Concealed Influence (The Magic Sanctuary Trilogy Book 3)

by V. M. Marsh

  “I can’t do this.” I whispered through the grief choking me.

  “You have to. It’s time to say goodbye.” He told me gently. “Trust me, you need this.”

  “Emma.” That one broken word had me yanking away from Lars and turning to latch onto Dad. We clung to each other, to all we had left. Although, that wasn’t true. I still had Lars.

  Prying me loose, Dad guided me with his hand on my back to the front of the crowd near the pyre. The most important men in my life surrounded me: Dad and Lars on each side and Jace behind me.

  The funeral was a blur. I don’t remember the garden overflowing with magic creatures or what was said, only that many people asked to speak, including all of the Elders. Mom was very much loved in our community. She was so friendly and welcoming, how could anyone not love her?

  When the last words echoed across the garden and dusk fell, we all backed away as one until there was a wide open space around the pyre and Mom. Then Lars’s hand rose and fireballs were lobbed from throughout the crowd towards my mother.

  The dry wood caught and my mother’s tower was set ablaze. The bright flames crackled and hissed climbing their way up the wood. They grew so bright I had to shield my eyes, which I was grateful for, so I wouldn’t have to witness my mother’s body beginning to burn.

  When I thought it was safe to look again, I could no longer see her. Only a towering inferno glowed and danced before me. It was hauntingly beautiful and mesmerizing as it concealed its purpose.

  The crowd dwindled as the night wore on, but Dad, Lars, the Circle, and I remained until the last embers died out. Then softly controlled winds kissed the embers until they cooled. We gathered my mother’s ashes with our hands to sprinkle in the garden and waterfall she loved so much.

  Carrying two handfuls of my mother up a steep meandering trail, I paused when I reached the top of the falls. It was a spectacular view overlooking dense leafy green trees of the Sanctuary. I could even see the lodge and cabins from here, their roofs peeking out from between the trees. She loved sitting in this very spot to watch sunsets, which made it the perfect place for her eternal rest.

  “Goodbye, Mom. I love you.” I whispered. After scattering half of her ashes near the edge, I threw the rest over the water to careen down the falls. I kneeled beside the rapids to rinse my hands and let the rest of my mother float away when a pair of hands clamped onto my shoulders.

  “Don’t move. I’ve got you.” A deep voice rumbled in my ear.

  Glancing over my shoulder confused, I asked. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m not going to let you get swept away into the falls. That’s no way to handle your mother’s death.” Lars said quietly.

  “While I am devastated, I’m not suicidal.” I said incredulously. “I was just cleaning my hands. I figured mom would rather be out here than go down a drain.”

  Still, he tugged me back until I was away from the water. “Sorry, you’ve just been so depressed and unwilling to communicate I wasn’t exactly sure where your head was. I didn’t want to take any chances.”

  “Well, now you do know, so you can stop worrying.” I told him as I stood and dried my hands on my skirt.

  “I hate to keep apologizing, but I will never be able to stop worrying about you.” He said. Normally, I might have swooned. However, I suppose my grief ran deeper than I realized because I felt nothing. I was numb even to that.

  “Same here.” I strolled down the trail. Melancholy still weighed me down, but I felt a bit lighter after saying goodbye and sending her the places she loved.

  We didn’t speak on our way down the hill, and I was grateful he didn’t try to talk. Walking through nature surrounded by green with the sounds of birds chirping and animals scurrying through the brush soothed my ragged soul. Being out here alone with Lars was healing. Obviously, not a complete healing, but it was a start.

  When we returned to the garden, tables adorned with rainbow coverings were scattered throughout the matching flowers. Colorful chairs surrounded the tables while bouquets sprouted from their centers. A row of tables lining the wall of the house was already overflowing with food.

  Mourners had returned and wandered the garden as they waited for dad and me to finish scattering Mom’s ashes. I don’t know where dad decided to put mom, but he was already back and leaning against a tree trunk. I stumbled when I realized he was taking refuge under mom’s favorite willow tree.

  Blinking back tears, I joined him, and he pulled me into his arms. Resting his chin on my head, he held me as we both remained silent. Burying my face in his chest, I inhaled my dad’s signature scent of pine and sawdust. It comforted me to know at least that had not changed.

  When he finally released me, I looked up to see a really long line of people waiting for us. As I stood beside dad and Lars took his place behind me for support, Brownies, Shifters, and Mages from throughout the Sanctuary came up to us one by one to offer condolences.

  There were so many, it took hours to get through them all. My feet and back ached when the last one approached us. Still, everyone waited while wandering the garden or chatting quietly.

  “I’m so sorry about Paisley. She was an amazing woman. One of a kind.” He told us while shaking our hands. After he left, Dad gave me one last quick squeeze. I took a deep breath as Lars rubbed my sore back before we headed to the buffet.

  We filled our plates with berries, eggs, and casseroles until they were brimming with food we had no desire to eat. Only after we sat down with laden plates did the others begin to serve themselves and eat. I pushed the food around my plate, so it would look like I was eating. Concerned well-wishers bothering me about my lack of appetite was the last thing I wanted to deal with right now.

  Apparently, I would have no such luck. “You’ve hardly eaten anything in days. You need to at least try before you waste away.” Lars whispered to me.

  I glared at him as Dad’s head whipped towards me because Lars hadn’t been quiet enough about chastising me. “You haven’t been eating? I know this is a difficult time, but you have to keep your strength up, love.”

  I sighed heavily, “If it will keep you guys off my back and get you to stop worrying about me, I’ll eat.”

  Scooping a large forkful of eggs into my mouth, I chewed through the sawdust taste as dad patted my arm. A slight smile crossed his lips for just a moment. That reward alone made me clean my plate even though I didn’t taste a thing and had no desire to eat it.

  When we were through, I looked at my dad. I was ready to go home, but I didn’t want to leave him, especially alone. He noticed my look and read me well.

  “Don’t stay on my account. I already have way too many people looking after me.” He said. “Go ahead home unless you really can’t leave my side. But you will not get the solitude here that I’m sure you seek.”

  He huffed an almost chuckle. “I would go with you if I didn’t think they would all follow me.”

  “Why don’t you just ask them all to leave?”

  “They need to do this for me as part of their own healing.” He sighed. “And if I’m honest, I need to let them. I think I would be lost without looking after those looking after me. You don’t need me as much as they do, and I need the distraction.”

  That made sense, but it was still hard for me to leave him in a time like this. He saw my hesitation and shook his head.

  “I’m not an old man yet that you need to take care of. You are still the child, my child, and I want you to worry about taking care of yourself first.” He looked passed me. “Lars, take her home before I have to set an army of Brownies on her.”

  That was all it took to get us moving. Dad knew how much I valued my time alone to completely be myself. I hoped no one would expect me to be cheery Emma at a time like this, but I wouldn’t have to worry about it if they weren’t around. Lars understood that, so he pulled me to my feet.

  He held my hand the entire hike back to my cabin. Somehow, he knew I needed the physical contact. Or
he was the one who needed it. Or maybe we both did.

  We entered the house but didn’t stop there. Together, we stepped lightly up the stairs and down the hall to my room. Closing the door behind him, Lars asked, “Do you want me to fill the bath?”

  After I nodded, he strolled into the adjoining bathroom. As I heard the faucet run, I quickly shed my clothes and followed him in. Steam filled the air as I crossed the marble floor. He jumped when I caressed his back and turned to me.

  His brows flew up when he saw my state of dress, well undress, but I didn’t give him a chance to respond further. Leaning down to where he sat on the side of the Jacuzzi tub, I brushed my lips gently across cross his. He didn’t need any further encouragement.

  Pulling me onto his lap, he intensified the kiss and held me tight. His tongue slid against mine to change the comfort and soothing I sought into something more. As tingles and goose bumps coursed through me, I broke the kiss to peel off his shirt and toss it over my shoulder.

  He chuckled before pulling me back to his lips and palming my bare breasts. My hands roamed his smooth muscular back as he kissed me deeply and tingles took over my core.

  Suddenly, he pulled away and leaned back to turn off the faucet and opened the drain. “It got a little too full there and got my pants wet.”

  Standing so he could too, I giggled at the wet strip across the rear of his pants. He grinned at me as he shed his pants. “That’s more like it. It’s good to hear you laugh again.”

  As I sobered, a now naked Lars grimaced and pulled me back into his arms. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to remind you.”

  Stepping into the bath, he closed the drain and tugged me in with him. He kissed me gently before sitting at the back of the tub, so I could sit between his legs.

  It was awkward but nice letting him wash me. It shouldn’t have been that weird since he’d done so for the last couple of days, but I hadn’t really been present at the time. When he finished, I began to wash him. He protested, but I told him, “You have done so much for me, let me do this for you. I need this.”

  After I rinsed the last of the soap off, he lifted me in his arms and out of the tub. Wrapping a bath sheet around us, he carried me to my bed and laid me on it.

  “You’re so beautiful.” He told me before leaning down to kiss and lay beside me. Caressing my back, hips, and thighs, he pressed his lips hard to mine with all the unfilled longing and desire he’d been harboring for me. Tingles and warmth spread through my veins.

  He nipped, stroked, and deeply kissed me until desire shot through my core, and I begged for him with abandonment. Even the smug tilt of his lips couldn’t cool my craving for him, although, I did lightly smack his arm for it. He chuckled before filling a deep seated need for him.

  It was slow, sweet, and everything I needed just then. Don’t get me wrong-it was hot too. His skills had greatly improved since high school. However, it was more than that. It was balm for my shredded soul.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Get up. We’re going out.” Lars tossed a lacy black bra and panties set at me.

  I pulled the covers over my head. “Leave me alone.”

  “You’ve been in bed for a week, not counting that one time you left for the funeral. It’s time to get up.”

  The blankets began to slide off me, but I tugged them back. We locked in a mean game tug-of-war. Well, it was mean on my side. He was a lot stronger than me, so I was sure he could have easily yanked them from me if he’d really wanted to.

  “I’m tired. Let me go back to sleep.”

  “You’ve been sleeping all day. It’s nighttime.” He said as he yanked harder. Damn. He was getting serious about this.

  “As much as I’ve enjoyed spending the last couple of days in bed with you, it’s time to rejoin the world. If you’re not dressed in ten minutes, I’ll do it for you.” With that, he strolled into the bathroom to finish getting ready himself.

  He would make good on his threat, so I grumbled about overbearing men as I got out of bed. We’d showered earlier, so I supposed I was clean enough. However, I didn’t want to wear those just for show undergarments. After throwing them back in the drawer, I put on a more comfortable black satin set.

  “Where are we going, anyway? I need to know what to wear.” I called to him.

  He poked his head out. “Jeans and a sexy top will do. However, not too sexy. I want to get your mind off things, but I don’t want to spend all night fighting men off you.”

  Rolling my eyes, I tugged on dark jeans and a lacy black tank. I smirked while smoothing the low-cut see-through garment into place. If he was going to torture me by forcing me to go out, I would return the favor.

  I ran my fingers through my hair and was applying liner when he came into the room. “Nope. That is exactly the type of top I said not to wear. You need to change.”

  After I finished applying pale pink lipstick, a sly smile tilted my lips. I twirled for him with an extra sway of my full hips. “Don’t you like it?”

  “Hell yeah, I do. So will every other man.”

  “I’m not wearing this for them. Or for you.” I glared at him. “I’m wearing this for me. If you have a problem with it, we can stay home.”

  His eyes raked over me with appreciation before he pulled me to him for a passionate kiss. I laughed when we broke apart. “Pink is a nice look on you, although, I would fix the smears if I were you.”

  Scowling, he rubbed his lips free of my lipstick. “You’re not getting out of tonight that easily. Let’s go.”

  He stomped from the room, and if there was an extra sway to my hips as I followed him out to the car, I pretended not to notice. After sending me one more scathingly hot glare, he folded his tall frame into his new orange Challenger.

  “This is a really bright car you have here, but the black stripe over the top is a nice touch.”

  I slid into the car and slammed the door as the car roared to life. I had barely gotten the door closed before he spun the car around and took off. I forgot how wild and fun he drove. Smiling, I stroked the soft supple leather of my seat.

  “Keep doing that and we won’t make it to our destination.” He growled.

  I shrugged and glanced at the backseat. “Sounds good to me, although it might be a tight fit back there.”

  Giggling at the choking sound he made, I continued brushing my fingers along the black leather. Settling in for what I assumed would be a long ride, I watched the scenery pass by the glass. It was too dark to make out details, but I still connected with it.

  After getting to the bottom of the mountain, we passed through the non-magical portion of Wildwood. By passing the transportation spell that would have taken us to the outskirts of Magic Wildwood, a purple haze passed over the car until the sheen fell away and the world popped with vibrant colors not seen outside of magical communities.

  I leaned against my window for a better view in the dark as we drove through my favorite neighborhood-the one with yards of every season and houses to match. I particularly liked the spring and summer yards with homes that looked like huge tree houses or tents. It still amazed me the magic here kept their yards in full bloom year round, even with the house next door winter the whole year.

  When we entered downtown with its old-timey feel and eclectic shops, I gazed longingly at the Sweet Shoppe. I would have begged Lars to stop if it hadn’t been closed for the night. A Chocolate Indulgence with a triple shot of comfort would have hit the spot right about now. I sighed in disappointment.

  Lars reached over to hold my hand. “No worries. I got you, trust me.”

  He parked a few shops away. “We’re not breaking in, are we? I’m not really in the mood for a trip to jail tonight.”

  “Nah. We’re going there.” He pointed across the street as he slid out of his seat.

  Oh, hell no. No wonder he was talking about fighting off men; drunk people did stupid shit. I sighed and let him pull me from the car.

  “The Demented Demon? Seriously, Lars
?” I rubbed my face.

  “It’s the perfect place for a distraction, and you’ll be able to forget things as much or little as you want there.”

  Pushing our way through short saloon style swinging doors, we entered the bar made to look like the pits of hell. Cowboy style. Hologram flames licked their way up the walls and red lights pulsed from above.

  Even though I knew it was only an illusion, it still tripped me up to step on the floor that looked like I walked on flowing lava. It was difficult not to cringe and expect to burn as my feet sunk into the squishy floor. It wasn’t springy like the cloud ground, but sort of sucked at your feet like wet mud.

  Most of the saddle barstools were taken, so Lars led me to a booth of wooden trough benches filled with clouds. When we got closer, I could see the wooden back of the bench was covered with a thin see-through layer of cloud to make the bench more comfortable.

  A waiter dressed in head to toe tight red leather arrived at our table. “What can I get you two tonight?”

  “I’ll have a Stallion beer, and she’ll have a Magic Fizz.”

  I cocked a brow. “What are we celebrating tonight that calls for magic boosted champagne? I thought I was here to have fun I wouldn’t remember.”

  “It seems like something you would like and nicer than wine.”

  I chuckled darkly and shook my head. “There is so much about me you don’t know.”

  Turning to the waiter, I said, “Change the Magic Fizz to a Ten Gallon Hat Lager, please.”

  Nodding, the waiter left while Lars stared at me with his mouth open. “That’s a mighty big drink for someone so small. Also, I had no idea you liked beer.”

  “It’s my drink of choice, actually. I only drink wine with others to keep up my public persona. It seems to fit bubbly Emma’s personality better since it would be too pretentious to go around ordering champagne all the time.” I shot him a pointed look. “The real Emma is a little more down-to-earth, I like to think.”