“I have a solution for you, but it’s too soon to discuss just now,” Portia waved a hand dramatically over her head. “There are things I need to do first. How about you go to your room and rest? I’ll have Una send up some supplies.”
“Fine, but this can’t wait, Portia. I already took a huge risk by helping Cooper.”
Portia shrugged as she ushered the witch out of the office. “Sometimes, the things we believe are the greatest risks are what can actually make our life worthwhile.”
And with those cryptic words, Portia vanished down the hallway, leaving Alice stunned.
FOUR
COOPER
The garbled sounds of two people bickering broke through the strange sleep Cooper was having. As he slowly started to wake up, he remembered where he was and why. He had fought with Michael’s cronies and gotten seriously hurt. Injured enough that he decided to fly all the way to Portia’s resort, where Alice Gatlin, the most beautiful witch he had ever laid eyes on, had healed him. She had healed him…brought him back from the brink…with magic and a caring tenderness that shocked him. Never before had he met someone who was willing to help a stranger to that extent.
Surely, he had to see her again. But he wouldn’t be nude, healing, and half asleep this time. He would be awake and alert and able to convince Alice that she had to let him repay his debt.
“Lou, stop that,” a stern voice commanded.
This rattled Cooper enough for him to remember that he was in the process of waking up because there were people in his room. Even without opening his eyes, he knew that Alice wasn’t in the room, but he couldn’t help but find the tone familiar. He had heard one of the voices give commands before. He was sure of it.
“Would you behave? You can see the dragon is still sleeping. Let him rest. He’s been through a whole lot in a very short time.”
“Well, I don’t know why you told me this was an emergency if we’re just going to watch him sleep. If I wanna be creepy, I have better ways of doing it,” Lou said.
“Stop pouting, Lou. It’s unbecoming.” There was a smile in the tone now, and that’s when Cooper realized who was in his room.
He cracked an eye open, and there were Lou and Portia, standing around his sickbed like an eager and desperate family. He cleared his throat and blinked his eyes a few times as he reached for a glass of water. He downed the whole thing before sighing in relief.
“How are you feeling?” Portia asked. “Any better?”
“Much better,” he answered, sitting up and back against the pillows. “I have to say that the witch you got to help me was amazing. Alice, isn’t it?”
Portia grinned. “Yes, Alice. Alice Gatlin. She is a wonderful witch and person. Too bad, really.” She clicked her tongue and shrugged her shoulders in a dismissive manner. “What can I do?”
Cooper winced as he tried to sit a little straighter. “What do you mean?”
The succubus shook her head again. “Oh, it’s nothing to concern yourself with, darling boy. She’s just going through some stuff.”
He narrowed his eyes. “What kind of stuff?”
“Nothing to concern yourself with,” Portia said. “You have to focus all of your energy on healing.”
“Portia,” he warned.
“Why do I feel like I’m missing something?” Lou asked. “I hate it when I don’t understand what the hell is going on around me.”
Portia threw her head back with a laugh. “All in good time, Lou.”
“Don’t worry, Lou. I feel the same as you do, to be completely honest. I hate not knowing everything that is happening around me, especially not when Portia is involved.”
“Oh, so you know that our Portia is a little bit crafty.” Lou nodded with a smile.
“I’ll say,” Cooper grumbled.
“But you should also know, then, that Portia has the best intentions, and her plans usually end up working out for the best. For everyone involved.”
Cooper lay back on his pillows, his energy slowly leaking out of him. “Yeah, that’s true. That’s actually one of the reasons I came here.”
“You came here because you were injured in an alphaship battle. How could I not help? You should definitely contact your people and let them know you’re safe, but before you do that, I think you need to hear what we have to say.”