by Brenda Trim
We’d reached a crossroads. It was odd because we hadn’t been on any discernable path, but here we were at an intersection. Argiess glanced around with narrowed eyes as he lifted his head and sniffed the air. It reminded me he could shift into an animal.
“Hey. Why can’t you shift forms and fly me there? Are you too small to carry me?”
Argiess growled and narrowed his eyes. “I’m bigger than my house in my dragon form, so that makes me easily seen in the sky. Vodor’s men are excellent shots. They won’t hesitate to take aim if they see a dragon carrying the woman they’ve been searching for.”
“Looks like we’re stuck walking then.” I should have waited for him to make some tea. Not only did my back hurt, but I was exhausted and dragging ass.
Argiess didn’t reply. Instead he wrapped his big hands around my upper arms and took off running. I bounced in his arms as he moved like the wind. The trees passed so quickly I had to squeeze my eyes shut to keep the roller coaster ride happening in my gut from making me puke.
Before I knew it, fog rolled in like ghosts in the afterworld. Bracing myself for more jarring, I squeezed my eyes shut, tensed and dug my fingernails into his shoulders. A gasp left me when my back hit the trunk of a tree and we stopped.
“What’s that?” Cold stung my skin where it was exposed. From the second I landed in Eidothea, there had been a welcoming energy pulsing from the land beneath my feet. That had shifted to something dark and foreboding.
“Something just crossed into the realm and if I had to guess, it’s frightened Vodor and pissed him off. Many will die before he regains control. We need to get inside before we’re sucked into the chaos.”
I’d rather be getting a root canal than be here right now. “Ah, so he’s throwing a tantrum.”
Argiess chuckled and set me on my feet then started walking to the left. “Yeah. A fit that’s likely to kill a couple hundred innocent Fae.”
I immediately followed him through the trees. We reached a town a few minutes later and I understood how terrorized this realm really was by their King. Beings of all kinds and ages ran around, trying to get inside.
Argiess grabbed my hand and pulled me toward a building that reminded me of my house only much smaller and one story. There was a sign hanging outside that I couldn’t read. What I did see was the flame rune with its orange glow in the lower right corner.
I was looking down a main street and noticed a ripple in the sky a few hundred feet away. “Is that…” My voice trailed off as doors slammed and brownies scurried under homes.
“A death wave? Yes,” Argiess replied and picked me up before darting inside the home. The sweet yeasty smell of ale told me we were in a tavern. Argiess dropped me and went to one of the windows and started drawing runes on the glass. There were others at the remaining windows. When blue light rippled from each of the casters to join in the middle, my ears popped like I was on a plane that just leveled out.
“Let’s get some tea and a salad while we wait,” Argiess suggested.
I nodded and found an empty table where I sank onto a stool. How the hell was I going to get out of here when I couldn’t make it more than a few miles before we needed to hole up and hide.
I wanted to know what had the King up in arms. It sounded like a person I needed to be introduced to. I hated that I was going to leave them in the lurch when they were very clearly suffering, but I had no choice.
You could always stay and leave Ben and Bailey to Violet and Aislinn. I would never forgive myself if I did that. Though I wasn’t sure I was going to forgive myself when I left these creatures at Vodor’s mercy.
This was going to be a long damn day.
Chapter 9
“This is not a salad,” I argued with Argiess as we sat in the pub with about a dozen other Fae. I had no idea how long we’d been here. At some point while we hid in the bar, I’d started to understand what he meant when he said time moved differently in their realm. But there was nothing I could put my finger on exactly. It was just a feeling I got.
“What would you call it?” He lifted one eyebrow as he held up a fork full of the food.
“I’d call it a garden party. Flowers do not belong among the other veg. And, is there even any dressing on it?” It seemed like maybe there was some oil, but I wasn’t sure.
“Those aren’t flowers. They’re onions, well our version anyway. And we use citrus and olive oil on our salads. There are also bits of orc in this one.”
I picked up one of the tiny daises and brought it to my nose. It smelled like an onion. Nothing here was as it seemed. I popped it into my mouth and chewed. I hadn’t realized my face was screwed up until it relaxed, and a smile broke over my mouth.
“Not perfumey at all. Tastes great.” I eagerly scooped up a bite and shoveled it into my mouth. The citrus and garlic flavor of the dressing was yummy and before I knew it I ate the entire plate.
“Guess we found something here that you like,” Argiess teased. He reached out and ran his thumb over the corner of my mouth.
The move was too intimate for my taste and I flinched then stiffened.
Argiess held up his hand. “There was a piece of lettuce on your mouth.” I saw the yellow fleck on his thumb. It was a relief he wasn’t making a pass. The way I’d caught him looking at me several times told me I was wrong, and he was most definitely interested.
This back and forth inside my head was making me slightly ill. Or that could be the fact that my gut churned, and my heart raced. Sitting there and allowing him to touch me like that felt like a betrayal to Sebastian which was unnerving.
We’d shared some steamy kisses and I hoped things would go further, but we weren’t in a relationship. Were we? We’d never had a conversation about it, so I had no idea how he felt about it.
But I was not built to have multiple love interests. Guilt ate at me, but more than that, I had no desire to play the field. I had always been a one-man girl, but perhaps it was time to shove aside the shame and embrace whoever came my way.
None of that matters right now. Focus on getting home and nothing more. Right. The portal. “How long do we have to hide out in here?”
Argiess cleared his throat and set his ale down on the table. “The energy is starting to dissipate. If you tune into your surroundings, I bet you can sense it too.”
“I’m not used to looking beyond the obvious unless I’m dealing with a patient in the hospital. I could diagnose a problem inside someone almost as good as a CT scan or MRI.” I needed to remind myself I had magic and needed to use it. It hadn’t become second nature to me yet.
“It’ll get easier the more you tap into your other side. Try it and tell me what you feel.”
I nodded my head and closed my eyes to shut out the way everyone else in the pub was watching us. It unnerved me and made me want to stand up and explain myself. Taking a deep breath, I opened my senses. At first, I felt a light breeze but nothing else. Next came a buzzing noise. It reminded me of what I felt from the portal only a million times less intense.
As I focused on that sensation, I realized I’d overlooked the negative energy that permeated everything. It made my skin crawl and sent my heart into overdrive. Now that I’d focused on it, I fought the urge to claw at my flesh like the meth heads in the ER did. There was no doubt in my mind the area was filled with bad mojo, but it couldn’t reach into the cracks and crevices inside the buildings.
There was inherent protection in dwellings and business given by their owners. Instinctually I had shied away from the negativity and hadn’t even realized it. As I paid attention, I felt it retreating little by little until I was able to take a deep breath.
“How the hell do you guys live with that all the time? I couldn’t stand it.”
Argiess sighed and ran a hand through his brown hair. “It’s not always this bad. Your arrival set Vodor off and is no doubt pissing Thelvienne off. I’d bet he has her locked inside the castle now, so she can’t get to you and suck you dry.”
“She could try,” I growled. “If she wants to get burned again. Fire is my element, a fact of which I have no problem reminding her.” I have no idea why I claimed the element as mine. It wasn’t as if I owned fire or anything.
Argiess held his hands up. “Don’t burn the messenger. But that’s something we have in common. I’m fireproof.” Flames danced over his fingertips and up his arms before they disappeared.
“Let’s get you some clothes that will help you blend in better. I suspect seeing a foreigner triggered some kind of ward Vodor had set up.”
“That would be the smart thing to do, but I don’t have any money with me. I didn’t expect to get pulled through. Not that you would take money from my realm.” I touched my earrings. They were diamond studs Tim bought me for our fifteenth wedding anniversary. The thought of parting with them twisted my stomach in knots.
“These are all I have…aside from this.” I pulled the necklace out from under my shirt and held it up. I cringed when I saw the crack. Seemed like this was worthless.
Argiess put several coins on the table, making me cringe for not considering how I was going to pay for the food I ate. “I’m sure the gems will suffice,” he told me, making my heart ache. “But it won’t be necessary. I have coin to cover the cost.”
I shook my head side to side. “I can’t let you do that. I’ll use my earrings.”
Argiess started for the exit which seemed to be a signal to everyone else. “You can pay me back later. I know those mean something to you. There’s no reason to use something with sentimental value.”
The sun was bright when we stepped outside. I lifted my hand and shielded my eyes. “I appreciate that. And, I will return and repay the favor. Wow,” I blurted when I saw the way Fae flooded out of their homes en mass. “I feel awful for bringing danger to the town.”
Argiess paused by a store that had leather clothes in the picture window and held the door open for me. “Hey, Phae. I brought someone to have you outfit.”
The clomping of hooves sounded before a woman appeared around the doorframe in the back of the shop. She was tall. Easily seven-feet with long auburn hair and hazel eyes. I followed Argiess and gasped when the woman entered the front of the store.
Her lower half was that of a horse. I’d never seen a creature like her but recall some like her in movies. “Are you a centaur?”
She chuckled and stopped by a long wooden table. Her front legs stomped the ground several times. “Yes, in fact, I am. Where did you find this one, Argiess?”
“Danalise brought her to me. She’s the hybrid that came through the portal. Fiona this is Poniphae. We need come clothes to help her blend in.”
I gaped at him shocked that he told her so much. Poniphae looked out the front window and grabbed hold of my arm. “Let’s get you out of these clothes before those soldiers find you.”
My heart skipped a beat then took off like a rocket in my chest. I swiveled around and tried to see outside, but she tugged me to the back room. “I’m so sorry for bringing them here. I can sneak out the back. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
The centaur turned a glower on me and thrust several items of clothing at me. Unlike those in the window, these were made of a soft cotton like material. “Nonsense. Get these on and no one will know you don’t belong here. Although your energy is pretty distinct. Get changed and I’ll see if Tabitha has a charm to help with that.”
Poniphae was trotting to the back door before I could say a word. When she disappeared from view, I shucked my jeans and sweater then stuffed my legs into the dark blue pants.
They reminded me of linen pants, only these were soft as silk. They barely hung on my plentiful hips. Shrugging, I pulled the top over my head and smoothed the maroon material over my chest. This wasn’t quite as big thanks to my bigger than average breasts.
“We’re in luck, she had a transformation potion that will shift your energy to mimic another creature.”
I looked up from tugging up the bottoms to see a purple liquid in a small vial in the palm of her right hand. “Do you have a belt? I don’t want them to fall off.”
Phae chuckled and handed me the drink. “I’ll adjust them for you.”
“Thank you for all your help. I really appreciate it.” I held my arms out to my sides, expecting her to bring pins to mark where she needed to sew the new seam. She stared at me for a minute then picked up the sides of the pants. She chanted a foreign word and the pants shrank around my body immediately until they were as snug as leggings.
“What is the language you spoke just now?”
“It’s Aflean. It used to be the only language spoken here, but that changed when our realms meshed. We picked up English, French and many other languages. Over the years we started speaking English more and more. Now it’s our common language with Alfean being reserved for spell casting,” Poniphae explained as she lifted the shoulder of the tunic.
“The top is great. No need to alter it.” I had no desire to walk around with my love handles and muffin top on full display. Not that I was ashamed of them. They were symbols of carrying my children.
Argiess entered the back room with wide eyes. “They’re out front. We need to go, now.”
“Drink that,” Phae ordered me as she tipped my hand up. “Act natural. You came to get your mate a new outfit. They won’t suspect anything amiss.”
I didn’t agree but had no desire to argue with the centaur. I twisted the top off and smelled the potion. It smelled like strawberries. Thank God. I tipped the liquid back and coughed when I tasted spicy berries.
The liquid slid down my throat despite me hacking up a lung. It burned all the way down and settled in my stomach with a sizzle. Bubbles floated throughout my veins, popping along the way.
My head swam, making me dizzy as hell. “Your shoes,” Poniphae ordered. I lifted a foot and hopped on my other when I almost fell on my rear end. Strong arms wrapped around my middle. I looked over my shoulder to see Argiess holding me.
“This potion has a kick,” I informed them both.
Phae removed one shoe then slid something as soft as my clothes over the foot and set it down then lifted my other one. “It’ll pass as soon as it settles on a form to emulate.” Her voice drifted off and she cocked a brow at Argiess behind me.
I didn’t pay any attention to that because in the next second the dizziness passed, and I was fine. “Thank you, Phae. I’ll be in touch.” Argiess handed her a handful of coins and directed me to the front with a hand at the small of my back.
I was still trying to digest everything that had happened when he pulled me outside, and I saw thirty soldiers prowling around the main street. Several approached us holding swords at the ready.
“Can I help you?” Argiess asked. “We paid our taxes last week and aren’t due until next.” I glanced at him and saw he was holding out two cards. I could only see the top one but couldn’t read the runes on it.
One of the guards scanned the cards while the other addressed Argiess. “Have you seen a hybrid in town?”
“No. We just had a bite to eat and picked up the clothes Phae made for my mate.” Argiess wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close to him. I kept my mouth shut and tried to hide how terrified I was.
Taking slow breaths was not easy with my heart reaching Indy 500 speeds. My feet wanted to take off running. Good thing I was used to being in stressful situations and not letting my fear show. I plastered a smile on my face and lowered my gaze.
I trained my eyes on the glow surrounding their hands. If I got even a hint that they were going to make a move, I would call upon my magic and do what I could. Poniphae came clomping out of the store at that moment and handed a fabric bag out toward me. “You forgot your tunics. I know how stressful it is when the sweeps happen.”
Blood drained from my face as I reached out and took the bag. “It makes me forget my own name.” I can’t believe we were trying to lie to these soldiers and neither of us had a bag
to show we’d been shopping. Argiess had his backpack, but that was it.
“I know how you get. I’ll have new fabric in a couple weeks, be sure to come back and see what comes in.” Phae turned away without bothering to address anyone else and returned to her store.
“If you see a hybrid female, report her right away,” the first soldier ordered before they stalked away.
We walked out of the area in silence and were a quarter mile away before Argiess let go of me and tugged me into the forest that bordered the road. “That was a close call.”
“I wasn’t worried. The second your energy shifted to match mine, I knew we were going to be fine. Until you took that potion, I was certain you’d be found, and I would be killed.”
My jaw unhinged and I stared at him. “I feel like a dragon right now?”
“Yes, Butterfly. You do.” I jumped and turned to the left as a familiar dark voice registered.
“Bas,” I called out and leaped into his arms. “What are you doing here?” His familiar hands ran up and down my back as he held me tightly. Immediate fear consumed me as I considered the danger he was putting himself in for me.
“I’m here to take you home.”
I pushed on his chest and he put me down but didn’t put more space between us. “How did you know where I was?”
“I waited fifteen minutes then decided to check on you. Isidora told me you’d never made it home. Given that your car was in the driveway, I checked the portal and caught your blood, so I knew you were here. Argiess.”
The dragon shifter inclined his head. “Sebastian. Good to see you again.”
I looked from one to the other. “You two know each other?”
Bas displayed more possessiveness than I’d ever seen from him as he remained within inches of me while his energy exuded from his pores and surrounded me. “We go back a few decades. Are you still heading the rebellion?”
Argiess grabbed the fabric bag from me and let his hand linger on my shoulder. “I am. I am taking Fiona back to the portal, but she agreed to return and help our cause.”