by Vella Day
Rye slid out his side of the car. “Lock the doors. If you see him, drive away.”
She’d never leave Rye to fend for himself, but she decided to keep quiet about that. “Ask him what he wants from me.”
“Oh, you can bet I will.”
He jogged toward the back of her house and then disappeared from sight. Her chest cramped in anticipation of what he might find. She appreciated that Rye wanted to protect her, but there was no need. She could handle whatever came her way.
Tapping her foot, she looked around, making sure that the nasty man wasn’t lurking somewhere, just waiting for her to return.
A few minutes later, Rye came back, his gaze continually searching the area. He climbed back in her car. “He’s gone, and there’s no sign of him anywhere.”
She leaned her head back. “Really? Did you peek inside the house and check behind the trees?” She held up a hand. “Never mind. You didn’t have to. You could sense he wasn’t there.”
“That’s right.”
“Do you think he’ll go after my family?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t want to take any chances.” The tension had returned to his voice many times over. “And you have no any idea what he was after?”
“He just said that he came for something and wasn’t leaving without it. Since he stalked me in Scotland, he can’t want something I keep in my house.” She huffed out a breath. “I need to warn my family.”
“Well, shit.”
Chapter Seven
‡
Owen Chancellor was pissed. No. He was more than pissed. He was Changeling mad at himself and at Isadora. She was supposed to become his wife and do what he wished. How dare she ensnare him in a vine—with thorns no less. He was so furious that if he weren’t in his car, he would find the biggest tree and smash his fist through it. With his shifter strength, he could leave a hell of a hole, which would help release this built up anger and frustration. He didn’t like being on edge one bit.
Isadora would not get away with treating him that way. The only reason he wouldn’t take out his anger on her right away was because he hadn’t even explained that he wanted to take her back to Scotland to become his wife.
One thing was for sure though—she needed to learn to obey. He would show her he was the one in charge, and it would be a lesson she soon wouldn’t forget. He just needed time and a bit of witchcraft to help him.
It had been easy to locate his own kind in the hills of Hope County, and he had to admit that these American Changelings were nothing like that man with Isadora. Rye was his name—or at least that was what he thought Isadora had called him when he was showing her how to play pool.
It had taken Owen a few well-placed bills to find someone who could direct him to their black witch. Seems the Changelings in this part of the world had to hide just like they did in Scotland.
Glancing down at his phone, he checked the GPS again. This witch lived high in the hills, far from Silver Lake proper—if one could call a town with a population of less than ten thousand proper at all.
When Owen pulled into the driveway, an old woman was standing on the lawn in front of a house that looked as decrepit as the old lady herself. The wooden structure was worn and tired and didn’t appear to ever have been painted. While all of the windows had glass in them, two didn’t have shutters. With a few missing boards, the front wrap-around porch wasn’t in any better shape.
That creep he’d paid to give him this woman’s name must have told her to expect him, though he couldn’t even guess how she could know what time he would be arriving.
Then again, she was a witch.
Owen slipped out of the vehicle, and after he approached her, the old woman folded her arms. “You wish a spell?”
Good, he wouldn’t need to explain much. “Yes. I need a strong one to bind a woman’s powers.”
Her brows pinched. “How powerful is she?”
Giving too much away might send other American Changelings to find Isadora, and he couldn’t afford to lose that gem. “She can make plants grow with a twist of a hand.”
The woman’s eyes widened. “Powerful indeed. You have the money?”
“Yes, half now and half later.” The weasel he’d found was a good haggler for the old lady. Most likely, she’d give him a cut of her exorbitant fee.
Owen didn’t care about the cost though. He’d come this far for Isadora, and he wouldn’t leave without her. Timing was key. Isadora would be on her guard for the next few days, so he’d wait as long as was needed. He wanted her unsuspecting when he took her.
“Come inside,” the black witch said.
He’d always held a healthy respect for witches, especially one who was a Changeling, so he did as she asked. The inside wasn’t in much better shape than the outside, however, the worn but serviceable furniture looked clean.
She waddled over to a table on the east wall and picked up a simple burlap doll along with a ball of sisal. The doll’s eyes were made from buttons and the mouth from yarn. She returned to him. “Do you have something of this woman’s?”
“Yes.” From his pocket he slipped the green velvet ribbon that had fallen out of Isadora’s hair when she ran back to her house after imprisoning him. He held it out.
“Good. Attach the ribbon to the doll then carefully wrap this twine around the body. Start by threading the string through her legs then around an arm, across her neck or head, and finally back to the other side. When you are done, every inch of the doll needs to be covered. Then the arms must be secured against the body. That is the only way her powers will be bound.”
Excitement raced through him. “Anything else?”
“Yes.” From her pocket she extracted a piece of paper. “Hold the doll high in the air and say this spell. The deed will then be done.”
He read over the words, pleased the instructions were simple. In the past, he might have dismissed this voodoo stuff as nonsense, but not anymore. Not since a witch had placed a spell on his sister.
Owen extracted an envelope from his pocket and handed it to the witch. “When I find she is no longer able to use her spells, I will return with the other half.”
She cocked a brow. “Don’t even think about cheating me.”
“I won’t.” It might be the first and only time he’d actually follow through with a promise.
*
Rye was concerned. A man had come over from Scotland because Izzy had something he wanted. The tangled vine in her garden had been torn into pieces, but the lack of even a scrap of cloth implied her stalker hadn’t shifted. “I want to come with you when you speak with your parents,” he told her.
A flash of something he couldn’t identify crossed her face. “I can do it alone.”
He started her car, happy she let him drive. “It’s not a question of being capable. I’m sure your dad will be highly upset this has happened. I’m hoping between us, we can come up with a plan. I have resources. Not only will my Pack help in any way, the bear Clan will offer their services too. Together, we can take him down.”
Her smile wobbled, but it appeared sincere. “Thank you. It’s still a little early. Dad will be at the cell phone store until eight, and Mom is probably at the spa.”
He glanced at the clock on the dash. “How about we grab a bite to eat then head on over?”
“That sounds wonderful.”
While not all wolves were good, those who were Changelings were always bad. Because his uncle’s pub wasn’t as nice of a place as Izzy deserved, he took her to the Lake Steakhouse. He didn’t have reservations, but hopefully it wouldn’t be too busy on a Thursday night. Besides, the hostess was a member of his Pack.
Rye was able to find a parking spot near the restaurant, and once inside, Katie, the hostess smiled at them. “Nice to see you again, Rye. It’s been a long time.”
He didn’t need to have a discussion on his habits with her. “It has been. Table for two, please?”
Katie picked up two menus an
d asked them to follow her. Once seated, Izzy glanced around and then leaned forward. “Do you think my admirer could be like those who live in the mountains?”
He appreciated her subtlety. “It was my first guess.”
“I probably should know this, but how did they end up so evil? My dad told me and Missy some crazy tale about mutated animals, but I didn’t understand it.”
Rye was surprised she didn’t know the history, especially since she and Naliana seemed to be on such close terms. “Naliana’s husband was the one who shared the story with me. How much of it is true, I don’t know, but it seems plausible.”
“Dad told us that long ago a group of wolves became rabid and that the townsfolk wanted to put them all down.”
He nodded. “That was what James told us. The infected wolves were all corralled, ready to be killed the next day. Rumor has it, the night before the slaughter, two pregnant females and a few unaffected males escaped with the help of the others. Apparently, those two women didn’t exhibit any signs of having rabies, but their babies’ genes mutated nonetheless. That allowed those werewolves to change not only into their wolf form, but also into anyone else they met. One touch and they could walk away and change into that person—but only when the red moon is in the sky, and only up to three days afterward.” He shrugged. “I’d say it’s an old wives’ tale, but I swear bad shit always happens on that night.”
Izzy’s mouth opened. “That’s horrible.”
“Agreed.” Rye had seen proof of these Changelings taking the form of someone else, but he didn’t need to be discussing that topic in a restaurant.
“Because this man had touched me, he might have been able to change into someone who looked like me?” she asked.
Rye didn’t like how her voice had escalated. “Yes, but he wouldn’t have any of your powers.”
“Thank goodness for that.”
“Over the years, the Changelings have bred with other wolves, but their evil genes were passed on.” Rye had evidence regarding a lot of other issues with the Changelings, but it would be better not to frighten her further.
The server stopped by to take their drink order. Izzy had asked for a red wine at the Pub. “We’ll split a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.” He glanced over at her. “Does that work for you?”
“Perfect.” From her tone, she seemed a bit impressed that he even knew what wine to order.
“Do you know what you want to eat?” he asked. As much as he’d like to spend hours with her at dinner, they still needed to meet with her parents.
Izzy looked up at the server. “What do you suggest?”
“Do you like beef, chicken, or fish?”
“All of them.”
Rye chuckled. “How about we order two filets?” She nodded. “How do you like it cooked?”
“Medium rare,” she said.
“Make that two.”
The server left, and Rye leaned back, wondering how someone as amazing as Izzy Berta had ended up his mate. The timing sucked for starting a relationship, but the more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to thank Naliana—assuming she had sent Izzy home to him.
Izzy picked up her napkin and placed it on her lap. “Do you think that man will come back even though he knows what I can do to him?”
Lying would serve no purpose. If he told her no to placate her, she might let down her guard. “He seems very determined.”
“If I thought it was something I owned, I’d invite him into my home and tell him to take what he wants and then leave.”
Rye reached out and clasped her hand. “He’s dangerous, and you can’t forget that.”
“I can stop him.”
It didn’t matter if she could or couldn’t. “If you harmed him, the world would learn of your powers.” Tension rippled across her features. Not that he wanted to expose the ugly reality, but Rye believed it was necessary. “The scrutiny would not only change your life and your family’s lives, but many others in town.”
She blew out a breath. “I know, which was why I didn’t incinerate him.”
“I don’t think you’re capable of harming anyone like that, especially when you weren’t positive what he was after.”
“True.”
Thankfully, Izzy seemed to understand. “All I’m saying is please be careful.”
She stilled. “You said that to me after we kissed. Did you suspect something then?”
“No, I just didn’t want anything to happen to you.”
She smiled and Rye’s insides twisted. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could last without making love with her. The problem was that she had no idea what she meant to him, and for the time being, it was for the best.
“Thank you, but you don’t need to worry about me. I’ll keep my life a secret.”
It was in his genes to worry about her. “Good. Now that you’re home, what do you plan to do? Keep working at the spa?”
“I’m not sure. Mom has Missy and Teagan working there now, so I don’t know if there is enough for me to do. I did earn a degree in chemistry, so I might apply for a teaching job.”
Izzy didn’t seem like the type of woman who was willing to be a burden on anyone. “I think you’d make a wonderful teacher as long as you weren’t tempted to do some tricks for them.”
She grinned. “I know, right? If an experiment I set up didn’t work, I’d want to use my magic, but I wouldn’t.”
He chuckled. “You said Naliana told you to come home. Do you think it had anything to do with your friend who came to visit?”
“I’ve given that a lot of thought.”
“Have any theories yet?” His pulse sped up thinking that perhaps Naliana had sent her home to him.
“While the people in the Cove understandably don’t go around showing off their skills, I believe mine are now the most powerful and versatile.”
“If you can control all those forces, you might be.”
The lines around her eyes tightened. “That leads me to believe I’ve been brought back to be our protector.”
That had merit. “I see myself as having the same role, only with my group.” Rye wanted to say that despite her extensive talent, if she wasn’t careful, bad things could happen. He’d say nothing tonight since she had enough on her mind. “Who do you think you need to protect the Wendayans from?”
“Maybe these Changelings,” she whispered. “Especially if they are anything like my Scottish stalker.”
“Once more, I’ll caution you. You’ve been gone for quite a while. When the next red moon appears, see what happens, but don’t ask too many questions, or they could target you.”
She visibly shivered. “Way to make me feel safe.”
He reached across the table and clasped her hand in his. “I wouldn’t have said anything, but you seem determined to help.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “I’ve seen you for all of two days, yet you seem to understand me quite well.”
Rye wasn’t about to tell her about the connection already forming between them. Just then their food arrived and they dug in. Her small moans of pleasure drove him crazy, and his cock was so hard he was ready to take her on top of the table. Using all of his restraint, he resisted.
“This is so good,” she said. “Great suggestion.”
“I’m glad you like it.” The food was excellent. He probably should eat here more often, but dining alone wasn’t his thing. Readying to take over the leadership from his dad had kept him too busy to even find a woman to date. In the back of his mind, he wondered if he had been waiting for his mate all this time.
As they sipped their wine and ate, warmth suffused his body. Being with Izzy was good for his soul. She listened to what he had to say and seemed to take his opinions seriously. She was not only beautiful but poised and caring.
After they had both finished their meal, he motioned for the check. When the server delivered it, Izzy placed a hand on his.
“It’s my treat.”
“That’s not the w
ay I fly. I asked you, so I’ll pay. If you want to ask me out sometime, I’ll let you do the honors.”
She nodded. “Understood. Ready to speak with my folks?”
“Let’s do it.”
She held out her palm. “I’ll drive. There won’t be any shifters around to bother us.”
It was her car, and he didn’t want her to think he couldn’t compromise. He dug his hand in his pocket and retrieved her keys. He thought it cute, but perhaps unwise, that she had four charms dangling from the end of her chain—a sun, a man blowing out wind, a flower, and a boat to indicate water. “Here ya go.”
As they left the restaurant, Rye checked the area but detected no shifters, but that didn’t mean she was safe by any means. Once at the car, they both slipped inside. She started the engine and then turned to him. “With everything that has happened, I haven’t had a chance to spend a lot of time with my folks, so you may have to suffer through a lot of questions.”
He grinned. “I can’t wait.”
A minute later, she pulled into their driveway and cut the engine. “Ready?” she asked.
“As I’ll ever be.”
Chapter Eight
‡
Izzy shouldn’t be nervous, but she was, and it wasn’t because Rye was with her. She feared her overprotective father would insist she move back into their house, and while she’d enjoy their company, Izzy refused to let this creepy Scottish Changeling—if that’s what he was—ruin her life. She’d come home to find her family healthy and happy, and she just wanted to enjoy them.
Running into the amazingly attractive Ryerson McKinnon had been wonderful and not what she’d ever imagined. As competent as she was to take care of herself, it was nice to have someone to share her concerns with.
Rye escorted her up to her parents’ house, situated only a few acres away from her home. Much larger than her place, the Craftsman style home was majestic and big, but it held a lot of warm memories. She knocked and stepped inside. “Hello?”
Her mom came out of the kitchen with a dishtowel in her hand. “Izzy, I didn’t expect you.” She looked over at Rye and smiled. “Hello, Ryerson. How was your aura cleansing? I hope my daughter treated you well.”