by Susan Hayes
She turned and headed for the back door. She knew what she needed.
“Fern! Where are you going?”
“Outside. If you follow me, I swear I will cover you in used chewing gum and feathers. Got it?”
“Quite. The pool is heated, by the way. The ocean is not. Choose wisely.”
She spun around to stare at him. “How did you know I was thinking about going for a dip?”
“Because I know you. Whenever you get really upset, you go swimming.” He shuddered. “I never understood it.”
“That’s because your idea of a bath involves spit and your tongue. I won’t judge if you don’t.”
“Fair enough. I’ll tidy up in here.”
“Thank you.”
She walked out of the house and into a yard any witch would be proud of. There were rings of toadstools for the wee folk and beds of wildflowers and herbs of every kind. The air was thick with the scents of lavender, sage, lemon balm, and a host of other plants she couldn’t begin to name.
It wasn’t twilight yet, but the sun was low enough to cast long shadows, and the light had that deep, golden quality that only appeared on lazy summer evenings like this. The Pacific was a deep and peaceful blue that lapped against a rocky beach, and in the middle of all the greenery was a very modern and oh-so-tempting swimming pool, complete with a jacuzzi and a miniature waterfall.
She took a breath and tried to let go of her anger and fear. It didn’t work. She tried again. Come on. She didn’t want to be upset right now. She needed a positive mental outlook so she could figure out what to do next. This was no time to start getting broody.
She strolled around the garden, letting her fingers trail over the beds of flowers as she walked.
When that didn’t help either, she let herself think of Orion. The way he smelled. The feel of his hard body pressed against hers. That kiss. A thrill of desire chased down her spine and her toes curled a little. Better. She conjured up more memories of their brief time together. The rumble of his voice, the strength of his hands. After a few minutes she wasn’t exactly calm, but she definitely wasn’t upset anymore.
She eyed the pool. It was time to cool her hormones down. Then, she could start working on sorting out her memories and maybe even make some kind of plan. Fern kicked off her shoes, zapped herself into a cute little bikini from one of her suitcases, and made for the stairs cleverly tucked in beside the waterfall.
As she lowered herself into the water, she uttered a blissful sigh. This was what she needed, some time for herself with no pressure, no expectations, and no more surprises.
Chapter Seven
Orion spent the short drive back trying to come to terms with the fact he’d found his mate. There was no point in denying it. The second he’d kissed her any doubts had been swept away like a sandcastle hit by the incoming tide. She fit into his arms like she’d been made for him. Fitting her into his life, though. That was a whole other issue. He had a business that needed his undivided attention and fourteen-hour workdays. Where was he going to find time for a mate, especially one like Fern? She was a witch with a destiny, style, and a fucking cat, for Goddess’s sake. A cat!
He was still trying to wrap his head around his new reality when he pulled into the parking lot of the Watering Hole. He hadn’t even shut off the engine before Breeze and Connell came out the back door, accompanied by a concerned-looking Hunter.
Breeze on the other hand, had a very different expression on her face—one of stormy displeasure. Oh, joy. Just what his day needed, another witch in a tizzy with a twitchy trigger finger. Orion parked his bike and flipped up the visor on his helmet without taking it off. The way Breeze and Connell were glowering, he might need the extra protection.
“Problem?” he asked.
“Where’s Fern!” Breeze demanded.
“And where’s Shaz?” Snuffy Wuffles the Turd, Breeze’s rotund raccoon familiar, asked from his spot at her feet.
“I took her and Shaz home. It got a little intense in there and she wasn’t coping well.”
Hunter didn’t say a word. He just stuck close and listened, in case he was needed.
“You should have kept her here until we could talk to her,” Connell said, crossing his arms over his chest.
Please. Like he was going to be intimidated by a skirt-wearing seal Shifter.
Orion got off his bike slowly and removed his helmet, hanging it off a handlebar before wandering closer to the disapproving pair. “I did what she asked me to do. And come on, don’t you remember how freaked you were when you first arrived here, Breeze? She had it worse. Her fake familiar got into a fight with the one she’d forgotten. Then she found out the fake cat familiar was actually her aunt. Everyone was pushing at her to remember them and when she didn’t, they just got louder. When Greg gave me a chance to whisk her out of there, I fucking took it. No one else was going to help her.”
Breeze blinked. “Crap on an unsalted cracker. Was it that bad?”
“Worse,” Hunter confirmed.
“As I recall, you had mister super-spy carry you off to his place for tea and cookies. Then he told everyone to behave before you went out to meet them. Fern didn’t have anyone to do that for her, so I needed to do something. Greg announcing Tiffany was his mate was the perfect distraction. Otherwise, I think she might have snapped, and my insurance doesn’t cover damage done by witches pushed over the edge.”
“I was wondering why he did that. I mean, I’m thrilled for them, but it was awfully public. What if Tiffany hadn’t been happy about it?” Breeze said.
“We just have to trust that the Goddess knows what she’s doing.” Connell wrapped an arm around his mate’s waist. “After all, she brought us together, my wee witch.”
Orion scrubbed a hand over his jaw and considered his next question. “If you don’t mind my asking. How soon did you realize Breeze was your mate?”
“The second I caught her scent.” Connell bowed his head to nuzzle Breeze’s hair.
“It just took him a day or so to get around to actually mentioning it to me,” Breeze added with a laugh.
“So, you didn’t know until he told you?” If that was the case, maybe he didn’t need to rush into this. He could give Fern a little time. Take her on a date. Wine and dine her before he got around to mentioning the whole “mine forever,” thing.
“All I knew was he smelled amazing, and I wanted to jump his bones from the moment we met. By the time Connell told me we were mates I was half out of my mind and convinced he’d cast some kind of selkie sex magic on me.”
Okay. So maybe the date would be more like wine, dine, and eat the witch for dessert. Yeah. That was a much better idea. “So, the mating thing affected you but you didn’t know why? Sorry to be asking personal questions. I just… you’re the only witch I know who hooked up with a Shifter.”
Hunter snickered, the obnoxiously observant pup making the leap before anyone else.
Then, Snuffy narrowed his beady little eyes. “I know that look. It’s the same one seal boy had when he…Oh. Oh Goddess. You and Fern?”
“Keep it down!” he hissed.
The raccoon burst out into long guffaws of laughter. “Does Shaz know yet? Can I tell him? Please?”
Orion growled at him and the raccoon waddled back behind his witch’s legs, still chortling.
Hunter doubled over, laughing so hard the bastard could barely breathe. “Oh my Goddess. You…and a witch?”
Breeze beamed at him. “Really?”
He squeezed the back of his neck. “Maybe. I just know she smells amazing and I can’t stop thinking about her.” It was a weak lie, and he knew it. Fern was his mate. He just wasn’t ready to admit it to the world yet. And he had no idea how to juggle mated life with the demands of work. He eyed his brother. Fur and fucking fangs, he was going to have to ask Hunter for advice. What the hell had he done to deserve this?
“That’s wonderful!” Breeze babbled. “You can help her the way Connell helped me.” She
threw her arms around her mate with a happy little cry. “You’re right, love, the Goddess is taking care of everything! We have so much to tell Fern, but I think maybe we should wait until tomorrow. Orion has a point. We don’t want to overwhelm her, and I think he should share his news first.”
Orion blinked at her. “Tell her. Now? Tonight?”
“Might be better if you mentioned it. My wee little witch was ready to zap me into next week by the time I got my head wrapped around the idea and told her what was going on.”
“I’m not sure I want to dump this on her plate right now.”
“I’m sorry. Is this the same alpha male who told me to quit clucking around and claim my mate like a man and not a chicken just a few weeks ago?” Hunter asked.
“That was different.” Okay. It wasn’t, but he wasn’t going to admit that to his brother. Not right now. Maybe not ever.
Hunter snorted. “The hell it is.” Then he started making soft little clucking noises until Orion grabbed a rock and winged it at him. “Shut up, puppy. I can still kick your ass.”
Connell grinned. “Is the badass wolf afraid of an itty-bitty witch?”
“Says the seal who didn’t tell his mate for…how long was it, Breeze?”
“Just one day. But remember, we’re on the clock. The Father of Dorkness isn’t going to give us much time to get Fern caught up on everything, and she didn’t exactly break any speed records getting here.” Breeze shrugged. “I thought I’d be the one to explain things, but apparently the Goddess has other plans.”
“Right.” He shoved his hair back from his face and looked over at his brother, who’d finally stopped clucking and was just standing there grinning. “Hunter, you okay with taking over tonight?”
“You got it. Need any mating advice? Shall I add a new category to your work schedule so you remember to visit her regularly? Oh! You know how all the parts fit together, right?”
“You are an asshole and I cannot believe we’re related.”
“But you love me anyway. Good luck, bro.” Hunter waved and then headed back inside, chortling quietly.
He grunted and then turned to Breeze and Connell. “You two planning on coming over tomorrow morning to introduce yourselves to Fern?”
“I think that would be best,” Breeze agreed.
“Okay then. I guess I’ll see you all tomorrow. And if she blasts my ass into the middle of the Pacific when I break the news, I’m blaming you.”
“Fair enough.” Connell chuckled. “Good luck.”
“And tell Shaz he’s welcome to crash with us if it all gets a little…much,” Snuffy glared up at Connell. “Some people have no shame.”
Twenty minutes later, he was back outside Fern’s house with Hunter’s laughter still ringing in his ears. The cocky pup was going to get his ass handed to him at some point in the not-so-distant future. Just because he’d been mated for a whole damned month, his little brother felt the need to share all sorts of mating advice, including a few details he’d need brain bleach to remove.
He parked the bike outside the gate, pulled off his helmet, and gathered up the takeout carton he’d filled on his way out. It held a mix of the day’s desserts, including some orange blueberry muffins he’d whipped up that morning, a couple of Nanaimo bars, and two slices of apple pie. It wasn’t the picnic he’d promised, but it would have to do. Tomorrow, he’d pull out all the stops.
He was halfway up the walk when he heard someone singing. At least, he thought it was singing. He’d never heard anyone mangle Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” quite that badly, and he’d worked in karaoke bars.
It took him a few seconds to find a gap in the greenery that turned out to be a second path, this one leading around the side of the house. When he reached the backyard, the view took his breath away. It wasn’t the twilight-hued sky over the ocean or the lush gardens that perfumed the air. They were nice enough, but all his attention was on the nymph who sang to herself as she played in the tumbling water of a miniature waterfall.
Fern was wearing a dark green bikini that appeared to be made of a little string and a lot of good intentions. All he could see was soft skin and curves that made his mouth water.
He froze, all his predatory instincts rushing to the fore as his wolf howled from the back of his mind. The wind carried her scent to him and he drew in a breath, carrying it deep into his body and letting it brand itself on his memory. She was his.
All his plans to take things slowly went out the window. Fuck waiting. Fuck dating. All he wanted was to pull his mate into his arms and show her who she belonged to. He set down the carton of desserts, toed off his shoes, and stalked across the garden like the wolf he was.
She had her back to him, and the sound of the water masked what little noise he made as he approached. The part of his brain still thinking rationally pointed out that surprising a witch of Fern’s ability was never a good idea, so he cleared his throat to let her know she wasn’t alone.
The singing stopped mid-warble. When she turned to face him, it was like the universe punched him hard in the guts and all the air left his lungs. Dammit. His witch had been crying.
“You came back.”
He nodded and walked up to the edge of the pool before stepping off of it and letting himself drop into the water. He was tall enough that the water barely came to his waist, and he had her in his arms a few short seconds later. Goddess, it felt good to hold her again. “Why the tears, angel?”
She looked up at him and managed a tiny, broken smile. “Because I don’t know who I am and I have no fucking idea how the hell I’m supposed to save this town, my parents, or myself.” She took a shuddering breath, closed her eyes, and added, “And I’m scared.”
“Don’t be. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
Fern’s smile widened a little, and she reached up to stroke his cheek. “Why?”
“Because, you’re—” Her hand moved, and she pressed a finger to his lips.
“Don’t answer that. Not right now. I don’t want to talk anymore, Ri. Or think. I just…can you make me forget what an insane day this has been? Please?”
“Whatever you need, angel. All you have to do is ask.” He bent his head and kissed her, her lips parting on a moan that rolled through him like the chimes of a hundred silver bells. If she needed to forget things for a while, he’d make that happen. Tonight he’d give her a demonstration of how good they’d be together. Tomorrow he’d tell her that this was just the beginning. She might not know who she was, but he did. She was his Goddess given mate. The rest? They’d figure out together.
Chapter Eight
When Orion had appeared at the side of the pool, she thought she’d lost the last of her marbles and started hallucinating. Given how the day had gone, it wouldn’t have surprised her. Only, he hadn’t been a figment of her imagination, not unless figments jumped into pools fully clothed and could kiss like it was an Olympic sport and they were going home with the gold.
The second she was in his arms, it was like the sun had reversed course and risen back into the sky. The shadowy doubts faded, and she felt a sizzle of heat that had nothing to do with the temperature of the water. He was the perfect distraction, and she needed that right now.
It wasn’t until their third kiss, or maybe the fourth, that she realized it was the second time in one day she’d seen him like this—dripping wet. Laughter bubbled up and she had to break their kiss to let it out, though she never stopped running her hands over his soaking wet shirt and the hard body beneath it.
“What’s so funny?”
“You’re fully clothed and drenched… again.” She pulled the fabric away from his skin. “It’s becoming a habit.”
He chuckled and looked down at himself. “And it was your fault both times.”
“I take full responsibility for the first time, but this one’s all on you.”
He bowed his head until their foreheads touched and she was looking straight into his beautiful amber eyes
. “I had no choice. You bewitched me.”
There was no mistaking the heat in his gaze or the low note of arousal in his voice. The knowledge that she’d brought him to this state filled her with an intoxicating rush. “How long do you think this condition might last?”
“For…the rest of the night, at least.” There was an odd little pause between the first word and the rest of his sentence, like he’d been about to say something else.
She decided to ignore it. One night of distraction was all she could allow herself anyway. “I guess we’ll just have to enjoy it while it lasts.” She caught hold of his shoulders and kissed him, loving the way he growled as her mouth met his.
He swept her into his arms and carried her to the far side of the pool. There was a jacuzzi there, the heated water swirling in lazy circles. He lifted her over the dividing wall, lowered her slowly into the welcoming heat, and then broke their kiss to vault over the wall himself.
“You are seriously overdressed right now,” she pointed out as he drew her into his lap, her legs resting across his.
“True. But getting out of these wet jeans is going to be a pain in the ass, and that’s time I’d much rather spend kissing you.”
A wicked thought struck her, filling her with a sense of giddy elation. “You’ve never been with a witch before. Have you?”
“You’re my first. Why?” Orion threaded his fingers into her hair and tipped her head gently so he could blaze a trail of fiery kisses down the side of her neck.
She laughed as a shiver of delight and desire chased down her spine. She might not know who she was or how she was going to face what was coming, but she knew how to do this. “Then you better buckle up, Ri. Things are about to get interesting.”
She directed a surge of shimmering green and gold fire from her fingertips and let it swirl around them both a few times before rising up into the darkening sky. Their clothes went with it and then tumbled out of the fountain of light to fall into a neatly cleaned and folded stack near the towel cubby.
