Opal's Wish: Book Four of The Crystal Warriors Series by Maree Anderson

Author:Maree Anderson [Anderson, Maree]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Romance / Paranormal, FICTION / Fantasy / Paranormal, FICTION / Romance / Fantasy, FIC009050, FICTION / Fantasy / Contemporary, FIC027120, FIC009010, FICTION / Romance / Contemporary, FIC027030, FIC027020
ISBN: 9780992249878
Publisher: Maree Anderson
Published: 2014-03-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The dull repetitive thuds drifted to Danbur’s ears, jerking his focus from the little girl kneeling on the stool clutching a block of cheese. He tensed and cocked his head, listening intently.

“Please see who’s at the door, Danbur.” Pieter tossed the words over his shoulder while he furiously whisked the contents of the pot. “I can’t leave this sauce or it’ll go to lumps.”

“Lumpy mac ’n cheese? Yuck!”

Sera’s crinkled nose brought a smile to Danbur’s lips. The child was a rare delight—all the more perhaps because she was an unknown quantity. On his home world, as far back as Danbur could remember all newborns had been male. Without exception. It had been an unexpected side-effect of a spell cast by prideful men attempting to tamper with the natural order. Hence the need to steal females from other worlds—a drive that had become paramount when it became clear that once on Styrian sands, those women, too, birthed only male infants. And thus the confrontation that had provoked Pieter to curse Danbur… and brought him to this time and place.

“Yuck indeed,” Pieter said. “Which is why I refuse to countenance any lumps in this sauce. I’m almost ready for that cheese, Sera.”

“I’m almost done grating, Mr. Stone.” Sera paused to tuck a springy lock of hair behind her ear. It behaved for a breath or two before falling into her eyes again. She audibly sighed, and contented herself with pursing her lips and puffing a sharp breath to shift the misbehaving hair from her eyes.

Danbur observed Pieter’s lips curving upward in a fond smile. “I must insist you call me Peter,” the old man told Sera. “‘Mr. Stone’ makes me feel old.”

Sera giggled. “But you are old, Mr. Stone.”

“Peter,” he said. “And you’re right of course. In fact, I do believe I am the oldest person you’ve ever met.”

Danbur couldn’t help his snort and quickly disguised it as a cough to clear his throat. Out of the mouths of babes….

Sera giggled again.

“The door if you please, Danbur,” Pieter said. “Preferably before whomever it is wanders off and you are forced to chase them down.”

An order, however politely couched. And since the aroma of melting cheese was making his mouth water, and he did not wish to miss dinner, Danbur stalked from the kitchen to do as the old man bid.

As he crossed the living room he heard Sera say, “I hope it’s not Mommy already, ’coz I reeeally wanted to stay for dinner.” He didn’t catch Pieter’s reply. He lengthened his stride, his body buzzing with anticipation, thoughts of Sera’s mother swarming through his brain and shunting aside all other concerns.

He yanked open the door, and was greeted by a raised fist… that rapped smartly on his chest. Not quite the way he’d imagined this woman touching him but he would take what he could get. He cupped her fist in his, pressing her hand to his heart, patiently waiting for her to realize he’d replaced the door… and strangely content to stand here all night if that’s what it took.

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