The Plague Doctor (The Paranormal University Files: Skylar Book 4) Read online

  “Oh, Holly…”

  “I really, really miss him. Ugh, I was so stupid. So fucking stupid, and…and…” Her shoulders shook and I knew the tears were coming even before Lia moved close to her from one side. I met her from the other, and we wrapped her in a warm hug and did the best we could to weather her through it. Pilar refilled her wine glass.

  Sometimes, being fae-born dictated being a godmother to mortals. Other times, it meant easing the pain of friends. I didn’t have a fraction of Lia’s empathetic talent, but I siphoned the hard edges from Holly’s heartache when I felt my friend doing the same.

  “It’s not even…not even about his abs or the time in the bedroom. I just miss him and sitting with him and I even miss his stupid mother with her thousands of dresses and the hair combs and clips she wanted to give me.” Holly sucked in a deep, wet breath and quieted for a moment. “She still sends me stupid e-mails about her garden I helped with during spring break. Wanted me to know it’s thriving, but could do so much better with my touch.”

  “You must have made a nice impression on her, Holls. Is that surprising?”

  “A little. She invited me to brunch this weekend. Again.” She pulled away from us and fumbled through her pile of Kleenex in search of a fresh one. Lia produced one from thin air. “It’s the third time she’s asked me to join her for Sunday brunch, as if I didn’t dump her son.”

  “It’s still possible to remain friends with someone after a breakup.” I hesitated now. I’d thought she and Victor would always be friends, the way Gabriel and I had vowed to always be close.

  Much like Gabriel, Victor came from a highborn family with money, but he was casual about his affluence. He’d shown up with food more times than he’d mooched off us.

  I figured he just liked being part of the group.

  “I honestly did hit the boyfriend lottery, but I tore up my ticket and burned the pieces. So fucking stupid,” Holly swore at herself.

  Pilar asked the question we’d all been dying to know. “Why did you break it off anyway?”

  “He…” She huffed out a breath, blowing the bangs away from her eyes. “Things were moving too fast. He started talking about making a key for me, getting a wider coffin, and pledging ourselves before the Sanguine Court. His grandmother is a baroness.”

  “Sky’s moving in with Gabriel,” Pilar said.

  “Yeah, but they’ve known each other since freshman year. Just look at how long they waited to do the horizontal mambo.”

  I elbowed Holly. “It was well worth the wait, too.”

  We giggled more, and the liquor flowed. Holly tilted her head against my shoulder and sighed. “I really want to send him a picture of my tits, but he has a girlfriend. I’d be a skank if I sent him one, right?”

  “You would,” Pilar cut in. “Don’t do it.”

  “Damn. Guess that’s what I get for being dumb.”

  “No,” Lia said, a hard edge in her voice. “You were not dumb. You were scared and you made an impulsive bad decision. There’s no perfect being in any of the realms who can claim they’ve never made a poor choice, Holly. Everyone does it sometimes. The true test is learning to forgive and move on.”

  “She’s right.” I sluggishly dropped my near-empty glass on Pilar’s lavish coffee table. It tipped over, but Pilar caught it with a finger-flick of magic before lemon Moscato splashed on the polished wood. “Mistakes don’t define you, not when you learn from them and promise to do better. When the next guy comes along, you won’t freak out, right?”

  “I won’t.”

  “That’s all that matters. I think you should go to brunch with his mom, though.” I rubbed my bleary eyes. “Doesn’t hurt to make friends with the daughter of a duchess.”

  Pilar rolled her eyes. “Baroness,” she corrected.

  “Whatever. Are you going to return her e-mail?”

  “Maybe. Ugh. Gonna go crawl into my coffin. This room is spinning. Thanks for sitting with me. All of you.”

  I rose unsteadily. “Don’t mention it. Anyway, it’s time for me to stumble my way across campus. Night, guys.” I drew my wand and summoned one bag from upstairs. As soon as I hefted the tote onto my shoulder, I regretted it. The absurd weight threw my balance off, but I was too proud to leave behind everything and go home to Gabriel empty-handed.

  “I’ll send the rest by the brownies tomorrow, Sky,” Lia promised.

  “Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.”

  The most sober among us, Pilar helped Holly to her room while I made my way outside. I didn’t make it to the bottom step of the porch before I realized a masculine figure was sprawled across Lia’s swinging bench. White feathers glittered in the moonlight, silver down appearing soft as clouds.

  I stumbled off the step and almost faceplanted, but strong hands caught me around the waist and set me upright again. He moved so fast, I hadn’t seen it or even heard the rustle of clothing.

  “Dain?”

  “Good evening.”

  “What are you doing lurking outside of my house?”

  “Is it truly your house when you’ve bundled most your belongings into a bag?”

  I stared the know-it-all down. “Were you spying through my window?”

  “No. I have better things to do than observe your behavior, Skylar. I merely sensed the outrageous number of possessions contained within that parcel. Would you like a hand?” His enormous wings flexed, and he brushed one feather against my tote. Immediately, the burden lightened.

  “Omigod, please tell me how you do that. I can never get the weight issue fixed.”

  “Simply imagine the box empty.”

  “Say what?”

  “Exactly as I said. Like thus.” He touched the box again, restoring half the weight. Enough to catch me by surprise, though I managed to keep hold of everything. “Now imagine it as empty and use your magic.”

  After a few attempts under his patient tutelage, I finally managed to nullify the weight on my own. It was such a useful trick and I couldn’t wait to show my friends.

  “Thanks. So, uh, what brings you here at this ungodly hour?”

  “A visit to see you, of course.” He grinned. “I understand congratulations are in order, so I come bearing presents for you and your other half. Three, to be exact. A gift for you, a gift for him, and one for all.”

  “Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” I stammered, caught off guard. The last time we’d spoken about my relationship, Dain hadn’t seemed to think it would bode well, considering I’d live a hell of a lot longer than Gabe. But I’d rather spend whatever time we had in life together than keep apart and be miserable.

  “You caused quite a stir among the Summer Court. Then again, you are quite unique even among our kind,” he said, still smiling, without any trace of sarcasm in his voice. I took it as the compliment he meant it to be.

  “You know me.”

  He laughed, the sound like music on the night breeze. “I do. And so, I offer you my humble gift to celebrate your union. Your hunting club has been granted access to the Emerald Vale for two nights on the next full moon.” After a pause, he added, “Or whichever of those following, should it become necessary to reschedule.”

  In other words, he saw something in my immediate future that implied the next full moon may be unavailable. No matter. I made an inelegant sound and flapped my hands like a startled toddler. “Seriously?” If only Rodrigo were still around. Last year, he and a few other seniors had spoken longingly of the valley, where no Wild Hunt Club had ever been allowed to tread. The way he and Gabe had spoken of it, the hunting was plentiful, the water sweet, and the nymphs…welcoming.

  “Indeed. It seems only proper to grant you and those close to you a way to celebrate in a fashion worthy of the weres. Of course, should you so wish, you and your mate may also make the trip alone and enjoy the time to yourselves.”

  Tempting. God it was tempting. On one hand, a weekend alone with Gabe in Tir na Nog sounded positively heavenly, but on the other, what sor
t of selfish bitch would I be not to share this opportunity with my fellow WHC pals? Choices, choices.

  “I’ll talk to Gabe about it,” I said after a few moments. “Thank you. Really. Thank you so much.”

  “Excellent. Then please allow me to present you with the next gift.” Dain drew a small white box from the Neverspace and placed it in my hand. “Madelena sends her regards.”

  Gifts from my full-blooded faerie family came rarely. I couldn’t even remember when I’d last seen my paternal grandmother in person, but Grandpa Giovanni never had a disparaging word to say about her.

  My fingers practically trembled as I unwrapped the beautiful length of ribbon twined around the box. If it were possible to turn diamond into silk, this would be it. I kept the ribbon, too pretty to discard.

  Inside, I found a bracelet, the delicate links shifting from rose-gold to silver depending how the light reflected off them. At least a dozen charms hung from it, translucent cabochons in various sizes, each one containing a flower frozen in time. None of them belonged to the mortal realm.

  “It’s gorgeous. I—I don’t know what to say, but what do I do with this?”

  The corner of Dain’s mouth quirked in a smile. “Wear it, little one.”

  He took the strand from me and secured it around my wrist, which is when I noticed there wasn’t the usual jewelry clasp. Instead, he touched the links together until they fused.

  “How do I remove it?”

  “You don’t.” He produced a twig no thicker than a toothpick. “And now, a gift for your household from our king.”

  I squinted at it, skeptical, and squelched the disappointment. “Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but why did the King of Tir na Nog send me a splinter?”

  “Place it in a pot of soil when you return to your residence, then add water from Mirror Lake. Trust me when I say you’ll be pleased.”

  “I don’t have water from Mirror Lake.” And I’d have to convince the Wild Hunt Club to visit the area if I wanted to harvest any of its resources.

  “Your neighbors possess a sufficient quantity.”

  I chalked his knowledge up to faerie superiority. “Please tell him thank you for me. And my grandmother too, if you see her.”

  “I will be certain to pass on your gratitude. Until next week, then.”

  I perked up. “Our lessons are going to resume?”

  “Indeed. And since Lady Liadan and Lady Pilar also will be free, I shall welcome their return as well.”

  Lessons in fae combat magic with Dain were never dull. As far as I was concerned, that was the best present he could give me.

  Still, I hesitated. “Dain? Can I ask one question?”

  “You may. Whether I answer will be determined by the nature of the inquiry.”

  I sighed. “All right. Fine. Um… A few months ago you tried to dissuade me from being in a relationship with Gabriel. You did your best to talk me out of it. Why change your mind now?”

  “You’re bonded now. Your mind has been made.”

  “You’re also giving us a gift.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  Nothing about his cagy responses surprised me. “Can you just once be straight with me about—?”

  “Some answers only conceive more questions, Skylar, and they are not always the resolution we desire.”

  The fine hairs on my arms rose, and a tingle spread down my nape. “I want to know.”

  His pale eyes lit with greed. “Enough to bargain?”

  Because I could be stupid, because I was desperate to know, I blurted out, “I’ll offer a limited favor, but I won’t do anything to physically, emotionally, or financially harm me or anyone I love—nothing I couldn’t live with.”

  “Very well then. In the matter of your union with the were, it’s best to enjoy what one has while it is there. All that I may tell, is that when it comes to Gabriel, not even one mortal lifetime will you share.”

  11

  A Kingly Gift

  Friday morning, I stirred to the overwhelming sensation of Gabriel’s excitement coursing through the apartment. His giddy emotions dragged me into full consciousness, and I crawled from bed to go investigate.

  My sleep hadn’t been peaceful that night. Thanks to Dain—thanks to my own insatiable curiosity—each dream had been tainted by an overactive imagination where I lost my new mate over and over again.

  The haunting rhyme stuck with me, no matter how much I tried to convince myself that the future wasn’t set in stone, and all prophecies, whether given by a mage or fae, were malleable enough to be changed.

  This was why the higher powers discouraged people from learning their fortunes.

  Which was exactly why I was going to forget everything Dain said and not bother mentioning it to Gabriel. We’d make our own future. Together.

  I stepped into the living room, the smell of smoked meat on the stove and strong coffee in the air. Right off the bat, I noticed two large hard-shelled suitcases against the couch with big white bows affixed to them.

  Gabe grinned from the kitchen. “About time you woke up, sleepyhead. Waiting to open those has been torture.”

  “They’re suitcases.”

  “Uh-huh. From my mom and dad.”

  “From both of your parents?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I mean, your mom does know your dad did this, right?”

  “She does. She picked the luggage.”

  I quirked a dubious eyebrow at him. “Your mom loathes my existence.”

  “Hey. My mom doesn’t hate you. She hated the situation. She was disappointed I’m not with the girl she also loved, but she doesn’t hate you.”

  I wasn’t totally convinced but maybe she and I had a chance at a civil future.

  I stepped over to investigate. One was pearlescent white and shone like an opal with a dozen pretty colors gleaming in the ivory finish. The other looked satin black, almost blue, like Gabriel’s hair. “His and hers suitcases?”

  “His and hers heavy suitcases.”

  Gabe walked over with two plates, each covered in fried eggs, bacon, and some of the sausage links from our subscription box. A few blueberries had been piled onto mine, while his was suspiciously free of anything that could be considered a fruit or vegetable.

  My stomach growled. “Stark is a great friend.”

  “I think he’s angling for us naming our firstborn after him.”

  Even though I knew he was joking, my pulse kicked into overdrive. Kids were not even on my radar yet.

  “Yeah, well, he’ll be waiting for a while,” I said once I squelched the rising panic.

  “Hey, my bad.” He set our food down then turned to face me. “No pressure from me, okay?”

  “I know.”

  “Seriously. People may joke, but that’s just shifter humor.”

  “I’ll be fine, I promise. Plus, I figured we’d talk about it eventually. Just, uh, not today, okay?”

  His smile faded a fraction. “Sure.”

  Shit. Had that been bitchier than intended? I took my plate and stuffed a sausage link into my mouth. “So. These gifts. When do we open them? I was expecting more food offerings for the freezer.”

  “Finish up your breakfast first.”

  He didn’t have to tell me twice. I finished my food in record time, took our dishes to the kitchen, and then bounced back to the couch. Gabriel laughed, and I was glad to see the awkward tension between us broken.

  Serious discussions could come later.

  Each suitcase contained a variety of wrapped gifts, all from members of the Fujimoto family, and a few from the Gutierrez side as well. Teresa had sent me some beautiful bracelets and earrings, while Gabe received a brand-new leather wallet

  Sam gifted us a bottle of sake with two matching cups, and a box full of cookies came from Alex. The card assured us he hadn’t baked them since he didn’t want to poison his cool new sister.

  Aww. He thinks I’m cool.

  And then there were the cards. Lo
ts and lots of beautifully decorated envelopes filled with crisp hundred-dollar bills.

  “What’s it all for?” I asked after I counted out close to three thousand dollars. That only accounted for half the envelopes, which made my head spin.

  “To help us get started in our new life. We can put it away in a joint savings account to accrue interest and have it for later.”

  The insane urge to make it rain money came over me, an impulse I managed to somehow not give in to, giggling instead. I’d never held so much cash in my hands. The Fujimoto clan had been generous indeed.

  “You have another box before I open the envelope from my folks,” Gabe prompted. “Come on. I wanna see what’s in it.”

  “Oh, yeah, right. Lemme just put this all away.”

  Using the utmost care, I tucked all the money and every envelope into one of the empty boxes so we could go through it all later. We’d have to send thank you cards or something.

  Once my hands were free, Gabe set a wooden box in my lap.

  “Who is this one from?” I carefully took off the lid.

  “Obaachan,” he replied.

  I paused a moment to let it sink in that even a ghost had made sure to send us a gift. Gabe’s grandmother had been wonderful to me during my stay at his place over the summer.

  Smiling, I pulled back the layers of tissue paper and silk cloth protecting the gift inside.

  “It’s so pretty!”

  I held up the clay teapot and admired the design—a raven perched on a flowering cherry blossom branch. Four small cups, also painted with cherry blossoms, lay nestled in their own protected spots. Rounding out the beautiful gift were six large packets of loose tea, though I had no idea what any of them were since all of the writing was in Japanese.

  “Whoa. I didn’t think she’d ever gift that to anyone.” A moment passed before Gabriel added, “Mom’s been wanting it for a while and hinting around.”

  “It’s so pretty,” I repeated dumbly, for lack of anything else to say after the admission that I’d received something his gram had passed over her own daughter-in-law to gift me.