Page 9 of Taloned Heart

“Alyss.”

The satyr’s eyes filled with tears. “What’s your real name?”

Lore shook her head. “I cannot tell you that. The magic I conjured only shows you what you want to see. I do not know who you are looking at. Only that you see a beloved.”

“What kind of awful magic is this?” The satyr pressed those blunt fingers to her mouth. “What kind of creature can cast such a spell?”

Lore looked on helplessly as the thought came to life in the other woman’s mind. The thought that likely none of the creatures had even hoped to dream as their world shifted and changed.

“Goddess Divine,” the woman whispered as though the two words were only to be spoken with reverence. “Could it be you?”

She didn’t like the title, but if it got her answers... Lore nodded. “Now, will you let us inside?”

The woman’s eyes flicked from hers to Abraxas behind her. “And that means you’re...”

Her dragon was never subtle. Lore didn’t need to glance back for her to know that his eyes had flashed red and gold, like coins mounded in his cave. The satyr lost all the blood in her face, but then she nodded.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Come inside, and I will tell you all that you have missed.”

CHAPTER4

Abraxas walked into the satyr’s house before Lore. Though the other woman was clearly uncomfortable with him being there, he wasn’t here to make her life easier. Lore forgot that she was known throughout the kingdom. People looked at her as some otherworldly being, and they needed to remember that she wasn’t theirs to keep.

His gaze swept over all the details in the small home. One wall had been built with what looked like a window seat that the satyr clearly used for a bed. The pillows and blankets were still mussed from when she’d risen this morning. A small fireplace on the back wall served also as the woman’s kitchen, and a small pot still bubbled above the cheery flames.

The floors were covered with carpet, and he figured out why as the satyr walked away from him. Her cloven hooves made no sound as she meandered through her home. Carefully, the satyr set her basket down next to the door and gestured for them both to come in.

“You’re safe here for now,” the woman said. “My name is Myrna.”

Abraxas only grunted. Lore could make the small talk with the woman if she wanted, but he would waste no time on such things. All he cared about was their next step. And this woman could apparently give them such information.

His elf gave him a glare as she walked into the room, clearly unimpressed by his rudeness to their host.

“Thank you for your time, Myrna,” Lore said. “I’m going to drop the spell now, if you don’t mind? I know this must be all rather uncomfortable for you.”

Myrna cleared her throat. “Alyss was a dear friend of mine. I was very sad to see her go, and I’ll admit, it is rather nice to see her face again.”

“Would you prefer I continued the spell?”

The satyr shook her head. “No. I think it would be best if I talked with you.”

Abraxas narrowed his gaze at both women. He didn’t think it best if Lore revealed herself. At least right now, no one could say they’d actually seen her. The story would remain muddy. This woman had only seen an old friend, one who shouldn’t be here, but who claimed to be their Goddess Divine.

As Lore lifted her hand, he caught her gaze and slowly shook his head.

“You disagree?” Lore asked, her voice low.

The other woman caught her tone and looked over at the dragon standing in her living room. Tension built in the room until he could cut it with a knife if he wanted.

“Leave the spell,” he grumbled. “No one can know you were actually here if you do.”

“I would never tell anyone—” Myrna tried, though he interrupted her almost immediately.

“Right now, you never saw her. You could be spreading rumors and lies, for all that anyone would know. If you see her, then there are more details you could use to make this story seem plausible. Not to mention if any magical user went through your memory, they would not see her face.” He glared, his eyes burning with flames. “I would find you and kill you if I found out you were the one to give us up, but hunting a single woman takes a very long time. I’d rather avoid such a hunt entirely.”

The woman paled again, and Lore glared even harder. But the spell remained.

His woman stepped in front of him as though her slight form could hide him as she gently guided the satyr to sit on her bed. “We just want to know what happened. Obviously, I have not been here for a very long time.”

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