Chapter Six
Rex
I drag my fingers through my hair as I stare down at the gorgeous creature who lies on my bed.
Human. He’s a human.
Although I’m glad I’ve brought Darien to my cave to make sure he’s all right, I might’ve opened a big can of worms that won’t be so easy to contain.
Of course I’m relieved to have saved him from the rogue mountain lion—who I’ll have to deal with later.
But why the hell do I feel so achingly protective of him?
The urge to take care of Darien, to personally make sure he’s okay, is bizarrely overwhelming.
I can’t risk bringing him to a hospital, so I’ve contacted Edgel to check him over. Human doctors aren’t exactly familiar with the consequences of colliding with magical wards.
I guess I’ve found out what happens when a human crashes into the wards. My stomach drops at the thought that the consequences aren’t reversible.
The warning bell goes off, alerting that someone has arrived at the edge of the wards. I verify through my security camera that it’s Edgel and go out to greet him.
“What mess have you gotten yourself into this time?” he grumbles.
I don’t get into messes, but then again, Edgel gets crankier and crankier the older he gets. I imagine leaving his cave for any reason these days means someone has committed a horrible crime.
“I was saving a human from a rogue mountain lion. He was understandably scared and ran away.” I sigh. “Unfortunately, he ran into the wards at full speed.”
Edgel nods as he approaches the bed. “Got the livin’ snot zapped outta him. That’ll do it.”
He rips back the covers, revealing Darien’s prone body, and I tense.
As he starts poking and prodding at him, I curl my fingers into fists.
I don’t know what I thought would happen when Edgel examined Darien to make sure he wasn’t hurt.
I guess I didn’t realize how hostile I’d become over someone touching him—healer or not.
“Yup. He got zapped all right.”
I press my lips together and rub my forehead. “Uh, yeah. But is he okay? Is his brain or organs damaged or something? I don’t remember ever hearing about something like this happening to a human before.”
“Gimme a minute. You’re as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”
“Can we not talk about cats right now?”
He waves his hands at me in a shooing motion. “Back it up. I need some space to perform the ritual.”
I want to interrogate him on what ritual he plans on using and that he’d better not hurt my… I slam my hands on my hips.
I think I need a fermented elixir.
Edgel starts to remove Darien’s clothes, and I leap forward. “Hey! What are you doing?”
Edgel pauses, then glances back and forth between us. “Awfully territorial over this ‘un, ain’t ya?”
“No.” I clear my throat. “I’m only saying, you know how humans are. So modest and everything.”
Edgel purses his lips and gestures to Darien. “I don’t think he cares right now.”
I frown. “Yeah? Well, I do. Don’t take off more than what you absolutely have to.”
Edgel rolls his eyes. “You modern Howlers. So concerned about bein’ appropriate.”
I want to get into a big argument with him, but I want him to make sure Darien is okay more.
After almost thirty minutes of placing healing oils on Darien’s pulse points, repeating the healing rune mantra over and over, and opening his mouth to place drops from a blessed tincture on Darien’s tongue, Edgel steps back.
“That’ll do ‘er. He should rest for a couple days, then he’ll be fine.
He’ll probably wake up in an hour, maybe sooner.
” Edgel gathers his potions and runes and lets out a cackle.
“Hee hee. Maybe he got some learnin’ zapped into him.
Never met a human who couldn’t use an extra dose of common sense. ”
Edgel is officially getting on my last good nerve.
“Is there anything else I should know to help his healing process?”
Edgel grabs the handle of his cracked leather satchel that’s hanging on by a few threads and grunts. “Don’t put those wet clothes back on him. Those boxers are purt near enough to maintain his precious modesty.”
“But… how do I explain—”
“Not my problem, Rex. Gotta go. My datin’ reality shows are starting in a few.”
Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes.
As soon as he leaves and I re-seal the wards, I’m left alone with a half-naked, unconscious Darien.
Who’ll be waking up soon and demanding answers.
I only have one recourse. Contact Boone.
He isn’t a fan of humans finding out about us, but the more they encroach into the wilderness, the tougher it gets to be discreet.
There are days I’m so distracted by all the tasks I need to handle at the inn that I forget to seal the runes surrounding the cave.
But Boone has several cryptid friends who have fallen in love with human partners, so he’ll know what to do.
I almost choke on my own spit. Not that I’m in danger of falling in love with a human. How ridiculous. I crack my knuckles as I tear my gaze from Darien’s form. This is merely an inquiry in the interest of protecting our kind from human interference.
I cover Darien with the blanket, then grab my phone.
“Boone. I have a situation.”
Boone sighs. “Of course you do.”
I press my lips together. Everyone seems to be irritating me today, but I need to keep it together.
“There’s a human in my bed.”
“And you’re telling me this because…?”
“Well…” I scratch my head. Now that I think about it, why am I? “I guess because I’ve never found myself in this situation before.”
“There’s a first time for everything. Look, I’m not sure how I can help you. Can you give me a hint at what has you so worked up?”
I clutch the phone to my ear so hard, I’m in danger of cracking it open. After another quick glance at the man who’s made me rethink my stance on cryptid-on-human action, I steel myself to bare my soul to Boone.
“Umm, I guess I find him attractive.”
“Uh-huh. And?”
I proceed to explain what happened, ending at the point when the healer left.
“So,” I continue, “he’ll be fine physically, but is probably going to freak out when he wakes up. What should I tell him?”
“Definitely not the truth. You’re good at making up stories, playing the part when dealing with humans. We all are. Lean into your tall tale skills.”
Darien stirs, and I tense. “What about the other part?”
“There are other parts?”
Boone’s tone has changed from just the facts, ma’am to how can I get this guy off the phone.
“The attraction part.”
I hear mumbling that sounds a bit like ‘why me’, before he answers. “Look, Rex. If your spirit is drawn to him, there’s not a whole helluva lot you can do about it. How many times have you bitched at me about there not being any Howlers left for you to hook up with?”
I huff. “I’m not planning on ‘hooking up’ with him. You know I’m not a one-and-done kind of guy.”
Boone sighs again. He does that a lot around me. “Whatever. Call it what you want. My point is that maybe fate has intervened and worked out your chronically single dilemma.”
I chew my bottom lip. Is that possible? “Maybe I could ask him to come to the solstice with me, see how he reacts to everyone.”
Boone mutters something unintelligible. “Maybe you can wait until he’s conscious before you map out your future together. Look, I’ve gotta go. It’ll all work out the way it’s supposed to. Call me if the situation goes south and we have to do a charm spell so he forgets you exist.”
My stomach clenches. The idea of Darien forgetting I exist is too awful to contemplate.
“Okay, I will.” I clear my throat. “Don’t tell the other guys yet, though. I know I’ve been kind of judgey about forming relationships with humans.”
“Ya think?” Boone chuckles. “Don’t worry about it. Your secret’s safe with me.”
After we say our goodbyes, I return my attention to Darien. I place a chair by the bed so I can keep an eye on him. Clover hops over, then rises up on her hind legs when I sit down. This is her sign that she wants cuddles, so I scoop her up in my arms and place her on my lap.
I give her some scritches behind the ears as I contemplate what I should say when Darien wakes up. I’m in my human form, and he sort of knows me from when we met the week before. But that won’t be much reassurance when he realizes he’s in my bed.
Although I’m sure he’ll remember running from the mountain lion. And me. I’m not sure how much of getting zapped by an invisible barrier he’ll recall, so that’s the part that will need a plausible explanation. I ponder this as Clover curls up and yawns.
I find it interesting that she didn’t run and hide when I brought Darien inside, not to mention relaxing in my lap right next to him. It’s as if she senses that Darien belongs right where he is.
Shut up.
I can’t seem to help myself. Something about Tarek’s call has caused a shift inside me. And what I said to Boone is the absolute truth. I don’t want to hook up. If I can’t have the real thing—or at least the promise of the real thing—then I don’t want to waste my time.
Darien groans softly, and I gulp. Oh boy. He’s coming around. I’m in my human form, so that part is okay. But the part where he’s undressed in my bed in a cave and me sitting next to him with a bunny on my lap might give him pause.
“Hey, Clover.” I gave her a little jiggle. “Sorry, honey. I have to put you down.” One of Clover’s eyes pops open, and her nose twitches. “I know, I’m sorry. But I just washed your blankie so it’s nice and clean for you.”
I place a grumbling Clover in her bed, the very style I’ll be taking to the solstice. They’re one of my biggest sellers. I tuck the blanket around her, and she promptly goes back to sleep.
Right as I turn around, I’m met with Darien’s wide eyes. He’s sitting up, supporting himself on his elbows, mouth agape as he stares at me in confusion.
“Uh…” He blinks several times. “What’s going on?”
I cross, then uncross my arms. “How’s your head? Does it hurt?”
I’m not ready to answer his question right away. I need more time to work my way up to the awful truth, which I hope he won’t think is too awful.