Bayou Shadow Protector Page 13

  That was right. Hit him by bringing up Dad’s name. Chulah sighed. “How much is Chris’s latest escapade going to set me back?”

  The tears clouding Joanna’s eyes cleared immediately. With businesslike efficiency and precision, she produced a document from her purse and handed it over.

  Chulah surveyed the paper and gave a low whistle. So much for the new equipment he’d planned on buying for the shop.

  “I’ll do it,” he muttered. “But this is the last time.”

  “Of course,” she quickly agreed. “I’m sure he’s learned his lesson.”

  Yeah, right. Chulah scrubbed a weary hand over his face. If it wasn’t Chris, it would be Johnnie. Or the plumbing needed fixing. It was always something.

  And to think if Joanna hadn’t knocked on the door when she did, he’d no doubt have April in his bed, making love to her in every possible way. Instead, the lonely night stretched before him.

  Chulah wasn’t sure if he should be grateful or angry with Joanna for that fact.

  * * *

  April slogged through the rain and the cold until she came upon the Fae portal by the cypress tree. A momentary glance behind to make sure she hadn’t been followed, and April touched the fairy crystal pendant. The stone was cold as ice, as if the black cross fault at its center were rimed with frost. She gripped it and whispered an incantation.

  Flesh and bone give way to vapor and mist.

  From grounded to airborne, I am fairy-kissed.

  A lightness of being lifted her from gravity’s force, transporting her to the Fae realm. It could have been day, instead of night, for all the twinkling of light. The tips of every tree branch glittered silver and green. Pale pink moonbeams, pixelated into fragments, settled on the trees and ground like a frosting of snow. Green crystals glimmered on saw palmettos like peridot sprinkles.

  She was in the same bayou woods, only in a different dimension.

  In a matter of moments, she would be noticed. April took in her sickly yellow aura, so different from her usual spring green. They would know immediately that something was wrong.

  Let them.

  She’d come to resign anyway.

  Hundreds of Fae gathered around her with their usual twitters and words spoken behind hands covering their mouths. Which meant they weren’t saying anything flattering. April continued forward and the fairies split a path before her that became a carpet of rose petals. The Council were near.

  The Council members’ auras were larger, brighter than other Fae. The twelve of them, male and female, formed a horseshoe pattern with the fairy queen in the center position. She was dark and shadows, bedecked with smoky quartz jewelry and an obsidian tiara. As royalty, she rarely deigned to speak directly with anyone except the Council members. April didn’t dare face the queen directly.

  April braced herself and stepped into the middle of the Council.

  “What’s the problem?” asked an older, matronly fairy.

  “I quit. That is,” she hastily amended, remembering her manners, “I wish to quit.” They had the power to banish her from their realm. Then where would she go? “With your permission, of course,” she added for good measure.

  “Why?” the same councilwoman probed. “Because you have successfully completed your duty?”

  “In part,” April hedged. “The most skilled of the shadow hunters, Chulah Rivers, is helping locate and kill Hoklonote.”

  “This we already know,” an elder male interrupted impatiently. “What about the rest of them?”

  “So far they refuse.” She paused, collecting her confidence. “Which is why I think you should send someone else in my place. Someone more skilled than me.”

  The Council members exchanged glances. Even the queen’s remote expression flashed a frisson of concern.

  “But we chose you,” one of the younger councilwomen remarked.

  “And I appreciate the honor.” Her throat tightened on the lie. She had been honored at first, until Steven told her the real reason she was chosen.

  She was expendable.

  “You cannot quit until we say you can,” the older matron snapped. “Go back.”

  Okay, so they had the power to banish her. But they needed her, too. As a halfling, she was suited for long periods of time in the human world. A feat none of them could manage.

  “I have tried and failed,” April repeated. “Perhaps there is another halfling who could take my place?”

  Silence settled like a deep sleep.

  She waited.

  No answers or objections. She would take their silence to mean she could take her leave while they considered the matter. April took a step back and bowed her head, preparing to leave.

  “Wait. You don’t have permission to leave.” The eldest male glared at her, his eyes flashing red like fresh pools of blood. “As it happens, we don’t have another halfling available. You’re it.”

  “There’s Steven,” she pointed out.

  “That won’t work. He’s male.”

  “So what?” April gasped at her blunder. “I mean, why should it matter?”

  “Because the shadow hunters are men and you have the power to enchant them. Steven does not.”

  Not that again. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—resort to enchantments for Chulah’s cooperation and love.

  “But there is a female shadow hunter. Tallulah.” Even saying the name of Chulah’s love hurt April’s heart.

  “There’s one female and dozens of males. The chances are greater that you can succeed.”

  “But...I don’t want to enchant Chulah,” she admitted softly.

  He slapped a hand down on the table. “We don’t care what you want. You have your orders. Now do it.”

  “Besides, there are other hunters.” The youngest councilwoman spoke up with a voice sweet as cotton candy and a dazzling smile. “You don’t have to stick to one male. Forget Chulah.”

  Forget Chulah? Impossible.

  “Please,” she begged. “Just let me quit. I’ve failed you.”

  A loud murmur arose from their audience.

  She had failed to live up to their Fae expectations. She had failed to win Chulah’s love. And she had failed in her secret dream of connecting with her long-lost mother. Every woman she met in the human world, she wondered if she was her biological mother. Every trapped spirit released, she’d secretly hoped it was her mother and not Grady, the betrayer that the Fae sought.

  “Failure’s not an option,” one of the Council members ordered above the din. “You’re our best hope for capturing the traitor and stopping Hoklonote from destroying our kingdom.”

  April shook her head. “No—”

  The queen stood and the world hushed. “Go back. And don’t come back until you have better news.”

  April nodded slowly and touched her fairy cross stone, prepared to leave. If the fate of the Fae depended on her, they were all doomed.

  Chapter 10

  Chulah padded across the hardwood floor in the darkness and stared out his bedroom window. The moon shone on the wet grass. It was cold enough it might turn to frost by morning. The temperature had dropped rapidly all night. He cracked open the window and breathed in the crisp air.

  Was April okay? Did she make it back to her apartment safely? What the hell was the matter with him—he should have given her a ride home. He blamed his atrocious lack of manners on his sex-addled hormones, coupled with the chilling effect of Joanna reappearing with yet another problem.

  The image of her long hair plastered against her wet clothes reproached Chulah. Could a fairy catch a cold? Surely it was dangerous for her in human form. And she didn’t have the good sense, due to lack of experience, to know to come out of the rain.

  And he didn’t have the human decency to make sure a young woman left his cabin and was safely chaperoned home. His father would be highly displeased to witness such a glaring lack of kindness.

  Did she even have a phone number? He needed to remember to ask her next time th
ey met.

  With a sigh, Chulah pulled on a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt. Nothing would ease his conscience but to drive downtown and make sure she was safe. When Chulah pulled up outside the Pixie Land shop in his truck, he saw that no light shone in the windows. He braved the cold and got out of the truck and pressed the doorbell. Would she even hear it upstairs? For the hundredth time, Chulah chastised himself for not getting a phone number.

  He waited several minutes and turned away to go back to his truck, more uneasy than when he’d arrived.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Chulah snapped around. Steven stood in the doorway, his red curls spiked one side of his delicate face, lying flat on the other. He rubbed his face, obviously roused from sleep.

  Irritation spiked up and down his spine. “I should ask what you’re doing at April’s place.”

  Steven folded his hands across his chest and yawned. “Sleeping on the sofa in the break room. Busy day here yesterday.”

  “Yeah, right. Cut the act. We both know you’re here as some sort of official fairy guardian, so just tell me. Did she get home safely last night?”

  Steven jerked to attention, his body tensed. “She didn’t spend the night with you?”

  Holy crap. Chulah strode past him. “Asleep on the job, huh? I’m going to check her room.”

  He sprinted up the stairs, and his stomach bottomed out at the sight of April’s unmade bed. “Where would she go?” he asked. “Back to her own realm?” The thought made his head spin. It might be for the best, but he hated to think he’d been so abrupt at their last meeting. Regret left a hollow space in his heart.

  “When did you last see her?”

  “She left my cabin late, cutting through the woods to return...here. Or so I thought.”

  “And you let her walk—alone at night—in the cold and rain? What the hell were you thinking?”

  Heat warmed Chulah’s neck. “Guess I wasn’t.”

  At Steven’s continued glare, he tried to defend his actions. “I thought she’d revert to fairy form and be fine.”

  “It’s possible she was spotted walking alone and called to report to the Council.”

  “Can you check? Go...fly...or whatever it is you do.”

  “At once. Wait here.”

  Chulah stared, curious as to how he’d leave. In a puff of smoke?

  “Turn around,” Steven commanded. “I’ll do nothing in front of a human.”

  Chulah sighed. Best to humor the little man and let him go on his way to search for April. A sizzle sounded from behind. Chulah turned, but Steven had vanished.

  “Neat trick,” he murmured into empty air. Now what? He couldn’t just mope around here, imagining the worst. At the very least, he could walk the trail in the woods, in case she had met some mishap.

  Chulah hurried back to his truck, raced through the empty streets of town and parked his vehicle at the woods’ entrance. The ground slushed under his boots, and although the rain had stopped, water dripped down from the tree branches and quickly soaked his flannel jacket. What if April had been out for hours with only his thin shirt for warmth?

  The constant, steady drip of water on fallen leaves was like a constant tap on the shoulder, reminding Chulah what a jerk he’d been. He should have told Joanna that her crisis could wait until morning and then given April a ride home.

  On he went, cautious not to miss any sign that she had been this way. With each step, his concern and self-recrimination grew. He imagined increasingly bad scenarios, including one in which Hoklonote had captured her.

  Dejected, he turned to retrace his path in the woods when a flash of silver and white caught the corner of his eye. Through the darkness, he searched and found a figure of a woman in a long white skirt and with pale hair trailing about her hips.

  April.

  She sat on his back porch steps, hugging her knees to her chest, head leaning against a wood post.

  She was okay. She’d come back to him.

  Chulah sprinted across the cold, moonlit field. April didn’t look up until he was within a few yards. She started to rise, startled, then sank back down on the step when she recognized him.

  “What happened?” he asked. He sat beside April and wrapped his arms around her thin body. Shudders racked her, and he ran a hand up and down her wet shirt.

  “I—I went to see C-C-Council,” she stuttered through chilled lips.

  “Never mind. You can tell me inside.”

  He scooped her in his arms, surprised at her feather-lightness. Misery shone in her blue-purple eyes. Unthinking, Chulah lowered his head and tenderly kissed the tip of her delicate nose. Her cheeks were wet, whether from crying, the rain or both, he couldn’t tell.

  “Shhh,” he murmured soothingly. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

  To hell with the never-ending shadow battles and the nefarious fairy world that would cast out someone as special as April. Chulah headed straight for the bathroom, April still in his arms. Unceremoniously, he sat her on the commode and turned on the bathwater. As hot as he thought her skin could stand.

  “Wh-what are you doing?” she asked.

  “Getting you warmed up.” The blue tinge at her lips and her uncontrollable shaking scared the crap out of him. A hot bath and a cup of hot tea were in order. If she was still shaking after all that, he’d call Annie over. No doubt Annie would have some vile—but effective—herbal concoction.

  “Out of those wet clothes,” he ordered matter-of-factly.

  “Gladly.”

  Chulah silently applauded her lack of modesty as she slipped off shoes and socks with shaking hands. She stood, and her body tilted to the left.

  He caught April in his arms and steadied her. “I’ll help you.” With one hand wrapped around her waist, Chulah pulled down her white skirt. Only thin lavender panties covered her hips and mons. He sucked in his breath.

  “Now your shirt,” he said huskily. “Can you stand on your own for a minute?”

  She nodded and he peeled off the two layers of shirts. His own hands trembled as much as hers. Only his was from desire, not cold.

  Her nipples were hardened and he wanted nothing more than to taste each one. For God’s sake, the woman might be near hypothermia and all he could think about was ravaging her body?

  Disgusted, Chulah pointed to the tub. “Get in.”

  April’s eyes warmed. She kept her gaze pinned on his as she hooked her thumbs on the corners of her panties and slowly pulled them down to her ankles.

  Chulah abruptly turned away. “I’m going to make some hot tea.” He didn’t—couldn’t—look back as he heard her slip into the tub.

  In the kitchen, he poured water in a teakettle and put a tea bag in a mug. Everyday things, to help return some steadiness and routine. The profound relief of finding April, coupled with his strong desire to claim her body, unnerved Chulah. Don’t get in too deep with this woman. Keep it simple and uncomplicated.

  That was getting harder to do.

  The teakettle whistled and he startled. He should probably call Steven. And he absolutely would, if he had his number. But for all he knew, Steven might show up any moment in a puff of smoke.

  Damn, he hoped not. Not just yet.

  Chulah poured boiling water in the mug and added a spoonful of sugar, stirring absently, thinking of April’s naked body. Her glorious, perfect, naked body.

  He wanted to possess her. Desperately.

  No. You live in different worlds. It will never work.

  Chulah threw the spoon in the sink. He was sick of being the Good Guy, the Sensible Guy, the schmuck who always did his duty and approached everything with caution. To hell with that. Didn’t he deserve some measure of joy? Some crazy fling to remember in his old age?

  Yes, he did. Tonight was his night. And her night. Because he would make it special for her, too. Would love her body like he’d never see her again. Tonight had taught him how frail time was, how tenuous relationships were. For all he knew, Ap
ril could disappear at any moment and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.

  But at least he would have no regrets about tonight. He’d apologize for his behavior earlier, end everything on a good note.

  That decided, Chulah carried the mug to the bathroom. Pure notes of music, a crystal clear alto voice, sang an enchanting song he’d never heard. She had the most beautiful voice. Chulah leaned in the doorway, listening. Occasionally, he picked up the sound of a washcloth being dipped in water, then drizzled over skin. He felt like a gauche teenager, awed and paralyzed at a woman’s beauty.

  Black tea splashed his fingers, bringing him out of his reveries, and he cursed.

  “Are you okay?” April called.

  He took a deep breath and entered, determined to act like the experienced man he was. “Fine.” Chulah set the tea on the counter before looking her way. “I added...”

  Mounds of bubbles spilled from the tub, completely covering his view. Damn it. “Where did you find bubble bath?”

  She picked up his shampoo bottle. “I partly washed my hair in it and discovered it made all these little bubbles.” She scooped up some in her hand and blew on them. April had knotted her hair on top of her head and grinned. “I feel soooo much better. Hot baths are now my favorite human thing, except for your kisses.”

  You can experience both at the same time. Chulah bit back the words. “You look...back to normal. But drink this for safe measure.” He handed her the mug.

  April took a delicate sip, then another. “That tastes marvelous.” A delicate hiccup escaped her lips and her body jumped in the tub.

  A nipple peeked out of the white bubble.

  His throat went dry. “Be in the next room if you need me. I’ll leave you some dry clothes on my bed. They’ll be way too big, but they’ll be warm.”

  “Can’t you stay and talk to me?” April took a long swallow of tea and hiccuped. Her body levitated a few inches out of the tub.

  Extraordinary. “What the hell?”

  “Nothing to worry about,” she said cheerily. “Seems to be a glamour glitch. Whenever I drink, it gives me a little lift. Suppose it messes with earth’s gravitational field or something.”