Page 7 of Christa's Obsession

“I’ll pop back later,” he said softly, stroking Wanda’s hair before one of her peach trees showed him the way out of the nest they’d made.

Before his feet had touched the ground, the nest shuttered around her again, making it impossible for anyone to see her. Wanda felt Silas as he rested his hand on the nearest peach tree, mentally sending his thanks.

Wanda smelled the fire Dougal had set in his fire pit, far enough from the trees to keep them safe. She heard the whisper of words as her glass disappeared and she sank into the nest of leaves that rustled and murmured healing songs. Her trees called to the forces of nature to continue to heal, not her body, but her soul.

Fear slithered around her thoughts, but the softness surrounding her reminded her she was safe.

But for how long? Would they come back for her?

Chapter Four

Christa

“Christa, I said no. The notes that Dakata left clearly state the terms of the contract for Live & Die mean they have to play those ten dates. They can’t now decide to do two fewer because oneof the band has met someone and wants to stay in a city for a few extra days getting his cock sucked.” Merihem muttered, like Christa was an errant child.

Merihem had gotten into trouble helping Dakata retrieve Wanda from Dusken. No one had the wherewithal to speak to the king and ask permission to run amok in the demon realm, killing multiple demons. For Merihem’s part, he was now demoted to the human realm and if Christa heard right, had gotten assigned babysitting duties of her and Luka. They had both stepped up when Dakata needed to stay with Silas in the forest.

Things were changing, all because of ‘blissful ones’!

Looking for a distraction, Christa rolled her eyes at him, doing her utmost to piss the other demon off. She did not need to be babysat by anyone and having a…

She turned to Scott, Dakata’s personal secretary, who had come in to take notes of the meeting, giving him a smile that would further annoy Merihem. “He’s got no heart.”

“I’ve plenty of heart,” Merihem growled, his eyes narrowing on her.

Merihem was a terror, yet his lips curved into a small smile that made Christa take notice. She could see, moments later, that he had zoned out on her. Working with him was turning into more of a nightmare than she expected. Something was amiss with his behavior. He had clothes on, something Merihem hated, and hadn’t once bitched about it.

Very damn odd.

It’s not him that’s odd. It’s you using Merihem to distract yourself from Wanda, and you know it.

I wish you’d keep quiet.Christa had become fed up listening to her demon half complain days ago.

She didn’t need to ask Dakata how he had felt when he’d seen and then touched Silas to know what a damn shock it was to feel the very same urges.

What she was struggling with most was how to deal with it when those from her realm had done untold harm to Wanda. Would she accept a demon? Christa’s demon half thought she would, but her human side wasn’t so confident.

Directing her frustration at Merihem when he had clearly zoned out of the meeting, she snapped, “Are you even listening to me?” She eyed him, trying to figure out what gave him the funny expression he now wore. “You’ve a dopey look on your face. What’s with you?”

She glanced at Scott, who remained poised, waiting for them to continue. Nothing about his expression gave away his thoughts. “There’s something up with him, you see it?”

Scott remained silent.

Christa huffed, fluffing her hair. “Demons!”

“You do know you are one?” Merihem pointed out, not hiding his amusement.

The big demon gasped, and then translocated out of the office.

Christa glanced at Scott, wide eyed. “What the hell was that about?”

He shrugged, looking totally disinterested, his hand still poised ready to take notes. “Demons,” she muttered once more, crossly. “Right, let's get back to the contract as it seems I’m making the decisions today.”

When the meeting finished, Christa had a hairbrained idea to share what had happened to her with Scott. Then she eyed the uptight secretary. He was buttoned up too tightly for Christa to think he’d be a good sounding board, and discarded the idea. So she kept her thoughts to herself because she didn’t know how to reveal that she had also fallen victim to Fate. Saying it aloud would make it all too real.

Alone, she continued on through the day, doing her best not to think about the desire to head to the forest and find out how Wanda was.

She needs us.

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