“You know, when it’s all over, you are going to let me see your bear,” Marra said. “Aren’t you?”
“We agreed, didn’t we? When I believe in you, you’ll believe in me.” He leaned forward and kissed her. “I believe in you, I think I always did.”
“Next one is Toby’s mom,” Dan called.
Kain joined Dash and Dan, taking the strain on the rope, and began to heave, while Connie and Rupert got the other members of the expedition into the helicopter. It was all going well. They would drop them down at one of the base camps below, and then go home. And sleep.
Marra was so tired, she could sleep all day. The sun had risen over the mountain hours ago, her stomach rumbled, they had missed breakfast, and were likely to miss lunch too.
“Damn it!” she exclaimed.
“What’s wrong?” Kain asked.
“Nothing,” she lied. They had forgotten, with everything that had happened. She was not going to make it back to the police station in time. The clock was going to strike twelve and she was going to be late.
However, as Toby’s mom was pulled over the side of the crevasse, and then dragged to safety, Marra knew that this was where she was supposed to be, these were the people she was supposed to help, and maybe she was supposed to go to jail, so she could help people there.
But the thought of leaving Kain, even for a day or two, let alone weeks, if she got put in jail, was almost too much. The only sure way of being free, would be for Lance DeVere to drop the charges, and she doubted the man she had turned into a frog was going to be willing to do that anytime soon.
She just was going to have to hope there was no evidence against her to corroborate Lance’s allegations. After all, a frog could not testify in court. Marra sighed as she watched Toby and his mom hugging each other. A boy needed his father. She would have to turn Lance back into a man, no matter what the consequences.
***
The helicopter landed at a lower base camp. Rupert looked strained as he made his magic stretch to encompass everyone there. The members of the expedition were taken off the helicopter, and immediately taken to be treated for hypothermia.
“I have to go too, Toby,” Mrs. DeVere said. “Or questions will be asked as to how I got home so fast.”
“But I don’t want to leave you, Mommy,” Toby said.
“I’ll be home before you know it.” She kissed him on the head, and then said, “Tell Daddy I love him, and that he’s in trouble for letting you out of his sight.” Then she looked up at Marra. “Thank you. I’m glad Toby has a fairy godmother like you to watch over him.” She smiled weakly at Marra’s surprise. “Not a lot gets past me. Lance is always messing with magic, and I’ve gotten used to seeing through his illusions.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “Don’t tell him. It’s our secret.”
“I won’t, Mommy. I love you.” Toby kissed her cheek, and hugged her tightly. “You will be home for Christmas, won’t you? It’s what I put on my letter to Santa.”
“I will, Toby.” Mrs. DeVere hugged Toby tightly, tears on her cheeks as they said goodbye. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Marra said. A sense of satisfaction filled her, soon replaced by her urgent need to get back to the police station. “Come on.”
She took Toby’s hand and they ran back to the sleigh, where Dan and Dash stood, pawing the ground impatiently. As soon as she had Toby safely seated next to Kain, they took off. The people below looked up, shielding their faces from the downdraft of the supposed helicopter blades. Rupert sure knew how to fool people.
He was seated next to Connie, his arm around her, holding her tight. Marra smiled, there had been many secrets revealed since she had met Kain. As they flew through the bright cold morning, the snowcapped mountains giving way to valleys of green and forests of tall fir trees, she went over everything she had learned about Rupert. His exterior might be tough, and not always pleasing to the eye, but beneath his scruffy exterior, and his often humorless exterior, Knecht Rupert had a heart of gold, filled with a magic and warmth all his own.
That was another secret she would keep, until he was ready to unveil it himself. Or maybe he would simply share it with Connie, the woman who had melted his heart.
“What are you thinking of?” Kain asked. “The smile on your face says you have something on your mind.”
“I was thinking how people hide who they are. How hard it is to show our true selves to others.”
“Haven’t we shared our true selves?”
“No. I haven’t seen your bear.”
“OK. Stop the sleigh!”
“Now?” She looked at her watch, it was already half past twelve; she was late, and if she was going to jail, then she would at least like to have a bear to fill her imagination.
The sleigh landed in a forest clearing, and Marra jumped out and unhitched Dan and Dash, stroking their large reindeer heads. “You two are the handsomest reindeer I’ve ever seen.”
They shifted back to their human forms. “Better than a bear, Marra?” Dash teased. “We know, because we’ve been around a bear shifter for the last couple of days. They’re OK, but you can’t beat a reindeer.”
“Come on, Bas has been great. Took it all in his stride,” Dan said.
“Once he got used to Krampus. You got lucky with Rupert here,” Dash said.
“He’s been a bundle of laughs,” Kain said, moving away from the sleigh. “Ready?”
“I am.” Marra held her wand tightly, and watched as the air around Kain shimmered. He began to fade out of focus, the outline of his body disappearing, and then he reappeared, as a large grizzly bear. “Oh my! Now that is impressive.”
Dash looked mutinous. “We are much better than a bear.”
Marra didn’t hear, she was too wrapped up in the sight of her bear. Walking closer to him, she held out her hand and he lifted his snout and sniffed her, inhaling deeply. “Hello, Kain.” She stroked his fur, feeling him shudder under her touch. “You are so much more than I imagined.”
The bear nodded his big broad head, as if in agreement. Then he brushed against her legs, like a cat fussing around its owner. He was soft, and warm, and big, so big she was sure she could ride him.
“Can I stroke him?” Toby came up next to her.
“Sure.” The moment between her and the bear was broken, but she promised herself there would be many more times when they would be alone, a bear and his mate. But now she really had to get to the police station, and face the charges Lance DeVere had alleged against her.
Before they left, she knelt down before Kain, and placed a hand on either side of his face, and bent her head to kiss him. “I love you.”
Then she got up, took Toby’s hand, and moved away. The air filled with static electricity, and Kain, in his human form, stood in place of the bear. “Is everything OK, Marra?”
“Yes.” She looked at her watch. “I was supposed to be at the police station by twelve. I might need a good lawyer to get me off the hook.”
“Damn it, I forgot.” He looked at his watch and cursed under his breath. “I don’t suppose your magic is strong enough to turn back time?”
“No, and even if it was, it would take everything back. We would have to go and rescue those people again, and we would still be late. So, let’s deal with the consequences. What’s the worst that could happen, a month or two in jail?” Marra asked.
“There is no way I’m going to let them put you in jail, not for an hour, not for a day.”
Chapter Twenty-Three – Kain
“Officer Partridge,” Kain said, extending his hand in a friendly manner, in the hope the old guy might let Marra off. “We got held up.”
“And we had a deal. Makes me look bad when people don’t show up.” He shook his head. “I know you’re going to ask me to be lenient, but Lance DeVere has already been on to my chief. I got my head bitten off for letting you go, and now you’re late.”
“Do you have any more evidence?” Kain asked. “Anything
come up in your enquiries?”
“Unfortunately, yes. There’s video footage, captured the whole thing.” He looked at Marra apologetically. “Unless Lance DeVere drops the charges, you are going to court, and my boss is going to want to remand you in custody. Money talks, I’m afraid. Your Mr. DeVere and my chief are golfing buddies.”
“So that is…” Kain stopped mid-sentence, there was some movement in his pocket. He put his hand in his pocket and felt the cold, clammy skin of a frog. The same frog, only moments ago, he had passed to Rupert as they got out of the sleigh. “Could I talk to my client alone for a moment, Officer Partridge?”
“Sure. I’ll take you to interview room 2.” He headed off down the corridor, with Kain and Marra following.
“What’s going on, Kain?” Marra asked, as soon as they were alone.
“I have Lance DeVere in my pocket.” He shrugged, throwing her a disapproving look.
“I thought you gave him to Rupert?” The plan had been for them to take Lance back to the mansion, and when they had finished at the police station, Marra would swing by and turn him back to his human form, and leave him in his human form, if he promised to behave, and never steal magical items again.
“I did. He must have jumped back out.” Kain put his hand in his pocket and pulled out the frog, setting him down on the table. “Look, I want this cleared up, so why not turn Lance back into a human and we can ask him to drop the charges?”
“And you expect him to say yes. No bargaining, no wanting me to grant him a wish?” Marra hissed, casting angry glances at the frog.
“Yes. I do.” Kain pointed to Lance. “I believe in people doing the right thing. And the right thing would be for him to help you, since you rescued his wife.”
“I didn’t do it for Lance.”
“But he doesn’t know that, does he?” Kain pointed at the frog. “Just do it, if he refuses to cooperate, you can turn him into a slug instead.”
“Nice.” She took her wand from her purse and closed her eyes, reversing the spell she’d put on Lance earlier.
“Actually, I do know,” were the first words out of Lance’s mouth.
“Want to be a slug?” Marra threatened.
“No.” Lance shuddered. “I have no wish to be anything other than me.” He straightened his tie, and smoothed out his suit. “The whole experience has been most distasteful.”
“You brought it on yourself,” Marra said.
“Marra. Let’s try not to get into another fight.” Kain put his hands up as if to keep them apart. “Lance, we need you to drop the charges again Marra.”
“And you think I’ll do that, just because you ask me to?” Lance asked.
“I do. Because if it wasn’t for Marra, your wife would still be hidden under a pile of snow on a mountain somewhere.”
Lance’s face relaxed a little. “Thank you for that.”
“And so, in return, you drop the charges. You know Marra is the one who wields the wand, and that she is supposed to be free to help people who need her,” Kain’s voice was stern, and he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. “Besides, there’s no spell in here to stop me turning into a bear and eating you.”
“Very well. You gave me what I wanted.”
“I didn’t do it…”
“Marra. Let it go,” Kain said.
“Yes, Marra, let it go,” Lance mimicked, heading for the door.
“Hey, not so fast. I have a wish I need granted.” He looked at Marra. “I wish Lance DeVere to be devoid of magic, and that if he even comes in contact with magic, he won’t be able to see it or sense it.”
“What!” Lance exclaimed.
“Granted,” Marra said, and raised her wand.
“I’ll sue,” Lance said.
“Good luck with that,” Marra said, raising her wand in the air.
“Look, Lance,” Kain said. “You don’t need any of this. You have money, more money than most people have their whole lives, and more importantly you have a wife and child who love you. Do you know that is the single most important thing in this world?”
Lance opened his mouth to speak, but behind him, Marra waved her wand. His expression changed: it softened, as if he had suddenly been hit by a clarity he’d never had. “You’re right. Thank you.”
“And your son is waiting for you at home. So, if you could go and drop the charges, I can drive you.”
“That’s so kind,” Lance said. “Very kind.” Lance took a deep breath, and exhaled. “What a great day.” He opened the door, and almost walked into a confused Officer Partridge.
“Oh, how the…” Officer Partridge said.
“Officer. You work too hard. You’re always here. I’d like to pay for you to go on a vacation…”
“What happened to no personal gain?” Kain asked.
“It wasn’t personal. It was what Lance DeVere would have wished for if he’d have had the nerve to say it.” She waved her wand. “I hear lots of wishes, not all are spoken out loud.”
“I’ll remember that,” he said, and closed his eyes, wishing for the two of them to be back in her apartment, in bed.
“Naughty,” she said. “But nice.” With that, she waved her wand, and they found themselves in her apartment, naked in bed.
“I could get used to this,” Kain said, and pulled her close. “I could really get used to this.”
Then he kissed her.
Epilogue
“Is it morning already?” Marra asked.
“It is. Time to get up.” He kissed her lips, drawing her towards him. “Well, maybe we have a few more minutes.”
“And what did you intend to do in those few more minutes?” Marra asked.
“I was going to kiss you.” He pressed his lips against her lips, and said, “Here.” He moved his head, and lightly kissed her cheek. “And here.”
Working his way down her neck, and along her collarbone, he soon gave her an idea of what he intended. “Here.” He sucked her nipple into his mouth, his tongue swirling around the taut bud, making her gasp. She cradled his head against her, but he pulled away, working his way down over her stomach, and then lower.
“And here.” He eased her thighs apart, and kissed her clit, his tongue snaking out to torture her.
“I like it there,” she said.
He chuckled, warm breath against her thighs. “I know.”
He knew more than that. He knew how to make her come, how to make her cry out his name, and how to make her beg him for more. Always more.
Kain pressed two fingers inside her, while his mouth gave her what she craved. Marra bucked her hips, offering herself to him. His fingers plunged in and out of her, rough, hard, while his mouth was soft, gentle. She had no power to hold on, he worked his magic, and she came, crying out his name. The name of the man who had turned her world upside down.
The man who was going to make love to her. Slipping between her thighs, he guided himself into her wet sex. Slick with need, he slid deep inside her in one hard thrust. Marra liked it when he took her like this, there was a hunger, a need to claim her, and it excited her. She could almost imagine they were creatures of magic, their bodies imbued with a power, natural, primal.
She dug her nails into his flesh, urging him on. He thrust harder, long leisurely lunges, bringing them to the edge of desire, and then throwing them over the edge. He usually took his time, their lovemaking lasting for hours, but today, today was different. Today was a new beginning.
Kain cried out, burying his face into her breasts, kissing her, telling her he loved her. And she believed him. She had taught him to believe in magic; he had taught her to believe in herself.
Today, she would know if that belief was enough. Today, they were going to open the doors of her café.
“I love you. Today is going to be great. And I love you.” He kissed her again. “Go get in the shower, and I’ll make you breakfast.”
“I don’t know if I can eat a thing.”
“Your lawyer says you are
not going to go to work on an empty stomach.” He kissed her. “I mean it.”
“What if nobody comes?” she asked.
“Are you kidding, you will be turning people away. Or else I’m going to be dragging people off the streets. I’ve told everyone.” He winked. “Relax. Shower.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, with a mock salute.
Half an hour later, she was downstairs. The place had been converted from antique shop to café. Not that all the antiques had gone. Many of the more curious pieces were on display; the rest had been donated to charity, or else given away to anyone who wanted them.
As Kain kept reminding her over the last week, this was a new start. For Marra, it had happened a little too fast. She suspected magic was involved, but it wasn’t hers. Even if technically it wouldn’t have been for personal gain.
There was a knock on the door. Marra glanced up at the clock, it was still half an hour before they were due to open, but Bas and his mate, Pepper, were coming in early to help. Or at least for moral support. Walking around the counter, she ducked her head, trying to check who it was, but she couldn’t see properly.
“Who is it?” she called. After the Lance DeVere business, she was wary. Although the café, and her apartment, and especially her wand, were well warded with spells, thanks to Rupert. Marra had never met a more resourceful man.
“It’s only me.” The voice was familiar, but she couldn’t place it.
“I’m sorry? Who is it?” Marra asked again.
“I’d rather not shout it out loud,” the voice answered.
“Oh.” Marra quickly opened the door, and said, “Hello. Sorry. Thank you so much for coming.”
“My pleasure.” Mrs. Claus walked into the café, looking around. “I like what you’ve done with the place. And I love that you kept the clock.”
“You’ve been in here before?” Marra asked, in awe of the elegant lady before her. Dressed casually, she had an air of grace about her, despite the jeans and fur-lined boots. Marra got the feeling this white-haired lady, who seemed ageless, and beautiful, could pull off any look. Marra had met her once or twice before, when she was younger and her mom had taken her to the North Pole. There were some perks to being a fairy godmother, and visiting Santa at Christmas was one of them.
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