Page 22 of Tricky Magic
Ros thought about stopping by tomorrow at a decent hour to say hello—well, to make sure he knew what he was dealing with. He remembered the seer being kind, but knew nothing more about her. Her son was older, but again, he remembered little. They kept to themselves like he did.
Deciding to give up for the evening, he turned toward the forest to head to his unlit home. Looking at it, you could barely take in the details, even with his excellent sight. The wind shifted from behind him, and a powerful gust carried the scent of something. Or someone.
Turning, he followed the scent to a shadow at the end of the long dock. The silhouette was hard to make out with the light being cast behind her. It was definitely female, but he could not make out that supernatural scent. She had a thin blanket clutched around her small frame, making it difficult to make out any features. She faced the moon, and he could make out the deep breaths she was taking. Maybe it was the seer. It seemed to be the right size.
Ros was fully hit with the unique scent as the wind picked up again. She had undertones of sage, like all seers, but then there was an electric scent he couldn’t make out. The smell of citrus wove together with something soft.
His eyes grew wide as it all hit him at once.
He whispered to only himself and the forest, “Hello. You are new, aren’t you?”
* * *
Ros was drowningin a warm bed while his heavy eyes refused to open. He knew he needed to start his day, but he wanted to go back to those dreams. Dreams of a beast finally waking again, pulling itself from the depths of its heavy shadows. This wasn’t his usual dream, it was something different. What it was, he didn’t know, but he wanted to find out.
His eyes slowly peeled open as hot breath caressed his face. He was greeted by deep red eyes and a wet nose.
You were smiling,Garm grumbled in his head.
“Are you concerned?” he asked in a voice thick with sleep.
It’s almost ten. You don’t smile like that, and you don’t sleep this late,Garm remarked, nudging him in the neck with his cold nose.
“I don’t know what you mean by ‘like that,’ but I do smile.” Ros pushed the giant head of the hound away from him. “You don’t see it because you’re an ass and I never have a reason to smile around you.”
Well, I’m about to wipe that smile off your face. Belias is up to something,Garm said, sitting down next to Ros.
“What did you find?” Ros sat up quickly, suddenly very awake.
There is some unrest back home; there are whispers of change, and Belias has been filling the heads of some of the courts. I am not sure what, but they are rallying for something big,Garm said seriously.
“What about the demons? Has he been summoning them?”
Clearly. Not only did I find the types of demons that have been popping up here in his domain, but there is talk about more coming. Directly from his court,he snarled.
“Fucking Belias,” Ros said, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “What the Hel is he up to?”
I don’t know, but I don’t like it.
“I don’t need any more surprises,” Ros groaned. His gaze drifted toward the window.
What else is surprising?Garm asked, following his gaze.
“We have a new neighbor,” he said, looking at the hound. “Or an old one. I haven’t figured it out yet, but she is something new.”
New? What do you mean?
“I couldn’t get a read on her,” he said, getting out of bed and hunting down his clothes. “I saw her standing on the dock of the seer’s property last night. I was going to investigate more, but I got a message from Weylyn, and I need to head up north and investigate a rogue Vampire clan.”
Again? I thought you took care of them already.Garm stole Ros’ warm spot in the bed and settled in.
“Same story, different group and different beast,” Ros said, pulling on his dark jeans. “I will be gone for at least a week, but I’m only checking things out, no need for backup.”
Sure you are,Garm mocked. He settled his large head on Ros’ pillow.You know how to call me when things get out of hand.
“I love the amount of faith you have in me after all these years,” he replied, heading for the bedroom door. “Don’t have too many parties, please. You know I don’t like anyone in this cabin but you and Sam.”
Yeah, yeah. Be careful, Ros. Call upon me if you need help,Garm said with worried eyes.
