Page 16 of Unrestrained

A tiny smirk touched River’s lips. He drew a breath as if to answer. Another bright flash of light interrupted the moment, sending them flying into oblivion.

This time, when Bodhi opened his eyes, he found a fox resting on his chest. Bodhi would have jumped backward if he had anywhere to go. Sky-blue eyes watched him. Bodhi tried to move but couldn’t. He was pinned.

Bodhi sighed. “What now?” Even he heard the exhaustion in his voice.

The fox transformed into a man. He didn’t move from where his fox form had been. The intruder seemed oblivious to the fact that he might be crushing Bodhi’s sternum.

“Where’d you put ‘em?”

“You’re making it a little hard to figure out what you’re talking about with you sitting on my chest.”

The guy shot to his feet. “Oh.” He released a nervous-sounding chuckle and twisted a poppet that was tied to the belt loop of his pants. Power like Bodhi had never encountered crackled through the air. “There you go. Now where are they?”

“You’ll have to be more specific. I have a lot of enemies. If you want to do the good guy-bad guy thing, you’ll have to turn the bad guy monologue into the good guy speech because, dude, I’ve had a day.”

“Oh.” Another chuckle burbled from his attacker. “Where are the flowers from your mate? Don’t try any trickery with me. I’m tougher than I look and… and I’ll tell Savage on you.” He gave a sharp nod as if he was decided. “Yeah. He’s terrifying, and he loves my best friend. If he has to come here, you’ll be forced to live a whole other lifetime to get back to your mate.”

What the fuck was happening to his life? Why was he being inundated by all the sweet souls? What kind of fresh hell was this?

The man shifted from foot to foot, twisting his doll.

A thought hit. His fury finally roared to life. “Where’s my mate?” He sounded every bit as ready to murder as he was.

River popped into view, holding a tiny fox in a diamond collar. “I’m right here.” He stroked the fox. “Tam doesn’t mean any harm. He just needs those flowers back. Since he blasted you a little too hard, I couldn’t see into your mind to just give them to him. You’re awake now, so…” He set the fox on the floor and straightened. River focused on the visitor, who he assumed was named Tam. “They’re being preserved on the top shelf over there.” River motioned toward the bookshelf. He glanced around. “I can climb on a chair or something to grab them for you.”

Bodhi groaned and banged the back of his head against the floor in aggravation. These chipper sprites would be the death of him.

Tam waved off River’s offer. “I got it.” He transformed into a snow leopard and jumped, landing on the top of the bookcase, knocking lots of shit onto the floor in the process.

“For fuck’s sake. First, you break into my home and then start smashing things on the floor when you could’ve just let River get a fucking chair for you. And yeah, I mean, you. No way in hell will you endanger my mate sending him scaling a bookcase for some goddamn flowers.”

“Awww.” River twisted from side to side with his hands pressed to his chest.

Bodhi banged his head again.

Tam dropped to the floor with the flower stems in his mouth. He immediately turned human again. “Oops. I’ve got that.” Another bright flash later, and his things were back in place, unharmed. The scent of white magic was cloying. Ugh. How tiresome.

River bounced on his toes, clapping. “That was amazing. What else can you turn into?”

“Well, I’ve been a wolf, a squirrel, a bird. Yeah, I snatched that motherfucker right out of the sky.” Tam covered his mouth. A horrified expression came over him. “I said too much. Dang it, Tam.”

River stroked his arm. “Don’t worry. I don’t know what any of that means anyway. We won’t tell anyone.”

Tam’s overly bright smile was back.

Bodhi’s temper snapped. “Oh, my fucking goddess. Has everyone forgotten I’m on the floor?”

Tam tried and epically failed to look tough. He gave Bodhi a sharp nod. “And that’s where you’ll stay until I’m through with you.” He focused on River and giggled. “I’ll give you some time to torture him while I return these flowers to their home and check in with my mate. Enjoy. Don’t be easy on him.”

River giggled and walked out of sight, returning seconds later. Bodhi assumed he saw the animals out. River sat at his side.

Bodhi stared at him, waiting to see what River would do. He hoped it was something dirty.

River traced the tattoo on Bodhi’s wrist and then held his wrist next to Bodhi’s. He assumed River compared the two.

“Is this a druid thing? The tattoos I mean. Fairies don’t mark each other unless they want to.” A dreamy smile touched his lips. “Most want to so no one gets any ideas.”

“No. Druids carry whatever mark their mate gives them. A Were would scar, fairy royalty gets collars. You know, things like that. I’m not sure why Celeste chose tattoos.”