I sat cross-legged on the stone and experienced a small epiphany on how I could get help. Deval had been tied to the plane before it chose me. Maybe he still had some sort of bond with it. He said it was useless to him because it bonded to me, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t still bonded to him as well. It would explain how he bypassed my wards. If I sent the magical equivalent of the bat signal through the plane, hopefully he would come running. Even a leisurely stroll, at this point would work. I needed help.

  The cool rock went through my jeans raising goose bumps on my skin. I closed my eyes and focused on my power. It should be depleted, but for some reason it was at full capacity. The plane appeared to be a supernatural battery. If I had known that, I wouldn't have been upset when Deval gifted it to me. Pushing my power out with all my might, I chanted Deval's name over and over again, praying I wasn't wasting my time and energy on nothing, and he could still access my secret club house.

  Roughly twenty minutes later, I opened my eyes as gravel crunched. Craning my neck, I saw an irritated Deval in jeans and a t-shirt coming up behind me. He looked good, and it wasn’t because I was desperately happy to see him. Not wanting him to get a big head, I reined in my reaction. "Thank gods, you're here."

  "What are you playing at? Any goblin in a plane within fifty miles would have heard your call. Did I forget to mention that a goblin plane being in possession of a witch is not something we were going to advertise?"

  I stood quickly but winced and teetered a little on my bad leg.

  His eyebrows drew together. "You're injured. Did you fall down the stairs?"

  I hobbled forward to meet him. "No, I had a visitor from the murderer and your thief. I came here to escape, but I don't know how safe it is to go back upstairs on my own." It wasn’t something I wanted to admit.

  "I thought you were powerful. Why are you cowering down here?"

  "Way to rub salt in my wounds, asshole."

  He crossed his arms and gave me a glare, his eyes flashing copper. "Explain."

  So I did. Fifteen minutes later, his arms were still crossed, but his eyes were no longer flashing, and I didn't think he wanted to murder me. "Fine, you had good reason to call me. I will explain to my mother."

  "Mama's boy," I muttered under my breath.

  He obviously heard me, and his lip twitched in what I didn't think was meant to be a smile. "Be that as it may, we need to get you out of here. You are obviously adjusting well to the plane, but you are still unused to it. Even when you are, it would be unwise to spend excessive amounts of time here."

  "Will you always be able to come here?" I tilted my head to the side.

  "Is that your new plan? To use this as a safe room and call me to come save you?"

  I bristled. "No, I wanted to know. It's not like I could call Pammy," I bit back.

  "No, you could not, if she even knew about it." He searched my face as he said it. Probably concerned I had spilled the beans.

  "No, Deval, I didn't tell her."

  He nodded and walked over to me, lifting me into his arms with little effort.

  "What are you doing?" I squawked, trying to push away from him.

  "You're injured, and we need to get you out of here."

  "I'm not a damsel in distress. I can walk on my own two feet."

  "Didn't you tell me that you were a damsel in distress? I need you functioning; do not aggravate your injuries before you see a healer. Besides, it seems it will be tradition for me to carry you out of your plane." He ended his sentence with a sigh.

  I harrumphed but said nothing. At the moment I was the stereotypical needy woman and I didn't want to think about it too hard. He carried me up the stairs as if I weighed nothing at all. When we got to the top, I tensed in his arms, worried we would be attacked as soon as we opened the door to my earthly home.

  Deval obviously had the same thought because he set me on the step behind him, before opening the lid to the safe. "Reach out with your magic and tell me where he is."

  If he's still here. I complied with his order. My magic felt endless, like it was in the plane. Was that because I was still technically in it? I searched through my house looking for nothing instead of something. This time that wall of nothingness wasn’t there, but I found Cheddar, though he felt both agitated and lethargic. Not good.

  "Nothing," I said to Deval, pushing his lower back to get him moving.

  "Are you certain?"

  Losing patience and wanting to get to my injured kitty, I gave him a sharp slap on the ass. "I said that."

  He turned quickly, glaring down at me. "You will never do that again."

  "Move it. What's the big deal? A little spanking never hurt anyone." Did I say that? Kill. Me. Now.

  He looked at me with a different kind of interest. "While that may be true in one context, we are not currently enjoying foreplay. If you don't want me to assume that's what your love tap meant, I would advise you to desist from doing it in the future."

  I groaned, because the twelve-year-old in me viewed that as a challenge. I wanted to do just that, but the adult side won out. I was in no way prepared to deal with those consequences. I waved my hand impatiently toward my house.

  He smirked. "That's what I thought, but do let me know if you change your mind." With that, he turned forward and went up the final step. I hobbled behind him, willing myself not to blush. When I reached the top step, the staircase vanished, and I was standing on the metal bottom of the safe. I was still studying it when Deval reached in and swooped me out. I almost protested but then realized climbing out when the side came up to mid-thigh, would be very uncomfortable. He put me down gently.

  "Thanks."

  "My pleasure." He then turned toward my back door and let himself in. I was right about how he'd been able to bypass my wards. The question now was how the other guy got in. I sighed. Questions for tomorrow. Right then I needed to find Cheddar and use the small balance left on a credit card to check into a motel. I'd have to sneak the cat in, because lord knew, I couldn't really afford a room and a pet deposit.

  I gnawed at my lip doing mental calculations for the cash I had available when Deval called back to me from inside the kitchen. "Get in here. You need to pack a bag."

  "I'm going to," I called back in irritation, hobbling into the kitchen.

  He turned around at my approach and smiled. "Good, I thought you'd be difficult about coming with me tonight."

  "Uh, coming with you where?" I scrunched my nose.

  "To my house obviously."

  "I’m not coming with you; I’m going to a motel." I clarified.

  He scoffed. “Don't be ridiculous. We don't know what or who attacked you. A roadside motel is hardly a safe place to stay."

  I had planned on going a mom and pop motel on Main Street, because I liked their neon diving girl sign, but that was a silly thing to admit. Plus, he was probably right, now wasn't the time to look a gift horse in the mouth. I nodded and went to the hall closet where an emergency duffel was packed. Pammy suggested it when I started because I never knew when or where a job might come up. Up until now, I’d never needed it. If I managed to solve this, that might change. A perk, or downside, of more advanced Fortune jobs. The cat carrier was also conveniently located in the closet, thanks to a recent trip to Tucson that I’d graciously taken Cheddar on. He hadn't appreciated it, but it was easier than leaving him alone.

  Items ready to go, I started searching for my brave kitty, calling out endearments and offering treats.

  Suddenly Deval appeared with Cheddar loosely held in his arms. "You should talk to everyone like you talk to your feline. You might get better results."

  "Sure, I bet that offering you treats and calling you ‘my handsome boy’ would have worked wonders when we met. Sorry if being threatened and assaulted didn't lead to that."

  "You're forgiven."

  I rolled my eyes and walked up to him, taking a look at Cheddar. I reached out with my magic and found a hairline fracture on his hip and rib. He was in pain, though it wasn't life threatening. Still I poured my magic into him, healing his injuries. My normally ornery boy purred in response. It had to hurt a little, but despite our human versus cat squabbles, Cheddar trusted me and thought of me as his mother. It gave me a little positive boost to know I could actually help him, especially after he had helped me. All healed, Cheddar remained boneless in Deval's arms. Under normal circumstances, I would have called him a traitor, but I was too happy at him being okay to care.

  I held up the cat carrier, and Deval put Cheddar in butt first like a pro. Must not be his first cat wrangling. Cheddar yowled a little bit in irritation, but it seemed to be a reaction to Deval putting him down, rather than being in the carrier. Regardless of his feelings, I wasn't leaving Cheddar behind to fall victim to the invisible madman I strongly suspected to be the missing T.A. Pretty hard to lecture, if your students couldn't see you.

  Wordlessly, Deval took the cat carrier and the duffel bag. I grabbed my purse, which still held my phone, and followed him out, locking the door even though it felt pointless. I hobbled behind him to my Jeep. Since he came via the goblin plane, he didn't have his car. He opened the passenger door and threw the duffel in the backseat, before placing Cheddar on the middle consul. I started to walk around to the driver door, when he gave me a look that indicated there was no way in hell he was letting me drive.

  I swallowed back the words I wanted to say because I wasn’t in any shape to drive. I was a bit of a control freak. It was hard to let someone else drive my Jeep. "Fine," I muttered, as I held out the keys.

  He took them and then graciously picked me up and deposited me in the passenger seat. How he had known I’d been dreading pulling myself into the seat was beyond me. He got in and buckled his seat belt before starting the rumbling engine. I meant to stay awake so I could see where we went, not knowing where the goblin lived, but exhaustion overtook me, and I slept, lulled by the soothing vibration of the Jeep.

  I woke up when Deval lifted me out of the vehicle. My eyes wouldn't stay open, almost as if someone injected me with Benadryl. "Cheddar," I managed to mumble.

  "I will not leave your feline hero in your car overnight. I may even give him a can of tuna to celebrate his victory."

  I thought I heard Cheddar meow in agreement, but I passed out before Deval closed the Jeep door.

  I woke disoriented. The large bed with a fluffy down comforter that I currently occupied didn't belong to me. The only thing I recognized was the fat orange cat sitting on the second pillow and eying me with concern.

  The night before returned to me. "Good morning, handsome boy." I reached over and scratched his head. He purred happily. To his chagrin, I sat up and looked around the room. It was beautiful, done in beiges, pinks, and whites. Every item was chosen for comfort, and it showed. Looking down at myself, I was surprised to find fresh silk pajamas and not the dirty flannel and jeans covered in blood and dirt from the night before. I wanted to be mad, but looking at the white bedspread, I just appreciated that I didn't have to offer to pay to get it cleaned.

  Standing, I waited for the sharp pain to ring through my hip. Sleeping on an injury like that never made the best wakeup call, but surprisingly I was completely fine. Huh, had a healer seen me? Or were my injuries less serious than I thought? As disturbing as I found the idea of sleeping through a healing, I was more worried that I had over exaggerated my injuries. It was bad enough to call in the cavalry for a rescue, but if I was a wimp too, I didn't know what that said about my future as a Fortune.

  Only one way to find out. I headed to the door and opened it. I half expected Cheddar to follow me, but it was obvious that the bed was too comfortable to leave. I half wished I could stay as well, but avoiding my problems wouldn't solve them. Ready to face Deval, even though he had seen me in my drawers…again.

  Sadly he was nowhere to be found. He, however, left a note telling me to eat and wait until he came back before leaving. Considering the fact he had my keys, leaving wasn't likely. It was noon; Lola would be at work. I didn't want to explain to Bruce why he was picking me up smelling like goblin and lord knew what else his sensitive shifter nose would pick up. The only other option would be Pammy, but that would lead to too many questions. Wait I would, while I devoured a sandwich I made out of the gourmet cheeses and cold cuts I found in the fridge, along with some fresh-baked artisan bread. If turn-down service and delicious food were the result, I needed to be rescued more often. When I found a pumpkin cheesecake in the fridge, I then seriously contemplated being a damsel in distress as a career.

  By the time Deval came in an hour later, I was showered and dressed in the outfit from my overnight bag. My freshly laundered and mended clothes from the previous night were left on the bathroom counter, so I had shoved them into my duffel. The food-driven euphoria was gone, and the independent lady was back. Deval walked up to where I sat at the kitchen bar, drinking a Diet Pepsi.

  He looked at me for a moment before reaching into his pocket and withdrawing my key chain from his pocket and setting it before me. "I'm glad to see that you're feeling better. Your injuries were worse than I thought."

  Oh, thank gods. "Yeah, about that. I'm assuming a healer came by?"

  He nodded.

  "Was it witch or goblin?" I’d never been healed by a goblin before, so I was hoping it was the latter. Perhaps goblin healings were gentler than their witch counterparts.

  "Of course it was a witch. Goblins don't have the power to heal witches. At least, not so extensively. We just discussed how goblin power comes from the minerals."

  "Who is this healer? I didn't feel anything." I tried to keep the worry out of my voice.

  "Oh, that's what you're concerned about."

  "I'm not concerned about it," I lied, none too convincingly.

  "Please, your entire body is tense with anxiety. Your jaw looks so hard, you're in danger of cracking a tooth. Our healer is on the payroll. She won't tell anyone, not even Pammy."

  I only then noticed that my jaw was aching and made an effort to relax. "What do you mean, she won't tell Pammy?"

  "I mean just that. She is paid well enough, and Pammy has enough self-preservation not to meddle in goblin affairs, at least normally."

  "Huh, good luck with that, but that wasn't what I was worried about." Though in retrospect, maybe I should have been.

  "You know how you always lose the ‘silence game’?" Deval rubbed his chin.

  "Yeah, so?"

  "Well, I don't like to play the ‘guess what’ game, so please tell me what you're worried about."

  "Since you've asked nicely, I will. I'm sure you've been healed by a witch healer or maybe you haven't. Regardless, it is excruciating. If you're telling me I was in bad shape, I don't know how I slept through it. With all of the symptoms I’ve been experiencing from the plane, that worries me."

  He shrugged. "Oh, that. I kept you under."

  I stood up from the bar stool and turned my back to Deval. Walking the length of the bar, I turned around. "If a goblin healer couldn't heal me, how could you, a goblin, keep me unconscious without using drugs or knocking my lights out?"

  "Goblins are fairly hardy; we rarely need healers, but when we are injured, it tends to be catastrophic injuries, like those of a mine collapse. Our bodies will mend themselves, but we need to be in a restful state to do so. It's hard to rest when the pain of having your bones ground to dust is keeping you awake. Goblins have a magic that allows them to help keep another goblin under."

  I strode back toward him, not sure if his explanation was a relief or more frightening. I hopped back up on my stool and took a gulp of my Diet Pepsi before talking. "I'm not a goblin, so how did you keep me under?"

  "I told you, you obviously have some goblin blood."

  "Yeah, but having some great-great-relative shouldn't leave me vulnerable to goblin magic."

  "Ah."

  "You know it's really annoying how you always say 'Ah', as if you understand my worries, but they're small and beneath you." My eyes narrowed.

  "My using 'Ah' as an affirmative is in no way a reflection of my opinion of your senseless brooding. In this case, it simply meant I understand what has upset you."

  "Feel free to share with the class," I responded snarkily.

  "You're worried I will be able to knock you out on a whim."

  "Isn't that exactly what you did?"

  "Do you understand the concept of benevolent magic?"

  "Meaning it's not malevolent?" Sarcasm coated my voice.

  Deval ignored my tone. "Exactly, the goblin physiology is a lot more accepting of spells aimed at them to their benefit. Goblins’ subconscious will allow for spells aimed at them for healing when they are severely injured and have shut down. Had I been trying to knock you under with malicious intent, such as trying to smother you with a pillow, your body would have fought the compulsion."

  "But what if you hid your intent?"

  "You cannot hide the intent for this magic. It is a true blessing."

  “How do I know you’re not lying?” I asked skeptically.

  “Ask Lola. Your friend would not lie to you.”

  I hadn’t realized my hands were clenched until I released them. "Sorry, I know that very few people know about my surprise heritage, but the idea of an entire supernatural race being able to will me to sleep on a whim is terrifying."

  "Even if they could, they wouldn't. It is beyond taboo. It would mean death or banishment."

  "You said it was impossible, so why are there sentences for impossible crimes?"

  "Magic evolves. If a man cannot trust his people to protect his health, even if they disagree on other points of politics, what can he trust?"

  I met his eyes, my stare hard. "Fine, we'll agree that you weren't attempting to murder me. It's still a lot to take in."

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25