brought the butterflies back with a vengeance.
“I think I’ve almost got you figured out,” I teased him.
“I doubt that,” he countered.
I crossed my arms. “Right now you’re contemplating whether or not I really
“Uncanny,” he smirked. “But I wasn’t craving beef jerky until you mentioned it. So now I’m craving beef jerky.”
“See? You’re an open book,” I smiled.
“My turn,” he considered me for a long moment and then leaned in close. “At this very moment you want me to kiss you.”
“You’re way off,” I lied.
“Am I?” he sneered, moving even closer with a confident grin.
“Waaay off,” I lied again with the conviction of a slug.
“So you don’t want me to do this?” he asked coyly, as he kissed his way down my jaw line.
“Not one bit.”
“Or this?” he muttered, as he brought my mouth to his with excruciating slowness. The softness of his lips was only a prelude to the taste of his tongue, as our kiss deepened and every cell in my body came alive with happiness. He leaned back with a smug smile on his face, leaving me wanting much, much more.
“Told you so,” he bragged happily and thread his fingers through mine.
“Tell me again,” I breathed as I grabbed his other hand and yanked him under the covers with me. A knock at the door made us both freeze, eyes wide and staring at the other. I was hoping that a random squirrel had just thrown some acorns at the window. Because that happens all the time.
“Anastasia?” a very southern woman’s voice asked jovially. She swung open the door just as we were attempting to give off the impression of innocence. It didn’t work. She grinned knowingly, “It would appear that you are feeling better.”
“We were just…” Finn and I fought to justify at the same time, which elicited a laugh from the stunning woman standing in the doorway. Adequately mortified, I silently hoped this was not our new Maven.
“Your faces scream guilty, but I’ve never been one to get in the way of a future goddess and her paramour.” She winked at us and I groaned inwardly. Had someone posted my prophecy on Facebook or something? Finn slid out from the covers, but remained sitting on the bed as she glided into the room. “I’m Zara, fellow Tyde and Lorelei’s newest Maven. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Anastasia,” she drawled. So much for hope.
“Call me Stasia,” I advised; as dignified as one could after getting caught making out with her boyfriend. She met my embarrassed gaze just as a bout of deja vu slammed into me. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with a familiarity that left me reeling. I knew with a certainty that I’d never met her before, so I couldn’t quite place the feeling. I brushed it off as she smiled warmly at me.
“Alright, Stasia.” She made herself comfortable in the rocking chair near the window and crossed her legs with more grace than a ballerina. “We need to discuss how we’re going to turn you into the most powerful sea goddess this world has ever known.”
Chapter 26
Wearing the fresh pair of jeans and warm sweater that had been set out for me, I exited the bedroom and found myself in a single great room that contained a modest living room and kitchen. I inhaled the soothing smell of apple cider that reminded me of a Cracker Barrel restaurant. After peering into a bathroom off to the right of the great room, it dawned on me that I’d just seen the entire cottage. The wooden floor beneath my feet offset the white decor beautifully. Two large, white oversized couches dwarfed the living room, leaving only enough room for several pieces of vintage furniture. A weathered wooden coffee table matched the large cupboard standing against the back wall, filled with an extensive bone china collection.
As my curious eyes trailed over the wrought iron cabinetry hardware in the kitchen, I noticed the repetition of starfish throughout the great room. They were everywhere. Adorning the wall, splayed across the coffee table, embroidered onto decorative pillows, and displayed across the mantle of the quaint stone fireplace.
The cozy mood of the house spoke to my soul and made me feel secluded from the world’s (and my) problems. I did find it odd that the Maven of a House would have requested such a humble living arrangement, however. Where had she slept while I was occupying her fluffy, heavenly, softer-than-a-cloud bed? The couch? The (gasp!) floor?
“So do you…live here, too?” I inquired, my voice shadowed by shame. If our Maven had to sleep on her floor because of me I would buy her a new house. Or at least a cot to sleep on. I wandered the rest of the way into the living room and then plopped down on the sofa beside Finn.
“Oh, bless your heart! My four dogs would eat this place for lunch,” Zara chuckled and handed me a cup of steaming cider. “This is just my guest house. The main house is up the path on the left.” Although I had only just met her, I was drawn to her instantly. She couldn’t have been more than thirty years old, but she had the southern elegance of Scarlett O’Hara and the unapologetic cynicism of Betty White. Smoldering amber-colored hair had been pulled back from her shoulders, and then tied with a blue and white polka dotted scarf. Her youthful figure was thin but curvy, and her impossibly long legs were hidden by white skinny jeans. Her blue silk blouse accentuated striking blue eyes that twinkled with wisdom, but were clouded by something ominous and foreboding that gave me pause. The subtle permanent arch of her right eyebrow gave off the impression that she lived in a constant state of amusement.
“I love the starfish decor,” I complimented her decorating cordially. In case she turned out to be bat-shit crazy like our other Maven, I wanted to make sure I was on her good side.
“That’s good.” She raised an eyebrow and continued with a sly grin, after taking a seat on the other sofa, “ ’Cause you’re going to be staying here for a while.”
“You didn’t tell me I was grounded!” I snickered at Finn and then took a sip of cider. I was only half kidding. He draped an arm around my shoulders and I felt the warmth of his darkness wrap around me as well; soothing my anxiety.
“Well, not yet…” she predicted through a clever sneer. “Give it time.”
“I can promise you, I won’t be any trouble,” I persuaded, unsure whether she was kidding or not.
Shifting forward in response, Zara patted me on the knee. “Now, don’t go making promises!
What fun would it be if we didn’t cause a little trouble?”
“Don’t worry, trouble follows Stasia around like a sick puppy,” Finn quipped easily. I nodded.
“Yeah, and that puppy’s name is Finn…” I countered in all seriousness, leaving Zara chuckling.
“Now,” she began, “I’ve made sure that there is a protective shield around the house to keep any unwanted guests out. Me, Finn, your suitemates, and a handful of other people are the only exceptions. And you, of course.”
“Really?” I didn’t bother to hide my enthusiasm. “I don’t know what to say!” The validation that I would be staying there warmed my heart. My own house? And it’s protected from the long list of people who would like nothing more than to chop my head off? Where do I sign up?!
“It’s only until your birthday, but I’m more than happy to have you. During your training you’ll need to be extremely focused and have a safe, peaceful place to meditate and practice your abilities. Not to mention, we can’t have any psychotic fire-breathing princesses chopping you into bits and pieces now, can we?” She set down her mug while I picked my jaw off of the ground at her candor. I heard Finn laugh under his breath when she got up to collect something from the kitchen.
“All of your clothes are hanging in the bedroom closet, and I had a couple of your personal items brought over. I believe this belongs to you?”
She placed the valise that my mother had bestowed upon me onto the coffee table. I admired its intricate detail again, and delighted in the beautifully engraved trace that covered the lid. Zara unlatched it with hands of certainty and laid its contents across the table; very much like my roommates and I had done before travelling to the Underworld. Unlike our subpar guesses, I had a feeling that she knew much more about the items held within,
