The crimson flower pulsed with magic, tiny red sparks dancing along the edges of its petals. I felt Macgrath turn his head and look at it.
“What is that?” he breathed in awe, his arms loosening a bit more.
“The Goddess created it with her blood and magic.”
Macgrath whirled and growled viciously as the bedroom door was thrown open.
“Oh, thank the Goddess you’re back!” Savannah cried. She rushed into the room, throwing her arms around me. She didn’t seem to care that Macgrath still held me off the floor. “Don’t you ever scare us like that again, Ava Amaris, or I will not be responsible for my actions!” Her words were muffled because her face was buried against my back.
I glanced over at Satchel and raised an eyebrow. The cat had the sense to look ashamed. Or at least as ashamed as a feline could.
“Where were you?” Kerry asked from the doorway.
I twisted so I could see her. “With the Goddess.” My eyes moved to Finn. My expression must have changed because he nodded. He knew what he was to me then. I felt the tears gather in my eyes but blinked them back. There was too much to be done and very little time.
“I have a lot to share with you and it needs to be fast,” I stated, looking at everyone in the room. “But first, there’s someone you should meet.” I turned back to Satchel and lifted an eyebrow.
Once again, I wondered how I’d ever thought that Satchel was just a cat. Her facial expression was downright human and it was not happy. I thought I heard her sigh before magic gathered around her.
Everyone in the room stiffened. Kerry lifted a hand, but I stopped her.
“Wait! Just wait,” I commanded.
She studied me then lowered her arm.
Satchel shimmered until suddenly she was gone and in her place stood a tall, slender woman with black hair and the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen. They were a mixture of every color. Blue, grey, brown, and green. They were nothing like the eyes she wore as a feline. She was also naked.
“Holy fucking shit!” Savannah yelped, stumbling back from us. “Who are you and what have you done with my cat?”
I had to bite back a laugh because I knew Savannah wasn’t finding this situation one bit funny, but she so very rarely cursed that it was shocking to hear two fly from her lips. “She is your cat. She always has been.”
The woman stepped forward and cleared her throat. When she spoke, her voice was rough, as though she weren’t used to using it. “I am Arien. I was sent to protect you.”
“Fuck. Me.”
I had to close my eyes and sink my teeth into my bottom lip to keep from laughing. Savannah dropping the f-bomb was a rare enough occurrence, but twice in less than a minute had to be a record.
I felt Macgrath’s body shake against mine and tilted my head so I could see his face.
Without thinking, I reached out through our connection.Do. Not. Laugh.
At my command, the corners of his mouth tilted up further.I’m not.
I can hear you.
A low growl from the doorway caught all our attention. Harrison stood a few feet from us, but his gaze was fixed on Arien.
She stared back at him and actually hissed, just as she would have as a cat. I was surprised that her back didn’t arch.
“Did you just hiss?” Savannah asked, approaching Arien.
The woman blinked at her then down at her bare body. “My apologies. I’ve spent a very long time as the cat. It will take me some time to adjust.” She lifted her gaze to Savannah. “Might I have some clothes to cover this form? As Aveta stated, we have much to discuss and very little time.”
“Why?” Macgrath asked. “Why do we need to hurry?”
I wriggled until he set me on my feet and I turned, looking at everyone in the room. “Because this,” I lifted the flower, “Will call Rhiannon right to our doorstep.”
