Chapter 21 #3
“You fought in the war?” I inhaled, pain sizzling up my throat, the smell of turmeric tickling my nose.
“Yes.” He nodded, a frown furrowing his brow. “Most did, from farmers to breadmakers . . . It was a fight for life, for freedom.”
“For the humans.”
Ash exhaled, grabbing clean bindings. “Technically, humans had more to lose, but so did anyone who believed in liberty, in the power of balance. Earth is a magical creation; everything depends on everything else to survive. Humans, fae, animals, insects, plants, oceans, rivers . . . One thing gets removed, and it causes a ripple effect for everything else. Humans are a source of ‘food’ to a lot of dark fae. Along with that, the previous queen was controlling us as well.” He fastened the fresh gauze up.
“Plus, the woman was out of her tree. Nuts.” He winked.
“Cute.” I shook my head. “Saw what you did there.”
“Little tree fairy humor.” He stood up, leaning against the table, and looked at my wound.
“I will need to check it later today. Can I get you some tea?” He trailed off, his head lowering to the table, where a drugged-up imp rubbed her long fingers and head over his soft pants like she was in heaven, a purr emanating from her tiny body.
Now out of the bag, I saw she also had leopard pasties on.
“What the hell? Is that an imp?” He moved back, his eyes wide.
Bitzy held up her hand, wiggling her three fingers in a flirty wave, but her eyes darted to her hand, her mouth opening like the movement was mind-blowing.
“Wow, another brainiac in the group,” Opie huffed, rolling his eyes.
“They’re supposed to be extinct.” Ash stared at Bitzy with awe.
“Extinct?” I frowned.
“The body fluids of imps supposedly have magical healing qualities. The old Seelie queen made it legal to hunt them. They were caught by the millions, killed, and turned into healing potions to sell at market. Their numbers declined to the point they were assumed extinct.”
“I guess not totally. And you are not touching Bitzy, tree man.” Opie marched over to Bitzy, patting her on the head. “She’s no healing potion.”
“Bitzy?” Ash chuckled, looking between them in bemusement. “And is Bitzy the imp wearing a dog collar and pasties?”
“Those labels are so antiquated.” Opie motioned to her throat. “This is a choker. And instead of pasties, I prefer to call them fashion boosters. It’s my design.”
Ash blinked at the brownie and imp.
“Yeah, I don’t think he’s ready for your fabulousness,” I stage whispered to Opie. I could feel my eyes growing heavy, exhaustion creeping back in.
“Clearly.” Opie sighed. “But what do I expect from a tree fairy?”
“What does that mean?” Ash folded his arms.
“I’ll bet your entire closet is filled with the same colored shirt and hemp pants.”
Warwick picked the perfect moment to step out wearing forest green pants and T-shirt, matching the ones Ash wore, the fabric stretching over his chest on the verge of ripping. The pants fit tight and came down only to his calves.
I clapped a hand to my mouth, trying not to laugh.
“Shut up,” he grumbled, moving our way. “I need to run back to Kitty’s anyway and get a few things.”
I noticed Ash shift on his feet at the mention of her name. What was between him and Kitty?
Warwick strolled up to the table, his eyes dropping to Bitzy. She twirled one finger around her ear, the other hand wiggling flirtatiously at Warwick.
“What the fuck is wrong with her?” he grumbled.
“She ate something.” Opie tried to grab her hands, but she kept moving them out of his way, reaching out to caress Warwick’s leg.
“Ate?” Ash’s spine straightened. “Shit. She got into my mushrooms?” Ash darted to a jar on the table.
“I told her not to put things into her mouth she doesn’t recognize.” Opie shrugged.
Chhhiiirrrppp.
“Shush. No one was asking you.” Opie looked away. “Told you it was a misunderstanding.”
Bitzy let out a squeak, then leaped onto Warwick’s arm.
“Bitzy, no! He’ll probably eat you.” Opie tried to stop his friend as she crawled up to Warwick’s shoulder.
Warwick turned his head to look at her, his eyes darting to Opie for a second before his head lurched forward, his teeth snapping together a hair away from Bitzy. Opie shrieked, his hands flying like a windmill, falling onto the ground dramatically.
Bitzy let out a sound resembling a giggle, tapping Warwick’s mouth as if he was being silly.
“You are such a bastard,” I snorted.
Warwick grinned wickedly at me. “She liked it.”
“Oh, gods . . . my heart.” Opie patted his chest theatrically. “I just lost eight of my nine lives.”
“You’re not a cat.” I scrubbed at the space between my brows, my head starting to pound.
“What? I’m not?” Opie sat up, patting down his body like he was now discovering it.
“Drama queen,” I muttered.
Bitzy’s happy chirps drew my heavy head up again. She wiggled through Warwick’s long damp hair, squealing.
Chhhiiirrrppp. Bitzy’s fingers held on to Warwick’s hair as she swayed back and forth like she was dancing to music. Warwick didn’t even seem to be fazed by her.
“Damn. I think I’m the one hallucinating.” I let my head drop back down, staring at my bare knees, my grip on the table the only thing keeping me upright. Sleep was creeping up on me again. The rocking in my head made me feel uneasy, my bones growing dense.
“You?” Ash snorted. “I have a cross-dressing brownie, a hallucinating imp, a folklore wearing my pants, and a naked girl on my dining table who should be dead.”
I inhaled sharply at his words.
Ash shook his head, staring at our strange little group. “It is way too early for this.” He turned for the kitchen. “I’m making tea.”
I blinked after him, my lids growing heavy.
“Kovacs.” My name rolled from Warwick’s chest, sending shivers all through me. “Sleep.”
We had so much to discuss and figure out.
“Rest. We’ll talk later.” He grabbed my head gently, trying to help me lay down again. The moment he touched me, I felt heat and sparks sizzle through my abdomen, numbness crashing in, relieving the pain. A smile curled on my mouth as he eased me back onto the pillow, the dreamworld calling for me.
“You take my pain away,” I muttered. A flash of two men by the fire came into my mind, their words sounding important and urgent. But before I could pull them in, make sense of them, darkness dragged me under.