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Jezzie was silent until they reached the doors to the corridor and stepped through, leaving the beauty of Paradise behind to face reality once more. Her brow was furrowed in thought as she nibbled at the right side of her lower lip.
“Well, it’s hard to say exactly. Depending on how long it takes to prep all the ingredients properly. If it’s just me, then probably around four hours. If I have help it could be as little as three. Once all the ingredients are combined it has to simmer for about two hours, give or take.”
“I’m at your full disposal, my lady. Whatever you need, I will do.” He would have offered a gallant bow had they not been in such a hurry.
Reaching the doorway to Tana’s room, Jezzie looked at her tired uncle, worry lines etched into his still youthful face.
“Uncle Micah, is there a sacred space around here that has a fire, cauldron, and other supplies? I know it’s a long shot but . . .”
He saw Jezzie’s shoulders slump slightly as she spoke. What if they didn’t have these things?
“I don’t, unfortunately, but I think Leraie might have set up what you need. She has a room here, hidden away down a tunnel I’m forbidden to enter. Never been in there myself, but she always referred to it as her sacred space and only the gifted and their familiars would be allowed entry. I’ll take you there. I just hope it has what you need.”
Michael took one of Jezzie’s baskets and led the way down twisted paths to a corridor which seemed to shift with restless energy. On one wall was a gold gilded frame six foot tall and about three foot wide. Within it was a rather odd carving of a wrinkled woman coming out of a tree, or maybe she was the tree. A willow as far as he could see. Either way, it seemed the woman was reaching right out toward them, her lips pulled back revealing rotted, blackened teeth with sharp points, her eyes locked on Michael.
“Yeah, yeah, you crazy old bat, I’m not going to try and enter. I learned my lesson the last fifteen times I tried. I’m just hoping they can,” Michael said, pointing toward him and Jezzie sheepishly.
Her gaze flew from Michael’s smiling face to lock onto Jezzie’s intrigued, and slightly shocked one.
“I’ve seen you before, I know I have, but I cannot for the life of me place when, nor where,” Jezzie whispered breathlessly.
As I have you, child. I have been waiting. She said you would come. You and your familiar may enter herein, the wizened figure croaked out telepathically.
“I’m not a witch and I don’t have a familiar,” protested Jezzie, sounding rather confused.
Sure you are, child. Your aunt has been training you from the cradle. You may not be a born witch, but you became one nonetheless. Just because he’s also your mate does not make him any less your familiar. No other blood-bound witchling has been blessed with a dragon, young one. ‘Tis an honor, indeed. You can thank me later.
Nithe swore he saw her wink as a sparkle lit her wooden gaze. Honestly, he wasn’t offended to be referred to as her familiar, in fact, it was an honor, one which had the dragon inside him purring with delight. One more thing he could be to her, for her, and would bind them closer than before.
“I’m going to go and keep an eye on Tana. Please send Nithe to get me if you need anything,” Michael said as he went to walk back by them and stopped to face Jezzie. “Hurry, dear one. I absolutely don’t want to be stuck in that room when the curse of her needing reaches the next stage.”
Nithe caught the visible shudder as it moved over Michael’s body. Honestly, he couldn’t blame the guy for his reaction. Tana was his daughter, and no parent wanted to even think of their child, even fully grown, going through what Tana was going to endure simply because of her biology. The females of the phoenix species were cursed to suffer greatly through the needing. The next stage would see her body emit pheromones which would induce sexual desire in any male within range. Thankfully blood relations were spared, so Michael was in the clear. Still, her body would writhe and experience the desire she was projecting, and no father wanted to witness that. Nithe wasn’t related to her which would have posed a problem had he and Jezzie not completed their bonding with a blood transfer and mutual marking. Unfortunately, he would still be affected by it, except his desire would be directed at Jezzie. Normally a very good thing, but he was worried it would distract her from their quest to help Tana.
Fuck, the girl had become like a kid sister to him. In no way would he hurt her if he had the choice. Not like his bio siblings though, not anymore. Those assholes had turned on him long ago. His brothers, as soon as they’d realized he had a different father, and his sister, when she’d seen just how different he was from the rest of them. The lot of them could go suck a sour, shriveled old wiener for all he cared.
The carving slid to the side, closer to Michael, revealing a sconce lit, yet still darkened entrance passage. Michael nodded to the carving and stepped away from them with a small smile. At some point Jezzie must have responded during his introspective thoughts and her uncle handed her back the basket he’d been carrying. Before Michael could take but a few steps away down the corridor a thin branch flicked out to lightly slap him on the ass.
“I knew you liked me, witch,” Michael said with a smug wink.
The carved woman didn’t look Michael’s way in response. Though, Nithe heard an amused cackle echo in his mind. He doubted he’d have heard her if not for his connection to Jezzie. Dragons could only speak telepathically with their own clan mates, and only when in dragon form. Well, except with their bonded mates. The sound of Michael’s amusement trailed behind him as he made his way back to Tana.
Stepping through the oval doorway into the short entrance, Nithe wasn’t sure what to expect, but as soon as Jezzie stopped on the first step into the circular room she sighed with what could only be described as contentment. She slipped off her shoes, and he did the same before they stepped down into the hallowed place before them.
Dark wooden shelves filled with books, jars and all manner of strange and mundane objects lined the wall from one side of the door to the other. Three steps led down to the sunken, soft grass and rich soil covered the floor. Except for a stone lined circle filled with sand within which a fire pit sat, a medium-sized black cauldron suspended above it. A large stone table stood off to one side, a gas cooktop with a separate oven at one end, cloth covered items on the other, an electric blender in the middle, and two dark wooden stools sat ensconced beneath it.
“Well, that should cut down on some of the prep time,” Jezzie pointed out as she gestured to the blender with a smile.
Light flared from an unseen source, bathing the room in a mystical glow. Nithe looked up in search of its source and gasped, he reached out to tug on Jezzie’s hand in order to draw her gaze to the view above. Thick wooden beams traveled up the sloped ceiling from the top of the wall where they were attached to a large circle of thick cast iron about seven feet in diameter. Within the circle a perfect pentagram had been crafted, all five points touching both iron and wood. It was what lay beyond the outline of the sacred shape that caused their wonder, though. For beyond the pentagram lay a perfectly full moon, craters and all, as if it had been hung to fit perfectly within the casing of the circle above. The light it created was magical, as though glittering stardust shimmered through the air and danced like sprites on every surface.
The smell of dried herbs and flowers and old books filled his senses and pulled him away from a sight that werewolves would give their left testicle to see just once. Jezzie made her way to the bench, and he followed, placing his basket down alongside hers. Despite the sand on the ground and cloth covered items not a speck of dust graced the pristine surfaces.
A delicate hand reached out and lifted the silvery cloth to reveal what had been hidden. Two trays of rustic, hammered copper held several mortars and pestles, an array of knives and other implements and vials of all sizes, a decanter filled with dark red liquid, as well as a folded card with Jezzie’s name scrawled artfully on one side. She looked at Nithe in hesitation, his slight nod seemed to be all she needed as she reached out and lifted the card from where it rested. After a deep breath she braced herself and started to read it out loud.
Jezzie,
Dear child, so much time has passed, and yet I know you will remember what to do as if it were yesterday. Your Aunt Sarai taught you well, you were always a quick study, and the blood bond she gifted you with passed the same magic to you that will one day flow through the veins of her children.
I built this place for you so long ago, knowing you would need it, even before your birth. Use it wisely. You will find all you need in this place, whenever you need it.
