by Dana Davis
“This thing’s not meant for four-wheeling,” Noah said as though reading her thoughts. He held the dash with one hand and Perky with the other.
Bridgette groaned. “If you don’t stop this hippy-shit thing, I’m going to jump out while you’re still moving.”
Poor Bridge. Not exactly nature woman.
Evidently, Bridgette had her senses open because she said, “I like nature just fine. Just not this up close and personal. That’s why I live in the burbs.”
“We’re almost there. Don’t get your panties in a wad.”
Bridgette snickered at the phrase they used to spout when they were kids. “Just keep your eyes on the road, smart-ass.”
“If I could find a road, I would,” Daisy shot back. To be honest, this place made her nervous. And how the hell did Titans get all the way to Arizona anyway?
Very short streetlights, or maybe lampposts, lit up the area as the sun dipped lower. The house had two stories and a porch that ran the entire length, held up by large posts. Canales stuck out along the front for drainage. She fought down disappointment. Well, what did you expect out here? A Hilton?
George pulled off to the side of the dirt road next to a truck and what Daisy now realized was an old-fashioned gaslight. She maneuvered her van behind them and killed the engine.
She had been to Saguaro Lake many times but never knew this place existed. Hmm, maybe I oughta check out some satellite maps sometime. She got out with Perky and her purse, while Noah and Bridgette grabbed bags from the back. Afterwards, she locked up the van and stepped to Zoey, who stared at the house. “Just chock full of secrets aren’t you?”
“Me? Hey, I didn’t know about this place.” The tall girl gave Daisy a defensive look followed by a wince. “Sorry. Guess I’m a bit creeped out.”
Bridgette hissed. “Yeah, the middle of fucking nowhere can do that to a sane person.” She glanced at the bottom of her expensive hiking boots and mumbled a Gaelic curse.
Daisy sighed. Bridgette’s bad mood wouldn’t help matters. “We’re not in the middle of nowhere, Bridge. Anyway, don’t worry. Now that we’ve been here, I won’t forget where it is.” She might not have gone to Harvard, but she had a decent memory when she needed one. Not as good as her father’s, of course. That man had been practically a sponge. But she got along.
Jay sauntered toward them. “I agree with Bridgette.” He was wearing shorts today, instead of the designer suits that looked like his mother had picked out. “This is as close to the middle of nowhere as I care to get.” He grinned at the redhead.
Bridgette frowned. “What’re you doing here?”
“Connie asked me to come out. I know you’re secretly glad to see me.” His white teeth stood out even in the dim light.
Bridgette mumbled another Gaelic curse. The redhead probably saw more than enough of Jay, since he and his mother owned her condo complex.
Zoey stepped closer to Daisy as a man hurried out from the house and she fought the urge to put a protective arm around the girl. The man said something to George but she couldn’t make it out. He acknowledged Connie and Jason. Daisy glanced at Zoey but the girl simply shrugged. Bridgette, on the other hand, had eyes narrowed on him, obviously listening to his thoughts. The man disappeared into the house again.
What I wouldn’t give to have telepathy right about now. Thankfully, most telepaths weren’t gossips. When they were kids, Bridgette had confirmed she heard a lot more than just surface thoughts.
Daisy took in a long breath while she waited in between Noah and Zoey. The air was a bit cooler here, probably already down into the 90s, and smelled fresh. She studied the house again. It had a quadruple-wide driveway and a garage that looked like it could house several vehicles. I bet Jay put his Beamer in there. Solar path lights lined the drive and wound alongside the walkway leading to the porch. Despite the oversized garage atypical of a territorial, the house was quite plain. Looks like a damn Mexican Hacienda on steroids. Bridgette snickered.
Perky squirmed in her arms and she crooned to him as Noah put his leash on. Once on the ground, the dog explored what he could reach. He was a good dog but Daisy didn’t trust him not to wander off here. Too many critters would see him as dinner. Desert trees swayed slightly, creating shadows with the setting sun. A warm breeze blew through Daisy’s clothing and she shivered, despite the heat, then turned back to study her young cousin. Zoey looked disappointed. In fact, Daisy wasn’t sure who was more disenchanted about this place, Zoey or Bridgette.
“Maybe it’s better inside,” she offered as she fingered the turquoise ring on her finger, careful not to let Perky pull the leash out of her hand. He was very excited now.
Bridgette snorted. “Don’t see how it could be worse.”
“Be nice, Bridge. We’re guests here.”
“Yes, Mom.”
Jason walked up, placed an arm around Zoey’s shoulders, and led her toward the house. Daisy scooped up one of the bags Noah had retrieved and together they followed alongside Bridgette. After not too many steps, Daisy paused so Perky could water a brittlebush.
Wood creaked as they stepped onto the wide planks of the porch. George opened the arched front door—the thing groaned on its wrought iron hinges—then motioned them into the main room. He disappeared down a hall. It was cool inside and smelled of cooking food, like on a barbeque, and Daisy’s stomach started rumbling.
Zoey glanced over her shoulder and scowled.
Daisy couldn’t blame her, really. Though it was larger inside than it looked from the outside, nothing smacked of luxury. Spanish tile floors, plaster walls and arched doorways were about the extent of its charm. Metal folding chairs, the kind one would find at an outdoor festival, a couple of worn couches and an oversized, tattered chair sat near a large beehive fireplace. The area rug had seen better days. A few nature paintings hung on various walls, and coat hooks with hats on them lined the one near the front door.
Dim light flickered and Daisy realized oil lanterns illuminated the room. No electricity? How the hell do they cool the place? Noah glanced at her and raised his brows. Surprised. Just like me. He’d been expecting something else too.
Zoey leaned toward Daisy and uttered, “Crap. This is it?”
She smirked. She liked her travel lodgings at least to come with electric lights, cable TV, and a vending machine or two. “At least there are no dead animals on the walls.”
Connie must have heard because she chuckled and focused on Zoey. “You were expecting something else?”
The girl nodded. “Well, yeah.”
“We try not to stand out, remember?”
Daisy eyed her. “But no electricity?”
“Oh, they have solar panels, but they’re used mostly for heating and cooling. They have access to standard electricity too. But those living here try to stay off the grid as much as possible.”
Daisy nodded. She didn’t recognize most of the paranormals here, but that was no surprise since Jason’s family wasn’t related to hers. One was missing that she thought would be here though. “Jay?” The man turned to her. “Where’s your mom?”
“Couldn’t get away.” He grinned. “Trouble with the gardeners.”
Daisy chuckled. Fay’s gardeners were pixies. Like most paranormals, pixies looked like mortals, but they did amazing and magickal things with flora. And getting them to work anyplace but their own yards was nearly impossible. She never did learn how Jay’s mom kept hers employed.
Jay eyed Bridgette again. He’d been infatuated with Daisy’s cousin since they were kids and could make a nuisance of himself when he chose. If he ogles her the entire time we’re here, I’ll smack him upside that meticulously groomed head of his.
Bridgette leaned toward her. “You and me both, Cousin.”
The lamp flames flickered when someone opened the front door again, reminding Daisy they had limited electricity out here. She pulled her cell from her shorts pocket and breathed a relieved sigh that she at least had a signal. And why s
houldn’t I? We’re less than an hour from home. Not exactly the African jungle. Though Bridgette might argue that point. Then she remembered something else. Bridgette’s father had met his death at Saguaro Lake.
She started to ask if her cousin was okay, but the redhead waved a dismissive hand. “I hadn’t been born yet, remember. Not even a concern.”
Daisy nodded and shifted her bag as a bearded man stepped into the room and greeted them. He introduced himself as Sebastian and looked like a stereotypical archaeologist in his button-up shirt, khaki shorts and work boots. There was a lot of back pounding between the men but each woman got a kiss on her right hand before being pulled into an embrace. Perky seemed to like him immediately and scrambled for his attention. The man laughed as he stroked the dog several times. He stood, uttered something, gave Zoey a wink, and quickly disappeared.
Daisy smiled at the retreating frame. Some people she just had to like when she met them.
A woman about her height, but older by a couple of decades, held a hand out for her bag. “I’ll take that, hon.”
She thanked the woman, who promptly smiled and hurried off. Four others collected the rest of the bags. They have servants?
“Um, wait, please,” Zoey said when another woman started to leave with her bag. The girl dug into it and pulled out her cell phone, which she promptly shoved into the pocket of her shorts. Jason gave her a quick kiss on the lips and disappeared down the hall.
Another woman motioned to Perky. “You can take him off the leash.”
“You sure,” Daisy said. “He’s house trained but—”
“He’ll be fine here.”
She removed the dog’s leash and he immediately began to explore.
“I’ve been sent to announce that dinner’s ready,” Jason said as he returned from the hallway.
Zoey frowned. “I hope it’s not raw.”
Daisy smiled and walked with an arm around Noah’s waist, reveling in the contraction of his muscles as he moved and she thought about that cowboy outfit again. Jeans, boots, hat, no shirt, hard and tanned muscles. She could go for some sex right now. Even more than food. Stress did that sometimes, made her horny. And the thought of confronting Titans kept her blood pressure soaring like a hawk in a holding pattern.
They followed the bend of the hall through a doorway and into another room. This one appeared to be some sort of small cafeteria. Tables and chairs stood in neat rows, several seats already occupied. A woman and man scurried in and out of another door with trays of food and drink.
A lanky woman, about the same as Bridgette’s stature but with much larger boobs, burst into the room in faded shorts and a cotton shirt. “Connie!” She flung arms around Jason’s mother. “It’s been a while.” Her bobbed, dark hair swung sharply when she moved her head. It was shorter than Daisy’s and thicker. She looked to be in her early forties, close to Noah’s age.
“Yes, it has, Tessa,” Connie said. “Too long.”
“And there’s my favorite brother.” Tessa crossed to George and the two embraced. They didn’t look related. Despite sharing a long, lean build, George’s peppered hair and reddish skin was quite a contrast to his sister’s dark locks and tanned skin.
“How’ve you been, little sister?”
“Fine. You should come here more often, you know. You’re not that far away.”
He took his sister’s chiding with a smile. “Last time we tried to visit, you’d disappeared to the lake, remember? Not even Sebastian dared bother you.”
“Well, that was a busy time for us rangers,” Tessa said defensively.
“Yeah, well, the streets go both ways, you know.” Daisy caught a glimmer in his eyes, as though this was an old, yet endearing, argument.
“You know I can’t leave this place for more than a day or two.” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “You can do some of your work here.”
He held his hands up in surrender. “Duly noted. I’ve been appropriately tongue-lashed.”
Tessa slapped him playfully on the arm and focused her attention on the others. Her gaze took in Zoey and Jason and she beamed. She pulled her nephew into a maternal hug then held his face between her hands. “Jason. You get more handsome every time I see you.”
He smiled. “I can’t have changed that much in two months, Aunt Tessa.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t get to see you as often as I like, so indulge me.”
Jason moved aside as his mother stepped forward and said, “This is Zoey. Mena and Alexander’s niece.”
Tessa gave Zoey a brief hug before stepping back and glancing between her and Jason. “They’re both exquisite. And betrothed?”
Connie nodded. “Yes. And they’re putting up a fight about it.”
Zoey’s face grew red. Daisy felt for her. She was legally a woman, yes, but she still looked so damn young. Like a tall teenager. And she’d been through so much.
“Don’t worry, love,” Tessa said to her. “You’ll get used to it. Besides, your Auntie-to-be Tessa knows this boy’s a good catch.” She winked at Jason and he grinned, looking very much like his father.
George sniffed. “And just how would you know? You spend your whole time talking to fish.”
Tessa slapped her brother playfully on the arm again and he feigned injury. She gave an exasperated look. “But seriously, these mortals make my job tougher every year. I’ve lost two species this decade alone.” She waved a dismissive hand. “Enough about work. You must be Daisy Kavanaugh. Zoey’s cousin.”
So, you’ve heard about me but I know nothing about you. “Yes. Nice to meet you, Tessa.” They exchanged handshakes. “This is my husband, Noah. And my cousin, Bridgette.”
“Witches right?”
“They are,” Noah said with a smirk. “I’m just eye-candy.”
Tessa let out a strong laugh. “I like you, Noah. You can sit next to me at dinner.” She hooked an arm in his and he gave Daisy a wink over one shoulder.
“Flirt,” Daisy shot back.
Tessa led them to a table. “Sebastian will be here shortly, he’s tending to an injured squirrel. Poor thing.”
Daisy set Perky up in one corner with food and water bowls and his travel pillow. She would remind Noah to bring in the dog’s kennel before bed. She sat next to Noah and glanced at the antique, gas chandelier that hung over the large table. Bet that would fetch a fortune at auction. “So this is Tessa and Sebastian’s home?”
“Yes,” George said. “Well, no. Not theirs alone. They’re custodians. But they live and work here.”
Daisy offered a steady gaze. “And the national forestry just allows them a nice little plot of protected land out here. Near Saguaro Lake. In a National Forest.”
George gave an impish smile and shook a finger at her. “Very astute. Of course, there’s a bit more to it than that.”
“Do tell.”
The man studied her with a glimmer in his eye. “We have special rangers in the forestry division. And this place is, well, hidden. If you know what I mean?”
Daisy quirked an eyebrow at him. “Oh, I know exactly what you mean.” When Noah tapped her leg, she turned to him. “Magickal cloak.”
He smirked. “Like Avalon, huh.”
“Something like that,” George said. “Avalon was a great island in its day. Though it had different names throughout the centuries. Pity no one knows exactly where it is anymore.”
Noah gave Jason’s father a look similar to the one he’d given Daisy when she had explained her magickal background to him. “But it existed?”
“Sure it did.”
A woman who brought water to the table gave Noah a large grin. “You’re new to all this, aren’t you, hon?”
He blinked and gazed at the woman. “Not as new as you think.”
Daisy pressed fingers against his, knowing full well he was talking about the skinwalker and how close they’d come to death a few months ago. She caught a look from Zoey. Admiration? Well, that’s just great. I’ll have to straighten her out lat
er.
The bearded man who’d greeted them earlier stepped into the room. “I hope you’re all well.”
George smiled up at the man from his seat. “Very well, Bastian. How’s the squirrel?”
“Lost part of his tail in the tires of an off-roader.”
“Isn’t off-roading—”
“Illegal in this part of the forest?” Bastian sat next to his wife, Tessa, and kissed her gently on the cheek. “Of course.” He glanced at Zoey, who listened with concern, and smiled. “But the little guy will recover.”
Daisy’s heart went out to the poor creature. Idiot mortals and their desert destroying machines. “Maybe you should arm the local wildlife. Let them get off a few potshots.” Sebastian let out a belly laugh and slapped his hand on the table. I wasn’t that funny. But she simply smiled at him.
The men and women who’d been bustling around collecting luggage and bringing food sat now that dinner had been served.
Sabastian gave a respectful nod to them. “Looks delicious. Thank you, cousins.”
Cousins? He uses cousins as his servants? A flash of Bridgette waiting tables scampered across her brain and she smiled. The redhead, who sat across from her just now, didn’t make eye contact. Being polite and not listening in now, are you Bridge? No response. Guess so.
“Dig in, everyone.” Sebastian waved a hand over the table and grinned. “This food won’t eat itself.” He looked straight at Zoey and winked, gray eyes glistening in the flickering light.
The girl gave a smile to the mountainous man, who would become her uncle once she and Jason married.
Daisy filled her plate with fish, rice and vegetables. There were rolls and butter, also. Real butter that looked like it had been churned out back, not some store-bought brand. They listened to Sebastian’s animals versus mortals tales as they ate. Daisy couldn’t decide whether the stories were real or if he was just bullshitting them. Either way, she was entertained.
