Mirrors and Mysteries

2. Dex

2

DEX

With silent movements, I approach the stranger. Wind shifts crossways between us, so my opponent can’t scent me. That said, I can’t get a good inhale of them, either.

Kneeling down, I brush my fingers against the forest floor. The outline of a bare foot remains in the muddy ground. A woman. She’s small, most likely an elf. More footsteps sound from a clearing up ahead.

The mystery lady is moving away from me. Perfect. I can take her from behind. Staying in a crouch, I slip in closer.

Then, I grab her.

The moment my arms wrap around her torso, I get a deep lungful of her scent. Cinnamon and sunshine. My heart soars. I whisper her name.

“Grayson.”

My vita’s back presses against my chest. Her silky hair brushes against my cheek. As I press my palms against her waist, my inner wolf sighs with contentment.

How long have I wanted to held Grayson this way?

Leaning in, I whisper in her ear. “I thought you were an intruder.”

“Dex?”

I take in another breath. This time, there’s more than the cinnamon smell of Grayson. I also catch an underlying scent of mountain air and fresh snow.

Could that be Grayson’s wolf?

One way to find out. I focus on my inner alpha power, guiding that energy toward Grayson. She accepts the magic readily. Or rather, her wolf does. I can feel her animal deep inside her soul. It’s strong, yet cowering in fear.

I loosen my grip, placing distance between us. Close contact will only bring out her inner animal more quickly. Now, Grayson simply isn’t ready.

My Vita turns around. I brace myself, ready for her to ask a million questions about wolf shifting. After all, your first shift is overwhelming. Most of my kind launch into a million queries. But Grayson surprises me again. Somehow, she’s able to press past her inner wolf.

“What happened to your eyes?” asks Grayson.

“Milady wants to move our fake courtship forward.”

“Fake?” She sounds hopeful.

I put every ounce of heart into my reply. “Fake.”

“I don’t understand.” At last, the pressure on Grayson seems to take its toll. She shivers with such force, I can hear her teeth rattle. “What’s really happening?”

My protective instincts go into overdrive. “You’re frozen through. There’s a room nearby with a lit hearth. Let’s warm you up and we can talk.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Grayson steps away. “I came here about an ad for a teacher… Or maybe it was a nanny. It could also be a personal assistant. This isn’t Arizona, is it?”

A memory appears. I asked one of our pups, Ulliver, to post an advertisement for help. His efforts must have brought my Vita here.

“I think I see the problem,” I state. “Did you find this advertisement on MAGICWEB, by any chance?”

“Yes. My friend did, anyway.” Grayson exhales a shaky breath. “I thought Arizona was supposed to be warm.”

When I next speak, I take care to use my most gentle tone. “You’re on Wulfhelm territory in the Faerie Realm. We have an alliance with some humans in Arizona, but that pack has been disbanded for months now. Any work would definitely be here.”

“What’s the job?”

I tilt my head and think this through. “I need someone to teach our pups. You have experience in both areas, do you not?”

“Growing up, I had instructors, but they weren’t too useful. I taught myself how to read, write, and so on. So I guess the answer to your question is… maybe?”

“Consider yourself hired.”

“But the ad said Thornfield, not Wulfhelm. Who am I working for, exactly?”

“Me. I’m the Alpha of Wulfhelm, which is both a territory and a city. Thornfield is the name of my house in town.”

“This is very…” Grayson exhales. “Charitable, that’s it. You’re kind to take pity on me.”

“Pity.” I repeat the word, careful to keep my features blank. Still, every corner of my soul wants to shout out, I adore you!

Somehow, I’m able to speak in a calm voice. “Tell me, Grayson. What do you want?”

“I want someplace where I can be myself. I’d love to be around pups. And I don’t know if I could teach, but I’m dying to try. Oh, I also want to go outside. Swim in lakes. Climb trees. Run through the woods. I want to experience all the things that can’t happen in a cottage.”

That’s right. Grayson spent her life locked up in the Bartlebee, alone. My poor Vita.

“Even now, I feel this crisp air against my skin,” continues Grayson. “It’s so cold and different—everything around me becomes more real. Back at the cottage, I knew it was eternal summer. It’s one thing to think that, and it’s another to actually experience a chill.”

When Grayson next speaks, her voice takes on a dreamy tone. “Now, I want all the seasons and feelings. Most of all, I’d love for people to know me beyond how I look or what clan I came from. I’d just be Grayson.”

Maybe it’s the mate bond between us, but instinct tells me what to say. “Well, I certainly can’t judge you by looks.” I grin.

“True.” I can hear the smile in her voice as well.

“And if you want to experience such things, then Wulfhelm is your place. We have trees, lakes, and pups galore. Matter of fact, if you were on the other side of the city, you might have gotten trapped under a puppy pile.” I chuckle. “They love visitors.”

“Pups.” Grayson takes another step away. “Lady R may come for me. It isn’t safe for your pups.” She sniffles. “I can’t do this.”

I move so near, barely an inch of space separates us. I reach out with my alpha energy to contact her wolf. It’s still there, frightened and strong. Something else is there as well—a kind of magic that has nothing to do with shifters. It feels liquid and cold.

What other powers does Grayson have?

With any luck, this is something we’ll figure out together. But when it comes to Grayson’s fears about Lady R hurting my pack? That answer is easy.

“Lady R and the Prism Master threaten us both,” I declare. “We stand a much better chance if we work as a team. And believe me, I know Wulfhelm will be a good place for you. Can you really walk away?”

Long seconds tick by before Grayson speaks once more. “Is that fireplace far from here?”

“Not at all.” I offer Grayson my arm.

With halting movements, Grayson wraps her hand about my elbow. The touch means everything to me. For many miles and years, i’ve searched for my Vita. Now, we’re together. Inhaling deeply, I scent her wolf once more. Her inner animal is still far too scared.

“They’ve been cruel to you,” I whisper. “We’ll take our time.”

Grayson clasps my arm more tightly. “Good.”

And we march toward Wulfhelm.