by Bonnie Vanak
It moved, shuffling like an old man with a walker, leaving piles of green slime on the pavement.
Kieran pounced, and the Ed-thing drew back a claw, swiping at the jaguar. The jaguar ducked, and swiped the thing’s leg, but the thick, sharp claws sank into the green, pale flesh, which parted and folded back.
It was like trying to slay green Jello, she realized.
A big cat, no matter how fierce, could not defeat this thing.
Instinct hummed and sang inside her. She stepped back, pushing aside all shock and horror, to study the creature.
Though its body was slimy and a blob, the head was firm, round and not gelatinous. It would not be like this for long, for she saw the cheeks begin to take on the greenish hue, like the slick substance of the rest of its body.
Now. While it was still vulnerable.
Last week the library had held a ceremony to break ground for a new garden to teach children how to grow vegetables. A shovel still rested against the tree. Blessing the forgetful soul who’d left it there, Ella grabbed it.
Kieran attacked again, but could not get firm purchase on the creature. As Kieran’s jaws sank into the Ed-thing’s leg, or the blob that was its leg, Ella lifted the shovel, aimed.
Using strength she did not realize she had, she sent it sailing into the thing’s head. Instinctively she ducked, avoiding the splatter of blood and brains. It howled and held its head.
As it fell to the pavement, she slammed the shovel into its skull once more. Again. And again. Finally it lay still.
Panting, the jaguar released its hold on the thing’s leg and backed off. Then it shifted back into Kieran. A very naked Kieran, sweating and infuriated, as if the beast that he’d been still ruled him.
He drew in a deep breath, waved a hand and clothing appeared on his body.
“What was that?” Ella panted, still holding the shovel, her stomach giving a sickening jolt.
“A Changeling Gnome turned to evil. I believe it was trying to take on another form to fight me and kill you. Hard to tell what, since you bashed his brains in. Good job.”
He grinned at her. “I like your fighting style.”
She didn’t even know she could fight, let alone kill anything. She, who avoided stepping on ants, had smashed in the head of … what?
“But that… thing… it was Ed. A preacher.”
“Who will not be preaching much now,” he said dryly. Kieran gently took the shovel from her hands and threw it aside. He raised his eyes skyward. “Gideon, we require a cleanup on aisle 1, if you please. After we leave.”
“He was my boss. A slime, yeah, but not really a… slimy thing.” Ella rubbed her chin with the heel of her hand. Everything was happening too fast, and her brain struggled to process it.
Nothing made sense, except the man standing beside her was solid and real. She focused on him.
“Every one of your employers except Danica cannot be trusted.” He toed aside the steaming remains of Ed which dissolved into a smelly puddle.
If she ever needed a good reason to trust him, this was it. “Okay.” She rubbed her hands on her jeans, disgusted by the smell. “I’ll go with you to the airport. But you have to tell me everything on the drive to Denver.”
“Deal. Oh, and Ella?”
“What?”
He glanced at the slime that had been her employer. “I think it’s time you gave notice.”
8
Kieran never wanted this assignment.
He had no choice. And now, he was forced into escorting a scared, angry Skin-who-didn’t-know-she-was-a-shifter to a strange city to look for a crystal of power that could destroy the world. Tough job? Naw.
Flying?
That was another matter.
Oh, he loved to fly in the Winter Kingdom—on the back of a fire-breathing dragon—but here? Confined to the steel innards of a large Skin-made machine, the seats smaller than a bug’s ass? No, thanks. But Xavier and Gideon warned that the more magick he expended, the clearer the trail he’d leave.
So, although he could summon a dragon for the ride, he did not. That, coupled with the fact that Ella still seemed too stunned by the events of the past twenty four hours had them flying in the tin can. He couldn’t blame her. He supposed he’d feel the same if he found out every Fae in his world turned out to be a Skin determined to slaughter him.
Two first class tickets later, and a white-knuckle plane ride east to Florida, he and Ella found themselves on the west coast of the state. Kieran rented a car, and they drove to the beach where Xavier had taken Ciara.
It was too dangerous to stay at the hotel Xavier and Ciara had once visited, for it was popular with Others who would ask questions and perhaps even spy. Instead, Kieran rented a house. Three bedrooms, directly on the beach, with a view of the sparkling Gulf of Mexico in the burning sunlight. Money was no object, but security certainly was a concern.
Ella would be comfortable with her own room. She still remained wary of him, so he proceeded with caution.
He hadn’t told her everything on the drive to Denver, because she seemed too upset and filled with disbelief. One day at a time.
He did tell her to beware of ravens, and to alert him if she saw any. After the incident in the parking lot of the Steak Haus, he couldn’t trust any kind of bird.
The only good bird, far as he was concerned, was a dead bird.
At the rental house in Florida, Ella insisted on carrying her own suitcase up the wood stairs to the house. She plopped down on the floral sofa in the living room, staring out at the beach and the water. It was warm and many people were on the beach, sitting beneath colorful umbrellas or wading in the water.
He set his own suitcase next to hers and opened it, withdrawing a leather scabbard.
The Scianthe was his favorite weapon, one he’d made Gideon bring him from the Winter Kingdom. In this world, he needed a spell to keep Skins from seeing it.
But Ella could see it, despite the spell. Her wolf nature was asserting itself more.
Kieran tested the weight of the blade. The elegant curved knife, with the notches of serrated edges, was a traditional warrior’s weapon. Lightweight, easier to carry and conceal than a sword.
Ella pointed to the Scianthe. “What is that? You had it back at my mom’s house.”
“My weapon. All I have to protect you. Except for my beast, and I dare not release him again.” Kieran twirled the knife and sheathed it, setting it on the coffee table.
The sooner he coaxed out her wolf and got her to accept her nature, the better. But Ella seemed grounded in reality.
“Ella, do you believe in magick? In what happened back at your house?”
She blinked. “I don’t think so. I don’t know what that… thing was. Or what Ed turned into. I’m struggling with the idea that I’m crazy and all this is a hallucination brought on by too much work and too little sleep.”
“You must start to believe in magick, Ella. You need to see the world through the eyes of a child. Use your imagination. Let your mind be free.”
Ella stared at him.
Frustrated, he tried again. “Did you not ever play and indulge in fantasy when you were young?”
“No.”
Holy catnip, this was going to prove tougher than he’d thought. Kieran sighed. “Go pick out which bedroom you want. Darcy should arrive by late tonight. I’ve instructed her to rent a car and scout out the area.”
“I’ve got a better idea. I’ve never been to the beach before. Let’s walk by the water. I packed a swimsuit. I need to unwind.”
A swimsuit, showing even more of her delectable curves and her skin. Hell, covering her in sackcloth sounded better. Maybe that would calm his raging desire.
He jammed a frustrated hand through his hair, edgy because he craved her body, and because the longer he remained in human skin, the more he felt his beast claw to be free. When he finally did shift, he wasn’t certain if he could control himself.
Ella tilted her head at him. �
�Well? The water looks tempting.”
“You can play on the beach all you wish. I’m not here to frolic.”
Her lower lip trembled. “Screw you, Kieran. I’m only along for this ride because some nasty thing turned my mom into a frozen icicle and if I can’t find this crystal, she’ll die. I don’t know if this crystal is some kind of holistic healing stone that will help her or if you’re taking me on a wild ride. It’s no sweat off your back!”
Ella curled into a ball, tucking her feet beneath her. All his restlessness and anger evaporated. He went over to the sofa, sat next to her, sliding an arm around her. Expecting her to jerk away, he was surprised she did not.
“I’m sorry, Ella. I have been an ass, thinking only of myself and my needs.” He sucked in a deep breath, hating to admit his weakness. But she should know what he was dealing with in this world. “The Skin world holds many bad memories for me, and I tend to lash out the more frustrated I get.”
She gave him a curious glance. “How do you get rid of your frustration?”
“Sex helps.” He gave her a hopeful glance. “Interested?”
Ella laughed and pulled away, swatting him with a floral pillow. “No, but a walk on the beach will do you some good. I think best on my feet anyway, and I bet you do as well. You don’t even have to swim. Just walk.”
“I am quick thinker on four paws, but I do not believe that would be good for beachcombers to see a jaguar splashing in the surf.”
After she changed into her bathing suit, they headed to the beach. He stole a peek at her. In the black one-piece, she was all lush curves and femininity. His male parts sat up and paid attention.
To focus on something else, Kieran removed his shoes, intrigued by the fine white sand. It felt like delicate snowflakes beneath the pads of his feet, but for the warmth. Tiny bits of shell peeked up through the grains. He bent over, picked one up, marveling at the pink hue. It reminded him of a woman’s center, hot and sweet and welcoming.
Ella’s center would be as pink, blushing with health and inviting him inside. His blood thrummed.
He handed it to Ella. “For you.”
A delighted smile touched her face. “Thank you. My first seashell.”
“It’s only a fragment.”
“Yes. It would be nice to see the entire thing. You’ll have to keep trying,” she teased.
His smile widened. “Yes, have no fear, fair maiden. I plan to do exactly that.”
She ran into the water, laughing and splashing, and then dove beneath the gentle waves. Kieran watched, tempted to join her, afraid to leave his position on the beach. As her bodyguard, he must remain vigilant. One of the Dark Lord’s followers could detect her changing scent and attack.
How was he to fight evil that could take her mother and freeze her into place? A power that extended beyond the grave and influenced Others in this plain? The Winter Kingdom had many intrigues and dangers, all familiar to him. He knew his abilities, knew his defenses. He felt as helpless as a kitten to protect Ella from the dark creatures stalking her.
Xavier and Gideon should have told the goddess to assign someone else to Ella. A sense of helplessness filled him. He’d failed to save his little sister from ordinary, cruel Skins who saw only the beauty of her fur and not the living, breathing jaguar she’d been. How the hell could he defend Ella from dark beings that could slice her into ribbons with one swipe of a giant claw?
You must. She is vital to the survival of your world.
After returning to the house, Ella showered and then took her suitcase into the smallest bedroom. He waited and then joined her in the room, inspecting it.
“No. This room is too vulnerable.” Kieran pointed to the window. “It’s open to the street. Take the larger bedroom with the window facing the water.”
“I thought Darcy would enjoy that room.”
“This will be her room. She can keep watch on the street for us.”
Ella took a deep breath. “I miss my cat. Isn’t that silly? I love my mother, but Darcy kept me…sane. Darcy was my best friend.”
He tried to see things from her perspective. Reassure her, because she needed it.
“You are quite sane, Ella. Darcy was sent to guard you. She is still the same friend you had, in fur or Skin.”
Ella gave him a sage look that all but said “You are pulling the fur over my eyes.”
“It’s not the same,” she told him. “I suppose you can’t understand that. You don’t know the joy in owning a pet, caring for her, and having a friend to listen to you every day.”
Right. As if shifters didn’t need friends. Irritated, he scratched his chin, his beast nagging to get out and explore. Prowl the grounds for intruders. Maybe hunt a mouse or two.
“I used to own a pet, long ago. Simply because I’m shifter doesn’t mean I don’t care about animals.”
Ella sniffed. “Sure you do. You care about eating them for dinner.”
Kieran stared. “You think that’s all I do?”
“Listen, Sir Kieran, it’s in the nature of the beast. If you are a jaguar and this isn’t all my warped imagination.” Her green eyes searched him. “Jaguars are big cats who kill bigger prey. Nature is violent.”
No the beast’s nature wasn’t killing and violence. It was bred for protection, defending its home, and for mating. Fierce, wild mating, the kind that few Skin females could endure, because they’d faint from pleasure.
“You don’t know anything about shifters,” he said slowly.
“Up until yesterday, I didn’t know there were such creatures.” Her expression fell. “I was taught to never believe in magick that magick was bad. It’s why I studied ancient history and languages in college.”
Her mother taught her too well. Probably to protect her, keep her from exploring the impulses her wolf nudged her toward. How were they supposed to work together if she hated magick and thought all magick was bad?
Kieran loathed this world. He only wanted to return to the Winter Kingdom after finding the crystal and helping Ella. Breaking a lifetime’s worth of prejudice wasn’t a challenge he’d anticipated.
As Ella unpacked her suitcase, he paced, feeling his jaguar growl inside. The beast needed sex or needed to roam. Neither was a possibility right now. Kieran watched her remove her laptop and followed her to the dining area. She placed the laptop on the table.
“This is a good spot to work. I think the key to finding that crystal we need is in the scrolls I’ve been trying to translate,” she said.
“Why were you so fascinated with the scrolls?” Clearly she didn’t know they were magick. Not until now.
Ella tilted her head. “They give me a glimpse into another time, another culture, a portion of the truth about history. Human history. Not this…weird world you’ve exposed me to.”
He wondered if she was aware of her animal self slowly exhibiting traits central to her shifter nature. Even if she never found the crystal, she could not suppress the wolf for much longer. By age thirty, it would be pawing to get out.
Taking an apple from a bowl of fruit on the table, Ella sniffed it. “I’m hungry. I’ve got this craving for steak, some kind of red meat. Let’s go out.”
Ella was examining the new revelations in her world with the same logic she’d used all her life as a Skin. And magick, well, it wasn’t always logical. It could twist and turn a good, dedicated wizard devoted to helping his people into a walking time bomb.
Now was a good time to drop the bomb. “Ella-mine, I have news for you. You aren’t human.”
She paused in taking a bite of the apple. Ella shook her head. “Right. If I’m not human what am I?”
“A werewolf.”
After Kieran’s ridiculous claim of her origins, Ella needed a drink.
He wanted to buy food and cook at the house, but Ella resisted. The Starfish Bar & Grille was down the street from their rental house. They headed for the car. Ella stood by the driver’s side. She held out her hand. “Keys, please.”
“I don’t have enough life insurance on myself, Kieran. You’re a terrible driver.”
“I can drive.”
“Maybe a horse and buggy, but not a sedan. With power steering. And power brakes.”
In answer, he swept her off her feet, walked around the passenger side and gently deposited her on the seat.
Kieran closed the door and walked back, sitting behind the wheel.
Ella sighed. “You are one stubborn cat.”
“Jaguar. I was given charge over you, to protect you until you came into your powers and I intend to follow orders.”
“You want to protect me? Then let me drive.” If she had any real power, she wouldn’t be in this predicament.
He started the car. She could argue, but she was far too hungry.
The pub was small, but clean, with a line of patrons sitting at the long wooden bar. They took seats at the counter’s end. Ella smirked at Kieran.
“Bet it’s the five o’clock condo commando crowd.”
He ordered an ice water for himself, and for Ella, the chilled white wine she liked. “What is a condo commando? Sounds like a warrior.”
“They’re the gray-haired retirees who live in condos. The drinking and golf playing sort.”
“Does not sound very commando to me.” He sipped the water the bartender set before him. “Unless they go without underwear like I do.”
Heat suffused her face. “Kieran.”
The shifter looked innocent. “What? Gideon taught me that phrase. Said it should come in handy. When a male forgoes undergarments, it is called going commando.”
Ella grabbed the cold wine as the bartender placed it on the counter. She took a large swig. She needed it around this male and his playful sense of humor and his killer bod.
“Gideon also told me that going commando carries a risk to a male’s dangly parts. One must take care with zippers.”
At a loss for words, she could only stare as he swiveled on his stool. Kieran pointed to his crotch and the black shorts he wore. “See? Buttons. I take no chances with my equipment, fair maiden.”