Page 50 of No Potions Needed

“Uh… Dude, they should be afraid to fight him. He’s magical and the spirits like him. That’s fucking scary, okay?”

I laughed despite the serious nature of the conversation, but Teddy wasn’t finished speaking.

“I’m glad my carrier helped all those people. I’m glad you saved your friend’s kid, but you do know if you just told me, it would’ve been easier, right?” Teddy frowned at me.

“It would’ve been but it’s not the way things are done. Fate would’ve noticed me helping Mori and it might’ve made things more difficult. Fate was already being an asshole by not showing me who Mori’s mate is.”

“Do you think the universe is really like that?” he asked me.

“I know it is,” I sighed.

“Knock, knock,” Mori said outside the door as if he’d been listening for the perfect moment to interrupt us.

“Come in, you two,” I sighed and sank onto the window seat.

Mori was all wrapped up in one of the fluffy robes the B&B offered to its guests. He perched on the edge of the bed while Othoni stayed on his feet like he might need to pounce someone at any moment. He and Teddy shared a look that made me wonder if the jaguar eavesdropped over their mating link. It was perfectly fine if he did but I hadn’t even thought of it.

“I’m so sorry, Dern,” Mori spoke at last.

“Don’t be. I’m sorry I didn’t get to tell you everything. There were so many people I erased from the living to make places better for folks. Ormund too. Though, I’m the one with it in my nature,” I sighed. “I thought I had more time. I thought if this happened before I finished I’d just stick around and finish up but I don’t want to, Mori. I’m sorry. I’m ready to open that door and find out what comes next. I want to see Marshmallow and Graham. I want to find out if my parents are still over there.”

“Go,” Mori whispered. “You don’t owe us anything. I’ll write the story that I know and that will be enough to ensure both of you are remembered.”

“Thank you, Mori,” I said, trying not to frown. I’d forgotten about the book idea. It was never about the book. I hoped I had more time to prepare Mori. “I still have a few things I need to try to explain. It’ll be so much easier if you expect it.”

“Expect what?” he asked.

“The visit. They’ll pull you right into wherever their little grove is the first time. Right out of your body. Usually it happens during the changing of the seasons or on full or new moons, from what I’ve heard.”

“Who, Dern? Who’s going to do that to me?” Mori blinked and Othoni moved closer to him ready to fight whoever might try to astrally kidnap his best friend.

“They don’t really have a name. I’ve always called them the postcard men because after the first time the missions always came on postcards. You can ignore them if you want but then they send you a postcard about how badly things ended because you weren’t there. Most of the folks helping out aren’t even from Earthside. It’s so rare that they pick anyone new that most planets never even hear of them.”

“Missions to do what?” Mori asked.

“Everything will fit right in with your business. They’ll even pay you. They always paid us anyway,” I sighed.

“Paranormal investigating?” Mori blinked.

“It’s different for everyone. I’ve only met a handful of people who work with them. None of them do exactly what I did. I was their hitman, but you won’t be. Probably not anyway. The universe is evolving like everywhere eventually does. They want to take gentler approaches, but I don’t think you should do it alone. I would’ve said to take your parents but they have so many kids and a territory they run more or less but you have them. You have Mori and Teddy. You’ll have your mate too when you meet him. No, I still don’t know who he is. For that, I apologize.”

“Don’t,” Mori shook his head. “Magic doesn’t owe me early answers. Though, I’m glad you waited to tell me about this. Had you told me while still alive I might have written you off as senile like everyone else has.”

“I know,” Dern frowned. “I was going to tell you the whole story. I was going to tell you the highlights at least. Then end with how Ormund met Lotus. Then I was going to die. Take that lesson with you everywhere. You always have less time than you think you do and everything will take longer than you think it will.”

“Will you visit my carrier before you go?” Mori asked.

That was Mori for you. He was always thinking about everyone else.

“No,” I shook my head. “I’m going to see Astral one more time and say goodbye to the friend Lotus freed then I’m going. No, I don’t want you or anyone there when I go through my door. I’ve always liked my privacy and ask for it one more time. Have fun, you three. Life will feel so incredibly long some days but everything you love will disappear the moment you blink and then it’s all over before you can exhale.” I met Teddy’s gaze. “You already know that and for the love of all that’s sacred, get that fucking tattoo fixed already.”

They laughed and I took advantage of the moment to slip out of the wall. I wanted to remember them laughing and learning to make the most of bad things. The worlds were filled up with them and you had to turn them into something beautiful if you wanted any chance of making it to your final door sane.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Teddy

Mori and Othoni spent the next three days crying. I might’ve joined them except Astral already had. That left me and Marsin to take care of Baby Raylin and to plan his funeral. He didn’t want a grand event, but the pack leadership planned a memorial service after his burial. The omegas had already decided not to attend both as an act of rebellion and as a way to honor Dern’s wishes.

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