Page 25 of A Drink of Destiny
“Well, if he got that kinky, you’d be the last thing on my mind,” Dern laughed. “It’d be a lot easier to talk to you if you weren’t squeezing your eyes shut like I was some nightmare monster who’ll go away if you ignore me long enough.”
“Spit it out or send me home, Dern,” I sighed.
“Okay, let’s start with a question to see if we can get you a bit more engaged,” Dern sighed back at me. “Do you know why most people who work with the Postcard Men only get summoned once?”
“Because they eat them,” I said, no humor in my voice.
“Because usually they have no warning and go hog wild when they get back to find a way to stop it from happening again. Hell, even I did,” Dern said. “There are a lot of things I’m trying to teach you, but I thought eventually, you’d do that.”
“Dern,” I pushed myself upright. “Has it ever occurred to you that I consider you a friend and want to keep coming to see you. Sure, you’re inconvenient and an asshole, but you’re still my friend.”
Dern blinked at me and scooted over so he could lean back against his cabinets while he pondered what I said.
“That shouldn’t be that groundbreaking. You had friends in the Appalachian Wolf Pack when you were alive. Sure, towards the end you scared them, but you had stuff going on. Even after the tea, I trusted you and maybe I shouldn’t have. I don’t know anymore.”
“Mori,” he said my name softly. “I was trying to help. With the tea and with the drink. How was I supposed to know the universe would fight back and have a guy wear a shirt with the same hole in it? For everything I am, a Norn or a fate weaver, Iam not. Look, I’ll be straightforward with you about a few things. If I can yoink you here, anyone can do it with enough practice. You go on so many spirit trips on your own that your soul is used to going out of your body. Even if it’s not to prevent me from doing it, you need protection. I’m sure you can find something that lets me bring you here without letting everyone else drag you around. You’ve got to be smarter about these things, because not everyone has your best interest at heart.”
“And you do?” I rolled my eyes.
“I was trying to give you a bit of happiness to make up for all the bullshit I’ve had to put you through.”
I let out a long, slow breath and nodded.
“Is he happy?” I asked.
“Who? Ormund? I’d say he’s probably relieved that I apologized.”
“No, my mate.”
“I think so,” Dern nodded. “Look, there’s a lot I want to tell you about him, but I think this was all the universe’s way of saying not to meddle with it. I don’t want to do the wrong thing and get one or both of you hurt or worse.”
“So, what now?”
“Wait. Back to waiting just like you’ve been doing, but don’t sit around and twiddle your thumbs. Get an amulet or something made. Get to work on protecting yourself from outside forces. Sharon Claudis isn’t done with you all yet. She’s back in the Other World and reports say she’s losing the umph she once had. You know as well as the next wolf that you can only spend so much time outside of your body before you start to feel it. Speaking of which… I hate to do this. We have so much we could talk about and we will when you feel better. I just don’t want to send you back sick. Preston has enough on his plate with the baby and worrying. Look, go talk to the guy who stole your job. He’s good at charms and amulets. Don’t settle for lettinghim make you stuff. Learn how to do it your damnself. Until you meet your mate, in the end you can only rely on yourself, your twin, your parents, and Teddy and Ni. Maybe a few others but everyone has their own priorities and we have to keep our own fluffy asses safe.”
“Thanks, Dern…” I only managed to get a few words out before Dern kicked me out of his Other World house and back into my own body.
As soon as I opened my eyes I called Crilus to find out where Alvis was and to my one-thousand percent relief he hadn’t ran off to the Other World with Raiel yet.
“I feel sort of dumb for not thinking of this sooner,”my wolf sighed from inside his inner sanctum.
My inner beast wasn’t the only one who felt like a dumbass but nothing could be done about the past.
Chapter Sixteen
Raiel
Pierce’s Family Estate
After our claiming vows, Alvis fell asleep with his head pressed against my chest just above my heart. I lay there for a long time watching him sleep. He was perfect. We were perfect together. I hated to admit it but I was sort of glad that Mori poured his drink on the wrong guy.
“We’d have met him when he came to see Annila,”my lion reminded me.
“He might’ve worn pheromone blocker spray. So many professionals do,”I shot back at him.“Besides, I’m grateful for that because otherwise it would all be because Sharon Claudis kidnapped Annila.”
“Well, it sort of is,”he shrugged a big furry shoulder blade.“Look, I’d still eat her on the spot – no questions asked or pondered but this does go back to her and I don’t think we can go home until she’s taken care of. Well, not for good anyway. I miss the pride as much as you do but as long as that shebear is running around, Beal and his family are in danger.”
I let out a long, slow breath. I didn’t want to think about Sharon Claudis right after making love with my mate for the first time. Though, she was coloring our life one shade at a time and Alvis would probably be involved in her capture. I dozed off with her on my mind but woke up to Alvis kissing me.
