Lupi 04 - Night Season

thoughts—and watching his watcher; the little fellow was amusing in his attempts to duck out of sight—he’d wandered away from the mostly human area. He’d forgotten to get a drink and was in need of one, so when he saw what was unmistakably a tavern, he headed for it. He’d have some ale, he decided, listen a bit, and get back to the Chancellery to see how the sorting had gone.
    A tall male something with an extra set of arms blocked the door and rumbled at him. His charm said, “Depart, human scum.”
    Cullen stopped, looking up at the ugly face looming over him. “‘Depart, human scum’?” he repeated incredulously. “You have got to be kidding.”
    â€œHumans are not allowed in the Gypsum.”
    He could have pointed out that he wasn’t human. Instead he smiled sweetly. “But I’m thirsty. Of course you’ll step aside.”
    The whatever-he-was growled.
    It was the growl that did it. Cullen’s wolf did not like being growled at, and he was in a mood to indulge the wolf. His smile widened. Wouldn’t the oversize idiot look funny when the weak little human Changed? “I’m a peaceable fellow, so I’ll give you to a count of three to get out of my way. One…”
    A tinkling laugh interrupted him. He glanced over his shoulder, scowling…then caught a whiff of who approached, and his body went on alert in a completely different way.
    She wore green today—a pale, silvery green, her gossamer gown styled like a sari, only without a blouse beneath. The exposed breast was small and round and lovely, the areola a pale, virginal pink.
    And her scent…
    â€œQuit playing with the poor half-half,” the sidhe woman said, her voice rich with amusement and derision and suggestions. “He doesn’t know what you are, of course.” She tilted her head to one side. “I am not sure I do, either. Not in the sort of…detail…with which I would like us to be acquainted.”
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    T HE sorting had gone well. Tedious, but well. The first Find, not so great.
    â€œNo luck?” Ruben said softly.
    They were in a kitchen garden, the only spot within the Chancellery where she could get her bare feet on the ground. That wasn’t essential for a Find, but it helped when she was pushing her limits.
    â€œNo.” She shrugged. “It’s either too far away or it’s warded. Time for Plan B.”
    â€œYour energies is not depleted?” Bilbo asked anxiously. He and two other gnomes waited just beyond Ruben on the cobbled path.
    â€œNo.” She felt great, in fact, though she’d just done a full Find. She wondered if Edge’s magic was keeping her replenished better than Earth’s magic did. Or maybe it was the great sex last night. That, as any Wiccan would tell you, worked a treat to top off your magical tank.
    â€œThis will take longer,” she warned them, and lowered herself to the ground. “I need to do some prep first.”
    Cynna had chosen a patch of creeping thyme for her grounding, in part because she’d do the plants no harm by standing, sitting, or stomping on them. The scent was pleasant, too. She closed her eyes and let herself drift on the mixed scents of the garden, the slightly damp, spongy feel of the plants and the earth beneath them, until she felt centered and ready.
    Also horny. Squirmingly horny. Last night had reminded her body of what it had been missing, and it wanted more. But she could use that. Arousal was energy, and a lot more fun than pain. Theoretically she could use that, too, but she’d never been moved to try.
    Her skin felt tight and lively. She ached pleasantly between her legs, bringing her attention to her root chakra.
    Why wasn’t Cullen here?
    Shut up, she told her mind. Hadn’t she told Cullen to go do his thing? She didn’t need him to hold her hand when she did a Find. She’d wanted him out of her way, in fact, wanted time without him cluttering up her thoughts…and here he was anyway. And here she was, all annoyed because he hadn’t shown up in spite of what she’d told him.
    How very girly of her. Cynna sighed.
    Once more she gave her attention to the thyme, the air, the sensations of this moment. After a few moments she had the calm, centered feeling back and brought her attention to her newest kielezo , the enspelled tattoo for the medallion. Carefully she trickled power into a