by Ashlyn Chase
As expected, the raven had a lovely hand-carved perch next to his big bay window. “I wonder if he’d rather be his human or bird form?” she mumbled to herself.
“Oh, he definitely prefers his raven form. I envy his ability to fly on the wind and have some control over it. Me? I wind up halfway down the block with the slightest gust.”
“I didn’t know y’all was here, Chad.”
“Yeah. I followed you downstairs and came in behind you. So, if you were a shapeshifter, what kind would you be?”
“If I was a shapeshifter, a bird would be the type I’d choose. Not like Nathan or Jason or Morgaine’s owl, Athena. I’d be a beautiful swan or a Canada goose, able to glide across water or air currents equally good.”
She settled on Nathan’s comfortable distressed-leather couch and crossed her ankles in an attempt to look ladylike. However, no lady would propose what she was about to ask him.
“Chad, would y’all mind leavin’ us alone for a bit? I have somethin’ personal to discuss with Mr. Nourie.”
Chad sighed. “I suppose. Although I’d love to see him squirm when you ask him to be Lillian’s booty call.”
“Oh, hush, you.”
Chad laughed.
Nathan returned with two mugs and handed her one filled with steaming, dark brown liquid.
“Yeck, black coffee. You should have asked for tea.”
In as sweet a way as she could muster, she asked, “Do y’all have a speck of milk or sugar? I’m not used to drinkin’ my coffee black.”
He rolled his eyes and schlepped back to the kitchen.
Why did he always seem so sad, she wondered. He had a good job—not one she’d ever want, but he seemed suited to it. He lived in a lovely place. But something was definitely missing. If she had to guess, she figured it must be companionship. The thought of fixing him up with Lily lifted Gwyneth’s spirits a little. Even with all his oddities, she liked him.
He returned with her mug and handed it to her.
“Thank you kindly, Nathan.” She blew on the steaming hot coffee and took a tentative sip. It wasn’t bad. Not that a shot of moonshine wouldn’t improve it one hundred and fifty percent, but at least she could drink it.
He stood stiffly in front of her as if he had no idea what to do next. She patted the couch cushion. “Set a spell, sugar. I won’t bite.”
He lowered himself hesitantly and perched on the edge of the couch, as if he might flit away any second.
“There’s somethin’ I need to take care of first. Chad? Did y’all leave like I asked?”
She waited a bit, and when he didn’t answer, she said, “Oh, good. He must have honored my request for privacy.”
“Nope.” Nathan pointed to the door. “He’s over there, leaning against the wall.”
Gwyneth whipped her head around and stared at the space Nathan had pointed to, but it was completely empty. “You can see him?”
“Yes. I can’t hear spirits like you can, but I can see them.”
“So, y’all are clairvoyant and I’m clairaudient. Hey, between the two of us, he can’t never hide nor talk nasty behind our backs.”
Still staring at the door, Nathan chuckled.
Gwyneth squinted. “What’s he doin’?”
“He’s giving us the finger. But at least he’s leaving.” Nathan turned back to face her. “Okay, we’re alone now. So what did you want privacy for?”
“I have a special request of y’all. It’s kinda unusual and may take some explainin’ first.”
“I’m all ears.”
She traced the shell of his outer ear. “Actually, y’all have cute little ears. And a bit of a beak-like nose. Even when you’re not a bird, y’all kind of remind me of one—in a sexy, manly way, a’course.”
He shivered at her touch. “Is that what you wanted to talk to me about? My birdlike appearance?”
“No, it ain’t. I discovered we have a common problem since we live on the same side of this building, and y’all might be able to help with it.”
“What does our side of the building have to do with anything?”
“Well, y’all know we have a new neighbor whose apartment is sandwiched between yours and mine.”
“That’s an interesting way of putting it.”
“Well, for lack of a better description, I think the bread on our sandwich might be in danger of toastin’. Ya see, the fillin’ has a tendency to explode.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Explode? Is our neighbor some kind of anarchist who makes bombs in her bedroom?”
“No, but you could say she defuses them there. No, wait. I’m not doin’ a very good job of this explanation.”
“No shit. Why don’t you skip the colorful language and just give it to me straight?”
“That’s a fine idea. You see, Lily, our neighbor, is the fillin’ in our sandwich.”
“Yeah, I got that. Now, what about her is exploding?”
“Well, she claims to be a dragon. I ain’t seen her like that, but I’ve seen her apartment. It’s all scorched-like on the floors and furniture.”
Nathan raised his eyebrows again. “You said I might be able to help. How?”
“Well, she needs to blow off steam or she’ll sneeze fire. It’s like some kind of weird allergy to clean livin’, I guess.”
Nathan looked confused and shook his head. “I don’t get it. What do I have to do? Take her out drinking and gambling?”
Gwyneth laughed and patted his arm. “Bless your heart, no, silly. Y’all need to have sex with her.”
Nathan reared back as if she’d slapped him. “What?”
“She says it’s the only way she gets rid of the fire. If y’all could just help out until she gets her call-girl business set up…”
Nathan sprang off the couch. “No.”
“Well, shucks. There’s no need to be horrified. She’s not an ugly toad or anythin’. In fact, she’s quite pretty.”
He faced away from her. “I’ve seen her. Still not interested.”
“Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t know you was gay. I got the distinct impression you wasn’t when that paparazzo reporter tried to make it look like you an’ Jason…”
“I’m not gay.”
Gwyneth threw her hands up. “Then what’s wrong? If y’all ain’t gay and she ain’t ugly—is it some kind of bird thang?” She stood. “Birds of a feather fuck together?”
“No, I can have sex with humans when I’m in my human form.”
She crossed her arms. “Then enlighten me. I’m tirin’ of this guessin’ game.”
He took a deep breath and let out a sigh. “Gwyneth. I’m in love with someone else.”
“Oh! Well, I’ll be jiggered! Y’all got a girlfriend. I had not one clue. Who is she?”
He snorted. “She’s not my girlfriend. I’ve been trying to get up the nerve to ask her out for a long time, but…”
“Oh, you poor man. You’re shy. How long have y’all been like this?”
He gazed up at the ceiling. “Give me strength.”
Gwyneth sidled up next to him and wrapped her arms around his. “Maybe I can help. I’m a girl. Y’all can practice on me.”
He turned toward her slowly. “Gwyneth? Will you go out to dinner with me?”
She beamed. “You see? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“Well, will you?”
She frowned. “Y’all don’t want to be pushy with the woman. If she says yes, you make plans. If she says no, y’all say somethin’ nice like, ‘Oh well, maybe another time.’ Give her the option to change her mind.”
He hung his head. “Okay. Well, maybe another time.”
“But I didn’t say no.”
He looked up again, hope glimmering in his eyes. “Then you’ll go?”
She bit her lip and stepped back. “Wait a minute. Y’all are confusin’ the heck outta me.”
He slapped his hands over his face and looked like he was about to scream. She waited until he composed himself.
“Maybe it would help if y’all tell me somethin’ about this woman.”
He stared at the floor, but nodded.
“Y’all must know her pretty well… You’re in love with her?”
“Desperately.”
“And how do you know her?”
“She lives in my building.”
Gwyneth’s jaw dropped. “Why, that means it’s got to be someone I know…”
Nathan rolled his eyes. “She has long red hair, a smattering of freckles across her nose, and the cutest armpits I’ve ever seen. Oh, and she’s a witch. Not a very psychic witch, apparently.”
Gwyneth’s knees went out from under her, and she caught the edge of the sofa just before she hit the floor. Nathan was beside her in a second.
“I’m sorry. I knew I shouldn’t have told you.” He averted his gaze and stared at the floor. “Please forget I said any—”
“No! I will not forget it. I just needed to find my voice is all.”
He helped her up. “You don’t have to say it. I understand.”
“No, apparently you don’t.” She launched herself into his arms and kissed him on the mouth.
Chapter 15
Mikhail’s apartment was a loft over his warehouse. He’d said he lived with his lover, and Morgaine noticed that a woman’s touch had softened some of the modern industrial feel. One wall was brick, but sage silk curtains and a thick ivory rug covering part of the dark wood floors warmed the place considerably.
“Where’s your significant other?”
Mikhail chuckled. “I can’t get used to that term. She owns a shop in Soho and should be there at the moment. Why?”
“Well, she may not like this, but I need you to put my name on the deed to your warehouse temporarily. In order for me to reseal the doors and invite you back in, I need to have some type of ownership of the property.”
“Temporary, you say? How temporary?”
“You can take my name off the deed as soon as it’s done.”
“In that case, she doesn’t need to know. It’s in my name only and willed to her in the very unlikely event of my death. I’ll probably tell her after the fact just for fun.”
Sly stood by the large expanse of windows, watching the sun set. It was as if he couldn’t get enough of it. And with good reason. If Morgaine couldn’t reverse engineer the curative powers of Vampire Vintage, his days would be numbered and his nights never ending.
“I’ll take care of the deed and get some wine.” Mikhail excused himself. Morgaine psychically knew he was heading for his safe. She returned her gaze to his computer monitor. The more she watched it, the less she paid attention.
Concentrate, she scolded herself. Mikhail had the security tape playing in a loop so Morgaine could see the vampire black magician at work. They hadn’t found the scroll, so Morgaine figured it had been taken out of the warehouse to be burned or buried.
She kept all of her parchment ashes and released them on the wind each Samhain. The vampire might do the same. This year, however, Samhain had come and gone without much fanfare. She and Gwyneth had barely spoken that day. She shook her head and realized her mind was wandering again.
Eventually, she called out, “I think I’ve gotten all I can out of this tape, Mikhail.”
He returned with two glasses of red wine and handed one to her. “Okay. I’ll shut it off. Is there anything else you need?”
“Just a place to set up my altar.”
“Here or in the warehouse?” He moved smoothly over to Sly and handed him the other glass. Morgaine’s glass had a purple stem, and the other one was clear. She imagined that was so she didn’t get mixed up and accidentally drink the vampire stuff. Blood. Ick.
“The warehouse would be best. I can reseal the door after breaking the curse. You’ll need to be invited in again after that, along with any other vampires you want to allow access to.”
Mikhail stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I’d prefer to keep my warehouse sealed to all but myself.”
“Oh! Then Sly can’t come with me?”
Sly turned and watched them. He might have jumped in and offered to go with or stay away. Any kind of hint would have been nice, but no. He was letting her decide what she wanted and needed.
“I-I guess I can let him stay here,” Morgaine said. “Or better yet, wait just outside the warehouse door. He can try to come in after I seal it. Then you’ll know it worked.”
“Or didn’t.”
“Oh, it’ll work,” she said, slightly affronted. “If there’s one area I’m competent in, it’s magick.”
“I’m sure you’re competent in many things, and I apologize if it sounded like I doubted you, but I’ve never seen your work before…”
She took a deep breath. “I understand. There’s no need to apologize. I’m just a little touchy right now.”
“Oh? Is anything wrong?”
She glanced at Sly. He remained as he had been—just watching and waiting for things to play out however she let them.
“No. I’m fine. Let’s go.” She rose and gathered her satchel, which she jokingly referred to as “Have altar; will travel.”
Together they tromped down to the refurbished elevator and rode it to the main floor. Sly took her hand and gave it a squeeze. When she glanced at his face, she saw pride shining there. She smiled and whispered. “Don’t worry. I can do this.”
He leaned close. “I know you can.”
The warehouse had two entrances, one on either side of the polished travertine corridor. “He came in this door,” Mikhail said, as he pointed to the left.
“It won’t matter which door he used. I’ll need to seal them both. Do you know who invited him in?”
“No, I’m afraid I don’t. No one would own up to it. I was pretty pissed, and I can be an intimidating guy when I’m angry.”
Morgaine could only imagine it. Mikhail was dark but not swarthy. He could probably get red in the face if he’d fed or had enough wine.
“Sly, you don’t mind waiting right here, do you?”
“Not at all.” He gave her a quick kiss before she and Mikhail entered the warehouse.
Row upon row of wine racks were filled with product. How in hell did he manage to make so much with a long-ago dried drop of blood on a tiny piece of ancient cloth?
Mikhail gestured to his space. “Where would you like to do this?”
The rows of wine racks were fairly close together, but the perimeter allowed for a nine-foot circle. “Right at the bottom of the steps should be fine.”
As she was preparing her altar and arranging the four woods to break the hex, the way to make the wine occurred to her in a flash of vision. They no longer needed the rag. They used a bit of wine from one bottle to pass on the cure to the next. It was like sourdough bread. She almost gasped aloud when she realized she’d uncovered Mikhail’s precious secret. Now all she had to do was earn her case of wine and start adding it to their own concoction. Hopefully, it would take. At least they’d have plenty to experiment with until they figured out the ratio.
“Morgaine, are you all right?”
“Huh? Oh, um, yeah. I just need one more thing and we can do this. I gave it to Sly for safekeeping. I’ll be right back.”
Mikhail frowned, and his eyes followed her as she left.
She didn’t care if he was suspicious or not. She had to let Sly know about this new revelation before she began messing with hexes, just in case something happened to her.
She opened the warehouse door, but before she closed it, she asked Mikhail, “Will this lock if I let it close?”
“Yes. Why don’t I go with you so I can let you back in again?”
“No! Uh, no. I’d rather you keep watch over my altar. I’ll prop open the door with my shoe.” She whipped off her black half boot and stuck it in the door as soon as she was on the other side.
Sly had been looking out the glass panel in the front door. He turned, arching one brow in curiosity. “Is everything all right?�
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“Yeah, I just had to come get that…” She winked. “…ingredient I tucked into your pocket this morning.”
Apparently he followed her ruse and just said, “Ah.”
Hurrying to his side, she whispered in his ear, “Can Mikhail hear us if I whisper?”
Sly shrugged.
She had to make a quick decision. Possibly let Mikhail know she’d discovered his secret or take the chance of Sly never knowing…
Finally she just said, “If anything happens to me, tell Gwyneth to use the principles of sourdough bread.”
His brows knit. “What do you mean, if anything happens to you?”
“Look, magick can be dangerous. You already knew that, right?”
He reared back. “No, I didn’t. You’d better rethink this.”
“I can’t,” she said a little too loudly. She coughed, then lowered her voice. “I doubt anything will happen. I just had to let you know—in case…”
“In case what?”
Exasperated, she blew out a deep breath.
“Fine. But will she know what that means?” he whispered.
Morgaine nodded. Then she grabbed him and kissed him hard. “I love you.” With that she whirled on her remaining heel and ran back to the warehouse before he could stop her.
Mikhail was pacing. “What was that about?”
She smiled innocently as she put her boot back on. “What was what about?”
I heard you say, “I can’t.”
“Oh, you heard that, huh? Did you hear anything else?”
He hesitated, then shook his head. “What’s this about, Morgaine? Is something wrong?”
“No. Everything’s fine.”
Sly opened the door. Apparently the lock wasn’t strong enough to hold the door closed against vampiric strength, but he didn’t enter. “Everything isn’t fine.” His expression was stern. “She just told me this could be dangerous. I don’t want her risking her neck for you or me or anyone.”
Mikhail stared at Morgaine. “Is that true? Could you harm yourself if you do this?”
“It’s very unlikely. I mean, how would he know you’d find a witch to remove his curse? And I’m not sure he could do anything to stop me even if he did know.”