The Soother (12 page)

Hunger pangs the likes of which he had never experienced slammed into Krystoff when Calliope locked her tired blues on him. Dull, rusted knives scraped at his insides like a mass of angry wasps desperate for escape. The two witches bending her ear were entertaining enough, but nothing compared to listening to Calliope trying to convince herself that he was harmless. He wasn’t. Not by any stretch of the word. Calliope was just different somehow. She made him feel different. Krystoff wondered if somehow he had also become part wolf and had managed to find his life mate. The urge to claim her was that strong. Every ounce of fraying control he had left went into turning around and walking away from the one thing he truly wanted to possess.

Staff in hand, he ambled around the trees, searching for anything with fur and a heartbeat. While helping Isabelle tend to the injured, he’d noticed more than one witch gazing at him through hooded eyes, interest sparkling like charmed beacons. He could have easily chosen one, taken his fill and reaped the energy-infused rewards of warm blood sliding down his throat. Just thinking of it almost made him gag. None of the magickal females appealed. None but one, and she didn’t want anything to do with him. Not this part of him. Krystoff couldn’t blame her. Calliope was extremely smart. And well versed in the ways of the realms. She wouldn’t want what she didn’t know. Or what she assumed would hurt her.

But Krystoff knew something she didn’t. At least he suspected it. The first time he’d kissed her, her body had reacted enthusiastically to his shadows. He figured the reason was because his shadows had actually touched her. Merely being in close proximity to the dark mist drained her, but when the shadows got close enough to touch her skin, she had practically zinged.

Tired of drifting aimlessly, Krystoff crouched, waited. Fingering dry leaves, he crushed them to a powder while listening to the sounds around him. His keen senses would alert him to any animals scurrying around, and more importantly, to any intruders who presented danger. Crickets chirped their usual song. The breeze rustled the leaves. Water dripped somewhere in the distance. North if he weren’t mistaken. He’d store that bit of information away for future use. Their next location should be closer to water.

A soft
swoosh
from above caught his attention. He looked up and was greeted by familiar golden eyes. To consider the beautiful owl a pet would be disrespectful of the species. Instead, he wondered if the owl had become his watcher, a guardian of sorts. Krystoff could definitely use someone to watch his back.

“Hello, friend.” Krystoff kept his voice low, calm. “Do you want to show me something?”

The owl blinked twice and lowered his head. He stood as the owl spread his wings. This journey was short. A couple miles, maybe. Krystoff would have traveled a hundred more to be rewarded with a scene such as this. Hot springs created a mountain haven reminiscent of high-end spa retreats. Only this was better. This was nature at its best, working with the all the elements to produce a heavenly bath. Steam twisted in the air, dancing a waltz one second, a dramatic tango the next. A waterfall, nearly hidden in a dark crevice, sent cool water cascading into the warm water below. The sun filtered through the leaves of the tree, casting dappled spotlights on the damp wildflowers and making them twinkle like day stars.

“Thank you,” he said to his winged guardian, who, mission complete, took flight. Diving beneath the low limbs like an experienced fighter pilot, the owl took risks most would fear. Krystoff watched until the tail feathers disappeared. He would have to give it some thought and come up with a proper name for his guardian, one befitting his intelligence and strength.

Eyes back on the smoking pool of water, Krystoff’s hunger for blood ebbed, giving way to a hunger for something else entirely. He rubbed his hands together as an idea began to formulate. With a little help from Isabelle and his shadows, he very well may be able to pull it off. Calliope would have no idea what hit her.

• • •

“And just why would I help you, Mr. Try-and-make-poor-Isabelle-piddle-in-her-pants? Huh?” she asked with a huff, then switched gears and batted her eyelashes.

Krystoff lifted a brow at Isabelle’s impudence. “Come on, now. I thought you were made of tougher stuff than that.” He probably had gone overboard with his warning earlier, but his attempts at playing nice weren’t getting the proper response. Had he not inserted the power of persuasion into his voice to make her run, he may have hurt her. That was the last thing he wanted to do. Again he questioned if part of his soul remained. Why else would he care what happened to this sassy witch?

Isabelle reached up and pulled her hair out of its bun. Curls that now bore kinks fell over her shoulders, tangling in the silver sequins accenting her shirt’s graffiti design. Her hands flew to her hips. “I am tough. No wonder Calli kept you hidden. You are a jerk.”

“Unquestionably.”

He’d found Isabelle tending to Ambra just as he’d instructed. Maybe he’d recruit her and offer the young witch an apprenticeship. Isabelle would make for a great student. It wasn’t unheard of for a wizard and witch to work together. Nor was it common. Krystoff didn’t care. He’d never leaned toward the majority vote. No reason to start now.

A few moments of observing Isabelle in action had shown him that while Ambra still hadn’t uttered a word, she did pay attention to Isabelle’s movements. She’d intently watched the bouncing witch as she be-bopped around to music no one else could hear. That was more response than Calliope had gotten out of her. Could her condition — whatever that was — be improving? Or did Isabelle work some kind of magick the others didn’t know about? He’d have to tell Calliope about this. Or maybe not. He knew how she felt about her mother, so why get her hopes up if Ambra’s attentiveness was just a fluke incident?

“Just because you agree doesn’t make it acceptable.”

“Noted.”

Isabelle smiled briefly before pulling her lips into a thin line. “In that case, I might consider helping you. But I’ll tell you right now.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. “If you ever pull that crap on me again, I’ll turn you into a toad or something.”

Krystoff bit his lip to keep from laughing. The flickers of anger in Isabelle’s eyes told him she was dead serious, and maybe a tad hurt. Not that she could actually turn someone like him into a creature such as that, but still. “Again, noted. I suppose it makes no difference to you that I did it for your own safety?”

“Not in the least. The warning was appreciated. Your tone? Not so much.” Isabelle twirled a curl around her finger. “I don’t suppose you’d teach me how to make my voice sound like that?” Again with the batting of the eyelashes.

“Not a chance, my dear. Not a chance.” Well, maybe someday. Once he perfected his craft and once she had a couple centuries under her belt.

Isabelle narrowed her eyes and then shook her head in a
whatever
move. “In that case, why don’t we use a code word?” Now she beamed, as if she had just come up with the most genius of ideas.

Actually, he liked her idea a lot. “Any suggestions?”
This should be good
.

“Periwinkle.”

Krystoff lowered his head. “I am not saying that.” No way in hell was he using that as a code word.

“Why not?” she asked, pouting like her life depended on his answer.

“It’s not … how should I say … well, it’s not manly.” He lifted his brows. “Pick something else.”
That should be the end of that nonsense
.

“Of course it’s not manly. Total duh there, bud. Periwinkle is my favorite color and I’m all girl. And you told me to suggest something.” Isabelle crossed her arms over her chest. “You want my help or not?” She cocked her head, pursed her berry-stained lips and waited him out.

Krystoff gnashed his molars together. How bad did he want to be with Calliope? “Fine,” he said, through very tight lips. “Periwinkle it is.”

Isabelle threw her head back and laughed. “This is gonna be so much fun!”

• • •

Calliope climbed through the sludge of sleep, creeping slowly toward consciousness. A little jostling and the spicy scent of dark magick had interrupted her deep slumber. She didn’t have to open her eyes to identify the culprit carrying her through the woods, leaves crunching quietly beneath his feet. Nestling closer to his neck, she breathed deeply. “I’m still mad at you.”

Soft laughter; then, “I know. I plan to make it up to you momentarily.”

Calliope smiled, enjoying the teasing lilt in Krystoff’s deep voice. The vibrations in his chest nearly lulled her back to sleep. “What if it doesn’t work? What you did was very, very wrong.” Regardless of the fact she had desperately needed sleep, Krystoff had had no right to intervene, to take over. “You basically knocked me out.”

“Yes. About that … ”

She left her head lying on his shoulder, patiently waiting for his excuse. It had better be a good one. Though for the life of her, she couldn’t come up with an excuse she would possibly consider accepting. “Mmm hmm,” Calliope said, a tinge of doubt tainting her tone.

“Had you listened to me, I wouldn’t have had to take matters into my own hands. Or my own shadows, as it were.”

Soft lips caressed her forehead, the cool touch sending shivers from her ears to the tips of her fingers. As if the tender move would make what he said perfectly okay. She pushed his face away and lifted her head, nailing him with a sharp glare. “Not cool,” she replied, nodding to emphasize each word.

He shot her a brief, amused glance before returning his focus to nature’s path. “I get that, Calliope. But I won’t apologize for it either. You’re of no help to your coven if you’re dead on your feet.”

How very rational of him. Whether he was right or not wasn’t the point. “I can walk, you know,” she said, by way of changing the subject. She was smart enough to know this argument was not going to be one she would win. They both thought they were right and the scales were pretty much balanced in the stubborn department.

Krystoff bent low to keep from whacking his head on a tree limb. “You could. Or you can relax and let someone take care of you for once.” With that, he pulled her closer.

Calliope peered over his shoulder, mesmerized by the way his shadows followed like puppies eager to serve their master. They tumbled over the top of one another, wrapping and twining before separating again. If she wasn’t careful, she might find herself reaching out to see if they felt as silky as they looked.

“How do they know how far away they need to be?”

“They’re linked to me. Physically and mentally.” Krystoff answered, somehow knowing which
they
she was asking about. “Watch.”

She did, intently. The shadows stopped, frozen in mid-air as if they had been trapped by an invisible box.

“I think it,” Krystoff continued. “They do it.”

“Are you ever afraid of them?” She had no idea why she’d asked that question other than the fact she’d heard many tales about the evolution of shadows throughout her life.

“Everyone should be afraid of them. One day they will take over.” He stopped, lowered Calliope to the ground.

Feet planted firmly on the ground, Calliope lifted her gaze to meet Krystoff’s. Her pale reflection stared back at her as if his storm-grey eyes had turned into silver mirrors, shutting her out from seeing the true him. She swallowed, emotion constricting her throat. “What do you mean?”

“Darkness is coming. You must know that. Can’t you feel it?” Krystoff asked, his grip tight on her arms.

She did feel it. Had felt it for some time now. That was one of the reasons she’d been so relieved to find her oldest sister. As Luminary, maybe Meera could make a difference in this ongoing war amongst the realms. She also knew there was more to it than that. Each being had an obligation to stand up and fight for what they believed in. She just hoped there were more souls on the lighter side of magick. Otherwise, the shadows would continue to grow until they were completely consumed. Another reason she had to find Bevva. The two of them, side by side, were invincible. Always had been.

Krystoff shook his head. The mirrors within his eyes vanished, allowing her a glimpse inside. She wanted more. Wanted to escape the tragedies churning around her.

“Enough about that,” he said with a sly smile, his shadows swirling like beasts on a short chain. “Close your eyes.”

“Why?” she asked, keeping the shadows in her peripheral. How she’d ever thought they reminded her of puppies was beyond her. The intensity of their conversation was getting to her. They’d been gone too long.

“We need to get back to the others, Krystoff.”

“For once will you just do as you’re told?” Krystoff swept a hand over her face. “Please?”

How could she resist him now? His voice, coated in honey made her wish he’d kiss her so she could taste the sweetness of his lips. “Fine.” She’d indulge him for a few more minutes. She closed her eyes and laced her fingers with his. A cool hand on her shoulder guided her through a turn and then he led her through the thick foliage, telling her when to crouch and when to lift her feet high.

Calliope closed off everything, concentrating only on the connection of their hands. His thumb traced a pattern over her skin. She reciprocated, tracing an identical one onto the back of his hand. The game went back and forth several times before he stopped.

Krystoff squeezed her hand. “We’re here.”

“Where?” Like the obedient witch she was —
ha!
— Calliope had her eyes sealed tight.

“Why, paradise, of course.”

Calliope’s eyes shot open, followed closely by her jaw. She clamped her mouth closed, but it just fell open again, allowing more than one startled gasp to escape. Tears would have clouded her vision if she hadn’t been so captivated. She’d traveled the worlds, but never in her life had she seen anything quite so beautiful. “You did this?” Hundreds of white pillar candles flickered in the waning light, casting shades of yellow and orange upon the trees above. Some outlined a circle following the edge of the springs, while others were set on the tiered rocks that formed a natural staircase within the side of the mountain. Two neatly folded aqua towels had been placed on a large sitting rock next to the water. Echoes of tumbling water offered musical accompaniment, yet Calliope couldn’t see a waterfall.