The smaller elder loosened the collar of his dress shirt before unbuttoning the top half. He’d wanted to make a statement, which was why he’d dressed up before trudging through the woods, but I could tell he regretted the decision. He wasn’t wearing a blazer this time, but his nice slacks had become dusty with small tears from thorns and leafless underbrush.
“This doesn’t look like tanbaku,” Mosavi said suspiciously, his tone softening a little as he grabbed the pipe. “But it has been along time. Perhaps a little couldn’t hurt. It would at least mask the smell of musky animals.”
And with that, the larger elder put an arm across Mosavi’s shoulder and led him to the cave where we’d all had our visions.
“Do you have your phone?” I whispered, turning my attention to a bewildered Willa.
She reached into her cleavage and pulled out a diamond-studded case with her smartphone inside. “Of course. Why?”
“You’re definitely gonna want to record this.”
“I loooove you,” Mosavi slurred while leaning against me on the long walk back out of the woods. “You smell soooo good.”
“Oh God, this is the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten,” I said, trying to hold back laughter. Willa and I had been watching Darius’s mental decline for the last three hours as he and his brother caught up. Because of the way the herb worked, he was going to remember every embarrassing detail once he was sober—but he would also remember whatever visions he had.
We had also been recording the interaction between the two, which had started out lighthearted but soon darkened into something more serious and personal. After my own experience with this, I felt it wasn’t my place to stay, but Willa wanted to remain. He was her husband, and there was a lot that Mosavi had kept to himself over the centuries.
“I sincerely hope you have more of that herb,” Willa said, leaning in to kiss her husband on the lips. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so giddy.”
“I’m horny,” he blurted out, giving me another sniff.
“When we get home, dear,” Willa said, looking over at me. “Would you take care of it?”
“No!”
She sighed. “But I’m so very tired.”
“They’reyourwifely duties!”
Mosavi began drooling on my shoulder half-asleep, and I shoved him awake.
“Oh, I don’t think he’ll last once we get home.” I shoved him again. “God, you’re heavy. Walk, damn it.”
“Who needs to walk when you can float? We’re floating.” He fell into me again. “Like all these butterflies.”
“Damn it,” I shouted, almost tripping over a root as his full weight crashed into me. “I’m tempted to leave him here.”
“As hilarious as that would be, there will be hungry witches about.” Willa rubbed her chin. “I wish I’d brought something to help him sober up, but I kind of like him this way.”
“I looove you, too,” Mosavi said with a lopsided grin as he turned to her, his eyes squinty as he stumbled. “Yer just the prettiest girl I ever done met.”
“What the hell is that accent?” Willa asked, cooing like a love-struck teenager. “You’re off the hook, Cody. He’s mine.”
“Just so we’re clear, I was never on the hook to begin with.”
“Mmhmm.”
I groaned and continued walking toward the clearing ahead. “Oh, thank God. We’re almost to the road. The car’s coming to pick us up, right?”
Willa didn’t respond.
“Right?” I asked a little louder as Mosavi fell into me again.
“Of course, dear.” She pulled out her phone. “Just need to make a quick call.”
Christmas Eve
“Roscoe, take it off,” I said through my teeth as the excited werewolf pranced around the dinner table, setting plates in front of everyone in a very tight, black and white maid’s outfit with every horrifying frill imaginable.
