The house was empty, and I could sense no other form of magic protecting it. Nor could I actually see any form of security system installed, which meant I could probably risk resuming my regular shape. I called to the Aedh once more, and the magic answered swiftly, sharply, sweeping me from energy to flesh in the blink of an eye before depositing me in an ungainly heap on the polished floorboards. Which was where I stayed, gulping down air, the pain in my head sharp enough to have tears rolling down my cheeks and my stomach jumping up my throat.
A heartbeat later, energy surged around me; then arms that were warm and familiar and oh so welcome wrapped around me and drew me close. As the side of my face pressed against Azriel's chest, I closed my eyes and listened to the steady beat of his heart, willing my own to match it. After a while, the rapid pace of my pulse began to slow, and the pain lessened.
He shifted his grip and held me at arm's length. "Are you all right?"
I took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Surprisingly, yes."
His gaze swept me, and his expression suggested he wasn't exactly believing that. No surprise, given he was connected to my chi and knew the truth. "Do you know where we are?"
I half smiled. "To paraphrase Dorothy: Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore."
"I'm bound to say that statement makes no sense."
"Do any of my statements ever make sense to you?" I brushed the solo tear tracking its way down my cheek with a somewhat shaky hand. I might have felt stronger changing to and from Aedh form, but the aftereffects still sucked. Big-time.
He rose and held out his hand. "On rare occasions, yes, they do."
I snorted softly and placed my fingers in his. He hauled me up gently, but the world did a brief three-sixty around me, and it was only his grip that kept me upright.
"Damn," I muttered, swallowing bile. "I really am going to have to eat something soon."
"I will refrain from saying I told you so."
"That's mighty big of you." I turned and studied the room. We were in what had to be the master bedroom, given it was twice the size of the other four. It was pin-neat, almost sterile, with little sign that anyone lived here. But someone surely had to—why else would the stones transport us here?
"I cannot say whether someone lives here or not," he said. "But there is magic in this place."
I raised my eyebrows. "Really? I didn't sense any when I was in Aedh form."