“Yer welcome to run along any time,” Dirk says playfully, batting his lashes as he smiles. “Wouldn’t want your knickers in a twist of Evenia randomly shows up to town. Her son lives here, yeh know.”
Laerith’s red eyes narrow, and she takes an aggressive bite of her marsala.
I sigh. This is gonna be a long dinner with all of this elemental posturing back and forth.
But I kinda think I love it.
“Tell me about these Evertons,” Laerith demands, crossing her muscular arms over her chest.
We’re standing with Morgan at Doc Slade’s the morning after dinner. No idea where Slade is, but we let ourselves in, and now I’m staring at Bellami’s softly rising chest, even though he’s facing the ceiling, completely catatonic.
I reach down and straighten his hat. I remember him telling me once that it’s highly inappropriate for anyone to see a gnome’s hair, and his hat seems to be in danger of falling off.
“This is my friend Bellami,” I say. “He tasked me with helping the gnomes build their new village, and?—”
Laerith snorts. “A witch in a gnome village? You must be mistaken.”
Morgan huffs out an irritated-sounding noise. “Why is it so unbelievable to everyone that Lou would get invited to help thegnomes? They fucking love her. Everybody loves her. There’s not a better person to help them.”
“Why’d they ask you?” Laerith turns and drops her hands casually to her sides, although she widens her stance.
I’m ready when blue flame shoots from one hand and forms a long, wicked curved blade. Hissing, I call my power and shove it toward her in a rush of blue flame. At the last minute, it dissipates around her blade and dies a quick death.
“Aww, godsdamnit,” I huff, returning my focus to Bellami and Amatheia.
“This is new,” Morgan reminds me for the millionth time. “You’re kicking ass, Auntie. Go easy on yourself, okay?”
It’s Laerith’s turn to huff. “Or ignore your niece’s stupid advice because a revenant is attacking your friends, and maybe your family could be next. Use that impending tragedy as fuel for your fire.”
“That’s too much pressure!” Morgan grabs my hand and pulls me close to her, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
I snake my arm around her waist. She’s about to go into mama bear mode, which is funny because usually that’s me about my nieces. But since they all mated monsters, they’ve taken a more motherly approach to me, and I find that sort of hilarious.
“She’s right, Mor,” I whisper to my niece, pinching her muscular hip. “I’ve got to be ready.”
“Ready, sure,” Morgan barks. “But you’re not gonna learn everything in a fucking week.” She raises an arm and points one angry finger at Laerith. “Chill out, lady.”
Laerith shrugs and jerks her head toward Amatheia. “Tell me about that one.”
“The merking’s eldest daughter, Amatheia” I whisper. “My mates found her in human form in the woods.”
Laerith drops to a knee beside the giant tub Doc Slade hauled in for Amatheia to rest in. The mermaid’s tail hangs over the edge.
“Just one fin.” She looks up. “So, in human form, she’s got just one foot?”
“Half of one leg,” I confirm. “Not sure why that matters.”
“Maybe it doesn’t,” the vampire croons. “Maybe it does. He seems to have attacked those who’d be least suited to defend themselves.” She glances around the room as if it’ll help her think. After a long moment, she heads for the door, calling out to us over her shoulder, “Come along, my little humies. Now that we’ve recentered on why this work matters, let’s get serious.”
“Humies,” Morgan grunts. “Haven’t been called that since the first week we arrived. And we’re not even human; we’re witches!”
I sigh. “Let’s go, though. If I don’t follow quickly, she’ll make me run laps and I already did that all morning. And while I’m down with tossing flames at garbage bags, ya girl is not down with running, okay?”
Morgan laughs and heads for the door. As she goes, I turn to look at our fallen friends.
Reaching out, I give Bellami’s tiny hand a squeeze.
“I’ll fix this,” I promise him. “I’ll get you back to Penn soon. No matter what.”
