Secondhand Garagyre

Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

PAISLEY

I can’t say I’m not apprehensive about this whole healing me with rocks thing.

But …

I trust Laithog .

It doesn’t make any sense I’ve known him less than a day, but I can’t deny the fact that I do. Trust him, that is.

Keeping that in mind, I don’t flinch when the stones lying on the table float into the air, an eerie glow emanating from them. I watch as they hover around me and start to circle my body. Laithog closes his eyes, face pinched with concentration while his hands make graceful motions in the space between our bodies. His lips move as if he’s speaking but it’s definitely not English because I can’t read his lips at all.

Suddenly , I feel a tingling begin where the worse of the bruising is. This mainly being my black eye, split lip and bruised ribs. The tingling turns in to a sensation of coolness, that grows into icy prickles. It’s on the edge of uncomfortable and maintains that level of sensation for several moments, just when I don’t think I can take much more of this, the frosty sensations slowly dissipate into nothing.

I watch as the stones lose their glow and slowly float back into the box Laithog removed them from. The realization that I can open both of my eyes all the way gradually dawning on me. Laithog’s eyes open, traveling across my face and down to my neck. A smile of, what looks like relief, I think, ( I’m still learning to read his facial expressions) appears on his face. He also looks…tired. I would have to address that shortly.

“ Good , it worked. Get up and move around. See if you have any lingering side effects. The bruising on your face and neck is gone as well as the split in your lip,” he observes in an overly pleased manner.

Apparently , I am not moving fast enough to suit him because he plucks me from the couch effortlessly and sets me on my feet on the far side of the coffee table. He sure does know how to make a girl feel dainty and petite.

To my astonishment, I feel perfectly fine. I bend, twist and stretch this and that, testing out my body to make sure I don’t have any lingering ailments. Nothing hurts at all.

After the misery of this past week, being pain free is bliss. Without conscious thought, I shoot around the coffee table and launch myself into Laithog’s arms, one of my knees landing on either side of his hips while my ass is cradled by his thick thighs.

Raining kisses all over his inhuman face I chant. “ Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!”

Chuckling , he remains perfectly still as if he’s soaking up every ounce of affection, I’m smothering him with.

Pulling back, I look into his eyes and smile, delighted when my lip doesn’t protest the motion. “ I haven’t been to my shop in a week and since I don’t look like I went through a meat tenderizer anymore, I can go to town without having to deal with pretend pity or knowing glances. But , first. Why do you look so tired?”

I can feel my eyes get squinty with irritation when he glances down and to the right. Good to know that’s his tell when he’s about to utter some bullshit.

“ It is naught. I am fine, Paisley ,” he answers placatingly.

“ Bullshit ,” I bite out.

“ You’re tired. You said you set wards inside my home and around the property boundary. You also said that blood is the only thing that can fuel your magick while regular food satisfies your tangible body. You drained yourself putting the wards up, didn’t you?” I hypothesize while staring at him.

He heavily sighs before shooting me a rueful look, while rolling his eyes upward. “ Gods save me from intelligent and observant females.”

“ You might as well just tell me, I pretty much have you pinned and at my mercy,” I faux haughtily inform him. Leaning forward until my breast are pressed against the wide expanse of his hard chest.

“ Yes , fair lady, I see that you have me at a disadvantage. You have the high ground. It would be in my best interest to acquiesce to your demands,” he playfully responds while his hands slide down from my hips to cup the ampleness of my curvaceous rear. The slight prick I feel in various places tells me his claws have come out a bit.

Enjoying our game, I get a bit bolder and grind myself down on him. I’m rewarded with a low groan as his hips twitch beneath me. Tilting my head, I whisper in his ear. “ Admit defeat warrior, and I will grant you a boon.”

“ What boon does milady speak of?” he growls his retort.

Sitting up straight, I smirk at him and taunt. “ That’s for me to know and you to wonder about.”

“ Bah ! You are skilled in torture, little Paisley . I surrender to a worthy adversary. Yes , I am worn. I’ve been awake longer than I have in centuries, and I used most of my magickal energy to place wards around your home, property, and your conveyance. Before you ask, yes, I need to drink again to regain my stores.”

“ Okay , that makes perfect sense. Do you have to feed from a human or a creature like a human? Or will something like a deer work?” I ask inquisitively. My inner nerd activated at learning about his species.

“ A non-sentient being would do in a pinch but the best blood, comes from creatures that have achieved self-awareness,” he informs me.

“ Hmmm . Well , it’s a small town, so we can’t just go out and get you someone to drink from, nor can we just snag you a bad guy to drain and incinerate like we did last night. It would make too many waves.” Pausing , I wrack my brain trying to come up with an alternative when the answer hits me right between the eyes. “ You should drink from me.”