Page 4 of Wind and Water (Reign of the Witch Queen #2)

Chapter Two

Liam

B y some miracle, despite a poor showing, I am still with Wren and Birdie a week later. They have rented something called a flat in the city of Edinburgh. If not for Birdie, I’m sure I would have been left behind with little means to follow.

From the moment I stepped through the portal, I’ve gone about my mission wrong, and thought I could command a human woman to do as I say through force or magic. My balls still sting from the memory of where she planted her foot the moment I touched her.

My mistake was thinking it would be easy. My mother told me to ask. Admittedly, I didn’t believe her. How could a being void of magic be a match for an elven soldier?

After meeting Wren, my view has changed.

She caught me off guard twice. After a week of watching her ignore me, it’s difficult to want to put her life at risk.

She is small and sweet. Her heart is kind, and her gifts lie in making jewelry, not fighting shadow demons.

Yet the prophecy says she’s vital to our cause.

I was sent to ask her, and I tried to force her. It was stupid and has stripped me of any trust I might have built with her. The only thing saving me is that her mother likes me.

Magically forcing her into a portal would make me as bad as the witch queen. The shame of that thought will stay with me for a long while. Somehow, I must convince her to travel to Domhan and assist in saving my world.

I’m not a diplomat. Hopefully, Aaran had more luck with the human he was sent for.

I sip an ale and watch as both Martin women dance with strangers on the street while two women play instruments and people put money in the box they have set before them.

The weather has turned warm, and Wren is wearing short pants that hug her deliciously round bottom and expose so much flesh that my mouth waters at the sight of her.

Silver earrings catch the light as she shakes her head, singing along and dancing with joy.

Her bright blond curls bounce and are so different from elves’ typical long, straight hair.

My fingers itch to feel the texture of every strand.

Get yourself together. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

As the song ends, Wren drops a few bills in the box. She and her mother laugh together as they make their way to the table. They sit across from me and pick up their drinks.

Birdie says, “Tell us more about where you’re from, Liam.”

“Momma, this isn’t the place.” Wren looks around at all the people seated outside the pub called the Devil’s Dance Card.

Birdie waves her hand in dismissal. “They’re more interested in their drinks and the busker’s music. No one is listening to us.”

“Busker?” It’s a new word for me.

“That’s what they call street performers.” Wren rarely speaks to me directly unless she’s disapproving of something. She looks away quickly and takes a long pull on her ale.

The fact that she’s friendly and sweet with everyone else we meet should bother me, but I can see her point of view. I’m not like her. I’m not like anyone else here in her world. I came here to change her life forever, and without permission.

“Domhan has different areas: marshes, meadows, deserts, and forests. There are mountains, rivers, lakes, and oceans. It’s vast, with different kinds of people living separately.”

“What kinds and why do they live apart?” Wren’s pupils are small on this rare sunny day, and her stare is fixed on me.

Lowering my voice, I say, “Dwarves are greedy and live in the mountains where they dig for more riches. Fairies keep to their island and never bother with the rest of Domhan. Centaurs live in the forest and, by all accounts, are a vicious race. Giants live in high mountain caves and do not come down. Dragons have trapped themselves in time until the witch queen is defeated.”

Birdie’s eyes are wide, and her voice is soft with wonder. “Dragons and giants. My grandmother never said anything about those. I suppose she didn’t know.”

“You said your ancestor met elves in Texas? Perhaps they didn’t tell her about Domhan.

They were likely in this world to learn about humans.

Elves don’t usually come through. I’ll have to ask my mother or a historian what brought them here so long ago.

My parents came ten years ago looking for a way to break the curse.

” I’m deep in thought when I realize Wren’s gaze is on me. I stare back.

“You didn’t say why all these people you say live in your world live apart from one another? Why don’t fairies mix with dwarves and dwarves with elves, and so on?” Her expression is deadly serious, and she’s so beautiful it’s hard to think when she looks at me so intently.

“Honestly, I’m not certain. I’ve never met a fairy or a dwarf, Wren. I only know what people say about each race and that they don’t mix.” A touch of shame creeps into my gut, and I’m not sure where it came from. This is just the way Domhan is, and it’s certainly not my fault.

“Then you dislike all races save your own when you’ve never met anyone from the others? Do I have that right?” Her gaze is unwavering.

Birdie bites her lip, holding in a laugh at my expense.

“I never thought of it that way, but you’re right. My prejudices are founded in old rumors and even older traditions. I will endeavor to be more open-minded.” In one week, she has me rethinking a lifetime of beliefs. What kind of magic does this human hold?

“And humans?” She plops her empty glass on the table. “What is the overarching opinion of humans that all elves believe?”

A burst of laughter escapes before Birdie covers her mouth. “You’re in big trouble now. I’m willing to bet this will be a doozie.”

Wren has, in a few moments, made me feel like a schoolboy who spoke out of turn, and rightfully so.

“Elves think humans are weak and useless. Humans are believed to have no magic and no value to the elven way of life. Many believe that is why the old ones closed off the worlds from each other.” I can’t contain my chuckle.

“However, I learned within the first minute of finding you that weak is the last thing you are, since you brought me to my knees with one kick.”

How she manages to blush and look proud of herself at the same time is one of a hundred mysteries about Wren Martin that I yearn to uncover.

“Momma, it’s getting late. Should we have another round or call it a night?”

Finishing her ale, Birdie swipes her hand across her mouth. “I’m plum tuckered. Y’all can stay, but I’m going back to the flat.”

“I’m not letting you walk these city streets all alone. Besides, we’ve been running all over hell’s half acre all day. I want to get into my comfy clothes and put my feet up.” Wren follows her mother.

I walk with them back to the rental apartment. I’ve seen inns all over, but when I asked Birdie about this rental rather than a hotel room, she said she likes to have her own kitchen and more than one room to stomp in.

While the women go into the bedroom, I grab my pack and head into the bathroom. I take a quick shower and change. I’m going to bring this shower idea back home. It’s a brilliant way of cleaning up without all the fuss of a bath.

On the second day in this world, I bought myself two pairs of human denim pants and soft short-sleeve shirts.

My uniform jacket made me look too out of place, and using a glamor for clothes is a waste of magical energy.

I also purchased something called lounging pants, and I’m a bit too fond of them.

It’s like walking around naked while being covered up.

The material is soft and stretchy. On the day before we left London, I went back to the store and bought two more pairs.

When I see the bedroom light go out through the space below the door, I make up the couch with sheets and a blanket and lie back.

It’s too early for sleep, and the television might keep the women from sleeping.

I think of how I’ll convince Wren to leave everything she knows to help Domhan, a world she knows nothing about.

Maybe the oracle can find another way to defeat the witch queen and break the curse. I’d prefer one that doesn’t include putting Wren in mortal danger.

The bedroom door creaks slightly as the object of my thoughts steps into the living room. In a flimsy pair of pink shorts and a top that leaves her midriff exposed, she’s all temptation, and I’m all frustration. “I thought you might still be awake.”

I point to the still-light sky. “It’s still daylight. I can’t sleep yet.”

“This is Scotland in the summertime. It will be light another hour.” She sits at the edge of the other end of the couch.

Moving my feet to the floor, I watch her. “Are you unable to rest?”

“I don’t want you to think I don’t like you, Liam.

It’s hard to dislike you despite you initially trying to kidnap me.

” She blushes and looks at her hands as they twist in her lap, then fusses with her silver ring with its dark blue stone.

It’s one of her creations that she favors and wears much of the time.

“I’m flattered and glad to know you don’t hate me.” It takes all my will not to stare at her smooth, full thigh. “I find you brilliant, talented, and funny.” I don’t mention how beautiful she is because I need to protect myself from whatever is happening here.

Wide-eyed, she gapes at me. “Do you?”

“Yes. Why does that surprise you?” I sit with my back against the rolled arm of the couch and face her.

“I have refused to do what you want. I wouldn’t think you’d have anything nice to say about me.”

“One thing has nothing to do with the other. Besides, it’s not what I want, it’s what my world needs. I was ordered to come here to find you and ask you to return to Domhan with me. If it were up to me, I would leave you to live a happy life here.” Too much truth might not be a good thing.

She smiles, which makes my heart leap. “So, you like me, but you also have a job to do.”

“My world needs you, Wren. My liking you is beside the point.”