Chapter 12

1795 Words
12“Topper, this can’t go on. You’re acting like a zombie and you know what happens to zombies in Magic. Sheriff Buchan got rid of all of them before he passed on. We can’t have the magicals being eaten for their brains,” Destiny declared, raising her thumb and finger as she pretended to shoot Topper. Aura frowned. “Stop teasing her, Destiny. Can’t you see Topper’s hurting and confused?” Topper snorted. “I am not confused. I mind-wiped the men in black like you taught me and then I had a perfectly good time white water rafting over the weekend. My hair is now purple again. See? There is nothing wrong with me.” “At least nothing a well-hung alien couldn’t fix in about an hour,” Fortune declared. Aura fisted her hands on her hips. “I can’t believe you’re harassing Topper over sleeping with him. This is our fault, Fortune. If we hadn’t decided Topper needed someone, the green meanies wouldn’t have gotten through the portal, and Stark n***d would never have shown up on Earth to retrieve them. I told you we shouldn’t have sent out that distress call to his intergalactic floozy of a goddess.” “Icela is not a floozy but please don’t talk to her again. And stop calling him Stark n***d or none of you will get dinner,” Topper said firmly. She set bowls of steaming butternut squash soup in front of the three of them. “This is your first course. Eat your soup before it cools down. It’s better hot. The squash will set your palate.” Topper frowned when the Fates sighed collectively and lifted their spoons. It didn’t make her feel any better knowing she and Stark had been nothing more than live pawns in an interplanetary matchmaking scheme. She hoped Icela proved more helpful to Stark than the Fates were being to her. She spooned up a slaw she’d made from raw brussel sprouts and pine nuts. Stark would probably have enjoyed it. He seemed to enjoy her cooking as much as the Fates did. Thinking about his praise, her sigh filled the kitchen as she put small dishes in front of her three guests. “Raw vegetables to help with clarity. Eat and be well.” “Blessed be,” the Fates answered in chorus before moving on to eat the slaw. Topper stopped cooking and let the blessing bring her a measure of peace. “I have the best life any witch could ever wish for. What other witch can say the Fates come to dinner? None. So what if I miss him a little? Any woman would miss a man capable of giving her as many orgasms as she could handle. There probably aren’t five human men walking this planet who have that sort of bedroom talent.” Fortune snorted. “You’re probably right, Topper. It was very generous of you to pass him back to all those horny Glacieran females who are no doubt standing in line this very minute to take a turn on Stark n***d’s talented man stick.” Topper turned and slammed down the entrée in front of her mouthy, irreverent Goddess friend. “Baked cod with mango salsa. It’s a little spicy. Eat it and shut up. I made no promises to him.” “Nor accepted any in return,” Aura said flatly. Topper slammed another entrée down. “It would not have been fair to accept Stark’s promises. He can’t come back. You know I can’t open the portal again without risking the whole town.” “You could have at least offered to wait the few years it would take him to get here in a spaceship. What would it have hurt to have given him some hope you’d be here if he found his own way back? It’s not like you were getting any bedroom action before Stark n***d came into your life,” Destiny declared, jumping when a plate of food was slammed down in front of her. “Thank you, Topper. It looks delicious.” Topper fisted hands on her hips and glared at all three meddling goddesses. “This is not high school and Stark isn’t captain of the football team. He’s a freaking alien. What part of him having a life on another planet don’t you get?” “He’s dreamy,” the chorus of Fates said. Then they glanced at each other and giggled. “This discussion is not helpful,” Topper declared. “What would help you, dear?” Aura asked. Topper slid into a vacant chair at the table. She stared at the far wall. “I just need to forget him—that’s all. How attached can you get to a man in just a few days anyway?” The Fates looked sideways at each other. “Stubborn as always,” they said in chorus. Unable to handle the t*****e a moment longer, Topper put her face down on the table and groaned into her hands. “Okay—fine. I wish Stark hadn’t left. I wish he could come back. I wish a lot of things, but I know that’s not realistic of me. Why aren’t you telling me everything will be okay like real friends are supposed to do?” “We’re not that kind of friend, dear. And screw reality,” Aura said, earning funny looks from her sisters. She waved a hand. “You know what I mean.” At their nods, she smiled at Topper. “Icela mentioned something about ice crystals dancing as the true test of couple compatibility on Glacier. Did you conjure up some ice crystals for Stark Nak… I mean, your hunky alien?” “No. You three pretty much kept me from conjuring up anything for him. Thanks to you all, Stark thinks I’m the wimpiest witch that ever was born.” Topper studied her arms. Faint patterns were still visible there, but every day they faded a bit more. She had no doubt one day they would just disappear forever. “Ice crystals appeared whenever Stark touched me. I think it was one of his powers.” “No wonder he was so good in bed with you. You’re his perfect mate,” Fortune declared. Destiny put down her fork. “Sisters—I am not happy with this situation,” she said quietly. “Something simply has to be done.” “No—Gaia forbid,” Topper declared, rising quickly. “Don’t do anything more. Things are bad enough. Let me go get your dessert.” Heart pounding in fear they would get involved and prolong her agony, Topper hurried to the refrigerator to retrieve the chocolate mousse parfaits she’d put in it to chill earlier. She pulled out a fourth one for herself because right now she needed all the endorphin rushes she could get. The beeberg had not been happy about having to choose two new mates. The scratches she’d put on him as he freed her from her cage hadn’t made Stark any more sympathetic to her plight. But then he wasn’t feeling very sympathetic towards any creature at the moment. He was too busy feeling sorry for himself. He’d been home only a short while when he realized Topper had let him go without offering a single word of affection. “Polar was right. I should have delegated. Then someone else would have met the frustrating witch instead of me.” Stark sighed and started back into his residence when a voice stopped him. “Do not blame yourself completely, warrior. Part of you meeting the witch was my fault. She looked so nice and the Fates of Earth gave her such a glowing recommendation.” Stark turned and looked into the caring eyes of the most beautiful female he’d ever met. “Topper was very nice. She just didn’t fall in love with me. That is no one’s fault.” Icela blinked. “It is harder to believe in such love when you have spent your entire life alone. When my warrior showed up for me, I had a very hard time accepting we were meant to be together. It was only when he decided to stay that I finally believed him.” Stark shook his head. “She did not want to come home with me, Goddess. Her people… they need her. Topper was right about that. I understand her sense of duty to them.” Icela looked around. “It looks to me like you’ve done all you can for the people of Glacier. Do you not think your mate’s people might be able to use your warrior talents? It’s not like you couldn’t go to her planet to live. Your protégé, Frost, is already living there.” Stark froze. “Are you really suggesting I leave Glacier? After all you’ve done for me?” Icela bowed her head in a single nod. “I am suggesting you should serve where you are needed most. Your warrior talents are needed on Earth to guard the portal from those who would misuse it, as the witch rightly declared. I do not wish the doorway to be closed. Neither do the Fates. Our planets were connected for a higher good. And the witch… even though she makes you unhappy at times… she is your perfect mate.” Stark ran a restless hand through his silver hair. “But the Directors…” “Do not make all decisions for my planet,” Icela declared, her voice echoing in the icy mist. Stark swallowed. “Topper won’t open the portal again. She said she wouldn’t.” Icela fisted hands on her hips. Stark’s eyes grew wide when a large male suddenly appeared behind her and placed his hands over hers. Stark met the famous warrior’s stare, lifting an eyebrow when the male smiled widely at him. “Our Goddess can open as many portals as she pleases,” he said softly, whispering the words near her ear. “She most certainly can open one for you in a location far enough from your mate’s town to fool those who would attempt to misuse it. I happen to know she would do this for someone who has honored her all of his days.” So Icela could open a portal and would if he said the word? Stark looked around. Could he trade the ice fields of Glacier for the melting sunshine of New Mexico on Earth? At least he’d have Topper in his life—if she would have him. “Speak your mind, Warrior Stark. Do you care for the Earth witch as you have no other female?” Stark sighed and nodded. “Yes. I care for her like no other.” “Do you wish to spend your nights in the Ice fields or in her bed?” Stark smiled. “I wish to spend the rest of my days and nights with her—wherever that is.” “Then serve us both,” Icela declared, waving her hand. “Go and prepare. The portal will be ready for you tomorrow. It will not be precisely fixed, but you will be within a few Earth hours of your real destination. That should suffice for your necessary deception.” Stark dropped to one knee in the ice and snow. “Thank you, Goddess. I will do as you ask.” “Convince your witch to open the portal again. Several others will need it in the future. Frost’s remaining kin will guard it here on Glacier.” “May all be as you wish, Goddess,” Stark replied. When he raised his head, Icela and her warrior were nowhere in sight. Stark’s blood ran hot and fast as he stood. He had much to do to prepare. For starters, he needed to go back to the city and tell Polar what Icela had asked him to do. He’d just have to trust that the goddess would find a way to make this okay with the Directors. Then he would have to decide if anything he owned was of enough value to take with him to Earth. Perhaps he could work something out to keep his residence available for return trips. If the portal remained open, it would be kind of nice to have a home on both planets.
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