I woke up. Plums sat beside me. His whiskers twitched, but he said nothing.
“Yeah. Yeah. I’m okay. It’s that damn dream. It never leaves me.”
Plums licked his paw. “You really should get out more.”
Thirteen
“The moon made me do it.” ~ anon
To settle my nerves, I took a cold shower. After that, I fell into a dreamless sleep only to be woken by the distinct scent of an agitated, alpha-warlock in my room. It smelled like moldy oranges. I opened one eye. Donovan stood next to my bed, staring down at me. His hands rested on his hips. “Tell me exactly what happened in your vision.”
“Huh?” Did he know about my dream? I grabbed my cell phone and checked the time. Five a.m. I gave him my best death-stare.
Donovan ignored it. "I understand you want to protect Cassie from the details because she's pregnant. But it’s just you and me here. The Blood Moon rises tonight. You have to tell me."
“I haven’t had my coffee yet,” I said. I tried to open my second eye, but it was stuck. Not wanting Donovan to see me in my tee-shirt, with no makeup, my hair a mess, and no charms set to make me appear alluring, I pulled the covers over my head and tucked into a fetal position. No magic could fix me in two seconds.
He made one of his annoying warlock guttural sounds. "I'll meet you in the kitchen in five. If you don't turn up, I'll come back and haul your pretty little ass out from under the blankets, and I won't be gentle."
The thought of him lifting my body warmed my mutinous female parts. He had wonderfully large hands and strong muscles. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll be there.” In five somethings, I thought.
After he strode out of the room, I stood up and stretched. Donovan's request came from the heart, I told myself. His intentions were nothing but good. I should help him. Still, I really hated being bossed around. Maybe, I should make it five hours.
“Merlina,” his voice broke through my thoughts. Was he reading my mind? We had to have a chat about his abilities.
With my favorite combination of morning charms, I managed to look decent—not beautiful, but decent. My hair fell in waves over my shoulders, I wore clothes, and both my eyes worked.
When I got to the kitchen, I found Donovan with Plums sitting on his lap, enjoying a manly petting. "It's really early, couldn't this wait?" I said.
“No. The seers warned me, tonight’s threat is greater than they first anticipated. They also said that you hold the key. I need to know everything about your vision, and I need to know it now.”
Plums jumped off his lap and ran to the windowsill.
I poured a cup of coffee from the French Press that lay steaming in the middle of the table. “Want one?” I asked.
“No.”
“Okay,” I said as I added a thick layer of cream. “Thanks for making me coffee.”
“Merlina?”
"Okay. Okay. You're right I didn't tell Cassie, because I didn't want to frighten her. It was a gruesome vision. The worst I have ever had, and trust me, that is saying a lot." I put the spoon down.
“Merlina.”
I took a big sip of my coffee and enjoyed the tingling sensation on my tongue. The mage made a decent brew. Was there anything Donovan O'Reilly wasn't good at?
The look he gave me could have fried an egg.
I ran a hand through my hair. "Okay, here goes. In my vision, I watched from the top of the Keep. The full moon rose in a clear night sky, shining its light over the surroundings. As it went into eclipse, the light lessened, and the night stilled as if anticipating some dark horror. As the eclipse deepened the moon turned the color of blood.”
I closed my eyes, remembering the scene. “A rustling sound in the forest grew to a deafening level. I watched and waited, as a feeling of dread grew within me. I felt in the marrow of my bones a yearning for blood."
I opened my eyes and took another sip of coffee. My medicine bag jumped into my hand.
The warlock nodded.
I continued. "The moon looked larger than it usually does when it breaks the horizon. And it was so red, it looked like it could leak blood into our world. Horror swirled within me and threatened to take over all my senses. Something sinister approached, and all I could do was watch."
Donovan got up and stood behind me, resting his hands on my shoulders. “What happened next?”
“Chaos. It was like the end of our time on earth. All manner of beasts crawled out of the woods, and none of them were normal. Raccoons, bears, and cougars stealthily slid between the conifers heading towards town.”
“But they weren’t normal,” he said.
"No. The animals were …" I stopped and took a deep breath. "Fur and flesh hung in patches on their wraith-like skeletons. They were hideous undead beasts."
His fingers gently massaged my shoulders, grounding me to the moment and making my female parts quiver. "Go on."
I swallowed. "Floating above the invaders, I watched as they formed a pack and entered town. Everywhere they went, they caused destruction."
“What exactly did they do?”
"They devoured every person they met. Mage or muggle, it didn’t matter. They made low growling sounds as they ripped through flesh and gurgling sounds as they digested it. Blood ran down the streets, and the stench of it filled my mind." I wiped at a tear that ran down my cheek.
“And there’s more?” he said.
I nodded. "The horde came to Sanjay's estate. He fought hard, but they trapped him and took him down." Tears ran freely down my face. "Then, they fell upon Cassie."
“And?”
"The vision ended." I swallowed. "I quit my job, sold my house, packed my van, and came here. I'll do whatever it takes to stop the beasts. I'll do anything to protect Cassie."
"Anything? That would mean you would have to trust me."
Fourteen
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” ~ Buddha
The day of the Blood Moon passed slower than molasses through a sieve. I paced. I twisted my body into yoga positions. I soaked in a tall bath. Heck, I even phoned my mother and listened to her stories about her knitting circle. It didn't matter what I did; time passed slowly, second by excruciating second.
Donovan kept me informed about the progress of his supernatural squad by messages. When the first one arrived at 10 a.m., I got excited. They figured it out, I thought. But all he said was, “The posse is on high alert. I’ve deployed our shifters to comb through the forests and mountains surrounding town. Those with the sight are scrying for clues. Our mages are creating defensive spells and potions. ~ Donovan (who can be trusted).”
I laughed at his salutation and lifted the flaming message to the sky for release. The day had to get better.
An hour later, the second message arrived. “No news. I hope that’s good news. ~ trustworthy Donovan.”
At noon the third arrived. “According to our oldest wizard, the energy pattern is already shifting in town. ~ Donovan the warlock with honor.”
I smirked at that one.
The messages continued throughout the day. Basically, he had no news.
No news was not good news. Whatever was going to happen seemed unstoppable. I was just about to take another bath when Cassie arrived. We sat at the kitchen table, and I conjured myself a mug of coffee.
Cassie rubbed her baby bump. Her pregnancy glow had not diminished one bit, but her smile sagged on the right side. “Sanjay and I spent the day organizing the witches in town. May the Goddess have mercy. They are harder to herd than cats. And don’t get me started on their familiars.”
I laughed. “You should have called me. I would have helped.”
Her mouth scrunched, the way it always did when she had something to tell me that she didn't want to say.
“What?” I said.
“I swear, the gossip mill in this town spins faster than a witch on steroids.”
I shrugged. Witches are terrible gossips everywhere. “And?”
“Many think you are the problem.”
“Me?” My medicine bag jumped into my hand. “I came to save the town.”
Cassie sighed. "I know. And we told them that. But old Harriet, who must be over a hundred, started talking to her friends about how there's always trouble when you turn up. And since Harriet makes the best scones in town, the old crones gobbled up her trash."
“But …”
Cassie waved a hand at me. "If it was only one small group of old biddies, it wouldn't be such a problem, but Evangeline is on the warpath."
"Who the hex is Evangeline?"
"Welcome to our small town. The young sorceress is rather unremarkable, but men love her. Sanjay says it’s her long legs, and mane of blond hair. There’s no accounting for taste. Anyway, she has quite a following among the young witches."
“You mean a sorority queen has it out for me? Great! What did I do to her?”
A grin spread across Cassie's face. "You've been seen at the Keep with Donovan. She's had her eye on him for three years, but he's never given her any notice. I'm guessing that's what tied her broom in a knot. But, she says her witch senses tell her you're an evil enchantress who has come to create havoc, and there’s nothing to your story about the Blood Moon. "
"There's nothing between Donovan and me. That's just silly."
“Uh-huh.” Cassie eyed me carefully. “According to Evangeline, she saw an energy bubble around the two of you. She claims you are seducing him with your magic and leaving the town at risk.”
“Well, shake my broom.”
Cassie laughed. “You can deny it all you want, but I feel the connection between the two of you as well. It’s just there.” She raised her hand to stop me from saying anything. “Anyway, Sanjay and I convened a meeting of witches, did our best to dispel the silly rumors, and sent the sorceresses back to their lairs to conjure potions and spells. That was my day.”
I sighed. “Donovan sends me a message almost every hour. So far, he and his posse have come up with nothing.”
Cassie nodded. Sanjay gets updates as well. “You know you could have told me about your vision.”
“I did.”
"No, you didn't. I had to hear a sanitized version from Sanjay, who heard the whole story from Donovan, who forced the details out of you. I'm not made of glass, you know. I'm just pregnant."
“With the newest member of our family,” I said. “I wouldn’t risk your health for anything.” I leaned back in my chair and looked over the rim of my mug. “Didn’t the details bother you?”
“I suspect the warlocks gave me a watered-down version, but I got the jist of it. We’re in trouble. We need to work together, and you need to trust all of us.”
Trust. Geez. There was that damned word again. “I trust you,” I said. “Always and forever.”
“Tonight, you will need to trust Donovan as well.”
I bit my lower lip. “Do you know what he wants me to do?”
Cassie blinked. “He said whatever it takes.”
I laughed out loud. "Exactly. Donovan told me that too. Whatever. It. Takes."
I saw the truth hitting her slowly, and she slapped her leg and laughed. Warlocks. You know they are rather wanton in their sexuality. It would only be natural for him to think about how the two of you co-mingling might stir things up."
I smiled. “Great, I get to stir.”
“Donovan is handsome.”
I closed my eyes. “Cassie.”
"Okay. Okay. It's just, I can think of a lot of worse sacrifices." She giggled.
“Cassie.”
"Wait. Just wait a minute. Hold onto your broom. You're afraid of him." She straightened her spine. "You, the mighty Merlina, are afraid of a mere warlock."
“I …”
“That’s why you’ve been prattling on about needing three reasons to not kiss him. You’re afraid of his power. Do you think he’ll turn you into a toad? Or …” She closed her eyes. “No. You’re afraid his magic will make you fall in love with him.”
Squeezing my medicine bag no longer calmed my nerves, so I stood up and walked to the window. "The truth is there's just something about Donovan O'Reilly. I can't explain it. I’m afraid to kiss him. Deathly afraid."
“Have you thought of a third reason not to?”
“Yes.” I turned to face her. “The third reason I will not kiss Donovan O’Reilly is that I can’t trust him.”
Cassie walked up behind me and put her hand on my back. “With zombies at our gate, sweetie, you may have to.”
Fifteen
“The sun, moon, and stars are there to guide us.” ~ Dennis Banks
The full moon began its ascent at seven forty-nine. Cresting the horizon, it slowly cast a cold-white brilliance over the snow-capped, coastal mountains. Not a cloud dampened its splendor. An emperor, could not have made such a dramatic entrance. "It is beautiful," I said to Donovan, who stood at my side on the parapet of the Keep.
“As are you,” he said. His whiskey-smooth voice grated on my finer parts. “You are my moon tonight.”
I grumbled in response, but as silly as his line sounded, my mutinous body responded with a purr. “If I’m your moon. You’re my swamp,” I said.
He snickered and wove his fingers in my hair.
Plums sighed.
Trying to ignore his touch, which ignited a blistering heat within me, I added, “As in the monster from the swamp.”
Donovan's cell phone dinged, and he pulled it out. He put his phone back in his cloak and massaged my neck. "You need to relax."
“Any news?”
“Our supernatural warriors stand ready, in position.” The sound of an owl’s call turned his head quickly to the east. He scanned the dark silhouette of the forest for a moment and then turned his attention back to me. “They say the full eclipse will happen at midnight.”
“Of course, it will,” I said.
“That’s five hours from now. May I suggest we retire to somewhere more comfortable?” His voice lowered into a seductive tone.
“Like your bed?” The words tumbled out of my mouth. My body was in mutiny.
He made that low guttural sound in the back of his throat.
“Are you revving your engines?”
He lifted my chin and locked eyes with me. "Cold, Merlina. That's cold, even for you. Some man must have really done a number on you."
His power slammed into my senses. I couldn’t think. The energy zapping between us shocked my system throwing it into overdrive.
I broke our eye-lock and stepped back, wanting to curse him and all his kind, but Cassie's words stuck in my head. Zombies at the gate. To protect her and her baby, I had to give Donovan a chance. "I'm sorry. You're right. I was unnecessarily cold, and yes, perhaps bitter. It comes with age."
With a wave of his hand, we landed inside the Keep, in a private room. It had a large bed, and a leather couch with a matching sitting chair. He motioned to me to sit on the sofa. "I have an idea," he said.
I groaned—a warlock with an idea. If I had a broom for every time a mage in my life had an idea about what I should do with my life, my closet would be full. I'm sure he had many ideas.
"Clearly, you don't trust me," he said.
“You got that right.”
“If you knew me better, I think it would be easier for you.”
I nodded.
“How about this. I’ll share something personal with you, and then you share something personal with me. That way we’ll get to know one another.”
We had five hours to kill. What did I have to lose? “Okay,” I said slowly, “but you go first.”
"Agreed." He sat beside me and leaned back giving me space. "I didn't always live like a monk,” he said. “In my younger years, I bedded every female I could, and reveled in the simple pleasures of sex."
My skin rippled with lust. How could it not?
“Then I met my wife,” he said.
“And you loved her.”
His eyes
looked away from me. “Not as much as I should have.” He grunted. “Not as much as she deserved.”
Pain crossed his face, and my heart jumped a beat. He was honest, humble, and repentant. Oh, fartknucker! It was hard not to like him. I swallowed. “What happened?”
"Do you really want the details? It doesn't matter anymore. I was too young and immature to appreciate the gift the universe had given me. Now I mourn her, and our time together is a painful and forever-closed chapter of my life."
“By the shadow in your eyes, I would say the chapter never closed. We have time. Tell me your story.”
Donovan took my hand and gently stroked my palm as he spoke. "Her name was Eleanor, and she was an Elven princess in hiding. Not wanting to engage in her kingdom's politics, she disguised herself as a muggle and fled to our realm. I'll never forget the day I met her in the woods. She emerged from a grand sequoia, unaware that anyone was watching. Naked and in the prime of her youth, she squared her shoulders as I approached and swore that if I came any closer to her, she would cast me to another universe."
“And you laughed,” I said.
“And I laughed,” he said. The pain in his eyes lessened as he spoke. “I had not met many of her kind. I didn’t know how sensitive their hearts were, and being young and driven by hormones, I pursued her for days. In my favor, I didn’t use magic.”
“Hah, you didn’t need to, Donovan. You have enough personal charm without it.”
He smiled and moved a little bit closer. My pulse quickened. "When Eleanor told me she carried my child, my heart broke in two. I wasn't ready to be a father, but I wasn't about to let my son, for I knew it was a son, be raised without me. I grew up that night, but still not enough." The dark shadow of regret crossed his eyes again. Never had I seen a man whose emotions showed so clearly. My gut clenched.
"You married her," I said.
"In my tradition, we were married. My family gathered, we spoke vows as old as time, and we kissed to seal our union. She was a beautiful bride, with flowers in her hair. Sanjay, my best man, kept telling me how lucky I was."
3 Reasons To Not Kiss A Warlock: Beware, Bewitched, Bewarlocked (Mystic Keep Universe Book 2) Page 6
