He wasn’t afraid of dying and he’d give his life in a heartbeat to save Nox. But Nelson had discovered thathewas also the anchor that kept Nox tethered to his human self and mankind, not simply a gateway to the Otherworld. Nelson knew very little about his importance in the spiritual and metaphysical scheme of things, other than it was his job to keep the god in checkso it didn’t overwhelm the man and try to take over the world. The consequences wouldn’t just be bad for Dùbhghlas, a Nox unleashed could be bad for all of humanity.
Dùbhghlas snorted and drew back, taking the light with him. The glow passed over the blade of a ceiling fan and an ornamental beam and Nelson recognized them immediately but didn’t react.
“You’re a lot smarter than Smoak led me to believe.”
“Probably not,” Nelson replied without a hint of sarcasm. “But I don’t care if you or Smoak or Hildr think I’m smart.” He was smart enough to figure out that they were in Merlin’s cabin in Coudersport. They were intheirguest room and there was a fireplace to his left and a wall of thick glass at his back. The rest of the furniture must have been moved but he could picture the wooden armchair he was sitting in. He kept going back to this room in his dreams and now, Nelson knew why.
“Smoak says you’re nothing more than a pet and the god’s ferryman to the Otherworld,” Dùbhghlas said with an amused snort.
“He also calls me a throne, like that’s supposed to be an insult.” The beam of the flashlight swung past the window as Dùbhghlas moved and Nelson spotted a single crow on a nearby branch, watching them before the light went out. “What’s your point?” Nelson asked.
“I think there’s more to you, Uaithne. You may be worth keeping alive. Ish,” Dùbhghlas added with a rasping giggle before the hood was dropped over Nelson’s head again. “I think I could make something fearsome out of you, Agent Nelson,” Dùbhghlas said, his voice placing him on the other side of the room before Nelson heard a door open and close.
He listened and waited until he was sure that he was alone, then focused as hard as he could and screamed one word with his mind and his soul, with all the spiritual strength he couldmuster:Coudersport. Nelson prayed with his entire being that Nox could hear him and that everyone was ready.
They were on Nox’s home turf and Dùbhghlas had commandeered someplace sacred to his, Merlin’s, and Clancy’s practice. There was no telling how Dùbhghlas had defiled the place and what Nox was walking into but something in Nelson’s gut told him that coming here was a terrible mistake.Nelsonhad consecrated this ground with Nox and they had already fought a great battle against a far mightier force.Thatwas why he heard it talking to him. No monster could break that magick, not while Nox and Nelson were still carrying it in their veins.
Like his love for Nox, the magick of Coudersport was in the breath that wafted from his lungs and had settled into Nelson’s bones. He couldn’t feel the stone circle or the lake through the hood and the dark curses Dùbhghlas had cast around them, but Nelson knew they were still out there. The wild magick around him was too old and too pure and too many generations of white witches had enchanted the ground beneath their feet.
Nelson had only visited a handful of times but he had undergone some transformations of his own. And while he had yet to gain any useful powers, Nelson’s spirit was one with Nox’s and was therefore connected to nature and its deities. He called to all of them, begging for his message to be carried and for aid.
I’ve seen what you can do, Sister Babd. I’d appreciate your help again, if you’re out there and listening.
He winced and mouthed an apology. Nox probably knew a spell or how to properly summon her in Gaelic but that was the best that Nelson could do at the moment.
Chapter Eighteen
Nox was still pondering the previous morning’s omen and their encounter with the púca as another long, lost day drew to an end. Mostly, he was missing Nelson’s steadying presence. Everyone was gathered around the dining room table, including Smoak, who was seated across from Nox. Soon, they would all turn in for the night and Nox would have to face the long, quiet hours alone.
In those hours, the fear and godly fury would hold him hostage, making him more desperate with every passing moment. There were hours when Nox was tested and he would see terrible, terrible things and when his pain was at its zenith, he wouldwantthose terrible things. He craved the pain of others, so he wasn’t alone in his suffering and to punish the world for Nelson’s absence.
Be the good god. Be Nelson’s god.
That had become Nox’s mantra, whenever he was at risk of losing his way. At his darkest moments, Nox would go back to the morning after his fight with the Fomorians. He’d return to the comfort of Nelson’s arms and the way he had selflessly healed Nox with his body and the magick of his love. But it wasgetting harder to tune out his frustrations and ignore how scared he was as another tense day without Nelson drew to an end.
He could feel himself becoming anxious as he dreaded bed time so Nox let his friends’ voices and their concerns wash over him, nodding along vaguely and prodding at his food. He was grateful for their company and their love and support but Nox was not there in the room with them. His head and his heart were stuck in that last moment with Nelson where Nox ached to take it all back and for one more kiss and one last taste of his breath. Nox’s soul was frantic to find its mate and so utterly lonely,it screamed.
It was an agony that the twins, Everly, and Smoak could most likely sense but they did their best to distract Nox and reassure him without tipping off the others. He was feeling particularly lonely and was rising to excuse himself for a few minutes when Nox felt a calm, clear rush of courage and cunning. The sensation was so strong and hit Nox so swiftly, he grabbed the edge of the table to keep from stumbling back.
Then, NoxheardNelson.
Coudersport.
There was a quick glimpse of a bedroom ceiling, illuminated by a beam of light, then a flashback of the same ceiling during a beautiful, rainy morning in bed.
“Nox!” Merlin leaped up and reached for him. “What is it? What’s wrong?” he asked, putting an arm around Nox’s waist.
Everyone else had dropped what they were holding and several people were coming around the table to assist Nox but he held up a hand. “I’m fine!” He laughed as he pulled Merlin into a hug. “I’m better than fine. I know where Nelson is!”
“Good, good, good!” Merlin hopped and tugged on Nox’s sweater impatiently. “Tell us!” he urged and there were cheers and demands from the others.
“He’s at Coudersport. Dùbhghlas has him in our cabin. One of the guest rooms, to be specific.”
“That—!” Merlin’s delight vanished and he stomped his foot before turning and storming to the foyer and back. “He won’t risk us destroyinghislair because he’s bettingon a nasty fight. He intends to leave our sacred place a defiled, smoldering wreck.”
Clancy nodded, his gaze distant. “Better to take the fight to us and have someplace to retreat to when it’s over. There’s no telling what he’s already done to that ground and your cabin. How bad is this trap for Nox, if Dùbhghlas has twisted that place and poisoned it against him?” he asked but Merlin shook his head.
“I doubt Dùbhghlas is powerful enough to undo that much good, white magick. It would be quite a trick if Smoak could but even he was in a hurry to get out of there,” he said with a pointed look at Smoak.
