Page 56 of Wicked Witchmas: Elara & Tripp

Pausing in bathing Elara’s brow, Tripp scowled. “What? Why?”

“She’s hoping if you’re challenged, you’ll realize the depths to which you care for Elara.”

He hung his head and sighed. “Go ahead. Tell me everything. What does she intend to do?”

“Abduction. I know the when—tomorrow—but not the who. She seemed to have another deity in mind, though.”

“Fucking lovely.”

In truth, it wasn’t the first batshit crazy idea his mother had, but it might be the most dangerous. Elara had yet to wake from her transformation, if it was indeed over, and his concern was at an all-time high. She’d been fighting a fever since the meeting, and Tripp had done his level best to cool her skin with ice water. Most of the moisture had turned to steam.

He was still wrapping his mind around the level of magic radiating through and off her.

“It’s possible she’s stronger than we are,” he said aloud.

“Your mother?” Hermes asked, confusion tugging his brows down.

“Elara. Focus on her power and see for yourself.”

Shutting his eyes, his cousin remained still as he tested the air between them. When his emerald eyes flared wide, he confirmed what Tripp suspected.

“How can that be?” Hermes asked.

“Well, now we know Helios sired her line. He’s a formidable god.” With gentle fingers, he spread water along the seam of her parched lips. “I’m worried about her,” he confessed. “It’s as if something is sucking all the fluid from her body, and her skin is dehydrating faster than I can replenish it.”

“What about a humectant applied to her skin? Would it help?”

“I’ve tried it on her face. It dried instantly, creating a puff of dust.” Tripp shook his head. “Don’t ask me how it happened because I don’t know.”

“We need to speak to Florence Shaw.”

“It may not do any good,” he replied. “Although she’s a formidable witch in her own right, with the nymph blood running through her veins, she’s not a Titan-nymph hybrid like Elara.”

“But surely she possesses an inkling of how it works,” Hermes argued.

“One would think, but I received the impression earlier she didn’t. I’ve known her for a few years, and she’s never been shy about information or opinions.”

“Have you tried adding salt to the water?” his cousin asked, shrugging when Tripp paused in bathing Elara’s skin. “If she’s part water nymph, she needs the sea.”

“You’re a brilliant bastard, I’ll grant you that.” Gathering her close, Tripp envisioned the closest beach, but as he was about to teleport, Hermes touched his arm.

“Wait. I have a different idea. We should take her to Storm Bringer’s Bay.”

“Are you mad?” Tripp shook his head. “The Storm Bringer will require a token, and we have nothing to give.”

“She owes me a favor.”

Storm Bringer’s Bay was by far the best option. Secluded and magical, the waters were reported to heal a weary traveler. But the water nymph who’d claimed the bay for her own was notoriously demanding. Unless at their wit’s end, deities stayed far away from Storm’s seductive waters lest they found themselves indebted to an exacting nymph.

“How is itsheowesyou?”

“I helped her exact the price from a would-be thief.”

Glancing down at Elara, Tripp turned it over in his mind and considered all his options. Even as he delayed, her lips cracked and dried. Blood oozed from the worst cracks.

“All right. Take me to her.”

They were standing at the water’s edge in a flash, facing the Storm Bringer.

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