She nodded, grateful for his understanding, remembering her own first days here after having spent almost a year in her cat form. Granted, she had chosen her imprisonment, but Beth had spent the last year and more believing she had murdered her fiance.
“But we’ll see you tonight?”
“You bet,” he told her cheerfully, with a nod that included Beth, who wandered back into Naomi’s room right then. “I’ll take both my ladies out to dinner.”
That had Beth giggling, as he’d hoped. He caught Naomi in his arms, and their lips met, lingering, his kiss gentle but with the promise of more. With obvious reluctance, Liam pulled back.
“Until tonight.”
She smiled at him. “Until tonight. And thank you, Liam.”
Well after midnight,Naomi gave up trying to sleep. The events of the day had her thoughts racing, her mind unable to stop… well… thinking! It was like a recording stuck on repeat, every time she closed her eyes. Slipping on her quilted robe and sliding her feet into matching slippers, she peeked into her sister’s room. Slow, steady breathing reassured her that Beth was fast asleep. Closing the door quietly, Naomi made her way downstairs.
Entering the inn’s lounge, she noticed Tony and Maria ensconced on the hook rug. Tony’s tail thumped once on the floor, and Maria twitched an ear, but otherwise neither of them responded to her presence. They certainly were the most chill animals she had ever met in her life! Stepping around them, she switched on the fireplace, shivering a little. Winter was definitely on its way, the temperatures falling lower each night, it seemed. She took a seat in an armchair, curling her feet under her and staring into the flames.
The days events continued to play out in her mind’s eye… Beth’s arrival, the walk with Lady Flora and her astounding revelations. The play in the woods with her sister and Liam. And, ohmigosh, an honest-to-God unicorn!
“Gah!” This wasn’t working, although, the fire was warming her nicely. Maybe a hot beverage would work. And some of Renee’s cookies… for medicinal purposes only, of course, she thought, snickering to herself. She rose and went over to the buffet. About to turn on the electric kettle, she noticed a large carafe on the table. Picking it up, she sniffed experimentally at the spout. Apple cider! And spiced as well, from the mouth-watering aroma. Grabbing a thermal mug, she was in the middle of pouring the cider when she felt the unmistakable tingle of magic in the room.
She turned, the mug going flying, a scream catching in her throat at the sight of a dim figure, still emerging from the haze of magic, in the middle of the room. The next minute, she was in her cat form. In a panic she fought the flannel pajamas she found herself trapped in, hissing and spitting while trying to free herself, but her claws kept catching in the fabric.
A moment later, a young male voice, lightly accented, and deep with concern, was saying, “Hey, hey. It’s okay. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I didn’t think anyone would be here this late.”
Gentle hands were removing the fabric from around her, and patting her fur with awkward strokes.
Her head finally freed of pajamas and robe, she turned to see a boy kneeling beside her. He had pale skin and spiky black hair tinted at the ends in blue. She judged him to be maybe twelve or thirteen, and from the looks of him, he’d just had one of those growing spurts boys his age had, where he shot up and the rest of him hadn’t caught up. He had large, soulful dark brown eyes, just now wide with alarm.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “Um, if you wanna Change back, I’ll turn around so you can, you know, get dressed. And all that.”
Her heartbeat slowed to a more normal pace, and she nodded her head in assent. He turned his back, and she Changed, quickly donning her pajamas. The sound of hurrying footsteps had them both turning, as Angus and Renee burst through the doorway, bright blue magic sparking at Angus’s fingertips. He, too, was clad in flannel pajamas, and Renee in floor-length nightgown, and both looked furious.
They skidded to a halt at the sight of Naomi and the unknown visitor. Beside her, the boy audibly gulped, his shoulders hunching. Even the spiky hair seemed to droop.
“Um, hi,” he said weakly, glancing guiltily up at Angus, who seemed to tower over him. “I’m uh, I’m Remi. I’m a friend of Jacinth’s.”
Angus blew out a breath, and the sparks around his fingertips faded as Naomi watched, fascinated. She’d never seen anything like that, and curiosity bubbled up. She stored her questions for later, when she could ask Liam.
“I see. And why are you in my inn at…” Angus glanced at the clock on the wall, “two-fifteen in the morning?”
The Djinn boy ducked his head, clearly abashed, and scuffed one slippered toe on the floor. “Uh. I just, you know, I wanted to have a look. I’ve heard a lot about it from Jacinth, and now Talya, and, well. I wanted to see it.”
Renee folded her arms, fixing the boy with a stern glance. But Naomi knew her well by now, and could tell Renee was fighting back amusement.
“And you couldn’t come through the front door in the daytime?”
Remi drooped even further. “Yeah, uh, sorry. It was… it was kinda spur of the moment. And it wasn’t the middle of the night where I live.”
Renee finally couldn’t hold back her amusement, her eyes gleaming. “Ten hours and five hundred years away.”
At that his head raised, a surprised look on his pixie-like features. “How did you know?”
Renee and Angus exchanged a glance, one Naomi had seen many times. It was private, that look, and knowing. It took a minute before Renee’s words registered.
“Wait!” she exclaimed, looking from Renee to the boy. “Five hundred years? What?”
“He’s a time traveler,” Angus explained calmly.
She stared at Remi, words lodged in her throat, but for a moment she was unable to speak. “Um, I think I should sit down.” Looking around, she spotted the nearest chair, and went to sink down on it. “Time travel?”
