Gift (Enchanted Ardor #2)

Chapter Fourteen

Olivia woke with a start, heart pounding, chest shuddering, fingers clenching the thick coverlet twisted around her sweat-slicked body.

Realizing she was in a bed and not being chased by a crazy, scary shadow down a dark alley, she sat up, throwing aside the blanket as she caught her breath.

As her senses aligned to the waking world, Nick’s scent filled her deep breaths.

She was alone in the room. His room. His bed.

She drew one final deep breath as everything else rushed back to her, taking in the sparse, yet cozy bedroom. A tapestry adorned one wall, while a carved armoire dominated another. A window paned with warbled glass let in the coloured northern lights dancing across the coverlet.

The fantasy weekend love affair was over.

Back to business Monday.

The change in Nick—the sudden distance he put between them—had made that clear.

She stood, walking to the window, observing the lights through the glass.

Except, I’m still in a fantasy land.

Vastly different from the dragon’s cave that started her journey so long ago, yet just as magical.

Her fingers drifted over the glass, with its tiny trapped bubbles, as Cupid and Nick’s words circled through her mind, always coming back to Nick’s statement.

‘She doesn’t belong here.’

Do I belong anywhere?

I need to go back. At least I can be of some service to someone back home.

Which I can’t do from here, anyway—even if I wanted to stay—which I don’t.

Despite Cupid’s insistence and the implications, the notion of staying had only danced through her heart for a millisecond. She hadn’t ever tried to grasp it. It was absurd.

But it had left a grain behind, just enough to scratch at her awareness.

A new scent tickled her nose, drawing her attention to the open door.

Bacon?

Olivia ran her fingers through her hair, releasing the tangles, then straightened the bed to make it look as though she’d never been there.

At the bedroom door, she took in the sight of Nick cooking by the open hearth. She lingered for a few minutes, observing the concentration on his face as he worked. Her mouth watered as the aroma of bacon continued to fill the cottage. But it was more than just the food that she hungered for.

This snapshot seared into her brain.

Waking up to this. Every morning.

Her heart tripped.

You don’t belong here, Olivia.

And if he wanted you, he’d have said so.

She watched him for a few moments longer, then straightened her shoulders and her heart.

She strode toward the washbasin set on a side table. Cleaning her hands, she stationed herself at the table, slicing the loaf of bread he’d set aside in preparation for the toast rack by the fire. “Tell me about your family.”

He turned at the sound of her voice, gaze flicking over her features and down to her hands, working on the bread, before turning back to his task. “Butter is in the cupboard. You met most of the crew last night. What you see is what you get. The others will return with their harvest before it goes out.”

She looked up, meeting his direct gaze. “What? Do I have dried drool on my face?” She scrubbed her sleeve over her face.

The corner of his lips quirked. “No. You should rest longer.”

“How can I, when there’s bacon out here?”

Said bacon expressed a prolonged sizzle with a sudden pop. Nick grunted.

“Tell me about your Djinn. Can they help with the shadow threat?”

Olivia’s hands stalled over the loaf. “I can’t involve her.”

Nick turned his whole body toward Olivia, ignoring the vocal bacon. “Why not?”

“It’s complicated.”

He lifted a brow.

“Do you just randomly ask your magical friends to solve all your problems?”

“I solve my own problems.”

“Exactly.”

“You can solve magical problems yourself?”

“I haven’t exactly had the chance to try, yet, have I?” She glared at him. “Your bacon is burning.”

Staring at her a second longer, he spun around to save their breakfast.

Olivia arranged the bread slices on the toasting rack and set it by the hearth. “Besides, our friendship isn’t like that. And she has… limitations that affect her magic.”

Nick retrieved several eggs from a nearby bowl and held them up.

“Scrambled. Two please.”

“I’ve never heard of a djinn with limitations. But you’re still in contact, which is good. If she can’t protect you, maybe she can help figure out how to get rid of the threat. She might know what it is.”

“I’d rather not involve her at all.”

“That’s what family does for one another.”

“I wouldn’t know about that.” Her chest tightened as she plucked at the toast, ignoring the return of his stare. She felt it even though she didn’t meet his eyes. She felt it in the set of his body.

Nick removed the cast iron pan from the heat and placed it on a thick wooden block atop the table. Wiping his hands on a thin towel, he tossed it aside and watched Olivia as she finished her own task. As soon as she started spreading the butter on the warmed slices, Nick’s fingertip slipped under her chin, gently turning her face toward his.

His gaze was intent, giving her no room to turn away. “ We will figure this out together.”

She blinked, trying to hid her vulnerability, but it was too late, he wouldn’t allow her to escape the intensity of his determination.

“We’ll make it safe for you to go back to your life so that you can continue with all the good that you do in the world.”

She finally pulled away. “It isn’t much, Nick. A soup kitchen a few days a week, and kindness to those that need it, is easy.”

“Not for everyone, it isn’t.” He resumed plating the food. “Especially for someone who’s been doing it as long as you have. That’s rare. Special. You’re special.”

She accepted the plates without a response as he retrieved a French press containing aromatic coffee.

What do I say to that?

“I will ask her if she knows anything.” Olivia finally said after several sips of the rich coffee and half her plate had been consumed. “How do I reach out—assuming my cell won’t work here?”

Nick shook his head. “It won’t. Cupid is our communications guy. We’ll go to his place when we’re done. He won’t have left for the groves yet.”

Olivia’s chest pattered a lighter staccato, breath held, she asked. “Can I help? In the groves?”

Looking up from his plate and seeing the hope on her face, Nick smiled, eyes twinkling. “Of course. We need all the help we can get. Especially if the Nisse have been into the barrels again.”

Olivia laughed, setting her cutlery across her empty plate, reaching for the coffee cup. “What’s a Nisse?”

“I’ll explain them on our way to Cupid and Vixen’s place.” He stood, reaching for her plate to stack on his own and setting the dishes aside in a dry sink.

Donning their winter gear, Olivia followed Nick along the cobbled path toward another cottage on the far side of the longhouse.

“The Nisse?” Olivia reminded him, struggling to keep up with his long strides.

“Are meddlesome pests.” Dolph’s voice met them at a junction in the path, following them. “Where you going?”

Dolph’s overpowering stench threatened Olivia’s happy stomach. Tensing, she sped toward Nick.

“Cupid’s place. And don’t ever let them hear you say that, Dolph. They’re an indispensable part of this world’s economy. Without them, the groves would wither.”

“Which happens anyway when they’re drunk all the time.” Dolph caught up to Nick with a few strides.

Olivia’s gut continued to tighten, causing her wonderful breakfast to compress into a hard lump while coffee acid threaten to rise. She turned her face away as she drew a breath to ease the discomfort.

“Their frenzy will pass once they’ve worked it through their systems. It always does.”

“Last time it was the candy they asked us to import, at least with that, they’d just puke it up if they had too much and get on with work. They can’t do that if they’re passed out in the trees, Nick.”

The mental image made Olivia’s stomach flip.

Nick finally rounded on his brother. “It will pass. Leave them alone and focus on your own responsibilities.”

Dolph grunted, gaze swiveling to Olivia. “Seems to me everyone has some sort of distraction from the boredom of this place. Must be nice to have a soft, warm one.”

“Ah, there you are!” Cupid trundled up the path toward them. “You’re coming to my place, aye?”

At Nick’s nod, he turned, taking over the lead. “I got a message out to Ms. O’Clery and she’s going to find her sister, who’s currently working a case.”

“A case? Is she a detective?” Olivia dodged a loose cobble on the path, keeping up with Cupid’s brisk pace, putting more distance between herself and Dolph’s rank odor.

“Of sorts.” Cupid opened the door to the cottage he shared with Vixen. The layout was much the same as Nick’s, with an additional level. There was as much ironwork art in the home as carved detail on the beams and furnishings. “Vixen added her touch.” Cupid beamed at the ornate iron piece above the fireplace mantle.

“It’s magnificent.”

“Aye, my Vixen doesn’t just keep our tools sharp. She’s the finest blacksmith I’ve ever known.”

“I’m the only blacksmith you’ve ever known.” Vixen descended the stairs, fingers nimbly plaiting her hair. “Did you offer tea?”

“On it.” Cupid left Olivia’s side to retrieve several mugs and the steaming kettle. “O’Clery said she would need some time and agreed with me that Olivia should stay here with us.”

Nick grumbled into the mug Cupid handed him. “Of course she did.”

“Under no circumstances is she to go back. Not until we deal with this threat.”

“What? I—I can’t just stay here indefinitely.”

“How long?” Dolph remained standing by the door.

Nick remained silent, staring at the floor.

Cupid shrugged. “As long as it takes. There is no hurry here.”

“That’s not exactly true—,” Nick crossed his arms.

“We have work to do and can’t lounge around entertaining this human. Especially not so close to the delivery date.” Dolph sneered.

Cupid shoved a hot mug in Dolph’s hand, glaring up at him. “No one is lounging. It’s tea for five minutes before we go. Sit.” He turned back to his tray, giving Vixen a pained look.

Dolph stubbornly remained by the door, but did sip his drink.

“Who can I shadow? Since I can’t just take myself home, I will work as much as I’m able. I just don’t know anything about trees.”

“Nick.” Cupid drew out his name when no one answered. Having Nick’s attention, he tilted his head, swiveling his eyes in Olivia’s direction.

Nice.

It was Olivia’s turn to cross her arms over her chest.

Nick blinked and glanced around at the faces, pulled in from his thoughts. “Vixen or the twins. I won’t make her suffer Dolph’s company. I need you on standby for O’Clery, Cupid.”

Dolph snorted.

Not, ‘I’d be happy to have Olivia work with me’.

Stung, Olivia drained her mug as she controlled her disappointment.

Fantasy night was long gone.

Cupid gaped, then compressed his lips at Nick’s resolved expression. “Fine. But the twins left over an hour ago.”

“My tasks today do not require help.” Vixen gathered the empty mugs, offering Olivia a gentle smile and a pat on the hand to lessen the rejection. She turned to Nick. “Besides, the Nisse finished off the ale last night.”

Nick sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “I really wish the Council wouldn’t schedule the gathering during my quarter.”

“What’s done is done. Off you go.” Vixen opened the door to usher everyone out. “Dash will be back to prepare lunch.”

“Is there another way to go back? Other than Sleipnir?” Olivia whispered.

Vixen shook her head. “Not that we know of, at this time.”

“At this time? What does that mean?”

“Olivia?” Nick called from outside the door.

She glanced between Vixen and the front door and rushed after Nick who didn’t appear to have noticed she wasn’t right behind him.

The last thing she needed was to get lost in the forest.

At least it wasn’t bitter cold and snowing here.

“Watch your step,” Nick tossed over his shoulder just in time for Olivia to side step a small arm and a leg sprawled out from under the bushes lining the walk to Cupid and Vixen’s cottage.

Unconcerned, Nick hadn’t slowed his stride.

Nisse?

She was torn, wanting to stop and inspect the inert creature to ensure it wasn’t harmed, but Nick had reached the edge of the trees where the path darkened between them.

Best go in case he leaves the path.

She cast a last glance at the arm and leg before dashing after the blond giant.