Denai Touch: Excalibar Investigations Series

by Tiffany Shand

  Had he really forgotten that today was the ten-year anniversary of them becoming partners? “You really don’t know?” She couldn’t help feeling a pang of sadness. She thought the day meant as much to him as it did to her. Apparently not it seemed.

  Jason frowned. “Are we going to visit Niara again?” he asked, “or are you going to see your mum?”

  “No, mum and I already talked. Whilst I’m not exactly ready to welcome her back with open arms, I do want to see her again,” she said, “but not today. Today’s about us.” If only you’d remember, she thought.

  Jason smiled, leapt up and kissed her, taking her breath away. “Happy anniversary! You should have seen the look on your face.”

  “Ha, ha,” Cate rolled her eyes. “That wasn’t funny.”

  “You didn’t really think I’d forgotten, did you?”

  “Maybe for a second.”

  “Don’t be daft, I could never forget the day we became partners. It was the second happiest day of my life.”

  “What’s the first?”

  “I’ll tell you later.” He reached under the table and pulled out a bouquet of orchids. “These are for you.”

  Cate smiled. “They’re beautiful.”

  “They’re your favourite. I’ll make a start on breakfast.”

  “No, you made me breakfast last year. Now it’s my turn,” she said. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to attempt cooking. I thought I’d take you out. Let’s get out of the city, go somewhere people won’t recognise us and spend the day together. Have a real date.” Cate watched him hesitate. “Forget about the rules, the Covenant, and anyone else who might be after us. Today is about us and we’re going to celebrate our anniversary. I told the others we’re unreachable, so they won’t bother us,” she said. “I just want one day where we can be ourselves and not have to worry about anything, and that’s going to be today.”

  Jason slipped his arms around her. “I’d love that and I know the perfect place.”

  Static flashed around them as they reappeared outside of a small, old-fashioned cafe. Looking up, Cate saw it was called ‘Alberto’s’. “Where are we?” she asked.

  “In a little town called Stoneridge.”

  “Stoneridge? That’s in the Middle Kingdom, not far from Elaris.”

  Jason nodded. “All Magickind are welcome here, they don’t turn anyone away. Not even fugitives.”

  “You’re not a fugitive. You weren’t even born among your father’s people.”

  “In the Ashrali’s eyes I am. Sorry, we agreed to forget about all that.”

  “Damn right!”

  “Come on.” He took her hand. “I’ve known Alberto a long time. He won’t mind us being here.”

  Jason knocked on the door and a short, fat, balding Dwarf opened it. He was wearing a rumpled apron and stared up at them, as they towered over him. “Talbot?” the Dwarf asked in an accented voice that Cate couldn’t place. “Bless the gods, I have not seen you in so long, my friend.”

  Jason smiled. “Alberto, sorry to bother you so early, but we were hoping to have some breakfast before your other customers get here.”

  Alberto looked at Cate and his eyes bulged at the sight of her amulet. “Denai Grand…”

  “Second Grand Mistress.” Cate corrected and tugged off her amulet, relieved when the chain unclasped. “Sorry, forgot about that.” She shoved it into the pocket of her jacket. Today she wasn’t the Second or a Denai. Today she was simply Cate.

  “This is Catherine, my witch,” said Jason. “I’ll pay extra for privacy if…”

  “No. We don’t need privacy,” said Cate. We’re normal people today, remember? No special treatment.

  I just thought it would be easier for you, with fewer people around.

  I’ll be fine. I’m with you and if we clear the place out it would raise suspicions.

  “Nice to meet you, Alberto,” she said. I’m paying by the way, she told Jason.

  No, you’re not. I brought you here, so I’m paying.

  Cate rolled her eyes. Typical male.

  Alberto led them inside. They chose a table out in a pretty, little garden area. The sun was already warm, so it was pleasant enough.

  “I was supposed to be taking you to breakfast. It’s my turn to treat you,” Cate said after Alberto scurried off to find menus.

  “I know, but you can treat me later. I’ve wanted to bring you here for a long time.”

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “Because opening up to someone like this, it’s never been an option for me.”

  Right, obviously! She mentally slapped herself. “Well, I hope that’s going to change now. You don’t have to hide anything from me anymore.”

  “I know, I worry when I go places that –”

  “You’re doing it again!”

  “Right. Sorry.” He slapped his forehead in exasperation.

  Alberto came back with menus. “What can I get you to drink?”

  “We’ll have two cappuccinos,” Jason replied, “With chocolate on top.” Alberto nodded and dashed off again.

  “You like your coffee black,” she said.

  “True. I never liked it much before we became partners, but now I do. Though probably not as much as you.”

  “Probably,” she agreed and said, “Breakfast isn’t really considered a date you know, lunch maybe and dinner most definitely.”

  “I can’t remember the last time I went on a real date – not that you can really call them dates. I’d just go for a drink and then – never mind.”

  “It’s okay, I like hearing about your past.”

  “Even about me being with other women?”

  Cate scowled and he laughed. “Thought so.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “You know none of them ever meant anything to me.”

  “Good, because you’re with me now.”

  “Yes, I am. So is lunch when our date begins?”

  “No, it begins now. We have the whole day together.”

  “And all night?”

  She grinned. “That too.”

  “Good.”

  “How did you meet Alberto?”

  “About thirty years ago. I was taking time off from work, dodging a few Devas – sorry.”

  “It’s okay, there are some parts of our lives we can’t avoid, and I want to know more about you. What you were like before we met.”

  “After the last war ended, I eventually trained as an Enforcer. I thought it would be a good change from the army,” Jason said. “So I went to the Academy. Your mother was actually one of my training officers. She trained members of the guard, the army, and people who had ties to the coven.”

  Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “My mum? Did you two…?” She cringed.

  “Gods no! Never! She was married and even before I never thought of her in that way.”

  Cate let out a sigh of relief. “Good, it would be too weird if you and my mum – did you ever have a thing with any of my ancestors?” She couldn’t deny the thought had crossed her mind.

  “No, the McCrays are some bad-ass witches, but I made sure to stay out of their way and tried not to get involved with many Denais.”

  “Witches aren’t your type then?”

  “It’s not that, I just couldn’t risk one of them feeding on me and finding out I’m not a normal Elemental,” he said. “I hardly ever let anyone do so, unless it was an emergency. I made it clear to everyone that my energy is my own.”

  “Yet you let me feed on you all the time.”

  “That’s different. I never felt comfortable with others. Touch is a personal thing,” he said. “But with you it’s like…”

  “Pure magic?”

  “I was going to say erotic and intimate, but yeah, that too.”

  Cate smiled. “I know. I never liked touching people. It makes them so open. I hated feeding and having to live off others to survive, but with you it’s blissful silence,” she said and squeezed his hand. “I never felt comfortable holdin
g hands before.”

  Alberto came with their coffees and they ordered pancakes for breakfast. She smothered hers in maple syrup and groaned when she took a bite. “Goddess, these are incredible!”

  “Told you you’d like it here,” he said. “I found this place by accident. I was running from a Deva and searching for a temple. Devas can’t attack on holy ground – not sure why, but holy ground is my only refuge.”

  “You should live on holy ground all the time then.”

  “Anyway, Alberto put himself and his family at risk to help me. I managed to get onto holy ground, but it was close.”

  “So this was your home?”

  “For a few weeks, yes. It’s one of the nicer places I’ve stayed in, but they all start to look the same after a while.”

  Her heart ached for him. She couldn’t imagine how hard it must have been. Always being alone and having to look over his shoulder.

  “You don’t need to feel sorry for me. The past is gone and I never had a future to look forward to until I met you. I have you now and I’m happy.”

  “I know you said that I helped you get through the hard times. I just don’t see how one meeting, one brief moment, could have impacted your life so much,” she said. “Did we meet more than once?”

  “You know I can’t answer that. It could change my past.”

  “Maybe that would be a good thing.”

  Jason shook his head. “No, I know what you’re thinking. You could go back and protect me from the hell I went through, but magic can’t change what’s meant to be,” he said. “Yes, it was hard, but it made me who I am. Just as meeting you gave me the strength to get through it. You were always there for me in my mind. A strange, mysterious, and beautiful woman that I loved, and would probably never see again, but it didn’t matter.”

  “I just don’t want to disappoint you. You fell in love with an idealised version of me that doesn’t exist.”

  “Yes you do. You’re everything I imagined you would be and more. You’re not perfect and that’s why I love the real you even more than any kind of fantasy.”

  “I’ve never done this before. Been on a date, talked like this, and held hands with someone.” She couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous.

  “Neither have I. I never stayed with a woman long enough to get to know her. It was just sex and I don’t want that with us.”

  “You don’t want to have sex with me?”

  “No, I do, but – but I’m no good at this.”

  Cate laughed. “You’re doing fine.” She took another bite of pancake. “It wouldn’t just be sex between us. I know that.”

  “Right and I know you want to take things slow, so no sex talk.”

  “Maybe after breakfast you can show me around. I’ve always loved exploring new places. Too bad Gran seems determined to keep me in the city.”

  After saying goodbye to Alberto, they walked into the town. With its cobblestone streets and rows of small shops it was like being in a different world compared to Faliaster. As much as Cate loved the hustle and bustle of the city, it was peaceful being away from it. She and Jason held hands as they walked, browsing the windows and the market stalls. She saw him visibly relax in a way she’d never seen before and it made her relax too.

  “That’s the shop where I had your bracelet made.” Jason pointed to a small jewellery store, which had a tiny window display.

  Cate moved in for a closer look, noticing all the pieces were made from Silveron, set with crystals that hummed with energy. “Jade would love this place.”

  “Come on, let’s go inside. Maybe I can buy you something to match your bracelet. An anniversary gift.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  They walked in. An ancient-looking female Dwarf stood behind the counter.

  “Lydia, still as lovely as ever.”

  The Dwarf looked up and Cate was surprised to see she was blind. “Ah, Master Jason. It has been a year since you came. I never forget a face, especially when it belongs to one so powerful.” Lydia’s attention turned to Cate. “Good gods! Child, your aura shines like silver. As bright as Master Jason’s.”

  She can see auras, Jason told Cate as Lydia reached for her hand. It’s okay. As well as being gifted with metal, she has a bit of foresight too. It’s how she can see things.

  Lydia grasped Cate’s palm firmly with both hands and her fingers brushed over her mark. Cate gripped Jason’s hand a little tighter. She felt power and wisdom from the old Dwarf, a connection to the earth, and a knowledge of gems and metals.

  “You are the Marked Witch from the prophecy. But at last you have found each other. I have been waiting a long time for this day. Your love will make you both stronger.” Lydia released her hand and turned away to fumble underneath the counter.

  Cate looked at Jason. What is she talking about?

  He shrugged. I have no idea.

  “Lydia, I was hoping to get Cate something to match the bracelet you made for her last year.”

  “Yes, yes. This is important.” Lydia continued rummaging through the drawers.

  “Maybe we should come back later if you’re busy,” Cate suggested.

  “No!” Lydia said and pulled out a small wooden box. “Here it is, my gift to you both.” She laid the box on the counter. “Open it.”

  Jason reached out and opened the box. Inside were two rings. One was thick with a band of sapphires encircling it; the other had a large, round sapphire, surrounded by smaller diamonds that extended around the band.

  Cate picked up the woman’s ring. “What a beautiful sapphire.” She’d always liked them.

  “No, it is a blue diamond. Very rare and powerful. Hard to come by , but I knew it was meant for you and Master Jason, so I cut the stone and made rings for you both,” Lydia gave a crooked smile, “As a sign of your love and commitment to each other.”

  Jason examined the other ring. “You’ve outdone yourself on these, Lydia. But we can’t accept them.”

  “Right, we’re not married. We’re just…” She was about to say ‘friends’, but she wasn’t sure it was the right word. “We’re not planning to get married, you must be mistaken.”

  “No mistake, I made these especially for the two of you. When I met Master Jason I knew you would come here. Such an honour to have you both in my shop,” Lydia said. “You must take them.”

  “We couldn’t do that. Blue diamonds cost a fortune and like Cate said we’re not married.” Jason went to put the ring back.

  Lydia raised her hand, there was a flash of light and they suddenly appeared on their fingers. The rings shimmered with power. Cate gasped and tried to pull it off, but it wouldn’t budge.

  “Thank you, Lydia. They’re very beautiful,” Jason said. “We must be going now. Peace to you.”

  “Peace to you both.”

  “What the hell was that about?” Cate demanded as soon as they were outside. “Why can’t I get this off?”

  “Believe me, I wish I knew,” he tugged at his own ring. “I don’t think we’re meant to.”

  “We had better. Gran will have a fit!” she said. “Why did you thank her?”

  “I didn’t want to offend her. She’s old and she means well.”

  “Why would she give us wedding rings?”

  “I honestly don’t know. This wasn’t what I planned on getting you.”

  “Do you think they’re going to stay on forever?”

  “No, I think they’ll come off, if we stop struggling.”

  Cate looked down at the ring; it radiated fire in the sunlight and looked all the more breathtaking. It made her heart melt; the fey in her liked sparkly things. It felt weird but a comforting weight on her hand. It fit perfectly and looked as if it were meant to be there.

  “Look, let’s not worry about these. I’m not going to let two rings spoil our anniversary. Maybe she got confused and thought it was our wedding anniversary.”

  Cate sat down on a bench and lifted his hand to look at his ring mor
e closely. “They are beautiful,” she glanced at her own ring, “really beautiful.”

  “Is that the kind of ring you’d want for an engagement ring?”

  “I never really thought about it. I never considered getting married, let alone what my ring might look like.” Cate stared at it and loved the way it glittered. “It’s magical, I can feel it.” She scanned the ring with her senses and a feeling of love emanated from it. Its energy felt strangely familiar. Almost like Jason’s.

  “It’s just a ring, it doesn’t mean anything,” she said and dropped his hand. “We’ll take them off before we get home. It’s not like I’m ever going to be your wife.” She saw something flicker in his eyes, but couldn’t name what it was. “Let’s get back to our date.” She squeezed his hand. “But I’m not going in any more jewellery shops.”

  They carried on walking through the town, browsing stalls. Cate gripped his hand when she saw someone selling cotton candy. “Wow, I haven’t seen this stuff since I was a kid.”

  Jason frowned. “What is it? It looks like pink fluff.”

  “It’s food – sort of.” She passed the seller a few coins and handed him a stick. “Here, try it.”

  “You expect me to eat this?” he asked, cringing.

  “Try it, it’s yummy.” She took a bite. “It melts on your tongue.”

  Jason took a tentative bite and she laughed when he cringed. “Argh! It tastes like sugar-coated fluff.”

  “That’s what it is. Tasty huh?”

  He took another bite and slipped an arm around her. “I’ve eaten worse.”

  Cate put her arm around his back and leaned into him. “We wanted normal. This is what normal couples do.” It dawned on her that she just referred to them as a ‘couple’. Well, ‘friends’ didn’t seem like the right word any longer. “When we’re done with the town, we could go for a picnic somewhere. I know you’re more comfortable around nature than you are in the city.”

  “There’s some woodland not far from here. It’s secluded so there’ll be no one around to bother us. Then later we can have a romantic dinner at my place.”

  Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry, did you say your place?” she asked. “You actually have your own home?”