Earth's Requiem(65)

He tipped a flask against her lips. She sputtered as he poured mead down her throat, but felt better once its heat spread through her. Apparently satisfied that between him and the mead, she’d been reclaimed from death’s door, he helped her sit.

“Have some more.” He handed her the flask. “Just so you’re not surprised, I fixed your face while I was about things. Oh, and I got rid of the Old Ones’ marks on you, too.”

Memory of what she’d done flooded her. “Sorry,” she mumbled and took another hefty swig of mead. Reaching curious fingers to where the dragon’s gash had been, she found smooth skin. Aislinn tried to smile. “Uh, thanks. Why’d you remove the tattoos?”

“That’s how they track you.” Not only was he not smiling, his brows were drawn together, darkening his perfect features.

Her body tensed. “Why those dirty, fucking bastards. They told me it was so I’d have access to some of their memories.”

“At least that part is true. I take it you didn’t know the rest?”

She shook her head. “That was pretty stupid of me not to realize.” She winced. “And incredibly stupid to go flying through that doorway.”

“Glad you said it so I don’t have to.” He shot her a look. “It shortens the lecture, but doesn’t excuse you entirely. Never, never, never run off half-cocked in a strange place where you don’t know what booby traps someone might have set.”



I deserved that.



“Yes, and likely a good deal more, but I’ll stop there. Can you get up?”

“I think so.” Her insides wobbled, but she felt mostly like herself.

Rune rubbed against her leg. “I am grateful to Fionn. When you hit the floor, I was certain you were dead.”

“She was,” Fionn said, voice thick with emotion. “But we managed, you and I, didn’t we?” He stroked Rune from head to tail. “Fortunately”—he looked pointedly at Aislinn—“your wolf follows directions.”



“Not always,” she shot back. “I presume I stumbled into the study.” She gestured to a door on the far side of the kitchen, opposite to the one that led to the main hallway and front door.

Fionn nodded. “It’s the only part of the house, other than the attic and basement, we haven’t looked at. How about if you stay in the kitchen while I figure out how to get past her wards? It shouldn’t be all that difficult since we untangled the ones around the house.”

“I could go through her medicines while you do that.”

Fionn frowned. “Show me where Marta kept them,” he told the wolf. “You stay here,” he called over one shoulder. “Don’t even think about moving.”

Her temper simmered at being ordered about, but she called it to heel. It had nearly gotten her killed with her headlong dash into the equivalent of an electrified fence. I need to think more. React less.



To divert herself, she started with the kitchen cupboards, moving dry goods to the spacious stone countertops. It was obvious after the first cupboard that Marta had stocked far more food than they could ever carry away from her house. “I have it,” she murmured. “We’ll just reset those wards. That way, we can come back here to restock.” She wondered how easy it would be to retract the swords guarding the front door, but assumed there had to be some way to accomplish it. They’d left the front door open, rather than taking time to figure out how to get it closed again.

She’d just started putting food back in the cupboards when Fionn called her. She stopped what she was doing, stepped into the main hallway, and followed the sound of his voice. Polished interior doors graced both sides of the hall. Aislinn’s booted feet sank into a lovely, patterned Oriental rug runner. Just before the passage ended, she turned into a room lined with glass-fronted cabinets.

“Marta’s medical office seems safe enough,” Fionn said, giving her a quick kiss. “I’m off to solve the study problem.”

“Wait,” she called after him. “What about the Lemurians’ knowledge? What did I lose along with those tattoos?”

“Nothing,” he grunted, glancing back at her. “I know everything they did and more.” He disappeared down the hall before she could ask anything further.

“I will stay with you.” Rune licked her hand. The wolf seemed pathetically grateful she hadn’t died. When Aislinn thought about it, she could see why. Rune had loved Marta. It would have been hard for him if her magic had caused the death of his new bond mate.



“Wonderful!” she exclaimed. “I like your company.”