Freaky Hearts Read online

  Luke grinned at my teasing tone. “It involves releasing the kraken, but you’re not quite there yet. For now, if you don’t get in the water right this second, I’ll throw you in.”

  “Oh, that’s big talk,” I shot back, taking a step away from him and edging toward the water. I could hear Nixie and Naida squealing as they cavorted. “We both know I’m stronger than you unless you shift.” I glanced around and extended my arms for emphasis. “This beach may be empty, but I doubt you’ll risk shifting in case someone stumbles across us.”

  Luke rolled his eyes. “First, wolves are common in Utah. I could get away with shifting.”

  That never occurred to me and I widened my eyes as realization settled in. Luke is the type of man who would shift simply to give me something to focus on other than my unhappiness.

  “Secondly, I’m manly and strong.” Luke thumped his chest for emphasis, causing me to laugh. I hadn’t done it in a week – not for real, at least – and the sound almost made me euphoric as I hopped away from Luke’s outstretched hand. “You’d better start running now!”

  Even though I knew my self-doubt and worry would return, I pushed both out of my head and raced toward the water. Luke gave chase, making barking sounds that caused me to laugh hysterically. It was a beautiful day and I was with my best friend. I couldn’t ask for more … even though my heart desperately wanted it.

  5

  Five

  “That is just … freaky.”

  No matter how many times I witnessed Naida showing off her fin – water nymph pixies were mistaken as mermaids by early sailors, before they did a better job of hiding themselves, that is – I couldn’t wrap my head around the way Naida’s legs turned into a glimmering green tail when she swam.

  Naida could control the phenomenon, so we weren’t overly worried that someone would happen upon us. Even if they did, I could modify a memory quick enough. Naida could also shift within seconds. The beach remained empty for the bulk of the afternoon, other than a young couple taking a walk, and they remained close to the tree line as they passed.

  Shortly before three I turned my eyes to the sky and heaved a sigh. I rested in about two feet of water, leaning my head back to absorb the sun as I reclined on my elbows in the shallows with Nixie.

  “Thanks for doing this,” Nixie chirped, her lips curling as she watched Luke and Naida cavort about fifteen feet away. “It means a lot to Naida.”

  “It was Luke’s idea,” I reminded her. “You should thank him.”

  “He’ll thank himself enough.” Nixie is more than a hundred years old in human time, but she’s still considered a youngster when it comes to her fairy brethren. She has smooth skin and bright eyes, resembling a human teenager to untrained observers. “Naida really needed this. She goes crazy if she can’t spend time in water.”

  “You guys are twins, yet you’re so different,” I mused, taking a moment to touch the ends of Nixie’s bright hair. “Why don’t you crave the water like she does?”

  Nixie shrugged. “She’s a water nymph. I’m an air pixie. We have different signs and abilities.”

  “I know. Is it difficult for you, though? Do you wish you were a water nymph? I mean … that tail really is gorgeous.” Hey, just because it was weird didn’t mean it wasn’t breathtaking.

  “I don’t dislike the water, don’t get me wrong. I simply don’t love it like Naida does. Fairies believe everything happens for a reason. I believe that’s true. Naida was born for the water and I was born for the air.”

  I pursed my lips as I regarded her earnest expression. At times I find her youthful enthusiasm exhausting. This was not one of those times. “I’m glad you guys are enjoying yourselves. We should probably get moving, though. We promised to pick up the shopping supplies for the entire week before heading back to the fairgrounds. We collected those shopping lists for a reason.”

  “Just give her five more minutes,” Nixie pleaded. “That’s what she needs.”

  “Five more minutes.” I bobbed my head and turned my gaze back to the sun. “I think I might’ve needed this, too.”

  “Because you’re depressed about your breakup with Kade?”

  “I … don’t really want to talk about it.” That was the truth.

  “He’ll come back to you,” Nixie said, lowering her voice. “He’s already halfway there. You can’t see it because grief has blinded you. Everyone else sees it.”

  “It’s nice that you’re trying to bolster my spirits, but he made his choice and now I have to live with it.” I absentmindedly patted Nixie’s hand. She seemed to need the reassurance. “You believe everything turns out as it’s supposed to, right? So do I. In hindsight, this could never have turned out another way.”

  Nixie let loose a derisive snort. It was very unladylike, which made me giggle. “You’re too close to the situation to see it for what it is,” she said, pushing herself to her knees. “Things will clear for you soon. I have faith.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’m going to swim with my sister. We have five minutes left. I want to make it count. This is one of those times when I can make a memory that will live forever. I don’t want to miss my chance to do it.”

  I grinned as I watched her slice through the water, chuckling when she threw herself on Luke’s back and helped Naida wrestle him into the water. Everyone was having a great time, so I tamped down my natural urges and refrained from reminding them that the real world called. They could play for a bit longer. They weren’t hurting anyone and I was in no hurry to return to the circus grounds and watch Raven fawn over Kade.

  I took the opportunity to glance around the beach, sucking in a breath as the water rippled the majestic mountain reflection. I pressed my eyes shut, enjoying the way the sun beat on my shoulders, and let my mind wander. For the first time in a long time it didn’t wander to Kade.

  I was so lost in thought I floated for a bit, losing track of time and space. In the back of my mind I could hear Luke, Naida and Nixie playing, but it somehow seemed as if they were in another dimension, one adjacent to the one I occupied. I was happy with the floating feeling until my mind brushed against something dark.

  I bolted up, my long hair dripping with salt water, and scanned the lake. There was nothing in the water but my friends. If something was in the lake, something predatory or otherwise, Naida would sense it. I was sure of that. Plus, well, I was fairly certain that the Great Salt Lake didn’t boast any sea monsters that could threaten our safety. We would’ve read about that at some point.

  With the water ruled out as a potential danger zone, I shifted my eyes to the beach. It remained empty, the odd sand stretching out in either direction. There wasn’t so much as a dot on the beach to suggest another being – animal or human – encroached on our claimed territory. That’s when it struck me. No animal was present. Not one. Not even a bird.

  My spine tingled as I moved my eyes to the sky. There were no birds in sight. No gulls, no robins, no … whatever other kinds of birds frequented the area. Birds are attracted to water. Sure, birds can’t drink water this salty, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t bathe in it.

  My senses went into overdrive as I swiveled, my eyes falling on the thick trees on the other side of the beach. I could almost feel something hiding there, a set of predatory eyes boring into me. When I reached out with my mind, though, I couldn’t track anything. There was nothing there. No human, paranormal or animal was within scanning distance yet … I felt something.

  “What are you doing?” Luke, water beading on his muscled chest, bounded to my side. His smile was lazy and he clearly didn’t sense an interloper. His shifter abilities gave him a keen sense of smell, but it wasn’t on display today.

  “I … nothing.” I swallowed hard. I didn’t want to ruin the afternoon by worrying over something no one but I could see or sense. I was probably making it up in my head anyway. I’d been off my game since the big Kade fiasco. “I was thinking we should probably get moving
, though. We need to stop at the market on our way home.”

  “Naida won’t like that.”

  “We’ll figure out a way to get her back here,” I promised. “But we need to get moving. If we don’t get back to the fairgrounds with food there’ll be a mutiny … or a mad descent into cannibalism.”

  “I guess you’re right.” Luke heaved a bloated sigh. “You had fun, though, right?”

  I nodded, and this time it wasn’t forced. “I had a lot of fun.”

  Luke pulled me in for a brief hug and kissed the top of my head. “Good. I’m glad.”

  “I’m glad, too.”

  “I’ll grab the pixie twins and we’ll be on our way.” Luke took a step toward the water. “This was a good day, Poet. Hold onto it as an anchor until you have another good day. I think it will happen sooner than you think.”

  The fact that he worried so much about me – despite the fact that it came from a good place – was starting to grate. “Let’s get a move on,” I ordered. “We have things to do today.”

  “And there’s my bossy best friend.” Luke’s grin was impish as he mock saluted. “I’m on it, ma’am. We’ll meet you at the truck in five minutes.”

  I returned the smile until his back was completely to me and then returned my attention to the trees. Whatever was there before was gone now. I couldn’t shake the nagging suspicion that whatever was out there would return ... but when?

  “HUH. WHERE is the liquor?”

  Luke looked annoyed as he glanced around the market, his hands on his hips, as Nixie and Naida followed up and down the aisles with carts.

  “This is a dry event,” I reminded him. Each venue had different liquor laws and we couldn’t always secure a municipal liquor license. We made more money when liquor was involved – mostly from people tossing away their hard-earned funds on the games – but that didn’t stop us from picking locations that didn’t allow alcohol. “We can’t have liquor.”

  “We can’t sell liquor while open to the public,” Luke corrected. “That doesn’t mean I can’t drink it. Given how depressed you are, I thought we could have a slumber party tonight. I was planning to make chocolate martinis. There’s definitely no Godiva liqueur in here, though. They don’t even have the cheap stuff that will strip your insides if you risk drinking it.”

  “I’m not sure.” I chewed my bottom lip as I scanned the store and then forced a smile when I caught one of the workers staring at me. “Do you sell liquor here?”

  The clerk, a middle-aged woman in her fifties, shot me a dirty look. “We don’t sell liquor. It’s evil.”

  “Oh, well, okay.” I kept my face impassive even as Luke scowled.

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Luke asked, adopting a huffy tone. “How is liquor evil? And, to be more precise, how am I supposed to survive a week without chocolate martinis? That’s cruel and unusual punishment, which is much more likely to be evil than chocolate-flavored alcohol.”

  “I’m pretty sure Mormons don’t drink alcohol,” Naida offered. She seemed oblivious to the curious stares she earned from patrons and workers. Almost all of the stares were directed toward her off-color hair. “I think I remember reading that somewhere.”

  “I don’t think they drink tea or coffee either,” Nixie added, making a face. “They have a law, something about running and not being weary. I think caffeine is a no-no. They don’t smoke either.”

  “Oh, well, I take everything I said about this place being beautiful back,” Luke snapped. “Are you telling me there’s no liquor or coffee? Surely this is Satan’s doorstep.”

  He was going for levity, but the joke fell flat given the audience.

  “That is insulting,” the clerk barked.

  I held up my hands in a placating manner as I stepped in front of Luke and drew the woman’s attention to me. “He didn’t mean to be offensive,” I offered quickly. “We’re just not used to a world without caffeine. We’ll … adjust.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Luke hissed. “You know how I feel when I have to forego my morning coffee. For that matter, you’re meaner than I am when that happens. Raven may be the snake, but you turn into an evil serpent without coffee.”

  He had a point. “I don’t suppose there are other sorts of markets around, are there?”

  “She means ones that will sell to pagans like ourselves,” Naida added, absentmindedly running her hands over the myriad pasta boxes on the shelves. “We’re totally okay if you don’t like caffeine and liquor, but there’s liable to be bloodshed if we return home without either.”

  The clerk – her nametag read “Margery” – straightened her shoulders as she stared us down. “There’s a progressive mall at the edge of town,” she replied. “It’s on the opposite edge of town from where you folks are hanging out, though, so you’ll have quite a trip if you expect to shop there. They have less … mainstream items, including liquor.”

  I forced myself to remain calm despite the woman’s judgmental attitude. “How do you know where we’re located?”

  “You’re circus folk,” Margery replied, wrinkling her nose as if she scented something that died days ago. “We’ve been aware of your arrival for quite some time.”

  “And you look thrilled by it, too,” Luke said, adopting a faux friendly tone and earning a warning look from me. He promptly decided to ignore the look and plowed forward. “I’m going to guess that you’re not happy we’re here.”

  “We know what kinds of things happen at the circus.” Another woman, this one looked to be in her thirties, moved closer to Margery while giving us a wide berth. Apparently she was worried about circus cooties or something. “Drinking. Smoking. Sexual … deviancy. Debauchery. Those are not the sorts of things we want our families to be exposed to.”

  “Oh, but they’re so fun,” Luke complained, grunting when I elbowed him in the stomach to silence him.

  “Ignore him,” I suggested, focusing on Margery even though we were starting to draw a crowd of interested onlookers. “Our entire goal is to offer wholesome family fun. I can guarantee that nothing … unsavory … will happen on the fairgrounds while we’re in residence.”

  Margery didn’t look convinced. “We fought the council when it announced you would be coming and lost. We didn’t give up the battle after one defeat, though. We plan to fight you until the end.”

  I had no idea what that meant. “Does that mean you’ll be bringing swords when you visit?”

  “I’m guessing they won’t be the type of swords that either one of us would enjoy,” Luke quipped, keeping his voice low. “Although, for the record, I think a nice sword fight would do everyone a bit of good … and that includes you.”

  Margery scowled. “There’s no reason to make fun of us.”

  “I wasn’t making fun of you.” That was the truth. “I honestly don’t understand why you’re so worked up. It’s a show. We have animals, tightropes and clowns. There’s nothing to get worked up about.”

  “You probably shouldn’t have mentioned the clowns,” Luke offered, keeping his voice low. “There’s always room to get worked up over clowns.”

  I pretended I didn’t hear him. “We follow the rules of each municipality, and this will be no exception.”

  “That doesn’t mean we want you here,” Margery said, her voice firm. “We have certain standards we live by. We don’t like outside influences affecting our children. It’s nothing personal, but … we don’t like you.”

  “Oh, why would we take that personally?” Luke deadpanned.

  “We have pickets planned,” another woman offered. I couldn't see her face, because a rather beefy customer standing next to the soup display hid her rather blunt profile. “We’re going to run you out of town.”

  Surprisingly, it wasn’t the first time I’d heard the threat. The key is to keep yourself above the fray no matter how much you want to get down and dirty and wrestle in the muck. “Well, I hope that works out for you.” I kept my voice even as I grabbed Nixie’s arm
and directed her toward the door, leaving the cart half full and in the middle of the aisle. “We’ll find a different store and leave you to your … shopping.”

  “I think that would be best,” Margery agreed, bobbing her head. “We don’t judge others, but we have a right to live our lives in the manner we see fit. You have to understand that.”

  I understood more than she realized. “Yeah. I get it.” I flicked my eyes to Luke. “Let’s see if we can find that store on the other side of town, shall we?”

  “You’ve been reading my mind,” Luke gritted out, keeping a firm hold on Naida’s elbow as we moved through the store. “Speaking of reading minds … .”

  “They’re not dangerous,” I answered the unasked question. “They definitely don’t like us, though.”

  “What else is new?”

  Even though we’d faced this situation before, something felt off, as if some unseen force was working overtime to build animosity and fury between our two factions. “Let’s hurry and get out of here. I think I’ll need a shower before dinner.”

  “You and me both, honey. You and me both.”

  6

  Six

  “I think you and I should talk.”

  I glanced up to find Raven occupying the spot next to me as I marinated chicken parts in red wine and prepared them for the grill. She seemed focused, intent, even a little sympathetic. That immediately kicked my annoyance level into overdrive.

  I forced my attention to the chicken and hoped my voice remained calm and even as I responded. “We don’t have anything to talk about.”

  “I think we do.” Raven is persistent when she wants to be. She clearly had something on her mind. She was not going to let me escape without airing what was eating away at her.

  “Raven, we really don’t,” I said, covering the platter of chicken with plastic wrap and turning to face her. “I’m not sure what you think is going on here … .”