Page 40 of Wooing the Wiccan
I flinch away from that thought. I’m not ready to process it yet.
But I don’t doubt that Sam is a representative of the energy that makes up the world, whether they want to call it the life force or the magic or the blessed sparkles of sky. I can feel that in every atom of my body and soul. And if he’s the representative—the lucifer—then what he’s telling me is true.
It’s a lot.
It’s also… amazing. Wonderful. Terrifying, and a huge responsibility to keep this secret, but I can’t help feeling it’sright. Like a puzzle piece I didn’t know was missing… which is part of the problem. What else don’t I know?
My gaze shifts to Raðulfr. Dragon shifters and elves, Sam said. Which is he?
“Elf.” He answers my unspoken question. “I’m an elf.”
I look back at Sam. “You said myths and folklore came from people not understanding what they saw.”
“Yeah.” He nods. “Fun story, the community thought folklore about elves and dragons was made up, when they were actually stories about friends that our ancestors passed down… and we accidentally changed. Because oral history isn’t always reliable.”
That actuallyisa fun story, and something I want to know more about. Another time, though. “Okay, so are we talking Tolkien’s elves or Santa’s elves, then? Who got it the most right?”
The sound that comes from Gideon’s throat makes us all jump. Did he… laugh? If you’d asked me five minutes ago, I would have said he wasn’t capable of it.
Sam sighs and rolls his eyes. “Ignore him. To answer your question, though…” He raises an eyebrow at Raðulfr, and I turn to him, ready for an explanation.
Instead, I watch as his face changes. From one moment to the next, it’s different, the humanity of it replaced by something alien… and glowing gold? I let out a shaky breath even as the color fades. I’m glad to already be sitting as I take in the heavier forehead and eye sockets, the sharply angled cheekbones, the pointy ears. There’s also a hint ofotherto his eyes and self that would be apparent even if his bone structure wasn’t different. No wonder he needs to use magic to disguise himself. He’s still Raðulfr, still easily recognizable as the man I know, but he’s very obviously not human.
“Tolkien, then,” I croak, mostly to stop myself from telling him how hot he is. I’ve never had alien or monster fantasies, so I can only assume this new wave of attraction is because he’s revealed his true self.
He shrugs. “There are many interpretations across many human cultures. I can replace the glamor if?—”
“No.” The word falls out. “This is you, and you shouldn’t have to hide from people who know the truth.”
A range of emotions cross his face too quickly for me to read. “Thank you.”
We stare at each other awkwardly for a few moments. I don’t know what to say. There’s so much for me to process. I understand now why he had to keep these secrets, understand that he didn’t intend to hurt me… but I don’t know where I want to go from here. Does it make me xenophobic if I’m not sure if I want to be in a relationship with someone who’s not only from another species, but also from another freaking dimension?
“You’ve got a lot to think about,” Sam breaks in, his voice gentle. “If you can, I suggest you take tomorrow off from work. I can set up an appointment for you with the Community Integration Agency, and they can show you some resources and give you a more in-depth orientation.” He hesitates. “Would you like to meet Noah?”
Noah? Oh, the human who married a vampire. I guess it couldn’t hurt. “Yeah. If he doesn’t mind.”
Sam smiles. “He won’t mind. He might ask you for feedback on the reintroduction program, though. The list of magical tasks was something he put together.”
That’s a little intimidating. I’m getting better at magic, but it sounds like this guy wrote the book on it.
“Come to the CSG office at eleven tomorrow,” Sam continues, reaching into the pocket of his jeans and pulling out a business card. He must see my reaction on my face, because he chuckles. “I keep some in all my pants, just in case. The address is on there, and if you go to the executive reception, Candice will take care of you.”
I take the card and glance at the address. It’s right in the middle of the business district, and I wonder how many people walk by their offices every day without knowing that aninterspecies government is right there. “Thank you. I guess this is as good a reason as any to take a personal day.” I hate the idea of not giving advance warning, but it’s not like I could have foreseen this. It’s not too late to text my boss tonight, anyway, which is almost more surreal than everything I’ve learned. How can it have been only a couple of hours since my whole worldview changed? It feels like eternity.
Sam and Gideon stand, and I get up too. The lucifer—it’s going to take me some time to get used to that word—comes over to hug me. “It’s going to be okay.”
I manage a smile. “I know. And hey, I’m lucky, aren’t I? I doubt every human who finds out gets the lucifer himself to talk them through it.”
That earns me a chuckle. “Gideon would go on a rampage if I suggested it. But Raðulfr is a friend.” He steps back, leaving me feeling somewhat uncomfortable with that thought. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Gideon takes Sam’s hand, and they’re gone. I stare blankly at the space they were occupying. “So… they don’t need to be outside to do that?”
“No,” Raðulfr confirms. “Teleportation needs a visual reference, but otherwise is limited only by the strength of the demon. If Gideon had known before what your living room looked like, they could have come directly inside.” He’s still standing beside the couch, where he’s been since we came inside.
I’m not sure if I’m ready to ask him to leave, so instead I focus on what he’s just told me. “I don’t think I like the idea that people can just appear in my home.”
“Gideon wouldn’t?—”
