Page 51 of Beggars, Sin, and Wine

There was a cave behind the waterfall I used to hide in when I was a kid. My father had done this amazing thing with this village and the town at the bottom of the mountain, but the best thing he did for everyone was leave because he was bored with the women there.

He was a terrible father and an even worse husband. Supernaturals were naturally polyamorous. We gravitated to our packs, covens, hives, and all of that. Everyone was on the same page and it wasn’t cheating if it was in your pack.

My father wanted to fuck anything with a skirt and he blamed the fact that male wild bears were naturally promiscuous. His pack hated it and the villagers didn’t really want to help him cheat, even if he owned the village. Everyone told me he left, but it wouldn’t shock me if they ran him off and handed the reins to a twelve-year-old because they thought I’d bring less drama.

I could feel her eyes on me and I couldn’t control my erection. I wanted to because I wasn’t some horn dog like my father. This woman was my mate, and she’d been through a lot. Medusa didn’t really ask me out here to check me out naked. It was a ruse to get me to take care of myself. She didn’t deserve a bear boner this soon after meeting me.

I turned around, so she just saw my ass, but my mate had other ideas.

“I’m not shy, neither am I a prude, Cas. I was born during a time of public bathing and plenty of orgies. Spin and present.”

Oh, fuck, she did not. My bear was loving the shit out of this and frankly, so did I. I turned around and struck a little pose. I watched her eyes go to the size of saucers.

“Holy shit, do you have a license for that?”

Oh, yeah, me and my bear were preening. I shifted, so I didn’t do a damned thing to my malnourished mate that she wasn’t ready for and then I dove into the water because it was cool and the equivalent of a cold shower.

I’ll be fucked. Medusa had Cas in the grotto splashing and catching fish. I loved seeing him like that, especially when the shit was hitting the fan with the Coalition. She was definitely magic because it wasn’t that easy for Pax and me.

Typical Cas, he’d already called the healers and green witches and invited them for breakfast. Pax and I saw Cas playing and went back inside to cook. Cas liked to spoil us, but we were decent cooks, too.

Kat came over with Jezebel and Calamity right when our healers arrived. I knocked this time from outside the house to tell her we were making breakfast. Calamity was a demon, just a different kind than me, and she’d just come from a Coalition basement. I wasn’t even thinking about that last night and scared the shit out of her. I felt terrible about it and I really didn’t want a pissed-off, original vampire and hybrid after my ass.

Cas came in later carrying Medusa. Fucker was shirtless. Yeah, Bepo was loving every minute of this. He set her down and took the bucket of fish from her. Cas all but kissed her. I could tell he wanted to. I liked this. She was good for him.

Thalia was this ancient witch and one of our healers. I didn’t know how old she was because she’d probably hex me if I asked, but it wouldn’t shock me if she was born around the same time Medusa was. We were lucky to have her. She was a fantastic healer, even her bedside manner was a little brusque.

“Everyone needs to get the fuck out of my way. If you interrupt me or get feral because I’m touching your mate, you will regret it.”

Kat just flashed her a fangy grin.

“Fancy seeing you here, Thalia. The last time I saw you was the fall of Rome.”

I knew it.

“And you’re still running your mouth with people’s secrets. They don’t know my age. It’s weird you change your name every time you move. Now, shut up and let me do my job.”

Kat kissed Calamity on the top of the head.

“Thalia and I go way back. She’s one of the best healers I know. You can trust her and you’re safe here.”

There was just enough vampire compulsion in her voice for Calamity to believe her if she wanted to but not enough to force her to feel a certain way. I knew I liked Kat.

Thalia hovered her hands over everyone, including Cas, Pax, and me since we were there, too, before she gave us her diagnosis.

“I don’t have to tell any of you that the reason the three you rescued are still alive is because of the magic in their veins. The Coalition wards might have been blocking them from accessing it, but they can’t take it away.

“Medusa is a mystery. There should be more internal damage from the lack of food. Our magic can’t fight starvation. She looks like she should need me to set up an IV to get a healing potion full of nutrients directly into her blood stream, but I scanned her and she doesn’t.”

“It’s Athena. I have her magic in my blood because of the curse. She also doesn’t want me dead. Perseus was one of her heroes and he wanted my head. There was this whole elaborate ruse where he thought he killed me and so did everyone else because she swooped in and made sure I didn’t lose my head. I guess it’s a blessing this time?”

“Not quite,” Thalia said. “You still need time to rebuild your strength, but you’re in good hands with this group. You all just need time. I’ve taught Pax most of my potions. Pax, Calamity needs the one with chamomile to help with the memories, Jezebel needs the one with cinnamon to balance her siren and succubus since she said her lure was acting funny, and Medusa needs the maize mixture I picked up in India so she gains weight.

“All three of them need to handle their magic, too. Jezebel has her mates, so that works. Medusa needs to spend time in the garden. As much as I hate to say this as I actually like the man, but maybe next time Benji is torturing Sherrif Riddle, he can rope Calamity in on it because she needs chaos as an Imp.”

“Ooh, girl, trust me. He’s got it coming, and I’d love to collaborate with an Imp on my vengeance,” I said, holding up my hand for a high five.

Riddle was going to rue the day he ever fucked up my Pokémon game.

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