Page 47 of Destined for Shadows
“Yeah.” An image entered her mind of an older woman who used to run a tarot card reading place at Pioneer Park until her health forced her to stay closer to home. Yvonne could still do some powerful magic, but she tried to limit her activities these days since it took a heavy toll on her. “What about her?”
“If you have something meaningful that used to belong to your former husband, the mystic might be able to use it to track him,” Bartol said, then his expression soured. “But it would need to have strong emotional significance to him for the connection to work.”
Cori considered it. She hated to bother the older woman with her problems at all, but Griff would likely escalate his attacks from here on out. They needed to do something soon to stop him before things got any worse. “I still have our old wedding rings.”
“You kept them?” Bartol asked, surprised.
“Yeah. To remind myself why I should never get married again or emotionally involved with a man who could use my feelings against me.” She threw the blankets off of herself and hopped out of bed, letting Bartol see that all she wore was cream lace underwear with the matching camisole. Cori gave him a saucy look. “But fucking is still on the table.”
His face reddened, and he took a step back. “There are far more suitable men than me for you to slake your needs.”
Cori took a few steps closer, noting he practically strained to stand still and not run away. She stopped right in front of him and let him get a good look at her. The man was never going to get over his fear of being close to people if she didn’t do something to help him along. She spoke in a low, husky tone, “Don’t sell yourself short, Bartol. I have complete faith that you are worth ten regular men in bed.”
He worked his throat, and his gaze dipped to the swell of her breasts where they rose from her camisole. His attention lingered there for a long moment before he met her eyes again. “I’ll give you an hour—be ready when I return.”
“Sure,” she agreed, cocking her head to the side. “Clothes or no clothes?”
“Be fully dressed,” he growled.
Before she could respond, he flashed away. She checked the clock on her nightstand and realized it was barely eight in the morning. Couldn’t the man have come a little later? It wasn’t like they had to account for driving time, and she didn’t have to be at work until shortly before noon. Something told her he was a morning person, whereas she was a night owl. Thank God she wasn’t looking for a lasting relationship, or they’d never work out.
***
They arrived on the lawn in front of Yvonne’s house—a quaint place in the midst of a forest with no other homes nearby. Bartol’s arms were wrapped around Cori’s waist where he’d held her while flashing. In his usual fashion, he tried to jerk away once she stopped swaying from dizziness, but she gripped his wrists to stop him.
“It feels good when we’re close together like this,” she said, craning her neck around to bat her eyelashes at him. “Don’t you think?”
He leaped away from her like she’d just burst into fire. “No. It does not.”
It was too bad Melena wasn’t around to confirm whether he was lying or telling the truth. “If you say so.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You must cease with these flirtations. I’m not interested.”
“Not even a little?”
Bartol rubbed his face, taking a few seconds to answer. “Hardly.”
Cori chose to take that as an admission that there was at least something going on between them. She’d seen his expression when she’d climbed out of her bed and come toward him. The abuse he’d suffered in Purgatory might make him want to avoid physical contact, but the man still had needs.
While she wasn’t one to throw herself at just anyone, there was something about him that attracted her. Not enough to make a lifetime commitment, which would be impossible anyway with him being immortal, but she wanted to help him get past his trauma. Maybe if she did that, there would be hope for her as well. The primary difference between them being she hid her pain and fears better—most of the time, anyway. Griff resurfacing recently didn’t make things easier, but hopefully he’d be gone soon.
That thought reminded her why they were here. “Fine, pretend you don’t like me if that makes you feel better. Let’s just go talk to Yvonne.”
Bartol opened his mouth and shut it. Seeing he wasn’t going to refute her, she spun on her heels. He trailed behind her as they made their way up to the front door. Most houses in Alaska were built off the ground because of the heavy snow that lingered all winter. A lot of people had front steps of some sort, and this place was no exception. After reaching the top, she rang the doorbell. It took a full minute before anyone answered, and when they did, it was the mystic’s daughter rather than Yvonne.
“Hey, Diane.” Cori smiled at the middle-aged woman with long, dark brown hair that showed hints of gray. She was short and a little on the plump side, but she carried her weight well, and she had the sweetest heart-shaped face that instantly made you want to befriend her. “Sorry to bother you, but we need to talk to Yvonne.”
Diane looked at her with an exhausted expression. “My mother is in the hospital. She had a heart attack last night, and she’s been in and out of consciousness ever since. I just came home to pick up a few things before going back.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Cori apologized, feeling awful that they’d disturbed the woman during such a horrible time. If not for the fact that traveling with Bartol was so quick and easy, she might have at least called before coming. “Is Yvonne going to be okay?”
Diane rubbed her face. “The doctors are hopeful, but it’s too early to tell yet.”
“Is your son with her?” Cori hadn’t seen any sign of the teenager.
“Yes.” She nodded. “He volunteered to stay while I came home. I think he’s even more worried than me about Mom, but I think she’s still got a few years left in her—if she takes it easy.”
Something told Cori that the woman wasn’t guessing and may have “known” that to be true. Diane was a mystic as well with her own special powers. Too bad this wasn’t a good time to ask her for help instead.
