by Siobhan Muir
“What will you have for breakfast, Liam love?”
Liam eyed her curiously. “Do they have bangers and mash?”
“What and what?” Alex looked perplexed.
“Bangers and mash. Don’t you eat it?” Liam frowned a little.
“He means sausages and mashed potatoes in gravy.” The waitress stood by their table with a teapot and mugs. “It’s actually pretty good. A lot like sausages and hash browns.”
“That’s a breakfast meal?” Alex raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, honey.” She winked again and Sarah ground her molars. The waitress turned to Liam. “We don’t have that, but we do make some pretty good fried onions, seasoned potatoes, and sausages if you want it.”
“Mama, can I have that?”
“Yes, that’s fine.” Sarah tried to keep her voice level as the waitress smiled. So the human woman flirted a little. That was no reason to turn into a territorial bitch. Holy Mother, calm down.
“I’ll put you down for that, little man. And for you?”
Sarah ordered pancakes, eggs, and sausages. The waitress showed nothing more than friendliness and Sarah relaxed. She’s not trying to move in on my Mate. She’s just doing her job. Slow, even breaths helped.
“And what can I get for you, handsome?”
Sarah’s Sister wanted to launch at the waitress over the endearment. While Alex gave his order, Sarah gripped her tea cup to keep from clawing the woman’s eyes out. What is wrong with me?
“Mama, are you well?” Liam tugged on her arm and Sarah dredged up a smile.
“I am, thank you, Liam.”
“You smell angry and your knuckles are white. Did I do something wrong?”
Immediately, all her fury vaporized. “No, no, love. You’ve done nothing. I’m just tired and hungry.” She wrapped one arm around him and cuddled him to her side as the waitress left the table. “Did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes. Better than before. I like the River House. It smells good there.”
Sarah smiled and nodded. “Yes, it does. It will be a nice place to stay for a while.”
“Only a while?” Surprise and unease filled Alex’s voice with the question.
“I wish we could stay forever.” The yearning in Liam’s statement squeezed her heart. I wish we could stay forever, too.
“If you want to stay, there’s no time limit on using the house. It’s good to have people in it again.” Alex’s expression alternated between hope and pleading. “I don’t see any reason you can’t stay longer.”
“What about…the demon?” Sarah whispered the last, scanning the room for listeners. “The longer we stay, the more danger we bring to you and this town. My friend in Manitou already lost her home. Thank the Goddess no one was hurt, but the demon won’t stop there. I couldn’t live with anyone else’s death on my conscience.”
Alex reached across the table and wrapped one hot hand around her cold fingers. She shivered as a tingle ran straight to her pussy and made it clench.
“It’s going to be all right, Sarah. You’re both safe here and if the demon shows up, we’ll take it down. Together.”
“You mean ‘when.’” Sarah shook her head. “It will come, Alex. And how do you know we’ll be able to fight it? Demons aren’t like humans.” She took a breath to say more, but the waitress delivered their meal and she swallowed her words.
“There you go, folks. Enjoy.” The woman pulled out the bill and slid it face down on the table beneath the salt shaker, smiling at Alex. “Let me know if you need anything else, handsome.”
Sarah gritted her teeth, but kept the snarl inside. Goddess, please keep me from taking down the other females who look at Alex.
“It’s going to work out. Let’s enjoy our breakfast. No one knows you or anything about you here. You’re safe.”
“For how long?”
“My mom used to say there’s no point borrowing trouble. Right now, everything’s okay. And it’s always ‘right now.’” He offered her an encouraging smile and some of her tension melted away. “Right?”
“Right.” Liam perked up beside her and attacked his meal. Sarah sighed, but she couldn’t argue with the logic. “Aren’t you hungry, Mama?”
“Yes, love.”
She tried to smile and picked at her food, reminding herself she needed strength to face whatever came at them. Her mind churned over her odd reaction to the waitress and concerns about the demon’s arrival. Alex struck up a conversation with Liam about the different hauling trucks outside the windows and soon had her son asking questions. Her heart melted as Liam opened up and her fears retreated. Her son had been withdrawn for so long. Alex pulled him out of his shell with patient kindness.
After their meal, Liam excused himself to use the loo and Sarah touched Alex’s arm as he paid the check. “Thank you so much, Alex. Liam hasn’t spoken that much in years. You’ve been very kind to him.”
“Oh, hey, he’s a good kid and has had a rough time.” Alex squeezed her hand as he shoved his wallet into his back pocket. Right on that firm arse she’d like to grab again.
“Besides, I like him. Almost as much as I like you.” He offered a sultry smile and desire rippled through her. “Come on, let’s go get some groceries and head back to the house. I don’t want you out too long.”
“Right. The water helps confuse demons.”
“Exactly.”
Alex ushered them out the door as soon as Liam returned. The parking lot had emptied a bit as the morning aged, but it had only grown darker with the cloud cover. Sarah shivered and unease skittered down the back of her neck. She paused half-way to the Jeep and glanced over her shoulder. Something teased the edge of her senses, something familiar, like the memory of a dream. She scanned the trucks and cars around the diner for people, but the only motion came from vehicles.
“Everything okay?” Alex appeared beside her, his presence comforting.
Sarah searched a little longer, but nothing jumped out at her. “Yes. I think so. I just thought I sensed something…” She opened the car door. “Liam, do you smell anything?”
She kicked herself as all the relaxed joy left her son’s expression. “No, Mama. Do you?”
“I don’t know. I just wanted to check.”
“Let’s get going.” Alex strode around the front of the Jeep.”
“Right.”
They climbed in and Alex drove them into town, but Sarah couldn’t shake the feeling they’d run out of time. Apprehension settled into her gut as they pulled into the grocery lot. Plenty of people seemed to be out and about despite the darkness of the day. She’d grown up in the Irish wet, but this seemed unnatural to her, and she held Liam tight to her side as they shopped.
Alex seemed to sense her urgency and filled the little cart with the minimum of questions. Sarah hadn’t thought much of what she wanted to eat, not when the uncertainty of having a next meal loomed over them. Liam had grown watchful and he held her hand tight, his expression a mask of wariness.
“It’ll be all right, Liam love,” she whispered.
“You don’t believe that, do you, Mama?” His blue eyes showed fear and resignation, and she refused to let it settle there.
“What I believe is this time will be different.” She tried to infuse her voice with as much confidence as she could, giving him a frank smile. “Alex is with us. Remember?”
Liam studied her face for a long time. “Do you love him, Mama? More than Da?”
Sweet Goddess, how do I answer that? Any answer she gave would change something, and she wasn’t sure she could afford the shift.
“Your da is gone, and no amount of love on my part will change that.” She took a deep breath. “But you and I are alive, and any friends we make while here won’t change your da’s place in our hearts. Even if we find new loved ones. Do you understand?”
Liam nodded. “I understand, Mama. But do you love Alex?”
Sarah opened her mouth, but Alex ch
ose that moment to return to them and she swallowed her response.
“Okay, I think I got everything we’ll need for the next few days.” Alex paused as they just gaped at him, their silence extending. “Everything okay? You look a little stunned.”
“Not at all. We’re right as rain.” If rain fell upwards and watered the clouds. “We should be getting back.”
Alex cocked his head. “I can smell the lie from here. You’ve been jumpy since we left the diner. You want to tell me what’s really going on?”
Silence enveloped them, broken only by the tinny, piped-in music over the store’s PA system. Sarah struggled against the natural resistance to saying anything. She’d held herself apart for so long she’d forgotten the comfort of a comrade-in-arms. Alex had agreed to protect and shelter her and Liam. Any hint of demon-kind should be shared.
But talk of love can wait.
“I haven’t seen or smelled anything, but something set off my senses at the diner.” He raised his eyebrows and she held up her hand, needing a little distance. “You can tell me I’m just jumping at shadows, Mr. MacLaren, but those instincts have kept us alive this long and there’s too much at stake to throw caution to the wind.”
Alex gripped her shoulders gently and met her gaze. “The name is Alex, and I don’t doubt your senses at all, Sarah. Something didn’t smell right to me when we left the truck stop, either. I kinda hoped I was jumping at shadows.” He squeezed briefly before letting go. “Let’s get back into the car and head home. We’ll figure out our next move there.”
She nodded and took Liam’s hand as they made their purchases. Sarah watched the parking lot through the windows, searching for anyone who seemed out of place. What would the creature look like this time? She hadn’t seen it in Manitou, but it had taken on the likeness of her dead mate once and she’d almost fallen into its grasp. Liam had saved her that time.
Alex hustled them into the Jeep with their groceries and they drove toward his house. The tension in the cab stretched her nerves to the breaking point and she didn’t breathe much until they approached the river. The sky still hung heavy with thick, ominous clouds, but no rain fell.
The warm glow from the River House windows appeared through the trees and a drugging sense of comfort and relaxation brushed past her. Alex’s shoulders relaxed as he stared at the house. Dread clawed up her throat when Liam gasped. Sarah looked over her shoulder, praying he’d only stubbed his toe or something.
“What is it, Liam?”
“It’s the demon, Mama.” Anger and fear filled the Jeep. “Make him stop the car. It’s waiting for us.”
“What, here?”
Alex skidded to a stop as a figure stood up on his front steps, bathed in the warm, rusty light. Sarah’s heart stopped as the shadow resolved into long dark hair, widely spaced eyes, and curvy body of the woman waiting for them.
“Lisa?”
Chapter Six
Sarah’s stomach dropped as Alex’s expression turned hopeful.
“Alex, don’t. That’s not your mate. It’s not Lisa.” Sarah reached for him, but he’d already opened the door. “No, please, Alex.”
But the Hell Hound didn’t respond. He left the lights of his Jeep trained on the dark haired female on the front steps of the house as he got out. His features twisted with yearning and pain, and anger flared in her gut.
“Mama, don’t let him go. It’s the demon. I can smell it!” Liam grabbed her hand and pleaded with his frightened eyes. “You gotta help him.”
Sarah tightened her lips and gritted her teeth. “Just stay here, Liam. If you sense more than one of them, shout out for us. Lock the doors now.”
Liam nodded, never taking his eyes from the woman smiling at Alex. Sarah’s hand clenched on the door handle and the plastic cracked under her fingers. Her Sister wolf snarled at the creature deceiving her Mate. Protectiveness swelled as the fury settled into a cold lump in her belly. My True Mate. Her Sister growled in agreement and Sarah’s chin lifted. She’d be damned before she lost another mate to the demons.
Right, but how am I going to fight one now when I couldn’t before?
The question hummed in the back of her mind as she approached Alex and the woman luring him. She caught the scent of hope from Alex, but something far more putrid and cloying filled the hair around the feminine demon. The eyes looking out of the pretty face glittered with obsidian darkness and Sarah fought the urge to gag. Its lips split in a grotesque grin and sharp teeth flashed in a hideous zig-zag pattern between them.
Why doesn’t he see it?
“Lisa?” Sarah’s heart skipped at the confusion she heard in Alex’s rich baritone.
“Yes, baby, it’s me. Did you miss me?”
The woman’s voice sounded like protesting metal scraping along stone and Sarah winced, but Alex only smiled dreamily and took another step closer.
“Where have you been? I’ve missed you so much.” Raw pain echoed in the air and Sarah wanted to throw her arms around him in comfort.
“I had to go away for a little while, but now I’m back to stay for good.” The demon opened its arms and smiled. “Come give me a kiss, lover.”
Not if I have anything to bloody-well say about it, bitch.
Sarah searched for something she could use for a distraction as Alex closed the distance to the monster. Her Sister wolf howled as she spotted the wooden handle of some tool behind stacked cords of firewood. She darted to the pile and grasped the handle, hefting a shovel over her shoulder.
Would it be enough? It would have to be. She’d set herself on fire before she let that thing corrupt her True Mate. Sarah took a deep breath and stalked toward them, waiting for the right moment to strike.
The demon folded its arms around Alex and bent its head to kiss him. No feckin’ way! Sarah swung the shovel with all her strength. The flat part of the blade hit the creature in the back of the head and jarred Sarah’s arms all the way to her shoulders.
The demon shrieked and Alex cried out in outrage, both collapsing to the ground. “Lisa” rolled to its feet first, eyes blazing sickly green as it snarled at Sarah. Sarah bared her teeth and snarled back, raising the shovel for another blow. For the first time since she’d been attacked six years earlier, she felt no fear, only searing fury and determination.
“You will get your hands off my Mate, bitch!”
“He’s my mate, whore, and he’ll kill you for hitting me.” The demon turned its gaze to Alex and put on a pouting expression, imploring him to defend it. “Please, baby. Show this stupid slut what it means to hit your girl.”
Sarah’s heart faltered when Alex turned on her, his eyes awash with furious surprise. “How could you attack her, Sarah? She’s my mate.”
“No, Alex.” Sarah backed away as he stalked her, cold despair washing through her.
The demon trailed after wearing a gloating expression and some fury pushed back the cold.
“That’s not your mate. It’s the demon. It’s trying to turn you on us. Please, you know something’s wrong in your heart.” She lifted her chin in challenge, praying she could pull him out of the enchantment with anger. “Or are you as fickle as fire? One moment hot for something, the next consuming it. Is that how you are?”
“Don’t listen to her, baby,” the demon soothed, its stench overwhelming. “You know me. What reason would I have to lie to you? I love you.”
Sarah wanted to gag on the false words and putrid fumes, but she kept her attention on Alex as he advanced. She had to get him to see the demon for its true nature. She didn’t understand why he couldn’t sense it, but she refused to give up.
“Wake up, Alex. This creature is not your mate. Your mate died and it’s deceiving you to get what it wants. You have to fight it.”
Alex growled and crouched, his arms opening as if to grab a large ball. Sarah held the shovel like a club in hopes she could hold him off before he killed her. She’d never encountered a Hell Hound before, much less fought one, but she’d do what
ever it took to protect herself and Liam. She was done running.
“That’s it, baby. You take care of the nasty tramp.”
The encouraging words of the demon pushed Alex into his shift. Shining orange light exploded out of his skin and he let loose a terrifying howl. Sarah shielded her eyes with her hand enough to see Alex morph into a wolf made of fire, each bristling hair a flickering flame. His eyes glowed electric blue and his coat blazed in shifting orange and gold.
Sarah stood stupefied at his power, strength, and beauty. The heat rolling off him in seductive waves mixed with his pumpkin spice scent. Sweet Goddess, he’s glorious.
She lowered the shovel as his glowing muzzle neared. Comforting heat warmed her body and her pussy pulsed with the memory of his touches. More. Her Sister begged her to touch him and she reached out toward the flames, seduced by his heat and glory. Only Liam’s shout stopped her before Alex tore her hand apart.
“Mama!”
****
Alex’s world tilted on its axis and something popped in his mind as the boy’s scream cut through the night noises. Colors and sounds sharpened as if some sort of film had been removed from his senses. He swore he’d seen Lisa and heard her voice. He swept his gaze over the grounds and stopped at his Jeep, snarling deep in his throat.
A hideous creature in a rough humanoid shape made up of spikes and stringy hair advanced on the vehicle with a malicious grin. Sarah gave a cry of fury and launched herself toward the car.
Chewed bones!
Alex threw himself after her, trying to catch her before she got killed. He couldn’t let his True Mate die at the hand of something he’d been born to destroy. He didn’t remember shifting from his human shape to his Hell Hound form, but he’d be damned before he’d let things go any further. Something told him he’d screwed up and he’d have to beg forgiveness for it, but he’d never get the chance if Sarah died. She’d almost reached the Jeep when he skidded to a flaming stop in front of her.