Chapter Twenty-Five
Payton.
Dailey registered the warmth in his arms without ever opening his eyes as he slowly came awake.
“Hey, sleepyhead,” she said, with a light kiss on his jaw. “Welcome back.”
He glanced around, noting the unfamiliar space. “For a minute, I thought I’d dreamed everything, and we were in bed at our old apartment.”
“I’ve had those dreams.” The sadness in her voice was second only to the longing.
“We’ll get it all back if you’re willing, Pay.”
She shifted to a kneeling position and pushed the hair away from her face. “I owe you an apology first.”
He frowned in question.
“For trying to electrocute you,” she clarified.
His inner avoidance demon wanted to brush over her murderous tendencies, but the cop in him couldn’t dismiss it as easily.
“I can’t blame it all on the boots, Lee. The fury I felt was like nothing I’d experienced before.”
“Why don’t you tell me about it?” he suggested.
“The pain stole my breath, and I was overcome with anger.” She frowned as she recalled the moment. “My father showed up, and I felt the rage building stronger. It was like the instant he said he intended to bind my powers—”
“Wait! What?” Dailey sat up, outraged on her behalf. “Why the fuck would he do that?”
“He feared the Gods putting me down like a deranged animal.”
Although he could understand Rupert’s motives, the timing and way the man went about it left a lot to be desired.
“He should never have said that, Pay. If he had come to you with his concerns or offered it as a solution, that’s one thing.
But, intending to steal your magic without your consent, is bullshit. ”
“I thought so, too. And it was one more blow.” She didn’t meet his eyes and continued focusing on her wringing hand motion. “I’m not sure I’ll ever feel confident in people’s love for me, Lee. It’s not fair to you or my parents, but I’m not sure I can trust it.”
Her helplessness hurt his heart.
Dailey shifted closer, matching her kneeling position, and cupped her face. He remained that way until she found the strength to look at him.
“First, let’s get this out of the way. I forgive you.
I’m half convinced it’s a side effect of those fucking boots.
” Her tentative smile warmed him. “Second, I told you I’m putting you first, and I’ll spend the rest of our lives proving it.
Though I want to, I can’t erase your fear concerning your parents.
They are going to have to show they’re the ones worthy of your love, not the other way around. ”
Her smile widened, and the soft glow in her eyes felt like home. “What if I lose my shit again and try to fry your ass?”
“Meh.” Dropping his arms, he shrugged. “I’m sure I’ll deserve it, but I hope we never get there.”
“How is Hermes?”
“I think you rewired his nervous system.”
She paled.
“I’m kidding, Pay. He was on his way to full recovery when I left to find you.”
“Maybe my father was right. Maybe my power should be bound. What if I had killed Hermes? Zeus would’ve declared war on Witchmere.”
He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t believe there was any need to neutralize her as a threat.
“Elara has learned control, and if you’d have hung around, Tripp would’ve made sure you were as advanced as she is.
If you intend to stick this time, we’ll get you the training you require to maintain balance,” he promised.
“I’m staying if you’ll have me back.”
“I’m more than willing.”
“Can you forgive me for running away? Can you fully trust me?”
Forgiveness was easy. He already had. Trust was harder, and his indecision must’ve shown.
“You can’t,” she whispered, pressing her hands to her stomach.
He recognized the action as her feeling insecure and alone in her worry.
“I told you I understand why you left. With understanding comes forgiveness, Pay. Trusting that you’ll not leave again is a helluva lot harder, but I’m working through it. Can that be enough?”
“I don’t want to feel like I have something to prove every day,” she said achingly. “I can’t keep doing that. It’s been lifelong as it is.”
“You don’t have to prove shit.” His tone was emphatic, and he meant it.
“The problem is on my side. I’ll grow comfortable as our communication grows.
And before you say it, I know you tried.
I wasn’t able to hear you before.” He held out his hand to her.
“Can you trust I’ll listen with an open heart?
Can you believe I want to resolve our differences and make your happiness a priority? Trust goes both ways.”
Placing her hand in his, she nodded. “I can.”
“Good. Ready to head back and slay the dragon?”
The building rumbled, and they both froze.
“Is this place alive?” he asked in a whisper.
The bed shook.
“I guess I have my answer,” he muttered. Raising his voice, he called out, “My blunder was a figure of speech. There will be zero dragon slaying. We like dragons. They’re welcome anytime they want to visit our realm.”
Laughter danced in Payton’s eyes, and she covered her mouth to smother a giggle.
“Yeah, you have nothing to worry about. I still have to walk outside and face an angry hoard, if this building decides to tell on me.”
A pillow rose up and smacked him in the face.
“I think that’s your punishment and reminder to watch your tongue,” she said with a grin.
“Okay. New rules: no dragon slaying, no lightning bolt throwing, no running away, and absolutely not pretending problems don’t exist,” he said, ticking off points with his fingers. “Did I miss anything?”
“Nope.”
“Let’s go.”
Casting a regretful look across the room, she said, “I have to put on the boots to go back.”
“What? Why? Can’t we conjure new shoes?”
“I don’t think so. We must resolve this to the Trickster’s satisfaction.”
“We just did,” he argued, as panic crept in.
“But not in our world.”
As she slid them onto her feet, he couldn’t erase his apprehension.
What would happen when they crossed the threshold to their plane?
Would he feel compelled to objectify her again?
Goddess, he hoped not! Walking around with a hard-on and no thought but copulation was as painful as it was embarrassing.
They traversed the corridors, following the direction of the staff, to find Vorren and see if they could hitch a ride back to Witchmere.
Like Dailey, Payton had hated the idea of shoving her feet in those devil boots.
Yet the compulsion rose up. Unfortunately, she could also understand the logic behind the urge.
Their personal trials weren’t over until the Trickster magic said it was. She only hoped these damned things weren’t insulted over her attack on Hermes.
Dailey gave her hand a light squeeze. “You okay?”
“Yes. I was just wondering if the boots will require restitution from me for hurting their master.”
He stopped walking, tugging her to a halt. His complexion was ashen. “Christ! We can’t go back until we know. I’m not risking your safety.”
Stretching up, she kissed him, then patted his chest where his badge should be.
“Always the protector.”
“I’m serious, Pay.”
“We have to,” she countered, scrunching her nose in distaste for what was to come. “It’s the only way to get our lives back and end the madness associated with the enchantment.”
He swore savagely.
“It’ll be okay, Lee. I promise.”
She wasn’t sure how she knew, but she did. Or maybe she was just that determined to straighten her shit out.
Vorren came upon them hugging. “Ah! All is well with your mating, yes?”
“We never had a problem ‘mating,’” Dailey retorted. “But yes, she no longer feels the need to eviscerate me.”
“Must be that he is good with the mating, despite being puny.” Vorren grinned and shot Payton a wink, and she did her damnedest not to laugh. “You are for home now?” he asked.
“If we can catch a ride,” she replied, raising her brows to stress the point.
“Of course. I must find my remaining eggs. Corvack has assured me he will continue the search. I had promised my wife…” A pained expression crossed his visage before he looked away. “Are you ready to leave now, or would you prefer to break your fast?”
“Food would be wonderful.” During the night, someone had been kind enough to leave them a tray of fruit and refill their water pitcher, but Dailey had to be ready to chew off his arm about now.
Vorren led them down two flights of marbled stairs to the dining room.
“What is your plan when you return to Witchmere?” he asked as he directed them to their chairs.
She shared a glance with Dailey. “We’ve worked through a lot last night and today. The hope is the Trickster’s magical boots will recognize the progress we’ve made and ease their destructive tendencies.”
“And we need to remove the Triad’s spell from my family, so we don’t go through this again,” he added.
Vorren frowned. “What is this… Triad? Are they a threat to my children? I shall be happy to vanquish them for you, Law Dog.”
Payton barely held back another laugh at his eagerness and Dailey’s resulting frustrated expression. As an officer, he believed in a specific code, one that didn’t include random enemy vanquishing for sport.
“While I appreciate the offer, Highness, I’m going to do my best to take care of this the legal way.”
The conversation remained light for the remainder of their meal, and an hour later, they were flying through the veil toward the cabin. With the exception of Nazek, the place appeared deserted.
“Greetings!” He called from his seat on the porch swing. The wood and chains strained under his weight as he stood to join them.
“Remind me to reinforce that overhang,” Dailey said in an aside.
She was about to reply when the difference in his behavior registered. In her rage, she’d missed then what was obvious today.
“Lee?”
His brows shot up in question.
“Are you feeling particularly amorous?”
With a roguish grin, he swept her into his arms. “Why? Are you? Because if you are, I’m happy to satisfy all your needs.”
But other than holding her, he didn’t act out of the ordinary by showering her with kisses or attempting to get her naked. She glanced at her feet and would swear the boots winked at her.
“Pay?”
“You’re not, um, overcome?”
“I—oh!” He laughed. “No. And I have a theory about it.”
“Care to share, Law Dog?” Vorren asked.
Dailey’s mouth tightened, likely to hold back a sarcastic retort. Without replying to Dragon Daddy, he led her into the cabin, shutting out the others.
“Yesterday, you didn’t feel wanted. Today, you know you are.”
“That doesn’t explain why you were back to normal around the time of my temper tantrum,” she pointed out.
“Actually, it does.” She frowned, unable to make the connection, and he went on to explain, “You’d closed off your heart and were focused on the injustice of being rejected. You weren’t concentrating on your feelings of inadequacy.”
A light switched on. “The boots are contrary fuckers. My desire to be wanted and loved was snuffed out, so there was nothing to amplify other than my self-righteous fury,” she concluded.
The diamonds put on a light show.
“Bingo.” A wicked smile curled his lips. “Do you suppose I’m allowed to show you just how much you are loved, wanted, and desired?”
An answering heat burned low in her belly, and she groaned her frustration. “As much as I wish I could say yes, we can’t risk it until these things are gone.”
“Fair. Why don’t we have the pyro lizards escort us to town, and make sure the villagers don’t head your way?”
He turned toward the door.
“Lee?”
Seeing her hesitation, he returned to her. “What is it, Pay?”
“I’ve made peace with Flo, my mother, and you. I’m also working through my self-doubt. What do you think is left?”
“Maybe there’s nothing left for you. Maybe it’s me, or a challenge for us as a couple,” he suggested.
Tingling started in her toes. “I believe you’re right, or as close as can be.”
He held out his hand. “Ready?”