| |
“I want to get up.” Moxie had lain in bed for four days wearing the poultice Silas made for her. It was changed every six hours at first. Every time it was lifted, a black substance that reminded her of bad blood with pus clinging to her was drawn out of her body. That’s why she had to stay in bed. The more she moved, the quicker it took over her body, killing her.
They were down to changing her wrap twice a day. She needed it to come back clean twice before she could get up. Not just clean to her human eyes, but to Silas’ magic.
“Has anyone ever told you that your grumpy when you’re sick?”
She cut her eyes to look at Leif but couldn’t keep it up in the face of his smile.
“You’re too sweet to have gone through hell.”
“Don’t tell Silas that. The other day he told me I was obstinate and hardheaded.”
“Oh, you are. You’re also sweet and kind with a beautiful smile.”
His hand went to his heart as he fluttered his eyelashes. “You know I’m spoken for, right?”
She laughed; Silas didn’t miss a chance to let everyone know that Leif was his mate.
“Silas is the sweetest, kindest, most generous male I’ve ever met. On top of that, he’s smoking hot. He deserves someone who is his equal.”
While she was laid up, a witch came to their borders to challenge Silas. He threatened Leif, the brothers, and everyone in the town. She didn’t get to see the fight, but Rada decided to video it to cheer her up.
The look on his face scared her, and she was watching it second hand. He killed the man, cut him up, disintegrated the pieces, and sent them in small, labeled boxes back to his coven.
“I can still hear them. ‘Your gay ass ain’t no man. That’s why you are taking it up the ass like a pussy.’ They said it every time they raped me for hours or days repeatedly until I got the message. Then their friends raped me, then men paid to rape me. Let’s not forget the beatings. What do I have to offer a man like Silas?”
“Your strength...” Moxie was cut off when Silas spoke.
“And your courage, your bravery. You were still alive when I found you. It’s a miracle to me that you lived through the torture you were being put through. Now, you sit here, not crying or begging to be left alone. We asked you to sit with Moxie while we went to the cave. You smiled at me and said yes. You have your problems, but I see you working through them every day. When I realized that you were my mate, I thought it was the happiest day of my life. I was wrong.”
Leif’s smiled faded while his eyes got watery. Silas walked over to him, tilting his head to look at him.
“I think today is the best day, but something tells me that tomorrow will be the best day. I was sure that yesterday was the best day. Every time I lay my eyes on you, I know it’s the best day of my life. When you lay your head on my shoulder, I get this sense of peace that is amazing. Every day with you is and will be the best day of my life. As for those idiots that don’t understand that masculinity has nothing to do with your sexuality. While they were putting you down, they were the ones raping a man. What does that say about them?”
“That they’re animals. If I get a chance, I’ll put a bullet in their heads.”
“I love you, Leif. I know it’s too soon for you, but I’ve lived too long to second guess how I feel.”
Leif threw himself into Silas’ arms as tears flowed freely. His smile came out as bright as the noonday sun. He laid a kiss on Silas that spoke of the innocence of a heart just waking.
“Oh, Angel, today is basically the best day of my life.”
Lael took Rose into his arms, holding her close. Moxie stretched her hand out. When Rada took it, she closed her eyes in relief.
“Since we’re all here, let’s check your wound.” Silas placed a kiss on Leif’s cheek before moving closer to the bed.
Please be clean, please be clean, Moxie chanted, watching as Silas pulled the poultice off.
“Yes!” She did a little jig in bed as she stared at everyone in her room. “Shoo, I can’t get up with all of you here.”
All eyes turned to Silas. The poultice came out clean to their eyes, but he was wrapping it in magic. The room was silent, no sounds of breathing until he nodded his head.
“It’s clean.” There was a huge exhale along with a gasp with the need for more air.
“Get out; I love you all but get out.” Her hand covered her mouth. She loved them? She did; this was her first time having friends, and they meant something special to her.
They all filed out after telling her how happy they were that she was going to be fine. When only her and Rada were still in the room, she sat up.
Her hand went to her side while she grimaced. “I’m glad I’m fine, but my ribs are still sore.”
“He planned to kill you. I’ll take sore ribs.”
“So will I. Turn around. I need a shower. Then I’ll be back.” She stood in the bathroom, looking at the shower and the separate tub. “On second thought, I need to submerge. I smell something, and I think it’s me. I’ll be a while.”
“Take your time. I’ll be back.”
The lightness of his voice made her smile. Turning on the spigot, she started adding bubble bath as well as scented skin oil. She bought them at Target and they were luxuries she wasn’t used to having. Sinking into the hot water, she let out a long drawn out sigh. She wanted to live in the tub. It felt so good. The heat beat against her ribs, but she would live with it.
She leaned back in the tub, eyes closing. The picture they bought in Target was imprinted on the back of her eyelids. When the water started to chill, she washed and got out. The feeling that she needed to see that picture was drumming through her mind.
She dressed, feeling shaky with the need to look at it. When a knock came at her door, she smiled. It was Rada; it had to be. No one else made her heart jump like this.
She opened the door to find him holding her picture.
“I thought I’d bring this in before we got food.” Her eyes flicked from the picture to him.
They needed to eat, but she wanted to stare at the picture.
“Let’s find a place to put it up first.” That was her compromise. He brought it in, and they walked through the room, not finding the perfect place for it.
“How can this be?” Her hands landed on her hips as she turned in a circle. The suite was big, lavish, but it wasn’t that big. There was plenty of wall space, but nowhere felt or looked right.
“I have the perfect place for this, but it’s not in this room.”
She shot him a wary look. Was he trying to take her picture, although he paid for it? It was still hers. The icy green eyes of his beast flashed at her. They seemed to say, trust me.
“Okay, impress me.”
“Breakfast first.”
What was it about these males and feeding a female? She followed him to the kitchen, noticing that he brought the picture along.
“You’re just in time, Lael’s cooking,” Rose told them when they walked in. “You missed Silas glaring at us. He pushed Lael aside and cooked for my brother before leaving the kitchen with threats of it better be clean when he came back down.”
Moxie laughed and took a seat. Silas took care of the house through the millennia that the brothers were stuck in their beast forms. He was having trouble with them in his kitchen. Who knew a powerful mage would love to cook?
“He can cook for me whenever he wants to. Then clean the kitchen. I’ll salute him like the kitchen god he is.” Rose laughed, and they did a high five.
“What happened in the cave?” Rada and Lael stiffened.
“We went to the cave in force, the brothers, Silas, Ellie and Malik, and me. He’s getting stronger. Together we reinforced the wards, but they don’t look like they’ll last much longer.”
“And?” She was holding something back.
“He made threats. They all make them, but these were specific centering on you, me, Leif, and Malik.” Moxie didn’t ask what the threats were. She didn’t need to know right now, later when she wasn’t about to eat, she’d ask.
“There’s nothing we can do?”
“We aren’t strong enough.”
“If I had been there.”
Rose shook her head. “Silas said even with whatever untapped power you have inside, we still aren’t strong enough. It would be nice if you lent your power the next time we strengthen the wards.”
“Of course. What will make us strong enough?”
“We don’t know. Silas has an idea, but in typical Silas fashion, he’s not talking. Something about free will and what will be will be.”
“Aren’t mages supposed to be more specific? I mean they whisper words of power. They don’t say, hey, power if you can help, that would be nice.” Moxie rolled her eyes.
“Hey, evil, no wait, I need to remember the right words to kill you,” Rose added.
“I realize he’s going to be your brother-in-law.” She stopped when Rose’s eyes filled with tears.
“Sorry, I’m not usually weepy. Every time I think about Leif, and I realize he’s alive.” She waved her hand before her face trying not to cry.
“I understand.” Her son was still alive. The place where his memory had been felt like a raw place in her heart. Was he really her son or another demon trick? For years, she watched that child when she thought no one was looking, doing her best to make his life better until they caught her. They beat him while she watched.
Her hand went to her chest as she bent over, unable to breathe. Rada’s strong arms wrapped around her.
“What ...if...” That was all she got out between wheezes. His arms held her tighter as she rocked, and tears flowed. Her son was alive. “What if he’s mine.” She managed to get out.
“We’ll get him back. We’ll get him either way. There’s no leaving him with that demon.”
She rested her head against Rada’s chest. They would get the boy; it didn’t matter who his parents were. She calmed the more she thought of having him with her, feeding him breakfast. When she inhaled, she took in Rada’s scent. It helped her to calm down. He was all masculine with the scent of honeysuckle entwined. He was some combination of wild and sweet. Memories of him fighting in human form came back to her. She knew it hadn’t been easy because he wasn’t used to fighting on two legs. Still, he made it look effortless. It was three against one, and he didn’t have a gun.
She inhaled again, soaking up his scent and the heat of his body.