by S. E. Smith
“This is crazy. If we don’t stop, I will be taking you right here and now,” he muttered, closing his eyes for a moment as he fought to control his raging desire. He opened his eyes and he drew back. Marina’s glazed expression told him that she was experiencing the same intense reaction that he had felt. “What the hell just happened? I mean… I know what happened, but… What the hell happened?”
A soft chuckle escaped Marina as she stared up into his stunned eyes. “It is said that when a witch touches the one destined to be her mate, the universe opens to them for a moment so they can see all the wonders held within it, and they would understand where her powers came from,” she whispered. “I saw it. Did you?”
“If you mean did I see silver threads, the universe in full technicolor, and an explosion that has me harder than a…,” he cursed softly and nodded his head. “Yeah, I saw it. But—what does it mean?”
Marina slid her hand around to touched his cheek. “It means you are mine,” she whispered.
* * *
Mike softly moaned in his sleep. The feeling of warmth against his cheek pulled at his consciousness. He had been locked in a dream that made him throb with more than a typical early morning hard-on. Marina’s softly murmured words from last night rang through his mind along with the feel of her lips against his.
You are mine… You are mine… You are mine…
“Marina.”
Her name slipped from his lips, and his head automatically turned to the warm breath that skimmed across his skin. He opened his mouth to murmur Marina’s name again when a wet tongue, followed by the sounds of childish giggles, jerked him awake.
The moans quickly turned to a smothered curse as he pushed Charlie’s furry face and eager tongue away. Sitting up, he ran the back of his hand across his mouth and glared at the excited pup that was now sitting in front of him with his tail going back and forth like a pendulum on steroids.
“Damn it, Charlie. You better not have been licking your balls or ass before you stuck that damn thing in my mouth,” Mike growled.
Of course, that was like waving a juicy bone in front of the pup. Charlie leaned forward and licked the hand Mike had raised to protect his mouth. He turned his head when a soft, feminine laugh joined those of the group of children kneeling around him. Flushing, he dropped his hand to his lap when he saw Marina standing behind his curious audience. He raised his other hand instinctively to block Charlie when the pup tried to get his attention again.
“Morning,” he said in a gruff voice.
“Good morning,” Marina replied. She turned to her brother with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Geoff, would you mind taking the golden beast and the first group of children to the river to wash? Don’t forget to set up guards this time,” she instructed.
Geoff nodded and rose to his feet. “Yes. Come on, Charlie. You can help us protect the younger children.”
Mike watched in silence as the group slowly made their way through the camp with Geoff and Charlie in the lead. He turned and rolled to his feet. He felt like he had just laid down on the thin pallet on the ground. It was late by the time he finally fell asleep. Part of his lack of sleep came from being overtired, but the majority of it came from what happened between him and Marina last night.
He bit back a groan as his muscles protested sleeping on the hard ground. This is why air mattresses were invented, he thought with a wry grin as he slowly stretched his stiff muscles. He was definitely getting too old for camping.
“I think Charlie has adopted your brother,” he commented.
“Yes, I think you are right,” she said, glancing everywhere but at him.
He watched as she shyly pushed back a strand of hair that had blown against her cheek. He couldn’t stand the look of uncertainty in her eyes.
They had stayed up talking until after two in the morning. It wasn’t until he realized Marina was struggling to keep her eyes open that he insisted they return to the camp and get some rest. Still, he hadn’t resisted the urge to kiss her once more, just before she disappeared into the shelter where Erin lay sleeping. It hadn’t been easy, but he had forced himself to turn and make his way to the pallet Geoff had set out for him.
When he got there, he had to push Charlie off his bed as usual. The Golden had been snoring almost as loudly as Geoff. After several minutes of pushing, Charlie had finally risen and moved over to lie next to the boy. In seconds, both of them were curled around each other, snoring away.
Mike had found himself staring up at the stars, trying to decipher the whirlwind of information that Marina had told him about her world and the Sea Witch. Another hour had passed before his brain finally rebelled. Exhausted, he fell into a restless slumber.
Pushing his thoughts away, he instinctively reached for Marina, pulling her into his arms. She stiffened at first before relaxing against him and burying her face against his shirt. Holding her close, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“I thought a lot about what you told me last night. I want you to know that I’ll do whatever I can to help you,” he said, resting his cheek against her hair.
She pulled back and looked up at him with wide, hopeful eyes. “You’ll see if the women are from your world and beg them to seek the help from the Dragon and the Sea King?” she whispered, gripping the sides of his shirt tightly in her fists.
Mike nodded. “Hell, if nothing else, I can at least close the two cases I was working on. I would rather find out they were married to some magical fairy tale creatures than find their bones scattered in the woods back in Oregon.” he responded.
“Mike…” Marina started to say before she jerked in horror when she heard the loud screams coming from the nearby river. “The children!”
* * *
Marina’s heart thundered in her chest and she gripped Mr. Bow tighter as she ran down the uneven path. Fear and self-reproach threatened to suffocate her. She swept her hand out, shattering the low, dead branch into dust that hung down. Behind her, she could hear Mike’s steady breaths as he followed her.
She started to cry out in rage and frustration when Mike suddenly wrapped his hand around her arm and pulled her to a stop. Turning on him, her protest died on her lips when he shook his head in warning and held a finger to his lips. She realized he was right; charging into whatever lay ahead would just get them either caught or killed. She swallowed her protest and nodded, watching as he pulled his shiny silver and black weapon from its sheath.
She shivered when he stepped in front of her, his hands firmly clasped around the shiny weapon. He moved with a deadly purpose that spoke of an accomplished warrior. Charlie’s frantic barking echoed through the air, mixing with the cries of some of the children.
They quietly moved up along a line of boulders that overlooked the river. Mike paused at the top, surveying the situation below. Marina knelt on the rough stone next to him. She frantically searched for her brother. Driven by fear when she didn’t see him, she rose without thinking and lifted her bow as a low cry of fury escaped her.
Firing as fast as she could, she sent arrow after arrow into the beasts surrounding the children. Beside her, Mike rose up and fired his weapon at a Hellhound that had knocked Charlie onto his side and had the pup pinned to the ground. The creature rolled to the side before lying still in the shallow water of the river. Marina didn’t hesitate, she fired three flaming arrows into the creature to make sure it was dead. The body glowed briefly before it turned to ash.
Sliding down the rock, she landed lightly on the rocky ground. Quickly scanning the area, she searched the dark shadows for more creatures. Mike landed beside her, turning so they were back to back as they made their way to the small group of children huddled together.
Marina turned her head to stare at the closest child. “Where’s Geoff?” she demanded.
“They took him,” one of the children replied in a shaking voice. “There were three of them. They came from the other side of the river and took us by surprise. Geoff told
us to run when he saw them, but one of the Hellhounds blocked our path. He killed one before one of the Sea Witch’s men knocked him unconscious and took him away. The… The ogre that took Geoff ordered the Hellhound to kill us.”
“No,” Marina’s soft cry echoed as she sank to her knees.
Grief poured through her. Marina knew what the Sea Witch would do to her brother—turn him to stone if he didn’t give her the information about the whereabouts of any others that opposed her. Marina bowed her head, closed her eyes, and breathed in and out deeply.
“Marina,” Mike’s husky voice pierced through the grief and rage threatening to overwhelm her.
Marina slowly opened her eyes, blinked back the burning tears, and looked up at Mike as he knelt on one knee in front of her. Her eyes began to burn again when she saw the worry and compassion in his eyes. Swallowing, she nodded and turned her face into his warm palm when he laid it against her cheek.
“I have to go after him,” she whispered.
“We will go after him,” Mike replied in a hard voice. “Together.”
Marina slowly nodded and laid her hand into Mike’s outstretched palm. They both rose to their feet. She moved her gaze to the children who were now petting Charlie. The pup’s ears were drooping and there were traces of blood on his neck where the Hellhound had pinned him. He softly whined when he saw them staring at him.
“Take Charlie back to the camp and care for his wounds,” Marina instructed in a low voice. “Tell Erin what happened and that we are going after Geoff.”
“What about the others who have gone for food and wood?” a young girl asked in a trembling voice.
“Erin and Chia will know what to do,” Marina assured the girl in a calm, steady voice that belied what she was really feeling.
The children nodded and turned away. Marina waited until they were out of sight before she turned to look at Mike. The expression on his face strengthened her belief that everything would work out. Whatever force of nature had brought him to her world, whether by a misspoken spell or fate intervening, she was glad he was by her side. She waited as he quickly ejected something from the weapon in his hand and checked it before sliding it back in.
“They will take him back to the palace. There are too many of them for us to fight,” Marina said with a feeling of certainty.
“You said that this Drago and the Sea King might help,” Mike said. “If nothing else, the Sea King is partly responsible for this mess. Can you contact him?”
She gave a stiff shake to her head. “I am young and still learning the magic of our people. This would require a power that I do not possess, but I know someone who can help us,” she replied.
“Can you trust this person?” Mike asked in a steely voice.
“Yes. It will take a couple of hours to reach our destination,” she said.
* * *
Mike watched as Marina turned on her heel and carefully crossed the stone path that created a natural bridge across the shallow river. Touching the gun pressed against his side, he made sure that it was secure as he followed her. He had three bullets left in the clip. While he did train to be a soldier in the Air Force, his field of expertise was internal investigations, not combat. Still, he continued his training and physical fitness once he left the military and joined the police force. He easily passed the physical requirements for the Police Department and was well trained for most situations. Of course, they sure as hell didn’t have training during his time in the military for dealing with magical creatures and things straight out of a horror movie, he thought with a disgruntled sigh as he drew in a deep breath. Hell, what I need is some Men in Black training, not that they ever had to deal with magic, just insane aliens. Still, a part of his mind argued as he gazed at the woman ahead of him, if I have to fight, I couldn’t think of anyone better to be by my side than Marina. Though, I wouldn’t mind having a couple of the guys from the force here as well.
Chapter Twelve
Mike watched as Marina wiped her hand over her cheek. Sweat glistened on her brow, but he knew the dampness she brushed away came from the stray tears that still escaped. Instinctively, he reached for her trembling fingers and squeezed them in encouragement.
“We’ll get him back,” Mike promised her in a low voice. “How much farther?”
“Not far,” she replied, giving him a thankful smile before she focused on walking the path.
Mike nodded and released her fingers. He looked at the thick forest on each side of the path. They had covered a lot of ground over the past two hours, moving steadily down the high mountain to the valley far below. He had been surprised when Marina veered off the main road and onto a narrow path that looked more like an animal trail. They hadn’t talked during their trip, instead conserving their energy to move deftly and silently along the difficult path. They had stopped twice to wait for some of the Sea Witch’s ogres riding Hellhounds, to pass by. Each time, Marina had whispered a spell to conceal their presence. She said it was one of the spells her father had taught her when he realized what the Sea Witch was doing.
“Here,” she murmured, stopping and looking to her left.
Mike frowned as he gazed in the same direction that Marina was looking. All he saw were thick trees and tall ferns. He was about to ask her if she was sure when she waved her right hand, as if pulling back a curtain. He knew his mouth was hanging open when the trees groaned and began to part.
“Holy…,” Mike’s voice died when he saw a manicured, pebble-covered path lined with a brilliant display of flowers. At the end of the path was a quaint little cottage straight out of a Thomas Kinkade painting. If the ‘walking’ trees weren’t enough to stun him, the cry of the plants as they greeted Marina made him feel like he had fallen down the White Rabbit’s hole, been swept up in a tornado, and deposited in the middle of an animated classic. “What next? The Giant from the beanstalk, along with his magic harp, and the goose that lays the golden eggs?” he muttered with a shake of his head.
“The Giants live on another Isle,” Marina remarked, glancing over her shoulder. “Come, Grandmother is waiting for us.”
“Your grandmother,” Mike repeated, startled as he quickly stepped onto the path. He stumbled as he glanced over his shoulder. The trees were once again moving, this time closing the gap they had created. “Are you serious about the Giants?”
Marina frowned and nodded. “Of course,” she replied. “I’ve never seen them in person, but Father and Mother have. They both said the giants are very nice, but rather rough around the edges.”
“Marina! Come, child. Come inside,” an elderly voice called out from the shadow of the doorway.
Mike stood frozen for a moment as he tried to wrap his head around Marina’s casual acceptance of giants. Maybe they weren’t the same as the fictional giants from back home. Maybe they were just really, really, really tall people, he thought with a grimace. With his luck, they were probably as real as this Drago the dragon and the Sea King merman!
“I am really going to need a drink by the time this adventure is over,” he muttered under his breath before following Marina into the shelter.
* * *
Marina blushed when her grandmother looked at her with clouded eyes. She hadn’t missed the inquisitive look or knowing smile when her grandmother tilted her head in Mike’s direction. For the millionth time, Marina wondered how her grandmother seemed to see everything even though she knew the other woman was blind.
In the past year, she had only been able to come here twice to make sure her grandmother was safe. Marina sighed in regret as she gazed around the beautiful, quaint garden and tiny cottage. While she would have loved to create something like this for the children, she did not have the magical power to hide it the way her grandmother did. There had also been no way to bring all the children here to hide. To create an area big enough for everyone would have been too much for the enchanted garden and the ability of her grandmother’s magic to conceal.
“Grandmother, th
is is Mike Hallbrook. He….” Marina started to say before stopping when her grandmother stepped up to Mike and gave him a kiss on both cheeks. Mike grinned and raised an eyebrow when her grandmother squeezed his arms.
“I know, I know. He is a stranger to our world. He’s a strong one, child, and cute too! You are a very lucky witch. Now, both of you come in. I was just about to have a bite to eat,” Ladonna Fae chuckled.
“Mike, may I present my grandmother, Ladonna. I have to caution you that she can be a bit blunt,” Marina added under her breath when Mike stepped up to enter the cottage behind her grandmother.
“Nonsense. I am very blunt. At my age, I don’t have to be socially polite anymore,” Ladonna retorted, leaning on her cane.
“Hello, Ms. Cane,” Mr. Bow greeted.
“Oh, no… You brought him back,” Ms. Cane groaned.
Marina grimaced. She propped Mr. Bow up against the wall near the door. Turning, she saw Mike’s questioning expression.
“Same forest, different trees. Another gift from my father,” she quickly explained.
She closed the door and walked over to her grandmother who was placing a large pot of stew in the center of the table. There were three place settings already on the table. Her grandmother had known they were coming.
Marina retrieved the pitcher of water from the polished stone counter and placed it on the table. She looked up in surprise when Mike pulled out her chair. Murmuring her thanks, she slid onto the dark wooden seat. Her gaze followed him when he did the same for her grandmother.
Her grandmother’s pleased hum told Marina that her grandmother was impressed with Mike’s manners. He pulled out the chair to the right of her and sat down.
“We can talk about why you are here while we fill our bellies,” Ladonna said with a wave of her hand.
The bowls in front of them floated over to the pot of stew. Ladonna continued to chat about the new flowers coming up in her garden while the ladle filled their bowls with the delicious smelling stew. Marina sliced thick sections of bread as the filled bowls landed in front of each person.