Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

I didn’t relish the task of tracking down Alessandro’s recent sexual partners. There was the obvious ick factor, but also an uncomfortable invasion of privacy. I didn’t see a way around it though. Any one of them could be responsible for his curse.

I parked my motorcycle at a trailhead and followed the directions through Destiny Woods to the home of Raina Balodis. Despite having her full name, I couldn’t find a listing for her. It was Kane who furnished me with explicit instructions, with the added assurance that his knowledge wasn’t firsthand.

Raina’s cottage was the stuff of fairy tales. Pale ribbons hung from the tree branches that surrounded the compact house. A wild garden bordered the left side, and a small pond bordered the right.

There went my theory that you can tell a lot about someone by the home they keep. This sweet fairy tale cottage suggested Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, neither of which would’ve chosen a portable toilet for a tryst with their prince. I didn’t even want to use a portable toilet for its intended purpose, let alone anything else.

I knocked on the arched wooden door and waited. I half expected a team of small furry friends to greet me. Instead it was a leggy blonde with smoky eyes. She wore a simple white shift dress. Bare feet. Each toenail was painted a different pastel color; her toes resembled a carton of Easter eggs.

“Hi. My name is Lorelei Clay. I’m looking for Raina Balodis.”

“You found her. How can I help you?”

I heard the faintest trace of an accent. “I love your accent. How long have you lived in the US?”

“Is it so obvious?”

“I have a good ear.”

“Would you believe I’ve lived here so long, I’ve lost count?”

“I believe it.” I decided to fast forward through the pleasantries. “Are you immortal?”

Her eyes locked on me. They looked like two storm clouds gathering strength in case they decided to unleash their fury. “No,” she answered slowly, “but I live a very long time. You?”

“Immortalish.” No need to get into the specifics of my situation. “I have a delicate matter to discuss, and I’d rather not do it outside for all the woodland critters to hear.”

Her gaze skimmed me from head to toe, whatever misgivings she had about me seemingly eased. “Would you like to come inside? You’ll have to excuse the state of the cottage. I don’t entertain visitors very often.”

“I’d like to say the same, but the entrance to my house has turned into a revolving door.”

Raina laughed. “You are somewhat of a hermit, too? Do you also live in the forest? ”

“Very close to it.” I stepped inside. The interior was every bit as charming as the exterior. Flower vases adorned each surface. A variety of daisies in a ceramic vase sat on the kitchen counter. Orange and pink tulips spilled from a tall glass vase on the small dining table. A bud vase with a single pink tulip brightened the ledge of the kitchen window.

“It looks like spring in here,” I said.

“Thank you. The colors keep me going through the dreary winter. Flowers are so cheerful.”

“I have a roommate who’s threatening to turn my entire yard into flowerbeds soon.”

She angled her head toward the oven. “Would you like a slice of pie? I baked an apple and cinnamon one earlier. It’s still warm.”

What kind of guest would I be if I turned down freshly baked apple pie? “I would love a piece.”

Raina hummed to herself as she sliced the pie, and I recognized the tune of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake .

“Are you a fan of the ballet or classical music in general?” I asked.

Her gaze flicked to me. “Both, I suppose. You?”

“Classical music was a staple in my grandparents’ house.”

“Nothing moves me as much,” Raina agreed.

“Do you play an instrument?”

“The harp. I keep it in my bedroom. Playing relaxes me before sleep.”

I bit into my first piece of pie. The filling melted on my tongue. It was heavenly.

“You like?” Raina asked.

“I like.” I forced myself to slow down or I risked inhaling the rest in a single breath. “What made you decide to build a home in the middle of the woods?”

“I wanted to live close to a community, but not too close.”

I understood that sentiment all too well. “I was surprised you lived here. I didn’t think this section was zoned for residential housing.” I only knew that because of a painfully dull conversation I’d overheard between West and Bert about zoning laws in Fairhaven. Apparently, they were “nonsensical” yet “not overly restrictive.”

“There are several pockets that the local lawmakers left alone. This was one of them.”

Sage and her grandmother probably lived in another one. Their cabin was also in the woods and fairly isolated.

“The pie is amazing,” I said. “Your crust is so much tastier than mine.”

“Filling is easy. Crust is where the true magic happens.”

“If you ever decide to be more social, serve pie. You’ll have so many visitors, you won’t know what to do with them.”

She cut away the crust of her pie and ate it first. “I will occasionally venture out to meet others if there’s a special event.”

“Like a festival?”

“Those are a definite yes. I can choose to blend with the crowd and leave without goodbyes once I’ve had enough.”

“Fairhaven is filled with strangers in a strange land,” I said. “Why not get to know some of them better?”

“It is difficult, being the only one of your kind in a small town.” She scraped the remainder of the crust off her plate and ate it. “The wolves have their pack. The mages stick together. The vampires and demons have each other.”

“I can relate, although my isolation was self-imposed.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Was? Not anymore?”

“I had that intention when I moved here, but life has taken an unexpected turn.” So many unexpected turns, in fact, they gave me whiplash.

Raina chugged her drink. “I’m torn between not wanting to be anywhere near the place where I was born and missing it with every breath.”

“That sounds hard.” And relatable. I’d moved to England and eventually returned to Pennsylvania for similar reasons.

Her attention slid to the ceiling. “My goodness. Chessa, what are you doing up there?”

I glanced up to see a small creature cowering on a wooden beam. It looked like the offspring of a hairy spider and a vole.

Raina laughed softly. “I don’t know how she managed to get up there. She’s terrified of heights.”

“I guess that’s why she hasn’t come down. Too scared to try.”

“Good thing I am home to help you, little one.” Raina stood, sprouted a gorgeous pair of white feathered wings, and flew up to retrieve the creature. Her wings retracted the moment the soles of her feet hit the floor. “My apologies. The wings are instinctive.”

“You’re not a fairy.” My mind was already busy sifting through the other possibilities.

Her chin jerked up. “No. I am often mistaken for one, but my skills are far superior.” She set Chessa on the floor and the creature scurried to hide under the sofa.

“What is she?” I asked.

“A kikimora.”

That wasn’t even on my list. “Aren’t they hideous hunchbacks with malevolent tendencies?”

She beamed with pride. “Not my Chessa. She is nothing like the others of her kind.”

“That’s a relief.” Hideousness aside, kikimoras were known to drown travelers and kidnap children.

She looked at me with renewed interest. “You know of them?”

“My grandfather was very invested in my education.” And if Chessa was a kikimora … Ding, ding, ding. I had a winner. “You’re a vila, right?”

Raina’s shoulders squared with pride. “I am. Good that your grandfather covered the Slavs. We are not as popular here as the Greeks and Celts. Americans seem to have their favorites.”

I decided to nudge the conversation back toward my intended topic. “I don’t know about that. I’m confident you’d be very popular at the Devil’s Playground.”

She gestured to herself. “In this form, yes. I am much desired.”

Something in her tone gave me pause. “But this isn’t your desired form.”

Her stormy eyes met mine. “No. Part of my strangeness, I suppose. I feel my best in a different body.”

“What other forms can you take?”

She counted them off on her fingers. “Swan, horse, snake, wolf, and falcon.”

Raina didn’t have a team of furry friends because she was the team.

“Which one do you prefer?” Although I was fairly certain I already knew the answer.

“The swan.” Her fingers skimmed her neck. “There is no creature more elegant or graceful. I am never more beautiful than when I am covered in white feathers with a long, curved neck.”

Alessandro’s story suddenly made sense. When he’d rejected her overture, Raina felt as though he’d rejected her at her most beautiful as well as her most vulnerable. No wonder she’d reacted poorly.

Her moving revelation also moved her to the top of my suspect list. As a vila, Raina didn’t have magic per se, but she had impressive supernatural abilities. It was time to probe a little deeper .

“Do you ever shift into the other animals or is it only the swan?”

“The horse when I want to blow off steam. I love to gallop through the forest.” Her grey eyes burst with light. “I avoid my wolf form here.”

“Because of the local pack?”

She nodded. “I prefer feathers to fur anyway.” She ran a hand down her opposite arm. “There’s nothing like the soft, silky feeling of plumes all over your body.”

“I wouldn’t know.” The closest I’d gotten to that was an escaped feather from my down pillow.

“I rarely talk like this with strangers, yet I have been talking about myself nonstop, and I still don’t know the reason for your visit.” She leaned forward. “Is that one of your skills? Undue influence?”

“Trust me. My skills aren’t subtle. If I’m influencing you, it will be glaringly obvious.”

She cocked her head. “And now I am intrigued.”

“I’m not here to talk about me. I’m here on behalf of a friend you met recently. Alessandro.”

Her face clouded over as she shrank back. “The incubus? What about him?”

“He’s had a run of very bad luck this week. It’s wreaking havoc on his life.”

Her brow furrowed. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

Hmm. She actually sounded sorry. “He discovered a mark on his chest, and he has no idea how it got there.”

“A mark?”

“A rune.”

“I see. And the rune is connected to his misfortune?”

“Seems to be. I’m wondering if you can tell me anything about that.”

Raina blinked. “Me? You think I had something to do with it? ”

“Did you?”

Her mouth formed a thin line. “I suppose this means he told you what happened between us.”

“Only because of his predicament. He wouldn’t have shared it otherwise. He’s one of the good ones.”

“That seems debatable given his current situation.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

Her nostrils flared. “And to think I wasted a perfectly good slice of pie on you.”

“I take that as a no.”

“Of course not. I felt humiliated by his refusal, of course, but that’s on me. I thought I had a decent chance, given his adventurous reputation, but clearly I was mistaken.”

“You already knew who he was when you met at the festival?”

She nodded. “There’s been much talk of him at the Devil’s Playground. I assumed he was a sure bet.”

“He didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Your request took him by surprise, that’s all.”

Her eyes were downcast. “I cried the whole way home. The day began with such promise. I hated for it to end in such misery.”

“I’m sorry. Some days are like that.”

She licked her lips, thinking. “This isn’t simply bad luck, is it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Alessandro must be in grave danger to have someone digging into the most private details of his life.”

“His situation is a concern. Can I show you the mark on his chest? Maybe you know more than you think.”

“I’m a vila. We don’t mark anything, unless you count the ribbons in the trees outside.”

“What do the ribbons mark? ”

“Only my property line. Can I ask what sort of bad luck he’s experiencing?”

“A broken mirror. A few physical flaws.” It felt wrong to share the details if she didn’t already know them.

She gazed at her plate. “I imagine his appearance is very important to him. The physical flaws must be hitting him where it hurts.”

“That’s an understatement.”

She looked at me. “Well, tell him I am truly sorry … about everything. I hope he recovers.”

“Thank you, Raina. I’ll pass along the message.” I patted my stomach. “And thanks for the pie, too. It was the most delicious I’ve ever tasted.”

“My pleasure. I love to bake. Chessa’s favorite is my kifla.” She glanced at the sofa. “Isn’t that right, Chessa?”

“I’m not familiar with kifla.”

“I bake a crescent roll and fill it with Turkish delight. It was my grandmother’s recipe. The Bulgarian side of my family were the true pastry experts.”

An idea bloomed. “By any chance, do you know Goran?”

She shook her head. “Should I?”

“He’s a local vodyanoy.” I omitted the fact that he was also a prince cursed to live out his days as a water spirit. I’d let Goran tell his own story.

My comment piqued her interest. “A fellow Slav in Fairhaven? Where can I find this Goran?”

“Last I checked, he was living his best life in Bone Lake.”

A slow smile spread across her even features. “What a coincidence. Swans also live their best lives on lakes.”

I shut the door on my imagination and double-locked it. Nope. Not gonna venture down that mental road. Whatever a swan and a froglike creature chose to do in the privacy of their own public lake was none of my business.

“Goran is a friend. If you find him, tell him I sent you.” If I couldn’t turn him back into a prince, the least I could do was make his life a little less lonely.

Raina observed me with softened eyes. “You’re very considerate, Lorelei. Maybe this is the reason you have been lured out of isolation.”

“To play supernatural matchmaker?”

She shook her head. “The world is in desperate need of many things, but kindness most of all.”

Now that I’d struck Raina off the list, I had no choice but to cross the border into New Jersey. Carrie and Del Riggio were the only two other names I currently had. I decided to bust out the big guns for my trip—or in this case, one big Gun. Gunther Saxon, mage, fashion icon, and assassin extraordinaire. If Alessandro’s sex buddies reeked of magic as Josie claimed, then I wanted to be packing too.

I picked up the mage on my motorcycle, which he seemed to find equal parts thrilling and terrifying judging by the squeals and fingernail marks he undoubtedly left on my hips en route to the Riggio’s riverside condo in Jersey City.

“Wow. That shaved a couple years off my life,” Gun said, dismounting the bike. He removed his helmet and checked his reflection in the sideview mirror.

“Don’t forget the return journey. That’ll be another two years.”

He fluffed his dark hair. “I might opt for an Uber.” He turned to regard the building. “This is nicer than I expected. When did New Jersey get a glow-up?”

“Trust me. It isn’t the whole state.” I pivoted toward the building. “Just FYI, there’s a doorman in the lobby. He might not let us through.”

Gun patted the pocket where he stored his tarot cards. “Au contraire, dearest. ”

The marble lobby would’ve looked more at home in the headquarters of a major corporation. I spotted a sign for a swimming pool, as well as a private entrance for residents direct from an indoor parking lot. I was beginning to think I should’ve researched my options more thoroughly before hitting the Castle’s buy button. The only repairs needed in a place like this involved the espresso machine.

“Carrie and Del must be doing well for themselves,” Gun commented.

“No kidding.”

“Good afternoon,” the doorman greeted us.

“I’ll take care of him,” Gun murmured. “You go ahead.” He tugged a tarot card from his sleeve. “Good afternoon to you, kind sir.”

I bolted for the elevator bank and pushed the button. The doors opened immediately, and I slipped inside. As the doors closed, I glimpsed the doorman staring at Gun as though in a trance. I hoped he didn’t put the guy to sleep. I didn’t want him to lose his job.

Please don’t be a witch played on repeat in my mind as the elevator carried me to the fifth floor. Just because I had a blossoming friendship with Phaedra Bridger didn’t mean my faith in witches had been restored. It would take a lot more than one good apple to prove the bunch wasn’t spoiled.

Josie was right about the couple’s magic. I sensed its presence in the hallway. It was so strong, in fact, that I followed it straight to their door without the need to check the numbers.

Yep. 501.

I knocked on the door, practicing my questions in my head. How’s married life? So, about that handsome incubus you had a threesome with the other night…

It was possible that the husband or wife grew jealous and hexed Alessandro as a parting gift. The internet was full of stories about one spouse only agreeing to multiple partners to keep the relationship intact. A Band-Aid over a gushing martial wound.

The door opened, and a man I assumed to be Del Riggio stood in front of me dressed in a silk robe, a cherry red banana hammock, and nothing else. I was irrationally annoyed that the banana hammock wasn’t yellow. His clothing wasn’t his worst feature, however; that honor belonged to the flat-top and shaved sides that masqueraded as a hairstyle.

I tried to stay focused on the task at hand. “Hi, I’m looking for Del Riggio.”

He draped an arm along the doorframe. “Finally, my prayers have been answered.”

Good grief .

“I’m also looking for your wife, Carrie. Is she at home?”

He didn’t seem bothered by the mention of his significant other. “No, just me today. Carrie’s at work. Usually gets home around six.” He adopted a lazy smile. “You’re more than welcome to wait here.”

I glanced over my shoulder, hopeful that Gunther was on his way. “No need. I’ll try her later.”

“Great, that means you can try me now.” He winked.

I was tempted to induce his worst nightmare purely on the basis of triggering my gag reflex.

“I understand you and your wife were at the Devil’s Playground recently.”

He removed his arm from the doorframe and adjusted to an upright position. “We’re there fairly often. Why do you ask?”

“Did you meet the new bartender during your most recent visit?”

His jaw tensed. “Alessandro. Yes. What’s this about?”

“Can I ask what kind of magic you practice, Mr. Riggio? ”

His brown eyes turned to slits. “Who are you?”

“My name is Lorelei Clay. I’m a friend of Alessandro’s.”

Del peered past me into the hallway. “I’d prefer to have this conversation inside.”

“And I’d prefer you were fully clothed.”

He glanced down at his limited attire. “You’re lucky I’m dressed at all.”

“Holy budgie smuggler,” a voice cried.

Thank the gods, Gun had arrived.

Del’s gaze skated to Gunther, now standing beside me. “Another friend of yours?”

“Yes, this is Gunther Saxon.”

Gun held out his hand and Del shook it. “Don’t make the poor man stand in the hallway, Lor. This draft is strong enough to shrink the giant golf ball at Epcot.”

Del widened the gap and motioned for us to enter. Gun fingered the sleeve of his robe as he passed.

“Mulberry silk?”

“It is,” Del practically purred.

Gunther’s presence seemed to relax him because he offered to make us cappuccinos with “the perfect frothy foam.”

Gun settled on the sofa and rested his arms along the back. “Sounds scrumptious, but I adhere to the Italian rule. No cappuccino after eleven.”

“Nothing for me, thanks,” I said. I sensed too much magic to feel comfortable accepting food or drink from Del Riggio.

Del sat on the loveseat adjacent to the sofa, still not bothering to tie his robe. “Why are you asking about Alessandro?”

I clasped my hands around my knee. “He’s been unwell ever since your … encounter.”

“Unwell?”

“Relax. Not in the STI sense,” Gun clarified.

“It appears he’s been cursed or hexed,” I said .

His eyes flooded with understanding. “That’s why you referenced magic. You think my wife or I might’ve done it.”

I watched him intently. “Did you?”

“Why would I do that? I haven’t enjoyed myself that much since before I was married.”

Gunther leaned forward, eyes glittering. “Really? Do tell.”

I pushed the mage back with my elbow. “Is it possible your wife sensed your enjoyment and was unhappy about it?”

“Carrie knows she has nothing to worry about. Trust me. And even if she had been jealous, she doesn’t have the ability to curse or hex anybody. The magic is mine.”

“What kind of magic do you practice?”

“Whatever it is, it’s dark,” Gun said. “It feels like heavy cobwebs hanging all around us.”

Del tilted his head. “An innate sense of fabrics and magic. I’m impressed.”

Gun waved a hand. “Flatter me later. Right now, you need to answer Lorelei’s questions.”

“I’m a warlock.”

“And Carrie?” I asked.

“She’s human, but she has the Sight.”

“How long have you been married?”

“Ten years next month.”

“Have you always had an open relationship?”

“It’s necessary,” he said simply.

I didn’t let the answer slide. “For what? You’re not an incubus.”

“I draw power from sexual encounters the same as Alessandro.” He flicked a piece of lint from his robe. “Unlike Alessandro, however, it isn’t my only source, nor do I require it to live.”

“Do you require it to live in the lap of luxury?” I asked, gesturing to the upscale condo .

“No, this is all down to Carrie. She comes from a very wealthy family.”

“Which is why you decided to hitch your wagon to her star?”

Del laughed, appearing unoffended. “Carrie was a tiny mouse when I met her, living in her older sister’s golden shadow.” His grin widened. “I changed all that for her.”

Gun nodded. “A mutually beneficial arrangement. I get that.”

“If Carrie provides the money, what does your magic provide?” I asked.

“The lifestyle. Carrie would never get invited to fabulous parties or exotic trips without my influence. She loves regaling her sister with tales of our exploits. Simone is now tethered to her McMansion in Millburn thanks to three children, a husband who travels extensively for work, and a mountain of volunteer positions.”

“Does Carrie mind that you use sex with other people to support this lifestyle?” I asked. Just because Del was the magic user didn’t mean Carrie wasn’t resourceful. She could’ve planned ahead and decided the next time Del invited someone else to join them, she’d exact her revenge.

“Carrie is the kind of supportive wife most people dream of. I’m a lucky man.”

“Why dark magic?” Gun asked. “It seems to me that all this is possible without losing your soul in the process.”

Del shrugged. “It’s the only path I know.”

“No ritual sacrifices, though, right?” Gun asked.

“No,” Del said. “Blood and flesh, yes, but nothing that causes irreparable harm.”

“Would you mind if I show you the mark on Alessandro?” I asked. “Maybe you’ll recognize it.”

Del’s expression turned serious. “Absolutely. I’d like to help if I can, if only for purely selfish reasons. Carrie and I would love to see him again.”

I pulled up the photo on my phone and turned the screen toward him.

Del squinted. “I don’t recognize it. I wouldn’t use a physical mark anyway, not that I would curse or hex anyone. That’s not part of my warlock toolkit.”

I glanced at Gunther, who nodded. Thanks to the tarot card Gun had subtly activated, I knew Del was telling the truth.

“Would you mind if we did a quick scan of the condo?” I asked.

Del’s brow furrowed. “What kind of scan?”

“If Carrie’s hiding any evidence of magic, we should be able to find it.”

Gun rose languidly to his feet. “I promise not to peek in your underwear drawer unless you want me to.”

Who needed to peek when it was on display?

“Be my guest. Our marriage isn’t the only thing that’s open. We have nothing to hide.”

I accompanied Gun as he walked through each room of the condo, holding another activated tarot card.

“No magical signature from Carrie, only Del,” he reported.

We circled back to the living room, where Del was still seated.

“You seem to be right about Carrie,” I said. “No traces of magic from her.”

“I know my wife as well as I know myself. It’s one of the reasons our relationship is as strong as it is. As boring as it sounds, communication is the key.”

As outside my comfort zone as their arrangement was, I found myself appreciative of what they had together. It was unorthodox, sure, but it worked for them .

“Are you positive you wouldn’t like to stay a little longer?” Del asked. “I could make it worth your while.”

“My relationship is exclusive,” I said. “And trust me when I tell you that you wouldn’t like to see my guy angry.”

Gun looked at me. “You make it sound like you’re dating the Hulk.”

Del cleared his throat. “Actually, I wasn’t talking to you, Lorelei.”

Gun’s gaze slid to Del. “How about that drink now?”

“Mexican coffee?”

“Surprise me.”

I pressed the heel of my boot on top of Gun’s shoe, prompting a look from him.

“What? I told you I’d take an Uber home.”

“I thought that was because of my driving.”

“It was, and now I have an even better reason.”

Gunther was a grown mage who could do whatever and whomever he pleased. “Okay, if you’re sure.”

He smiled at Del. “I’m sure.”

“It was nice meeting you, Lorelei,” Del said. “Give my regards to Alessandro. I hope you’re able to resolve his problem.”

“Thank you.”

I left the condo feeling too much like Nana Pratt for my liking. I was hardly a prude, so what was my issue? The question swirled around in my mind as I rode home. Only when I arrived at the Castle did the answer become clear.

It wasn’t about sex. It was about fear. I felt protective of Gun. I’d delivered him to the home of a warlock with dark magic. It didn’t matter that Gun was a professional assassin with powerful magic of his own. A La Fortuna mage from a long line of tarot card practitioners. He was also Gunther Saxon, one of the first friends I made in Fairhaven.

And I didn’t want to lose him.