Page 31 of Bound By the Wraith: Northern Realms

Cali relaxed. “He did.”

Coraliane nodded. “Good. You looked ready to run and I’m not much of a runner in my mortal form, so I wanted to reassure you I’m safe. However, if you want to go for a swim, well then I could catch you.”

“What are you then?”

“Mermaid. Though, I do have siren blood in me.” There was a malicious glint to her eyes that caused a shiver to run down Cali’s spine.

“I see.”

Coraliane just laughed. “I will not harm you. Cillian and I are…close. Though, I prefer females over males. Who do you think taught him some of his more female-gratifying tricks?"

For one second Cali grew a bit jealous thinking about Cillian with this mermaid, but he was pretty upfront about who he’d been with, and since her memories were restored, she remembered she hadn’t exactly been a saint through the ages, either.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Coraliane held out the coat. “Cillian thought you might need this.”

“Thank you.” Cali took the warm winter coat and slipped it on. “I don’t plan on doing too much today. I don’t really have a place anymore.”

“No, not really. I looked into that for Cillian as well. Simon seems to have sold off your life and taken most of your money, but again Cillian has provided well for you. You just have to be mindful to be back here by sunset.”

“Could I spend the day with you?” Cali asked. “At your place of business? I like to keep busy and I can work, it’ll help pass the time and maybe I can borrow a computer to look up someone.”

Coraliane smiled, and this time Cali got the feeling it was more friendly. “I would like that, and then at sunset, I can make sure you get back here. It’s your day of freedom, are you sure you want to spend the day with me?”

“Yes, that’s what I want to do.”

“Good, maybe you can help me pick out a wedding present,” Coraliane said, as she hooked her arm through Cali’s and they began walking away from the hospital, down toward the docks.

“A wedding present?”

Coraliane nodded. “For a wolf bride and a sasquatch groom. Maybe they need some kind of grooming device. I have no doubt their child will be hairy.”

Cali laughed and breathed a sigh of relief, feeling instantly better about being in Coraliane’s presence and off the streets. At least she’d be safe atThe Lusty Kraken.Cillian had said so and she wouldn’t be bored senseless, just wandering around Thunder Bay. She’d have something to do and something interesting to keep her busy.

Maybe she’d learn more about Cillian’s world, which was about to be part of hers.

Cali completely missed Cillian,and Honk, too. She’d gotten used to their presence when Cillian wasn’t around, but she was glad that Cillian had mentioned Coraliane and that the mermaid had met her when she arrived back in the mortal realm, and had let her work atThe Lusty Krakenfor the day.

She had never noticed the world beyond the veil, as Coraliane had called it, before. Now that she had been awakened by Cillian, she could see the veil shimmering. She could see how regular mortals didn’t notice all the beings around her, and she got to hear all the gossip about how this realm, known as the northern realm, had been freed from an Elven king’s rule. And she was able to use a computer and locate her birth mother. The woman wasn’t in Thunder Bay anymore, she was farther north in Kenora, but at least it was a start.

It was a long day and it seemed that time was moving slowly. She wondered what Cillian was doing while she was gone, but then it was more enjoyable to think about what they could do when she got back.

She hoped so.

“You ready to go?” Coraliane asked.

Cali nodded. “Yes. I hope when I return again, on my next day of freedom, I can come here and help you out again.”

Coraliane nodded. “I would like that. You’re a good worker and I’m glad you don’t hold an ill will toward me and my past dalliance with Cillian.”

“We all have pasts. Some of us have more…detailed ones.”

Coraliane chuckled. “That is true. Come, I better get you back to the portal before the sun sets, and then I have to get back and get ready for that wedding tomorrow.”

“Sounds good.”

Cali grabbed her stuff and followed Coraliane outside. It was dusk, and the sun was getting ready to set. She could feel the panic rising in her, and all she wanted to do was get back to the portal.

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