“Can we get back to Mab’s new power?” Sigrid asked once Henry had absorbed Camila’s information.
He grit his teeth. “She- she had a child from me. A baby girl. Then, somehow, she stole her body. Switched places. She left our child’s mind in her ancient body to die. She needed a new body, one linked to the new realm of magic.” Expressions of horror and dismay were evident on their faces.
Marisa nodded. “It worked. She looked like a young teen when I saw her. She told me she hadn’t gotten control of the body or the magic yet, but she was able to create a spell that almost killed me.”
“That much power in the hands of the mad queen in an adolescent body. That’s a thought to keep one awake at night. Where was the other witch? Why didn’t she stop this? She may no longer hold the title of strongest witch now!” Roy growled.
Henry looked down at the table. “She was there. She was waiting. Mab’s spell made the… temporal energy? Time magic? Whatever, it made that stuff in my horns leak out. I managed to use it to make Mab’s ancient body regress to a baby, but Baba took her. She said… said the baby would still die because Mab’s body was old magic… and incompatible. She said I couldn’t help her, but she could. I- I’m wondering now if she had other ideas about using Mab’s body. Ways to get back at her.” The thought filled him with dread.
He stopped there. He kept the news that he no longer had the doomed ring to himself. He knew that while he wore it, no one else could see or feel the ring so they couldn’t be aware that he wasn’t wearing it now. He’d keep that secret from everyone. He could protect his daughter from being targeted for the ring at least. Besides, he just couldn’t bring himself to talk about it.
Meixiu spared him from having to say more as she brought in a tray with their dinner. His mouth watered at the scent. He looked into her eyes and thanked her gratefully. He was surprised to see the need in her eyes, so he nodded to accept her unspoken request and a blush spread across her face as she smiled.
He and Tish ate in silence until they realized how quiet it had become. When they glanced up, everyone laughed self-consciously at being caught staring fondly at them.
Conversation started up at the table again, and Henry listened to the tone of it. Relaxed. Happy. Relieved to the point of being a little giddy perhaps. That silliness made him think of Roger. The energetic, wild man with no filter. As the thought made him a little sad, he kept it to himself. He didn’t want to disturb their current mood. He’d ask about the man later.
For now, he’d enjoy this time with his family.
Life was getting back to normal. Normal-ish. Henry got up in the morning, got dressed in real clothes, ate breakfast and took the subway to work. He enjoyed his job of solving technical issues, increasing efficiency and effectiveness of their computer hardware and software for the staff, and he returned to his condo at night. A mundane lifestyle and pure bliss for him.
Granted Camila still called on him for a feeding or two as did Marisa now. He could see she continued to worry about Nate. He learned that official requests sent to the Fae yielded no results yet.
He’d also gone on a date with Sigrid then Meixiu this week, but he expected this frequency to taper off once they’d recovered from the shock of his presumed demise.
As he left the Path station to walk home, he recalled his visit with the Hidden Races Council when he gave his statement on what happened. He’d brought Mahati with him, and she’d protected him from the overly aggressive attitude of Rand von Deussel who’d been in a foul mood from the moment they arrived. That Hoek lady hadn’t been friendly either.
Weird shit continued to happen in the world, and they thought he was somehow to blame. Not that they came right out and said that. Henry didn’t disabuse them of the idea that he remained linked to the Fae’s Global Healing spell.
They may have also been upset about the ongoing fallout from Queen Mab’s party. The cover story had been sufficient to answer most of the questions about what happened that night, and the public accepted it. However, the instantaneous travel aspect continued to plague the Council. A significant portion of the guest list lived in Los Angeles. None recalled traveling. No sign of the hinted at technology surfaced and people refused to believe in instantaneous travel, so it remained a mystery.
Additionally, further complications arose. There was the aftereffect of the hostages being immersed in a healing spell for a little over a year. The Security Team could not have covered this unless they’d murdered every guest, eradicating their bodies in the process. While they’d confiscated and destroyed all of the cell phones they discovered, they’d only dealt with the cosmetic evidence on the hostages. They’d shaved heads and clipped nails to eliminate this timeline evidence. They hadn’t been informed about the healing spell, so they missed the internal aspects and fled before the Human authorities arrived.
There were some miraculous cures. Drug and alcohol addictions were gone. Diseases ranging from nail fungus to cancer, cured! These healed celebs were being more than a little vocal about their improved health. While they were upset about being kidnapped, they wanted to find their captors to thank them. But no sign was ever discovered.
Life moved on.
Sandy was back at work, and so far Kesini was behaving admirably. The fact that the petite blonde was now able to manage the larger patients without assistance impressed her manager, and she received praise for improving her strength for the job. Sandy likened Kesini’s assistance to wearing an invisible suit of powered body armor, only silky soft and beautiful.
Dayshia was now going to medical school. On her first day back on the job she’d discovered her eyes had a way of seeing below the skin. While assisting a doctor, she saw a tumor the man had missed. He’d taken the bulge along the woman’s leg to be muscle tissue, but she’d looked deeper and saw it for what it was. While she’d annoyed the doctor at second-guessing him, she’d managed to intimidate him into taking a second look. He informed her the next day that she’d been right, but he’d no longer be asking her to assist him. She enrolled for medical school the next day. She wanted to be a surgeon!
Tish got a job at a hospital where she’d previously worked. They were grateful to have her back. She missed working with her friends, but Sandy was the only one left from the original group still working there. This location allowed her to avoid Doctor Sumeer who might create trouble for her due to her miraculous healing.
There remained no sign of Roger and that worried everyone.
The housing situation was undergoing a little adjustment as well.
Dayshia moved into the second bedroom of Michelle’s condo. Michelle had secretly craved company, and with Dayshia’s appreciation of Arachnids, it was a good match. Dayshia also helped draw Michelle out of her self-imposed isolation, making her more social and confident.
Tish’s apartment wasn’t in a segregated building, so her unit was prepared by Hidden Races services before she moved back in. It would only be temporary though.
Sandy was sharing Henry’s condo with him while hers went onto the market. The property manager was keeping an eye open for the next available two bedroom unit on an odd numbered floor. Henry needed a more spacious apartment as Tish would be moving in with him and they’d need a room for the baby. Sandy would take over ownership of Henry’s condo at that time.
With Sandy working mostly night shifts, they hadn’t been at home together until the previous night.
They’d had a lovely dinner and watched a romantic movie on Sandy’s big TV, now mounted on the wall of his living room. When it was over Sandy pounced on him, and they made out on the sofa for a time. He enjoyed her soft lips, and she trembled at the feel of his. Running his fingers through Kesini’s soft hair sent shivers of pleasure through both her and Sandy. It was relaxed and casual, and their passions grew slowly. Finally, he stood and lifted her in his arms.
“I’ve been waiting to do this,” he sighed.
“Then waste no further time!” she grinned.
He carried her into his bedroom and gently set her down on the bed. He kissed her and felt her tongue slip into his mouth. He sucked on it, and she moaned.
When he pulled back to tug his shirt up over his head, he looked down and saw Sandy’s dreamy eyes gazing at his torso. She reached out and ran her fingertips down the hard muscles of his stomach until she reached his belt. Kesini was busy undoing it. Her eyes widened as she saw the bulge on his jeans. She bit her lip nervously and looked up into his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I’ve been dreaming about this night for so long,” she said anxiously. He just smiled at her, so she continued. “I’ve also been dreaming about your Satyr form, but I don’t think I’d survive sex with a Satyr.”
Henry snorted in amusement. “I’d never do anything to hurt you! Camila told me my glamor is sensitive to the ‘needs of my partner’ so I’ll only be the size you need. I don’t notice a difference, but apparently, there is.” He shook his head. “Don’t ask me to explain how that shit works.”
She grinned up at him. “You don’t like magic do you?”
He smiled in return. “I don’t.” He assisted Kesini in pulling off his pants, and Sandy purred happily.
“I like magic! I like it a lot! Give me some of that magic! I may need many, many samples.”
He helped her off with her shirt, a button down as Kesini wasn’t keen on pullovers. Next went the bra as Kesini slid Sandy’s jeans and panties off.
“I swear Kesini is more eager than I am!” Sandy giggled.
Henry chuckled then began kissing his way down Sandy’s body. Her giggles quickly became moans then cries of bliss as Henry’s lips and tongue reached her most sensitive regions.
He brought her to a gentle peak, and as she floated back down from Heaven, he gently guided his cock into her hot, wet pussy. He noticed Kesini was spread out over the pillows languidly rippling in the blissful tingles. So, it was good for her too!
“Ooo! Fuck that was amazing!” Sandy purred.
He took his time easing himself deeper, and they both sighed as he finally rested his body on hers.
“Henry… that feels so good!” she sighed.
He kissed her tenderly then pulled himself out and thrust forward.
“Ah! Again!” she begged. So he did.
Soon, his hips were slapping against hers, and her heels were pulling at his ass as she cried out in joy.
His release exploded just after Sandy’s, and her eyes flew wide as the energy flowed into her body.
He rested atop her as they both panted, catching their breath.
“Sample one,” Sandy teased.
For all her sassy talk, Sandy only managed to last through one more sample and that one was relaxed and playful. She did ask him to stand and pose in his Satyr form after their second time.
“One day I will make love to you in this form!” she purred then drifted off to sleep, blissfully satiated. Kesini was spread out over the pillows, languidly blissed out in the shared afterglow.
Henry grinned as he returned from his memories of the night before. He was in the home stretch, walking along the waterfront walkway from the path station to his building. Dayshia and Michelle were hosting dinner at their place tonight. Tish would be there too. This was another move to help socialize Michelle. Having company in her home was a big step. He was looking forward to it.
“Henry.”
He slowed his pace and looked around.
“Henry.”
He stopped and looked to a bench tucked in under some trees. There was a street person there, wearing a torn and dirty three-piece suit.
“Please…”