Page 18 of Peacock Me Like a Hurricane

I sigh. “I lost the plot when we started dancing. I’ve been so focused on you, the idiots, community issues, and my Beltane ritual that I put it on the back burner.”

Truth be told, his acceptance of her and the modicum of control has made that quest seem less important. She’s part of me now, and we’re starting to respect one another. The weird side effects like blood hunger, feature shifts, and the weird fire in my veins aren’t that big a deal.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you about that ritual you keep mentioning. What’s it about?” He tilts his head, sensing that I don’t want to be pushed about the DNA research.

I won’t outright lie, but I have to choose my words carefully. He doesn’t have the full picture on the problems with my erstwhile mates prior to his arrival. I’m not ready to share that with anyone. Since I can’t use that as a reason to plan a magickal rebirth, I have to couch it in simple delicious observance. “Beltane is the celebration of rebirth; it’s a wiccan spring festival. I want you to help me to rid myself of negative things and allow positive things to come to fruition.”

He blinks as the light bulb comes on. “Ah. It’s about your fallen family tree branch. You can’t undo mating, but you can try to cleanse the ugly so it’s less painful. This will be sort of like a baptism for normies, right? You’ll do a little chanting outdoors in a circle?”

“Um, that’s how it will work for the others, maybe. I usually practice as a solitary witch, but for this, I need the four corners to be anchored. It started out with my stupid idea to have Sari, Lily, and Amanda help. Since they are at least familiar with paganism, it seemed like a good compromise. I don’t believe Sari and Amanda are believers like Lily and I, but close enough. Rheathrust herself in as usual and Sari added Calista without asking me.”

“That’s typical Blondie. I’m surprised she didn’t ask you why pagans don’t eat cheese.”

I burst out laughing, having to catch my breath once I’m done. “While you were gone, Rafe kicked the two of them to the curb—both metaphorically and literally. So I had to replace a person. For them, it’s weekend Wicca playtime. For me?” I consider how to say this to him so he won’t think I’m crazy. “For me, it’s the real deal.”

He frowns. “What do you mean, the real deal?”

People have always disbelieved me about my magick, so I’m used to having to defend myself. That’s why even in the Rift—which amplifies them—I keep quiet.

“I’m a witch—a real one. I could do a little magick on the other side, but nothing worth writing home about. Since I moved here full time, I can do more, but I don’t. I’m not saying I can shake mountains, but I can turn the spigot on and do things. I want to truly let it all out now. I think allowing my energy to flow naturally will help with her.”

“Neat,” he says, grinning. “Do you suppose that’s why the mutation happened? Quantum ribbons stuff—as you call it—mixed with honest to hell magick in your blood?”

I blink, surprised by both his automatic acceptance and the question. “Maybe. I never considered that.”

“Can I ask you an unrelated question?” I nod, still turning over his suggestion in my head. “Does Blondie know about us? Is her reaction what caused your mate to sever ties without talking to you first?”

“I haven’t told her because we’re not speaking. She probably knows something, and it’s part of the blow up that made Rafe give them the heave-ho. He would never decide for both of us unless what happened was so egregious that there was no otheroption. That’s why I haven’t asked him—I trust his judgment. He’s truly grieving, and I feel… like I was ready to let go. I don’t want to find out what they did, get hurt or angry, and get sucked back in.”

“Does the gnome know anything?”

I tilt my head, wondering where this is going. “She knows that we slept together, but not that we mated. I told her how good you are to me.”

“To recap: Wilde and Sari know we’re shagging, but not that we’ve mated. Blondie and my brother are wallowing in self-pity because your mate exiled them. Sari says great things to my face and is the same waspish little gnome to my back.” He registers my comment and his eyes pop open. “Wait, you’re telling the gnome nice things about me?”

“Maybe. You never know.”

Clutching his heart, he sighs. “Bollocks. That’s it; I’m dead.”

“Drama queen.”

“You are one step away, Missy. You do not want to poke me.”

“Oh? Why not?”

“Because I have to leave you to take care of a familial obligation with my goddess. By the time I come back, I will have had a lot of time to consider retribution for ruining my sterling reputation.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Can you never ever ask me to work on something like this ritual where the other loonies are involved? Christ, they’re a morose lot.”

“I can try, but um, we didn’t get a chance to go into the mechanics of this ritual. I, um, can’t really guarantee that?”

His head swivels as he gives me a look of pure fear. “What do you mean, you can’t guarantee that? What the bloody hellisthis ritual?”

I clear my throat, looking sheepish. “Beltane is the ritual of spring and rebirth. We, um, call down our personal goddess. She takes over and calls her God. And uh, well, rebirth sums it up, right? I don’t know—I can’t predict what will happen?”

My face turns bright red and I curl into the smallest version of me I can, feeling stupid and embarrassed. My stuff might unintentionally involve him, and I can’t prevent that from happening. He won’t get that if the Goddess calls him, it’s a huge fucking deal. That would say an awful lot about his level of importance in my life. He’ll probably tell me he hopes it’s not him.

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