“She’s a therapist.”
“Hmm.” He rubbed his lip with his thumb. “This therapist woman has truth-seeking magic?”
“Oh, no. She’s human. No magic at all.”
“She must. I spoke of things I would never voice. Things I didn’t even know.” He frowned. “How is it that she beguiled me into telling her of my darkest thoughts?”
“There was no beguiling. Bronwyn is just skilled at getting to the bottom of your issues, that’s all. She can see through all your bullshit. She’s trained to figure you out.” I gave him a gentle smile. “Do you not have anyone you can talk to like that in your realm?”
“We talk to our elders. They are wise and all-knowing.”
“Yes, but your elders have their own agenda.” There was a reason I never took my parent’s advice. “When you’ve got a problem, sometimes it's best to talk it over with someone impartial. Someone who doesn’t have a stake in the outcome.”
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “This is most unusual, but I see your logic. My elders have always told me to do my duty to my kingdom and bury any resentment deep down, where it cannot see the light of day.”
I chuckled nervously. “I don’t think that’s particularly healthy.”
“That is what Lady Bronwyn said. I must confess I feel…” He clenched his fists once and unfurled them. “Strangely lighter after confessing my feelings to her. You are right, Chosen. It feels cathartic to unburden yourself to a sympathetic stranger.” He pulled a little leather notebook out of his pocket and scribbled a note. “I will look into procuring some of these ‘therapists’ for my own realm.”
“Uh, you’re not going to abduct anyone, are you?”
“Of course not.” He scribbled out the last line. Then, he scowled. “The therapist, Lady Bronwyn, swore an oath to protect my secrets,” he said in a low tone. “Will she keep to this oath?”
“I think she’s legally bound to confidentiality, as long as she’s not subpoenaed,” I said absently, turning towards the door.
As usual, he got there before me, opened it, and held it for me. “I also requested an appointment for Cress to see Lady Bronwyn next week.”
“Great,” I said weakly. “I’m sure they will both love that.” Damnit, I was going to have to find a new therapist. “Listen, Donovan, can you tell me more about the berserkers?” I skipped down the steps of Bronwyn’s little office building and walked out to the street.
“Of course.” He stalked ahead of me, subtly maneuvering himself toward the street-side of the sidewalk and raised his arm imperiously. A gleaming black stretch limousine with little flags on the hood roared around the corner and screeched to a halt beside us. “What do you wish to know?”
“Everything.” I felt like this was one of my recurring nightmares, where I’d found myself in the middle of an important exam and I hadn’t studied. “I looked up berserkers on the internet while you were in with Bronwyn, but the information varies wildly, and the pictures are ridiculous. What are they?”
“You are concerned for the fate of your friend, the Songbird,” he said, opening the back door of the gleaming limo for me. “As you should be. The berserkers are not to be trifled with.” He lowered his voice. “She is in grave danger.”
I closed my eyes for a second, cringing. “Donovan, I’m worried enough about Audrina, please, let’s just stick to information, not portents of doom.”
“Get in the limo, slowpoke, I’m double-parked!” Cecil whinnied from the driver’s seat.
I slid into the backseat. Donovan folded his massive frame opposite me, fixing me with his fathomless glowing green eyes. “Berserkers, like shifters and vampires and witches, are a variation on the human species. They have evolved the ability to channel potent emotions into superhuman physical strength.”
“They’re from the Middle World?”
“Yes, although some argue that their realm dips into more of a Lower World vibration, as their transformation can seem… chaotic. And they lose the ability to reason when in berserker form. Although, instead of devolving into demon-like levels of chaos, berserkers fixate on one particular goal and will not stop until they complete it.”
“So, they transform?”
He nodded. “To most humans, their physical appearance will be as if they were a grotesque overly muscled person. But to those of us who can see the magic, you will notice their skin turning purple.”
“Goal-oriented. Muscly. Purple skin,” I muttered under my breath. “Got it. What will they do with Audrina?”
“I do not know. They may not realize she is not the Chosen One yet. Hopefully, we will find one soon, so we can torture them into taking us to the berserker realm.”
“Talk them into taking us to their realm.”
He met my eyes. “That is what I said.”
I squirmed under his fiery gaze for a moment. “No torturing.”
He didn’t break eye contact. “Of course not.”
Cecil took a corner too fast, fishtailing the limo. “To be honest, Chosen, a little torture might be the only thing that works on a berserker. They are very physical creatures, quite passionate, and very stubborn. They don’t respond well to reason.”
I sighed and rubbed my temples. “No torture.”
“Have it your way. If I were you, I’d stay open to the idea, though. I get the feeling that the Audrina dilemma is only going to get worse.”
“Why?”
Cecil pointed out the windscreen. “Because her mother is outside your building, tapping her wedge heels. She looks like she’s waiting for you.” He wrinkled his long nose. “Good gravy, that outfit is hideous. Why do so many beauty queens join the white-jean brigade when they reach a certain age? And paired with a red tank top? She looks like a used tampon.”
I looked. Oh, shit, he was right. Jessica, Audrina’s mom, was at the main entrance of my building, using the tip of her extra-long acrylic nails to jab at my doorbell.
I unbuckled my seatbelt as Cecil pulled up to the curb. “Let’s just hope she’s going door-to-door, looking for her daughter.” I hesitated and pointed at Donovan. “Please stay here.” The last thing I needed was for Jessica to throw herself at Donovan in front of me.
He nodded once.
“Promise?”
