by Quinn Loftis
“She is not my concern right now.”
“Why not?” Cyn asked. She was fishing, but for what she didn’t know just yet. For the moment, she was content just to keep him talking.
“In times of war there is no room to be worrying over a female.” Cypher shifted his weight and she could tell the words almost seemed forced, as if he were actually fighting them from coming out.
“War?” she raised her voice just a tad, effectively grabbing a hold of the attention of the other warlocks in the room. “War with whom?”
Cypher’s eyes grew even brighter and a smile that made Cyn’s skin crawl flashed across his face. “The trolls. It is time they pay for their treachery.”
A roar of agreement came from the others in the room as fists pumped into the air and heads nodded in agreement. She needed to go, and she needed to go now.
“I am on my way to see Vasile and his wolves. Should I send him a message?”
“Tell him he’s either with us, or against us.”
Cyn moved with purpose as she crossed through the veil. Her mind was so distracted on what she had just seen and heard that she didn’t realize where she had taken herself until she heard his voice.
“Twice in one day, Guardian,” Thalion spoke up as he watched Cyn move through the forest toward him as if she were a part of it. “I feel honored. What brings you back into my realm so soon female?” the flirtatious tone in his voice was one that she usually welcomed, but he noticed that she did not respond in kind.
“As much as I enjoy your teasing Prince, I must ask that we forgo that part of our usual conversation.”
Thalion noticed once she was closer that her face was taught with worry, her body rigid with the need to act.
“What has happened?” he asked with urgency brought on by her obvious unease.
“You mentioned that Gerick had seemed off today when you saw him, so I thought perhaps I should check on the Warlock King and make sure all was well,” she explained. “It turns out that all is far from well.”
“Are they sick?”
“Something has twisted them. The last thing Cypher said to me was that he was going to war with the trolls.”
Thalion took a step towards her, setting down the bow he had been holding.
“War?” he asked.
She nodded. “But that wasn’t the only thing. Their eyes glowed red.”
“Cypher’s?”
“Not just his, all of them, every warlock, male and female had glowing red eyes,” Cyn shuddered inwardly at the picture in her mind. “Their eyes glowed red,” she continued, “and their faces were a mask of anger.”
“Did Cypher say anything else?” Thalion asked as he took a step towards her.
“I told him I was going to see Vasile and asked if there was a message he would like me to give to him. I just wanted to see what he would say.” Her eyes met his. “He told me to tell Vasile that the wolves were either with them or against them.”
“Cypher is willing to risk going to war with the wolves?” Thalion shook his head. “That is not the Cypher that we know Cyn.”
“I agree,” she told him.
“Have you told Vasile?”
She shook her head. “I thought I was on my way there, but then I ended up here.”
Thalion’s full lips spread into a smile. “Are you worried for my safety, Guardian? Were you coming to protect me?”
Cyn rolled her eyes. “I was coming to tell you not to make the weapons for them. Cypher plans to use them against the trolls.”
“You’re right. We definitely do not want the warlocks to have Elvin weapons if they are going to possibly wield them against the trolls,” his eyebrows drew together as he looked at her. He seemed to be studying her features as he took yet another step towards her. “I find myself rather frustrated at the moment,” he said.
Cyn tilted her head to the side. “Why?” she asked slowly.
“Because I’ve finally have you in my life again,” he paused.
“And that frustrates you?”
He chuckled. “No love, what frustrates me is that everyone seems hell bent on killing each other when all I want to do is spend time with the woman I love, which I can’t do because the woman I love has a kind and generous heart and refuses to leave these species to their own demise.”
She smiled warmly and blushed. “You think I’m generous?”
Thalion took another large step towards her and wrapped her in his arms. She gasped at the speed of his movements, but didn’t push him away.
“I just told you I love you, and all you heard was that I think you are generous?”
“I already knew you loved me,” she told him matter-of-fact like.
“Really?”
She nodded. “But I had no idea you thought I was kind and generous, and that changes everything,” she teased.
Thalion threw his head back and laughed. Cyn rarely played; she was usually very serious, but when she did play, when she did show him her softer side, Thalion found himself wanting to bask in the joy she brought him.
He took one last breath after composing himself and looked into her eyes. “We need to warn the wolves.”
“Yes,” she told him, but didn’t attempt to pull away from him. She met his stare with the same intensity he was giving her.
“But before I can do anything else, I have to kiss you.”
“Have to or want to?” she whispered.
“Both.”
Cyn nodded and licked her lips nervously. Thalion’s eyes followed the tip of her tongue as it traveled across her mouth and he groaned as he leaned forward and closed the distance between them. He kissed her deeply, with a centuries worth of passion. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer to him, finally giving into the emotions that threatened to consume her. She had wanted him for so long, but stayed away because he refused to be a part of any world but his own. She knew she could not be with someone who only thought his own people’s needs and safety were important. But all that had changed when she had come to him for help just a few months ago. He had stepped forward and told her that he would no longer keep his people separate from the rest of the supernatural or human world. He agreed that as one of the most powerful supernatural races it was his duty to help and to protect when need be. When he had decided that, she had decided that if he wanted her still, she would be his.
When they finally pulled back from each other, their breathing was rapid and their lips glistened with the passion of their kiss. She reached up and traced his lips with her fingertips and the warmth of his breath on her skin made her shiver.
“Is that a yes?” he finally spoke once his breathing was again even.
“Yes?” she asked.
“To the question I posed so long ago. Will you be mine and mine alone?”
Cyn smiled one of her rare smiles that showed just how beautiful she was, not only on the outside but on the inside as well. “It is,” she answered.
Thalion leaned down and kissed her again, but this time it was gentle.
“Finally,” he whispered against her lips.
“Can we go tell the wolves now?” she asked.
“Yes, but when this is all said and done, I will not forget what has happened here today Cyn.”
She pulled back and grinned mischievously. “If you do forget it, then I apparently did not do it right and perhaps will have to ask Lilly what I am doing wrong, since Cypher seems to like to come back for seconds so often.”
“There will be plenty of times for seconds, and thirds for that matter once the warlocks are dealt with.”
“And Reyaz,” she added.
“Okay,” he agreed, “and Reyaz.”
“Oh, and we get the females back from the United States. Oh, and Jen and Decebel’s baby is saved.”
Thalion grabbed her hand and started to pull her quickly behind him.
“Thalion?” she called out nearly laughing. “In a hurry?”
“Yes, at the
rate you are throwing names out there for us to save I shall never get seconds.”
“Or thirds for that matter,” she added and then laughed when she heard him growl.
“I can get us there quicker, Prince,” she told him as she continued to laugh at his obvious frustration. She pulled him to a stop and then in a flash they were standing before the Romanian pack mansion.
She turned and looked at him. “Better?”
“I’ll keep you posted,” but softened his words with a wink as he ushered her towards the front door.
Chapter 12
“Attention all clueless beings out there. Be on the lookout for crap hitting the fan in the form of a psycho warlock tossing out dark magic like it’s freaking candy on Halloween, and a warlock king who suddenly got an itch up his butt to roast some trolls. These are dangerous times people and we all know what we should do during dangerous times…yes, exactly, drink more hot chocolate, use profanity when completely inappropriate and for the love of all things carnal, make babies people, or at least practice.” ~Jen
“The book store looks like it’s been doing well,” Jacque told her mom as she walked around the familiar space. They had been back in the states for over a month now and though Lilly had been going to the book store nearly daily, the others hadn’t ventured out of the house much thanks to Peri’s interlude with Reyaz. But everyone was getting cabin fever and Sally really wanted to see her parents. Jen knew she was going to have to see her parents as well, but she wasn’t really sure how they were going to react when they saw that their 18 year old daughter was well and truly pregnant. So they made plans to join Lilly at the book store that night to help her with inventory. They ordered pizza, pulled the shades to the windows, turned on music, and tried to forget the outside world.
“It has been doing well, and I’m glad because hopefully that means it will be easier to sell.” Lilly’s back was to the room when she made the statement so she didn’t see the shock on Jacque, Jen, and Sally’s faces.
“What?” Jen finally blurted out. “You’re selling your store?”
“Well it’s going to be kind of hard to take care of a store when I live on another continent,” Lilly said as she continued to unpack the box of books on the floor next to her. It was one of many that would need to be unpacked that night.
“When did you decide this mom?” Jacque asked.
“After I talked to Cypher a week or so ago,” she admitted. “Beside him is where I’m supposed to be Jacque. I know you get that.”
Jacque did get that, as weird as it was to hear her mother say it. She couldn’t argue with her because she knew exactly what she meant. Beside Fane was where she was supposed to be, and instead she was in Coldstone, TX, in a book store. Yeah, life sucked sometimes.
“Well, it’s your store, so if that’s what you want to do, then go for it.” Sally smiled as she looked at Lilly.
“Thank you Sally.” Lilly grinned.
Sally’s smile faltered when her phone began belting out the ringtone Jen had set for her, My Maria, simply because it had the words gypsy lady in it. She pulled it from her back pocket and swallowed hard when she saw her mom’s name pop up.
“It’s the ‘rents isn’t it?” Jen asked.
Sally nodded wordlessly.
“Well, time to face the firing squad.” Jen patted Sally’s shoulder as she walked past her. “Get it over with quick Sal, like ripping off finger nails.”
“Don’t you mean band aides?” Crina asked.
Jen shook her head. “Uh, no. Any time you’re dealing with parents, it’s never like ripping off a band aide. It is always much, much, more painful.”
Crina chuckled. “I am so glad I’ve been a werewolf all this time.”
Sally finally hit the key to answer the phone and put it to her ear.
“Hello,” she said tentatively.
“Sally!” her mother’s voice came shrieking through and Sally had to pull the phone away from her ear.
“Yes, it’s me,” she answered. “How are you?”
“How am I? I’m wondering how long my child has been back without coming to see me? And did you bring that young man of yours? How is school going? Do you like Romania? How are Jacque and Jen?”
“Mom, mom,” Sally’s voice rose as she tried to get her mom to slow down. “Hold on, okay. I can’t answer all your questions at once.”
“Oh, sorry, I’ve just missed you.”
“I know. I’ve missed you too.” Sally was surprised to feel her eyes begin to water but she quickly wiped them before any tears could escape. “Can you and Dad come to Lilly’s book store?”
“Oh, honey,” her mom cooed, “your dad is out of town. He won’t be back for a week or more.”
Sally felt her chest tighten at the guilt of not contacting her parents sooner. If she had, she would have gotten to see her dad, but she had waited and now he was gone. Maybe he would be back before she left. But that thought was a double-edged sword because though she wanted to see her dad, she was so very ready to get back to Costin.
“But I can come,” her mom finished pulling her out of her thoughts.
“Okay, well we’re all here now.”
“We who?”
“Um, well, Lilly, Jen, Jacque and the others,” Sally said vaguely.
“Oh, so you brought your young man?”
“No mom. It’s just the females,” Sally cringed as she realized that she had used the word females, which was not something humans said in reference to women very often in everyday conversation. “Oh, mom, can you stop by and pick up Jen’s parents? They don’t know Jen’s here so let’s make it a surprise.”
“Oh! That’s a wonderful idea; see you in a few.”
Sally hit the end key and was already moving before she heard Jen’s voice behind her.
“I’m going to kick your ever loving gypsy ass, Sally Miklos!” Nervous laughter flitted around the store as the others watched Jen attempt to go after Sally.
Peri reached out and snatched Jen’s arm before she could grab Sally’s pony tail. “Calm down Jen or you’re going to go into labor and get Lilly’s pretty floor all bloody with your pregnant body fluids.”
Jen looked at Peri and smirked. “Did you seriously just say pregnant body fluids?”
Peri rolled her eyes. “Yes, I did, and why do you three always insist on asking if someone seriously said something? Do you think that they didn’t seriously say it and therefore feel the need to double check your hearing by asking?”
“Did you seriously just ask that?” Jen asked and the room erupted into laughter.
Peri huffed as she pushed past Jen, “Why the hell did I decide to come with the girls?”
“Because we are entertaining,” Elle told her.
“Yes and so is a cage of chimpanzees. I’m just waiting for you all to start crapping on the floor and then throwing it at each other, all the while squealing and pointing.”
The laughing jumped up a notch and when the knock on the front door of the store finally came, Jen was doubled over holding her stomach as she giggled. She wiped the laugh induced tears from her eyes as she prepared herself for all hell to break loose in a completely different way than she was used to. Put her before a psycho witch, a bossy possessive werewolf, or a deranged warlock and she smirked. But put her before her parents who didn’t know that she was married, let alone pregnant, and she wanted to crawl into the deepest hole she could find.
Lilly unlocked the door and pushed it open. Sally’s mom walked in and squealed when she saw Sally. Jen’s mom was next and then her dad. Her mom’s eyes lit up as they landed on her and then dropped to her stomach.
“Surprise,” Jen said lamely and let out a deep breath when Alina walked up next to her and put an arm around her and then smiled at her parents. Alina’s charms were legendary, but they were about to be put to the test.
“Jennifer.” her mom smiled and moved towards her wrapping her in her arms, effectively pulling her from Alina’s.
“Hi mom,” Jen said and it came out muffled as her mom tucked her head into her shoulder.
“Oh, I’ve missed you!”
“You too,” Jen said as she pulled back and attempted to untangle herself from her mom. Her dad came up next and gave her one of those one arm hugs that were equally awkward and annoying.
“Hey Dad,” she said as she quickly hugged him back and then pulled away.
The room was completely silent after the brief reunions and all eyes were on Jen and her parents.
“Jen’s pregnant,” Sally suddenly blurted out. Heads swung around and eyes landed on her and she slapped her hand over her mouth as if it had acted without her consent.
“Thank you for that,” Jen muttered as she glared at Sally and then looked back at her parents. It was obvious by the looks on their faces that they had really just been hoping that Jen had suddenly developed a love for Pork Rinds and had been eating enough of them to support North American sales all by herself.
“Surprise again!” Jen said in a sing song voice and a shoulder shrug.
Jen’s mother’s mouth dropped open and then closed, only to do it again, making Jen think of a fish that had been taken from water and was desperately gasping.
“How,” she finally sputtered.
“Well, mom,” Jen’s voice took on the patronizing tone that seemed to always tick her parents off, “when two people love each other, they want to show it. And sometimes they show that love by taking their clothes off and going at it like rabbits.”
Jen looked past her now shocked mother to the forms of Jacque and Sally, who were making cutting motions across their necks and mouthing for her to shut up. She simply shook her head. She was eighteen. Her parents could look at her like she had lost her mind, but they couldn’t punish her, not any more.
“You’re really pregnant?” her dad finally asked.
“Yes dad, I’m really pregnant. I’m pretty sure there is no such thing as sort-of pregnant, but I could be wrong. It’s been known to happen once or twice a year―me being wrong, not being sort-of pregnant.”
“Is it this Decebel guy?” her mom asked.
“Yes it is Decebel’s baby.” Jen couldn’t help the huge smile that spread across her face at the mention of her mate. Regardless of all their crap, she was caring his child, made out of love and that was definitely something to smile about. And she had just shocked the hell out of her parents and that was just a bonus, like when you find a couple fries thrown in with your order of tots from Sonic. Bonus fries were the best.