The Beltane Witch (Cloudburst Colorado) (5 page)

He could almost hear Her Majesty’s voice saying, “You’re in a position to take care of things like this. I do not care how, just make it happen.” And he would, he simply needed a little more time.
When the Queen of the Summer Court called for an audience, any Chamberlain worth his mettle would never refuse.

The air around him shifted from biting winter cold to a soft, spring breeze. Frost under his boots melted and
the ground grew fragrant. The surrounding trees sprouted new life from embryonic buds and a soft glow permeated the dark forest, pushing back the cold shadows with healing warmth.

Darius shifted into
a bow as the Summer Court materialized around him. Tall forms of the Queen’s most favored courtiers filled the widening space around him between the softly glowing trees. Scents of hyacinth and honeysuckle replaced the winter pine immersed in damp cold. Darius closed his eyes and bowed lower as sibilant whispers of the Court took the place of the soughing wind.

“Be welcome, Chamberlain
Winterbourne. What new developments have you to tell Us of our Beltane ceremonies?”

Darius rose and opened his eyes to gaze upon the Summer Queen. Girlishly slender and smooth of skin, Her Majesty never seemed to age
. Her ancient green eyes twinkled with continued amusement at his surname. Taking a Winterbourne as her Chamberlain had been her way of thumbing her nose at the Winter Court. Though younger than most of her Royal Elven cousins, the current Queen had assumed the throne when Titania stepped down after the Midsummer’s Night Dream debacle in the early 1500s. Darius had been appointed her Chamberlain soon after.

Well, “soon” as Elves figure it.

“I have not made too much progress, Your Majesty, but it is early yet and I’ve only just gotten into the witch’s good graces.”

Her Majesty cocked her head. T
oday her white-golden hair had been gathered up in a complex chignon wound around a delicate gold filigree circlet with emerald oak leaves, the symbol of her house. The air around Darius cooled a little as the Queen rose from her throne and closed the distance between them.

“Only now, Chamberlain
? It seems to have taken more time than necessary.”

“Yes, my Queen. The witch
, Sabrina Foxglove, has no love of strangers or men in general.” He chuckled and inclined his head toward her. “I found her cornered by five men.”

“Blessed be!” The Queen settled a warm
, elegant hand on Darius’s arm. “Is she all right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I arrived just in time, but it made her less than welcoming.”

“She had no gratitude for your efforts?” The Queen raised an eyebrow as she led him toward a small intimate garden she used for private audiences.

“I’m sure she
did, but I was a stranger and far larger than her five would-be assailants.”

“We are certain you shall make strides soon. When will she begin the rituals?”

Darius hesitated and the Queen leveled him with a narrow-eyed stare. “Chamberlain?”

“The Lady Foxglove is proving rather obstinate. She has refused to do the rituals, but I’m sure it is merely a matter of time before she comes around.” He offered a placating smile in hopes the Summer Queen
took it at face-value. “She had an unfortunate accident, which caused a head injury.”

“
Oak and holly, this woman does seem to carry unfortunate luck.” The Queen appeared more amazed than sympathetic. “How does she fare the last you saw of her?”

“Very well, Your Majesty. My own small healing talents combined with her natural gifts seemed to have sped her healing along. It shouldn’t be more than a day or so.”

“Good. Beltane is five days from now and the rituals must be performed.” Though she represented the warmest season as the Summer Queen, ice crystallized below her words. She smiled benignly. “We are counting on you, Chamberlain, to make sure the witch is ready for Our arrival.”

“Yes, of course, my Queen.” Darius smiled, but the Queen must have noticed something because she scrutinized him again.

“Will this be a problem?” she asked sharply.

“No, Your Majesty.” Goddess, he hoped not.

“Come now, Chamberlain. We have seen how you entice the fair sex with your gentlemanly ways and smooth speech. Surely one human witch is no match for your powers of persuasion.”

That
’s debatable.

“As always, I shall endeavor
to convince her.”

“
Be sure you do. More than the wards hang in the balance.” Her smile contained more threat than goodwill. “Thank you for your report. We shall contact you again soon.”

Darius stopped as the Queen drifted away from him, taking the warmth, light, and softness with her.
He found himself standing at the edge of Sabrina’s backyard, the dark silent trees cold sentinels around him.

Bollocks.
What else depended upon his task? He’d just have to redouble his efforts to convince Sabrina and use his famous charm.
You gather more flies with honey.
He just hoped his mother’s words would be enough.

Chapter Five

Morning arrived with less pain than Sabrina expected, but more than she wanted. She tried to recall if she’d taken any aspirin or even had any in the house, but
only the teal eyes of her new houseguest filled her memories.
He’s not important. You have too much to do to worry about him.
She gingerly tested out the back of her head for injuries, but other than a bruised tenderness, her head felt fine.

Sabrina sat up slowly, careful not to jar her head lest her brain slide out her ears. A dull ache settled behind her eyes, but no nausea or dizziness assailed her.
Thank the Goddess
.

To her surprise, she found a tray with a pot of tea beside her bed, the teapot
cool to the touch. She smiled at Darius’s thoughtful effort and dragged herself to the bathroom. Showering took more effort than usual, but she made it through without collapsing in an exhausted heap and dressed with methodical precision.

Please, G
oddess, make today an easier day than yesterday.

Feet firmly ensconced in slippers, Sabrina ventured out of her room. Each step made her head throb a little, but she made her way to the kitchen. The girls were already up, chattering away with someone. Had Matilda come early?

When Darius’s laugh echoed through the house, Sabrina hesitated as a mixture of emotions swirled within her. She liked to hear a male voice and his rich baritone brought comfort of alarming proportions. But she didn’t want to feel anything about this man. He’d be gone as soon as she convinced him she wouldn’t perform the rituals, and growing attached to his presence in her house simply asked for trouble.

Face the day and see how it goes.
I can kick him out after breakfast.

She resumed her trek to the kitchen, but paused on the threshold
as tenderness overtook her. Darius sat with her daughters at the table helping them make May Day wreaths out of pine cones, glitter, pine boughs, and brightly-colored ribbons. Holly’s looked like a rainbow had been denuded over an evergreen tree while Tansy’s resembled a spiky wheel with all the cones.

“Did you really do this when you were little, Darius?” Tansy asked as she sprinkled more glitter over a cone.

“Yes, my mother helped me and my brothers make these wreaths for every door of our home.” He held the glue for another ribbon on Holly’s wreath.

“Why did you put them on the doors?” Tansy doused the wreath with more glitter.

“To protect the home with the good luck of the Goddess. Each wreath would gather up the good energy and push it into the home, but would project the bad energy back to the senders.”

“Do you put them on all the doors of the house?”
Tansy examined her wreath for defects.

“Yes, every door to the outside.”

“We have three doors in this house,” Holly said. “But only two wreaths. What about the other door?”

“I’ll just have to make another wreath with your mother.”

Making a Beltane wreath with the handsomest man she’d ever seen? Excitement shot through Sabrina.
Get a hold of yourself. It’s not like you’re eighteen and at your first bonfire.
But the joy remained despite her rebuke.

Darius
held up Holly’s wreath. “I think it’s done, except one thing.”

“What?” both girls chorused.

He winked and dug around in the pocket of his pants, pulling out a small leather pouch. “No Beltane wreath is complete without a crystal charm to hang in the center.”

“What kind of crystal, Darius?” Tansy’s gaze remained riveted to his hands.

“The best kind is quartz. Clear quartz channels the Goddess’s energy, reflecting the light of Her love and the harmony of Her grace into the home, and deflecting the negative energy from outside sources.”

Darius
held up two perfect crystal points as clear as water. “These two crystals were given to me by my mother for me to pass on to my daughters.” He handed one to each girl.

Heartfelt warmth hit Sabrina’s gut, followed by surprise. Why would Darius give such treasures to her
girls? She almost protested, but a surge of energy wafted through her kitchen. Joy and comfort danced in the dust motes from the sunlight streaming through the windows. The crystals held a great deal of power.
Damn, they have to be ancient to hold so much energy.

“Wow.”

“It’s so sparkly!” Holly held it up to the light. “Can we put it on the wreaths now?”

“Of course, Miss Holly. Here.” Darius held out a bright red ribbon. “Thread the ribbon through the hole drilled in the end.”

Holly took the ribbon and tried to feed it through the small hole, her tongue sticking out between her lips. Sabrina smothered a laugh. She’d forgotten how cute her daughter looked when concentrating.

“I can’t get it through the hole. Can you help me, please?” Tansy held up her ribbon and crystal.

“Certainly, Miss Tansy.” Darius took the proffered ribbon and showed it to her. “The easiest way is to fold the ribbon in half.” He threaded the end of the satin through the crystal. “See? Grab the end now.”

Tansy pulled and the ribbon slid through.

“Show me!” Holly thrust her ribbon and crystal at Darius, but he gave her a mock glare and she subsided. “Can you show me too, please, Darius?”

“Much better, Miss Holly.”
He took her crystal and showed her how to thread the ribbon.

Warmth
suffused Sabrina’s chest. Darius looked so handsome working with her girls, his pants and arms covered in little sparkles of glitter. She wished this could be reality, a happy family scene of a man working with his children to decorate for Beltane.
But reality is he’s only here as long as I do the rituals then he’s back to the Summer Court.
The hard thoughts stole some of her warmth.

She sighed and Tansy looked up.

“Mommy! Look what Darius is helping us with.” She proudly held up her spiky wreath.

“
Oh, it’s lovely, Tansy.” Darius met her gaze and smiled. Her heart fluttered and she told herself to stop mooning over what she shouldn’t want. “Are you ready for school?”

“Mom.” Tansy rolled her eyes. “It’s Saturday, remember? I don’t have to go to school until Monday.”

Saturday? A huge weight lifted off Sabrina’s shoulders and she sighed in relief. “Oh, good.”

Holly laughed. “Come on, Mom
my. You can make a Beltane wreath with Darius for the door.”

“Let me get some tea first, okay,
honey?” Sabrina shuffled for the coffeemaker.

“Let me get
it for you, Lady Foxglove.” Darius rose and beat her to the counter. “I didn’t know you were awake. I would have brought more tea to you.”

“Thank you, but I can’t lay in bed forever. I have many things to do.”

“Such as?” He raised a dubious eyebrow, igniting her temper.

“Since when did I have to clear my schedule with you?”

“Since you knocked yourself unconscious and gave yourself a concussion.” He stared her down as he poured her a mug of tea. “Head injuries are no laughing matter. You must rest today and possibly tomorrow so you have the strength for Beltane.”

Sabrina narrowed her eyes. “I’m not doing the rituals.”

“Let’s break our fast and wake up fully before we discuss it.”

Anger surged inside. “Don’t treat me like a child, Darius. I’m more than capable of making my own decisions, whether I’m fed or not. Do me the courtesy of remembering
that.”

Irritation showed in his teal gaze,
but he inclined his head and handed her the mug. “Would you care for honey?”

As long as it’s real honey and not this fake sweetness you’re offering me now.

“Yes, please.”

“Go sit down. I’ll bring the honey.”

Know my kitchen so well, do you?

“Thank you.” Sabrina took the unoccupied chair against the window. The weak spring sunlight warmed her back and she looked at the creative devastation strewn across her table. “Your wreaths look lovely. Where will you hang them, ladies?”

“I want to put mine on the front door.” Tansy held up the spiked wreath.

“No, I want to!” Holly thrust the ribbon-festooned wreath at her mother.

“Ladies—”

“Perhaps we should let the Goddess decide, eh?” Darius cut off the argument before it escalated. “She usually knows the best place for all the decorations. I’m sure She’ll make it very clear where She wants each wreath. Until then, can you help me make breakfast for your mother?”

Sabrina looked on in wonder as her children jumped up to prepare a meal for her. Darius directed them like a general, mustering a clean up of wreath materials and doling out KP duties. In less time than it usually took Sabrina to make tea, the table had been cleared and a plate of toast with fresh huckleberry jam sat before her.

Darius cooked omelets for them while the girls chattered at him about projects at school and favorite movies. He responded as if they were visiting dignitaries, due all respect and attention. Again, Sabrina’s heart tightened and she wished she could wake up to this every morning.

“Very well, girls, let your mother eat and get your rooms picked up.” Darius set two plates down on the table. “A great deal needs to be done before Beltane and we must help your mother prepare.”

“Okay!” The girls took off for their rooms.

Sabrina gaped after them then turned her amazement on Darius. “What did you do to my children?”

“How do you mean?” He frowned.

“They’re never willing to clean up or help with meals.” She gave him a mock-suspicious look. “You didn’t sprinkle them with fairy dust?”

Darius
laughed, his teal eyes sparkling and she tried not to enjoy the effects. “Not at all. In fact, they offered to help me as long as I helped them make the wreaths.”

“Are you sure
that’s all you offered?” She waved her hand over her plate. “Not ponies or unicorns or even chocolate lollypops?”

“I assure you,
Lady Foxglove, on my honor, I have given them no more incentive than spending the day preparing for Beltane.”

“Humph.” She suspected his motives for such pre
paration were far from noble. What better way to get her to do the rituals than have her children cajole her? But she found herself happy for his help and his “parental” manipulation. It was nice to have someone else harangue the kids.
Don’t get used to it.

“What preparations do you usually make?” Darius sipped his tea as if they’d shared breakfast hundreds of times.

Sabrina rubbed her head and tried to think. “Give me a moment. My head still hurts.”

“How much?”

“Sorry?”

“How much does it hurt?” He set down his mug and stood, reaching for her head.

“More of a dull ache than anything. Oohhhh…”

The moment he touched her, com
fort and heat permeated her skull and soothed the pain. She hadn’t realized how much it hurt until he relieved it. She relaxed her shoulders and leaned into his warm hands, grateful the pain had stopped.

At last he stood back and tipped her chin up. Sabrina reluctantly opened her eyes.

“Better?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Darius smiled the same sincere smile she’d seen the day before. “You are welcome.”

Damn, she wanted to fall into those eyes, let him tell her everything would be all right and believe him.
Why can’t life be so easy?
But she knew better. She’d be alone again in a few days.

Sabrina jerked her attention back to the subject at hand. “Okay, what I usually do is make sure there’s enough firewood for the fire, attach the ribbons to the May Pole, and
make two dozen Deviled Eggs.”

“
Eggs seem like an odd feast item for a fertility ritual of the Goddess.”

“Maybe, but they taste so good and
we have to do something with all those eggs from Easter.”

Darius raised his eyebrow. “You celebrate Easter?”

“Yes, at least dyeing the eggs and hiding them for the girls. And we have baskets full of goodies to enjoy.”

“Oh? What’s in your basket, Sabrina?”

The way he said her name sent fire into inappropriate places. Her pussy tingled and her heartbeat sped up.
What is wrong with me? All he did was say my name.

She cleared her throat and sucked down
her tea to buy some time. “I prefer chocolate and essential oils, but sometimes all I get are jellybean eggs.”

He leaned toward her, his gaze smoldering, and some part of her wondered how the morning had gone from comfortable to sexy. “I’d be happy pack your basket with chocolate and essential oils, Sabrina
. I find it very endearing you choose to celebrate all the holidays.” His gaze dropped to her lips and her pussy clenched.

Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me.