Page 36 of Druid Dreams

I tried to compromise but I was having too much fun with my new trick. “Okay, okay. Just hand them to me.” When he started to grab one of them I changed them to butterflies. Another bout of laughter settled over us as they landed in his hair.

“Now you look like a fae,” Stone teased.

Vaughn spit out, “Yeah, a fucking summer fae.”

“They look so pretty in yer hair though.” A mock girly voice came from Palmer.

“I’m going to pull over-“ Vaughn started

“And what? Spank me for being a brat.” I waggled my brows at him.

“Give you over to Palmer and Stone.” He threatened seriously.

“Is that supposed to scare me out of my bad behavior? We can do that right here without stopping the van.” I wiggled in my seat and twisted to wink at Palmer and Stone. Palmer smirked back at me. Stone rolled his eyes at my antics but couldn’t hide the small lift of his lips.

Vaughn pulled over at the next gas station, and I got a little anxious about whether or not I was actually gonna get spanked in the parking lot. It didn’t happen. I’ll admit, I’m pouting pretty hard about the missed opportunity. “Ye can put yer lip away, Love. I’ll spank ya when we get back home.” Palmer’s low whispered promise had me groaning out my displeasure in waiting. He leaned over the back of my seat and skimmed his hand up the side of my neck. His lips brushed the edge of my ear as he added “patience, Love,” so softly that I felt the words more than I heard them. They did nothing to help my patience though. Don’t tease me with a good time and then leave me hanging.

Briggs, Vaughn, and Stone all rotated their seats and Vaughn ended up beside me in the back. The new seating arrangement reminded me of what York told me. I need the Fae to open my mind, but how? “Vaughn, can I ask you a question?” I faced him fully, waiting for his reply.

“Yes,” he responded as he gave me his undivided attention.

I wavered for a moment. “Can you erase memories?”

“Yes, but it’s not something I’ve done often or like doing,” he admitted. “It can be painful depending on what you’re locking away and how badly the person's mind wants to hold on to it.” That was informative.

Okay, question two. “What about making someone remember memories that have already been locked away?” This was what I really needed to know.

“Well, that’s different.” He paused and looked down at his hands to find the right words. “It depends on who locked them, how long ago, and how bad the person wants to remember. Why are you asking?” His quizzical look showed me that he wasn’t sure where I was going with the conversation. Stone's silent nod from the front seat gave me enough reassurance to plunge right in.

“York told me to ask you to unlock my memories. I don’t know who locked them exactly, but it was roughly 5 years ago. I need to remember them. I think York’s location is hidden in them.”

“Okay,” he agreed while watching me. “I can try. It won’t feel pleasant. Novak will have to help me get into your mind. I need you to open up to us and drop your barriers.”

“I don’t have barriers.” Surprise. My mind is just a vault. I wanted to add that but didn’t.

“Novak can’t read your mind.” Vaughn furrowed his brows at his own statement.

“And I can’t read any of yours either, except Palmer on occasion.” I informed him. It’s been bothering me since I met him.

“That’s because I’m an excellent teacher and Palmer is a shit student when it has to do with anything requiring focus,” Novak chimed in.

“Fuck off,” Palmer told Novak. “I’ve no issues focusin’ on…” he stopped to think through his next words. “Stuff I like ta focus on.”

“Alright.” Vaughn interrupted what would have been a thorough argument on what “stuff” specifically Palmer was talking about. “This is what we’re going to do. Novak is going to open your mind. It might hurt. Then, he’s going to pull me in so I can find the locked memories. That IS going to hurt. Just, try not to scream in your head, because that will make it harder for us to get them unlocked. Okay?” He grimaced at his request. I knew he didn’t want to hurt me, but there was no way around it. The pain will be temporary. I’m no stranger to it.

“Okay,” I agreed with a steady voice. “Do it.” I relaxed my brain to the best of my ability, getting rid of all the random thoughts that plagued me. Novak leaned up and gently placed his index and middle fingers on my temples. His presence brushed the edges of my consciousness. Letting him in was surprisingly easy. His mind stroked against mine, and it felt like a physical touch. It ignited the smoldering fire that was burning in my core. Images from last night flooded my mind and filtered into Novak's.

“Trouble,” he warned me.

“I can’t help it,” I whined.

“Is that what you want Vaughn to see when I pull him in?”

“Pull him in and I’ll try to keep it PG rated.” My honeyed voice said otherwise. I hope Vaughn enjoys the show.

“He will.” Novak’s rough voice inside my head spoke volumes to me. He was loving the replay from my perspective too.

“Ready?” Vaughn sounded nervous, but seconds later I felt his cool, calm presence alongside Novak’s bright energy.