by Cecy Robson
I rubbed my face and tried to smile. Good thing I don’t look like hell or anything.
Genevieve’s eyes widened when she caught sight of my oh-so-attractive and blood-smeared appearance. “Hey, Genevieve,” I muttered. “What’s new?”
She smirked at me as Delilah and Betty Sue filed in. “Not much,” Genevieve said. “But it seems like you’ve had quite the evening.” To Aric she said, “How can I help?”
“You’ve seen the mess outside?” he asked. Genevieve nodded. “I need you to clean it.”
Genevieve smiled. “Considering you wouldn’t permit my coven to guard Shah, it’s going to cost you.”
“You’ve already made it clear to me and the Alliance that you’re not in agreement with this decision. But for the time being, that’s where he’ll stay….” His voice trailed off when I stiffened against him. “Celia, what is it?”
I was hoping he wouldn’t ask me, especially in front of everyone else. “Shah’s here,” I admitted.
“What?” everyone asked at once, although Taran threw in a few swearwords for emphasis.
I pushed my hair from my eyes. It was then I realized it was caked with body fluid. I dropped my hand away and tried to wipe it on the sheet. “I don’t know. He just appeared.”
Genevieve raised an elegant brow. “Why do you keep referring to Shah as ‘he’?” she asked.
It seemed Genevieve, like many others, continued to see Shah as an “it.” “Because that’s what he is,” I answered, growing impatient.
I watched her, Delilah, and Betty Sue as if someone had nudged me to pay attention. “He appeared in my hands when the first group of vamps arrived. They seemed to think I had him—or at least seemed to feel he’d appear to me if called.”
“And did he?” Betty Sue asked, although it seemed more like an accusation.
“Yes. He did.” There was no sense in lying, but I wasn’t loving Betty Sue’s presence all of a sudden.
Delilah glanced nervously between me and Betty Sue. “Where’s Shah now, sugar?”
I adjusted the sheet against me, wrestling with whether to disclose his whereabouts. I had no claim over Shah, but I couldn’t help but feel a sense of duty to him.
“Celia?” Aric asked, his eyes scanning the group. “You have nothing to be afraid of, just tell us where he is.”
That’s what Aric thought, except I couldn’t ignore the strange unease that filled me and whispered a warning. I finally spoke, mostly because I didn’t think I had a choice just then. “I shoved him into a drawer at the nurses’ station. He should still be there.”
“So you were the last to touch it?” Genevieve asked. She didn’t sound as accusing as Betty Sue. That didn’t mean I liked her question.
“Well, yes, but it wasn’t intentional. He appeared in my hand—” And like magic, Shah materialized in my open palm.
The witches, wolves, and my sisters gathered around me. Instinctively, I pulled my hand back as if any one of them could snatch him from me, including Aric.
Genevieve met Aric’s stare. “It would seem Shah remains bonded to Celia. How is that possible?”
Aric lifted his chin. “Good question, especially since Makawee was the last to touch him.”
“Are you certain?” Delilah asked.
Aric squared his jaw, but it was Gemini who spoke. “Yes, both Aric and I were present when Makawee held him and placed him in a special stronghold.” He tilted his head slightly. “Or are you questioning my and my Leader’s integrity?”
There was an underlying growl to Gemini’s tone, but considering Delilah was a non-were, she seemed to bare her teeth despite her smile. “We would never question Aric’s loyalty, shug.”
“Good,” Gemini answered, meeting her stare and forcing her to drop her gaze.
Genevieve cleared her throat. “Perhaps given the circumstances, Shah should reside with me.”
Taran scoffed. “Oh yeah. Brilliant idea. I’m sure you can’t wait to get your hands on him, too.”
Emme groaned as Taran’s magic sizzled around her. Genevieve surprised me by smiling gently, yet her surging power told me she wasn’t far from acting.
“Shah’s not going with you or anyone else,” I told her. I glanced at Shah and stroked my thumb over his smooth surface. “Go back to Makawee’s stronghold.” I could feel everyone watching me when Shah just lay in my palm. I sighed. “Please, Shah,” I told him.
From one blink to the next he was gone. And damn, didn’t that piss the witches off? Betty Sue stormed out. Delilah tossed me a wary glance before following. Much to Taran’s obvious displeasure, Genevieve stayed put.
Genevieve considered me carefully. Her expression wasn’t harsh, but her magic surged nonetheless, prodding me as it strengthened.
“Genevieve,” Aric warned. “If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, take care in how you question my mate’s allegiance.”
The magic poking me withdrew. Genevieve bowed her head. “Forgive me, Celia, I meant no disrespect.”
“Ah, sure,” I said slowly. Perhaps I should have taken offense to Genevieve’s supernatural probe, but I understood her paranoia. Something was off.
Don’t trust them, a soft voice urged. I didn’t react until the second half of the warning. Or the wolf.
Aric caught me when I practically fell off the bed. “What’s wrong?”
I scanned the room, certain someone was there. Everyone gathered glanced around before all attention returned to me. “S-sorry,” I stumbled over my words. “Emme, stop the transfusion, Taran’s blood is done running in.”
She clamped off the tubing and switched out the bag of blood. “Sorry,” I said again. “It’s been a long night.”
No one could argue against that. Genevieve nodded slowly before addressing Aric. “You were saying you needed this mess cleaned up?” she asked.
“Yeah, did you bring your broom?” Taran snapped.
Aric pinched the bridge of his nose. Genevieve surprised me by smiling. “How much is it going to cost?” he asked her.
Genevieve kept her smile on Taran when she answered. “Ten thousand, plus unlimited use of the property you acquired from the Tribe for the next two years.”
“Which property?”
That was when she looked at Aric. “The one in France, of course.”
Aric scoffed. “What the hell are you going to do with a castle, Genevieve?”
“Even witches need a vacation home, Aric.”
Aric stroked the small of my back as he thought matters through. “You can have fifteen thousand and unlimited use of the castle for the next six months. After that it will be sold to help the weres who lost their families during the war.”
“Done,” Genevieve said. “Although, I would have done it for twelve, even without the castle,” she said on the way out. She paused and looked to Gemini. “When you’re done, I’d like a word with you.”
Gemini rose at Taran’s glare, watching her with a weary expression and more sadness than I could bear. “I’m done,” he said.
Chapter 18
Shayna hurried in about an hour later. I hadn’t realized I’d fallen asleep until I noticed the time. “Koda’s all fixed up—holy Moses, Ceel, you’re the color of Emme’s butt!”
Once again, Emme didn’t appreciate the reference and crinkled her brow. That said, I didn’t doubt Shayna’s brutal comparison.
Taran stood and opened up the clamp wide so the last of Emme’s blood could finish flowing into my vein. Between them, they’d given me the equivalent of a unit of blood, but as Aric helped me to sit and the room tilted, I was certain it hadn’t been enough.
Shayna rolled up her sleeve. “Should we try some of mine next?”
Emme shook her head. “Shayna, I don’t think that’s a good idea. With Koda’s werewolf essence streaming through your system, it might be dangerous for Celia.”
Shayna shook out her sleeve. “Okay, but I’m wondering if it might give her the boost she needs. We all have the same bl
ood type, minus the totally hairy howler within me, I mean.”
Shayna meant well. That didn’t mean I was desperate enough to give her blood a try.
Aric smiled and rubbed the center of his chest. “Why don’t we take some supplies home with us?” he suggested. “We can always try it tomorrow if you remain weak, honey.”
It was strange to hear Aric call me “honey”—while sweet, it wasn’t something I remembered him ever calling me. What was even stranger was how eager he seemed for me to receive Shayna’s blood. “You want me to do this?” I asked slowly.
He rubbed at his chest again. “I only want you to be well, my love.”
I stared at him for a beat before leaning against him, once more needing to feel close to him. God, what was wrong with me? I couldn’t shake the fear that he was drifting away. “Can we go home? I want to get out of here.”
Aric swept me up in his arms. “Of course, sweetness,” he whispered. I was embarrassed that he had to carry me, but it was either that or stagger through the halls like a drunken fool.
The gleaming brightness of the ED gave me pause when we stepped out of the treatment room. So did its condition. All the destruction had not only been repaired, but everything appeared brand spanking new. The floors shone as if freshly waxed and the glass partitions gleamed.
Genevieve stood at the end of the hall, speaking to Gemini as she passed a wet towel along her flushed face. Betty Sue and Delilah stood on either side of her, sweating profusely and dabbing their faces with handkerchiefs. Repairing this war zone must have exhausted them.
The older witches had changed out of their street clothing and into long maiden-type dresses similar to Genevieve’s. Maybe the dress was required when casting a cleanup spell as powerful as this, but their clothing did nothing to enhance their natural beauty. And, as much as I had initially liked them, both seemed more like wannabe witches than the powerful enchantresses I’d first met.
Gem still wasn’t wearing a shirt. He crossed his muscular arms as he listened attentively to the witches. I noticed Genevieve taking him in with more than professional interest. I also sensed Taran’s rising anger when Genevieve made a comment that caused him to chuckle.
Gem must have sensed the snap, crackle, and F-you surge of Taran’s dwindling power because his head whipped around in our direction.
“Easy, Taran,” Aric said quietly. “The last thing anyone needs, especially Celia, is another throw-down.” He cleared his throat. If he meant to draw attention from Taran’s swearing, I doubt he succeeded. “I’m taking Celia home. Gemini will see to your payment on the next business day, Genevieve.”
She smiled and nodded. Betty Sue, not so much. As Aric’s mate, I felt like I should also say something and hopefully placate the witches. “Thank you for your help. If I could ever return the favor, please let me know.”
Betty Sue rolled her eyes and stormed away with Delilah hot on her trail. Genevieve’s talisman glimmered when she called after them. “My sisters, I have not dismissed you.”
Betty Sue’s steps involuntarily slowed, but then she wrenched free from Genevieve’s hold in a magical pull that snapped back in our faces like a rubber band. Delilah whirled with her hands out when Genevieve’s magic gathered in a roar that shook the building.
“Don’t do it, shug,” Delilah warned. Her stare cut my way. “Betty Sue’s just riled seeing how there’re those around us who can’t be trusted.”
Aric and the Warriors answered the insult with growls loud enough to rattle the glass panels. Delilah ignored them, then she and Betty Sue vanished in a crack of lightning strong enough to rival Genevieve’s power.
I rubbed my weary eyes. Great, more Celia Wird fans. Pretty soon, they’ll start their own club.
Genevieve turned back to us, a small frown creasing her forehead yet somehow making her appear more lovely. “Forgive my sisters’ rudeness, Celia. With your permission, I’ll have them make a formal apology when you’re feeling better.”
“It’s not necessary.” I glanced over at Taran, who was scowling at Genevieve. “If you’ll excuse us, I need to go home.”
“Of course,” she said, bowing her head slightly.
Gemini stepped toward Taran. “May I walk you out?”
“No,” Taran answered. “Heaven forbid I’d interrupt your good time.” She stomped away with more attitude in her step than I’d seen in months—head in the air and hips swaying in a way that told me we’d all better keep our distance. Emme followed hesitantly behind her, but not before stealing a worried glance over her shoulder.
Gemini watched her exit the ED, his brows knitting tight. “Just give her space,” Aric told him. “In time, she’ll find her way back to you.”
My gaze cut to Aric. Despite everything Taran claimed Gemini had done, Aric seemed to feel that Taran had caused the rift between them.
“I’m not so certain,” Gemini told him. He continued to stare ahead even though Taran was no longer in sight. It seemed Aric wanted to say more, but instead he carried me out of the ED and into the lot, carefully placing me within the safety of his Escalade.
Aric kept his arm around me on the way home. Aside from telling me the wolves would bring my car back, he didn’t say much. He carried me up to our room when we arrived and turned on the shower.
All I wanted to do was crawl into our bed, except when I caught my reflection in the mirror, I realized it was definitely a bad idea. My hair was matted and caked with blood and bits of fur. Black ooze from Edith’s injury drew a line from my right shoulder down to my breast. And don’t get me started on the thick layer of blood and ash painting most of my body.
Crap. How am I even alive?
“What happened to you tonight, Aric?” I asked as I continued to stare in the mirror. I’d been afraid to ask him for fear that he’d feel worse, but now that we were alone, I needed to know.
Aric’s eyes swept over the disgusting glop shellacking my body before finally settling on my face. “I couldn’t sleep without you,” he said quietly. “I’d gone downstairs to watch TV, trying to pass the time before I could visit you on your break. I was damn restless, but never once did I sense that you were in danger.” He rubbed hard at his face, frustrated. “If it weren’t for Gemini’s call, I’d still be sitting in the family room like an idiot.”
“Oh” was all I could manage.
He shook his head as his anger built. “I don’t know what’s happening to me, or to us. But I don’t sense our bond like I used to. It’s killing me, because I want it to be there, and it’s not.”
His light brown irises shimmered. I’d seen Aric cry a few times. Those moments were rare, but riven with sorrow worthy of his tears. Despite my putrid odor and the lingering scent of Genevieve’s magic, I could scent his rising fear. It enveloped us, threatening to choke us and rob us of the future he’d promised.
My eyes stung with tears. Aric believed he was losing his connection to me. And I couldn’t be sure he was wrong. Whatever plagued him was affecting us on a level I couldn’t understand. I didn’t have to be a being of magic to sense it.
“Aric…”
A single tear slid down his cheek, forcing me to avert my gaze. I’d always hated seeing others cry, even those I didn’t know, partly because it was never a luxury I could afford.
Then I’d met Aric.
Without actually saying so, he’d given me permission to cry and, without meaning to, had often been the cause of my grief. But these weren’t tears over the loss of our child, our friend, or our relationship. These were tears of the unknown, and his recognition that something had come between us.
I placed my hands over his. “I don’t know what’s happening, either, wolf,” I said, my voice cracking before my own tears began. “But I promise you, we’ll see it through together.”
Aric yanked me to him, holding me close. I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his chest. “Celia, I love you. I would give you my soul if it meant sparing your life. No matter what hap
pens—or what this is—you have to believe I love you. You are my life, sweetness.”
“O-okay.” I wiped my eyes and looked at him. “For better or for worse, right?”
He released a breath and managed a small smile. “For better or for worse,” he repeated.
Aric released me slowly only to snatch me into an embrace when I swayed backward. “Shit,” he said, lowering me to the edge of our whirlpool tub.
“I need to lie down soon,” I said, trying to blink away the spots dancing in my vision.
Aric stripped out of his clothes and tugged off the patient gown I wore, careful to maintain his hold on me. He lifted me and carried me into the shower, supporting me with one hand as he washed my hair before lathering my body with soap. I watched his expression while his hands swept over my breasts, legs, and bum. He wanted me. I could tell by the way his body reacted against mine, but he didn’t take things further. And despite how weak I felt, part of me wished he had.
Aric dried me with a towel and massaged my skin with lotion. He meant to care for me, and protect me, yet his contact further stimulated his desire. He turned and tied the towel tight around his waist. But there was no hiding his need, even through the thick cotton.
When he turned to me again, he wouldn’t look at me directly. I supposed he was embarrassed. I didn’t fault him; we often made love following a shower, and yet he seemed disturbed by his body’s response.
“Shit,” he muttered.
I lowered my chin. If I could’ve managed, I would have spared him by showering alone, yet I sensed his yearning to feel close to me and perhaps make amends for his absence.
Aric carried me to bed, helping me yank on a pair of panties before slipping one of his T-shirts over my head. My body shivered, suddenly unbearably cold. “Baby, you’re freezing,” he said.