Home > Dark Secrets Unveiled(8)

Dark Secrets Unveiled(8)
Author: I. T. Lucas

David frowned. “How are immortals in stasis revived?”

Sari lifted her glass. “With water.”

“That’s all?”

“That’s what I’ve been told. I never tried to revive an immortal from stasis. Wonder, Anandur’s mate, was Annani’s childhood friend. She escaped just before the attack, but she was caught in an earthquake. She was buried in the Egyptian desert for thousands of years until a water pipe burst in a new housing development and flooded the cavern that she was in.”

“Did she retain her memories?”

“She didn’t remember anything at first. Not who she was, not where she was from, but she knew that she was an immortal and that she was different from the humans. After a long while, she started having little glimpses from the past, and when she saw Annani’s portrait, the rest of her memories were unlocked.”

David’s eyes shone with excitement. “Fascinating. I would love to talk with her about her experience.”

Sari didn’t know Wonder well, and she wasn’t sure whether her mother’s best friend wished to relive the traumatic experience. “Let me check with Anandur first. I can’t imagine how traumatic it was for her to be buried alive and spend weeks awake and aware until her body entered stasis on its own. In that regard, venom-induced stasis is much more merciful.”

“I’m less interested in what happened before than what happened after she woke up. She might be more willing to talk about that.”

“Makes sense. But in any case, I would like to ask Anandur before approaching her. I don’t want to inadvertently spoil Wonder’s vacation.”

“Of course.” David got up and put his empty glass on the bar’s counter. “So, what are our plans for the rest of the day?”

“How about a picnic by the lake?”

“Sounds lovely. But we’ve just had breakfast. By the way, where is your butler?”

Sari pushed to her feet and walked over to the bar. “There is no shortage of work around the castle.” She put her glass in the sink. “When I don’t need Ojidu’s services, he’s working somewhere else. I’ll ask him to prepare our picnic, and while he’s doing that, we can go horseback riding to tour the grounds. We didn’t get a chance to do it the other night.”

David chuckled. “That wasn’t the other night. It was The Night. You turned my world upside down.”

“I hope for the better.”

He lifted his hands and brushed his fingers through her hair. “With you, my world is infinitely better.”

Sari swallowed. “So is mine with you.”

Except, the happy dream could be cut short at any moment. David still had the transition ahead of him, and she was worried sick about him. Perhaps she should ask Bridget to fly over?

Steven was a good doctor, but he had no experience with transitioning adults.

“Stop worrying.” David kissed her lips softly. “Let’s go riding, have a picnic on the lakeshore, make love on a blanket, and then take an afternoon nap under the sky.”

She laughed. “The lakeshore is a popular spot on the weekends. I don’t think making love in the middle of the day is an option.”

He made a disappointed face. “Then we will have to make do with enthusiastic necking, or we can come back to your place.”

“We can do both.” She lifted up on her toes and kissed him back. “I need to change.” She glanced down at his loafers. “You don’t happen to have boots, do you?”

“Are riding boots required? Other than these, I only have flip-flops and running shoes.”

Evidently, David wasn’t much of a horseman.

“Running shoes can provide the grip, but you need at least a two-and-a-half-centimeter heel to help your feet stay in the stirrup and not slide through it. Good riding boots also support your legs and ankles, making it easier to maintain a correct leg position.”

He didn’t look convinced. “Indians rode barefoot or in moccasins, and they were excellent riders.”

“We are in Scotland, David. I know nothing about Indians and their riding style. You need boots.” She glanced at his feet again. “Size eleven?”

“Twelve.”

“American twelve is British eleven.” She pulled out her phone and called the stables’ manager. “Fergus. Do you have any size eleven riding boots left?”

“I sure do. Who needs them?”

As if he didn’t know.

“David and I want to tour the grounds, but he didn’t bring with him any footwear that is appropriate for riding.”

“Are you on your way?”

“We are just heading out. We will be there in a few minutes.”

 

 

8

 

 

David

 

 

“I hope the boots are new.” David followed Sari into the stables. “I have a thing about wearing someone else’s footwear.”

She cast him an incredulous glance. “I would never have you wear used boots. One of my clan members makes them. But just so you know, they will probably need some light breaking in.”

“Not at all.” A smiling immortal walked toward them with a pair of brand-new black boots dangling from his hand. “This leather is as soft as butter.” He offered David his other hand. “Fergus at your service.”

“Thank you.” He shook what was offered and then took the boots. “Do you keep them on hand in all sizes?”

“Pretty much. Once Vernon decided that the readymade stuff wasn’t good enough, he started making these by hand, and he brings me a couple of pairs every day. I’m doing the selling for him, but the supply exceeds the demand. I told him that he needs to start advertising them online.”

“How much do I owe you? Or rather Vernon?”

Fergus shook his head. “Those are on the house.”

“I’ll pay for them,” Sari said.

“Vernon wouldn’t hear of that.”

“I insist. Have you ever known me to accept free stuff from our artists?” She pointed at the boots. “And those are artisan quality.”

David smoothed his hand over the soft leather. “They feel amazing. But if anyone is paying for them, it is me.” He cast Sari a stern look that didn’t leave room for negotiation.

“Fine.” She turned to Fergus. “How much is Vernon charging for the boots?”

“Two hundred pounds, which is a bargain given the quality.”

As David patted his back pocket, he recalled that his wallet was still in his satchel back at Sari’s place. “I have to go back to get my wallet.”

Fergus waved a hand in dismissal. “Rubbish. You can bring me the money later. Vernon is not in a rush to get paid.” He sized David up. “What’s your skill level?”

“Beginner,” David admitted.

Even though Sari didn’t look surprised, she arched a brow. “I thought that you’d ridden before.”

David smiled sheepishly. “When I was a kid, my mother took Jonah and me to ride ponies almost every weekend. But that was a long time ago, and all we did was trot in circles around a corral.”

“Not a problem.” Fergus clapped him on the back. “I’ll get you a very gentle horse.”

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