by Ann Gimpel
“Mmph.” She pressed her body against his side. The heat of her was electric and Duncan felt his body respond. “The demon hunt is over, at least for now. It may have been by the barest of margins, but we were victorious.” She wound her other arm around him and drew her fingertips down his back. “Shall we celebrate, pretty man?” Her nipples hardened against his chest. Andraste ground her pubes against his growing erection.
“I, er, I am promised to another.” Duncan resisted the desire to wind his arms around the goddess’ body. Her lips hovered over his, so close her warm, fragrant breath bathed his face. He tried to turn his head away, but her sky blue eyes snared him.
Andraste laughed again, deep and throaty this time. “Well, I certainly won’t tell her. If you keep your mouth shut, we should be in fine shape. You’ve had lots of women, why not me?”
He tried to utter words about honor and integrity, but his throat was thick and his cock engorged. Too late, he understood she’d spelled him. Outrage ran hot through his veins. He wrenched away from her grip, breathing as if he’d just run a race. Aroused and ashamed of his body’s betrayal, Duncan put some distance between himself and the goddess, warded himself, and eyed her warily.
“I am very grateful to you for heeding my earlier summons—” he began.
“But not so grateful you’ll bed me?” She quirked a blonde brow in her perfect face.
“I l-love another.” His tongue stumbled over the word. The goddess surged into his head, cutting through his ward as if it weren’t there.
“I see how things are.” Andraste smiled knowingly. “You believe yourself in love with a mortal, yet such is forbidden to you. I can be patient, pretty man. Come find me when you need someone to pick up the pieces. These affairs are thrilling, but they never end well.”
The air shimmered and Duncan was alone again. He dropped his head onto his palm and squeezed his eyes shut. Andraste damn near had him. Was he truly as weak as that? Gathering the shreds of his dignity with difficulty, he walked slowly toward the diner. The sooner he got something to eat, the sooner he could find Colleen.
Chapter Eleven
Colleen kept an invisibility spell around Bubba. She and Jenna were waiting for Roz, who’d been inside the ferry terminal for the better part of half an hour. It was chilly and starting to drizzle. “I guess it’s not the end of the world if one of has to drive the car back to Alaska,” she said.
“Yeah, but it would be so much better if this worked out for us.” Jenna shivered and pulled her hood up.
“Do you have an extra coat in your rucksack?” Bubba asked.
“Ssh. No one can see you. They’ll think it odd if they hear you. You’re never cold.”
“I am now,” the changeling insisted. “Maybe I caught something from the you-know-what yesterday.” Colleen exchanged worried glances with Jenna. The changeling was never sick. She dug through her bag for a sweater and handed it to Bubba.
Her thoughts drifted to Duncan. Where was he? Had Titania been generous? If not, would she ever see him again? It was closing on three in the afternoon. With luck, they’d be home well before nighttime when the Dreamers’ Paths would open to her again. She elbowed Jenna. “Have you ever visited the dream world?”
The other witch’s eyes narrowed. “Sure. I dream every night, but that’s probably not what you mean. Are you asking about that place the dream guardian lives?”
“Yes. Dreamers’ Paths.”
Jenna half grunted and made a face. “I had an aunt who spent a lot of time there. Too much. In the end, the place trapped her.”
Colleen cocked her head to one side, feeling confused. From her limited experience, being forced to leave was more of a problem than being forced to stay. “What do you mean?”
“She just sort of lost contact with the real world. Faded away. I’d find her body sitting in a chair, or lying on the couch, but her mind had left it.” Jenna cleared her throat. “I’ve known a few witches with precognitive ability who visited there to check their predictions. None of them have had that problem, so maybe it was just something with Auntie Rhea.”
“Hmph. Any idea what percentage of witches use the Dreamers’ Paths?”
“None whatsoever.” Jenna stared at her intently. “Why the sudden interest?”
“Because I went there last night—”
“You what?” Jenna cried and then clapped a hand over her mouth. A couple of passersby glanced sidelong at her and she subsided into mutters.
“Good to go. Finally.” Roz trotted toward them. “I had to pay a good bit extra so they’d move the car from this ferry to the one in Ketchikan, but the Subaru will be at the Haines ferry terminal four days from now at six p.m.”
“Our conversation’s not over with,” Jenna warned.
“What conversation?” Roz raised an interested eyebrow.
“Never mind. Great. We can leave.” Jenna glanced around. So did Colleen. They needed somewhere their disappearance wouldn’t be noticed.
“Damn! Not many places where we could just sort of fade away.” Roz chewed the jagged nail on her index finger.
“I don’t feel good. Want to go home,” Bubba whined and clung to Colleen’s legs. She bent and touched his forehead. The changeling was always warm, but he did feel hotter than usual.
“What’s wrong with him?” Roz asked.
“I don’t know, but it disturbs me,” Colleen said. She captured her lower lip between her teeth. Shy of hiring a taxi to take them to a more wooded area, she was fresh out of ideas for how to flicker out of sight without attracting notice. They did need to get home, though. And quickly. Before Bubba got any worse.
“I saw one of those family restrooms inside the terminal,” Roz said.
“Perfect. Let’s go.” Colleen scooped the changeling into her arms and walked toward the ferry station.
“It’s on the lower floor, over on the left hand side between the men’s and women’s restrooms.” Roz caught up to her and they squeezed through the stationhouse door. It felt wonderfully warm inside. Maybe the changeling’s only problem was he’d gotten chilled. It didn’t seem likely, but Colleen wasn’t above hoping for miracles.
“Probably best if all of us don’t go in together,” Jenna murmured from behind them.
“Yeah, they’ll think we’re a bunch of perverts.” Colleen turned right, headed down a staircase, and followed the restroom signage. She stepped to the door labeled Families and wiggled its knob. Locked. They milled about, trying to look inconspicuous, until an Asian mother with three children exited the small space. Fortunately, the restroom hallway was deserted, so they hastened through the door and locked it.
“The next person won’t be able to get in.” Jenna reached for the lock.
Roz slapped her hand away. “It’s better than having someone walk in on us when we’re half here and half not.”
Colleen wanted to change Bubba back to his cat form, but he shivered in her arms and she was afraid his other form might make things worse. “You’re going to have to help me, Roz.”
The other witch eyed her sharply. “Sure. I’ll do the whole thing. We’ll come out at our house. We can regroup there.”
Bubba moaned softly, made a gagging noise, twisted in Colleen’s arms, and threw up on the bathroom floor. Colleen grabbed a paper towel and wiped the changeling’s mouth. “Aw, Bubs. It will be all right. We’ll be home really, really soon.”
“Sorry,” he mumbled. Colleen hugged him tight. She felt Roz’s spell snag them and relaxed into it.
The walls of their home in Fairbanks flickered a time or two, and then solidified. Home, thank Christ! Bubba shook and shuddered in her arms. She hurried to one of the living room couches, laid him on it, and wrapped a comforter around him. “You still feeling sick to your tummy, sweetheart?”
The changeling nodded.
“Here.” Roz handed Bubba a bowl. “In case you puke again.” She pushed Colleen aside, sat on the edge of the couch, and took the changeling’s hands in he
rs. Roz was a pretty fair healer. Colleen inhaled anxiously, barely breathing. What would the other witch find? If Bubba had inadvertently soaked in some of the Irichna’s poison while the thing was in reptile form, he was probably finished.
Jenna moved close, but Colleen held a finger over her lips. Jenna nodded her understanding and perched on the edge of an overstuffed chair. All of them were fond of Bubba. He’d become a part of their family group over the years they’d been together. The specter of maybe losing him knifed into her soul. She fought feelings of helplessness and chided herself. Bubba was still alive. There had to be something they could do to help him.
Long moments passed before Roz let go of the changeling’s hands. She moved her palm over his face in a circular motion. “Sleep,” she murmured. Bubba’s eyes closed. Colleen felt the other witch’s spell.
Roz got heavily to her feet and motioned to them. They walked through the living room and into the kitchen, where Roz filled the tea kettle with water and placed it on the stove. It was harder than hell not to mob her with questions, but Colleen figured she was trying to make sense of whatever she’d found.
Because she had to do something, she rustled up tea herbs and placed them in a strainer that would fit into the kettle once the water had heated.
“Maybe Colleen can wait you out, but I can’t,” Jenna muttered. She dropped onto one of the scarred oak chairs sitting around an equally battered round oak table. “What the hell is wrong with him?”
Roz bit her lip. “Not certain. It could be one of two things.” She gathered three mugs and set them on the table along with cream from the refrigerator and the sugar canister.
“Well, what are they?” Colleen snapped up the kettle, hit it with a shot of magic to make the water boil immediately, and dropped the strainer into it.
“It’s been years since you found him in the barrows of Ireland. I believe that’s where he draws his power from. It could be something simple, like he needs to go home to recharge.”
Jenna jiggled the strainer, poured a little tea, and shook her head. “Not strong enough yet.”
“How could it be?” Roz asked. “It hasn’t been steeping for more than a couple of minutes.”
“What’s the other option?” Colleen prodded. Perfectly brewed tea was the last thing on her mind.
“He’s been poisoned by an Irichna.” Roz shook her head. “If that’s what’s wrong, all we can do is wait it out and pray he’s strong enough to shake off the toxins.”
Colleen walked across the kitchen and opened the cabinet where they kept the liquor. She grabbed a bottle at random, crossed back to the table, and splashed some in her mug before filling it to the top with tea.
“Good idea.” Roz did the same and handed the bottle to Jenna, who just drank from it, not bothering to douse the spirits with tea.
The tea burned Colleen’s mouth and the liquor burned her throat. She eyed Roz. “What if his problem is a little of both?”
“What do you mean?” Roz slugged back half the liquid in her mug and grimaced. Colleen didn’t blame her. Between the heat and the liquor, her throat was probably on fire.
“Well, maybe Bubba does need to go home. He’s come into contact with demon poisons before, and they’ve never bothered him.” Colleen set her mug down. “I figure it’s sort of like it is with a battery. He’s gotten weaker, but so gradually none of us noticed—until now.”
“I suppose that’s possible.” Roz sagged against her chair. “I think we should wait for at least a little while. I spelled him to rest. It will help him marshal his resources.”
“If we wait too long, he may get too weak to travel,” Jenna said.
“Yes, but what if I’m wrong and we subject him to a trip to Ireland for nothing?” Roz countered.
“How long will he sleep?” Colleen asked.
“At least an hour. Maybe two,” Roz said.
Colleen got to her feet, went to the coatrack next to the back door, and traded her jacket for a heavier one. She tugged a wool cap over her bright hair.
“Where are you going?” Jenna asked.
“I’m going to check on the shop. Besides, someone needs to bring our other car back here. It’s not like we can teleport to the pharmacy and grocery store.”
Roz got up, mug in hand. “I’ll sit with him,” she offered.
Colleen was so grateful she felt the prick of tears. “Thanks. Call me if anything happens. I can be back here immediately.”
The other witch swept her into a hug and patted her back. “Don’t worry, honey. It’s not like he’s at death’s door.”
“Really?”
Roz let go of her and kissed her forehead. “Really. I’ve never treated a changeling before, but I figure he’s just like other living creatures. He’ll likely still be asleep when you get back.”
“Thanks.”
“You’d do the same for me.”
“I’ll make us some dinner.” Jenna glanced around the kitchen. “We could all do with something hot.” She stood. “Speaking of which, I’ll turn up the furnace and get a fire going in the woodstove.”
“You mean I’ll be able to take my jacket off at some point?” Roz grinned crookedly, and Jenna slugged her in the arm.
It seemed like as good a time as any to leave. Colleen tiptoed back to the living room and blew Bubba a kiss. The changeling’s color looked a little better and his chest rose and fell regularly. Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as she feared. She hesitated, and then summoned magic to teleport her to their shop. Roz was correct; there was nothing for her to do at home, so she may as well take care of business.
Colleen juggled the magic that wanted to whoosh her away and called to Jenna. “Need anything else for that dinner you’re putting together?”
“Nope. Good to go.”
After a last, fond look at her changeling, Colleen loosed her spell. Even before the shop’s walls stopped pulsating, arms closed around her and she was enveloped by Duncan’s familiar scent. He rained kisses down her hair and the side of her face before closing his mouth over hers in a kiss that became hotter by the moment.
Colleen pulled away, smiling like a besotted fool. “I am so glad to see you, but we have to hurry. We can talk in the car.”
“How’d you get here so fast?” He was grinning too.
“Sent the car on a ferry, actually a couple of them. We’ll pick it up in Haines four days from now.”
He nodded. “Ah. You teleported.”
“Looks like you did too. We really do need to hurry. Bubba’s sick. I just dropped by here to check on things and drive the car home.”
“What do you mean sick?” A worried note ran beneath his words.
“Fever. Throwing up. Says he feels bad.”
“Has he ever been sick before?”
She shook her head and stared at Duncan, sensing his apprehension. “You are not making me feel better. Come on. Car’s in the back.” She hurried out the shop’s front door, locked it behind them, and led the way through an alley. “It’s the silver 4Runner.” She hit the clicker and lights flashed on the SUV. Colleen got inside, fastened her seatbelt, and waited for Duncan to do the same.
They merged into light traffic. Duncan reached across the console and laid a hand on her thigh. “It’s really wonderful to see you.”
Warmth, and a funny, fluttery feeling bloomed in her belly. “I was looking forward to tonight.” The warmth extended to her face and she knew she was blushing.
“So was I.”
She glanced at him. “Were you planning to use the Dreamers’ Paths again?”
“Of course. Last night was barely a beginning. I want more of you. Lots more.”
Her heart did a small flip-flop. She wanted to talk about the two of them, and ask if he’d tracked Titania down, but she needed to know why her comment about Bubba being ill had concerned him. She placed her hand over his and squeezed. “Why’d you ask if Bubba had been sick before?”
“Because changelings don’t get sick.
They’re immune to everything, like most magical creatures.”
Fear balled in her belly. “Roz has healing ability. She thought he might need to go back to the Old Country to recharge his magic. Her other thought was that the Irichna had poisoned him.”
“He’s fought Irichna before,” Duncan pointed out.
“Yeah, that bothered me too. He’s been exposed to their toxins and never had this kind of a reaction.”
“Mmph.”
“You’re thinking something. I can’t go into your head while I’m driving, it’s too distracting. What do you think is wrong?”
He blew out a tight breath. “It’s farfetched, but didn’t it seem odd to you that Mathilde didn’t go after you earlier today and at least try to compel you to stay?”
“How do you know about that?”
“I stopped by Witches’ Northwest and did a spot of eavesdropping.”
Colleen considered his question about Mathilde. “Now that you bring it up, I was sort of expecting her to break away from the witches who were trying to corral her and tear after us, but it never happened.”
“The other witches in her Coven, at least some of them, think she’s been possessed by the Irichna. If that’s true, it would explain why she attacked you. It’s also possible she did something to Bubba. He wouldn’t have been warded as well as the three of you.”
“Shit!” Colleen yanked her hand away from his and pounded it on the steering wheel. “A magical tracking device.”
“How far are we from your house?”
“Five minutes.”
“We’ll have to be careful. You may have unwanted company.”
Colleen kicked herself for being stupid. She’d never even considered Mathilde using Bubba to follow them. “I’ve got to warn the others.”
“No! If they’ve been captured and you access them telepathically, you might get snared too.”
Colleen bit down hard on her lower lip, so anxious it practically ate a hole in her stomach. “Speaking of Irichna, what happened to the one in the U.K.? You know, the reason you came hunting me in the first place.”