3. Darcy

Chapter 3

Darcy

I spun the mug of steaming hot tea in my hand but didn't drink it. Since traveling to the human realm, I'd never gotten into hot drinks, but Rafe was a diehard coffee drinker, and talked crap about tea enough to be reluctant to try it.

Besides, that would mean I'd have to take my eyes off the man that was panic-pacing across the length of his tiny cabin. Lyndon, he'd finally told me, had my full attention, even when I tried to look away. I wasn't sure what was happening exactly, but after we'd touched each other, I'd felt something . It was like belonging, a rightness I'd never experienced. I must have been imagining it, though, because Lyndon had gone as white as a sheet and had all but dragged me into his cabin, cursing under his breath the whole time. Whatever it was, it was clear Lyndon didn't feel the same way, and now the witch was doing everything he could to send me back.

He turned toward me, his purple eyes wide and wild. "Walk me through it again. You said you knew the portal was different than the ones they typically use in your realm. Why was that?"

I sighed and forced a smile. He was frustrated. I understood that. Over the last hour, I'd learned a little bit about his world, and it made sense why he wanted me out quickly. I couldn't explain the hurt I felt every time I thought about it, though. I should want to get home too. And I did! But Lyndon already had me fascinated, and I didn't want to leave without understanding my feelings.

"It just looked and felt different. I-I don't know how else to explain it. Plusss, it wasn't at the base. Ssssometimesss new portals do appear, but it'sssss rare. They are monitored by the human military and anyone from my world needssss a special passport to get through."

I patted my pocket where my passport sat. They all knew me at the base, but still, it was better to have it on you at all times.

Lyndon frowned and tapped his fingers on an oak table. It was huge, much bigger than a room of this size should hold, and it made me wonder what he used it for.

Those purple eyes glued me to the spot. He was the most beautiful human I'd ever seen. Or, well, witch? There were no witches in my realm that I knew of, so I didn't really understand what the differences were besides that green light I'd seen coming out of Lyndon's hands earlier. Other than that and his purple eyes, he looked like any other human. Just prettier.

Lyndon's brown hair fell into his eyes, and he kept having to push it back, which caused it to stick up in all different directions. He was tall, maybe an inch or two taller than me, even, with a puffy bottom lip he kept biting. I couldn't stop staring at those lips every time he turned to me with a frown. I wondered what he'd look like if he smiled.

I'd probably never know though. Smiling didn't seem to be in his vocabulary. At least not around me.

I was used to being around grumpy people. Rafe was one of the grumpiest. Even meeting his mate had only softened him a little. It never bothered me with him, so I didn't know why it was different with this complete stranger. Lyndon turned and met my gaze, his expression alarmed.

"Do you know how the portals are made in your world?"

I shrugged. "No, sorry."

Lyndon ran his fingers through his hair again and then crossed the small space to an overflowing bookshelf.

"Most of my books are about plants, herbs, and poultices. I really know nothing about portals or realm travel. Goddess, I can't believe I'm even saying these things. Realm travel. Either way, I might have something somewhere. I have a cousin in my coven who is an expert in that type of magic. Maybe he left something here."

I stood from my chair but couldn't bring myself to cross the distance. I wanted to help; it was my fault. But I didn't know if it would be welcome.

"I can just go," I forced myself to say. "This really isn't your problem. I appreciate your help, but I'm sure I'll find a way back home. I usually do." I shrugged, trying to keep it casual and light.

That was one thing I was still optimistic about. I always found a way home. Soon, Rafe would notice I was missing, and he'd do what he could to find me. As a consultant with the U.S. Military, he had a lot of resources, and his mate was a genius. I wouldn't be stuck forever. I'd just have to lie low for a while until I figured something out. How hard could it be? It had to be better than being a burden to this witch.

Lyndon scowled at me, which was . . . not the reaction I was hoping for. "Where the fuck are you going to go? If anyone sees you, they'll call the Parahuman Detection Agency, and you'll be in a box underground so fast your head will spin. You have no choice but to be here."

I sighed. I just couldn't understand this man. He made it clear he wanted me gone, and fast, yet he seemed to actually care? Or at least didn't want me dead. That was something, right? Maybe that feeling I'd had when our skin had touched wasn't as ridiculous as I'd thought.

Which . . . I wondered if I should try to touch him again. Maybe if I felt it a second time, I could figure it out. Even in that one moment of our arms brushing, I'd had more peace and felt more want than I had in my very long life. Would that happen again? What if it was for longer?

"Darcy? What're you doing?"

I snapped my hand, that somehow was now outstretched and about an inch away from Lyndon's face, back down to my side and stumbled a few steps back. "Sssssorry."

Lyndon scowled even harder, which honestly, I didn't realize was possible. "Were you trying to touch me?" His face scrunched up. He looked horrified. My stomach dropped.

"Ummm." My tail hung low and brushed against the floor in embarrassment. "I, uh. Ssssorry."

Then I went down to all fours, something I hadn't done in years, and slithered out of Lyndon's home.

"Darcy!"

I ignored his shouts as I felt my body start to shift and change. I hadn't been totally honest when I'd told Lyndon I didn't have another form. I did, it just wasn't the one he was looking for. I wasn't sure why I hadn't told him. It hadn't even occurred to me. It had been so long since I'd changed into my true animal form.

It was different for me than most other multi-formed species I'd met. I didn't have to shift back and forth. One time, I'd spent 45 years in my full lizard shape. When I'd finally shifted back, nothing had changed. I hadn't been feral, hadn't struggled. It was a huge plus.

Since the portals had opened and I'd made my home in the human realm, I hadn't shifted back to my animal form. It was just too limited. Now that I'd gotten a taste of human food, I couldn't go back to living on just bugs. Yuck. I'd miss pizza way too much. Oh, and donuts. And French fries. And TV. And hanging out with Rafe and Kennedy. And my job. I'd just miss too many things.

Until I could figure out a way home, this was safer. Lyndon didn't want me there. The only reason he'd been helping me was because he was trying to keep himself out of trouble. But for some reason I couldn't understand, it physically hurt every time the ornery witch scowled at me, and his reaction when I'd almost touched him . . .

I shook off the thought and wiggled out of my human clothes that were tangled around me, since I hadn't bothered taking them off before I'd shifted.

I could do this. Maybe I didn't love eating like a reptile anymore, but a few days wouldn't hurt. Lyndon's cabin was a literal treasure trove for me in this form. A couple days and I'd figure out my way home. Go back to my life, my job, my friends. I'd always wonder about Lyndon and this place, but I'd been mostly happy before. I could be like that again. What I'd felt when I'd touched him had just been my imagination running wild. All this time around my mated-up friends was getting to me.

So, new mission. Find something to eat because I was starving. Then I'd use my reptile form to sneak back to where the portal had appeared and somehow make it again. Then I'd go home. Perfect.

I smiled, well, as much as I could, as a cricket hopped along the path in front of me. Time for dinner.