Authors: Natale Stenzel
“You think we’re skipping a step now?” He combed his fingers through her hair, sliding them gently against her scalp.
“Not yet, but if we . . .” She raised her eyebrows.
“Oh. That step.” He looked just a little wistful. “I really like that step.”
“Yeah. I’m looking forward to it myself.”
When he bent close again, she pulled away. “But it’s not the next step. Not yet.”
“Oh. Well, damn. You’re sure?”
She sighed, torn between amusement and frustration. “I’m afraid so.”
“And that whole leapfrogging over steps is a bad idea?”
She nodded.
He gave a huge, exaggerated sigh. “Whatever the lady says. Any chance you could tell me what the next step might be?”
I think I’m gonna hurl.
Oh, shut up. This is all your fault.
My fault? How do you figure? I didn’t stop you.
Sick puca. I’m not an exhibitionist.
It’s only exhibitionism if you do it in front of other humans.
I’ve seen you take human shape. For my purposes, you qualify.
Man, I just can’t win. I’m a dog if I make moves on you and a
man if some other guy does. You are cruel beyond words.
Obviously not, since you still won’t be quiet so I can converse without your voice blathering in my head. Can you and I talk
later while you just be still now?
I do and I do and I do for you. Fine, okay. Shutting up.
Thank you.
Silence.
She focused on Teague, who was frowning now. “Where did you go just now?”
Mina tried to look innocent. “Nowhere? I haven’t moved.”
“No, but you ran off somewhere in your head. What were you thinking about so hard? Is the next step that complicated?”
Next step . . . ? Oh. “No. I’m just thinking about it. And you. You are nearly irresistible, just so you know.”
His frown eased until his eyes were twinkling just a little. “That is good to know. Although I wish like hell we could eliminate
that ‘nearly’ part.”
“I’ll bet you do.” She smiled at him. “I just think we ought to take things slower. Play them by ear. Now doesn’t feel right.
Not yet. But I had a great time tonight.”
“And that would be my cue?”
“The man’s a genius. I swear it. A genius with the hammer, the spatula and even the subtleties. You do impress me. And I hate
booting you. I just think it’s the right thing to do.”
“Fair enough.” He helped her to her feet, then rose from the couch. Still holding her hand, he trailed her to the door, then
turned to face her. “I’d like to see you again.”
“Good.” She smiled. Then, lifting up to her toes, she kissed him softly, lips clinging and reluctant to leave his, before
she settled back on her heels with a sigh. His eyes stayed closed for mere moments after hers opened. Just long enough for
her heart to do a wistful little sigh. “Good night.”
“Good night, Mina.”
She watched him take the stairs at a leisurely jog, then, once he climbed into his car, she gripped the doorknob.
“I think he likes you.”
At the familiar voice behind her, Mina narrowed her eyes, finished closing—or, slamming, rather—the door, and turned to face
her faceless nemesis. Dog had shifted to man. “
You.
”
“Me?”
“Can’t you let me have a life? I meet a nice guy, go on a date, and I can’t even have a few moments of privacy.”
Flash-shimmer
and he was a dog again. “Want me to go live in the doghouse?”
“Gee, there’s a thought. Maybe I could build a damn doghouse and keep it on my porch.”
“Aw, Mina. You wouldn’t. I swear, this isn’t my fault. Well, maybe I talk in your head when you guys start embarrassing me
a little, but I can’t help that. And I’d give you peace and solitude if I could, but good old Akker saw to it that that was
impossible. I’m here. Maybe you could just explore your inner exhibitionist?” Now he sounded eager.
Mina glared down at him. “You’re so lucky you’re in dog form right now.”
“Because you don’t kick dogs?”
“Not unless seriously provoked. So be careful. I have my limits.” She stalked into the kitchen.
“So, what are you going to do about this guy?” Riordan followed. “Hey, are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?”
“No, I’m not hungry.”
“Figures.” He slumped onto the floor, muzzle propped on his paws. “So, about the guy? What are you going to do? Maybe he likes
celibacy. You could explore that instead.”
She growled.
He raised his chin briefly. “Or maybe he’d like it if you and me and he all . . . you know.” No dog should be able to waggle
his eyebrows that lasciviously, but that’s what he did.
“You are one sick puppy.” And so were the images playing in her mind’s eye. She would not let those be communicated to—
“Whoa, baby. I had no idea you were that kinky.”
“I’m not. And I’d never. Just because you planted some sick pictures in my head doesn’t mean I’d ever think of acting on them.
I’m looking for a relationship, not a depraved sex act.”
“Oooh. Well, that knocks out several possibilities. I guess it’s going to be celibacy then. Damn shame. You’re a good-looking
woman, Mina. I’d hate to see you shrivel up and uglify before experiencing a satisfying sexual wingding with a guy.”
“Yeah?Well, me, too. What am I going to do about you?”
Carefully, Riordan pushed himself up and flashed to human form. “You could always help me break the curse. It would solve
both your problems and mine.” He spoke in all sincerity now.
She pondered. Did she really have any choice? Either she condemned herself to life with a puca looking over her shoulder,
or she helped free him.
“Or . . .” She raised her eyebrows in sudden thought.” I could just wait until the first of November, when you’ll disappear
inside your rock again. Correct?”
Silence. “I suppose that is an option for you. If you’re only worried about my physical presence here in your home with you,
then yeah, that would take care of the problem.”
“So this shape-shifting stuff is all short-term for me.” Thank God. A life back. Soon. She just needed to keep Teague from
losing interest for a few more weeks and they could work on leapfrogging some steps.
“But even after November Day I would still be in your head. I could talk to you. My voice will always be here.” He raised
his chin, continuing to speak quietly. “Hard as he tried, not even Akker could completely silence me.”
“You’ll be in my head? Always and indefinitely?”
He nodded. “Until you die or marry.”
“Until I . . . But you’d be gone once I married?”
“Sure, if you could tune me out long enough to concentrate on another man and marry him.”
Could she do that? Ignore his presence in her thoughts, his voice in her head, enough to fall in love with another man and
marry him?
Worse . . . a little voice—
her
voice—whispered in her head. Could she live with herself if she ignored Riordan’s voice? Ignored his plight? Knowing there
was something she could do to help him? The man was being tortured, had been tortured for two thousand years. Until now, the
Druids were responsible for his misery. After now, if she did nothing, she would share the blame for his suffering. Could
she live with that?
“That wasn’t me talking in your head. That was all you.”
“I know, damn it.” She scowled at him. “You really think there’s something I can do to help you? Realistically?”
“I know you’re my only hope.”
“And what we have to do is break this curse. That’s the only solution.”
“It’s the only one I’m aware of.”
She sighed, dropped down into the couch. Again. Did she really have a choice? It sucked to be her, but it could suck a whole
lot more for her . . . and dear God, but it sucked to be Riordan. She watched him, still standing there and looking damn near
noble in his quiet dignity. If she could help him . . . how could she not? “All right. I’m in.”
“Yo! Teague! Open up! Come on, it’s raining out here.”
Concerned, Teague ran to answer his door. Janelle hurried inside, shedding raindrops all over his floor, while he peered outside
into the darkness. “It’s raining? Oh, shit. I hope it’s not getting into Mina’s house. We covered that wall with tarp, but’is
it windy outside?Windy enough to lift a tarp?”
She scowled at him, peeling off her jacket to reveal badly wrinkled scrubs. “Gee, thanks so much for your concern, Teague.
You are such a pal. No, I’m fine. Just a little damp. No need to fret over me.”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Sorry. But really—”
“No, it’s not windy.” She let out an explosive sigh. “It’s just a steady, gentle rain. Your Mina’s going to be just fine.”
“Good.” He surveyed his friend. “You, however, look like a drowned rat.”
“Finally. Sympathy.”
“Hot chocolate do the trick?”
“I love you. I do. Really. If I didn’t know about your Mina, I’d jump your bones right here and now.”
Chuckling, he backtracked toward the kitchen, pulling out chocolate and milk, then reaching high for a small saucepan. Once
he had the milk warming, he turned back to her. “Long day?”
“You know it. Thank God I’m off tomorrow. Now shut up about my day and tell me about your date. Did you tell her? What did
she say? Did she believe you?” Janelle leaned against a counter.
“Of course I didn’t tell her. How the hell do I tell her something like this? She’d never believe me.”
“Well, why not? If she’s so wonderful, she would. I believed you.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve had a good five years to break it all to you gradually, too. And pouring a few beers down your throat when
you’re insane with sleep deprivation helped suspend that lousy disbelief considerably. This isn’t the kind of thing you spring
on someone all at once.”
“Oh, come on. You’re not trying to tell her you can fly like a bird.”
“No.” He lowered his voice gloomily. “I’m just trying to tell her I’ve always had visions about a man who could.”
“Visions aren’t that creepy.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“They’re not. They’re just . . . evidence of some kind of über-sensitivity. Or something.”
“Or something is right. Either an active imagination or sheer insanity. I wonder which she’d believe.”
“Oh, you big weenie. You’re just scared.”
“Well, hell, wouldn’t you be?” At a hiss from behind him, Teague spun around and lifted the bubbling milk off the burner to
let the frothy stuff settle. Then he turned off the heat, accepted the mug she handed him and poured.
“Well . . . yeah, I guess I would be nervous about her reaction. It’s just that you’ve waited your whole life to gain some
closure to this.”
He slumped. “Yeah, but now that I finally meet her, recognize her . . . it’s just not that easy. I mean, how do you tell the
woman of your dreams that she’s, literally, the woman
in
your dreams?”
“Okay, it says here that not only does your species not exist in real life, but that you personally don’t exist even in mythology
or folk tales.” Mina frowned at the computer screen. “As far as I can tell, there’s only supposed to be one puca, not a puca
and his black sheep brother.”
“Yep, that’s me.” Riordan nodded carelessly. “Just a figment of your imagination. I thought you weren’t supposed to believe
everything you read.”
“True enough. And I’m still checking out all the accounts of your existence.” She backtracked a page and clicked on another
link.
Riordan folded his arms over his chest, his attention on the screen of Mina’s laptop computer. “I’m telling you, this Internet
of yours isn’t going to have our answers.”
“And how am I supposed to help you if you’re so negative about all my ideas? Whatever happened to me and my ideas being your
ticket out of that cornerstone?”
“I never said anything about your ideas or actions breaking the curse, just that you were key to my freedom.”
She slanted him a miffed look. “So if all you need is my unintelligent, unmoving presence to somehow gain your freedom, why
did you bother begging for my help in the first place? I have all kinds of things I’d rather do than sit here and be insulted
by a mangy, two-faced—”
“Hey, hey. There’s no call to get nasty.” Riordan attempted conciliatory speech. “I just don’t think Druids would willingly
reveal their remedy for a curse, much less publicize it.”
“Just consider the odds, all right? I know you think you’re special and all, but do you honestly believe you’re the only guy
who’s ever been cursed by a Druid?”
“No, but I think the remedy to that curse is something a Druid would keep secret. If the remedy’s well-known, the curse has
no power.”
“I guess you have a point. But you’d be amazed what you can find online. All these references to puca—”
Riordan scoffed. “References, ha. This is ridiculous. I mean look at this. A
rabbit
? Why would I take the form of a rabbit? Talk about spoiling my badass image. Who does this Jimmy Stewart guy think he is?”
She turned to him, spine straight and shoulders thrown back in challenge. “Other than deceased, to my everlasting grief? The
most perfect man in the world. Do not diss Jimmy.”
“Fine, I won’t diss Jimmy if we can set this contraption aside and try something a little more logical.”
“What’s more logical than research?”
“Well, for starters, I personally have existed on this planet a hell of a lot longer than your machine here has.”
She eyed him skeptically. “Yeah, but if you had all the answers, you wouldn’t have spent the majority of your existence inside
a stupid rock.”
“Oh, that’s nice. I never said I had all the answers. I just think, at the very least, I should be able to tell if you’re
on the right track or not. Unlike some of these quacks you’re reading who profess to be experts.”
“So—”
“So my thought is, the solution would be a combination of your experience and mine. So I want you to think curse in general.
Breaking a curse. What do you do?”
“Break a curse. Break a curse. How does one break a curse?” Mina pondered quietly, feeling Riordan’s gaze on her. She frowned.
“Seek out an expert? A respected one, in person? Hey, at least it’s more accountable than the Internet.”
“Good luck with that. The only experts you’ll find these days are classified as nuts and dismissed by society.”
Nuts? “Of course! My mother!” Mina grinned at him. “I’ll invite Mom over and we’ll brainstorm. See? It’s perfect. My mother
is, after all, part of my personal experience, right? And she qualifies as both an expert”—Mina frowned doubtfully a moment
before shaking it off—“in her own way, and as research. What do you think?”
“Can’t hurt, I guess.”
“Will she be able to see or hear you?”
“Does it matter to you?” Riordan regarded her quietly.
Mina thought about it a moment. “Yes, it matters. Please don’t communicate with her or show yourself. Actually, shouldn’t
you be in dog form anyway? Just in case Teague—”
With a sigh, Riordan flash-shimmered into his canine alter-ego. “So, fine. About your mother. Why shouldn’t she see me?”
“If she knows she can see and speak to a real live puca, I’ll have her visiting every other day.”
“That’s a bad thing?”
“Are you kidding?” She inhaled, feeling guilt ride her. Again. Guilt sucked royally. “I love my mother. I do. She just drives
me crazy. No offense, Riordan, but the woman’s obsessed with your type of thing. Paranormal, supernatural, crystals, spells,
Wiccan, Druidry. You name it, she’s tried it on for size. I think she desperately wants to answer her ‘true calling’ in the
universe, and believes magic is it. She just needs to find the variety that actually works for her.” Mina puzzled a moment,
shook her head, then picked up the phone. “Seriously, Riordan. Let’s just pretend that there’s no way you can show yourself
to her or make yourself heard. Or I won’t hear the end of it.”
“Hey, if you’re willing to help me, I’m more than willing to make a few concessions.”
“So what shapes do you prefer?” Leaning forward, Lizzy Dixon smiled, utterly enraptured with canine Riordan. Mina scowled
from across the room.
“Stallion’s my favorite, but this dog persona’s a lot more convenient.” Riordan tipped his muzzle almost apologetically. “I’m
afraid, due to an unfortunate curse, that I can’t do human with anyone but my guardian—your daughter.”
“Oh, but that is a shame.” Lizzy’s tone was certain and meaningful. “I’ve heard such stories . . .”
“Mo-om!” Mina felt her cheeks go red, even as Riordan snorted a doggy laugh. Lizzy Avery’s carnal nature, a constant embarrassment
to her daughter, now was obviously a source of unholy amusement to the BobGoblin. Pervert.
“I was just mentioning that your black sheep puca has a bit of a . . . reputation.” Lizzy winked at Riordan, then slanted
a glance at her daughter. “And you have him all to yourself. Aren’t you the lucky girl?”
Mina slapped her hands over her ears and glared. “Oh, ick! Will you just stop it? He plays horse and dog. Like I could even
consider him in the light of a man, let alone as my—Ugh. This is completely outside of my comfort zone and totally unproductive.”
She eyed them both. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to the subject. Riordan’s on a deadline, remember? You don’t
want him condemned for another millennium just so we can chitchat and trade twisted innuendo, do you?”
Noting the sheepish look on her mother’s face, Mina let her hands slide back to her lap. “Now. Curse-breaking. And Druids.”
Lizzy brightened. “Oh, good. I can’t tell you how much I’ve looked forward to discussing this with you. Finally.”
“So glad you’re pleased. Any chance you could share instead of gloat?”
“I’m not gloating.” At her daughter’s raised eyebrow, Lizzy shrugged. “Well, okay, maybe a little. But you’ve always made
fun of this kind of thing.”
“With good reason. My childhood was hell, thanks to all your dabbling.”
“It was for a good cause.”
Mild doggy cough. “Um, could we get back to the Druids and curses subject? Not that this isn’t fascinating, but I thought
you had an appointment to keep, Mrs. Dixon?”
“Lizzy, please.” Mina’s mother smiled. “And yes, I do.” She turned back to her daughter, then hesitated. “I’ve waited so long
for this moment that I’ve forgotten the phrasing I was originally going to use. He forbade me to ever bring up the subject
myself. In fact, he threatened some really ugly consequences if I did. But he never said
you
couldn’t introduce it, or that I couldn’t answer questions. Two entirely different scenarios, right?”
Mina frowned. “He, who?”
Lizzy fiddled with her skirt, then gestured vaguely with one hand before answering. “Your father.”
Mina groaned. “Oh, good God. We’re not going into that subject, now are we?”
“Ask me some questions, Mina.” Lizzy spoke low and pointedly. “Some questions you asked me just a moment ago.”
At the look in her mother’s eyes, Mina paused. “About Druids?”
Lizzy just waited expectantly.
Mina spoke slowly. “Is my father an expert on Druids?”
“Oh, yes. Definitely.”
“I thought he was an accountant.”
“That, too.”
“Did he study it or—”
Riordan buried his muzzle under his paws, obviously in some distress.
Lizzy regarded him sympathetically. “Your puca can’t discuss it either. This is all on you, Mina. Right, Riordan?”
Doggy nod.
Mina eyed them both. This had to be good. “So Duncan Forbes studied Druidry. Right?”
Her mother nodded.
“He’s a scholar?”
Her mother shook her head. Riordan shuddered and buried his muzzle deeper into his paws.
“So he studies it, but not on an academic level . . .” Mina raised her brows in wonder. “He’s a practicing Druid? No way.”
“No.” Even Lizzy looked impatient now, trading looks with Riordan. “Well, yes and no.”
“Yes and no. He’s torn?” She raised her brows in question.
They both nodded.
“This is worse than charades.”
More emphatic nods.
“He’s torn between practicing and not practicing . . . so maybe he’s drawn to it against his will?”
More nods.
“Like an addiction?”
Groans.
Racking her brain for appropriate questions, Mina studied the crystals draped as necklaces around Lizzy’s neck, and the titles
of books she’d brought with her, books exploring various pagan beliefs and ancient lore. Mina knew what it was to feel torn.
She’d so wanted a traditional mother instead of a hippy with her own brand of bossiness. Mina had only ever wanted a normal
life. “His family is the reason he’s torn.”
Emphatic nods and keep-it-going gestures.
Lovely. So Mina and Dunky shared common ground. Why was that not reassuring? “His family is trying to force him into the Druid
scene?”
Less emphatic nods, implying close but slightly off course.
Mina stood and began to pace. Maybe if she came at it from a different but related angle. “Okay. I’m Riordan’s keeper. The
Druids cursed the Avebury family and Riordan so that, come today, I would be a puca’s guardian. And I didn’t exactly have
a choice in the matter either.” She glanced at them. “It was a condition forced on me by my ancestors’ actions. By heredity?”
“Bingo!” Lizzy clapped her hands. “You always were such a bright girl. I’m sure you get that from me and not from that shortsighted
nitwit who fathered you.”
“Great. So, since we’re on that subject anyway, suppose you guys tell me exactly what some Avebury ancestor did to put me
in this position. What’s the crime?”
“Conspiracy.” Mina’s mother spoke with a decisive nod.
“More specifically?”
She shrugged. “A matchmaker role, one might say.”
Mina raised a cynical eyebrow. “What else might one say?”
“All right. So it amounted to arranging the whole tryst on their behalf and keeping it secret from . . . others.”
Riordan cringed while Mina sighed. “Good lord.”
Lizzy waved impatiently. “But back to your father. And heredity. You have to say what you’re thinking exactly so I know for
sure we’re on the same path.”
“He’s a—Like witches, maybe he’s a
hereditary Druid
?” She felt foolish even voicing as much.
Lizzy nodded and Riordan relaxed finally.
“So that’s what we’re dealing with. A man who resents his Druid heritage, but at the same time, seems drawn to it. By family,
by guilt, by various forces he wishes he could control.”
“And the lady wins the prize.” Riordan sat up, looking downright proud of her. “We’re going places.”
“Lucky me, ” Mina murmured. “So what else can you tell me?”
“That’s it, I’m afraid. You’ll have to go to your father and ask him directly for anything else you want to know.” Lizzy shrugged
apologetically. “This is as far as I can take you. It’s what was preordained for me.”
“Preordained for you? I don’t understand.” Mina eyed her mother and then Riordan, who seemed to understand.
Riordan tipped his head. “Ever heard of divination?”
“Predicting the future?”
“Yep. Didn’t I mention before that I’m a prophet?” Riordan let his tongue loll out the side of his mouth.
Mina narrowed her eyes. That tongue-lolling thing was so deliberate. Purely for effect? He did that on purpose. Why?
“Just part of my charm. So. Shall we visit your father? Honestly, your mom can’t tell us anything else without putting a serious
whammy on her karma. I can’t be responsible for that.”
Lizzy fanned herself flirtatiously. “Oh, how gallant.”
“Yeah, my dog’s gallant. He couldn’t even keep himself hidden from you. Even though I begged him to.”
“Hey, how was I supposed to know she’d turn on the charm like that? I couldn’t be rude.” He looked upon Lizzy with fond respect.
“Hospitality rules, so here I am.”
“Oh, Mina. I just wanted to see him. Was that so terrible?”
“You’re not going to be on my doorstep every day just so you can flirt with a dog, are you?”
Stop calling me a dog. I’m a puca. And, yes, I’m doing this for
effect.
But why?
Riordan looked uncomfortable.
It just makes people more
comfortable with me if I act as they think I should act. Your mom
expects a canine scamp. So that’s what I do.
But there was more to it. Mina just knew it.
“No, I promise I’ll call first. Deal?” Lizzy smiled brightly, then glanced at her watch before standing.
“I guess.” Mina eyed her mother with doubt and Riordan with growing suspicion.
After her mother left, Mina turned to Riordan and watched him flash-shimmer into his manly form. Thank God. Attributing human
aspects to a dog was really starting to wear thin.
“I like your mother, Mina.” There was amusement in Riordan’s deep voice. “She’s very charming. Spirited, too.”
“Oh, don’t start.” Mina held up a hand, waiting for the word
sensual
, or worse,
carnal
to enter into the conversation.