Chapter 12
Locking lips with Misha had to be one of the boldest things I’d ever done. I mean, who smooches a man with an obvious dislike who would likely throttle me for my temerity?
I didn’t care, and of all things I expected next—a shove, a slap, a stomping of his feet as he rejected me—it never occurred to me he’d actually kiss me back.
It shocked, in more ways than one. First and foremost because, holy shit, it ignited my girly parts. I wet my panties. I quivered down low. Every part of me turned to boneless molten jelly, a term that didn’t make any sense until that moment.
And who knows where that most epic kiss might have led if Cedric didn’t clear his throat and murmur, “Kids, is this really the time to be doing that?”
Misha recoiled, and I blinked in astonishment before shooting a killing glare at Cedric.
“The dryad is correct. We should be making plans to depart.” Misha strode off, not stomping for once. I, on the other hand, wanted to stamp my feet—and skin a cat.
“What the hell, Cedric?”
“Just trying to prevent a calamity.”
“How is getting Misha to like me bad?”
“Sexual attraction doesn’t always mean like.”
“It would have been a good start,” I retorted.
“You should shower and change before he returns, as I doubt it will take him long to arrange a ride out of here.”
“Where’s my bag?” I asked, knowing Misha must have rescued it, seeing as how I wore a T-shirt I’d packed and panties. Hold on, did this mean he’d dressed me? Seen me naked? Liked what he saw? Judging by the kiss, I’d say most definitely yes.
The shower felt amazing and was especially long seeing as how Misha banged on the door less than a minute into it and told me to hurry up. I took my time. Who knew when I’d next get a chance—and maybe, just maybe, I kind of hoped he’d come in, see my naked slick body, and finish what we started.
Misha did not ravish me in the shower, and when I emerged all nice and dewy, wrapped in a towel, he barely ogled before exiting the room, barking, “Be ready to go in five minutes.”
I made him wait fifteen. Petty? Bet your ass it was. I’d already gotten tired of the way he ordered me around. Besides, rushing wouldn’t change anything. The moment I emerged from his supposed safe area, the pernicae would home in on me, and I’d yet to figure out how I’d handle it.
Easiest solution? Let Misha keep shooting and dissolving it.
But that meant it would keep regenerating and trying again.
I really needed to unravel the magic holding it together; I just didn’t know how.
Could I simply wish for it to not exist?
What if I did but didn’t keep the scope of that desire tight enough and other shit disappeared with it?
I’d seen some kind of horror movie where that happened.
Wishes needed to be very focused to avoid inadvertent side effects.
Butterfly wings on a plane might be harmless, but vaporizing Misha or Cedric by accident while taking care of a monster would be bad.
We emerged from the country cottage, covered in vines and cutely picturesque, to find a tiny red Ford Fiesta parked out front. I stared at it, then Misha, before snickering.
“What’s so funny?”
“The image of you cramming into that teeny-tiny car.”
“You Americans and your obsession with big vehicles,” he grumbled.
“Says the guy whose rental was a huge truck.”
“Because that was all they had left.”
“Yeah, well, if I could afford it, I’d have a fat SUV with all-wheel drive that laughs at snow. You can’t tell me you drive a tiny car in Russia.”
“I don’t,” he admitted. “The Lada is large, but that’s only because it is used to fetch supplies that cannot be created within the enclave.”
“So your people live in a commune.” I’d kind of figured that with the way he’d been talking.
“We stay apart from humans, yes, lest they notice our differences.”
“Such as the pointy ears.”
“And the fact we age at a much slower rate, and while I didn’t inherit much magic, there are others, who despite the loss of our spirit, can still do things that would have many screaming ‘Witch!’”
“I thought Russia embraced those kinds of people. Didn’t you have some Rasputin dude advising your emperor?”
“Tsar, and, no, the people did not approve. Neither did we. However, there wasn’t much we could do stop him given what he’d done.”
“I really wish you’d stop with these ominous references to the past.”
“The elders—”
“Are still days away from explaining. Meanwhile, you keep dropping these tempting breadcrumbs, enough to tease and never satisfy or explain.”
“We value our privacy.”
“Can you at least explain why you chose to settle in Russia? Why not somewhere warm and tropical?”
“We are a people used to the cold.”
“I thought Infernal was hot.”
“The continent the Umbradriad inhabit is. However, we lived on a different land mass full of mountains and snow and ice.”
“Why did your people leave?”
“Volcanoes.”
“Seriously?” I exclaimed, having dumped my bag in the laughably small trunk.
“According to our histories, a seismic event made several dormant cones erupt. The magma, gases, and resulting ash rendered our land uninhabitable. Initially we tried to resettle. However, the Umbradriad didn’t want to share, and tired of constant skirmishes, we decided to relocate to a more peaceful clime. ”
“And you chose Earth?” I laughed. “I’d hardly call us peaceful.”
“Your world and landmasses were large enough we managed to establish a home and by my understanding lived in harmony until the betrayal.”
“I take it you’re still hoping to catch the guy and punish him.”
“Yes, however, he’s proven elusive,” Misha stated, climbing into the toy car, making it creak and tilt ominously. Me and Cedric sitting on the opposite side did not provide much counter weight.
“This dude must be some kind of sorcerer seeing as how he can create magical monsters to do his bidding.”
Misha’s lips flattened. “As an Umbradriad, he has access to darker arts.”
“Wait, this guy who stole the spirit is a shadow elf?”
“Yes. He came to us with a pitiful tale of having accidentally wandered through a rift to Earth and begged for sanctuary. We foolishly granted it.”
“You know, Charlie’s hubby is a hunter. Bet he could give a hand arresting this fucker’s ass and bringing him back to their world.”
“We do not communicate with the Umbradriad. They think us a myth, and we prefer to keep it that way.”
“That’s a hardcore feud if you’re willing to let your people suffer rather than reach out for help.”
“Their kind of help could be worse for us in the long run.” The car set off, and it was as cramped and unpleasant as expected. It didn’t help I kept craning my head to peek out the window to see if anything followed us in the sky.
No sign of the pernicae. Yet. But soon as we left the ley line area Cedric mentioned, I didn’t imagine it would be long before it located me and attacked.
“If I die, what happens to the spirit?” The conversation I’d had earlier with Cedric had me wondering.
“I’m not sure.”
“How can you not know?”
“Because when Anivivi was a part of our enclave it didn’t inhabit a fleshy body.”
“Then what did it live in?”
It took him a second before he replied in a low tone. “A tree.”
“Ooh, like the one in Lord of the Rings? You know, the golden-leafed tree that kept the elves healthy and stuff.”
“While I hate to agree with such a foolish comparison, there are some similarities. Ours was linked to our vitality. It fed and increased our magic. Kept us protected. Safe.” He paused before adding, “Fertile.”
“Wait, you’re saying no spirit in the tree means no babies?”
He nodded. “It’s not understood how or why, but it’s somehow linked to our ability to procreate. No Luxalis have been born since it’s theft.”
“If it’s that important, then how the heck did that dude manage to get close enough to steal it? And how? I mean, didn’t you have it guarded?”
“In retrospect, we should have had someone always watching over the tree holding Anivivi, but at the time, we were a trusting people, and he had everyone fooled.” Misha’s grip tightened on the wheel. “You need to stop asking me about it. This is a story best relayed by the elders.”
“Why?”
“Because they are the keepers of our history.”
“And they can tell me all about it in detail when we get there? It might be helpful if I have the basic facts.”
“You are irritatingly persistent.”
“I know. It’s one of my better qualities.”
Before we could argue some more—and I could have Misha inadvertently spill more secrets—Cedric growled.
No need to ask why. The pernicae had found us.