"Yes, I relieved myself into the magic cauldron."
He looks at me like I just professed an undying love for sniffing monster droppings. Maybe Athanis's words were not the right ones to say, after all. It is frustrating not to have the words to tell these other males everything my mate just confessed to her guardian spirit.
But the blessed one—Asher, the others call him—mutters something I do not understand before taking my arm to pull me even further away from my mate's door. He must wish to take every care not to disturb her with our voices, and I am pleased by his thoughtfulness.
As we get farther away, one of his hands glows green. It disappears into nothing as his expression turns to one of great focus, as though he is seeking something before he withdraws a strange, curved object from the nothingness.
He holds up the object and speaks in his own tongue at length. He sounds almost cross, but I am beginning to think that is just his temperament.
When he is done speaking, Athanis exhales in relief. "He is offering you a charmed translation device. He says it may pain you to adjust to its use, but that a skilled magic-user crafted it for him to use during a difficult hunt in foreign lands years ago. He grows weary of your confusions and wishes to simplify things. Remember, I have foreseen this one," my friend adds.
Athanis has told me that before he died, he prayed to Galene for visions of my future to better guide me in this time. He saw this red-haired magic-user who carries a powerful blessing and believes he will be important in my future contentment with my mate.
Trust him,one of my beasts decides.
Safe,another agrees.
Accepting the gift, I study it. I have no idea what to do with an object of this shape.
Asher grumbles something, takes the gift back, and fits it around the shell of my right ear.
"Bray syoorself,"he warns.
A sudden pain jolts through my skull, rattling it as if I have been struck by lightning. I hiss and grip the ear that the odd object is now firmly affixed to. Has it stabbed into my head? I am not sure, but it is excruciating.
It fades quickly, but I still frown at the blessed magic-user. "That pained my mind."
My mouth feels strange as I speak, as though my tongue and lips are moving differently, although I am certain I used the right words.
"Tell me about it," he grunts. "I haven't touched the damn thing since that mission wrapped up. Not that it would do me much good now, anyway, since it's not shaped for my left ear."
I rear back in surprise, bewildered. "I understood your words. Praise to the gods."
"Sure, them and Jada, my friend who made it. Now come on. We're going to have a little talk."
Athanis and I follow him back into the sitting and food preparation area of my mate's abode. My mate appears to enjoy making her home comfortable, and she has done well. I like this place. Most of all, I like that her scent is all over it, both tantalizing and soothing.
At first, I think the vampire must have left, but then I see that he is licking the last traces of my blood from Asher's knife as he sits on a stool in the food preparation room.
Asher notices, too. "You'rejonesing.Go feed,Ian."
"I will soon," the vampire mutters, setting the now-spotless blade onto the counter. He stands from the stool to glance down the hallway we emerged from. "What were you guys doing? Is Heidi okay?"
Heidi,my dragon growls, coveting that name.
This must be another name of my mate, aside from Elise. I mouthHeidi, enjoying the feeling of it in my mouth.
The front door opens, and the pierced infernal one who is called Zak strides back into Heidi's abode, brushing copious rainwater off his face as thunder continues to rumble in Pheli's sky outside.
"Bike's parked in the driveway now," he tells us before lounging on one of the cushioned benches in Heidi's sitting area. "How's Candy doing? She sleeping yet?"
Is Candy another name for my mate? I ponder her many names.
"She is yet awake," I inform them, eager to share what I overheard her saying to her ghostly companion so they may help me convince my mate she deserves more. "She is?—"
"Back up. Since when did Naked Guy speak English?" Ian sputters, looking me over before he scowls at Zak. "And you, get off our girl's couches. You're soaked."
"Again with theour girl?"Asher huffs before pointing at the cushioned bench Zak is on and looking at Ian and me. "That's it. All three of you, sit your asses down. Let's hash this shit out."
