Trillian was there, resting on the bed with a book. The playpen was sitting near the bed, but the kittens were nowhere to be seen. “Getting ready for the Hunt, love?”
“Yeah. I need to get dressed. Where are the kits?”
As I spoke, there was a loud squeak and then the calico sisters bounced up on the bed from the other side, chasing each other across it. White kitten and black kitten came bounding out of the closet, joining the fray. All of them descended on Trillian, playing with his toes as he wiggled his feet at them. He let out a yelp as one of the calicoes bit his big toe, but laughed.
“Scamp.”
“You just make sure they stay in the bedroom. Delilah’s changed into Tabby, and I’m not sure how she’d take to them at this point.”
“I’ll put them back in their pen in a bit. I just thought they might like to play for a while.”
I suppressed a smile as I turned toward my closet. Trillian came across as aloof and almost rude to a lot of people, but he had a soft spot for those who were innocent and unable to protect themselves. He’d never let on, but I knew full well that he regularly made donations to a number of animal rescue organizations, along with the local food banks and the women’s shelters.
I had priestess robes, but they weren’t exactly the most suitable for riding with the Hunt. Instead, I shimmied into a flowing black skirt that fell just below my knees. It was full and light, but warm. My ribs were still incredibly tender, so I chose one of my acrylic-boned corsets that would compress them lightly, but not as much as the steel bones. Then, fastening the busks, I adjusted my boobs so they were positioned right, and then pulled on my kitten-heeled granny boots, tying up the laces. Finally, I attached a belt around my waist that would hold my dagger, and grabbed my staff.
Aeval had given it to me shortly before Hyto had kidnapped me, but I still hadn’t learned much about it, although it contained the power of Faerie Fire. It was about five-nine—a couple inches taller than I was—and made of polished yew, fitting firmly in my hand. A crystal ball the size of my fist sat atop of it, with silver netting wound to securely keep the ball in place, and a silver foot.
Trillian set his book aside and wandered over to stand behind me as I stared into the mirror. My eyes were starting to glow with the light of the Hunt, and I felt the surge of power beginning to filter into me.
“My wild, feral witch,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I wish we had the time for me to fuck your brains out.”
I leaned back into his embrace. “You and me both.” The energy of the Hunt was seductive and driven, like the rut of the King Stag in the woodlands. Trillian’s breath came heavy on my neck, setting off sparks of hunger that ricocheted through me. “Oh, I want your touch. I wish you could run with us on the Hunt.”
Morio entered the room at that moment. He had changed clothes as well. “Everything I needed was down in the laundry room,” he said, his eyes shining like mine. “Are you ready, babe?” His voice was thick and I sensed his arousal—he was my priest and I was his priestess.
“Yeah, let’s go.” I turned. With one smooth move, I grabbed Trillian by the shoulders and spun him around against the closet door, pressing against him as I pressed my lips to his. My tongue met his and he moaned into my mouth as he slid his arms around my waist. Behind me, Morio let out a low growl of pleasure.
“Ready?”
I tore myself away from Trillian. “Be good. Sleep deep. Be ready for me, I’ll be ravenous come the morning.”
“Oh, I’ll be ready. Run safe, both of you.” Trillian scooped up the kittens so they couldn’t dart for the door and gently placed them in their pen. “Remember, Smoky will be home tomorrow morning.”
As Morio and I headed downstairs, it was almost as though I was walking on air. “This Hunt, it’s stronger than in a while.”
Morio placed one hand on my shoulder. “I can feel it, too. I don’t know why—we passed Beltane, the high zenith of the Hunt, last month.”
“Litha’s coming. Perhaps it’s the solstice. Whatever the case, I can barely feel the ground beneath my feet.”
Hanna was waiting by the door, holding Delilah in her arms, her expression solemn. She always saw me off on the nights of the Hunt.
Vanzir joined us from the living room. “The energy is so strong tonight that I’m a live wire. Roz went out to walk the grounds and I may join him.”
“It’s a powerful moon. I’m not sure what’s up, but keep an extra watch on the wards. Trillian will help. He’s up in our room, but I’m sure he’d be glad to come down if you need him. Also, since Bruce is gone and Iris is preoccupied with the babies, you should probably do a sweep past their house, too.” I stopped as a wash of energy left me lightheaded. “We have to go. They’re almost here.”