Teran blinked as she dropped into the recliner and folded her feet beneath her. “I didn’t realize that. Well, that clears up whether Druantia heard my prayer.”
“I think I’d better start talking to her,” I said.
My mother had worked with the goddess Cerridwen, but I had never known in just what capacity. And I wasn’t sure about Teran, either. Being pledged to a specific god or goddess was a deeply personal experience, and the topic was only brought up when the conversation turned in that direction, and only if the witch was comfortable discussing it. Or in a coven where everyone shared the same pledge.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Teran said.
“Do you think the shadow man followed you home from the bar?” Killian asked.
“I don’t know. If he had been here when I moved in, by now I would have known. But given I’ve got a mark on me that makes me the blue-light special for the astral crowd, who knows? Maybe he was randomly passing by.”
“I don’t think so,” Teran said. “If it had been a random attack, he would have gone directly for you, not Louise. No, I’ll bet you anything he did follow you home.”
“The fact that he appeared during the day means he’s incredibly strong,” I said, after thinking about it. “Strong enough to follow me from the bar. Louise was taking a nap, and that’s the easiest time for them to attack. They can enter the dreaming state.”
“Maybe Dr. Fairsight will be able to tell us more when she finishes her exam,” Killian said. “Meanwhile, what do you need to do in order to make your home off-limits to the shadow people? I assume there are more than one?”
“Oh, yeah. Too many of them, in fact. Rameer calls them ‘rijilings.’ He said it means shadow men in his language—the language of the djinn.” I shuddered. “Without his help, we would have been toast.”
“I could have fought it off,” Teran said. “I’ve dealt with them before—starting when you were young, January. But it’s not easy and either one or both of us would have taken damage.” She paused, then added, “I think that—”
At that moment, Dr. Fairsight came down the stairs. “Rameer is watching over Louise. He volunteered,” she added. “Is that all right?”
I nodded. “He’s safe. So, how is she?”
“Drained, exhausted. It will take her at least a week to get back on her feet, so I’m thinking she should be watched round the clock. Anytime one of the shadow people attack, they leave a residue—a mark. And now—”
“She’s marked, just like I am,” I said.
Dr. Fairsight nodded. “Yes, and she’s freshly marked. So she’s got that…new juice-box smell to these creatures.” She sighed. “Being she’s human, he attacked her life force, rather than any magical reserves first. He could have easily killed her. What’s her story?”
I told the doctor about the Spit & Whistle Pub, and everything that was going on down there. “So, I brought her back to my house because she had nowhere else to go. Is it safe for her to return there?”
Dr. Fairsight’s eyes widened and she sat down on the sofa, next to Killian. “No, not at all. Not until the place is cleared out and cleansed and warded. Louise was almost drained dry tonight, and it wouldn’t take much to give her a heart attack. You see, that’s what happens to some people who have unexplained heart attacks—they’ve been drained by a shadow man or some creature that can siphon off life force. For humans, the strain taxes their hearts and they die of what appears to be a heart attack.”
“What about me?” I asked. “I’m on assignment to help her with the hauntings. I have a mark on me.”
“You have two marks, though,” Teran said. “While creatures will attack you, there’s always the chance the other mark will trigger a protective charge.”
I explained to the doctor about my marks. “What do you think?”
“Your aunt is correct. Think of it this way—you can be hurt. You can be drained and killed, but that protective mark acts like a trap. It can—not always will—but can be triggered by a psychic attack. If you ever find yourself being attacked but then the creature backs off, that’s probably the reason. They’ll get a shock or a jolt, or something like that. Now, it’s not going to protect you from being beat up or hurt if you get hit by a car—you are just as vulnerable as anybody else with regards to being attacked on a physical level. But in spirit? You do have some measure of protection.”
I turned to Teran. “I wonder if I start working with Druantia, will that increase the protection level?”
“My feeling is that it will,” Teran said. She turned to the doctor. “Thank you,” she said. “Can I get you some coffee or something?”
The doctor shook her head. “I wouldn’t mind some tea if you have it. And I think it would be wise if I stay with the patient for a while. She’s not fully out of danger yet, though I’m confident she’ll live.”
“I’ll bring tea and cookies up to you,” Teran said, and the doctor headed back upstairs.
As my aunt went into the kitchen, I turned to Killian. “It’s been one hell of a day.” I glanced at the clock. It was five p.m. and dark outside. Even though we were in the waxing half of the year, the world still plunged into twilight early. As I stared outside at the glittering blanket of white that covered the world, I remembered why Killian had gone out.
“Hey, I want to talk to you about Val—” I started to say, but he held up his hand.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be such an ass. But after the other night, I just really wanted to clock him.”
“I love that you care about me and want to protect me, but you were being stupid.”
“I know,” he whispered, kissing me.
“So, tell me what happened.” I sat down beside him and curled up against his shoulder.
“To my surprise, Val apologized and promised he won’t harass you again.” He paused. “You know, he’s really not so bad, for a vampire.”
“Yeah, Mr. Not-So-Bad is apparently a philanthropist, as well. That surprised me,” I said.
“I still wish you would have told me about the roses. We’re a couple. Couples need to communicate,” Killian said, pulling me onto his lap. I leaned against the arm of the sofa as he wrapped his arms around my waist. I draped my arms around his neck and began kissing him. He let out a low growl, one that I by now recognized as arousal, and I could feel him hardening beneath my ass.
“I know what you want,” I murmured, “but after what just happened, I’d like to wait for a little bit.”
“I can wait,” Killian said, “as long as you promise to give me all of your attention soon.” His voice was low, and I melted into the safety that always surrounded me when he was holding me close.
“Why don’t you two lovebirds make dinner?” Teran asked, carrying a tray with a teapot and three cups on it as she headed toward the stairs. “I made enough tea for Rameer and Louise, too, should they want any.”
I kissed Killian again on the lips, then on the nose. Hopping off his lap, I held out my hand and pulled him up. “Come on, let’s see what’s in the fridge.”