Selena and Mollie nodded. “Check on Mina.”
He stared at the Oak, and his body went rigid. No matter the language, a curse was recognizable, and Dragos was letting them fly as he viewed what had been done to his sotiei. From the shocked look on Selena’s face, she knew exactly what Dragos was saying.
Dragos flew to the Oak and began freeing an unconscious Mina from her bindings. Odds were good the queen of the wood would find herself in Dragos’s bed before the night was over.
“She had one of Terri’s burrowing weeds inside her. It was how Terri was so much stronger here. She used that connection to siphon off Mina’s powers and torture her at the same time.”
“Ouch. I’d better take a look before Dragos drags her off.” Selena struggled to her feet, jumping when Ash suddenly appeared before her. He grabbed her arm and helped her to her feet. “I’m fine, Mr. Ward. I’ve been hauling my ass off the ground all by myself for years.”
Ash didn’t reply. He kept hold of Selena’s arm and escorted her to Dragos and Mina, his expression grim. It didn’t take long for the witchdoctor to pronounce Mina healed, but when she was done, a fine sheen of sweat dotted her forehead and her hands were shaking. Dragos lifted the unconscious Mina into his arms and flew off before anyone could protest.
Amara studied the pile of ash closely. “You said she might come back. Are you sure?”
Selena shrugged wearily. “Who knows? But to be certain she doesn’t, I’d scatter those ashes as far and wide as possible. Either that or dump them in the deepest ocean in a sealed container that won’t rot.”
“A very tiny container.” Parker held his finger and thumb barely a millimeter apart. “Lots of tiny, sealed, nonrotting containers.”
“So we have a shopping trip in our future? Great.” Greer plopped down next to Mollie. Mollie blinked at him, her eyes drooping. “Will Mina truly be all right?”
Selena stroked Greer’s arm, much to Ash’s annoyance. “Yes. Dragos will take care of her.”
“Where the fuck is Iva? Mina could have taken that bitch if only Iva were here!” Greer tugged on his hair and blew out an aggravated breath.
“Who’s Iva?”
Amara answered, “Iva Yamauchi. She’s Yew.”
“Ah. And she’s missing?”
“She’s been missing for almost six weeks now.”
“It’s why it took us so long to realize what Terri was up to. Without Iva, our powers are diminished.” Greer ran a hand through his pale hair. “I only wish I knew where the hell she is.” Greer jumped as Mollie crashed against his side. She’d passed out, her lips pale, her skin an alarming shade of gray. “Selena!”
“No. You’re too tired.” Ash tried to prevent Selena from helping Mollie, without much luck.
Greer looked up at Ash. “Please.”
Ash grimaced but loosened his hold on Selena. “I’m taking her straight home after this.”
Whose? Amara didn’t have the courage to ask.
Selena examined Mollie. “She’s exhausted, her flames low. Find a nice warm place for her to rest, like in front of a roaring fire, and she’ll be fine in no time.”
Greer lifted Mollie into his arms with ease. It was like she weighed nothing. “Thank you.” He nodded his thanks to Ash as well. “And thank you.”
“Like he has any say in who I help,” Selena grumbled. “I’m going home, people. It’s been swell, yet not.” Selena marched off toward the woods. “Where the hell did I park my broom?”
Ash shook his head, his lips curling in a smile. “Do me a favor, Amara? Get that dust contained. I have a witch to corral.” Ash took off after Selena at a jog. “Over here,” she heard him call out.
Parker looked at Amara. “It looks like it’s just the two of us, sweet.”
Amara glared back. “Yup. Just you, me and the charred remains of your ex-girlfriend. Sweet.”
Parker coughed. “I was trying to keep her from killing anyone.”
Amara shook her finger. “If you ever call anyone else sweet but me, you’ll have splinters in places people should never, ever get them except in freak lumberjack accidents. Got it?”
Parker’s eyes widened with alarm. “Got it.”
“Good.” She poked her toe into the pile of ash. “How the hell are we going to clean up this mess?”
“Those lovely little sandwich bags that zipper shut?”
Amara loved the fact that her mate didn’t fear her. It was so refreshing to joke with someone who didn’t think she was strange, even while covered in bark and standing three feet taller. She closed her eyes and shook her head. “And you happen to have some on you? Maybe in the pocket of your jeans?” Because they certainly weren’t in the pocket of hers. She’d have to be wearing some first.
He studied the ash and draped his arm across her shoulders. He leered at her. “Fancy a trip to Sav-A-Lot?”
Amara groaned and hid her eyes. He might wind up with those splinters after all.
They pulled up to the house, dirty, tired and exhausted. Amara looked ready to collapse, her eyes closed, her head resting on the back of the seat. Thankfully there hadn’t been much traffic on the way home; Amara had ripped through her clothes and was dressed once more in nothing but Parker’s shirt.
Parker found he couldn’t complain about that.
“We’re home, sweet.”
Amara’s eyes drifted open. Her lips curled. “And our passenger?”
Parker glanced in the backseat at the multiple jars of ash resting within a cardboard box. He’d done exactly what he’d said he would, flying to the Sav-A-Lot and cleaning out their jam and jelly jars. In the end Amara had been worried Terri would break free of simple sandwich bags, and he’d been forced to agree.
They’d have to come up with a more permanent solution, but for now he was certain this would do. He’d carry Terri into the house and ask Greg to keep an eye on her.
“So far so good. Let’s get inside, all three of us.”
Her smile turned wicked. “And then I think it’s time we took care of something, don’t you?”
His brows rose.
Amara slid out of the jeep, his shirt riding up until he could see the edge of her ass. Suddenly Parker was feeling hungry, and not for blood. “Sweet?”
“Hmm?”
He gulped at the sultry look she shot him. “Bloody hell.”
“Grab our unwanted guest and put her somewhere safe, then meet me in the backyard.”
The back… Oh. Oh. Parker whirled past Amara, Terri’s remains in his arms. He barely blinked at the half-naked Renfield lying on Amara’s couch. He put the box of jars on the coffee table.
“Wha?” Brian, heavy-lidded, an erection tenting his jeans, struggled to sit up.
“Watch her. I have a mate to claim.”
Parker dashed out before Brian or Greg could protest, but he made a mental note to let Amara know that now both their couches would require cleaning.
A vision of bending Amara over the arm of her couch drifted through his mind. Better yet, have Greg and Brian live in my house while I live in Amara’s. Then they could make love on their couch instead of his. Oh yeah. That could… Holy. Shit.
Parker stopped so abruptly he almost stumbled. Amara knelt naked at the base of her tree, her hands pressed against the trunk, her face lifted to the sky. Her knees were spread, her breasts and pussy marvelously displayed, dappled with moonlight through leaves. She looked so stunning, so ethereal, he was almost afraid to approach her.
A mysterious smile graced her lips as her eyes opened, the green glittering in the night. Parker took a step forward, drawn by her unearthly sensuality, once more stunned by the fact that he’d been so lucky to win Amara as his sotiei.