“She is a Priestess of Icela and unmistakable.”
Alfred pretended to think. “Tall woman with silver hair and eyes?”
“Yes. Now stop stalling and take me to her before you anger me,” Quest demanded.
Alfred heard a yowl at his feet and looked down. A black cat rubbed against his leg. “Good morning, Horatio. Have you come to help me?”
The black cat bobbed his head once.
“Very good,” Alfred said, working not to show his immense relief. He watched Horatio walk away and then turn back to make sure they were following. He looked at Director Quest. “My friend wants us to follow him. I’m sure he knows the location of the woman you seek. We should go.”
“How would such a small-brained creature know about a Priestess?” Quest demanded.
“Probably because she’s his friend as well. Plus, my future mate is a cat and I’ve learning quite a lot about their honest approach to life. Now… if you’ll stop arguing and just walk with me, we can get this over with. You’re being a rude visitor and the people of Magic have no time for those.”
Alfred turned and walked after Horatio, smiling to himself when he felt the angry alien catch up to him in two strides. They walked until they reached the town square where an assembly of witches were gathered to pray for Topper and the baby. Alfred sighed because that’s what he wanted to do. He wanted to be praying to Gaia as well.
“What is all this?” Quest demanded. “Where is Priestess Rime?”
“This is a prayer vigil. Our head witch is giving birth today. After the baby arrives, we’ll have a huge celebration and sing praises to Gaia.”
“Yes. I’ve read the reports of your witches and your Goddess. Mine is far more powerful. She sent me here to retrieve her priestess.”
Alfred saw Lacey and Constance separate themselves from the rest. He turned to the alien and bowed his head. “No offense, Sir. But I think your goddess sent you here to learn a very different sort of lesson.”
“You dare speak of Icela’s intentions?”
“Yes. She must be truly wonderful since her Priestess is one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met,” Alfred said. He bowed and smiled. “I leave you to your fate, Director Quest.”
Lacey’s chant rose in the air and seconds later Constance was lifting the now tiny alien and putting him into the small fish aquarium she carried. Lacey turned away before she did anything worse to the alien. Constance patted her arm and handed the aquarium to Alfred.
“Take Horatio with you and give this little guy to the God of Thunder. The charm should last long enough for the baby to be born. We don’t want his negative alien energy messing up our prayer space today. We have to consecrate the sacred circle before the shifters arrive and we need Theo here to keep them calm. He’s going to be spending most of the day in dragon form, so warn the new aliens not to freak out when they see him.”
“I will… and thank you, Constance.”
“No… all thanks go to you, Alfred. How are things between you and Jeannie?”
“We are doing well,” Alfred said with a smile. He pecked on the aquarium when the alien inside started yelling at them. “Simmer down before I call Lacey back. You’re lucky all she did was shrink you. If you don’t want to get turned into a different creature altogether, I suggest you behave until you change back to a normal sized alien.”
The alien crossed his arms and went to sit in a corner of the container.
“Wow. I like you like this, Alfred. You’re very commanding,” Constance declared, giving him a hug.
“I like myself like this as well,” Alfred said. “I highly recommend getting a Life Coach. Rime was a terrific help to me. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have Jeannie in my life.”
“I will keep that in mind,” Constance said. “Is Rime staying in Magic?”
“I don’t know,” Alfred said. “I think that depends on what she and Thor work out. He can keep her from freezing the town if she’ll let him.”
“Well, my money’s on the God of Thunder. Perhaps we should start a betting pool—just for fun.”
“If so, know I’ll be rooting for Thor. He’s my friend so I couldn’t bet against him,” Alfred said. “He really knows how to woo a woman. Everything he suggested worked perfectly.”
“Good.” With a chuckle and a final wave, Constance headed back to the circle.
Alfred and Horatio went to make their delivery, carrying a now brooding alien.
Chapter 11
The front door was open when he got there so Alfred walked inside because he knew he was always welcome at Topper’s house. He immediately heard someone calling out in pain and then the resonance of it flew by him in a wave as it passed out the front door. And that no doubt explained why he hadn’t had to knock and be let in.
Instinct guided him to the kitchen where Stark sat with his head in his hands. His expression was of a man devastated. Thor looked on helplessly, obviously unsure what to do. Didn’t these powerful alien males have any faith in the strength of women?
“Topper’s going to be fine,” Alfred announced loudly. He set the aquarium in front of Thor. “Here. I found your missing alien. Lacey shrunk him to keep him from making trouble. When he returns to his normal size, you’ll need to return the container to Constance. She uses it to transport the mouse familiar she and Horatio are training.”
“Holy Goddess,” Thor said in awe, picking up the small clear container and looking at the tiny director inside of it. He stared at Alfred. “I don’t quite know what to say, Alfred. I am incredibly impressed with what you’ve done.”
“Thank you. I’m glad I could help at such a busy time for everyone.”
Basking in Thor’s praise, Alfred went to Stark and lifted the alien’s face with a gentle hand. He stared intently into silver eyes that were very much like Rime’s. Now he knew why his Life Coach had seemed so familiar to him.
“Topper has faced down and won battles with every creature known to this planet. She even turned you—a very powerful alien—into a braying donkey. You’re forgetting what a powerful woman your mate is, Stark. She is allowing herself this pain simply for the sake of not harming the child you made together. Your job is to go and hold her hand while your daughter fights to come into this world. That’s what Topper needs from you. She needs you to believe in her.”
“You’re right,” Stark said, nodding as he rose. He bowed his head. “Thank you, Alfred. You’ve been a true a friend to us both.”
Alfred bowed his head as well. “You saved my life. I will never be able to thank you enough for doing that. I have a lot to live for now… and I will do most of it as human.”
Stark walked with great haste back to the bedroom.
Alfred turned to where Thor was still studying the container and the shrunken alien inside it. “Your fellow alien is fine. In a day or so, maybe less, he’ll even return to normal size. That’s when your real problems will begin. This was just a temporary reprieve.”
Thor nodded. “I was stranded on Earth for many years. The Alaska natives are quite amazing in their skills, but never have I seen anything like this. Earth has some very powerful beings residing on it.”
“Just the witches,” Alfred said matter-of-factly.
“And Topper is the most powerful of those beings?” Thor asked.
Alfred laughed. “Topper’s more powerful than any twenty other witches working together. She has skills no one else has. She’s one of Gaia’s chosen ones.”
“So she’s a priestess of her goddess like Rime is a priestess of ours?”
“Rime’s a priestess of Icela?” Alfred asked. “Wow. That must be a cool job—no pun intended.”
Thor snickered at the joke. “You always manage to make me laugh, Alfred. That’s a great gift. By the way, how did things work out between you and the cat? I noticed she answered your door this morning.”
Alfred grinned. “I’m probably going to have to soundproof the bedroom for when she stays over. Other than that
, things are great.”
Thor chuckled. “Perhaps I can help you with that task. I need to find something useful to do while here in Magic. I would like to stay—at least for a while longer.”
“I would like you to stay as well. You can be my roommate if you like. It’s been nice having Rime there, but I always knew she was going to have to leave one day. She’s just…” Alfred let the sentence drift off. He was unable to find proper words for his instincts.
“You’re saying Priestess Rime of Icela is an important female on both of our planets, and you would be right,” Thor said. “She serves the goddess and that is what she was truly meant to do.”
“Yes. That sounds right,” Alfred said, agreeing. “Are you going to let her go back to Glacier?”
“Rime requires no one’s permission to do anything she wishes,” Thor said, flicking the container with his fingers. “Do you hear that Director Quest? Rime is free to do whatever she chooses. If you try to force her to do your bidding, I will dispatch you with no guilt at all. Heed my warning, Sir. I was a Star Ranger for many years. I do not make such threats lightly.”
Alfred chuckled. “And so speaks the great God of Thunder. You really need to get a hammer, Thor. The women would be swarming you.”
Thor laughed at Alfred’s teasing and smiled at his new and surprisingly good friend.
“Oh, Thor has a hammer alright, but it must remain hidden for now. If he walked around town with it visible, half the mystery would be gone,” Rime said from her perch in the doorway. “By the way, baby Jessica has arrived. She’s red-haired like her mother but has her father’s silver eyes.”
Thor let out the breath he’d been holding. “Thank the Goddess.”
“Thank both of them,” Rime said, smiling.
“Is Topper okay?” Alfred asked.
“She’s tired but doing fine. Why don’t you peek in and see her? I’m sure she wouldn’t mind. Stark’s got the baby. He’s not turning her loose, but you can at least look at her.”
“Thank you, Coach Rime,” Alfred said, saluting her before heading to the bedroom.
“How long were you listening?” Thor asked after Alfred had left the room.
“Long enough,” Rime said, flicking the plastic container with Director Quest inside. He glared at her indignantly. She bent closer. “I will not be returning to Glacier with you, Quest. Accept this now because my answer will not change. You will never, ever be my mate. Besides, I’ve willingly given myself to the God of Thunder who wields his mighty hammer with a precision that shames all other males. And I plan to do so again.”
Thor hung his head and laughed. “That was far more than I’d hoped for, Priestess.”
“Why? You have earned my devotion, Warrior. You and your willingness to defend my freedom were far more than I had hoped to find in a male. I meant what I said, Thor. I’m not ready to go back to Glacier. And I don’t think Icela wants me to. I think… well, I think I need to stay and help raise my niece. Of course, that means I will need help to endure my cold flashes.”
“You will never suffer them again if I have my way. I pledge my hammer willingly to your constant service,” Thor said quickly, trying not to laugh. “Perhaps you would consider finding an abode with me? I need a quiet roommate and I think Alfred’s house is about to get very noisy.”
Rime giggled and smiled. The shift in the room had them both turning their attention to the doorway. Stark proudly carried his daughter in his arms. He took her to Thor who accepted her and smiled. It was the way of Glacierian males to trust their newborn to someone they trusted with their own life.
“She is very beautiful,” Thor observed, gazing down into the baby’s peaceful face.
Rime peered into the blanket. “I’m thinking about serving as doula here. Nonny, Evanna, and I were a very good team. Jessica never even cried. She just came out looking around in awe at finally being here.”
Thor nodded and passed the sleeping baby to Rime who held her easily. The three of them smiled at each other, and then suddenly the baby disappeared from Rime’s arms. All three of them rose from their seats in panic.
“It’s alright,” Alfred said, running to the kitchen. “Topper wanted her back so she can try nursing.”
“She could have just sent you to tell us. There will be no stealing the child from my arms or anyone else’s in that manner. I’ll not survive the constant panic attacks.” Narrowing his eyes, Stark stomped around Alfred and headed to the bedroom.
Alfred laughed at the angry alien. “Oh, good. Everything is finally back to normal.”
Thor shook his head. “What’s normal around this place?”
A large thump shook the ground and the house and sent the three of them running out of the kitchen to the front door. A dragon shifted to a naked man while they watched.
“Oh my,” Rime said, unable to stifle her giggle or look away. The Sherriff was a very impressive man. A frowning Thor rolled his eyes at her exclamation and jogged out to meet him.
“Sorry for the nudity, but there was no time to get dressed. The men in black are here,” Theo said. He looked at Thor and Rime. “Can either of you freeze humans without killing them?”
“Stark can do it best,” Alfred said easily. “I’ll get him. He needs something to do now anyway. Topper’s back to her old self and you know how that is.”
“Everything go alright?” Theo asked.
“Yes. Baby and mother are both fine, Sheriff. Only Daddy is a little stressed,” Rime said.
Theo smiled. “Good. Nonny and Evanna can do the mind wipe, but you have to capture the men first. Then we wait a few hours until they thaw out. It’s the safest way to handle the situation.”
Thor nodded. “So these are the men Topper says we cannot dispatch?”
“You got it,” Theo said, morphing into a giant creature once more. With a fiery roar, he launched skyward.
“So that’s their apex predator?” Rime asked as she watched him leave.
Thor nodded as he came back to her. “Yes, but don’t tell him how small he is compared to the animals Stark had to wrangle on Glacier. The Sheriff truly is the biggest animal on Earth.”
“Oh dear. My brother must bite his tongue all the time,” Rime declared, giggling again as a running Stark exited the house.
“Thor, you’re with me. How would you like a full-time job? I can teach you to control the ice within you if you want to stay here and help me guard the portal. I need a second… obviously.”
Thor pounded his chest with a fist as he ran. “I am at your service.”
“Yes. I see you’re at my sister’s service as well. Did you think I was unaware of the way she smiled at you? We will be discussing the issue when there is time,” Stark said.
“My life is my own, Brother. Thor’s mighty hammer is my secret to know and no other’s,” Rime yelled. “Do you hear me, Stark?”
Thor was able to stifle his laughter but not his grin.
Chapter 12
Topper pushed the red button and waited. Soon Icela appeared. She squealed and got as close to the mirror as she could. “Eons ago I gave up procreating to become a goddess for Glacier, but I love babies and everything about them. The Fates have told me much about the Ice Ice Baby you have borne. They said there were many popular songs of celebration.”
Laughing loudly, Topper had to step out of mirror range for a moment. When she stopped laughing, she stepped back. “The baby’s name is Jessica… not Ice Ice Baby. The Fates are playing a trick on you, Goddess. They love to do that.”
Icela lifted an eyebrow. “Really? They like to trick me?”
Topper nodded. “Yes. It’s unfortunately how they show affection. Since I’ve had the baby, they’ve been remarkably nice to me. I guess their joking has shifted to being at your expense.”
“I appreciate your honesty, Witch. I did not know I was being duped by them.”
“And I appreciate you sending my child’s father to me, Goddess. See what we made?”
&nb
sp; “Oh my… she is so very beautiful. Warrior of my heart, come see the child Stark made with his Earth witch in my honor.”
Topper held the bundle to the mirror again, working not to smirk when the bemused Warrior murmured what he knew the Goddess expected him to say about the child. He did wink at Topper when Icela went back to cooing. The Fates were going to owe her big for saving them from Icela’s wrath. Her smile was wide as she stepped back.
Icela sighed contentedly. “And how is my Priestess doing there?”
Topper smiled. “You can ask her yourself. She is here.”
Rime cautiously stepped in front of the mirror. “Hello, Goddess.”
Icela clapped her hands. “Oh Rime, you look wonderful. Do you like the Warrior I left on Earth for you? He’s been very patient all these years.”
“You left Thor here on Earth for me?”
Icela shrugged. “Yes. Some plans require a long time to manifest. Are you happy there, Rime?”
Rime bowed her head. “I am, Goddess. I would like to stay and help raise Stark’s child. I feel it is my destiny to do so.”
“I know it is, daughter of my heart, which is why I sent you. Give no thought to what you left behind. I will inform the Sisterhood of your leaving. Did Thor dispatch the loathsome Director whom I could not dissuade from his thinking?”
Rime winced and glanced beyond the mirror to where a full-sized Quest sulked as he listened. “No, Goddess. The witches here dispensed a life lesson in humility that I believe Director Quest found very illuminating about the power of the creatures on this planet. I’m sure he will cause no further problems for me or Earth. We have elected to allow him to return to Glacier and fulfill his duties there. Stark will be sending him home shortly.”
“Very well, but my patience is running low with that one. I had secretly hoped your Warrior would just kill him for you. Sometimes people refuse to learn,” Icela said.
“Indeed, but this is not the case with Quest. You have my word,” Rime promised.
Magic, New Mexico: Timeless Topper (Kindle Worlds Novella) (My Crazy Alien Romance Book 3) Page 9
