by B N Miles
“The Need drove him insane,” Jared said, his voice soft. “I’m sorry. It’s… it’s what happens to most Magi sooner or later. Just happened to him all at once. He wasn’t ready for what he could do.”
“I know that. I just wish I could’ve stopped him.”
“Even if he’d survived, he would’ve been too far gone.” He squeezed her hand. “You did everything you could.”
“Lumi took the glove.”
Jared look at Cassie. She was frowning at him, a serious look in her eyes.
“I figured,” he said. “That was the plan all along.”
“She says she plans on destroying it, but…”
“But you’re not so sure.”
Cassie just shook her head.
“You should rest,” Jessalene announced.
“I’ve been resting enough. Where’s Wyatt? And Lumi. I want to talk to both of them.”
“Jared,” Jessalene said. “Rest.”
He frowned. “But—”
She leaned closer and kissed his lips. “Rest,” she said.
He let out a breath. “Fine.”
“Good boy.” Cassie touched his leg and grinned. “Hey, when you’re ready for it, me and Jessalene are going to take care of the Need. You’re feeling it right now, right?”
He nodded. “Yes, but—”
“We talked. We’re going to take care of you, Jared… together.” Cassie’s grin was salacious. “But only when you’re ready to handle it.”
“I can handle it,” he said, shifting toward her, his blood pounding. “I can handle it right now.”
She laughed and walked away, picking up one cup of coffee. “Come on,” she said to Jessalene. “Let’s let him rest.”
Jessalene smiled at Jared. He grinned at her. “Guess this is real.”
“Guess so.” She touched his hand, kissed his cheek, then followed Cassie out into the hall.
Jared leaned back against the bed and closed his eyes. He didn’t think he was tired, but the world went black.
He woke up a few hours later. Jessalene was alone with him. She called for a nurse, got him some food, and by the time Cassie came back an hour later, he felt a lot better.
“Wyatt’s on his way,” Cassie said. “I don’t know how to get in touch with Lumi, though.”
“She’ll come,” he said. “I have no doubts about that.”
They talked about what had happened and what will happen. They talked about the neighborhood nearly burning down, all thanks to Ferric’s wild fire. Apparently the MetaDept had to go in there and plant a ton of false memories to keep the Accord intact. Wyatt showed up as Jared was finishing his meal and lingered in the doorway for a long moment.
“Jared,” he said. “Glad to see you up.”
“Glad to be up,” he said, and laughed. “What’s with the look?”
“Son, I feel as though I let you down.”
Jared rolled his eyes. “Come in here, Captain. We have some talking to do.”
Wyatt hesitated, then sighed. He walked into the room and took the chair Cassie vacated for him. He leaned toward Jared. “You okay?”
“I think so,” Jared said. “I mean, I will be as soon as you can get a fucking healer in here.”
Wyatt laughed. “Lumi offered, but your girls here can be a little protective.”
Jessalene just shrugged.
“Now you get why I keep them around,” Jared said.
Cassie rolled her eyes. “Like he has any choice in that.”
“Listen, we’ll do the full debrief later. I got the story from these two and Lumi. You did well, Jared.”
“And the Medlar?” he asked.
“They’re happy. Got their artifact back with minimal issues and no casualties.”
“Just one burned down normal human block.”
“Just one,” Wyatt echoed and shrugged. “You know how they are.”
“I do.” Jared sighed. “What now?”
“Now you rest up. You can take some medical leave if you like, as much as you want, at least until I get annoyed and make you come back.”
Jared grinned. “Thanks, sir. But that’s not what I mean.” He looked over at Cassie and Wyatt followed his gaze.
“Ah,” he said. “That one.” He hesitated. “Maybe we should talk about that later.”
“No,” Jared said. “Whatever you have to say, say it now.”
“Truth is, I don’t know what will happen to her.” Wyatt gave her an apologetic look. “Far as I can tell, they’ll come collect her and ship her off to Max as soon as possible.”
Jared’s jaw tensed. “Even after what she did? I made a deal with Lumi.”
Wyatt looked confused. “I’m sorry. I don’t know about any deals.”
“But—”
“Listen, Jared.” He stood up. “We’ll debrief later. Ferric’s gone, we recovered the artifact. Things are stable again. You don’t have to worry.”
“Wyatt—”
“And maybe, maybe you want to… talk to her.” Wyatt gave Cassie a look. “Maybe you should all talk.”
“Yes, sir,” Jared said, resigned.
Wyatt nodded, hesitated, then put a hand on his shoulder. “Good work. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
Jared nodded back. Wyatt removed his hand and left the room without another word.
Silence hung over them, thick and heavy.
“Well,” Jared said, looking at Cassie.
She sighed. “I was going to tell you both,” she said. “Sooner or later.”
“What’s she talking about?” Jessalene asked.
“Cassie was bound for Meta Max Prison, just like Ferric. But I still don’t know why she was being taken there. Her file’s a mess of redactions.”
Jessalene frowned. “Oh.”
“I was going to tell you,” she repeated. “It’s just been… well, you know.”
“Cassie, where are you from?” Jared asked.
She laughed softly and shook her head. “I’m not from here.”
“I know, that much is obvious. You have all these gaps. You don’t know things you should know… things everyone knows.”
“No, Jared. I’m not from this world.”
He let that sink in for a long moment. Jessalene looked confused, her head tilted.
“What does that mean?” she asked.
“You’re a Worldhopper,” Jared said, answering for her.
“Sort of,” Cassie answered and sighed. “I did world hop, that’s true, but I can’t do it on demand. I’m sort of stuck here. It’s a long story and I’ll tell you all of it soon, but that’s why they were sending me back to Max. I’m not from this world… this earth.”
It all clicked into place. She didn’t know simple and obvious things because she wasn’t from this universe.
“But… how?” Jessalene asked, still confused.
“There are millions of different versions of earth out there,” Jared said. “Connected by The Miles. Some beings can hop between them, travel between worlds. They’re exceedingly rare and dangerous, though.”
“You mean, like, alternative universes?” Jessalene shook her head. “Nobody told me this.”
“Yeah, more or less,” Jared said. “Except they all exist, and they’re all connected.”
“That’s what The Miles are,” Cassie explained. “They’re like the tunnels between worlds. When I hopped, I had to walk them… it felt like it took ages. I came to the first world I found and ended up here.”
“They want to send you back,” Jared said. “That’s why you were going to Max. It’s one of the few places with enough power and a Magi on staff strong enough to breach the veil and shove you off into The Miles.”
“I guess so,” she said and shrugged. “That’s what they said at least.”
“You were getting deported,” Jessalene said and laughed. “But why is that such a big deal?”
“Worldhoppers bring traces with them,” Jared said. “Small things. Cassie doesn’t belo
ng in this world…” He trailed off. “Your shifting form. I’ve been wondering about that.”
She grinned at him. “I’m actually not a Shifter.”
He blinked in surprise. “But that animal… I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“When I first got here, I tried to find a pack. Couldn’t find anyone like me though, not even a whiff… so I did some research. I think my species of Were is called an Aelurodon? Closest thing I could find at any rate.”
“Aelurodon,” Jared repeated and looked at Jessalene. “Do you know what that is?”
“No clue,” she said.
“It’s been extinct for a long time here,” Cassie explained. “They’re called bone crushing dogs, which I kind of love.” She laughed and shrugged. “They’re more common on my world.”
Jared sighed and closed his eyes. “So you’re a Were. You’re not a Shifter. And you’re an extinct species from another world.”
“Bingo. Cool, huh?” She grinned at them. “That’s why they want to kick me out.”
“But…” Jessalene looked between them. “They can’t do that, can they? I mean, I just—”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Jared said, voice firm. “I cut a deal with Lumi.”
“Lumi isn’t here,” Cassie pointed out. “And Wyatt didn’t know what you were talking about.”
“She’ll come through.” He tried to sit up and failed. “Shit. Worldhopper. Extinct Were.”
“I know.” Cassie came over and sat on his bed. “I’m exceptional, right?”
“And beautiful.”
She blushed. “Thanks.” She leaned down and kissed him.
Jessalene came up and sat next to her. Cassie looked at the Dryad and tilted her chin up toward her. The girls kissed and Jared felt like it was the most natural thing he’d ever seen. Two beautiful women kissing, equally in love with each other as he was with each of them.
It was strange, this relationship. He didn’t know how it had formed. He suspected it had to do with Cassie though. Weres tended to be a little more open with their relationships. Multiple partners weren’t common, but they weren’t unheard of, either.
For a long time, a single partner seemed out of the question for him. But now, he couldn’t imagine going through the day without these girls.
They broke off their kiss. Cassie was grinning and Jessalene was blushing. Jared could see the lust in her eyes.
“You better heal fast,” Cassie said. “I don’t know how long Jessa will be able to wait.”
She blushed even more. “Stop it.”
“It’s true. You’re ready to jump him right now.”
“I’m ready and willing,” Jared said. “Jump away.”
Jessalene got up. “You two are awful,” she said, smiling. “I’m getting something to drink. Want anything?”
“No, thanks,” Cassie said, and Jared just shook his head. Jessalene hurried out of the room and Cassie watched her go. “She’ll open up soon,” she said.
“I’m sure she will,” Jared put a hand on Cassie’s leg and Cassie sank down next to him, curling up against his side. Every inch of him hurt, but it felt good to have her pressed so close. She was warm, so warm, and so soft. “Aelurodon, huh.”
“Bone crushing dogs.” She gave him a vicious grin. “Accurate, I’d say.”
“I thought you were, like, a big… fox… creature.”
She laughed. “I can see that. Kind of similar. I mean, whatever I am is a little different from this world’s Aelurodon, but that’s just the closest thing I could find.”
“Your world’s Aelurodon had millions of extra years of evolution before it got to you.”
“Yep, good point. But here I am, perfect and amazing.”
“Exactly.”
He held her tight for a bit. Eventually Jessalene came back, frowned at them, and crawled into the bed on his other side. He was the center of the group, but he was nothing without his two partners. Each of them curled against them, holding each other’s hand on top of his chest. He smiled up at the ceiling and nothing hurt.
42
The girls were back at Jared’s house getting some rest when Lumi Medlar opened the door to his room and stepped inside.
He looked over, not surprised to see her. “Took you long enough.”
She gave him a small, tilted smile. “I had some business to attend to first.” She looked the same as the last time he saw her, at least before she was smashed into a crater in the ground. Her hair was back in a tight bun, she wore simple but flattering business clothing, and her face was nearly expressionless.
But she was pretty. Jared hadn’t noticed or cared at first, but now he could see it. She was petite, but soft and round in the right places.
“The glove?”
“Gone.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure. We dropped it into an active volcano. Even if it’s not destroyed, nobody will find it for thousands of years.”
“Active volcano.” He laughed. “You Medlar sure love overkill.”
“Our original method didn’t work. We got creative.” She hesitated, then walked over and sat down next to his bed. “How do you feel?”
“Tired. Aching. Did you bring a healer by any chance?”
She gave him that tight smile again. “I did.”
“You’re a dream.”
“But I thought we’d talk first.”
“Ah,” he said with a sigh. “Taking advantage of me.”
“Something like that.” She hesitated. “I did what you asked of me.”
“The elf?”
“And the girl.” She gave him a look. “Are you sure about her? Do you know what she is?”
“She’s Cassie,” he said. “That’s all I care about.”
“Hm.” She shrugged and produced a paper, handing it over. “Official visa,” she said. “She’s your charge and your responsibility. If she messes up or begins to tear apart the space-time continuum, you’re at fault. Understood?”
“Understood.”
“Give that to Wyatt and he’ll take care of the rest.”
“And the elf?”
“That’s a more… complex matter.” She frowned at him. “What do you know about him?”
“Almost nothing,” he admitted. “Only that he owned their land and was their steward for a long time.”
“Yes, that’s true. But it’s not the full story.” She sighed and rubbed her temples. It surprised him that she’d show any weakness or exhaustion. “His name is Wen Bet. He’s old, Jared. Very, very old. He was a High Elf once, when that distinction had meaning. He disappeared several months ago and hasn’t been heard from since. As far as I can tell, he dropped off the face of this earth.”
“I’m surprised you’re telling me any of this,” Jared said. “I thought your family was working with him.”
“They’re not,” she said, her tone flat. “Wen Bet is missing. Possibly dead, I don’t know.”
“But then, how—?”
“That’s for you to figure out.” She frowned at him. “My family…” She stopped herself. Jared could tell this was difficult for her. “I am not my family,” she said. “No more than you are the Bechtels. I don’t agree with everything they do. I’ve been a hammer for them for most of my life… and I’ve served well.”
He tilted his head. “But?”
“But I find this matter distasteful.” She made a face. “And unbecoming of our family. I don’t understand it, don’t understand any of it.”
“I wouldn’t ask you to go against your family, Lumi.”
“I know. And I wouldn’t go against them.” She hesitated. “But this is… different. If we are buying the Dryad land legally, then finding Wen Bet won’t matter. But if we aren’t…” She trailed off. “Well. That’s for you to find out.”
“Thank you,” he said. “I’ll see that I do.”
She nodded but didn’t move. She was looking at him with a strange expression before she moved over and sat dow
n in the chair next to his bed.
“I wanted to say something to you,” she said, her voice low. “Back at the house, with Ferric. I don’t think I could’ve won that fight.”
“You had it under control,” Jared said.
“I didn’t.” She narrowed her eyes. “He was using spells like your family does, but instead of two, he was throwing out three, four, five. It was all I could do to match him.”
Jared frowned at her. “What are you saying?”
“If you hadn’t done what you did… I think I would be dead.”
“Lumi—”
“Thank you, Jared,” she said. “I know it almost cost you everything. I feel as though I’m in your debt.”
“You’re not,” he said, his voice soft. “I was just doing my job. We all would’ve been dead if you hadn’t come.”
“That’s true,” she said, nodding. “This whole situation troubles me.”
“I feel the same way.” He studied her face for a moment. Despite her apparent calm, he could see a tension in her jaw line, just a slight tightening of her muscles.
“Metas shouldn’t be able to use magic like that,” she said. “I don’t understand how an object can grant them that ability. And I don’t understand why my family had it, or how that Dryad stole it.”
“Or why your family is buying up all that land to begin with. Why push an established Dryad clan at all? What’s there to gain?”
A little smile slipped onto her lips. “I have some theories. But I’m not so much of a traitor that I’m willing to tell you right now.”
He smiled. “Good to know you still have some loyalty.”
She laughed. It surprised him a bit. Her laugh was gentle, and it sounded sincere.
“I may never see you again,” she said. “And if that’s the case, I just want to say… it was nice to serve with you. And for now, I’ll help you however I can.”
“You as well, Lumi.” He frowned at her. “Do you want to come have dinner with me, Cassie, and Jessalene sometime?”
She looked surprised. “Dinner?”
“Sure, you know. Food. I’ll cook something. We’ll have some wine. You know, informal, friendly.”
