Chapter Eight

The hawk mesmerized her. Its presence was quite similar to that of the panther last night—with it kind of mysteriously there, and yet not solid or palpable. She didn’t know exactly what shamans did, but there seemed to be a connection between the animals and Kianso.

“I want to free Sasha from the curse placed on her,” Kianso said, his voice rumbling strong and authoritative.

He spoke like a man used to being in control, she thought. A man who didn’t accept no for an answer. A man—or lawyer—who loved to win. But at the same time, he seemed gentle and caring.

She fluttered her wings. “Thank you.”

She glanced at the clock, even though she internally knew the time. Six hours, twenty-three minutes, and eleven seconds before she transformed into her human self again. It felt like a lifetime before she’d be able to talk to him—really talk to him in more than these monosyllabic responses. Plus, she simply wanted to know more about this striking, complex man.

She turned and traveled back up his arm to his shoulder. Right there was where she would stay until she could change into her real self.

He set his jaw as he tapped the keys on his computer, flipping from one e-mail correspondence to the other. He had posted her problem to a group of his psychic friends. While she was interested in what he was learning that could help her, she tried not to read over his shoulder. The conversations were too complicated for her to comprehend, anyway, as they were speaking of entering different realms of reality, with open space and time constructs.

At one point she noticed that he was researching Quaker parrots, their behaviors, and what they ate. That was very sweet of him, she thought. He saw her looking at him and explained, “I wanted to see what to feed you so I know what to pick up.”

“Thank you.”

Around midafternoon, he set the computer aside and simply sat, staring straight ahead, as if focused on something far away.

Sasha angled her head one way and then the other, wondering what he was doing. He seemed to be in a trance of some kind.

The hawk, who had remained quietly sitting on the coffee table all day, spoke up. “We call it dreaming while awake. He has moved beyond the inner doorway.”

Sasha looked at the hawk in surprise. She opened and closed her beak, not quite knowing what to say.

Since the hawk appeared to be spirit instead of flesh, she didn’t seem to have the same communication problem that Sasha had. “The seeker has access to a transcendent connection to the sacred realms of the spirit world. The fabric of reality is composed of a multilevel vibrational field that is conscious and intelligent. He is searching for favorable conditions in which the field will respond,” the hawk explained.

“Unusual abilities,” Sasha chirped, watching Kianso as he looked beyond what she could see.

“Yes. He is a talented shaman. It has pained me to see him turn from his shamanic calling since our accident.”

Sasha’s breath caught. Was Kianso’s mother the spirit inside the hawk? She wondered who the female was.

“He has the great gifts of wisdom, power, and healing,” she went on. “Our reconnection with Nature is the gateway into the invisible worlds all around us.”

“Are you his mother?” Sasha asked, wanting confirmation.

The hawk shook its head. “No. I’m his sister, Jen.”

Sasha’s beak dropped open. She really shouldn’t be surprised at what was possible anymore, but it still always awed her.

A knock sounded at the door, and Kianso’s body jerked. He shifted and straightened, groaning softly as he came out of the trance.

The hawk vanished.

“It’s the witches,” he said, standing.

She wondered how he knew that, but she supposed it had to do with the spirits and various planes of reality. Or something.

He walked to the door and opened it wide, revealing Pandora and Charisma.

“Good afternoon,” Charisma said. The greeting lacked enthusiasm.

Neither witch smiled; they just nodded and entered as Kianso invited them inside. Sasha’s stomach knotted with uneasy anticipation.

“Would you like a cup of tea or a soda?” Kianso offered.

“No. Thank you,” Pandora said. “We thought we should come in person to tell you what we’ve found.”

Sasha prepared herself. By the drawn looks on their faces, it couldn’t be good news.

“I appreciate that,” Kianso said.

“As do I,” Sasha chimed in. Pandora gave her a sympathetic smile.

Charisma wet her lips. “The spell can be broken,” she started, “but only on Samhain’s full moon. And only by her true love.”

Sasha’s heart sank. She hadn’t even been on a date in over six months, never mind discovering her true love.

“Fortunately, we will have a full moon this Halloween,” Pandora added.

Kianso’s lips tugged upward.

Anger roiled in her chest. What did he have to smile about? Halloween was a mere three weeks away. It was impossible.

He set his left hand on his shoulder, indicating for her to step onto it. She did, and he moved her in front of him so they were eye level and between Pandora and Charisma.

“Then there is hope of freeing her of the spell,” he said. “I have seen it in my visions and know it in my heart… I am her true love.”

No sooner had he said it than she changed into her human form.

She inhaled a deep breath. “Say what?”

He put his hands in his pockets. “Don’t worry. I have a few weeks to convince you, but we are destined for each other.”

“Well,” Pandora said, “it’s simply a matter of timing, then. We’ll leave you to get to know each other.” The sisters turned in unison, heading for the door.

Charisma paused outside in the hall and looked back at them. “Oh, and just a reminder. It has to be the real thing or the spell won’t be broken. No love potions or getting Willa to make a special ring or anything like that.”

“Charisma, hush,” Pandora chastised her.

“Just telling the truth,” the other witch responded.

Sasha moved closer to Kianso, threading her arm through his. She’d been perfectly content sitting on his shoulder all day. Why should she feel differently now? “Thank you for stopping by and sharing what you learned,” she said with a nervous smile. “And thank you for even helping at all.”

The witches nodded.

“Well, see you two around,” Pandora said, waving as they left.

* * *

As soon as the door closed, he pulled Sasha into a hug. She felt so good in his arms, so right. He slid his palm up and down her back, trying to soothe her, to reassure her. “It will be okay,” he said.

She dipped her head and leaned it against his shoulder. “I want to believe that.”

After a moment, she stepped back and searched his eyes. “When did you see us together? Just a while ago when you were in that trance?”

“No. It was when I was younger,” he said. “When I saw you at Mummy’s the other night, you seemed familiar. Like I should recognize you. But it wasn’t until we were at Nick’s place that it registered.”

“Wow,” she breathed.

He ran a gentle hand over her arm. He couldn’t get enough of touching her. “Do you want to go out for a bite to eat?”

“How about we order in?” she suggested. “I’m on a schedule, you know.” She let out a small giggle.

“Okay.” He closed the distance between them and cupped her face in his hands as his lips claimed hers. Good heavens, she tasted wonderful. “Then I better take advantage while I can,” he said against her mouth. When she broke the kiss, he let her go.

She drew in a deep tremulous breath, searching his eyes. Her hand came up and rested on his chest before she threaded her fingers in his hair and pulled him toward her, initiating a longer, more passionate kiss.

When she moaned, he pulled her tighter against his body. What a powerful aphrodisiac to know she was as attracted to him as he was to her. He wished he could touch her and kiss her all night long.

Images flashed in his head of taking her into his bedroom. Reluctantly, he ended the kiss. As he eased to her side he said, “Um, dinner?” He tilted his head and gave her a wink. “Although I’ll admit I’m hungry for far more than food.

He slid one hand into hers while pulling his phone from his pocket with the other. “Is Guillermo’s all right with you? Seth told me the dishes there were excellent.”

She nodded. “Sure.”

They looked at the online menu and made their selections. When he called and placed their delivery order, the guy on the other end was exuberant and helpful. Kianso wondered if the Excelsior address had anything to do with the speedy response, or if they were just as nice to everyone.

He guided her to the couch and they sat down, still holding hands. He lifted hers to his lips, kissing the backs of her fingers. “I’m your soul mate,” he whispered. “And I’m going to do everything in my power to prove that to you.”

“I guess we’ll know for sure on Halloween,” she said. “If the spell is broken.”

“When the spell is broken,” he corrected, and then kissed her deeply. But even as he tasted her delicious lips, he knew the structure of destiny may have a flaw. She had to truly love him for it to work. And love reciprocated was never a given.