Twenty-Four
Spell Smell
Saber felt Tirah’s gaze on him, though she didn’t answer his question. Saber grabbed an ale and started to close the cooler door.
“Can I have one, please?”
Surprised, Saber got her one. “Didn’t think you liked this stuff.” He cracked the lid off before handing her the bottle.
“I never tried that kind, but usually I don’t,” she said.
“It’s infused with Nectar,” he warned.
Tirah accepted the bottle with a shaking hand, then immediately raised it to her lips. Saber frowned as a momentary twinge of worry shot through him. Humans didn’t normally drink anything with Nectar, so he had no idea what kind of reaction she’d have. Surely it couldn’t be that bad, could it? Then he remembered tales of Humans passed out for days under the table after only one sip.
Saber sat down and watched Tirah. “Ah, maybe you shouldn’t drink that.”
“No. I like it, it’s actually good.” Surprise lit her eyes, and he was about to caution her again, when she raised the bottle back to her lush red lips. His breath hitched as he imagined those lips on his own.
Tirah drank the whole thing. Then, looking just as surprised as he, she set the empty bottle down on the table.
Saber took a drink of his own ale, shocked she wasn’t out cold. Maybe she could handle it. Maybe she wasn’t entirely Human …? Then she popped a piece of fruit into her mouth.
“Tell me how to undo the spell,” he said.
Tirah reached for more and paused. “You’ve asked me about that before, but what spell? I don’t understand. I thought you were after me for the death of—”
“It was murder.”
Tirah sighed with obvious frustration and Saber studied her. Her face was flushed, yet she wasn’t drunk. Then she sucked another piece of fruit in her mouth, and her pink tongue came out and licked the juice from her lips
“I want to know about the spell that sent my brother to Hades.” It was impossible to take his eyes off her tongue.
Then Tirah flinched at the anger in his voice, breaking the spell. Saber met her gaze, she appeared confused.
“Your brother?” She blinked and reached for a slice of cheese, only to nibble painstakingly slow, while she studied him.
Saber wanted to groan, but nodded instead, his eyes drawn to her perfect, pearly white teeth. If only they were nibbling on something else. Something of his …
He cleared his throat and met her gaze. “Yes, the one in the circle that night. Adariasthorn.”
Her saw her eyes widen in surprise. “I knew he was your brother, but I didn’t know anything happened to him.”
“How did you do it?” he asked, not believing her.
Tirah shifted in her chair and scowled. “How did I do what?”
Saber drew in a deep breath and exhaled. Was she purposely being obtuse? “How did you send him to Hades?”
Tirah’s mouth dropped open. “That’s what happened when all those fissures opened and that … that nasty fire… green … that smelly green fire shot up?”
“Hellfire,” Saber said.
Tirah shook her head. “It tried to eat me.”
Saber waited, and Tirah swallowed, then she reached for the wine and finished it. “I … ah, really don’t know, but I sure didn’t do it.”
Saber narrowed his eyes on her. “I interrogated all the others, none of them knew what happened. The one thing they did say, was that it had something to do with you.”
Anger flashed in Tirah’s eyes. “Well they lied, obviously.”
“Why would they lie?”
She pursed her lips and stared at him, and Saber could see her thinking. Then she looked at his ale. “Can I have another?”
Caught off guard, he raised an eyebrow. “You want another ale?”
“Yes, please.”
About to tell her she should be careful drinking the stuff, she popped out of her chair and hurried over to the food cooler. “You want one?”
“No, I’m good, but I’m not sure if you should drink another,” he said, watching her.
“I’ll be fine.” Tirah grabbed a bottle, closed the door, and leaning back, cracked the top. Then she tilted the bottle to her lips. “I love this stuff.” After a good long swig, she hiccupped and giggled.
Pissed at the laugh that bubbled up inside of him in reaction, Saber held it back and glowered instead. “You are one of them, why would they lie?”
Tirah snorted and anger blazed anew in her eyes. “Really?” The flames died and a deep sadness that spoke of years of loneliness filled her eyes. “That’s what you’d think, isn’t it?” Without explaining, she took another long chug before setting the empty bottle on the counter. On her way back to the table, he saw her sway.
Saber was out of his chair and at her side immediately. He reached out to steady her and hissed as heat shot through him. He bit back the groan, as the deep, burning need he constantly fought to take her, grew stronger. Then Tirah grabbed his arm and the torture and fog in his head completely disappeared.
“Whoa, I … I think maybe I should … no, shouldn’t have had that last bottle. Think me … I … has … too much.” She giggled again as he helped her back over to her chair.
“Tell me the spell.” Saber released her, then ground his teeth against the throbbing onslaught as his pain immediately returned.
Tirah tilted her head and studied him. “Spell, smell. You said that already.” Then she frowned. “For a bad guy, you sure are pretty.”
Pulling his chair closer, Saber snorted. “The spell, tell me.”
Tirah licked her lips. “I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
Tirah ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t know. There was someone else … someone evil, hiding … behind the rocks.” Then she dropped her head on her arms that were resting on the table.
Saber waited, but she didn’t move. Damn. Feeling the effects of the Nectar himself, he stood and glanced around. He could put her on the couch to sleep, but that didn’t sit right with him. She needed a bed. Ha, yeah right. You just want her in your bed, a voice in his head mocked.
He gently picked her up and sighed when the agony in his head let up. He made his way to his room and then carefully laid her on his bed. After pulling a blanket over her, he drew in a breath, knowing the torment would be back. Then he let go and winced. White noise throbbed in his skull.