Claws and Effect

by Amanda Arista

  “Iris? What’s going on?”

  “I’m getting old. It happens to the best of us. The earth wants its magic back to continue the cycle.”

  “No. Iris . . . but . . .” Tears welled up in my eyes, and I reached across the table.

  Iris snatched her hand away. “Stop with the waterworks. I’m not dying. I’m just saying that that’s the reason you’re going to have to handle Myers. He’s stronger than he looks.”

  Hadn’t Tyler said something to that effect?

  “I might not be able to throw you across a room anymore, but I can still teach you how to make breakfast. Get the flour.”

  As we made biscuits and gravy, I kept an ear out for Myers getting ready for the day. As she taught me how to make them from scratch, I preceded to scare Iris more than I’d meant to. I told her everything from the Warthogs encounter to see if she might open up about the pack. It didn’t exactly work out as planned, but what did anymore.

  “This is why you’re not allowed to go anywhere. I get myself into trouble.”

  Iris started down at her flour covered hands. “How’d you do it? How did you bind them?” There was a turn in her tone that made it more curiosity than concern.

  “I just went to them. Gave them my power.”

  Iris turned back to the dough and punched out three more biscuits with a glass tumbler. I picked them up and put them on the baking sheet but was keenly aware of how she avoided my hands.

  “How are you doing with the others in your head?”

  I shrugged. “It’s pretty noisy when we are all together, but I can’t feel them when I’m this far away.”

  Iris looked up from her mug. “The boy included?”

  I frowned. “No, actually. Only the mutts.”

  “Who are?”

  I gulped. “Spencer’s pack of dogs.”

  “Are you adopting any more of Spencer’s bad habits?”

  “Iris!” I exclaimed. “It’s not like that they are . . .”

  “Are you still tied to Spencer?” she interrupted me.

  It was my turn to drop my gaze to the dozen of powdery circles. I hadn’t told anyone about the dreams, about the bursts of anger. Maybe Iris could help me with that. “I have dreams of him.”

  “We’ll work on that.”

  I turned to her. “But the Mutts are great, not the same men they were three months ago. And they might be joining us for the full moon tonight.”

  Iris pressed her pale lips together and her brow furrowed.

  “Tucker understands that he and the boys might be sleeping in the barn, but this is our first full moon together. They want to be with me and I want to be there for them. Which is more than I can say about someone else that we know.”

  “Where is Chaz? Doesn’t he know there will be free food?”

  Turning sharply, I put the full baking sheet in the oven and twisted the timer to fifteen minutes. “I might need some alcohol for that story.”

  “Are you two fighting?”

  “He has to answer the phone for us to fight,” I grumbled.

  “YOU’RE BETTER AT this Prima thing than you think,” Iris said softly.

  “Doesn’t feel like it.”

  Myers was taking up and pulling down his borders. I could smell a waft of cinnamon intermittently on the wind as Iris and I sat on her porch.

  “And how are your borders, missy?”

  “Missy?” I raised my eyebrow.

  “Would you prefer Prima Violet?”

  “I would prefer that Dallas not be in such a dire state that I’m the best candidate.”

  Iris nodded. “Back to the question. How are your borders?”

  “Got them up most of the time.”

  A furrow the size of the Mariana trench formed in Iris’s already wrinkled brow. “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. Got them up right now.”

  Iris brushed her power against mine. I withstood her dust and cashmere scented power easily now. I sat up straighter in my chair. “Iris?”

  “I’ve been able to feel you since I got here. You’re too strong for your own borders now, Violet. I told you that might happen.”

  I pushed up in my chair and situated so I would face her. “What does that mean?”

  “Means you can’t stay hidden.” Iris looked down at her hands and ran them together. “I remember when that happened.”

  I curled my legs up underneath me and prepared for a story. Iris had never been a storyteller, and I got the feeling that she knew this was how she could help me now.

  “After Irene and Idera were gone, the power came to me, despite what I had done, despite what I deserved. I couldn’t run after that. Those who needed me could find me.”

  “And those that just wanted to have you for lunch?”

  “Could find me too.”

  I took in a deep calming breath and got a tendril of Myers mixed in it. I’m not denying that it wasn’t calming. “So I’m toast now?”

  “Means that you’re a beacon to those who need you.”

  “Yay!” I rested my head on my knees. This was not the news that I needed. So much for just keeping my head down. Why did I see lots more action sequences in my future? “What do I do?”

  “Surround yourself with people who are willing to help you with your burden.”

  I looked up at her. “Who did you have?”

  “No one that I truly trusted and look what happened.”

  I nodded. I knew what happened. I was a product of what had happened. Sitting with her now on the porch, I felt her burden, felt her knowledge of her failure that she could never forgive herself for and because of which she would never stop fighting.

  I FELT THEM COMING. It was strange, like pressure down my neck and a weight across my shoulders.

  “Violet?” Iris asked.

  I’d stopped cutting the tomatoes for the salad and cocked my head to listen for the sound of a car.

  “They’re here?” she asked.

  A chill ran down my spine. Three months ago she could hear Chaz coming a mile away. Now only I could here the engine of Tucker’s truck as it made its way down her quarter mile drive way.

  I put the knife down and rinsed off my hands. “Want me to keep them on the porch?”

  Iris wiped her hands down her apron. “Let me get more presentable.”

  AS THE BOYS got out of the car, they walked up to the first step of the stairs of the front porch like an inspection line up. Even Shadow sat waiting patiently, his tail slowly moving back and forth across the dirt. Their energy danced against mine, and I wondered if what Iris had said was really true. I wondered if they could feel me like a beacon.

  “Hello, boys.”

  “What did Iris say?” Tucker asked.

  “She asked us to wait out here.”

  Myers came out from the back of the house. “Guys! Didn’t know you were coming!”

  Myers hopped up on the step next to me and then leaned against the banister and looked down at the other men.

  “How is Dallas?” I asked Tucker.

  “Still quite. Too quiet.”

  “Please don’t say that, Tucker. You’ll jinx us.”

  Tucker finally relaxed and lifted his eyes to mine. “You look rested.”

  “Did I look that bad before?”

  “You were looking tired. And understandable so.”

  “Wow. Honesty. I think I like it.”

  We all jumped as Iris let the screen door slam behind her. She shuffled across the wooden porch and stopped at the top of the steps. Myers and I parted to let her see the men still standing at the foot of the steps.

  “Iris, I’d like you to meet Tucker, his brother, Tyler, Nash, and Shadow.”

  Her keen blue eyes studied the men carefully. I felt her cashmere energy wind through them. Nash’s eyes fluttered closed for a moment and Shadow’s tail wagged faster.

  She reached out for my hand and I helped her down a few more steps. I got the feeling she wanted to appear more feeble than she was
, just in case. Brilliant woman.

  “Shala Iris . . .” Tucker started.

  She held up a crooked finger. “We don’t do formalities here, Tucker. It’s Iris. I was something once, but I’m just an old woman now.”

  She studied them again and then set her eyes on me. “I don’t know what you’ve done, Violet Jordan, but they are yours now.”

  “I’ll claim them.”

  I smiled down at my boys and they smiled back.

  “Well, then what are you waiting for, dinner’s ready. Afraid that I haven’t had this many guests in a while, so we might have to eat in shifts.”

  “Dinner?” Tyler asked.

  Chapter Sixteen

  AFTER DINNER WE sat, mostly quiet out on the porch. Six shifters and not a single one of us complained of the cold night. We kept the topics to the weather, the local sports teams. It was as if all of us needed to just feel the stillness of the country. Get in a few moments of peace.

  “Tucker, will you help me with a round of cocoa?”

  He saw easily through the pretense of my request and followed me into the kitchen.

  “Yes?” he asked as we both leaned against the kitchen counter.

  “I have to shift tonight.”

  “Okay. You want me to keep watch?” he asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Keep watch?”

  “Yeah. One of us usually stays upright to make sure that nothing happens.”

  I gestured to the empty field outside the kitchen window. “We are in the middle of nowhere. Nothing’s going to happen.”

  Tucker smiled. “Probably right about that.”

  I started around the kitchen to actually prepare the cocoas. I filled up the kettle with water, and Tucker began to rip open the packets and dump the powder into the cups.

  “You really can’t control the shift under the full moon?”

  “Not yet,” I shrugged.

  “Well, I guess you’ve only been at it for six months now.”

  I turned toward him. “Five. And that doesn’t bother you?”

  “Not a lick. Took Tyler almost two years.”

  I slammed the mug I was holding on the counter. “How can you have such blind faith in a leader that doesn’t even know her own strength?”

  “Because she questions it.”

  I looked up at Tucker. Always with the honesty. I sighed. “Where were you three months ago?”

  “Lost.”

  I looked back down at the cups. There were so many all of a sudden. So many glasses that I was responsible for. And I couldn’t falter or I would break them.

  The kettle began to whistle and Tucker grabbed it. He poured the boiling water into the mugs and we stirred them.

  “Crap,” he said.

  I smiled. He was getting used to Violet language. “What?”

  “We made one for Shadow.”

  “And?” I asked as I went back to stirring the mugs.

  Tucker shrugged. “I’m just not sure what to do.”

  I moved to the next mug. “About Shadow? Nothing. He’s still going to be the quietest roommate you’ve got.”

  “But what about the logistics?”

  “What logistics?”

  “Do we feed him dog food or buy him happy meals? Do we need to put a pet deposit on the apartment? Do you think that he will need collar?”

  I smiled. “He’s still Shadow. Talk to him.”

  “Shadow didn’t talk when he was upright.”

  “I still think that I’m deferring this one to you.”

  Tucker stirred his three. “It’s called a Riko.”

  “What?”

  “A second in command. The Prima is the leader and the Riko is the enforcer, if you will. The logistics guy. ”

  “And the Shala is the medicine woman.” I was remembering this from the idiots guide to shape-shifting. “Do I have to do anything fancy to make you a Riko?”

  “Don’t know.”

  I looked down at the completed round of cocoa. “Better get these outside before they get cold.”

  Tucker grabbed three of the mugs, and I grabbed the other four. He opened the door and we went out into the night with the rest of the pack.

  I UNABASHEDLY WATCHED MYERS take off his shirt. I could have sworn that he was even prettier tonight than last night. “Ready for this?”

  “Yeah, actually.” He tossed the shirt at me. “Feeling pretty good about it tonight.”

  I smiled as I grabbed the shirt midair and folded it over my arm. “Good. Go ahead.”

  He dropped his borders, and I was awash in his spicy chai but something deeper, darker ran through it tonight. Was it only the pull of the moon or was he actually getting stronger?

  Wrapping my pink robe around me tighter, I felt him reach for his animal and with a dark shimmer, a panther stood before me. It tore out of the sweat pants and glared down at them before turning his eyes to me.

  “Go, run.”

  I snapped a tendril of energy at his rear and the black panther streaked off into the tree line.

  “You really are getting good at this.” Tucker walked up behind me in just a pair of sweat pants. The scar across his breast glowed white against his skin.

  I reached out and ran my fingers across it. “Will this ever heal?”

  “Don’t want it to.”

  Tyler joined the two of us. “Heard you made Tucker Riko?”

  “And?” I raised an eyebrow.

  Tyler threw his hands up. “He’s not the only one with muscle.”

  His motion exposed his mark. It was low on his hip and my eyes drew a long line down his torso to stare at it. Damn these boys were good-looking, and I couldn’t help but think that it had been a very long time since . . .

  Tyler laughed and it broke my horrible thoughts.

  “Nice fuzzy robe, by the way. Sexy.”

  I laughed. “Thanks.”

  Tyler reached for the edge of his breakaways. “I’m gone.”

  This thumbs hooked into the waist band of his pants, he jerked the buttons loose. I almost had enough time to divert my eyes when the pants were tossed at Tucker. I felt the shimmer of his animal down my side as he shifted into the large black lab and ran into the fields.

  Tucker shook his head and we started back toward the house.

  “Are you trying to resist the change?” Tucker followed me to the porch where I tossed the shirt and pants over the banister.

  “Yes.”

  “That right there is why I don’t question my choice, Violet.”

  “Thank you, Tucker. But go, make sure that the boys don’t leave any presents on the doorstep for Iris. She really hates that.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  I turned toward the house and felt Tucker’s power at my back. Wrapped up in the energy of his shift, I closed my eyes and could see him. His large black dog was outlined in a deep golden color behind my eye lids.

  When I opened my eyes again, Nash was still standing on the porch. His frame looked small in the extra large T-shirt that he had brought with him and the sweatpants hung low on his thin waist. I had a feeling that no matter how much I fed this kid, he would always look like he needed a sandwich.

  “I’ve been meaning to talk to you, Violet.”

  Nash wasn’t one for joking around, but this was by far the most serious tone I’d ever heard him take.

  I sat on the top stair of the porch and patted the wooden stair next to me. Nash opted to take the one lower so he had to look up at me as he spoke.

  “I was offered a job at the local library.”

  I smiled. “Nash, that’s great. Congratulations.”

  I reached out to squeeze his shoulder and the instant I touched him, I was awash in regret and fear. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m not going to be around as much to help out with stuff.”

  “What stuff?”

  “With the watching and the pack stuff.”

  I scooted off the top step to sit next to him and took his han
d. “Nash. I’m proud of you. And don’t worry about the pack. Just do something that you want to do.”

  A quick smile flashed across his face, but I felt the brief moment allowed for joy more in his energy. But it faded quickly.

  “Spencer always wanted us available for him.”

  “I don’t. I want you to have lives and jobs and if I need your help with something . . .”

  His green eyes jumped to mine. “I’ll know it.”

  “Will you?”

  Nash nodded. “At least that’s what I’ve read.”

  When I was quiet but didn’t let go of his hand, he kept explaining. “Our pack was controlled by evil, by Jovan’s power. And though it made us better . . .”

  “Stronger, not better.” I corrected.

  Nash nodded. “It wasn’t this. The texts say that a true pack will know each other and will come when they are called. The Prima will protect them from evil and from themselves and the pack will protect their Prima and be her strength when she needs it.”

  I fought the tears in my eyes. “I think I like this book.”

  He was speaking the truth. He believed in his words. I could feel it in the flow of our energies, heightened under the full moon, as they circulated together. So far this feeling right here was one of the good parts of being a Prima.

  And then I had an idea.

  “I will ask a small favor.”

  “Anything.”

  “Wait for it,” I chided. “With the nature of your new job, I might need you to be my research guy. Might need you to do some fact finding, be it for the pack or for my job.”

  Nash nodded and smiled. It was a smile that he didn’t show often, and I felt like I’d been given a present.

  “Go, frolic. I’ll be right behind you.”

  Nash pulled away from me slowly and walked around to the side of the porch where I couldn’t see him. But I did see a neatly folded set of clothes placed on the top of the banister and then a spotted hound dog take off where Tucker and Tyler were waiting.

  “What are you waiting for?”

  I jumped and landed on my feet on the steps. Iris was standing here in her house coat. Shadow was by her feet.

  “We need to get you a bell,” I grumbled as I readjusted the robe and walked up the steps.

  I could see the boys across the field and as the wind caught my hair, I felt the pull of the moon. The need within me rose to lose myself in the wind, stretch, and become the real me. There just wasn’t any use resisting it anymore.