Wyld Magic (Stand Alone Tales #22)

Chapter One

Bethany helped the couple get settled into their room and said, “Get comfortable, and Nessa will see you in a few hours. There is a spa in that building over there, but if you want a complete tour, I will be at the main desk and am more than willing to take you on a tour of the facilities. It’s my job. ”

The woman looked at her. “You are human?”

“Not human, but powerless.”

The couple relaxed. “Oh. That’s better.”

“Yes, I understand that being yourselves around a human would be difficult. The robes are sized for your troll selves. Please, this is a place to rest and take in all the possibilities of life with a child.”

They looked at each other with soft smiles. “I will be downstairs if you want that tour, and robes or loungewear is appropriate for all areas.”

She nodded and said, “I am Bethany; the big blue button on the console there will have me here in under three minutes. Please be wearing something if you summon me.”

The Wells giggled.

“Have a restful and productive visit.”

The husband smiled. “Thank you.”

Bethany closed the door quietly and headed down to the main floor. She updated Nessa on the check-in and smiled when the happy face arrived with a time. She acknowledged it and waited for the curious guests to come out of their rooms.

Getting the job as the host at the fertility centre had involved a lot of stress testing and checking to see if she could resist fae or mage seduction. That was the easy part. She was irritated by seduction attempts.

A soft knock at the door brought her head up. “Ah, Orvis.” Bethany walked over to the door and opened it. “Hello, Mrs. Twilight.”

Orvis looked at her with a serious expression. “Bethany, right?”

Bethany blinked. “Yes. I didn’t think you would remember.”

“I saw your resume in the paperwork and had to make sure. How are you doing?”

“Good. Getting settled in town.”

“Are there any status changes?”

Bethany blinked and whispered, “Oh, that. Yes, I can control it rather well now. When my grandmother died, the curse died with her.”

“Wow. I can’t sense anything.” Orvis touched her shoulder.

“I am fairly good at subduing it. It only comes out when I perform, and I don’t do that anymore, so all is good.”

Orvis smiled slyly. “Could you perform?”

“What?”

“I am throwing a birthday party, and if I ask Stovos to put you on the performer list, he will.”

“Wait, you want to release wild magic around a bunch of dark elves?”

“And monsters and mages. It will be a mixed grouping.”

“When is this?”

“Next Saturday.”

“Ah, I am working.”

Orvis narrowed her eyes. “Really?”

“Yes.” She flipped through her cell phone and showed Orvis her schedule. “See?”

“Hmm. How do I tell Nessa without telling Nessa?”

“Ask the manager.”

“Who is the manager?”

“She isn’t here right now, but her name is Stiila?”

Orvis frowned. “Hm. That is tricky. I can’t ask her to take over; she’s invited to the party.”

“Too bad, so sad. I have a steady gig here, and I don’t want to blow it. Our first guests just came in, and I don’t want to make them uncomfortable in the extreme. I have told them they can call on me, and I want to uphold that.”

Orvis frowned. “I think I am getting too used to getting what I want where Stovos is concerned.”

“I think so. I just got this job, and I am not going to put myself in a position to be fired before my first paycheque.” Bethany looked at her and willed her to understand.

“Do you have a lot of trouble finding jobs?”

“Lots. My online resume is miserable, and I haven’t been able to get a job that pays me enough to live on.”

“I thought we gave you new identification.”

“They had watchers at every campus. As soon as I was spotted, they tried to capture me again. I am very tired and just want enough for a small house, a little garden, and enough nearby wilderness to let my freak flag fly.”

Orvis nodded. “I get that. I didn’t choose Stovos for protection, but he’s managed to get me the right to raise my own daughter if we have one. He’s trying frequently.”

“And you have taken up knitting during the attempts?”

“Funny. No, I am with him all the way. I just never thought about being able to raise my own child.”

“That is literally what this facility is for. Mind you, you live with Nessa, so if you ask, she will help you synchronize.”

Orvis blinked. “I think Stovos wants to try it his way for a year or so.”

“Very well. Take a pamphlet.” Bethany gave the harpy one of the new pamphlets.

Orvis snorted and took it, reading it quietly. She smiled. “I will talk to Nessa. If I can get someone to replace you here, what is the last day to notify you?”

“For Saturday? I need to know by Wednesday night so I can change my diet.”

“More meat?”

“Less. I don’t want to hurt anyone.” Bethany smiled.

“Why didn’t you change your name? They can summon you if they know your name.”

“Bethany is too common, and I did change my last name.”

“What is it?”

Bethany sighed. “You won’t speak it around mages?”

“No.”

“Everall.”

Orvis smiled kindly. “That is very fitting.”

“I think so.”

Orvis paused. “May I have a hug?”

“Yes, my knight in fluffy armour, you may.” Bethany hugged the woman who had seen a starving teen at the side of the road and had gotten her to a shelter without any hesitation. She wasn’t speaking back then, but Orvis was the first face she remembered from back then.

They stood toe to toe and then parted. “You are going to have to explain that to Stovos.”

“I will just tell him I ran into an old friend.”

“Let’s see how that works out. Oh, hey, Nessa.”

Nessa came in and said, “Are they settling in?”

“Yes. When they come down, I am going to take them for a tour of the spa area and the warm pools.”

Nessa smiled. “I can do it. You know Tolly?”

“Yes, we met when we were teens.”

“You are... what are you?”

“As I stand before you, human.”

Nessa blinked. “So, there are options?”

“And people say the pink hair makes you ditzy.” Bethany froze, realizing that was her boss. “I am so sorry.”

Nessa frowned. “Do you think you are in trouble?”

“I know I am, I just don’t know if it is for this specifically.”

Orvis smiled kindly. “May I tell her about your situation?”

“Sure, but I don’t want it leaking into the mage society. I will have to move again.”

Nessa blinked. “Oh. Okay. Noted.”

Bethany looked at her. “Oh, shoot. You have an open link with your husbands.”

“Yeah. Sorry. Tynan says he won’t say anything about it. Your name doesn’t ring a bell.”

Bethany smiled. “Good.”

Orvis paused. “What did you do?”

“I made a deal. Those who don’t know me won’t know me.”

“Honey, who did you make the deal with?”

Bethany shrugged. “Some guy. He had horns. He said it was possible. It was a year and a half ago. You know I am bad with faces.”

“Did you get his name?”

She frowned. “Buzz. Pez. Don’t remember.”

Orvis rolled her eyes. “What was he wearing?”

“A robe? Kimono. I was in the east.”

Orvis stared. “Was he red?”

“No, that I know for certain. He was pretty but looked sharp. His hair was tidy.”

Orvis blinked. “Oh. I think I have met that guy with horns.”

“Small world.” She felt the doors opening on the floor above. “Nessa, the Wells are coming down. Did you want me to take them for the tour or start the meditation?”

Nessa looked at Orvis before turning to Bethany. “I think I need to chat with Tolly for a few minutes, but I will meet them in the serenity room if you end the tour there and get us some tea.”

“Cool.” She put on her polite guide persona and went to greet the trolls at the door. “Mr. and Mrs. Wells, please come with me. The entire facility is at your disposal, and I will walk you through it.”

Ikor Wells smiled. “Thank you, Bethany. Has Nessa arrived?”

“She has, and she is having a meeting while we complete our tour. You will meet her in the serenity room, where you receive treatment. She will remain here until your treatment is complete, and her spouses and child will visit her here.”

Mrs. Wells chuckled. “That answered a lot. Thank you.”

Bethany smiled and walked them to the spa area, letting them know that massages had to be arranged in advance as the masseuse wasn’t a full-time employee. If they didn’t mind a spectral massage, it was available around the clock. The staff at the desk would just have to activate it on request.

Ikor nodded. “Thank you. This whole process has me tense with anticipation.”

“As long as you two can engage in your efforts to seed a child, this has a high probability of working.”

Mrs. Wells said, “High probability?”

“Yes, well, if he is outside using his erection as a lightning rod and gets struck by lightning, the procedure will obviously have a more limited chance of success.”

Mrs. Wells laughed. “So, you have seen him on weekends.”

The couple laughed together, and Bethany smiled as she showed them the warm pools that would relax without overheating.

“And finally, this is the serenity room and is named such because everyone in here needs to shut up and relax. Nessa will help your bodies match their timing, and then we have to wait for them to catch up.”

She heard footsteps. “And here she is. I will leave you to the squishier details.”

Nessa arrived and said, “Thanks, Bethany. Orvis is waiting at the desk.”

Bethany smiled and said, “Just relax and think of England or a stone wall. Whatever does it for you.”

The laughter that followed her down the hall as she headed for the desk made her smile. She could see their little slate-haired baby in her mind. It would be a little boy with a small hammer birthmark on his shoulder. His nose snubbed up a little at the tip. He would be adorable.

She walked back into the main office, and Orvis was there having tea. “Hey, Atolica. Did you need something?”

“Yes. You said you paid someone to erase your name. What did you pay him with?”

Bethany turned pink. “It was a fairly direct transaction. Sex and magic.”

“So, it wasn’t your first time?”

“Trading?”

Orvis touched her hand. “No. Sex.”