“You could have at least offered to wait the few years it would take him to get here in a spaceship. What would it have hurt to have given him some hope you’d be here if he found his own way back? It’s not like you were getting any bedroom action before Stark Naked came into your life,” Destiny declared, jumping when a plate of food was slammed down in front of her. “Thank you, Topper. It looks delicious.”
Topper fisted hands on her hips and glared at all three meddling goddesses. “This is not high school and Stark isn’t captain of the football team. He’s a freaking alien. What part of him having a life on another planet don’t you get?”
“He’s dreamy,” the chorus of Fates said. Then they glanced at each other and giggled.
“This discussion is not helpful,” Topper declared.
“What would help you, dear?” Aura asked.
Topper slid into a vacant chair at the table. She stared at the far wall. “I just need to forget him—that’s all. How attached can you get to a man in just a few days anyway?”
The Fates looked sideways at each other. “Stubborn as always,” they said in chorus.
Unable to handle the torture a moment longer, Topper put her face down on the table and groaned into her hands. “Okay—fine. I wish Stark hadn’t left. I wish he could come back. I wish a lot of things, but I know that’s not realistic of me. Why aren’t you telling me everything will be okay like real friends are supposed to do?”
“We’re not that kind of friend, dear. And screw reality,” Aura said, earning funny looks from her sisters. She waved a hand. “You know what I mean.” At their nods, she smiled at Topper. “Icela mentioned something about ice crystals dancing as the true test of couple compatibility on Glacier. Did you conjure up some ice crystals for Stark Nak… I mean, your hunky alien?”
“No. You three pretty much kept me from conjuring up anything for him. Thanks to you all, Stark thinks I’m the wimpiest witch that ever was born.”
Topper studied her arms. Faint patterns were still visible there, but every day they faded a bit more. She had no doubt one day they would just disappear forever.
“Ice crystals appeared whenever Stark touched me. I think it was one of his powers.”
“No wonder he was so good in bed with you. You’re his perfect mate,” Fortune declared.
Destiny put down her fork. “Sisters—I am not happy with this situation,” she said quietly. “Something simply has to be done.”
“No—Gaia forbid,” Topper declared, rising quickly. “Don’t do anything more. Things are bad enough. Let me go get your dessert.”
Heart pounding in fear they would get involved and prolong her agony, Topper hurried to the refrigerator to retrieve the chocolate mousse parfaits she’d put in it to chill earlier. She pulled out a fourth one for herself because right now she needed all the endorphin rushes she could get.
***
The beeberg had not been happy about having to choose two new mates. The scratches she’d put on him as he freed her from her cage hadn’t made Stark any more sympathetic to her plight.
But then he wasn’t feeling very sympathetic towards any creature at the moment. He was too busy feeling sorry for himself. He’d been home only a short while when he realized Topper had let him go without offering a single word of affection.
“Polar was right. I should have delegated. Then someone else would have met the frustrating witch instead of me.”
Stark sighed and started back into his residence when a voice stopped him.
“Do not blame yourself completely, warrior. Part of you meeting the witch was my fault. She looked so nice and the Fates of Earth gave her such a glowing recommendation.”
Stark turned and looked into the caring eyes of the most beautiful female he’d ever met. “Topper was very nice. She just didn’t fall in love with me. That is no one’s fault.”
Icela blinked. “It is harder to believe in such love when you have spent your entire life alone. When my warrior showed up for me, I had a very hard time accepting we were meant to be together. It was only when he decided to stay that I finally believed him.”
Stark shook his head. “She did not want to come home with me, Goddess. Her people… they need her. Topper was right about that. I understand her sense of duty to them.”
Icela looked around. “It looks to me like you’ve done all you can for the people of Glacier. Do you not think your mate’s people might be able to use your warrior talents? It’s not like you couldn’t go to her planet to live. Your protégé, Frost, is already living there.”
Stark froze. “Are you really suggesting I leave Glacier? After all you’ve done for me?”
Icela bowed her head in a single nod. “I am suggesting you should serve where you are needed most. Your warrior talents are needed on Earth to guard the portal from those who would misuse it as the witch rightly declared. I do not wish the doorway to be closed. Neither do the Fates. Our planets were connected for a higher good. And the witch… even though she makes you unhappy at times… she is your perfect mate.”
Stark ran a restless hand through his silver hair. “But the Directors…”
“Do not make all decisions for my planet,” Icela declared, her voice echoing in the icy mist.
Stark swallowed. “Topper won’t open the portal again. She said she wouldn’t.”
Icela fisted hands on her hips. Stark’s eyes grew wide when a large male suddenly appeared behind her and placed his hands over hers. Stark met the famous warrior’s stare, lifting an eyebrow when the male smiled widely at him.
“Our Goddess can open as many portals as she pleases,” he said softly, whispering the words near her ear. “She most certainly can open one for you in a location far enough from your mate’s town to fool those who would attempt to misuse it. I happen to know she would do this for someone who has honored her all of his days.”
So Icela could open a portal and would if he said the word? Stark looked around. Could he trade the ice fields of Glacier for the melting sunshine of New Mexico on Earth? At least he’d have Topper in his life—if she would have him.
“Speak your mind, Warrior Stark. Do you care for the Earth witch as you have no other female?”
Stark sighed and nodded. “Yes. I care for her like no other.”
“Do you wish to spend your nights in the Ice fields or in her bed?”
Stark smiled. “I wish to spend the rest of my days and nights with her—wherever that is.”
“Then serve us both,” Icela declared, waving her hand. “Go and prepare. The portal will be ready for you tomorrow. It will not be precisely fixed, but you will be within a few Earth hours of your real destination. That should suffice for your necessary deception.”
Stark dropped to one knee in the ice and snow. “Thank you, Goddess. I will do as you ask.”
“Convince your witch to open the portal again. Several others will need it in the future. Frost’s remaining kin will guard it here on Glacier.”
“May all be as you wish, Goddess,” Stark replied.
When he raised his head, Icela and her warrior were nowhere in sight.
Stark’s blood ran hot and fast as he stood. He had much to do to prepare. For starters, he needed to go back to the city and tell Polar what Icela had asked him to do. He’d just have to trust that the goddess would find a way to make this okay with the Directors.
Then he would have to decide if anything he owned was of enough value to take with him to Earth. Perhaps he could work something out to keep his residence available for return trips. If the portal remained open, it would be kind of nice to have a home on both planets.
CHAPTER 13
Topper eyed her guests warily as she poured freshly brewed tea into four mugs.
“There’s been multiple portal sightings all over New Mexico since yesterday. Did one of you open one just across the border in Arizona? Theo was in a tizzy over that one. His nostrils were smoking.”
All three of the Fates shook their heads
, but she didn’t trust the sly looks they were giving each other.
Topper snorted. “Well, someone opened a portal… or it happened naturally. Right—like that really ever happens. Evanna and Nonny are feeling a space-time riff every few hours. Oh well… if it’s not you three, I’m not going to concern myself. It will at least take the attention off Magic for a while.”
“Aren’t you going to at least go check them out, Topper?” Aura asked, peering over her tea mug.
Topper thought for a moment. “Why? Do you think I should?”
Fortune looked at her two sisters. “It can’t be who we think it is. She was supposed to tell us when she opened a portal. Do you think we caused a problem in the space-time wavy fold-over mat thingy and now portals are popping open all over?”
Destiny frowned into her mug. “Maybe she tried to call us. We were busy with the… you know… the other things we were doing… and well, I didn’t answer that particular phone.”
“Are you saying you knew someone was going to open a portal and didn’t tell me?” Topper asked.
Aura narrowed her eyes at her sisters. “I swear, you two drive me crazy.” She smiled as she turned to Topper. “No, dear. We didn’t know—not really. And yes, I think you should go check out these other portals. We don’t even know if they all connect to Glacier.”
“Good point,” Topper said, then she shrugged. “I suppose I could pop into town and get Theo to help me.”
“We think you should go right now,” Destiny ordered.
Topper rolled her eyes. “Can’t it wait until I finish my tea?”
“No,” the Fates said in chorus, then the three of them burst out laughing.
“Okay, but don’t forget to put your mugs in the sink when you’re done,” Topper ordered.
She stood, shook her head, and then lifted her hands. “I need to find some new friends.”
A sparkling purple mist filled the room as she left in a huff.
***
Topper watched numbly as Theo pushed his Sheriff hat back to get a better look at the group of hot-looking, naked aliens. The eight of them looked at each other, then one cleared his throat and spoke.
“We mean you no harm. We merely wish to find our perfect mates—like Star Ranger Frost found his.”
Theo looked at Topper whose mouth was hanging open in shock. He turned back to the aliens. “How did you get here?”
“We came when you opened the portal for us.”
Topper shook her head. “No one here in Magic opened a portal. There’s been a mistake.”
The lead alien turned to his friends. “It had to have been the Goddess then.” They dropped to the ground and started chanting a prayer of thanks.
Topper rolled her eyes as she looked at Theo. “Damn the Fates. Excuse me while I go dismember my deceitful tea-drinking guests.”
Theo laughed. “Come on guys, let’s go inside and see if we can find you something to put on. We can’t have a bunch of naked, seven feet tall aliens running around Magic.”
As the aliens stood, a portal opened nearby. Out of the swirling mist stepped a large alien dressed in a military uniform. He walked towards them chin up.
There was a lot of murmuring and then the aliens knelt in the dirt again.
“General,” the lead alien said, bowing his head.
Topper crossed her arms when he looked her way. Stark looked impossibly bigger in his jacket, especially with all those military-looking medals hanging off it.
“Witch…” he said in greeting.
“Alien…” she said in return.
“I like your purple hair.”
Topper snorted and shook her head over his compliments.
Stark turned his attention to Theo when he could wrestle his gaze away from Topper.
“Greetings Sheriff. I see you found the males who used my original portal. The Goddess didn’t send the males here. They came on their own—through the portal that was created for me,” Stark pointed out sharply, glaring at the males on the ground. He pointed at the portal. “Go home. The Directors are waiting to talk with you. Earth is not authorized as a planet to supply potential mates. You will remain on Glacier until it becomes one.”
Topper dropped her arms when the men rose without argument and headed into the swirling mist. One by one they passed through it. When the last naked male had disappeared, Stark touched a point on his wrist and the portal closed. He picked up a bag he’d originally carried through with him and walked the short distance to the witch he adored and the dragon who was grinning at him.
“There’s no need for concern. The portal they used was the only one Glacierans could have passed through. The other portals were the Goddess’s way of causing a distraction. I assure you that nothing came through them at all. Your officials might still come looking for the one I created just now, but I’ll be here to make sure they don’t cause any problems for the town.”
Topper snorted. “Speaking of that—why exactly are you here?”
“Because I wanted to return and the Goddess said you needed me to help guard the portal. She wishes you to keep it open.”
“What if it’s not what I wish? Maybe I don’t want to open the portal again. It’s bad enough I have to answer to the meddling Fates. I will not answer to a Goddess I don’t even know.”
“In that case, I will open the one she gave me power over when I need to do her will. You really have no say in the matter, Topper. My planet is invested in seeing to it that unauthorized portal travel does not occur. I was considered the most suitable candidate for the job. This is my new service assignment.”
Topper snorted. “So just like that… Earth has no choice. No asking. Just orders from the superior beings on the great planet of Glacier.”
“Yes,” Stark declared. “But there are some obvious advantages to my return. Now there is nothing in the way of us becoming mates.”
“If you think that non-romantic proposal is going to get you anywhere… well, you’re an ass, Stark. Yes, that’s precisely what you are—you’re an ass,” Topper declared firmly.
She waved a hand and before her stood a donkey in a military uniform… or what was left of one. She covered her hand with her mouth to stifle her laughter.
“Stark’s going to use his freeze magic on you when you turn him back… and he’s going to be naked. Did you do that on purpose? I really don’t need to be doing the comparison thing right now. Those frigging men in black could come back here anytime.”
Topper gave Theo a warning look. “Want to see what a baby dragon looks like? I’ll regress you to an egg if you keep giving me shit. I’m trying to make sure the people of Glacier know we are not going to let aliens overrun us. Do you really want Stark messing with the security of your town, Sheriff?”
Theo scratched his head. “Well, I guess I’d prefer working with Stark to working with some new alien I don’t know. He’s older… more respectful. Those young ones will be trying to take our women the whole time. Stark only seems interested in you. I think you can take him, especially now that your magic works on him. Now change him back—it’s creeping me out to see Stark’s scary eyes on that donkey.”
Stark brayed a few times and Topper snorted.
“This is not the old west, Theo. Nobody from anywhere is going to be taking anyone from Magic without their consent. But I think you have a point about us being better off working with the alien we know. I’m going to have a long talk with the Fates. I know they’re a part of this.”
Topper waved her arms and a naked Stark began patting his body down.
“What did you do to me?”
“Nothing permanent,” Topper declared. She waved her hand and his uniform covered his body once more. “There… all dressed now.”
“Why in Icela’s name did you do that to me?” Stark demanded.
Topper glared up at him. “Because I could… and I wanted to make sure you knew that no one from any planet is going to be coming to my town and telling me what I have t
o do to protect it.”
Stark nodded tightly. “I see. You don’t think I can protect this town as well as you can.”
“I didn’t say that… but if you think showing up here in your military uniform makes me go all woozy inside… well, you may be right about that. However, lusting for you doesn’t mean I want to be taking orders from you for the remainder of my life.”
“Very well. But now I feel honor bound to meet your challenge with a sample of my own power.”
Topper held out both hands and crooked all her fingers beckoning him. “Bring it, Big Guy. I’m not afraid of you.”
Stark grabbed her wrists and chills ran up her arms for several reasons. Ice crystals danced over her skin. She was relieved, but didn’t want to admit it with Theo watching their every move.
“In time, you will learn to trust me. I don’t care how many males have disappointed you in the past. You will honor me with your trust, share my bed, and call yourself mine. This is the real reason I returned, you stubborn female.”
Topper burst out laughing seconds before she was yanked within reach of Stark’s seeking mouth. His lips sliding against hers sent tingles everywhere. Nipples beaded. Her underwear grew uncomfortably wet. She wanted to undress for Stark—and to make him naked again. He may have enough magic to match hers, but the real magic was in the way he made her feel.
“You kiss better than any man I’ve ever known,” Topper whispered against his mouth.
Stark snorted and resisted taking her mouth again. “I will adore you forever, but you must promise to never again turn me into another creature.”
“And if I don’t?” Topper asked, nearly choking on a laugh.
Stark uttered something under his breath. Sudden cold overtook the female he adored. Swearing at himself for losing his temper, he scooped Topper up as she passed out. He put her over one shoulder, pleased that she felt so substantial to him.
“Don’t worry, Theo. All she’ll get is a headache,” he said when the guardian dragon glared at him. “It is just a contest of wills. Eventually Topper will tire of fighting me and then I can begin to really convince her of my feelings.”
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