs.”

Lana bounced up, pulling me with her. “Well, if we’re going to be a diversion, we’ll need better outfits.”

I glanced at Lana as we walked toward the entrance of Cogs. “Still have my fake ID on you?”

She nodded, but then tilted her head. “Why?”

“Think I might get wasted for the first time ever tonight.” I shrugged. “That’s something to celebrate at least, right?”

She cocked an eyebrow. “Am I hearing birthday sarcasm?” She waved her hand through the air dismissively. “Dez, we’re all scared about the change. But try and have fun tonight. For me?” She batted her eyes.

I mock laughed. “Yup, with trying to divert Narcos and an impending change that’ll have me locked up for a while.” I tugged one of her pink dreads. “Sure. Let’s party.”

As we stepped inside the club, Devon looked up from tuning his guitar and waved. He was setting up the stage with the rest of the members of Current. Lana took the lead, and we followed her over.

“Did you get my data message?” she asked Devon, flashing a sweet smile.

He looked down at her from the two-foot high stage and smiled back. “Yeah, I did.” He adjusted his goggles, positioning them above the rim of his top hat. Tiny wisps of his blond hair feathered underneath. Then he jumped off the stage. “That’s some pretty serious stuff—Narcos looking for ways to use our power. And here we thought they just loved our company.”

Jace sidled up beside me and scoffed. “I think soon they’ll be more interested in certain company.” He eyed my outfit.

“What?” I crossed my arms. “This is all your sister. Blame her.” Lana had dressed me in a dark chocolate mini-bustle skirt and black corset. The bustle ruffles cascaded in back, barely reaching the top of my thigh-high boots. I’d pleaded to wear anything else, but she’d insisted it was my birthday “party wear” and the best choice for tonight’s mission.

I felt uncomfortable, but that was just me. This was a casual outfit for girls every day. I simply preferred my leather breeches. You couldn’t spar in a skirt. Well, you could, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Jace’s eyes scanned over me again, his eyebrows knit in an expression I couldn’t figure out. Then he turned to follow Devon toward the bar and said under his breath, “I’m going to die tonight.”

Devon led us behind the bar. He pulled back the black curtain along the wall, revealing a hidden door. We stepped through and my mouth fell open. “Wow.”

Clocks and pipes decorated the walls, with pistons and gears randomly strewn about. On the table near the back, quartz and crystal were laid out. It looked like a mad scientist’s