“Baer—” Clay started in a warning voice, but Baer quickly cut him off.
“No, I’m being completely serious. They smell to us. Like roadkill. Why can’t we smell to them?”
The thought brought a somewhat evil grin to Clay’s lips. It was a nice thought. After months of torturing him with their rotten odor, it would be nice if they were being tormented as well.
“It’s certainly something we should ask the aunts when they return.”
“They seem to hold on to more information than they give out,” Baer said as he gutted a fish. Ruby ran up to see what they were doing, and Baer laughed. “Ruby has no desire to eat any of this. Guess fish isn’t her thing.” He chuckled, the sound so warm and free. “God, it’s wild being able to hear her thoughts. She had a blast this morning chasing field mice.”
Grey came up to help, but they were nearly done, so he sat on the ground watching them. He stared hard at Clay for a moment, and Clay couldn’t help but wonder if the man was trying to read his thoughts. It made him so uncomfortable, the knowledge that Grey could do that. He tried to focus on the fish and not think about anything important, but his mind started going over everything he was starting to feel for Dane.
When Grey chuckled, he stopped what he was doing to watch him. “What?”
“I’m not reading your mind, but it’s obvious I make you uncomfortable now. I wouldn’t do that to you, just so you know.”
“But if you’re like us, your powers aren’t easily controlled yet. What if you do it by accident?”
“Every now and then, I get something. Can’t help it. But it’s nothing important.”
“Anything from me?”
“You hate cleaning fish. That’s it. Baer doesn’t mind it.” He grinned. “Baer, have you thought about trying to be a fish?”
Baer paused, a fish dangling from his hand. “Ew, no. But that’s an idea. I wonder if I can.”
“There’s a nice pond here for you to try,” Clay said. “But I can’t imagine what that would be like. If you try it, be a big one so you don’t get swallowed whole.”
Baer shuddered. “Yeah, of course. I put myself into danger every time I try something small. You saw that hawk come after me.”
“I also saw it backpedal once it got close. Maybe animals can sense you aren’t truly what you look like.”
Baer washed his hands, then scratched his beard. “I hadn’t thought of that, but it makes sense. Everything runs from me, no matter what I turn into. Everything but Ruby. She knows it’s me every time.”
“Smart dog.”
“I think our connection makes her know. Fuck, there’s so much to learn, I feel overwhelmed by it all.”
Clay nodded. “Me too.” He kneeled and placed his finger on a dying flower, letting the magic flow out of him as he watched it perk up.
“That’s incredible to watch,” Grey said, his voice hushed. “I wonder why you can’t do that with people.”
“Seems like that would be the handiest gift to have if it were so.” Clay stroked the tiny petals. “I can almost feel it thanking me.”
“The plants talk?” Baer asked.
Clay shook his head. “No, it’s just a feeling. Almost like empathy. When I took vines off a tree in the woods, I felt its relief because the vine had been strangling it. This little flower just…feels healthier. I don’t know how to explain it better than that.”
“We really need the aunts to come back and do more explaining.” Grey stood and brushed off the seat of his jeans. “Maybe you should try calling them again.” He chuckled.
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Clay grumbled. “Felt like an idiot the last time.”
“We thought you were brilliant,” Grey teased.
Clay glared at him, but he had little doubt that Grey knew it was all for show. The Soul Weaver looked lighter now, relaxed. Ever since Clay had pulled the power from the earth to revitalize the flower. He’d relaxed and calmed, and so had Grey.
The Soul Weaver had to be buffeted by their emotions all day. It’s likely why he spent more time with Baer when he wasn’t hiding out in his room. The Animal Weaver was a bundle of happiness. It had to be easier on Grey than Clay’s constant worries and seemingly endless mood swings where Dane was concerned.
Yes, he’d be the butt of their jokes if it took away some of the shadows around Grey’s eyes and lightened the lines of strain bracketing his mouth.Chapter 14Clay was close to tears of relief when the aunts finally showed up four days after their “trap” discussion in the woods. Baer occupied himself with working out his powers and running around the woods with Ruby, both in human and animal form.
Grey was another story.
It was more difficult to practice his powers without willing guinea pigs. Baer had allowed him only one more go, but Clay hadn’t been allowed to be there for it, which made Clay’s skin crawl. Someone needed to be there in case there was a problem. Not that Clay knew what he could do if there was a problem.