I point to the floor and she follows my finger, noticing the water and then putting her hands to her face.
“Why… why’d you miss?” she asks Zev, who smiles in response.
“Because you’re a water nymph,” he responds in an oddly reassuring tone. “You control the water around your body, just like you can control men.”
At that, both AJ and I burst into laughter. Attract, seduce, allure, maybe. But control? If AJ could actually control men, her life would have been way different.
“I’ll give you the water gag,” she says, looking from Zev to me and then back to her assailant. “But I’ve got no power over men. If anything, it’s the other way around.”
“Do you live near the water?” Darius asks, a hint of annoyance in his voice at having to teach someone about why they could dodge his mind tricks.
“Yeah, dumbass, the ocean’s like five miles from here.”
“Can you see it from your home?” If Darius sounded annoyed earlier, he’s now fully vexed.
AJ thinks, though she knows the answer. “No, not… no. But why does that matter? Also, plenty of people have thrown beer in my face and it hasn’t, like, bounced off me.”
“You don’t have power over fluids, and just a minimal control over the water near your body,” Zev clarifies. “I also imagine you relinquished your power over men.”
“What? When? Why?” Her string of questions showcases how little either of us understand what’s being said.
“If you don’t believe in your own strength,” Darius cuts in, “you turn what should be a power into a weakness.”
It’s a very backhanded compliment, and I think AJ takes it as such. She might’ve let guys walk all over her up to this point in her life, but if she actually starts to believe in herself, she could put a stop to it now.
“But,” Darius continues, “a nymph in the house only complicates things further.” He steps toward her, mouth open, teeth sharpening with each step. “I’d like to know what everyone proposes we do.”
“How about this,” I say, putting my foot down before this conversation gets further out of hand. “This is my house and you three are the entire complication. So why don’t you go down to the bar, clean a little, talk things over, sit on the stools and try to look normal. With the power out and nothing to do at home, people will start showing up soon, and I’d love it if you refrained from killing anyone else today.”
I look at AJ, still weirded out by her not being human, but nevertheless taking a lot of comfort in her presence. I need a shot of Jameson and a cry on a shoulder, and I know she’ll help with both.
“AJ and I are going to have a quick talk and then we’ll join you,” I finish, trying not to leave room for any follow-up questions.
The Sexies seem content, or are at least eager to discuss the new situation. They move out of the apartment, with Darius being the last to go, his eyes lingering on AJ.
As soon as he closes the door, she turns to me with a twinkle in her eye I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. “Can you believe this shit? I’m not human!”
I don’t know why this makes her so ecstatic, but I guess it’s better than her being devastated.
“Are you sure, though?” I’m not ready to buy into all this, especially because we don’t know what any of it means. Can she breathe underwater? Talk to fish? Or just stay dry without an umbrella?
“I mean, not really,” AJ says, and I take solace in her at least being a little apprehensive. “But that water trick was something, and I’m riding a wave of dead-husband endorphins.”
Right. That’s still a thing. At some point, when we know what’s going on and, well, what she is, we’ll need to address the issue of the murdered and now officially missing John.
“What I do know,” AJ continues, “is that a sexy vampire tried to get in my head, and then a wicked hot werewolf sniffed my neck and told me I’m not human. Who am I to argue with those facts?”
I stroll into my bedroom while considering her words. It’s time for Rain to have a proper sleep in her crib before I have to feed her again. My breasts are already starting to feel heavy again. AJ follows me in, her face going soft at the sight of my daughter.
“So,” I say as I lay Rain down. “What now? What do we do?”
There’s a quiver in my voice as I speak, and I know a monsoon of tears are on the way. I’m overwhelmed by everything and need to cry out some stress before I can use my brain or body again.
AJ recognizes all of this, of course, and brings me in for a hug just as the weeping begins. I bury my head into her shoulder to stifle my sobs and she leads me out of the bedroom away from Rain.
“First off, let’s get downstairs and drink some whiskey.” As expected, AJ’s comfort game is unassailable.
“Second, let’s remember who has the dead husband and yet is for some reason doing all the consoling.”
It’s a fair point, and one that forces me to break from crying long enough to let out a laugh.
“You’re right,” I say as I dry my eyes with my sleeves. “I’ve got a beautiful baby and run a halfway house for hotties from other realms. And that includes you, apparently.”
“It’s a pretty good setup,” she says. “Even so, I’ll kick your ass if you stay in Rowley longer than is absolutely necessary.”
“AJ, I have to run--”
“Nope,” she cuts me off before I can launch into my speech about being responsible for the family business. “No buts. You have a gift, it got you out of this place, and as soon as we deal with...whatever it is we’re dealing with, you gotta go, girl.”
We share a brief moment, speaking no words, just smiling gratefully at each other. Thank God for true friends.
“Okay,” I say, feeling a bit of a second wind coming on. “I’ve got to figure out how to run this bar and… well, I’ve got to figure out everything.”
“You,” AJ starts, looking at me like I’m nuts, “don’t have to do anything. I was going to step in for you after the baby came, and that doesn’t change just because she’s here early.”
I knew AJ would help when Rain arrived, but I was always hesitant to put this on her plate. She’s got--well, had--enough to deal with in her personal life, and I can’t really afford to pay her beyond what the customers tip. Morgan’s is a small bar in a small town, meaning we’ll always have enough customers to stay open and never quite make enough money to pay all our bills. The fact that my family has kept this place going for multiple generations is nothing short of a miracle.
“I mean, I’m not going to turn down your help, but I completely understand if you need to go off and think or cry or just fire a gun into the sky for a while.”
“Nope, I’m good,” AJ says with a shrug. “I don’t want to leave you, don’t mind being around them, and I’ll happily stuff some tips in my bra.” She flashes a sexy smile. “I’m going to control the shit out of these human men.”
She undoes a button on her shirt to show a little more cleavage. What a strange new version of the same old AJ.
“Great,” I say as I turn back to my room. “I’m going to watch my baby sleep for a while, then we’ll come meet you downstairs, Nympho.”
AJ bounds off to the bar, not at all bothered by the new moniker. I step into my room and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror over my dresser; looks like the bath did me good. Face is still a little puffy and I’m not even going to think about my midsection, but I’m not the monster I felt like earlier this morning.
A cold breeze ripples over my skin, alerting me to an open window on the other side of my bed. What kind of horrible mother leaves a window open in the dead of winter next to a newborn? Even if she’s only alone for like five minutes, she could still…
I stop dead in my tracks, standing between the window and the crib.
The empty crib.
My baby’s gone.
Chapter Eight
I look out the window, my heart pounding so hard in my chest I fear my ribs wil
l break. Panic crowds my mind, filling it, not so much with words, but horrifying images of all the things that could be happening to my baby.
Outside I see only sheets of snow blurring the town I know so well, covering it all in a blanket of white that earlier looked ethereal and beautiful, but now has a sinister undertone.
Rain is hungry. Cold. She needs me.
And someone has taken her.
Fear jolts me into action, turning to rage in a blink, and I raise my voice as I race downstairs as fast as my still-healing body can go.
“Which one of you assholes took my goddamned child?” I scream, storming into the bar so hard the door hinge comes undone. The building seems to shake, startling me for a moment. The storm outside must be worse than I thought, which only makes me more angry and scared for Rain.
The three Sexies and AJ all turn to look at me, and none of them are holding my baby.
Darius is the first to blink over to me, and I don’t even reprimand him for using his superspeed this time. “What has happened?” he asks, his eyes burning into my soul with their dark intensity.
“She’s gone,” I say, tears springing up as a wave of emotion threatens to drown me. “Rain is gone.”
And then, Darius is gone. Presumably upstairs to investigate. I don’t even know. My stupid human eyes can’t track his movements.
I cover my face, sobs shaking me, and feel strong arms wrap around me. “We will find her. Trust us on this,” Rune says, and his words hold power that seem to calm me despite myself.
With a howl, Zev, already back in wolf form, leaps across the bar and crashes out a window. Dude is really going to have to learn to use doors, but that’s a lesson for less urgent times.
“Aren’t you going to help search?” AJ asks Rune, who is still holding me close, like I might fall apart if he wasn’t there to keep me together, and maybe that’s not far from the truth.
“I must stay to protect Bernie. We do not know what we’re dealing with yet, though I have my suspicions.”
“If you’re staying with B, then I’ll go.”
I push against Rune’s chest just enough to create a bit of space between us. I need to clear my head, and whether it’s his magic or natural magnetism, I can’t do that when he’s holding me. “I’m going too,” I say.
“Not a chance, B,” AJ says with a frown. “It’s freezing out there. You just gave birth. You’ll be no use to Rain if you get sick or dead.”
AJ glances at Rune, who nods. But though her words make sense on some level, it feels wrong for me to stay behind doing nothing while my child is in danger.
As if reading my mind, AJ reaches for my hand. “I know this goes against everything inside you. You’re a badass, no question, but you. Just. Had. A. Baby. Most women are still in the hospital recovering and getting fed sad, alcohol-free jello shots. You shouldn’t be dealing with any of this. Let me help.”
“Werewolves and vampires are the best trackers you can find,” Rune says. “And however else I might feel about Darius and Zev, they are powerful, even amongst their kind. They will find your child.”
“And I’ve never been sick a day in my life,” AJ says, and with a start I realize that’s true. I never thought about it before, how odd that was. “Turns out, the cold never bothered me anyway.” She shrugs with an impish smile. “Snow is just water in a different form, and apparently that’s my jam. So, I’m gonna go out there and see what I can do.”
She kisses my cheek. “I’ll be back soon.”
Then she glances at Rune. “Get her a shot, make her rest. And protect her with your life or I will carve out your liver and feed it to that wolf out there.”
“Duly noted,” Rune says with a glint in his silver-blue eyes.
I watch helplessly as my best friend heads outside, into the blizzard, and hiccup softly as a new wave of emotion overwhelms me.
My breasts feel about ready to burst, and when I look down I notice I’m leaking. Fantastic. As if I needed one more problem right now.
Rune takes my hand and guides me to the bar, indicating I should sit.
My legs are wobbly, my head is spinning, and now that the adrenaline is wearing off, the ache in my body from my recent birthing experience is returning, so I take the seat normally reserved for Joe and marvel at how odd it feels to be on this side of things.
Rune moves around like he belongs back there, pulling out two glasses and the finest whiskey we have. He pours a generous amount into each tumbler, then takes something from a hidden pocket and sprinkles it into mine. It makes the liquor sparkle, like liquid gold.
I take the glass, staring at the mesmerizing drink. “What did you do to it? And honestly, I shouldn’t be drinking this while nursing. A tiny bit once a week is fine, according to Doctor Internet, but more than that could be harmful for… for Rain.”
Saying her name brings up a surge of terror once again, and Rune comes around the bar to sit next to me. He takes my free hand, and at the touch of his skin that calmness I felt before flows over me. “That powder will change how your body perceives the alcohol. It will excrete it more slowly, breaking it down and keeping it from passing through your milk. I’ve also added something that will help you recover more quickly from the birth. It’s quite safe, I assure you.”
My eyes widen. “We could make a lot of money selling your magical drinks here,” I say, sipping at the concoction. It dances on my tongue and burns going down in the kind of smooth, rich way only the best whiskey can offer.
Instantly I feel my body melt a bit. Every nerve is still on fire, worried for my child. Wondering what’s happening. What the three of them are out there doing.
But the drink and Rune’s presence take the edge off--which part of me resents. I have a right, a responsibility, even, to be hysterical and in full-on rage mode right now. At the same time, AJ is right. I’m no use to Rain if I’m sick, and I don’t want to--I don’t know--feed her angry milk. Is that a thing? I don’t even know anymore, but I don’t want to risk it.
So I continue sipping the magic whiskey as my gaze locks with Rune’s pale blue eyes. “You don’t look like a fae,” I say at last. “At least not how I imagined.”
His lips twitch in a smile. “I appear how I must in this realm to not stand out too much. Would you like to see my true form?”
I suck in a breath and nod.
With a flick of his wrist, his appearance shifts. It’s subtle, but I take in each detail. The irises of his eyes are larger, more luminescent. His face is more defined, his skin so perfect it doesn’t look real. His hair glows silver, like moonlight. But the most striking difference is his ears. They are longer, with pointed tips.
“You’re beautiful,” I say with a shaky breath, temporarily overwhelmed by the vision of him.
He lifts a hand to caress my cheek, his gaze consuming me. “Would that you could see yourself through my eyes, to truly know real beauty.”
His words send a shiver down my spine, but the temporary distraction is short-lived as my mind crashes back to why we’re sitting here.
When a new tear slides down my cheek, Rune uses the pad of his finger to wipe it away. “They will be back soon. With Rain.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I just am,” he says, as if that explains everything. “The cost of failure is too high.”
“Tell me what’s really going on here,” I demand. Since these guys walked into my bar, it’s been madness. The irony that this is the first pause we’ve had to actually talk is not lost on me.
“Your child is at the crux of a prophecy that will have a profound impact on all of us. Human, vampire, werewolf, fae, and all others. It is said she is the Last Witch that will be born, the last one of your kind who can save us all from extinction.”
“My kind?” I ask, sure the magical alcohol is now playing with my hearing.
“Yes,” Rune says softly. “You’re more special than you know, Bernie. In time, this will all make sense, and you’ll understand
the true importance of your beautiful girl.”
“Is that why she’s been kidnapped? Because of this stupid prophecy?” I ask, my hand clutching the tumbler so hard it might crack as my anger returns more powerful than before.
Once again, the bar shakes, like a mini-earthquake, though we don’t get earthquakes here. My baby is out in a storm so powerful it’s shaking buildings. I’m beyond angry. I’m ready to tear into whoever did this the same way Darius and Zev tore into John.
“We are not the only ones who seek her,” Rune says.
“Fantastic,” I say, downing the last of my whiskey. “As if having three supernatural alphas showing up demanding my child wasn’t bad enough.”
Rune frowns. “I’m truly sorry our presence has been so disruptive to you. I will admit, I never quite thought about your role in the prophecy. For thousands of years, this edict has been passed down in my family, that we would be ready to retrieve the one who could save us. It has made us all a bit...myopic in our approach.”
Ugh. I can’t be like, sure it’s totally fine you want to steal my kid, but also, I don’t know what I would have done if they hadn’t been around to help deliver so, shit. “Right now I just want her back in my arms. The rest can wait. But know this, none of you are taking her away from me. She’s mine.” I pause, fighting a sudden urge to overshare, then give in when I realize it would be nice to have someone to talk to about the things weighing on my heart. I hold up my glass, and Rune reaches for the whiskey, pouring me another and sprinkling in his magic glitter once again.
“I didn’t want her at first,” I confess finally, after taking another drink. “She wasn’t planned… obviously. And I gave serious consideration to…” I pause, drinking again. It’s so hard to think about. To talk about. To have her or not have her was the most difficult choice I’ve ever made. “I was in a master’s program at Julliard--”
When Rune looks at me confused, I explain. “It’s a music school in New York. Very prestigious, hard to get into it.”
A Werewolf, a Vampire, and a Fae Walk Into a Bar Page 7
