Sizzle and Burn

down on the side of the bed.
    “I thought we agreed last night that we couldn’t save everyone,” she said gently.
    “You want the truth? I didn’t give a damn about saving Cutler and Plumer. They tried to kidnap you. They would have killed you once they got what they wanted from you. Or even if they didn’t get it, for that matter. Far as I’m concerned, they can jump out a window or rot in an institution for the rest of their lives.”
    Sometimes she forgot about the ruthless streak of icy pragmatism that ran through him. It was probably one of the reasons everyone thought he would make an excellent Master. Compassion and vision were all well and good in a leader but they tended to be useless qualities unless they were coupled with a will of steel.
    “I understand,” she said quietly. “You made the call to Fallon for my sake. It didn’t work so that’s the end of it. In addition to not being able to save everyone, you’re going to have to learn another lesson.”
    “What’s that?”
    “Unlike inside Nightshade, failure actually is an option in life. Failure happens. It’s how we learn and change and grow. If you don’t give yourself room to fail, Zack, you’ll live your life inside an iron cage that will gradually get smaller and smaller until you can’t even breathe.”
    He gave her a suspicious look. “Where is this going?”
    “Calvin told me that the Council thinks you’re the best candidate the Society has to take the Master’s Chair.”
    “Damn.” He looked thoroughly disgusted. “Calvin told you about that?”
    “I haven’t known you very long but I think he’s right.”
    “There are others who can handle the position of Master.”
    “Maybe, but you’re the one the Council wants.” She stomped down hard on the wistful sensation unfurling deep inside. “Heck, you’re perfect for the job, what with you being a Jones and a mirror talent and so good at giving orders and all.”
    His jaw tightened. “Jenna showed me that I wasn’t nearly as good as I thought I was.”
    “Get real. From what you told me, it sounds like she got past all of the Society’s security systems and safeguards, and I’m sure there are a number of them. You were the one who caught her, Zack. It was your talent and intelligence that prevented a Nightshade spy from marrying the next Master of the Arcane Society.”
    “It was so damn close,” he said quietly.
    “Sometimes things are close. Take what happened today, for example.”
    He wrapped his big hand around hers and crushed her fingers gently. “Don’t worry, I won’t ever forget how close that was.”
    “It’s clear that the Society will not only be fighting for its very existence in the next few years, but for the rest of us, psychic and nonpsychic, as well. You said yourself it’s the only organization that currently takes Nightshade seriously. Until you can line up some allies, you and your Council will have your work cut out. You can’t walk away from your responsibility, and deep down, I don’t think you really want to do that, anyway.”
    He gave her a look of sheer, wondering disbelief. “Did my grandfather send you around on a recruiting mission, by any chance?”
    She smiled, trying to mask the sense of loss that was threatening to well up inside.
    “No,” she said. “I came to the conclusion all on my own.”
    He was silent for a long time—so long that she began to worry.
    Eventually he stirred. “You know, an antidote to Nightshade’s version of the formula would be incredibly valuable.”
    “For saving people like Cassidy and Niki, you mean?”
    “No. Because among other things, it would send a clear message to the inner circle of Nightshade that the Society has a few tricks of its own up its sleeve. In addition, knowing that an antidote exists would help undermine Nightshade’s hold over its operatives. It might encourage some defections. We could sure use some inside information.”
    “Hadn’t thought about that.” She wrapped her arms around her knees. “Face it, Jones. You were born to lead the Society in this generation.”
    He didn’t answer. Instead she felt energy pulse, enveloping her in his exciting force field. Her own senses leaped in response.
    Zack stood, doused the lights, dropped the towel and got into bed.
    When he came to her he was hot to the touch and fully aroused. He trapped her legs with one muscled thigh. She heard two soft thumps and realized that Batman and Robin had vacated the