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“I’ve been trying to watch over him as much as I’m trying to locate my target.”
“You mean you’ve lost their trail?”
He gestured toward the suburbs and the city beyond. “In all this shit. Yes, I have.”
“That must be the rumor Nym mentioned, about someone wanting to steal Liam’s magic.”
“Unfortunately, I believe it’s more than a rumor. I also think the one behind all this might be using my barghests to track him down.”
“So did my friend just get in the way?”
He shook his head and his long hair tickled across my face. “I can’t be sure, but that’s possible. Track down these missing creatures, Liam knows how.”
“Can’t you track them down?”
“As much as it grieves me to admit it, I lack the proper magic. Liam will have to do it.”
“And what then?”
“Then you ask them what happened. I’m afraid that’s the only way to know why your friend was killed. I’m sorry I don’t have a better answer.” I sat there numbly for a moment, not knowing how to proceed. “You’re wrong,” I said after a few minutes.
“About what?”
“I enjoyed the price more than the answer. Now I’ve got to track down some monsters.”
Cernunnos laughed softly. “Can you show me the place where your friend was killed?”
“Sure, but that’s all the way into the city.”
“You underestimate me,” he teased. “Just think of the place.” The scenery rushed past, like looking through the window of a fast moving train. In no time at all, we were standing in The Courtyard. Not many people were there. Those who were didn’t notice us at all. It took me a moment to realize we were invisible.
“It feels weird to be here naked,” I said.
“Point out the exact place.”
I did as he asked. “There, in front of that bench.” Cernunnos patted my leg. “Hop down for a second.” He knelt down on one of his front legs to help me reach the ground without busting my ass.
He moved closer to the spot I’d indicated. Next, he knelt down with both his front legs on the ground and lowered his upper body as much as possible. With his face near the grass, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. After a minute or so he rose and shook out his long hair.
“A witch has been here recently,” he said, “and a barghest.” 108
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“That’s not me, is it? The witch? My grandmother was a witch, and I’m psychic, but I don’t practice the craft.” Except that one spell I probably botched.
“It’s not you,” he said, reaching for me. As I swung onto his back again Cernunnos said, “This witch has fae blood.”
“If you can track like this, why do you even need barghests?”
“Because I can’t be everywhere at once.”
“Can I ask you something else?”
“Sure. Any time I don’t feel like answering, I’ll let you know.” I smiled at the sarcastic yet charming tone of his voice.
“Have you always been the fairy grim reaper?”
He laughed. “The reaper, yes, but not the executioner.”
“Explain that to the mortal woman thrown into this mess, please.” He laughed again at my sarcasm. No wonder we got along. “Not so long ago, the executions were someone else’s job. I have always hunted those who were sentenced to death by our king, and when they would not surrender, I killed them. Many magical beings have died by my hand, not just fairies. However, for those who were captured, or surrendered to their fate without a fight, there was another who carried out that task.”
“Who?”
I wrapped my arms tighter around him as he crossed the street. The drivers didn’t appear to see us, but dodged the space we occupied anyway.
“We do not speak his name.”
“What happened to him?”
“I killed him, as ordered by our king.”
Damn. I didn’t know what to say about that.
“If the fae sentenced to death are no longer executed outside the city, then where are they killed?”
“Wherever they stand when I track them down.”
In the blink of an eye we were back in the woods near the pumpkin farm.
“I can’t reveal the name of my quarry, but I can tell you I believe they were sleeping with the goblin king.”
I made a face. “That doesn’t sound pleasant. Anyway, why do you think so?” For someone who didn’t intend to elaborate on his suspicions, Cernunnos was doing a pretty good job.
“That’s the only way anyone could have known about the barghests I’d been promised. The king doesn’t talk to his friends about things like that, but is known for a loose tongue in bed.”
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“Let me guess, the goblin king won’t betray his lover.” Cernunnos shrugged. “He won’t even say if he was sleeping with a man or a woman.”
“But you know, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Can’t tell me, can you?”
“No, I can’t.”
I sighed. “Cernunnos, they’re after Liam. Can’t you even give me a hint?”
“My agreement with the king forbids it. I’m so sorry. However, the barghests are not bound by any such agreement.”
“Shit. We’ve got to find them.”
“Soon.”
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Chapter Fifteen
Cernunnos moved farther into the woods before I asked, “Do you believe the goblin king is involved? I mean, other than screwing some lunatic who’s out to kill my shaman?”
“Hmm. Your shaman, huh? From the way he looks at you, I’d say you’re right. No, I don’t think the goblin king is involved. I think he’s under a spell.”
“Why do you think so?” As I asked this I wondered whatever happened to good old-fashioned conspiracy theories. Now it seemed everything involved some sort of magic.
“Because it was a note from him that alerted Oberon to the danger. That’s when Oberon sent me.”
At that moment the pieces started to fall into place. “This person you’ve been sent to kill wants the power from the old execution place and they want to steal Liam’s magic?” From my understanding, and the little bit Liam told me earlier, I figured that meant they’d steal his soul also. If they could. As best I could reason, absorbing Liam’s magic would make them extremely powerful. Maybe even strong enough to take over the entire magical world. Why else would anyone go to such lengths?
Cernunnos remained quiet while I worked it all out. “Oh my God. This is about a plot to kill Oberon. That’s why he sent you.”
“You’re right, but you didn’t hear it from me.” What he didn’t know was that if Liam’s magic was stolen, whoever did so would be heir to the throne of Faerie. This wasn’t just about killing the fairy king, it was about replacing him.
“The spell performed on Gunthar—”
“Who’s Gunthar?” I interrupted.
“The goblin king. Anyway, the spell must have been performed shortly after he sent his servant with the note addressed to Oberon. The reason I believe this is because now he has no memory of the message at all.”
Holy shit, this was a lot of information to take in. I suppose I was expecting a simple answer, no matter how much Liam had warned me that might not happen.
When you speak to someone considered to be a deity, you tend to expect results.
However, I got the impression that my question wasn’t the easiest thing for Cernunnos to answer. It appeared that Rachel had stumbled into the middle of some serious shit, completely by accident. Considering how much she’d had to drink that night, she literally stumbled into the middle of whatever was going on in The Courtyard. That’s 111
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what I thought at least. The only way to be s
ure was to do as Cernunnos said and track down the barghests.
“What was your friend’s name? I don’t believe you told me.” How could something like that have slipped my mind? “Rachel Carpenter.” He shook his head. “I’ve never heard of her. I can read some of your worried thoughts and I apologize. The only way I know of to find out why she was killed is to ask the barghests. I probably should have asked this before, but did she have any enemies?”
I snorted with laughter. His question was perfectly reasonable under normal circumstances, but these were anything but. Rachel liked to have fun and party, but I couldn’t see her getting into a mess like this on purpose. She’d probably pissed off more than one guy’s girlfriend over the years. What were the odds of one of those scorned women turning out to be a witch? I dismissed the thought. Even after all that had happened lately, the prospect seemed far-fetched to me.
“Not these kinds of enemies,” I answered.
I snuggled against Cernunnos’s back, wrapping my arms more tightly around him.
“I think Liam’s potion is wearing off. I’m starting to get cold.”
“It’s just as well,” he said softly, “because I’ve said too much.” We were almost back at the clearing now and I was beginning to dread saying goodbye to him.
“You mean you’re not always so forthcoming with information?”
“I really liked it when you grabbed my horns.”
I laughed. “Be careful. Comments like that will go right to my head.”
“I’ve done all but give you the name of my target. That’s not like me at all.”
“You didn’t tell me the gender either.”
“Ah, so I managed to withhold two things,” he drawled. “And after I said what I did about Gunthar’s loose tongue.”
“You don’t have sex with everyone who summons you, do you?”
“What kind of deity do you think I am?”
When we entered the clearing, Liam was waiting. Cernunnos knelt and Liam helped me down. The centaur rose and looked down at me with a smile.
“Shaman, lend me your knife. I know you carry one.”
“It’s still in my coat pocket,” I told him.
Liam retrieved the knife and passed it to Cernunnos. I watched as he cut a lock of his gorgeous dark hair. He closed the knife and handed it back to Liam before turning his attention to me.
“You don’t need a ritual to summon me now,” he said to me. “Have this lock of hair in your possession and all you have to do is call my name.” I took the hair from him and tucked it into the coat Liam held.
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“Thank you, Cernunnos.”
He walked toward the altar and picked up the white pumpkin, tucking it underneath his arm.
“You’re welcome, Luna.”
He disappeared into the woods as I turned to Liam. “I never told him my name.” Liam shrugged. “All that’s happened and that surprises you?
Liam had already collected his crystals and what was left of the candles while Cernunnos and I were gone. All that was left to do was for me to get dressed, which I did quickly because I was getting really cold.
“You’ll have to tell me what he said after lunch,” Liam said. “Tara will be pissed if we’re late.”
He helped me into my coat and I shivered. “You wouldn’t believe some of the things I just found out.”
He picked up the black bag and I put my hand on his arm. “Liam,” I said softly,
“whomever Cernunnos has been sent to kill, they’re after you.” He picked up the box that contained his cloak and offered me a smile. “I’m not that easy to kill.”
“But what if—”
“Everything is going to be all right. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
He seemed unfazed by everything, from the impending danger to the fact that I’d just had sex with Cernunnos. Was it all right to talk about him with the lock of hair in my possession? I wasn’t sure, so I asked Liam.
“I think you have to call his name with the intention of summoning him,” he said.
“Why didn’t you do that before, instead of use a ritual?” He paused and looked back at me with a smile. “Because he never gave me the option.”
“Oh.”
We were almost back at Tara’s house when I asked, “Did you know what would happen with Cernunnos? Is that why you didn’t want to explain the ritual?”
“I honestly didn’t. He doesn’t have sex with everyone who summons him, you know.”
I laughed and Liam stopped again to look at me.
“That’s what he said,” I explained.
“Let’s put this stuff back in the trunk.”
As he moved toward the car, I found myself unable to do anything but stare. His white hair captured the sunlight, making him appear to glow. The contrast of his pale skin against his dark clothes was dramatic as usual. His long, black coat billowed in the wind when he turned back to me again and I got a glimpse of his stunning lavender 113
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eyes. Liam was so incredibly sexy that if I paused to really appreciate his good looks, I couldn’t easily pull myself away.
Even though I enjoyed my experience with Cernunnos, I was concerned about what Liam might be thinking. His shields were keeping me from reading his thoughts or emotions, and his body language gave nothing away.
“I don’t want to lose you,” I blurted out.
He put the bag and box down and opened his arms wide in invitation. “Do I look as if I’m going anywhere?”
It was all I could do to keep from running to him. Instead I walked closer and as soon as I was within reach, Liam pulled me to him. I ran my hands inside his coat and put my arms around his waist. His tight embrace, the feel of his body close to me and the smell of his cologne were all part of what I associated with being near Liam. Each sensation brought to mind the next, all rolled into the experience of him.
Being near him was like going on vacation to some exotic place. After traveling to Jamaica, for example, I associate certain things with the word “Jamaica”. Just hearing it brings to mind the smell of salt water, spices in local dishes, and pineapple juice mixed with rum. I couldn’t even think about Liam without bringing to mind the smell of his cologne mingled with the fresh scent of his skin. The warmth of his body close to me, the way his hair felt between my fingers. All these things and more were re-lived with just the mention of his name.
Finally I answered his question. “No. You don’t look as if you’re going anywhere.”
“Are you going to leave me for Cernunnos and abandon the mortal world?”
“No.”
He kissed my forehead and relief flooded me, along with a few of Liam’s emotions.
“I want to be with you,” he said softly. “As Cernunnos said, let go of your human reasoning.”
I thought that over for a minute. Maybe the only reason I was overthinking this so much was because of my humanity. From the time we’re born, especially in the South, human beings are bombarded with morality. Not to suggest that what I did with Cernunnos was im moral, but it wasn’t exactly something the local church groups would approve of. Not that I cared.
“You’re overthinking things,” Liam said, patting my back. “It’s what people do.” I watched him walk toward the house, his long coat flowing like a cape behind him.
When he realized I wasn’t following, he turned back to me and his smile nearly stopped my heart.
“Come on, and put your shields back up before I read everything you’re overthinking.”
Liam walked up the front steps while I took a minute to admire the front door. It was mahogany and had a peephole covered with ornate little bars.
“It’s unlocked,” he said.
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As soon as we entered a female voice that I assumed was Tara’s called, “I’m in the kitchen.”
“Follow me,” Liam said.
; I liked the house. From the warmth of the pine wood floors to the sunflower pillows in the living room, Tara’s home was inviting. When we entered the kitchen that looked as if it belonged in a Southern cooking magazine, a petite woman with long, dark hair greeted us.
“You must be Luna,” she said, beaming.
Her warm embrace took me by surprise. Since I met Liam almost everyone he’d introduced me to had given me a genuine, heartfelt hug. Personally, I liked to be hugged. It made me feel as if I mattered, as if my presence was truly welcome. I hadn’t felt that way in longer than I cared to remember.
“I’m Tara.”
“Nice to meet you.” She doesn’t seem like the type to bitch about us being late. I knew Liam could hear the thought because I projected it as strongly as I could in his direction.
He raised an eyebrow. Maybe not to you.
Tara carried on the conversation, unaware of our shared thoughts. “I can’t tell you how good it is to see Liam with a woman.” She laughed. “Not that he parades around with men. Anyway, I tell him all the time, he needs to date more.” Considering what I’d just learned about Liam and Cernunnos, I laughed harder at her comment than I normally would have. Liam noticed and gave me another sarcastic eyebrow raise (which was sexy as hell), but Tara didn’t appear to catch on.
“Tall, pale and a little bit creepy are the things people are looking for these days,” she went on.
I laughed even harder. “I don’t think he’s creepy,” I said playfully.
“Oh that means you haven’t seen him get angry yet. Just wait, it’ll happen.”
“Well, I saw him electrocute a werewolf.”
Liam’s eyes widened, but he didn’t say anything.
“Really?” Tara put her hands on her slender hips and eyed him appraisingly.
“Assaulting werewolves over her, are you?”
“None you know,” he countered, “and he was doing the assaulting. I ‘nipped it in the bud’, as you like to say.”
A wide, satisfied-looking grin spread across Tara’s face, brightening her already friendly expression. “As I said, I tell him all the time he needs to date more.”
“Yes, she does,” Liam drawled.
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