Charissa shivered with unexpected, yet pleasing, desire as his warm breath and sultry voice flowed over her. She bent her head closer, putting their heads a few inches apart and lowered her voice to match his. “Will do, Boss. I take it this is Adonis?” Like she didn’t already know.

  Travis ran his gaze over her mouth as she spoke and she couldn’t resist letting her tongue peek out from between her lips. He swallowed as his gaze fixed on her mouth. His next words didn’t sound as sultry as before, but deeper, huskier, hungrier. “Uh, yeah. This is the stud.”

  As much as she wanted to stay physically near him, she knew the time was ripe for a little shakeup. Charissa straightened up in one quick movement that had Travis stepping away from her in surprise. No harm in keeping the man guessing.

  “Let’s see.” She moved to the other side of Adonis, putting the horse between Travis and herself, and rubbed Adonis’ neck. “There, there you handsome devil. What’s bothering you, big guy?”

  When she was sure Travis couldn’t see her, she caught the attention of the horse and winked. If Rici was still in possession of the horse, he’d let her know. Rici, are you there?

  Yes, I’m still here. And loathing every minute of it. Where the haellus were you? Do you have any idea what happened to me? What that quack of an animal physician wanted to do to me? What they wanted me to do to that mare? Adonis snorted a dreadful, horrid sound accompanied by a spray of horse spit.

  Urgh! Rici, knock it off. I did what I told you I would do. The plan’s working perfectly, so stay put. Although you won’t have to stay inside him much longer. All I have to do is cure Adonis and Travis will keep me on long enough for me to make him fall in love with me.

  Okay, okay. But hurry. I can’t stand eating this garbage they feed these animals. And don’t even get me started on how they relieve themselves! The smell alone is killing me!

  Charissa stifled a laugh, grabbed onto the halter and went through the motions of studying the horse’s eyes, legs and overall appearance. Not that she’d know if anything was physically wrong with the creature without the horse telling her, but she had to pretend as though she did.

  “So? What do you think?” Travis kept his voice down as he glanced around to see if any of the workers had wandered near them. “Can you help him or not?”

  Charissa furrowed her brow and feigned a contemplative expression. “This is one sick little pony, uh, horse.”

  “Yeah, I get that. And?”

  She put a finger to her lips and nodded knowingly. “It may take some effort, but I think I can help him.”

  Travis let out a long sigh but she could tell his skepticism was firmly intact. “Then do it. Quick.”

  “Sure. No problem.” Placing her hands on the halter on either side of Adonis’ face, she stared into the horse’s—Rici’s—eyes and started the spiel she’d made up last night. “Adonis, I want you to talk to me. I want you to tell me what’s wrong. Why won’t you mount Princess Dancer?”

  She could sense the men edging closer to her. Come one, come all. Enjoy the show! Yet as she darted her gaze to the side to see Billy moving up on the left, she thought she noticed something—a fly?—zipping away from Adonis. No worries. Whatever it was is gone and Rici’s ready to play the part of the recovering stud horse.

  “All right, Adonis. I hear you. Are you ready to start the breeding process? Are you ready to mount Princess? Yes? Good, boy.” She smiled at Travis and tossed him a thumbs up for good measure.

  But Travis wasn’t convinced. “That’s it? He’s ready now? How do you know?”

  “Because he told me.” Shat, what other proof would Travis need?

  “He doesn’t act like he’s ready. Let’s take him around her and see his reaction.”

  “Fine.” Charissa shot an “you know what to do” look at Adonis. Okay, Rici, make it good. Play the horny horsie. Which, for you, shouldn’t take much acting.

  Travis and Charissa led Adonis out of the stud barn and up to the entry into the mare’s barn. She couldn’t help but notice that the workers from the first barn had somehow come up with chores that needed doing in the mare’s barn. They wanted to watch, too.

  “That’s far enough.” Travis held onto one side of the halter while Charissa kept her hand wrapped in the other side. “He ought to start getting a whiff of them by now. And, trust me, if he’s ready to breed, we’ll see it in the way he moves.”

  Travis and Charissa waited and watched, but nothing happened.

  When Travis raised his eyebrows in question to her, she scrunched down to put her face next to the horse’s face. Rici, come on. Give us a little show, bro. Kick up your heels. Act like you want nothing more than to stick your gigantic shaft into a pretty little mare.

  She straightened up and gave Travis an encouraging smile. “Give him a minute or two. After all, he’s been sick.”

  Travis didn’t answer but she knew he wouldn’t wait all day.

  Again, Charissa bent to the horse and beseeched her brother. Riciseon, this is not the time to play games with me. You’re making me look like a fool. Heat rushed to her neck and into her face as Adonis continued to stand listlessly, head down, and inattentive to the sight of several mares standing a few feet away in their stalls. Come on, Rici. Kick up his heels. Make him act like he’s a horny man in search of his first lay in a long, long time.

  But nothing happened. Except for the Anger emotion growing steadily inside her. I can’t lose my temper. I won’t let this emotion take me over. In desperation, she whipped her head around and nodded at the men doing their work around them, and flung the Anger from her into them.

  Rici! If you’re in there, say something. Yet she’d known before she’d asked that Rici was no longer in control of the horse. The stinking rat had fooled her, making her look like a fool in front of Travis. Doaga you, Rici. When I get my hands on you, you’re going to wish you’d stay inside the horse!

  Anger burst fresh from her again and into the men.

  Billy stood straight up from the dirty work of shoveling manure and looked at the shovel he had in his hands as if he just now noticed it. He raised the shovel behind him as if meaning to swing at a baseball while a mean expression slid over his features. Grinning a wicked grin, he swung. The shovel’s handle broke as he slammed the tool against the frame of the stall’s open gate, sending a reverberating crack through the barn.

  “What the fuck did you do that for?” Carlos, one of the newest groomers, threw down the brush he’d been cleaning and stomped over to Billy.

  “None of your damn business.” Billy bumped his chest against Carlos in a defiant challenge. “Keep your sorry Mexican ass out of my business, hombre.”

  The other workers crowded around the them, egging them into a fight. Charissa, however, didn’t care to watch and, instead, turned her attention to Travis who’d remained frozen in stunned silence. But his freeze didn’t last long as he marched over to the group.

  “Simmer down, men.” He forced his body between Billy and Carlos, keeping his back to Carlos as he confronted Billy. “What’s wrong with you?”

  Billy fisted his hands together and readied them to punch. “Stay out of this. This is between me and him.”

  “Not happening. I don’t know what your problem is, but you’re not settling it here and now.” Travis glared at Billy, staring pointedly at the boy’s raised fists. “Use your fist, Billy, on me or anyone else, and it’ll be the last thing you do on my ranch.”

  “What in Heaven’s name is going on in here?”

  Charissa swiveled to the lilting, yet startled sound to see a beautiful blonde woman. Travis took Billy behind the neck, guided him out of the circle of angry men, and over to the woman. “Billy, everyone, look who’s come to visit.”

  A knot grew in Charissa’s stomach as Travis let the young boy go and wrapped his arms around the intruder in a warm hug. Lifting her off her feet, he swung the drop-dead gorgeous invader around in a circle as she laughed and pleaded with him to put her down.

  Within an instant, the anger inside Charissa snuffed out; replaced by another emotion she’d never experienced. The men, who’d been ready to fight, seemed dazed as their anger left them. Tucking his head in shame, Carlos edged over to an equally embarrassed Billy and stuck out his hand.

  Travis put the blonde down and slipped his arm around her. As he led her out of the barn, he called back to Charissa without bothering to glance her way. “You keep trying. And let me know if you succeed.”

  He dismissed me. Like some kind of a servant. Who is that bitch? And what kind of emotion am I feeling? Charissa watched as the couple strode laughingly across the yard and into the house. Well, we’ll just see about her. I’m not having anyone interfere with my plans. Not now. Not when Travis and I are getting closer.

  Psst!

  Charissa pivoted on her heel toward a bale of hay. “Rici?” At her question, an ugly brown head with horrible orange eyes sparkling with mischief popped out from behind the hay. “Is that you, Rici?”

  The little creature shook its head at her.

  “Rici, if that’s you then change into the rat. They don’t have dirt faeries on Earth any longer.”

  “Boggens is not Rici.”

  “Then who are you and who sent you?” She gestured for him not to answer and waved to Carlos to come over. The faery ducked behind the hay. “Carlos, please take Adonis back to his stall. I’ll work with him later.” Once Carlos had led Adonis away, she motioned for the faery to follow her into the tack room.

  Once safely inside and away from prying eyes, she closed the door and whirled on the little creature. “Who’s faery are you? What’re you doing here?” Gripping him by his long, purple hair, she held him up and squinted at him. “Tell the truth or I’ll feed you to an animal called a cat. And, trust me. Cats love eating plump little things like you.”

  The faery shivered in fear. “No, no, mistress. Please, don’t. Boggens will tell you.”

  “Then tell me.”

  “Mistress Altalia and the Council of Elders sent Boggens.”

  At the mention of the council, Charissa dropped the faery and sat down as her knees buckled under her. “The Elders? They’re alive?” Leaning forward, she whispered the question she dreaded the most to ask, “Are they watching me?”

  The faery wiggled his nose and glanced skyward. “Why else would they have sent Boggens?”

  Charissa bolted upright and paced back and forth. “Oh, doaga! This is so bad. What do they want? Are they going to lock me up again?”

  “Boggens thinks you love this human.”

  Caught off guard, she gaped at him. “Yes, I do. Does the Council of Elders know about Travis?”

  “Yes, mistress.”

  “Oh, shat!” She peeked upwards as if waiting for them to rip her from the earth, summoning her to their chamber again. “Are you here to take me back?”

  The faery didn’t speak until he thrust out his hand to her. “Boggens is supposed to find you and report back to them. But Boggens is fascinated by this new world. Boggens wants to stay.”

  Well, well, here’s an interesting development. A dirt faery who’s willing to not follow his orders. Charissa squatted down in front of Boggens. “Is that so? Well, then, Boggens, we’ll have to see about keeping you here. Without reporting to Altalia and the others. But you’ll have to do exactly as I say.”

  Chapter Nine

  “What did you find out, Boggens? Have you found my brother yet?” Charissa stood outside the enormous ranch-style house of Travis’ neighbors, the Danforths, trying to understand the emotion that had tied her stomach in knots all day. She blew out another burst of air, hoping to relieve the constant pain. Even wearing a pretty dress hadn’t lessened the awful ache she’d developed since the mysterious woman’s appearance.

  “Boggens didn’t see Master Riciseon today.” The timid faery held onto her leg and peeked at the house filled with people and music.

  “But you’re sure this is where Travis and the blonde bitch went?”

  “Boggens is positive.”

  “Then that’s where I’m going.” Charissa pried the faery loose from her leg. “You stay here. I’m going inside.”

  Boggens scrunched into a ball and shivered. “Do these humans have a cat?”

  Charissa smiled at him and nodded, sending a green mist to surround the faery. “Don’t worry. I’ve put a protection spell around you. After I get inside, I want you to go back to the stud barn and keep out of sight. Be ready for tomorrow. Someway, somehow, I’ll get Travis into the tack room and you can slam the door behind us. I’ll lock it with a spell. But remember, your main job is to keep Rici busy and out of the way.”

  “Boggens will do as Mistress says.” He bowed several times.

  “You’d better.” With a flip of her hair, she crossed the short distance to the front door and pushed it opened without bothering to knock.

  Lights, music, and the cheerful noise of people laughing and talking enveloped her as she strolled into the room. She took in the odd assortment of tables, gadgets and wheels around her. While some humans played games with cards much like the Matlantian card games she knew, others spun a large wheel decorated with the names of prizes. Shouts of exultation mingled with cries of defeat as she scanned the crowd for Travis. At last, she spotted him—with that doaga blonde!—standing at a table loaded with bottles of various colored liquids. Not wanting him to see her yet, she slipped to the side of the room to stand next to two women sharing a lively conversation. Halfheartedly, she listened to what they said while keeping her eyes on Travis.

  “Oh, Melanie, you are so sweet.”

  “No, Betty, you are. I can’t tell you how much I love your dress.”

  “But it’s an old rag. Nothing compared to your couture creation.”

  Biting on a nail, Charissa cringed as Travis and The Bitch laughed together. Her gut twisted, sending yet another agonizing pain through her as Travis lifted his glass to the blonde’s raised one, clinked them together, and drank. How dare he consort with this woman after having sex—no, making love—with her!

  She glared at them, the emotion haunting her rippling out from her in small, invisible spurts. Suddenly, the woman called Betty spat on Melanie’s dress.

  “You whore! You’re jealous.”

  “Me? Jealous of you? It’s what you deserve, you low-life. Trying to pass that Goodwill reject off as a real Gucci. Ha!”

  When some of the people nearest them swiveled toward the commotion, Charissa skirted away, putting distance between her and the unwanted attention. As she passed by another couple, a young girl slapped her friend’s face. Charissa noted her accusation of “boyfriend thief” and moved on again. She shouldn’t let her emotions fly out of her and into the humans closest to her, but she couldn’t help herself. The terrible angst inside her dissipated with each new person who struck out at someone.

  Jealous? Charissa froze as the realization hit her. Could she be jealous of The Bitch? Was that what this emotion is? With the realization came relief. She was. She was jealous. And she had every right to be. Since The Bitch’s arrival, Travis hadn’t spoken to her once.

  Although relieved to know what she’d felt all day, she didn’t know what to do about it. She stepped behind a large plant and watched as The Bitch whispered something in Travis’ ear and strode over to a table where a game of cards had just ended. The Bitch sat down and the person distributing the cards dealt her into the next game.

  Seeing an opportunity, Charissa watched as the woman won a few hands and scooted red and blue coins toward her. All right, Bitch, it’s time to have some fun. With a quick nod, she pushed the Greed emotion into The Bitch.

  The Bitch played another hand and won. Charissa could sense the Greed growing inside the woman and knew it was only a matter of time. Again and again, The Bitch won. Come one, Bitch, lose a hand. Then we’ll see how you react.

  The Bitch motioned for the cardholder to give her another card. This time, however, she didn’t clap her hands and shout for glee as she’d done before. This time, The Bitch stared at the cards as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. Her mouth dropped open as the cardholder person leaned over to drag all of The Bitch’s coins to the other side of the table.

  “Are you shitting me?”

  Charissa snatched a drink from a passing waiter’s tray and covered her giggle with a sip. Let the show begin!

  “Play that hand again!”

  This time The Bitch’s voice was louder and more strident. Heads turned to see what the fuss was about.

  “I said, play that hand again!” The Bitch slammed her hands down onto the table and brought her body up and over the edge to get closer to the surprised cardholder. “If you know what’s good for you, Dealer, you’ll give me my money.”

  Dealer—was that her name or her job?—looked around her for help from the guests. When none came, she answered The Bitch in a tone soaked in restrained ire. “Miss, you lost. I can’t give the money back to you. Perhaps you’ll win the next hand? But please remember, it’s all for charity. For the Children’s After School Clubhouse, remember?”

  “I don’t give a flying fuck about those snot-nosed kids!” Climbing up on the stool, The Bitch pulled her body over the side of the table to stand on top of it. She kicked and threw cards off the table as she grabbed fistfuls of coins and continued to berate the dealer. “You cheated me and you’re not getting away with it. This is my money. Mine! Give. Me. My. Fucking. Money!”

  A collective gasp ripped through the air. Charissa took another sip and wondered about the remark. Sure, she’d had her share of flying fucks, but she’d never heard of two humans managing to have sex in the air.

  Travis broke through the crowd surrounding the table and gaped at The Bitch. “Terey, have you lost your mind. Get down from there and shut the hell up.”

  Ooh, good one, Travis. Charissa rolled her lips inward, but couldn’t hold back the laughter long. See what a sore loser, she is? See how stupid she’s acting. And so greedy. I’ll bet she wants you for your money. Get it? I’ll bet? Her smile faded, however, when Travis reached up to pull The Bitch to him. Even as she continued to kick and scream, he carried her through the room and out into the night.