Lorehnin: A Novel of the Otherworld Read online

  The light changed and the bus turned into the parking lot.

  “Are you using glamour now?” I heard myself ask.

  Devlin shook his head. “No, I learned my lesson.”

  “You made a good choice, on the clothing I mean. You really,” look hot, “uh, blend in more now.”

  He smiled again and said, “I received some good advice.”

  “Ah. From whom?”

  “My friend Enorah. She lives in the Otherworld.”

  I cleared my throat, “Your girlfriend?”

  Now why had I gone and asked him that, and what did I care?

  This time Devlin’s laugh was more of a bark. “Oh no. She’s more like a surrogate aunt.”

  Why I felt relief was a mystery to me. Probably just my nerves finally settling.

  The bus groaned to a stop, and I realized it was time to get off. Clutching my bag, I stood up then stopped. Devlin wasn’t moving.

  “I need to get off the bus so I can go to class.”

  Devlin stood and then stepped to the side to let me go. I hurried down the aisle, feeling the need to move away from him. His presence was just too overwhelming, and I wanted to get out into the fresh air so I could breathe.

  I stepped from the bus and moved to stand on the sidewalk, taking a few deep breaths as everyone else piled off behind me. The bus doors shut with a hiss and a snap, and soon the great diesel behemoth was off to make another trip around town. Shaking my head slightly, I lifted my foot to take my first step toward class.

  “When are you free to speak again, Robyn Dunbarre?”

  I nearly screeched. Jerking my head around, I spotted Devlin standing behind me with no one else around. He was even taller outside of the bus.

  “Sorry?” I said.

  “I would like to finish this conversation, but I do not wish to keep you from your appointment.”

  “It isn’t an appointment,” I grumbled, shoving my hands in my pockets. “I have class.”

  He only tilted his head, as if waiting for me to elaborate.

  I rolled my eyes and tilted my head to the sky. You’d think I’d be more elated that a Faelorehn man had singled me out among all the measly mortals to be his new buddy in this world, but it only meant my life would grow more complicated than it already was. I dropped my head and considered him. I would love more than anything to get to know him better, but that was very dangerous ground. For ten long seconds, I battled my good sense until I finally caved.

  “All right. I’m busy most of the week, what with school and work. How about Friday night? I finish my work shift at ten, is that too late for you?”

  Technically, I could meet him several times this week but at least on Saturday morning I didn’t have to worry about getting up early to go to work or to school. That way if our conversation ran late, which that wicked, Bohemian side of me was hoping it would, then I could sleep in.

  Devlin nodded. “I’ll see you then.”

  “Wait! How will you know where to find me?” And how did you know I’d be on this bus to begin with?

  Devlin grinned. “I have my ways.”

  And with that, he turned and strode away. With some effort, I forced myself to stop staring at his butt so I could get mine to class. He had his ways? I wondered what that meant, but decided to put off thinking about it until later. I had a very long Monday ahead of me that would require all of my focus.

  -Five-

  Meeting

  Naturally, the remainder of the week dragged on for an eternity, and making it through class on Monday without losing my mind was a particular challenge. Had Renaissance Man really boarded my bus to talk to me? No wait, his name was Devlin. And what kind of name was Devlin?

  Otherworldly. I batted away the small voice in my mind. True, I had admitted as much to myself, and I’d even talked to him about it, but for some reason I was having a hard time accepting the fact that a guy from the Otherworld was seeking out my company. Hold it, Robyn, your best friend and her husband are from Eile and you’re totally cool with that. Maybe I didn’t have such a hard time with knowing Meghan was from the Otherworld because I’d known her for so long. Devlin, on the other hand, was a complete stranger. Besides, the only reason Devlin sought out my company in the first place was because he wanted to find someone else. Someone I apparently knew. Someone he couldn’t name or describe. Which made sooo much sense.

  The crash of dishes into the sink snapped me to attention. Where was I? Oh, right. I was at work and I had about an hour before my shift ended. Before I was to meet up with Devlin of the Otherworld.

  Swallowing hard, I got back to sweeping the floor in the dining area. Jonathon was sharing the final shift with me as well and he had been giving me concerned looks all evening. Once I’d made my rounds, I stepped behind the counter with a dustbin full of questionable material and proceeded to empty it into the trash can. Jonathon leaned one elbow on the bar and pinned me with his gaze. After several seconds spent knocking invisible dirt off of the dustbin, I finally faced him.

  “What?” I demanded.

  “Nothing. Just wondering what’s up with you. You’ve been jumpy all week.”

  I set the broom and dust pan aside, crossed my arms and scrunched up my face.

  “Cute, Robyn,” he said in response to my scowl. At least he backed off a little after that.

  The next forty minutes passed by easily with me working the cash register and Jonathon preparing the drinks. The customer traffic had tapered off by then and I contemplated getting the mop out to start on the floor early when the doorbell announced another customer. Both Jonathon and I had been in the back, me preparing the mop and bucket, Jon grabbing some items to restock before we closed. He looked over at me.

  “I’ll get it,” I grumbled and shuffled back out to the front.

  I’d taken my apron off so I had to loop it over my head and retie it in the back, which explained why I wasn’t really paying attention when I stepped out behind the counter.

  “What would you like?” I asked as I fought with the tie. Stupid apron.

  A familiar voice answered, “The best you have to offer.”

  My hands froze and I jerked my head up. The blood drained from my face and then abruptly refilled it. Standing in front of the counter with his arms crossed over his chest was Devlin. This time he was wearing a sweater and jeans.

  He smiled, and my heart dropped into my stomach. Immediately I chastised myself for such a reaction. Good lord, Robyn! You’ve seen hot guys before and haven’t even batted an eyelash. What is it about this one that’s got you so wigged out?

  But I already knew the answer. It wasn’t that he was so attractive, though that certainly was a factor. It was something else about him, an aura he gave off. The same kind of aura Meghan’s Cade had. Must be an Otherworldly trait, I told myself as I brushed my hair out of my face and returned my attention to Devlin.

  “Well, most of our drinks are very good,” I offered.

  Devlin put his elbows on the counter and leaned in toward me, his smile almost predatory.

  “I wasn’t necessarily talking about your drink menu, but I’ll try whatever you like the best.”

  For the first time in my life I was struck speechless. Was he flirting with me? And if so, awesome! Trying not to trip over my own sudden awkwardness, I mimicked his posture, propping my elbow on the counter and leaning in close. I didn’t have to bend nearly as far as him.

  “I’d recommend a mocha then, Robyn Dunbarre style. Small, sweet, but with plenty of spunk.”

  Devlin’s blue eyes lit up and a small jolt of pleasure shot through me. I had managed to charm the walking embodiment of charisma. Yay for me!

  “Sounds wonderful,” he said, standing up straight again and losing a little bit of that mischief he’d walked in with. Good. If he laid it on any thicker I might actually faint.

  He reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a ten-dollar bill. Wondering where he’d gotten money to use in the mortal world, I rang
up his purchase and gave him his change.

  “Have a seat and I’ll get that drink ready for you. In a to-go cup?”

  Devlin nodded and I glanced at the clock. Ten minutes to closing. Maybe I could talk Jonathon into mopping the floor for me. I started preparing the drinks, one for Devlin and one for myself. A few seconds later, Jon came out from the back with the supplies he'd been gathering earlier.

  “Want to lock the front door? I know it's a bit early but …” he stopped midsentence when he spotted Devlin sitting at the far table. “Um, never mind. I see we still have a customer.”

  And how was I going to explain that I planned on leaving with said customer as soon as my shift was up? I finished preparing the mochas, added the whipped cream and snapped on the lids.

  “Here’s your drink,” I called out to Devlin.

  I set the paper cup on the counter and then turned toward Jonathon. I grabbed his skinny arm and pulled him toward the back of the store.

  “Listen, I can’t explain everything right now, but that guy is here to meet with me.”

  Jonathon’s dark eyebrows shot up into his hairline, and he tried to glance over my shoulder for a better look at Devlin.

  “Seriously? Pretty-boy out there? I didn’t think that was your style, Robyn.”

  I gritted my teeth and tried to ignore the slightly bitter tinge to Jonathon’s tone.

  “It’s not what you think, honestly. I’m helping him with a school project,” I lied. Well, not a total lie. I was helping him with a project, supposedly.

  Jonathon pried my fingers off his arm and then crossed it over the other, looking down at me as if I were a small child who insisted it was perfectly safe to juggle a set of knives.

  “How well do you know this guy Robyn? I mean, he may seem harmless, but all the crazy ones do. I’ve read about sociopaths. They are very charming and are really good at manipulating people.”

  I tried not to sigh in exasperation. Jonathon had a point, and if Devlin hadn’t convinced me in one form or another that he was from Eile, I would have taken my friend's advice to heart. In all honesty, I was just too curious about this Otherworldly man to give credence to my friend’s advice.

  This time I reached out and grabbed both Jonathon’s arms, just above the elbows. “Don’t worry, Jon. He won’t hurt me.” At least I didn’t think he would. “Could you mop for me tonight? I'll owe you one.”

  Jonathon gave a weary sigh and then said, “Okay. But if I don’t hear from you tomorrow morning I’m calling the cops.”

  I gave him a playful shove. “I’ll text you the moment I’m alone and safe in my apartment.”

  Within five minutes I’d ditched my apron, shrugged on my coat and purse, and grabbed my coffee. Devlin waited patiently for me the entire time. When I finally approached his table, I noticed he was holding his coffee cup and giving it a curious look.

  “Stronger than tea, but very good,” he admitted.

  I smiled then took a deep breath and said, “Ready to go?”

  Nodding, he stood up and moved toward the door, opening it for me. I waved to Jonathon and then gave him the thumbs up. He only shook his head and got back to mopping. I felt kind of bad ditching him like that, but it also felt good that he was concerned about my safety. Almost like having a brother, I imagined.

  The night air was chilly for mid-September, so I pulled my jacket tighter and nursed my mocha, seeking whatever warmth I could find.

  “Are you cold?” Devlin asked beside me. He moved to take off his sweater.

  “No,” I lied. I was chilly, yes, but I wasn’t about to make him suffer for it. Besides, I had a feeling I’d trip over the hem of his sweater if I put it on. “I’ll be okay once I drink some more coffee.”

  I lifted my cup and gave him my best smile before taking a sip. Mmm, hot, chocolate-infused bliss.

  “I thought we could talk on the way to my apartment. Maybe stop in the Mission Plaza for a while?”

  Really, this was Devlin’s meeting. He should be the one making conversation. I shot him a sideways glance and, even though his posture seemed casual, what with his chin slightly tilted toward the ground and one hand in his pocket, I noticed a tightness around his mouth and eyes. Even in the dim street lights I could tell something troubled him.

  Eventually, he nodded. “That sounds like a good idea.”

  We crossed into the plaza, and I led him away from the area where the vagrants often spent the night. Our conversation had the potential to be chalked up as psych-ward worthy, so the fewer eavesdroppers around the better. Across from the sloping lawn, I spotted an open bench with at least fifty feet of empty space all around it. Perfect. I indicated the spot, and Devlin turned that way. Once we were seated, we rested quietly for several moments.

  Across the plaza, on the other side of the creek, a handful of restaurants and cafes were still going strong. Some of the eateries also sported bars, so they stayed open into the wee hours of the night. The upbeat rhythm of indie rock drifted from one storefront while the loud clink of silverware and the happy chatter of voices arose from another. All around, the lively sounds of night life in San Luis Obispo inundated us, but Devlin and I remained silent.

  After several more sips of my coffee, I couldn't take it anymore. “So, when we talked on the bus you mentioned you were looking for someone?”

  Devlin released a long breath and dropped his head, his hands gripping his coffee cup for dear life. I felt my eyebrows rise. Something must really be bothering him.

  “I really shouldn’t be talking with you at all, but perhaps it is too late for that,” he murmured.

  My whole body stiffened. That was never a good thing to hear.

  Devlin turned his head and observed me, his blue eyes dulled by the darkness around us. Despite all that, I read something in them: worry, fear, desperation. Dear lord, Robyn, what have you gotten yourself tangled up in?

  “I must start by asking you some questions, if you don't mind, so I know how much I can tell you.”

  “Go ahead.” Hey, I was already sticking my head into the rabbit hole, might as well shove myself all the way in.

  Devlin’s eyes dropped and focused on my neck. I resisted the urge to reach up and touch what rested there. He could only be looking at my torque, the one from the Otherworld.

  His gaze shot back up to meet mine. “Who is your friend, the one that lives in Eile?”

  Okay, this shouldn’t be too hard. Meghan was a pretty big name in the Otherworld, what with her being the high queen’s daughter and all. Hopefully, mentioning her would improve my status in his eyes. Yet again, he could have loyalties with the other side. He could be a supporter of the Morrigan.

  Before leaving to live with Cade, Meghan had been pretty tight-lipped about the life that awaited her in Eile. I think she kept most of the details to herself because she didn’t want me and Tully and the boys to worry. It was probably a wise move on her part because after everything was over, she wrote each of us a long letter explaining who she really was and that she and Cade and her mother and all the Tuatha De had fought against the Morrigan. I had no idea Meghan had it in her, and I’d been so proud. And of course, I’d changed my mind about the Celtic war goddess. Before I’d thought she was a totally badass deity with a bit of a wicked streak. Someone I’d idolized. Turned out she was far worse than I’d imagined.

  That had been a few years ago, and even though the Morrigan was no longer a problem for my friend and her new family, that didn’t mean the goddess’s evil magic didn’t linger. Meghan had said as much in her letters, and now I wondered if Devlin might be a bitter follower of the once-powerful goddess. And that would definitely be bad news for me if I started blurting about my best friend and how she and her allies had defeated the war-hungry tyrant. My instincts, however, were telling me otherwise. Devlin was no threat to me. But just how far could I trust him?

  Drawing in a deep breath and making a decision, I turned to him and said, “Meghan Elam. Well, she might have tak
en her husband’s name. You’ve probably heard of her. She’s the high queen’s daughter."

  Devlin went absolutely still. Oh crap. I’d been wrong.

  “Is her husband Caedehn MacRoich?”

  I couldn’t remember Cade’s last name, but I knew his full name was Caedehn.

  “Maybe. She introduced him as Cade but I’m not sure what his last name is.”

  “He’s a little taller than me, dark red hair, green eyes. Well, at least they’re green when they aren’t changing.”

  “Yes!” I said, feeling suddenly relieved, and overjoyed. “You know Cade?”

  “I once went on a quest of sorts with him and his sister, Enorah, the one who advised me on my mortal wardrobe.” He pulled the sweater away from his body.

  I smiled. “She has good taste,” I admitted. His clothing might not be the height of fashion, but the look suited him well.

  Devlin grinned and continued, “During this quest, Cade helped recover my brother when he was nearly killed by a predator.”

  His expression grew dark, but he shook himself out of it and took a breath. “Cade is a good man. Your friend did well in choosing him.”

  That warmed me. I hoped Meghan was happy with the life she now led. I took a small breath and sipped my coffee once again. There were a thousand questions I wanted to ask Devlin, but for some reason only one came to mind.

  “I forgot about the eye color thing, with the Faelorehn that is. Meghan’s eyes were always switching color and we just brushed it off as a trick of the light. You said Cade’s do as well.”

  I glanced up at him and narrowed my eyes. “I haven’t seen yours change.”

  Devlin stilled and that dark look threatened to return to his face. The music across the plaza faded into another song, another beat. One of the people sleeping on the Mission steps several feet away fell into a coughing fit. A couple with a dog moved swiftly and silently through the plaza, their nighttime jog taking them deeper into town.