“Yes, Mom. I’ll be back in plenty of time.” I set my now-empty mug in the sink just as Sandy honked outside. “I need to get going.” I leaned down and kissed Mom on the cheek, then waved at Stephen as I passed. “See ya later.” I grabbed my purse from the table and breezed out the door.
I tossed my purse on the passenger floorboard as I flopped in the seat next to Sandy. I barely got buckled before she peeled away from the curb.
“About damn time you got out here. I was not looking forward to having to drag your sorry ass out of that house.” She shivered. “That guy gives me the creeps.”
“So sorry to be such a bother. If you feel that way, you could have just left me.” I crossed my arms and looked out my side of the car. Sandy was being a royal bitch today, and I didn’t know why. “Stephen is harmless, just a friend of the family. You could have been a little nicer to him and my mom.” I turned back toward her and took a good look. We hadn’t seen each other in a couple days, and for the first time ever, she looked tired. “Is everything okay?”
Sandy was always a bit rough around the edges. Her family was the richest family in town, so everyone thought she was just a spoiled brat, but I knew there were deeper issues at play in her life. This persona she puts out for everyone was simply a defense against the fact that her family didn’t really care about her or what she did. Her father had wanted a son and took every opportunity to remind her of it. Her mother had gone into a deep depressive state shortly after Sandy was born when she found out she couldn’t have any more children, thus unable to provide the son her husband had wanted so badly. Sandy’s tutors and nannies raised her but were never allowed to get emotionally attached. Everything a person needed to survive was provided to her without the emotional nurturing that a child so desperately needs.
Now, Sandy flaunted her money and status to keep people at bay. She used people until she no longer needed them and moved on to the next, just like her father. I was the only person she had ever opened up to, and it’s probably the only reason she kept me around. I helped her through a difficult time in high school. For the following two years, we were best friends who shared everything, even deep secrets, until one day she came over and acted like the frost queen of today. I don’t know what happened to change her, but I have continued to be her friend, hoping to break through and find the old Sandy again.
“Of course, other than having to wait around on you.” She took a turn a bit too fast, throwing me into the door. “I would think you would be a little more appreciative of the time I take to hang with you.” Her snootiness was on an all-time high today, and I had had enough.
“If I am such a bother, just pull over, and I’ll walk home. I am not going to spend all day listening to you berate and belittle me. I have put up with your shit for the past couple years, hoping the old Sandy would come back.” My chest heaved with nerves. Confrontation was something I tried to avoid at all costs. Sandy’s attitude today sent me over the edge, and I couldn’t stop the flow of words coming from my mouth. “I am sorry about your past and honestly think therapy would help you get past some of those demons. It still doesn’t give you the right to treat the one person in your life who cares like shit. I deserve better. I deserve a better friend, so if you plan to continue the attitude, then I’m done. Pull over.”
Sandy made a full stop at the next stop sign, and I thought it was my cue to get out. I gathered my purse from the floor and moved to unbuckle my seat belt. Sandy’s hand fell on top of mine. “Don’t.”
I looked up at her face and saw pain flash for only a moment.
“I’m sorry.” This was her routine, super bitchy until she thinks you are going to leave and then she apologizes.
“You always say that. What makes this time different?” My hand shook as I waited to see if I needed to leave or if she would give me a bit of truth.
“Because I need your help, and I really do mean it. I think my dad is in trouble, and Mom hasn’t come out of her room in a month.” She breathed a heavy sigh as I moved my hand away from my seatbelt.
“Okay.” I nodded and looked straight ahead. That’s all I would get for now. Small snippets of truth would come throughout the day, and that was the first.
Sandy revved the engine and whistled. “Holy hell, do you see him? Sex on a stick walking this way.”
I scanned left and right, looking for who she was talking about. Her idea of sexy and mine were worlds apart, but I still wanted to see. “Where? I don’t see anyone.” The hairs along my arms raised as I felt someone staring. I pivoted my head again, thinking I had missed something, but I only saw old lady Winslow wrapped in her worn blue housecoat, her white hair still in curlers with a leash in her hand, her little terrier Zeus pulling the other end down the street. No hottie in sight.
She pointed across my face directing my eyes to the line of trees that signaled the beginning of the mountainside. “Right there at the edge of the trees. Tall, wide, and gorgeous in leather. I bet he rides a Harley too.” She purred.
I didn’t see anyone. I squinted hard, trying to see through the trees, but nope. Nothing. The sensation of someone watching me intensified, and it kind of creeped me out. “Sandy, nobody’s there.” I rubbed my arms as I gave her a skeptical look. She glanced at me quickly and then back at where she had pointed.
A sharp intake of breath whistled through her lips. “Where did he go? He was right there.” Her brows scrunched together in confusion.
“Don’t do that, you’ll get wrinkles.” I chided, effectively changing the subject. She glanced in the review mirror rubbing the nonexistent lines on her forehead. “Now where are you taking me?”
She zipped through the four-way, took the next left, and climbed into the elite neighborhood. “To my house. I have a whole spa day planned for us.” She softened her voice to almost a whisper. “It’s also the only place I can talk about things.”
“Okay, but I have to be home before six tonight.”
She waved my comment off. “Whatever, I’ll have Jeremy bring you home whenever you want.”
Jeremy was her father’s chauffer and had always been kind to me. I hated to make him take me home though, since I really wasn’t part of the family. “I can have Mom pick me up too if you need.”
“No need for that when all Jeremy does is sit around waiting to drive us somewhere.”
Her lack of compassion for their staff never seemed to amaze me. I was sure Jeremy had other things he did, but in Sandy’s eyes, he was there to serve them, period. If he was busy, I would make sure to find my own way home, without Sandy’s knowledge.
“Okay, if you insist.” Giving into her was easier than trying to get her to see reason. She pulled up into their huge circular driveway and hopped out. I followed suit and thanked their butler as I walked behind Sandy into her home.
The rest of the day was spent soaking, caked in skin-saving mud baths, facials, aromatherapy salt soaks, and a massage. We were waxed, primed, and painted up as if the red carpet was waiting for us.
I glanced at my watch while Sandy perused her enormous closet, and I realized I was due home in less than an hour. “Sandy, today has been great, but I need to head home.” She walked farther into her closet, ignoring me. “And we never got around to talking.” I followed her to the door, waiting for her response.
“It’s okay, we can chat another day.” Her voice floated out to me. “I wanted to give you something, hang on.” She finally emerged and with a flourish handed me a pile of clothes. “These are more your style than mine. Take them.”
I didn’t see the clothes well, but the tags hung clearly for me to see. Dior, Chanel, Prada, and a couple more I couldn’t pronounce and had never heard of. “Sandy, you know I can’t take these.”
“Yes, you can. I would rather you have them then some hobo charity.” She flounced around her room as she spoke, picking up and discarding the clothing she had already piled on her bed.
This was a fight we had about twice a year when she deci
ded to clean out her closet. She tried to give me clothes, I refused to take them, she insisted, and I ended up taking them and donating them to the charity she despised anyway.
“Oh, just take them. I know you’ll give them to someone who doesn’t deserve them anyway.”
The deep echo of a knock had us both turning toward her bedroom door. “Sandy, are you in there?” a deep, masculine voice demanded, with a hint of something that made my skin crawl.
Sandy grabbed her robe and belted it as she opened the door. “Yes, father, can I help you?”
He sized her up and then looked past her at me. A smile spread across his lips. “I didn’t know you were hosting Ms. Seraphim today.” His eyes glinted like black obsidian as they scanned me from head to toe. I tried to hide my shiver of repulsion that followed. “I do need to speak with you, but it can wait till you girls have finished your day.”
I stood. “That’s okay, Mr. Harrington. I was getting ready to leave.” I stood and gathered the things Sandy had given me along with my purse. “Sandy, thank you so much. It has been a wonderful day.” I strode toward the door and whispered in her ear as I stopped to hug her. “Call me later if you need.”
She patted my back and smiled as I pulled away.
“Natalie, Jeremy should be in the garage ready to take you wherever you need.” Sandy’s dad spoke as I squeezed past him, trying not to contact his body. By the look on his face, he knew what I was doing and slightly leaned toward me. I barely made it by and quickly made my way down to the front door. The door to the garage was through the kitchen, but I needed out of the house and fast.
I followed the sidewalk around the house to the large four-car garage to look for Jeremy. I hated to ask him to drive me home, but I realized my mom would be in the middle of making dinner and probably wouldn’t be able to come get me. I found him wiping down the Bentley Sandy’s dad favored. I waved as he turned at the sound of my shoes crunching on gravel.
He greeted me with a smile. “Hey there, Miss Natalie. How are you today?”
“I’m good, Jeremy. How about you?”
He raised his face to the sky and closed his eyes. “The sun is shining, the air is clear, and your smile is genuine. It’s a great day.” He opened his eyes and looked at me again. “You need a ride home?”
I sheepishly nodded. “Yeah, Mom’s probably already cooking dinner. I hate to bother you, but I would rather not walk the five miles with all of this.” I raised my clothes-laden arms.
“It’s no problem, miss. Here, let me take those.” Jeremy grabbed the clothes from me and put them in the back seat of the Mercedes sitting next to the Bentley. He walked to the other side and opened the back door for me. “Hop in. I’ll have you home in no time.”
I smiled my thank-you and folded myself in next to the pile of clothes Sandy had given me. No matter how many times I had ridden in this very seat with Sandy, I would never get used to being chauffeured around, especially our small town. Jeremy slid behind the wheel and smoothly guided us out of the driveway and down the road toward home.
Stephen was sitting on the steps when Jeremy pulled up. He was opening my door before Jeremy could get out of the car. Stephen assisted me out with a smile. “Did you have a good day?” Stephen inquired as Jeremy brought the pile of clothes around to me.
“Thanks, Jeremy.” I moved to take them, but Stephen beat me to it.
“I got it from here, thanks.” He smiled at Jeremy and held an elbow out to me. “Your mom is waiting.”
“Have a good evening, Miss Natalie.” Jeremy bowed his head slightly and left.
“And who was that?” Stephen asked with a hint of jealousy in his tone.
“That was Sandy’s family chauffer.” I patted his arm. “No need to be jealous. He’s harmless and very well mannered.”
“It’s not my jealousy you need to worry about.” Stephen muttered under his breath, so quietly I almost didn’t hear him.
“And just who do I need to worry about?” I asked as we reached the top step.
His head perked up and tilted slightly, like his wolf was listening. I stopped and listened too. I held my breath when I heard it, a low growl reverberating across the trees toward us. My body shivered in response, not in fear but excitement.
“His.” Stephen smiled and walked through the front door.
15
Stephen sat back, patting his slightly rounded stomach, and threw a dazzling smile my mom’s way. “That was wonderful, Mrs. Seraphim.”
“Why thank you, young man.” She blushed as she finished clearing off the table. I stood and grabbed the placemats and napkins to follow her. This was our routine. She cooked and set the table, and I helped clean up and put away. Mom took the cloth out of my hand and shooed me away. “I’ll get it tonight, Natalie. I am sure you young people have better things to do.”
“Actually, I do have some things to talk to Natalie about if you really don’t mind.”
Mom ate up the charm Stephen was laying on. I rolled my eyes at him over my shoulder as I handed the table linens to Mom.
“Not at all. You two go on outside. I’ll bring dessert out shortly.” Mom turned and gave me a little push as she spoke.
I settled on the swing that had hung on our front porch since I was little. The wood was worn and in need of another restoration. This swing had been every color of the rainbow over the years, the most current a ruddy gray that Mom had fallen in love with. Now it was sun faded and flaking beneath my hands as I sat. Stephen chose to sit on the top step and leaned against the post at an angle toward me. I stared at the quiet street, listening to the squeak of the chains on the swing as a push of my foot put it in motion. The creaks were comforting and gave me something to focus on beside the wolf in humans’ clothing sitting before me. My hands fidgeted as I waited to hear what he wanted to say.
“Natalie, I need to ask you a question that may sound weird,” Stephen said.
I shrugged my shoulders. “Okay.” I was starting to get used to people asking weird questions.
“Have you been having dreams?”
“Yeah, doesn’t everyone?” His question sent my heart racing, wondering if somehow he knew. Maybe he could tell me what they meant. I couldn’t blurt it out right away, so I chose caution until I heard everything he had to say.
“No, Nat, I mean dreams that have stayed the same over the years until recently. Dreams that pull you in and stay with you when you wake. Dreams driving you to find something just out of reach.” He scooted across the step, bringing himself within touching distance, and leaned forward, waiting for my answer.
“Maybe.” I drew the word out. Even though Mom trusted Stephen, I still wasn’t sure how much I could share with him. I know he’s a shifter and something called an omega, which has to do with feelings or something, but beyond that I knew nothing about him.
He relaxed back a bit, seeing my hesitation, and spread his hands on his legs palms up. “I don’t want to hurt you, and I’m not crazy. Every shifter has a gift of some sort. Many of them don’t even realize what theirs is.” He took a deep breath. “You know I am an omega, but you may not know exactly what that is.” He chuckled. “To be honest, I don’t either, but I do know that with my touch I can alleviate pain, heartbreak, I can lessen the drive of the mating instincts, and recently, I have learned I can experience visions and dreams if they are emotionally charged enough. Dreams that have recurred over weeks, months, and years all leave a residue I can read.”
His words intrigued me, but I was still unsure. “Why do you want to read mine?”
Stephen dropped his eyes and took a deep breath. When he raised them again, I could see the honest plea swirling deep within. “Because you’re the mate to the last living dragon shifter, and if I don’t help you find each other, it may be another lifetime or two before you have the opportunity again.
Bam, I couldn’t believe those words tumbled out of his mouth. “Let me get this straight.” I sat forward, planted both feet flat on the porch
, and leaned my elbows on my knees, putting my hands dangling in front of his face. “You think I am basically the savior for the dragon shifter race, and you reading the emotional residue of my dreams will verify that?”
Stephen raised his shoulder sheepishly. “Basically, yeah.”
“And if my dreams prove your theory right, then what?” For me, his words solidified Neevie’s prediction.
“Then I help you get the man destiny created for you.” His eyes lit with a mischievous glint, and a small smile tugged at one corner of his mouth.
“And do you know where this dragon shifter happens to be, or will we be taking off on a wild goose chase?” I tried to keep my voice a tad sarcastic rather than give away the excitement bubbling inside. The idea someone could help me really figure out what these dreams mean set my nerves hopping. To hear the idea that I had a true love or mate out there made just for me… From not one but two people now. What every little girl dreamed of before reality hits her in the face… I had never let that little girl’s dreams die.
“Oh, I know exactly where he is.” A satisfied smirk accompanied the sharp nod he gave me. “But first, I need to take your hand. If that’s okay.”
His revelation stunned me, and I quickly reached out and grabbed his hand. “Read away.” So much for hiding my excitement. My phone rang just as he wrapped his fingers around mine. The ringtone indicated it was Sandy, and I pulled my hand back from Stephen to answer it.
“Is everything okay?” Stephen asked after I hung up, his voice full of concern. It was comforting to have someone besides my mom show such emotion. Sandy had just told me her father’s interest in me had piqued, and she informed me of his plan to have a shrink interview me to find out if I was crazy or not. After having known me for the last few years, it was shocking to find out he harbored those feelings.
Stephen and I were still on the porch when Sandy had called. Her call had halted Stephen’s attempt at a vision, and now I didn’t have time for it. He had only heard my side of the conversation, or so I thought. “Yeah,” I said. Then it occurred to me that with his shifter genes, he probably heard both sides of the conversation. “You probably already know that though, don’t you?”
Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels Page 285