Charity ran across the opening and ducked into the bushes.
The madwoman smiled and turned to again lead the way. “I have Seen the woman called Reagan. I have Seen her father. Most importantly, I have Seen where they meet, and how.” She ticked her finger back and forth. “But I won’t give you details. I am the only one in all the worlds—up, down, side and side—who knows. That knowledge will eventually have a purpose…” She fisted her hand. “I can feel it.”
Ah. So she really had no idea. Fabulous.
They emerged from the bushes in an entirely different part of town, with smaller houses and mediocre gardens. Charity looked back at the bushes. “Are those magical in some way?”
“You are in the Realm, love. Everything is magical in some way. Just up here.” She switched back to her strange hobble, this time with both arms waving above her like an orangutan.
“I’m going to get in trouble for going with you, aren’t I?” Charity asked.
“You might get a lecture about your well-being from the new, proud, though inexperienced, papa. I am going to get in trouble.” She looked down at Charity’s legs as they made their way to a break in the cobblestone path up ahead. “How do you feel?”
Charity stretched, then grinned. “Despite being laid up in a bed for the last week and a half, I feel excellent. Better than good. I feel…”
The woman patted her arm. “Just wait. This ain’t nothin’ yet, honey. Now, here we are.”
They stopped at the edge of a large green field teeming with activity. The dull sound of wood hitting wood thudded repeatedly. The graceful movement and tumble of bodies excited Charity in ways she didn’t quite understand.
“Well, greetings, Miss Charity the Arcana.”
Charity started. Steve lounged beneath a tree not ten feet from her. She’d been so completely focused on the fighting she hadn’t noticed anyone else.
“And hello, you nut job,” he finished.
The fiery-haired woman cackled as she walked to the tree with a perfectly normal gait. Which raised the question: why had she been walking like an ape?
“Steve, why are you naked?” Charity asked.
He shrugged. “All the girls wanted to see me fight in my animal form. Our magic and ferocity turns them on. Given that these mock battles are so much work, for so little reward, I figured I’d just show them a little ferocity in bed, instead. I don’t need to change to do a little magical tickle, know what I mean?”
She just stared at him.
“I’m sure there’ll be a round two soon.” He touched his hand to his chest. “I’m a simple man, Miss Charity the Arcana—three women is my limit, especially these vigorous little fae. Those who were willing to share were left exhausted and satisfied. Those who wanted to wait for alone time are currently vying for Devon’s attention, soaking in his magic. They’ll be back around as soon as they realize he’s not interested.” He lay back, his head propped up on an elbow, and closed his eyes. “Thanks for bringing me. This is better than I could’ve dreamed. None of these feisty little vixens want me permanently. After a little pickle tickle, they are happy to wander away, no strings attached. Perfect.”
“You’re so gross,” she said, really trying to be outraged, but laughing instead.
“Only when the situation demands it,” Steve replied, unbothered.
“Did you do them right here, under this tree? Because if not, that still doesn’t explain why you’re naked.”
He shrugged. “It’s refreshing to saunter around in my birthday suit. I don’t have to wear those…clothes.”
Charity looked down at herself, not understanding what the big deal was. Then again, she had no fashion sense.
“And the men?” she asked.
He peeled an eye open. “They don’t see us. That’s not true; they see Barbara, Yasmine, and Macy just fine—especially Yasmine—wishing the girls were as willing as I am, but they don’t see the men. We’re nothing to them. Outsiders.”
Charity frowned, hearing something in his tone that unsettled her. On the surface, it sounded like the fae were being a lot more hospitable than she would have expected—men were territorial, and the shifters were waltzing around naked, monopolizing the women. The shifters wouldn’t have been so kind had the situation been reversed.
“So no fighting at all, huh?” Charity said. “Even in human form?”
“God no. What a hassle.”
“And everyone else?”
“Well, Macy sent someone to the healer.” He let both eyes drift open this time, studying her.
Fear bled through Charity. “Did she get in trouble? She