by Melinda Hyde
Leonia’s eyes wandered to the crimson stain that had spread out through the shoulder of my shirt. She shifted up on the bed, instantly stretching her hand out to assess the severity of my wound, but I stopped her. I curled my fingers around the delicate tips of hers, shaking my head.
“It’s a flesh wound. It’ll heal quickly enough. One of my men was bitten, though.” She searched my eyes. “He hasn’t been right since the fight. He’s more animal than man. I don’t know if the damage is permanent, or if it’s only a side effect. I need you to tend to him—to see if you can ease his discomfort.”
Disappointment registered in her beautiful, brown eyes. “Of course, I’ll help him,” she said, scooting to the edge of the bed.
She didn’t look at me again as she sulked past me. She slid from the mattress and started across the room. Something about the way she had looked at me, stirred me inside. The look had been distant and leery, bringing my guilt to the surface.
I quickly jumped up and jogged after her. I grabbed her arms to pull her to me. Anger and hurt passed over her pretty face, breaking me inside. I gentled my grip, pulling her in, and I brushed the hair from her face. Her eyes sizzled, popping with an assortment of flaming emotions. I could see them, despite her efforts to keep them hidden, boiling together in a steaming brew.
I tilted my head down to take her lips, but she twisted away from me. I leaned my face into the silky smoothness of her hair, taking a deep breath of the wild, flowery scent that coated each strand, then released it slowly.
“I’m sorry, my love.” Her head leaned into my chest, and I could feel the emotions seeping from her.
I felt her take a deep breath, before finally glancing up at me. “I better go see about your friend,” she murmured, pulling away from my touch.
I nodded, watching the sway of her body, as she drifted from the chamber. From the main room, I could hear my injured warrior’s hiss being met by Leonia’s sweet, singsong voice. She spoke lightly, in a tone laced with honied compassion. It drew me in, calling me forward. I stepped to the bedroom door, peeking out to study my wife.
She sat cross-legged on the floor beside the wild-eyed beast, stroking her fingers over his glossy, black hair. He struggled fitfully to free himself from his bindings, bristling at her presence. His viscous behavior didn’t faze her; she didn’t shy away. She remained surprisingly relaxed, her earthy, brown eyes shining down on him with adoration.
I bristled inwardly at the sight of her tending him with so much compassion. Just moments before, she had refused even look me in the eye. I knew my warrior was in dire need her assistance, but I couldn’t help the pang of envy that nibbled at my thoughts. How long had it been since Leonia had looked at me the way she was looking at him?
I grunted, as I stormed my way to the door. I needed some fresh air, before I went completely mad. I could feel a pair of eyes boring holes into my back, as I made my way from the house. I didn’t need to look to know who they belonged to. I only hoped she had sense enough to leave me be.
I paused outside to glance around. The sky was awash with brilliant hues of pink and orange. It told the story of the day that was fast approaching. I could already hear the beginning of the birds’ cheerful chirps.
I glanced to the woods that were still bathed in the last, lingering shadows. I considered fading into their deep, dark depths, but I decided against it. The truth was, I wanted to be home. When she was done seeing to my men’s wounds, I wanted to go to my wife and melt into her. I couldn’t stand the distance I had felt between us. More than anything, I wanted to make amends.
One brief dash to release the negative energy I had accumulated wouldn’t hurt, I thought to myself. I shifted down into my animal form, sniffing at the brisk air, before trotting off. At the edge of the forest, I stretched out, breaking into a wild sprint. The trees flew past me in a blur, and the feeling of complete freedom sent endorphins racing through my system.
When my pent-up frustration was thoroughly exercised, I reluctantly turned myself about, making a steady course for home. I came out of the woods to find a slim, elegant huntress waiting for me. My eyes played over her smooth coat, before I turned, altering my course. I needed to stay focused. The last thing I needed that night was to get caught up in Mallory’s devilish wiles.
I shot off toward the barn. I had an extra pair of clothes in the spare stall that I could don. To my dismay, the impish creature fell into step beside me. I could feel the slide of her fur against mine, and I growled low, warning her away, but she didn’t relent.
I sighed inwardly upon entering the stall, allowing the shift to take hold of me. I could sense Mallory still behind me. I whipped around to scold her for her insolent behavior, but the words never passed my lips. She stood behind me fully unclothed, wearing only a sweet, seductive smile upon her pouting lips.
I groaned, feeling my insides knot. “What are you doing, Mallory?” She took a step forward, as I took a step back. “This isn’t the time; not here,” I pleaded, in a voice that sounded weak, even to me.
My back pressed against the roughened wall behind me, and Mallory pressed her full-bodied form against my length. “This can’t wait,” she whispered, in a husky voice, spiraling her sharp nails over my chest. Her green eyes twinkled into my own, and she took a step back, placing my hand flush against her perfectly flat abdomen. “I’m expecting, Orin, and you’re going to be a father.”
Without thinking, I rushed forward, cupping her slender face in my hands. I searched her eyes for any hint of humor, but there was none to be found. So many thoughts began to swirl through my cluttered mind, before discerning the one thought that sent a shiver of regret through my body. Leonia. Yet, I couldn’t deny the sheer happiness that the news evoked.
The little minx was going to bear me a child—maybe another son. I slid my palm over her stomach, resting it on the lacy velvet of her hip, and I pushed my doubts to the back of my mind. Mallory leaned into me, bathed in a proud, satisfied glow. A need so great that it became painful engulfed me, and I gave in to my brash desires. I towered over my wild, green-eyed huntress, crushing my lips to hers.
All the tormented thoughts crowding my mind dissipated. I was drunk on the lust—the craving the woman had ignited in me. That is, until a loud, strangled gasp filled the space around me.
I froze, slowly bringing my eyes up to peer over Mallory’s shoulder. My blood ran cold. I suddenly felt claustrophobic—trapped—like an animal caught in a snare. I stared into a pair of soft, brown eyes that shimmered with waves of unshed tears. She brought shaking hands up to curling her fingers to her lower lip, and she staggered back a step. The movement was choppy, like she had been shoved. I made to move past Mallory, but the troublesome woman whirled around in my arms, pinning my wife with a bored, irritated look.
11.Consequences
Leonia
Orin caught me as I was about to exit the room. He pulled me to him, whispering a soft apology. He seemed sincere, but the pain he had caused still lingered inside. I glance up, into his handsome face, trying to read the true intention masked behind his eyes. Before I could, he came down, attempting to brush his lips against mine.
I swiftly jerked my head to the side, denying him. I wasn’t ready to forget everything so quickly—not this time. Something had changed between us. I could feel it, as surely as I breathed air. I suspected it was my powers that was driving him away. I didn’t want it to be that way. I no longer wanted to be a witch. What I wouldn’t have given to be an ordinary woman, living nothing more than a plain, ordinary life.
Orin’s breath stirred my hair, tickling my ear, as he whispered another pleading apology. I felt miserable hearing the anguish that laced his tone. A weight settled atop my chest, and I pulled away from him. He had asked me to see to the injured man in the other room, and that was what I was going to do.
I could feel Orin’s eyes following me out the door. They latched onto me like a tether, pulling me back with building tension. I didn’t
turn back to him. I just kept walking, forcing my mind to focus on my task.
I didn’t need to ask which of the men required my assistance. He was the only one still in panther form. He was stretched out against the far wall, twitching and spitting. His dark fur was matted with saliva and blood, standing on end in hardened patches. His giant paws and mouth were bound with lengths of coarse, corded rope that bit harshly into his flesh. The thing that troubled me most, however, was the wild, uncomprehending look that gleamed in his golden, grey flecked eyes.
I padded very careful over to his side and sank down beside him. His reaction was immediate. His body tensed in waves of fear, as he tried frantically to break free of his restraints. There was no recognition registered in his crazed eyes. At the moment, he was more beast than man. The man was buried deep inside, if not gone altogether.
My heart clenched with sadness. I didn’t know the man very well. I couldn’t even recall his name, but the thought of losing him still troubled me. There had been far too much needless loss already.
Something about him caught my eye—something I hadn’t noticed before. I leaned forward, hovering over the feral beast, gazing down at a peculiar mark that ran along his jaw. Unlike the other panther men, he wasn’t completely black. It was barely noticeable, but a tiny patch of white hair traced that line.
I rocked back on my heels, pulling my brows together. I wondered at the strange, insignificant mark, reaching out my hand to run it along his lower jaw. His lip curled back, exposing his dangerous teeth, but I wouldn’t be deterred. I skimmed my finger along the odd patch, whispering calm, soothing words.
The place along his jaw was slightly raised, as if there were a scar or abnormality hidden beneath. I gave a mental shrug, as I continued to trace my fingers down his neck. His coat was soft but coarse beneath my touch, as my hand traveled along, then stopped to examine wound in his shoulder.
The wound was nasty. I could see where the creature’s teeth had punctured through his hide and glanced off his shoulder blade. It was deep. Even if there hadn’t been more to it than the bite itself, he would have still been in a severe amount of pain. I brushed the hair aside, and the animal tensed, giving me a wild, angry look. A slow, meaningful hiss snuck from the corner of his mouth, and I looked him square in the eye, making gentle shushing sounds.
“They really did get you good,” I said, my voice so low that it almost came out as a whisper.
From behind me, I could hear Orin stomp to the door. I heard it clank shut, and I breathed out a sigh of relief. I suspected that the poor creature in front of me was going to need more than a simple salve. The wounds seemed to have penetrated more than merely the flesh. They seemed to somehow be affecting his mind.
I could still feel the others’ eyes observing me from behind, when I lifted my hand to hover above the animal’s fur. There was only the smallest cushion of air between us, as I closed my eyes and began to skim my fingers down the length of his body.
A horrible pain sprinted up my arms, slamming into my ribs. I gasped, taking a deep breath to steady myself, then continued my evaluation. My mind swam through a cloudy jumble of information, working hard to decode the mix. When I finally had everything aligned, my eyes flew wide.
The pain the poor creature was enduring was overwhelming. It seemed that when the immortal had bitten him, it had released some sort of venom into his stream. Once the venom was inside, it had blazed a searing path through his veins. The venom would have killed an ordinary human, but with his enhanced state of being, his body would have eventually been able to dispel the poison on its own.
I wasn’t sure how long it would take his body to recover without my assistance. I was sure it would, but, until it did, he would remain in a state of sheer agony—one so intense that the man inside him had long ago lost consciousness, leaving the beast to take over.
I glanced behind me at the men who watched my every move with a sense of growing suspicion. I knew what I needed to do, but if word got back to Orin, I was sure there would be a steep price to pay. I weighed my options carefully, before coming to a decision. To leave the creature the way he was went against everything inside of me. I couldn’t do it.
With a shaky sigh, I turned back to the crazed beast. I looked him over one last time, mentally preparing myself for what I intended to do. I stretched my hands out over the growling brute, and I allowed a small amount of green, glowing mist to snake its way from my fingertips.
The mist brushed along the jagged edges of the animals wound, then wriggled its way inside. I instantly began to feel the venom being collected and pulled from his body. It flowed into me, burning like a river of liquid fire, before being singed away by my magic.
After a space of time, the burning began to subside, and I felt the pull on my powers reverse direction. It flowed through my fingertips, weaving in and around the wound. The flesh became pink and puffy, magically knitting itself back together. It didn’t take long before the skin was completely mended, and fresh fur began to curl over the patch of exposed skin.
When the process was finally complete, the green veil was sucked back into my body. I sagged back on my bottom, once again looking the creature over. He gazed back at me, peering directly into my eyes. I felt a sense of relief to find that the feral, rabid gleam had left his golden irises.
He was no longer hissing and spitting, nor was he tearing blindly at his binds. Instead, his muscles had gone limp, and a sleepy look came over his features. I stretched out my hand to remove the length of rope from his face. He pressed the end of his giant muzzle into the palm of my hand. The fur there was velvety, and his silent thanks hugged my heart with warmth.
With that, his half-lidded eyes slid shut, and he slumped over on his side. It was just as well, I thought to myself. The relief that followed such an ordeal must have felt incredible. It made sense that the sudden relief would pull him under. I pushed up from my spot on the floor, and I turned to face his companions.
I paused when I noticed the varying emotions that lingered on their faces. I could find traces of fear, suspicion, and even appreciation. No one spoke a word or twitched a muscle, and a growing sense of anxiety built in the pit of my stomach. I wouldn’t have taken back what I had done—not even if I could. Yet a tiny, reprimanding part of me whispered that it just wouldn’t do for Orin to find out.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, heaving an agitated sigh. “Look, your friend is healed.” I released my nose, directing my eyes meaningfully around the room. “You all know I used magic to heal him. There’s no point in pretending otherwise. You watched me do it.” Their eyes narrowed on me, becoming pointed. “When Lenora’s creature bit him, it sent venom running rampant through his body. I had to draw it out. I would have done the same for any of you,” The worry lines around their eyes began to ease, and I felt a small glimmer of relief. “I only ask that you don’t speak of it to Orin. He can’t know.”
Silence weighed around the room, and I had a bad feeling in the pit of my gut, until the biggest of the group strode forward. “Thank you for what you’ve done for him. He’s my younger brother, and I thought I had lost him. We won’t breath a word of what took place here. I put that on my honor.” His smart, blue eyes locked on mine, and I knew his words to be true.
“Thank you,” I mumbled, glancing around the room. For the first time, I noticed something that pinched at my patience. Mallory was absent from the group. “I need to find my husband. Will you look after my son until I return?”
The man nodded solemnly, but I didn’t miss the worried glances that stirred around the room. Their odd behavior stoked my suspicions, setting my nerves on end. Something about the wretched woman nagged at me. She was far too fond of my husband, and it was about time to see her to her place.
∆ ∆ ∆
Standing outside the cabin, I smiled at the delicious feel of the crisp, cool breeze that shifted my skirts around my legs. The sun hadn’t fully made her debut, but the sky was alive with the fir
st signs of her warming touch. I stepped out onto the thick carpet of grass, savoring the feel of the wet, dewy beads that coated my bare feet.
I looked around the clearing, searching for any sign of Orin. There was none to be found, and it troubled me even more that Mallory seemed to be missing, as well. A deep frown stretched its way across my lips, chasing away the contentment I had been feeling a moment before.
My eyes darted to the cloak of trees that stood at the edge of the clearing. I figured Orin and Mallory were somewhere nearby, hidden behind the blind of shrubs and trees. The thought of them alone together made me clench my teeth. When Orin returned, I decided we would be having a talk about the woman’s loose behavior. I wouldn’t allow such a wanton creature to remain sheltered under my roof, trailing my husband like an overly adoring pup.
From around the corner of the cabin, the horses began to snort and kick at their stalls. I cocked my head in their direction, wondering at the disturbance. From the sound of it, something had spooked them.
Since there was nothing left for me to do but wait, I cut the corner, making my way to the barn. It wasn’t a large building, nor was it beautiful. It was constructed simply, consisting of rough, bark-covered logs that were built up from the ground.
The barn door was already ajar when I came upon the entrance. That in itself was odd, but I didn’t allow it to worry me. Even a strong gust a wind would have likely been enough to cause the opening. For that matter, it could have been what had stirred the animals’ angst.
In the first stall, Orin’s large, bay stallion had his head poked into the isle. His eyes rolled around the dark passage, exposing the whites at their corners. He pawed relentlessly at the woodchips that coated the floor of his stall, bobbing his head up and down.