Page 27 of The Night Vision
“Depends on who you ask and the time of the year. Field, family, and cattle fertility were often the purview of many a deity and I’m the only one in the beltway as far as I can tell.”
“Stop it.” Nelson sighed wearily into his coffee. “You don’t need to play matchmaker here and you’re making things awkward for the rest of us.”
Merlin held up a hand. “I’m not feeling awkward.”
It was a little awkward for Tighe because the conversation had gone way over his head. For the moment, Tighe was enjoying his tea and the warm slipperiness between his cheeks. He always wanted to feel Silas’s cum leaking from his hole, a secret reminder that Tighe had been claimed.
“It’s a lot awkward,” Silas said with a shake of his head at Nox. “Let’s talk about something more constructive. Like: now what?” He nodded at Tighe. “We can’t keep him here forever.”
“We wouldn’t mind,” Nox said but Silas snorted.
“Tighe can’t stay in the suburbs. He belongs in the wilderness, where he’s safer.”
“I’m okay,” Tighe piped up, not wanting Silas to worry or for anyone to argue about him. “I know you’re all trying to protect me and I’d like to help you stop Hugh Dùbhghlas.”
“There you have it,” Nox said and winked at Tighe. “We’re still doing our best to release you back into the wild as soon as possible, though.”
“Good, as long as we’re still on the same page,” Silas said, seeming content as he filled his plate.
“As far as what now…” Nox wrinkled his nose. “I’m not inclined to announce that we’ve found Tighe and are hiding him here.”
Silas shook his head. “No, that wouldn’t be prudent,” he agreed and Merlin hummed thoughtfully.
“I’m afraid there’s little we can do but wait and see at the moment. The proverbial ball is in the Huge Douchebag’s court now and we must wait and see how he takes the news,” he said and covered his mouth as he tittered.
“That’s cute,” Silas chuckled and noticed that Tighe wasn’t following. “A douchebag is a thing that people with vaginas use…to clean them, I think?” he explained but Merlin shook his head.
“These days it is merely a derogatory term. Douching is no longer recommended in that context as it can do more harm than good. Which makes the moniker even more fitting,” he added with a humph, making Silas snort.
“The things you learn over breakfast at Lennox MacIlwraith’s townhouse…” he mused out loud and Nox grinned.
“All matters of human health and wellness are worth understanding.”
“Very true,” Merlin said, then made a dismissive gesture. “We must wait until the Douchebag makes his next move but we needn’t be idle. There’s much we can do to prepare.”
“I like the sound of that,” Silas said, nodding. “What can I do?” he asked and Merlin hissed apologetically.
“By ‘we’ I meant myself and Nox. We should refresh the four corners of the property with newly charged crystals and moonwater and replace the herbs. Nox will need to anoint the beams and sashes again with his fluids and we’ll have to do a great deal of smudging inside and out.”
Silas’s face twisted as he shook his head. “I don’t think I want to know what kind of fluids are involved in this anointing or be present while it’s happening,” he said into his cup before taking a drink.
“It’s mostly blood,” Nox informed them. “Urine and semen are good for marking the lot and keeping other witches out. But for countercurses and hard warding, I use blood and this,” he held his hand up, showing them his palm. “You can’t see them, but my bloody palm prints are all over the walls of this townhouse and the fence, along with the prints of my father and his father, and his father before him,” he said and Merlin made a pleased sound.
“Nothinggets past that outer wall without Nox’s permission and the Douchebag would suffer greatly in here with all this white magick.”
“Why?” Tighe piped up. “I don’t like the way anything looks or smells here, but this place does feel like a sanctuary, especially this kitchen.”
Nelson choked on his coffee and turned away as he fanned his face while Merlin laughed and patted Tighe’s hand. “He hasn’t warded this placeagainstyou and you have a good, pure soul. Nox’s father, Lucas, and I went into Hugh Dùbhghlas’s house after he fled to the mountains. We were there to find more proof of his dark deeds but we also hunted for any hairs we could find and took pieces of his clothes and a picture of him and his mother to make a poppet. It was burned and the ashes were buried deep at the four corners. Lucas and I were determinedto prove he was practicing necromancy and bring him to justice and took steps to protect Nox in the event of his return.”
“Some hair, clothes, and a picture? And that works?” Silas asked with a frown.
Nox nodded. “Like a charm. If you know the right kind of Latin and which…fluids to add.” He wiggled his brows, causing Silas to grimace.
“Now I’m glad there aren’t any pictures of me and my mom…” he muttered into his coffee but Nox looked sad as he watched Silas.
“You were raised with love but your mother wasn’t a strong presence in your childhood. If I were to make a poppet to harm you—not that I ever would!—I would probably use a photo of…your grandfather or your closest childhood friend, if I had to guess,” he said and Silas’s cup landed on its saucer with a loud clatter.
“I told you to stop!” he rasped angrily but Nox held up a hand.
