Chapter 12
Twelve
Hikaru
Warmth. Sweet, precious, warmth. That was the first of many pleasant feelings I registered as my mind woke. The knowledge I was still in my fox form arrived quickly on its heels. Stretching, more than a few joints popped before I settled into the soft pillow below.
Soothing scents infiltrated my sensitive nose.
They were the smells I associated with Niki, only magnified.
I wasn’t certain if that was because I was in my fox form or that I was lying in Niki’s work room.
Cracking open an eye, my vision was immediately filled with Niki.
Bent over, he was scribbling something. Magic followed along those written tracts.
Niki’s dark eyes were filled with concentration.
I doubted he’d even realized I was awake.
Settling in, I found myself positioned on a rather comfortable pillow on Niki’s workbench.
He’d settled me in my own little corner.
Niki could have deposited me on the floor.
I wouldn’t have minded and that would have been understandable.
Instead, he’d placed me on the table, well within his sightline.
I considered shifting but didn’t. My fox form was comfortable.
What I’d said earlier was also true. This form consumed the least amount of energy and, after transporting eleven victims out of that hollowed out space deep within solid rock, I needed the rest. Keir had wanted me to stay another night, to recharge.
He’d even offered his own rooms when I’d balked at going back to my own.
I’d refused. All I’d wanted to do was get back to Niki.
It was an aching need that wouldn’t allow me to contemplate another choice.
Lying as I was now, I absolutely had no regrets.
The journey back to his home had pushed me to the edges of my limits.
Dissipating and reforming hadn’t been painful since I was little more than a kit.
Journeying to Niki’s home had been agonizing and totally worth it.
“What are you working on?” I lazily asked, my head resting on my paws. Niki’s head shot up, his dark eyes wide at first but narrowing in curiosity.
“Did you just speak? In your fox form?”
Beyond a grin, my mouth didn’t move. “I did.”
Niki blinked. “Telepathy?”
I shrugged. “I have no idea. I just think what I want to say and project it outward.” That’s the best I could describe it.
It wasn’t learned behavior. It simply…was.
Niki’s grunt seemed to be the only answer I’d get.
I waited for more, but when nothing seemed forthcoming, I asked, again, “What are you working on?”
Niki’s fingers twirled in the air. I could see the threads of magic weave together. I wasn’t entirely certain of their purpose.
“Something for Franklin’s delicate skin. He’s a human ginger.”
I had no idea what that meant and cocked my head to the side, ears twitching.
Niki interpreted my confusion well enough.
“Many ginger haired humans cannot be in the sun long without risking sunburn. The sun can be damaging to humans. Just like everything else, their skin is fragile and prone to disease.”
“Does he not have sunscreen?” I’d seen this product advertised.
Niki scoffed. “I can make something better.”
My grin showed off my pointy, fox teeth. I loved this cocky side of my warlock. “Franklin is fortunate to have you as a father-in-law.”
“Yes, he is.” Niki didn’t so much as bat an eye. It wasn’t a sarcastic remark. As far as Nikodemus Holland was concerned, Franklin O’Hare was very fortunate indeed to have him for a father-in-law. I wasn’t completely confident Franklin would agree.
Cracking a wide yawn, I tilted my head so my cheek was now resting on my paws. “Feel free to rest longer,” Niki said. “I can get you some food if you’d like.”
My stomach rumbled with the thought. “Food would be good.”
“Give me a moment. I’m almost finished.”
Fascinated, I watched the woven strands of magic slip into a clear crystal sitting on Niki’s desk.
The strands swirled inside, stretching out until they formed an opalescent sheen.
Niki twisted the crystal that had been made into a charm.
“It’s not done yet, but it’s a start.” Pushing out of his chair, Niki stretched before looking at me. “Are you staying in that form to eat?”
Following Niki’s lead, I stretched my tails, allowing them to drape over the pillow. “I see no reason to change.”
“I’ll get something that doesn’t require opposable thumbs.”
My grin widened. “That would be lovely. And some water too.”
Niki grunted something I couldn’t quite make out before leaving the room. I cuddled further into my pillow. It had been a long time since I felt comfortable enough to lounge in my fox form. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed the change.
Not long after, Niki returned with a sandwich loaded with different types of meat and cheese. It was cut up into little bites. A bowl of water was in his opposite hand. “I hope this will do. If not, we’ll need to order out.”
My stomach growled again. “This is perfection.” I eagerly dug into the bits of sandwich, scooping them up and barely chewing before swallowing their goodness. The bowl of water soon followed. By the time I laid back down on my pillow, my stomach was graciously full and lulled me back into slumber.
I’m not sure how long I was asleep that time, but my awakening wasn’t as pleasant as the first time. My ears twitched with Niki’s heated voice. My warlock was decidedly unhappy.
“I need some clarification, Cilla. What exactly was the client’s complaint?”
I couldn’t hear Cilla’s answer, but whatever it was had Niki’s neck turning red. “Did you tell him that was the expected result?”
There was another pause. Niki paced the small length of the room.
His fingers slid through his thick hair, mixing the white at his temples with the darker black of the rest of his luscious hair.
“What?” Niki’s voice rose. “That’s not even possible.
There’s not nearly enough magic in that charm to—No, I don’t think you misunderstood him.
I’m just saying that what he’s claiming isn’t possible. ”
More pacing ensued until Niki finally stopped, his arm raised above his head and elbow resting along the edge of the window. “No, I don’t want you to contact him. That’s not your responsibility. It’s mine.”
I stood, stretching my legs and making my way to the edge of Niki’s desk before transforming into my humanoid form.
My legs dangled and I kicked them back and forth.
Niki’s workbench was tall and fit his expansive form well.
It was nice and sturdy too. Sturdy enough to hold my weight and probably remain standing if Niki bent me over the edge and—
“I will deal with this insanity. Send me his contact information.”
Was it wrong that I found Niki’s stern, authoritative voice arousing? Wrong or right, my thickening cock didn’t seem to care.
“Thank you for letting me know.” Niki’s voice softened.
The edge was still there, but you could tell he was making an effort.
“It’s not your fault, Cilla. I apologize for taking my anger out on you.
” There was a small pause before Niki answered, “That’s very gracious of you.
Please let me know immediately if there are any other issues.
” Niki ended the call before tossing his phone onto the window ledge.
Cocking my head to the side, I asked, “Unhappy client?”
Niki’s head whipped my way so quickly that for a moment I feared he might have injured himself in the process. His expression was thunderous. “It is inconsequential.”
I didn’t even try and fight my smirk or the chuckle bubbling up from deep within my chest. “Who are you trying to convince? Me? Or you?”
Hands on hips, Niki began pacing again. “I don’t like the timing of this.”
All humor dissipated. “What do you mean?” I hopped off the countertop and made my way toward Niki. “Is there something about this one that seems different?”
Niki stopped pacing, the intense focus of his dark eyes boring into me. “Besides the fact that there is a complaint at all?”
Now my attention was piqued even further. “You don’t have unsatisfied customers? Ever?” That seemed unlikely. Some were simply impossible to satisfy. Even when you gave them what they claimed to want and things went exactly according to script. That was the way of the world.
“No, not like this. The individual is accusing me of making a faulty, potentially dangerous charm.” Niki turned, staring out the window again, head down and shoulders rounded.
“What he’s claiming…there’s no way the charm he purchased from my store could have done such a thing.
There wouldn’t have been enough magical juice inside to do a tenth of what he’s said. ”
My skin itched with curiosity. “And what’s he claiming?” Could it really be that bad?
Hands on hips, Niki kept his back to me. “It was a simple charm, one of the easiest to make and one of my most popular. It aids those who are trying to stop using nicotine-containing products.”
That wasn’t a vice I had but I’d seen signs professing the dangers of smoking. “What was it supposed to do?”
Niki shrugged. “It’s simple really. Once activated, anytime the activator visualizes a cigarette or contemplates lighting up, a wave of nausea sweeps through them. It’s amazingly effective.”
And gross, I thought but didn’t share. “So, what’s the problem?”
Niki’s jaw tensed, working back and forth.
“The problem, according to Cilla, is that this man is claiming that any time he thinks about ingesting anything, nausea overwhelms him. Per this human, he’s been hospitalized because he’s becoming too weak and dehydrated.
” Strands of Niki’s hair stood on end as he repeatedly ran his fingers through it.
That didn’t sound good. If this went on long enough, it wouldn’t just be a horrid inconvenience, it would be life threatening. “How long does the charm last?”
“Thirty days on average.”
I sucked in a disturbed breath. “Well, that doesn’t sound good. Can it be reversed?”
“Of course.” Niki sounded appalled that I’d even asked. “I am not a shoddy warlock,” Niki stated defensively.
“Obviously.” I rolled my eyes before closing the distance between us and wrapping my tails around him.
Unless under the pain of his son’s imminent demise, I did not think Niki would ever admit the comfort my tails brought him.
That didn’t negate the fact that they very much offered some needed solace.
“This is ridiculous,” Niki fumed. I could feel his accelerated heart rate. “That is not a mistake I could have made. It is beyond all possibility.”
I didn’t doubt him for a moment. “Are you certain this man purchased the charm from your shop?”
“As certain as I can be. Cilla confirmed the man purchased the charm six days ago. Beyond that I cannot say. Once I have the charm in my hand, then I’ll be able to tell if it is something of my making or not.”
I considered those words, turning them over in my head. “And will you be able to tell if it’s been tampered with?”
“Tampered with? Who on earth would do such a thing? Why would they—” Niki’s expression turned stony. His lips were little more than a thin line of red slashed across his face. “You believe—”
“I’m not entirely certain what to believe beyond the fact that I believe you.
If you say the charm you made and he purchased couldn’t do this, then it didn’t.
So, that leaves us with a problem. It could be this charm didn’t come from your shop at all.
Maybe he’s getting his charms mixed up. Maybe he purchased more than one.
Or maybe it really is the charm that came from your shop. If so, then something happened.”
Niki’s feral growl riveled a wolf shifter. He tried pulling away, but I wouldn’t let him and tightened my hold. I would have released him if he fought harder. He didn’t.
“We know an old-ass warlock was in your shop not too long ago. That doesn’t mean he did anything, but it’s a bit suspicious, no?
” I cocked my head to the side as I stared up into Niki’s furious eyes.
I didn’t want to rile him up further, but it needed to be said.
“There’s more than one way to destroy Nikodemus Holland. That’s what Danzig said.”
“This is…warlocks do not do this type of thing. It is anathema to tamper with another warlock’s magical manipulation. To do so is unthinkable.”
“To you. I doubt it’s so out of the question to certain others.”
“Maybe. No one would accuse me of being an optimist, but I have to believe most warlocks would find such a thing unconscionable.”
I didn’t have enough experience with warlocks to argue the point. However, I knew behavior. “It only takes a few to cause trouble.”
Niki grunted. “An unfortunately true statement.”
“The question is, what kind of trouble?”
“This could simply be an anomaly or a mistake on the human’s part.”
“It could be,” I agreed. I don’t think either one of us believed that.
“I need to get my hands on that charm.” Niki’s long fingers flexed before clenching.
I couldn’t agree more. “Then let’s go find this rogue charm.” I walked past Niki, heading for the door.
“Are you well enough?” Niki asked. “I am more than capable of going alone. I hardly require a chaperone.” The last was said with a huff of annoyance.
My grin was automatic. “Oh, Niki. It’s cute how you think I’ll let you out of my sight.
” I flipped my tails and added a touch of swagger as I opened the door and headed to the garage.
Predictably, Niki was right behind me. Far from annoying, I found his dissenting grumbles amusing.
Without a doubt, following Niki to California was one of the best decisions of my long life.