Page 9 of Call of the Ride
Tan set his mouth in a grim line, pointedly staring up at the ceiling as he gritted out, “I’d rather not talk about it until I know more, doll.” Extreme anxiety was radiating from my Rider, answered by deep concern from Asa. Much to my annoyance, insecurity flared up in me again as I realized I was the only one who didn’t know what was going on.
This is ridiculous!
Determined to take back control of my emotions, I growled and clambered out of bed, batting away any attempts to pull me back in as I headed for my luggage. I had a legacy to claim and a beloved forest to save. While the connection to my Riders often felt like the air I needed to breathe, I was determined to stay focused on the larger issues.
We were scheduled to meet the seer Cassandra Moonstone at her emporium this afternoon, and I trusted Veles’ claim that she’d be able to pull Nox back from whatever plane of existence he’d disappeared into. It was oddly coincidental that Tan’s family knew her as well, but so much about my life had hinged on happenstance that I no longer had the energy to question it.
Digging through the few items of clothing I’d packed, I smirked when I spotted the butt-lift leggings, recalling how these strangely magical pants had tempted Nox into my arms the first time. The men behind me groaned in appreciation as I pulled them on, which only validated my plan.
Perhaps the butt-lift sorcery will help ensnare my Darkest Midnight again…
A loud knock on the door had me hurriedly pulling on the rest of my clothes, and I sighed in relief to find Anthia on the other side. Tan had texted her earlier, asking her to join us on our outing, but she’d been uncharacteristically short in her answer. As I’d spent many hours listening to Anthia’s manicured nails tapping furiously on her own phone, her one-word reply of “maybe” did not bode well.
The swan swept past me into the sitting room, judgmentally scrutinizing the portraits on the wall before straightening the hotel stationary on the desk, as if it demanded her attention.
“I suppose I could meet this Moonstone character,” she sighed, finally turning to face me. “If for no other reason than to make sure she’s not a charlatan looking to relieve you from your cash…” Her violet eyes swept over the pile of money I’d left next to the pad of paper, and I realized I should probably buy a purse to keep it in.
Preferably in black.
“Well, I appreciate you coming with me,” I carefully replied. “Your presence will help if we’re…unable to…” I trailed off, unwilling to give any power to my deepest fear.
Anthia scoffed. “Of course I’d be there foryou,Vasi! I just don’t understand why you’re so hung up on someone who treated you like absolute garbage, apologized once, and then proceeded to steal your thunder so he could be the hero.”
I gaped at my friend. My immediate reaction was to defend, to protect what was mine and prove her wrong, but I hesitated. Nox hadnotbeen kind to me during our first weeks together. In fact, he’d been downright horrid. However, while I agreed his apology was brief, it felt profound at the time, and I struggled to dismiss it as readily as Anthia clearly wanted me to.
The last point of her accusation gave me pause. My Darkest Midnighthadinterrupted my attempt to dispose of Matthew. And because of this interference, I’d not only lost my Rider, but couldn’t confirm if Matthew was still out there, posing a threat to me and all I held dear.
“I suppose his behaviorhasbeen a bit uncalled for…” I began when a phantom wind suddenly gusted through the room, sending a nearby floor lamp violently crashing to the carpeted floor, making us both jump. Before I could address the phenomenon, Tan and Asa rushed in from the bedroom. Their eyes darted between us and the lamp, but neither man commented before herding us out the door and into the car waiting for us in the deepening twilight.
Chapter 8
Nox
Iwas going to kill that fucking swan.
Of course, I had to first figure out how to get back into human form, but as soon as I did, all bets were off. It was bad enough I wasn’t able to do much more than toss the wind around, but being forced to silently witness my brothers and the love of my life constantly worrying about me was borderline painful.
Yeah, that’s right, I called her the love of my life…
It was just my luck to finally realize I was in love with my witchafterI’d ghosted myself into another realm. I wasn’t exactly sure where the fuck I was, but assumed it had something to do with my powers, as the entire place looked like outer space. I cursed as what remained of my tether pulled me along like a kite on a string after the cab carrying the others to this Cassandra lady’s shop.
As much as I despised Veles, I was praying to…well, to who-knows-who that he was correct in thinking this woman could help me. I didn’t particularly mind watching the guys double-team Vasi until she could barely walk, but I sure as shit was ready to have her inmyarms again. Once I had a physical formwitharms again. And what I didn’tneed right now was Anthia running her mouth with opinions nobody asked for.
The cab stopped in front of a rundown hole-in-the-wall with a peeling, hand-painted sign out front readingFanny Flutter’s Pleasure Emporium.An inaudible growl escaped my invisible lips as I questioned the wisdom of putting my life in the hands of anyone who owned a business named after what was essentially a pussy fart.
Trust Tan to be friends with someone like that.
I followed everyone into the shop, easily passing through the exterior wall since I’d apparently “become one with the darkness,” as Marena had claimed. It made sense. Vasi always referred to me as her Darkest Midnight, and when I wielded my power, it was as if the blackest pieces of my soul were ignited and unleashed. In those moments, I felt like I’d found my true calling, and if I was going to be completely honest, delivering death in this way almost got me as hard as Vasi did.
While dematerializing in the Facility allowed me to absorb the bomb’s blast, it had also resulted in me losing my grip on my father before I ended up floating around here. I still had no idea where thesvolochwent, but at least I’d stopped Vasi from killing herself for him. Despite my frustration at being unable to reach her, that knowledge alone made this—hopefully temporary—out-of-body experience bearable.
Now to see if Miss Fanny Flutter lives up to the hype…
“My little love-muffin!” An elderly woman with hot pink hair yanked Tan against her enormous breasts for a forceful hug that mademyspine crack in sympathy. She then held him at arm's length, countless bracelets jangling on each wrist while she lovingly scolded in what sounded like a Scottish brogue. “You don’t call. You don’t write. Not that I would have time to answer if you did, but it’s thethoughtthat counts! Now…where is the lass who’s bewitched your dick?”
I could feel myself tense as this stranger turned her full attention to Vasi, although no one else seemed concerned. Tan was rolling his eyes good-naturedly, Ace looked mildly amused, and Anthia was halfway across the store, ignoring everyone to poke at some overpriced crystals. But I was ready in case this Cassandra lady thought she could lay a finger on what’s mine.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Vasi murmured as she politely extended a hand to shake. I used my wind power to lightly slap it down before the other woman could touch her, earning me a sexy glare from my witch—although I enjoyed she didn’t know which direction to scowl in.
