CHAPTER THIRTY

The Shifters didn’t want to go home. Dimitri heard Dylan telling Tiger this in disgust when Dylan finally emerged from the castle.

Zander had carried Dimitri down the hill in surprisingly gentle arms to a coach where Jaycee already waited.

“I can heal you,” Zander had said to Dimitri as they’d descended. “But not on this hill. I’d pass out from the pain, and then we’d fall, and then we’d both need a healer. Can you hold on until we get back to the Fae woman’s house?”

“Yes,” Dimitri had said, resigned. Not very dignified, being carried over a large, naked man’s shoulder, but what choice did he have? “Who is the Fae woman?”

“Apparently a very powerful person,” Zander answered. “Those Fae soldiers turned green when they saw her, and these are guys who weren’t scared of Tiger.”

“Ignorance,” Dimitri said, his teeth clenching as Zander took a hard step. “All Fae should be afraid of Tiger.”

“True,” Zander said. “But it’s good to note.”

Jaycee was waiting in the carriage, dressed now in a silver silk garment that clung to her curves. She drew Dimitri close when Zander set him on the seat beside her. Never mind that he was bloody and getting it all over the pretty silver robe—Jaycee simply held him. That was when Dimitri knew everything would be all right.

*   *   *

When they reached the house, Zander healed Jaycee first—Dimitri insisted—then he closed Dimitri’s wounds. After that, Zander headed out into Aisling’s garden to lie on his back and breath heavily while he studied the stars. He’d be all right, he said to Jaycee’s worried questions. He’d healed Shifters who’d been hurt much worse. But she should leave him alone for a time—and then bring him a beer.

Jaycee watched him with concern, but she concluded that Zander knew from experience what he needed to do to recover. She let him be.

Angus and Dylan returned with Brice’s body. Brice was of his Shiftertown, Angus said, and needed to be taken to his Guardian. He was a shit and a murderer, but Brice couldn’t be left inside, with his soul floating free for the Fae to enslave.

Aisling lent Angus a cart and sent him off toward the sundial, explaining what shadows he should look for to ensure he went back to the right place.

Dylan had convinced a few of the Shifters to return with him, ones who’d realized they’d gotten in way over their heads. They were subdued as they followed Dylan to the sundial and out of Faerie. Maeve wasn’t one of them. According to Dylan, when Jaycee asked him, she’d said she wanted to stay—Simeon was going to take her as mate.

“Poor Casey,” Jaycee said to Dimitri later as they lounged in a large room in Aisling’s house, one with a glass roof. The two moons hovered straight overhead, bathing the room in white light.

“Lucky Casey,” Dimitri said. “Losing a mate who’d rather be with a Fae is no loss. He’s a nice guy, if gullible. He’ll find someone who appreciates him.”

Cian, the dokk alfar Dimitri said had gotten them out of the dungeon and had fought valiantly for them, had departed. He’d come down the hill with Dylan and Angus, stopped to say something to Tiger, then turned to Dimitri and saluted him. He made a low bow to Aisling, who studied him in surprise, and then ran off into the woods, disappearing quickly from sight.

“He said Goddess go with you,” Tiger told Dimitri. “And that he will send the Shifters his people have healed back home when they are ready. He also salutes you and your lady warrior. May you be happy and strong.”

“A very dokk alfar thing to say,” Aisling remarked. “And they don’t like very many people.”

“He’s a good guy,” Dimitri said.

“For a dokk alfar?” Aisling had asked, brows rising.

“For an anything,” Dimitri had answered, before he’d turned to Jaycee and closed his eyes.

*   *   *

Home. Or at least Jasmine Samuelson’s weird-ass house.

Jaycee felt the usual prickle of strangeness as she crossed the threshold of the door that led to the sitting room, but she also felt the house’s welcoming, plus a little of its relief. The house had worried about them, she thought.

It was afternoon here—late, from what Jaycee could see. Clouds covered the sun, rendering the landscape light gray, but it was peaceful and serene, the tall trees around the house deepening the shadows.

Ben hurtled into the sitting room as Jaycee and Dimitri emerged. Jaycee had resumed the black pants and tank top she’d left in Aisling’s garden but Dimitri had lost his clothes in Brice’s New Orleans house. Jaycee didn’t mind him walking beside her without them.

Ben slammed his arms around Jaycee and Dimitri at the same time, kissing Jaycee soundly on the cheek. “I am damned glad to see you. Goddess, I thought I’d lost you both.” He hugged them tighter, the homey, slightly smoky tang of his scent an agreeable change from the acrid odor of the Fae.

“We’re fine,” Dimitri said. He pulled back and grinned at Ben. “Didn’t realize you loved us so much.”

“Hey, you stand here and watch your friends be swallowed into Faerie and see how you like it.” Ben gave Dimitri a severe look. “On second thought, don’t. It sucks.”

Zander and Tiger came through as he finished speaking—Dylan and Angus had already gone, Angus to carry Brice’s body back to the New Orleans Shiftertown and Dylan to escort the Shifters who’d wanted to return home. Dylan had also rescued the bones and skins of the long-dead Shifters from Simeon’s war room, taking them back to be released by a Guardian. Likewise, Cian had promised to return the Shifters his people had healed.

“What sucks?” Zander asked. “Coming back out of Faerie doesn’t. Whew! Thank the Goddess for this world. Those Shifters who want to stay in Faerie are fucking nuts.” He sobered. “Goddess go with them. They’re going to need her help.”

As Tiger stepped through the door after Zander, it slammed, one vine twining itself around the doorknob.

Tiger looked at the door, then did a careful scan of the room, taking in every aspect of it, including the vines that arched over the doorframe. “The house is lonely,” he said. His tone went wistful. “Like I was.”

Dimitri put his hand on Tiger’s shoulder. “Not anymore, big guy.”

Tiger lost his pensive look. “That is true.” His eyes glinted with the wisdom he hid from so many. “I will go home now to Carly and my cub.”

He squeezed Dimitri’s hand, then went to Jaycee and enfolded her in a tight embrace. “Take care of your mate,” he said. “Congratulations.” He moved his finger to Jaycee’s abdomen then, before she could ask what he congratulated her for. Tiger strolled out of the sitting room, making for the front door.

“Gotta go,” Zander said quickly. “He’s my ride. You two take care of yourselves. Rae and I are staying in Austin a few days, so now’s good time for your sun ceremony.” He pointed both forefingers at Jaycee and Dimitri. “Later.” He swung around, coat flying. “See you, Ben!” he shouted, then the front door banged, letting in a blast of warm, humid air.

A moment later, a motorcycle rumbled to life. Jaycee heard Zander shouting for Tiger to wait; the motorcycle paused, then revved and drove off, its roar disappearing into the distance.

Jaycee wanted to fall into Dimitri and hang on. She was exhausted and starving, and a little nervous about what Tiger might have been trying to tell her.

Dimitri’s gray gaze rested on Jaycee, no doubt about what was on his mind. The love in his eyes was plain too, and Jaycee felt the mate bond tighten around her heart.

Ben eyed them both and cleared his throat. “I should get going. I’ll stop by and make sure Casey’s all right, take him home. I’ll just . . .” He began drifting toward the door. “I’ll let myself out.”

Jaycee knew she should be polite, ask Ben to stay, offer him dinner maybe, but she couldn’t find the words. She needed to be with Dimitri, to reassure herself he was all right, that they’d survived. Hell, they’d even completed their mission to find out what was up with Brice and his Shifters.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ben grin, then drift away. After a moment or two, another motorcycle started up and the sound of its engine faded into the afternoon.

Dimitri put his arms around Jaycee and tugged her close, their mouths meeting in a hungry kiss . . .

The door to Faerie burst open. Ice-cold wind blew through the house, shriveling the vines around the door.

Dimitri spun from Jaycee, thrusting her behind him at the same time. Jaycee tried to shove her way to his side, but Dimitri’s strong arm held her in place.

Simeon strode through the door, his sword drawn, his face twisted with terrible rage. Maybe the iron in this house wasn’t enough to impede him from entering the human world, maybe he knew spells that mitigated the effects, or maybe he just didn’t care.

He kept advancing, his sword poised to kill. “You murdered my best Shifter,” he snapped at Dimitri. “I promised his people I’d avenge him.”

Jaycee’s growls filled the room as she became leopard. Her party clothes shredded and fell from her, then she rushed Simeon with Feline speed.

Simeon whirled to face her, sword ready, but Dimitri grabbed his sword arm with his human hands, his strength renewed from Zander’s healing. He twisted, but Simeon kept hold of the sword, snarling as he whipped it around to strike at Dimitri.

“Shit!” Dimitri danced out of the way and aimed a roundhouse kick at Simeon’s middle. Simeon anticipated and spun away, only to find himself facing a leopard.

Jaycee read the flash of irritation in his eyes, annoyance at himself for miscalculating. Jaycee sprang before he could recover his surprise, landing on him full force.

He fought her, but Jaycee’s impact pushed them both into the nearest wall. Which shook.

The house began moving, every beam rattling, the crystal sconces tinkling, the chandelier in the main hall creaking noisily. The windows shivered, the shutters clacked, and the floor heaved.

The house was furious. Why it had let Simeon in, Jaycee didn’t know, unless it hadn’t been paying attention. Or maybe it had wanted him there . . .

Jaycee leapt from Simeon as the wall behind him bowed backward. The paneling split open, showing red, crumbling brick, which itself began to part. Mortar shattered, brick dust fell, and a gap behind it opened to nothing.

Simeon’s eyes widened as he was sucked into this gap, then the bricks rushed together around him. His sword clanked to the floor and he screamed, looking to Jaycee imploringly, his hands reaching for her.

Jaycee started for him, but Dimitri yanked her back. She shifted to human, landing against Dimitri, his arms enclosing her.

The vines around the door shot to the bricks. They slithered between them and whipped around Simeon’s body where it was pinned, wrapping him tighter and tighter. Vines covered his face, and then there was a sickening crunch, and Simeon’s screaming ceased.

The vines tightened once more, and then Simeon’s body dissolved to dust, much like Shifters did when their hearts were pierced by the Guardian’s sword. Pieces of brick and mortar rained down with the dust, then the vines withdrew, the paneling closed again, and all was silence.

“My, my.”

Lady Aisling stood in the doorway to Faerie, once more in her gardening clothes. She wore her broad-brimmed hat and carried a basket and trowel.

“A sentient house,” she said, stepping through the doorway and making her way to the pile of dust that used to be Simeon. “Quite a rarity. They are very protective of their people.” She put a light hand on the painted paneling that looked none the worse for wear. “I will just take care of this, then leave them alone,” she said to the house. Aisling knelt, scooped the dust with her trowel into her basket, and rose again.

“Actually, I came to give you this,” Aisling said to Jaycee and Dimitri, who clung to each other as they watched her in stunned silence. She took a stone from her pocket, an amethyst wrapped with gold wire. “You two seem to have a nose for trouble. But I like you. If you ever have need of my assistance, hold this and say my name. I’ll hear you.” She seemed to understand that neither Jaycee nor Dimitri wanted her to approach while she held the basket, and she set the stone on a table. “My felicitations on your upcoming nuptials,” she said, then gave them a brisk nod and turned away.

She stepped out the door, calling ahead to someone beyond. “Stop worrying, my good woman. I was only collecting what was left of Simeon Mac An Bhaird. Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say.”

Her voice drifted away, then the door slammed shut, its lock clicked, and then the door itself winked out of existence. Bare blank paneling was left in its place, white-painted and innocuous. The vines that had encircled it withdrew all the way out the window, until there was no evidence that they’d ever entered the house in the first place.

Jaycee turned in Dimitri’s arms, shaking all over. “I think I want to go home.”

“Yeah,” Dimitri said. “Me too. Let’s grab our stuff and hit the road.”

They went up the stairs hand in hand. The house was quiet, the wind chimes whispering on the veranda, late sunlight slanting through the windows.

Jaycee’s room was bathed in warm light, the clouds on the horizon stained gold, red, and orange. A cool breeze blew through the open window, curtains moving softly.

Jaycee lifted her bag of clothes, then put it down. The house made no sound, but she sensed its tension, its worry that it would be left alone again. “On the other hand,” she said to Dimitri. “It will be dark soon. We could make a start after breakfast tomorrow.”

Dimitri leaned on the doorframe, his tall, honed body unclothed, his wanting showing plainly. “What did you have in mind to do until then?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Jaycee folded her arms and leaned back on a bedpost.

Dimitri started for her at a leisurely pace, his gaze never leaving her. She’d noticed that since they’d left Simeon’s fortress, he hadn’t stuttered, as though some switch had been thrown inside him. She decided not to mention it.

She didn’t have the chance. As soon as Dimitri reached her he pulled her against him, drawing her up for a slow, need-filled kiss.

The wind chimes jangled in the breeze, the air cooling as the sun slipped over the horizon. Jaycee was plenty warm as Dimitri lowered her to the bed, coming over her with his heated body. He skimmed the hair back from her forehead as he slid inside her, his kiss slow and full of fire.

When he eased from the kiss, he looked at her with eyes heavy with desire. “I love you, Jaycee. Mate of my heart.”

Jaycee touched his face. “Always my mate,” she whispered. “My friend, my love, my other self.”

Dimitri grinned. “Shut up and kiss me.”

Jaycee did, then she wrapped her legs around him and drew him in, surrendering to love, desire, and the hot-bodied man who was her best friend and the truest mate of her heart.