by S. E. Smith
She was in the process of pulling her hair up into a ponytail as she stepped out of her bedroom when she jerked to a stop. Ashure was exiting the guest bathroom at the same time and he was wearing nothing more than a towel tucked around his hips. She finished pulling her hair through the elastic band and lowered her arms.
“Can you wrap that towel any lower?” she sarcastically asked without thinking.
He moved his hands to the towel, raised his eyebrows at her, and smiled. She was having a hard time keeping her eyes focused on his face.
“I can always remove it if that would make you feel better,” he teased.
Tonya blushed. “Whatever floats your boat. I might have found a way to send you home, but first, I’m going to make some coffee. I can’t deal with your naked body and Max all in the same morning without some serious caffeine,” she stated.
“I’m not technically naked and who is this Max?” Ashure called after her when she passed him and strode toward the kitchen.
“Later. Rule number one: don’t talk to me before coffee if you want a civil—and sane—conversation,” she replied.
“Rules? You do realize that rules are made so they can be broken, don’t you?” he drawled.
Tonya turned around and stared at him in shock. A sense of déjà vu struck her again at his offhanded comment. She thought about asking him to repeat what he had just said before she shook her head and turned back to the coffee pot.
This is crazy. I have more in common with someone who just arrived by a portal than with… pretty much everyone else. Max would get a kick out of knowing I’ve met someone who thinks the same way about rules as I did—once, she thought with a rueful smile as she pressed the power button for the coffee pot.
Ashure silently observed Tonya from the entrance to the kitchen. She was standing next to the table, sipping a steaming mug of coffee and staring out of the window. Her shoulder-length dark brown hair was pulled up, revealing a long, thin scar curving around her slender neck. He had seen enough wounds caused by a sharp blade to recognize one.
“Who attacked you?” he demanded before he could stop himself.
She twisted to face him. “What?” she asked, confused.
“With a blade… your neck,” he said, walking forward as he spoke until he was standing in front of her. He gently traced the scar. She shivered at his touch, and he could feel a slight tingle in his fingertips. It reminded him of the spark of a Thunderbird feather.
“Morris Decker. He apparently didn’t like the article I wrote about his illegal price-fixing scheme. Are you hungry? I can cook some eggs and toast,” she offered as she looked up at him.
He was still staring at her scar and caressing it with the pad of his thumb. If the cut had been an eighth of an inch farther to the right, it would have sliced through a major artery. She was lucky to be alive.
“Is this Morris Decker still alive?” he asked in a deceptively quiet voice.
“Yes. He’s been enjoying the hospitality of the Federal Prison system for the past ten years,” she replied.
“I can think of a much better place for him,” he said, looking up and locking his gaze with hers.
He heard her soft gasp but didn’t look away. She stared back at him, her expression clearly displaying her curiosity and wariness. He knew she could see the shadows—the lost souls. They shied away from her, as if ashamed.
“I could too, for a while, but hatred is a useless emotion. It drains you. I prefer to use my energy doing more important things—like bringing down more bad guys and making the world a better place to live in,” she murmured.
Ashure nodded and continued to caress her neck. “Who is Max?” he asked.
“Max is—Max. I’m glad Mike’s clothes fit you. Now, are you hungry or not? I’m not the best cook in the world, but I can cook eggs—as long as you like them scrambled—and toast without burning it,” she said, stepping away from him.
“I would appreciate some scrambled eggs and toast. Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, I’m still trying to figure out where everything is, and you’d just be in the way. Why don’t you go—explore or something? I’ll call you when everything is ready,” she said with a wave of her hand.
“Do you not enjoy my company, my Lady?” he curiously inquired.
“Listen, the last thing I need is a distraction in the kitchen. I’m dangerous enough without one, trust me,” she retorted with a hint of panic in her voice.
He reached out and ran the back of his fingers down her cheek. “Then I will take my leave until you call for me,” he quietly vowed.
“Don’t go far,” she absently warned him.
“I won’t,” he promised.
He looked at her one last time before he forced himself to walk away. The urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her was overwhelming, but just the tender touch would have to do. No doubt he would have ended up in pain again if he followed through with his desire to kiss her passionately until they were both senseless with desire.
The first thing he did was explore the house. He familiarized himself with the entrances and exits before he opened the door and stepped out onto the front porch. An old mode of transportation, obvious from the faded paint, clouded glass covers over the lights, and a small dent near the back, was parked out front.
He frowned when a vehicle turned onto the driveway. Through the clear glass, he could see a man in a uniform. A minute later, the vehicle came to a stop. The man looked at him with a frown before he reached over to the passenger seat and grabbed something. He tensed as the man pushed open the door and stepped out. Ashure didn’t relax until he saw that the object the man had grabbed was a hat.
“Morning,” the man greeted.
“Good day to you,” Ashure replied.
The man strode forward before he paused at the bottom of the step. “Is Tonya here?” the deputy asked.
“She is preparing our meal,” he replied.
“Oh. Are you friends with her?” the man continued.
“We met last night,” Ashure answered.
“Ashure, breakfast—oh, hi Dan, I didn’t know you were coming over. I—I just finished making breakfast, would you like some?” Tonya politely asked.
“That sounds great,” Dan replied, climbing the steps and walking past Ashure.
Tonya stood back so Dan could enter the house. Ashure raised an eyebrow when she shot him a fierce glare, as if it was his fault the other man had intruded on their early morning meal. She rolled her eyes when he shrugged and followed Dan into the house.
“I hope you like scrambled eggs,” she said.
“Yeah, I do,” Dan responded, holding his hat and rotating the brim between his fingers.
“That is all she knows how to cook without burning it,” Ashure added.
“Really?” Dan said.
With a scowl, Tonya reached out and took Dan’s hat from him. “No, not really,” she snapped in annoyance. “Come on before it gets cold.”
She placed Dan’s hat on the hook by the front door and led the way into the kitchen. Ashure sniffed the air and smiled in appreciation, his stomach rumbling with approval. He moved to take a seat when she waved a hand toward the table.
Dan’s eyes followed Tonya as she retrieved another place setting for him. Ashure grimaced in annoyance when the man’s focus remained a moment longer than it should have on Tonya’s delightful derrière. He lifted his hand as if to rub his jaw and delivered a simple shock spell to Dan. Dan jerked in surprise, rubbed his arm, and looked at Ashure with a puzzled expression. Ashure merely smiled politely at the man.
Tonya returned to the table and placed a plate, some silverware, a cup of coffee, and a glass of juice in front of Dan. Ashure rose from his seat and reached for her chair at the same time that Dan did. She looked back and forth between the two of them before she shook her head, grabbed the back of the chair, and pulled it out for herself.
“Bon appétit,” she
murmured before scooping a spoonful of eggs onto her plate.
“A feast fit for a King,” Ashure commented, filling his plate.
Tonya paused, her fork halfway to her mouth. He gave her an innocent smile when she shot him a look of warning. He raised his fork filled with the fluffy eggs in her direction.
“So, I don’t think I caught your name,” Dan said.
“Perhaps because I didn’t give it,” Ashure replied.
“Ashure Waves, Deputy Dan Bradley,” Tonya introduced.
“Ashure, that is an unusual name,” Dan reflected.
“For a very unusual man,” Ashure quipped.
“O-kay, I think we’ve covered names. What brings you out this morning, Dan?” Tonya asked.
Dan smiled at her. “Besides this fantastic breakfast? I had an interesting talk with Max Bennett this morning,” he said.
Tonya groaned. “It looks like he was on a roll bright and early this morning. What’d he want?” she grumbled.
“He asked me to keep an eye on you for him. I told him ‘no problem’,” Dan shared.
“That will not be necessary now that I am here,” Ashure stated.
Dan looked at him with an irritated expression. Tonya’s glare proved she was just as annoyed. He picked up the glass of juice and took a sip.
“You’re staying here?” Dan questioned.
Tonya shook her head. “No, he is not. Ashure is an old friend who came by unexpectedly. He’ll be leaving again soon—very soon,” she added.
“What kind of old friend?” Dan inquired, trying to act nonchalant.
“Not that kind! I need more coffee. Does anyone else need more coffee?” she snapped, pushing her chair back and rising to her feet.
“So—how did you meet?” Dan asked.
“She hit me upside the head with a mop before hitting me in—” Ashure began.
“He startled me, and I reacted. How are things going with the new job?” Tonya interjected with a bang of her coffee cup, sloshing a little on the table.
Dan looked back and forth between them. “Good—all’s good. No more strange disappearances,” he murmured.
“That is a very good thing indeed,” Ashure agreed with a grin.
He barely hid his wince when he felt a sharp kick to his shin. This was going to be a long and—if he wasn’t careful—painful breakfast. He decided it would be best if he kept his jealousy under control—something that was going to be a bit of a challenge if this man didn’t stop eyeing Tonya like she was a precious gem just waiting to be picked up and pocketed.
5
“So are you and he…?” Dan asked almost an hour later as he and Tonya walked out onto the porch.
Tonya looked at Dan with a shocked expression. “Who—Ashure and me? No, no, it is nothing like that. I hardly know him. He’s more of a friend of a friend, really. He just—dropped in unexpectedly last night and needed a place to crash. I suspect he’ll be leaving later today. He’s a very busy guy and all,” she hurriedly said.
“Oh, that’s good,” Dan commented.
He turned on the first step and fingered his hat before he placed it on his head. It was an awkward exchange that Tonya was really trying to ignore. Between Ashure’s snide innuendos throughout breakfast and Dan’s constant pressing for more information, she was ready for a stiff drink and it wasn’t even nine o’clock in the morning yet.
“Well, I hope to see you later. If you aren’t doing anything, maybe we can grab dinner at one of the restaurants downtown some evening,” Dan said.
“That would be nice,” she distractedly responded before she thought through what he had just said.
“Great! I’ll call you later this evening,” he said with a huge grin.
“I should know more about what’s going on with Ashure by then,” she mumbled.
“Even better. I’ll see you later. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to give me a call,” he responded with a nod.
“I won’t,” she replied.
She watched Dan walk to his patrol car and get in. She kept the smile plastered on her lips and raised her hand in farewell until he turned the car around. Dropping her hand to her side, anger built inside her until Tonya felt like a boiling tea kettle about to blow its top. Turning on her heel, she pushed through the front door. She could hear Ashure humming as he cleaned the kitchen.
Her temper disappeared into mute astonishment at the scene in front of her. Her—or rather Mike’s—kitchen looked like a scene out of Fantasia or the Sword in the Stone. Brushes cleaned dirty plates, cups, and silverware in sudsy water, a broom danced across the floor with a dustpan chasing after it, a dish towel dried the newly cleaned dishes, and cabinet doors opened like enchanted mouths to swallow each item. All of this was happening while Ashure sat at the table, sipping coffee and waving his hand in tempo with some strange song.
“Oh, my freaking god, what are you doing?” she hissed in a barely audible voice.
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “You instructed me to clean the kitchen; so, I am cleaning the kitchen,” he smugly answered.
It was too much for her overtaxed brain. She’d had too little sleep and too much weirdness over the past month to deal with this. Pressing her lips together, she turned on her heel and retraced her steps to the front door. She yanked her jacket off of the hook as she pulled the door open and stepped back outside. Air—what she needed was a lot of fresh ocean air—and no men.
Ashure waved his hand and the broom and dustpan retreated to the small closet. While he wasn’t as versatile as a witch, he had inherited magic from the Fairies, and being the Keeper of Lost Souls gave him raw power that was rather unique.
He rose from his chair when he heard the front door open and close. Concern swept through him when he thought of the expression of shock on Tonya’s face when she’d stepped into the room. Perhaps he had gone a bit too far.
A movement outside of the window caught his attention, and he saw Tonya walk along the sandy path between the sea oats. She had her head down and walked with slow, measured steps. Once again, an overwhelming sense of longing to hold her in his arms swept through him.
He exited through the back door and stepped onto the spacious back deck. The sun was shining, and there was a light breeze. The thick black sweater he was wearing would keep him warm. She had stopped at the top of the dune and stared out at the ocean for a moment before she continued down to the beach.
Stepping off the porch, he slowly followed Tonya, giving her the space she needed. He followed her footprints in the sand to the top of the dune. He stopped at the ridge of the sand dune and pushed his hands into his pockets. The worry inside him melted when she turned and gave him a small, rueful smile. Returning her smile, he followed her footsteps until he was standing by her side.
Tonya paused and waited for Ashure to join her when she saw him standing at the top of the dune. He must have finished his magical cleanup in record time because she had only been on the beach for less than ten minutes. Her stony expression softened when she saw the worried expression on his face change to one of relief and pleasure when he saw her.
It was hard for her to stay upset with him. While she stood gazing out at the ocean, she had replayed his and Dan’s interactions over breakfast and couldn’t stop herself from finding humor in the situation. After all, there had never been two guys vying for her attention like that before. It was like watching a gentleman’s boxing match where they tried to outdo each other’s blows by using words instead of fists.
“The kitchen is clean as you requested, my Lady,” he announced with a regal bow and a grin.
She chuckled and shook her head. “And no dishpan hands—I’m impressed,” she haughtily retorted.
He held his hands up for her inspection. “Nay, I would never submit your delicate flesh to such abuse,” he teased before he lowered his hands and sobered. “I do owe you an apology for my behavior at breakfast. I may have been a tad—,” he stopped as he tried to find the correct wo
rd.
“Arrogant, possessive, a bit on the jealous side?” she suggested.
Ashure reached out, grasped her hand in his and pressed his lips against the back in a tender kiss. “You wound me with your astuteness, but I have to confess to all of those,” he acknowledged.
Tonya curled her fingers around his and sighed. “Why do I get the feeling that you have absolutely no remorse, though?” she asked as they turned and began walking along the beach.
“At least I admitted to my behavior and apologized. Did Deputy Dan?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, he didn’t.” She was quiet for a moment before she spoke again. “Now that I know about the Seven Kingdoms, you, and the others that I’ve met, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at the world in quite the same way again,” she admitted, her voice barely audible.
Tonya’s softly spoken words resonated with Ashure. He remembered the feelings that had swamped him shortly after Simon had gifted—or cursed, depending on which day it was—the Kingship to him. She stopped again and stared out at the water. He paused next to her. He gently squeezed her hand in understanding.
“I felt the same way once,” he admitted.
She looked up at him with surprise. She pulled her hand free from his, reached up, and pushed her hair back when it blew across her face, temporarily blocking her view. He could feel her studying him.
“What happened, and how did you deal with it?” she asked.
He shoved his hands into the pockets of the black cotton trousers he had found this morning. “Ah, that is a bit of a story, because what happened doesn’t make any sense if you don’t know why I was chosen or what it meant. My father was a pirate. He was a miserable man who found fault in everything. My mother was a vengeful Sprite who took pleasure in causing as much pain as she could to anyone stupid enough to get close to her. By the time I was seven, both had met a horrible end. It was a relief finally to be free of them,” he reminisced.