10. Calli
10
CALLI
T hey made their way to Bridget's campsite, and she was sitting out by the fire, looking up at the stars. "I was wondering when the two of ye might be back. Did he tell ya then, lass?"
"I told her about where I'm from and what I am." He had not yet told her she was his mate, and he was hoping Bridget would pick up on that.
"I wager ye're here to see what this handsome orc looks like?" Bridget asked with her cheeky grin.
"Umm... yeah, I was hoping to. So you can take off the enchantment?" asked Calli.
"No, lass, I'm afraid it doesn't work quite like that."
Calli looked at her with confusion. "But Dru said…"
"Never fear, lass. I have a very special tent,” she said with a wink. “How are ye feeling?" she asked Dru.
When she looked up at this handsome man next to her, she saw his face solemn, brow drawn with nerves.
"Are you okay?" Calli asked him, squeezing his hand.
His throat bobbed with a hard swallow, but his head gave a slight nod.
"Head on in. I’ll stay here and give ye some privacy."
Dru moved closer to the tent and held the flap open for Calli. She walked in and could feel him move into the space behind her.
If she hadn't believed in magic before, she sure as hell would after this. She had thought they were about to enter a small tent, but it was actually like a small cottage on the inside, with a fire in the fireplace and everything. A small gasp escaped her mouth as she took it all in.
"How is this possible?" she said.
She turned, and next to her stood a towering green beast. He looked to be over seven feet tall and covered in tattoos, with tusks at the corners of his mouth. She was not prepared for this. This was too much. In the past couple hours, she had learned magic was real and she was somehow part of it. That was a lot. But here, in the face of this blatant tent… cabin… thing and the very green, very large face of the man she had very surprising feelings for, it was too much.
She stared at him with wide eyes. Her mouth hung open. She was aware she should say something, but no words would come out. Everything felt like it was closing in on her. The room was shrinking, and there wasn't enough air.
Next thing she knew, she woke up on the bed in this magic cabin. She sat up quickly, which was a bad decision with how her head was spinning. She felt like she'd just woken up from a night of drinking, but she knew for a fact she hadn't had a drop to drink.
"There ye are. It seems it was all a bit much for ye. Here, lass, drink this."
Bridget brought her a cup of tea and handed it to her. As she sipped, she instantly began to feel better. Her headache slowly went away, and the brain fog started to clear up. She looked skeptically at the cup of tea.
"Did you just spell me?"
Bridget gave a soft chuckle before coming to sit on her bed. "No, lass, I didn't ‘spell ye’. But I did give ye tea that would cure a hangover, and while I didn't think ye were hungover, I thought maybe a little medicine might help."
"What happened? Where is Dru?"
She moved to stand, but before she could get off the bed, she felt a little dizzy and sat back down. Bridget took her hand and helped her back down to the bed.
"Take it easy. Ye fainted. I think the past couple of hours have been a lot on ye."
"You think?" She took another sip of tea and once again felt a calming sensation wash over her. Perhaps magic wasn't so bad.
"Where is Dru?"
"He is outside," Bridget said carefully.
"Can he come back?"
"No, he's bein’ stubborn. He thinks ye fainted because he scared ye."
"No, he didn't scare me. I mean, maybe a little, but can you blame me?"
"No, I can't."
She hated that he was out there, thinking he'd scared her. Yes, in all fairness, he kind of had, but not in a real fear kind of way. It was more of an icing on the cake of way too much change kind of way.
"I mean, going from thinking magic is a cool idea to magic is real, and oh yeah, you’re part siren, whatever that means, was a lot. Toss in the fact that the guy you would really like to have sex with is a big green monster? Yeah... it's a little scary, but I'm not scared of him."
"I think he might need to hear that," Bridget said as she patted her knee.
Calli just nodded and took it all in. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course, my dear."
"Who are you and what is this place?" she asked and gestured to the magical little cabin.
"Yes, well, that's a bit of a long story. A very long time ago, I was cursed by the Fae, but I've made the best of it. This is a replica of my home in Scotland."
"Wow... There is so much to learn. I never could have imagined this existed." She took another sip of tea.
"How are you feeling now?"
"Good, surprisingly."
"Why don't you go out by the fire and talk to Dru? I think I'm going to turn in for the night."