Page 8 of Forget Me Not

Penn gave the smallest start, then shot a careful, worried glance to the other two before looking at Ray again. “Yes, we did. But maybe don’t mention that just now where Cal can hear. Let’s get you settled first.”

Ray grunted. “I am settled.”

“Tension face,” Penn said again pointedly. “Like that time at that retirement dinner when there was microphone feedback and you were next to the speaker and you got the mother of all headaches.” Penn studied Ray for another moment, then sighed noisily. “God, you don’t want to worry him even now, do you? Well, you can try all you like, but it won’t work. But let’s get you out of this alley, in case the Hardy Boys over there are right and thereismore danger here. Callalily is good at spotting residue and Benny can untangle anything but my attempts at knitting. That’s a joke.”

“Do you even realize how little information there is on weres in the first place?” Benny hissed to Callalily. “Much less the effect of magic on them? I mean, we only even know what we do about love spells and wolves because of whathetold us, and we just took his word on that. This is hardly scientific.”

“So we start from the ground up. That’s nothing new. Humans in charge never bother to learn what they should. It’s not like I was expecting to find the answer now,” Callalily argued. “First, the traces, if any, then to the hospital to see if there is a physical aspect. Then… I don’t know. We’ll figure it out as we go, as usual.”

Whatever they were planning, Ray had to put a stop to it.

“Callalily,” he called out.

Callalily flung out a hand. “Do not. Donotcall me by my full name right now, Raymond,“ he ordered with unexpected ferocity, before dropping his hand and giving Ray a look that made Ray’s eyes sting. “Just go with Penn. You trust her.”

“I do.” Ray frowned anyway. “You’re upset.” Penn snorted. Ray frowned at her, too, before returning his attention to Callalily. “It’s not safe for you here.”

Callalily’s expression shifted from surprise to resignation. “I’m a helpless fairy to you, aren’t I?” he wondered quietly, not seeming to expect an answer. “It’s not in your nature to leave me unprotected. There’s nothing personal in it, and yet, it remains charming. Against my will, I am charmed right now, and that is upsetting too. Fuck.” He wrinkled his nose. “Ray, just go. Maybe the human doctors will be able to help—for once,” he added, under his breath. “You’re running on instinct, perhaps even more than usual. You know Penn, and you know your instincts, and your instincts tell you to watch over the dainty little fairy. Right? Well, don’t worry about me. I heal.”

Things hurt, but things heal. Ray’s mother used to say when he was young. All it meant to Ray now was that Callalily was in pain.

“Cal, shut up,” Benny cut him off firmly. “You’re not helping, him or you.”

Penn took control of the conversation with a sharp question. “Ray, what is the last thing you do recall? Coming into this alley? Anything?”

Searching for an answer and finding only black, emptynothingwas enough to make Ray snap. “I opened my eyes and I was here.” He breathed hard as the truth of his words sank in; that was all he could remember after breakfast with Penn that morning. “I was here,” he said again, softer, “and I was tired and I couldn’t breathe. My head hurt—still hurts. And then they found me, Benny and… Callalily.”

“Your head hurts?” Callalily immediately shouted, barely allowing Benny to shush him. “You didn’t say! Penn, take him to the doctor. Is he bleeding?”

“No,” Ray growled, because he smelled no blood. But Penn yanked him down by his tie to feel around his skull.

“Not even a lump,” she decreed. “If that healed, the headache should go away soon, if that is the cause. Unless, of course….”

“Unless, the cause is magic.” Benny did not sound happy about it, for a magic-user. “Magic means a lot more options to investigate instead of a jerk with a blunt object.”

Ray would never have let anyone sneak up on him, but he shut his mouth and didn’t say that. Callalily’s wings were trembling.

“Head wounds are odd. Even for weres, I’m sure.” Callalily insisted despite the fear shivering through him. “I could… I could make him see what happened. If the memory is there, a fairy should be able to—Oh.” He met Ray’s stare. “He’s terrified again,” he murmured, as if he wasn’t the one shaking like a leaf in a storm. “Okay. I’ll just… not go near him for a while.”

“Why did you come near me in the first place?” Ray shot at him, a howl held inside his chest. But Callalily saw it. Swirling eyes were not like Penn’s, but Callalily looked right at Ray before he fired back.

“Because you told me to.”

“Stop pretending I matter to you!” Ray snarled, making Callalily’s eyes go wide. Benny gasped.

Penn yanked on Ray’s arm, physically turning him away from Callalily. “Branigan, we’re leaving, now. You are not in control of yourself, and that alone tells me something is very wrong. You two,” she gestured crisply to the stunned pair behind them, “look for anything,anything, suspicious here.“ For the first time since she’d entered the alley, Penn faltered. “I’ll… send an escort to watch over you. Someone I trust.” Her pause indicated she expected an argument but the other two were still quiet. Ray gave her a fierce, questioning look which she ignored, although she did not let go of his arm. “When you’re done with magic stuff, I’m sending in CSU.” Benny finally nodded. Callalily watched Ray, unblinking. “Then you come find us. Cal? You hear me?” Callalily twitched, before belatedly turning to Penn. Penn gentled her tone. “Whether he knows it or not, he’ll need you there.”

Ray stiffened.

Callalily nodded. “I know.”

“Good.” Penn was sharp again. “Now, come on, Ray. This is protocol. You were basically injured in line of duty.” She tugged and seemed pissed when Ray didn’t budge. “Come on. Cal’s not going anywhere. He’ll be fine.”

“It’s not safe,” Ray insisted. “Someone took down a werewolf. What can a fairy do?”

Callalily smiled and flipped him off. “Fuck you too, Ray, my love.”

Ray caught his breath, his growl fading when he noticed the extra sparkle in Callalily’s eyes. “You’re crying.”

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