Keva couldn’t stop herself from rolling her eyes. She’d watched Ven eat. The one thing he wasn’t was hungry.
“I’m okay mom, the food is good. Not as good as yours.”
And that was how you worked a room and your mom at the same time. Kayden came over wrapping his arms around Keva. She melted like butter against him doing some working of her own.
“You need to come home.”
“I am, we all are coming to visit when this is over. Will you cookout? I need dad’s and Declyn’s steaks on the grill and your potato salad, mine is just a poor imitation of it. I miss god mom and her stories. I miss them all.”
Folks pull out your wallets now you’ve seen a brilliant performance. Keva wanted to make a joke, then she looked into Ven’s eyes. There was no joke there. He had a hunger to be with his family, shadowed by a feeling she couldn’t identify, but the longing and maybe the loneliness kicked her in the stomach. He shuttered it quickly so no one would know but his mom knew. It was like she had his number. Ven wasn’t Deja’s birth son, but he was definitely her son. Keva lowered her head to acknowledge that she bore witness to something that would defy what she knew and felt. Love transcends.
Enzo went to them wrapping them both in his embrace for long minutes. When he pulled back, he whispered something then slowly untangled Deja and Ven.
“We need to leave,” he told the room. “I’ll be looking forward to all of you coming home for a break.”
“We’ll be looking forward to it,” Declyn said. There was a round of hugs and more sniffles before they finally walked out the door.
The room was silent almost as if the sun and the moon had left the building leaving everyone alone and cold.
“My birth mother loved me,” Ven said not directing his words to any one person. “But she couldn’t stand up for me. She didn’t have that kind of strength. Deja became my mother by the strength of her will and the love in her heart. I would and have killed for her.”
It was such a simple statement, but it knocked Keva off her feet. Her body collapsed into the nearest chair. Modern society was filled with rules. Rules were good she wasn’t trying to buck them. It suggested that we the people had weeded out our primal instincts like they could be laid to rest. It was a lie one that was only recognized when a person had to fight for their life. That could be the soldiers on the battlefield or the warriors fighting on a faraway planet.
That primal drive was there. It resurfaced when we marched for freedom or women’s rights. It was there when the police came out with their tear gas, rubber bullets, and shields. It was there when one neighbor went after another or a cop killed an innocent boy for running away. The primal need to protect was balanced by the urge to destroy. You could never have one without the other.
Had the Shadows tapped into the primal urge to destroy in the bodies they now inhabited? Keva didn’t know, but it was worth thinking about. Kayden sat next to her. Without a thought, she slid over until her rear was firmly planted on his lap. Within the primal need to protect was an even more basic need. It was to love. With that as a driving force in one’s life, it could lead you from partner to partner looking for the one you were destined to spend your life with. These needs that she never thought about ruled her life and she suspected most lives without any of them knowing.
“Is this okay?” She whispered in his ear as she got comfortable in his lap. Not that she planned to move even if it wasn’t okay.
His fingers splayed over her back pulling her closer. “I like this.”
She liked it too. Closing her eyes to take a small nap, she let the cares of the day fall away. They would greet her when she opened her eyes.
Keva stretched before opening her eyes, she was still sitting on Kayden’s lap, but the living room was empty.
“You could make money letting tired women sleep on your lap.”
“I don’t think they would survive.”
“Survive what?”
“You going after them with that murderous glint in your eyes.”
She snorted, but he did have a point. “Bet. Where is everyone?”
“I believe they wanted to give us some privacy.”
“Today was harder than I thought it would be.” She leaned over stretching and wiggling in his lap.
“Shopping has a way of tiring me out.”
Her head snapped up only to see the effort he was making to control his lips. The male had jokes, she liked that.
“First for dishes, then for clothes. If this keeps up, I will find myself drawn to malls and then what will I do?” She laughed as she saw a mall shaped like a magnet pulling her helpless body to it.
“I’ll have to put myself between you and the mall,” He leaned over and kissed her.
“I think kisses like that might do the trick. Where do we go from here?”
“We saved everything you wanted while finding three traps that we believe were keyed to your DNA.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Only you can spring them. We’ve placed them with the other traps. It’s up to you to decide what you want done with your apartment. I’d like you to stay here with me, that is also up to you.”
Was this a real choice or the illusion of a choice? “If I decide to get a different apartment?”
“I will come to the showings to make sure it’s as safe as possible.”
“Let’s say I choose to stay?”
“I hope that the next couple of weeks will be quiet and we can get to know each other, no strings attached.”
“You know what no strings attached means?”
“Ava taught me.”
That made sense she knew that Keva was afraid of being held down the way her mom was before her father set them both free by leaving them alone to almost die.
“If this,” she waved her hand to indicate both of them, “Wasn’t working, I could leave?”
“Yes.”
She believed him. Safire and Deja didn’t have to tell her the Kur’iks lived and died by honor. That was something she picked up being around them.
“I’ll stay awhile.” Her eyes closed she was in no rush to get up.
Chapter Thirteen
Keva laughed when she jumped in the air to hit the volleyball that was making its way to her head. Kayden’s wish came true, they were living together going on for three weeks. The days and the nights had been silent if you didn’t count the extreme petting they were doing. He wouldn’t go any further needing her to be sure that making love to him was what she wanted. Wasn’t the way she moaned every time he touched her enough evidence.
“Score we win!” Ava crowed.
Keva suspected the guys let them win because naturally, it was the males against the females. She suspected that Tristan and Locke were more interested in scoring tonight than winning at volleyball.
Taris came out but the look on his face said it wasn’t to congratulate them.
“There’s been a sign of Shadow activity,” he told them.
“Is it in the house on the west side?” Locke asked.
“No, house up in Green Tree situated around a more affluent neighborhood. The residents are saying it’s haunted. The owner has resorted to selling tickets since no one is willing to rent it. There are cries for the place to be torn down and an exorcism to be performed.”
“Could it be haunted?” Before she met Kayden, she would have cleaned the floor by rolling all over it with laughter. Now she was open to any and all unexplained phenomenon.
“I did a drive-by, it’s Shadow activity.”
She’d have to hunt ghosts later, they had to be easier to deal with than Shadows.
“How will we get in?” Kayden looked at the others.
“That’s easy we buy a ticket. It’s the best thing about our world at times and the worst, everything has a price. I need a shower and a change of clothes.” They all split up going in different directions.
“I don’t know if it’s a good idea to confront them in a room fu
ll of humans.”
He did have a point. She dressed thinking over Kayden’s words.
“While I agree with you. Trying to break in at night could be disastrous. We need the lay of the land first. I could be wrong, but do you think they want to out themselves so quickly? If they wanted that, then there would be more than ‘hauntings’ going on.”
“I agree, but what can come of them bringing human attention to themselves?”
“It makes feeding easier. If they are really using us as an energy source, why not bring the food to you? There are a constant supply and no need to kill when you have so many to siphon from. I really hate thinking of humans as food. I have a feeling that cows and other meat feel the same way.”
“But you eat meat.”
She shrugged, “I’m strange and I know it.”
They met Ava and Locke outside. Mira and Tristan were going to stay behind. Taris was going to get a camera in the house to look at the area’s they couldn’t get into.
“We’re taking two cars,” Kayden was getting into the driver’s seat of the blue SUV, “in case we have to split up.”
“Why does the idea of going to this house scare the pants off me?”
“Because you're smart? Being brave is not about being scared?”
“I wasn’t this scared when we visited the traps.”
“You were under compulsion.”
Her mouth opened to argue before she snapped her teeth shut. She was under compulsion. Why was she just recognizing it? The last couple of weeks she had been enjoying the mental downtime. Her brain was in a state of rest. One she needed badly. The Kur’iks did not project their thought or mental energies. Both Ava and Mira abilities were under control. They used them when they wanted. Staying close to Kayden allowed her to not only build her defenses but learn to control her abilities to a greater degree.
They parked on a side street moving into a space that was just vacated.
“This will be fine,” she repeated as she got out the car. “It will be like a real-life haunted house in the middle of the summer.”
“I know right!” A young girl maybe seventeen said. She was holding hands with a boy about her age. They were both excited and gave off that air of teenage love.
The Shadow house didn’t excite Keva but seeing two people obviously in love and having never experienced heartache before, that did excite her. It was another reason for her to fight for her people.
“Don’t separate when you get in there,” Kayden told them as they walked towards the line at the front door.
“I’ll never let her go,” the boy declared bringing her hand up for a kiss.
Maybe they’ll beat the odds, Keva hoped so. Ava and Locke got in line behind them. They greeted each other like old friends who hadn’t seen each other in a while. The whole line was talking with high spirits. None of them wanted to stand out by being quiet.
“Welcome to the haunted house,” an enthusiastic teen met them. “I have to ask, you’re not pregnant or have a bad heart or anything that could cause you to suddenly fall over and die?” She stared at them that smile still on her face.
Ava stepped forward. “Nope, no pregnant females and no heart problems.” She lowered her voice in a stage whisper. “My friends been trying for a baby, so you can see how that question would affect her.”
“I am so sorry please go in. I’m sure you’ll be pregnant before you know it.”
“Not if I don’t get some cum in me,” Keva muttered glaring at Kayden. Ava and Locke laughed as they walked in front.
“I’ll meet you on the practice field, bring your claws.” Kayden threatened.
The door opened into a massive living room. The house was older, but it had the ‘I was built with money’ feel. The living room held the kind of furniture you could find in a children’s hospital waiting room which was a step up from what you found in an adult doctor waiting room. It was almost soft and comfy and waterproof done in bright colors and strange designs. The people sitting around talking about what they experienced and drinking cans of soda that cost a buck fifty seemed to be content.
“Come this way,” A male in his late twenties told them. “Sometimes the ghosts come out. Don’t get scared they may reach out and touch you, but they can’t hurt you.”
A woman in front of them snorted. “You’re a dang fool if you think that ghost can’t hurt you. They’ll kill you dead if given a chance.”
“Is there a chance for a ghost to kill you alive?” One of the kids behind them asked in a falsetto voice making his friends laugh.
“Laugh it up sonny, I’ve been doing this for a long time and ghosts aren’t nice.”
“Order please, I don’t want to have to kick anyone out. We’ll go into the kitchen first. Most of the activity is upstairs but sometimes the ghosts like to come out and greet our guests.”
The woman in front muttered about this being BS, but she did so quietly. Unfortunately, Keva agreed with her. She didn’t like this at all. When they walked into the kitchen, there was a Shadow sitting at the table.
“Is that the ghost,” someone asked. “Can I take a selfie with it? I want to touch it. They’ll never believe me in school, I have to get a pic.”
“That’s not wise,” the older woman pulled something out of her purse that made a buzzing sound making a light come on. “I don’t know what that thing is, but it’s not a ghost.”
The Shadow made a motion for the girl to come. Before Keva could stop her, she was standing beside the Shadow with her phone held high. The Shadow reached out and strummed his fingers over the girl. The light in her eyes began to dim.
Keva turned the energy around her into a blockade inserting it between the Shadow and the girl. Kayden and Locke darted forward and brought her back.
“Too much exposure to ghosts can kill you,” Ava hugged her tight. The look on her face said that she was going through her thoughts and maybe rearranging them.
She reached out and touched the boys mind. “You should take her out to get food. Never come back.”
“Come on, Mary, this place is whacked, let’s go eat.”
“I’m tired and hungry.”
Keva gave the girl the phone that Kayden swiped when he rescued her. The picture was deleted.
“He’s going to be so disappointed in you, Keva.” The Shadow disappeared.
“What the hell was that?” The older woman asked.
“Honestly, you don’t want to know,” Kayden told her.
“Alright let’s go upstairs the tours just beginning. Don’t worry everyone there is always someone who doesn’t make it upstairs.”
“That scares me,” the older woman said.
“Scares me too,” Keva answered her.
Walking upstairs felt like she was walking to the gallows or to the electric chair. Her heart raced, all of this was done to draw her out, but why? The Shadow knew where she was, it had to know. Did it think it had a better chance of killing her if she was surrounded by people? No that didn’t feel right. Maybe she was supposed to sacrifice herself so the others could live? That didn’t feel right either. Was it just playing with her, playing with them all?
Cold. That was the first thing she experienced when she got to the top of the stairs. A glance at Kayden showed him shaking his head. This was new. Quickly she built a shield while pushing her energy in front of her.
“Keva how nice of you to come see me.”
She quickly looked at the others in her group. The shield she hastily constructed was around them keeping them safe.
“You didn’t have to protect them, but I understand why you did. They don’t interest me but a few of them would have made tasty… snacks. I’m not even interested in your friends. Forgive me for drawing you out this way. I wanted a chance to talk to you before you made a grievous mistake.”
She gave the Shadow her full attention.
“I see I now have your attention. We tried to save your friend, but she chose to bond with that… that abominatio
n. You will have to forgive me every time I encounter one of them it’s with the knowledge that they shouldn’t exist.”
She bit her tongue to keep from verbally sparring over Kayden and the Kur’iks, silence would serve her better here.
“I can tell by your silence that you have been entertaining the same thoughts.”
I also may be picturing you on a spit over an open fire, but neither of us is getting our wish right now. She held her tongue waiting.
“What do you know about them?”
“Not much. They are in a war against your kind.”
“It is as I thought, they tell you nothing about their legacy of shame.”
“Legacy of shame?” she couldn’t let that remark pass.
“Exactly. Your friend made the bad choice of linking her life with one of the damned. I want to save you from that fate. Unfortunately, we will have to kill her. The Kur’iks were created to fight for their people from a collection of enzymes that float in the forbidden zone. No one should go there much less create a life form from what is left there. They are unstable, I am sure you have seen signs of this. Did you know that when they first came to this planet, they killed the women they copulated with? What do you think will happen to you if you allow that killer to touch you?”
“You’re telling me this so I can put distance between us?”
“Yes, but I’m also giving you the chance to join us. We will take over this planet, then eventually the galaxy as the rightful rulers. One as beautiful as you with your talents should be with the winners.”
“You’ll let me tag along?” Keva’s eyes lit up at the opportunity.
“Of course, as my mate.”
She bit her lower lip chewing on it. “You understand when I say that I’ll have to think about this. It has come as a shock.”
He chuckled. “I knew you didn’t understand the first time I approached you. Until I see you again, sweet Keva.”
The Wolf & The Pretender Page 8