“Other than going crazy without you,” he says, his hand back on my thigh. “I’m worried about you.”
“Why? I’m all right.”
“Has Lily contacted you again?”
My pen pauses in midair. “Should she have?”
He suddenly can’t seem to stay still. He rises and paces around the room. “By now she would’ve made a move. It’s unlike her to wait.”
My mind races. “Perhaps it’s part of her plan. She’ll keep us on pins and needles until she strikes.”
“I don’t like it.”
Dropping the pen, I go over to him and stroke his cheek. “Aren’t I safer here? Where no magic can touch me?”
He draws me into his arms. “Alveron can do what man-beasts can’t. Lily could gain the power to attack here. I’d be unable to protect you.”
I smooth my hand over his tussled hair. “I think she plans on confronting me in the Third Realm.”
“When can you be finished?”
“If you give me a couple of hours, I’ll get done with the last of the midterms. I also need to input grades and post them.” I smack my forehead. “I forgot. There’s a four o’clock meeting.”
He gives me a quick kiss. “I’ll be right outside the door while you finish. Then I’ll walk you to the meeting.”
“Monroe, go home. I’ll be fine. Go see Bast.”
He folds his arms. “I’m not leaving.”
“Oh very well, you stubborn man. Stay in the hall.” I give him a warning glare. “Don’t you dare bother me. I must finish before the meeting.”
He nods, and opens the door. He exits, and the door slams shut.
Returning to my desk, a chill enters my veins. She’s waiting for you. I attempt to shake it off and finish the grading.
“Nice try.”
My head whips up. A wispy figure stands before my desk, then solidifies.
“What are you doing here, Lily?”
“Waiting for you,” she answers.
My jaw clenches.
She leans over my desk, her pearl-white teeth snap together. “I will end you.”
Standing, I glare into her dark eyes. “Give it your best shot.”
Her hand flies up and slaps me across the face. “Learn your place, human.”
Right as I reach to hit her back, she vanishes.
Breathing heavily, I sink back into my chair and struggle to calm my racing heart. The end may be near, but not for me, I silently vow. I won’t let her win.
Sucking in another breath, I type in the last grades and hit the print button on my computer, then shut it down.
“Are you okay?” Monroe asks, stepping into the room. He scans the room.
“Fine. Why aren’t you waiting outside?”
“I thought I felt Lily’s presence. Plus, I heard a noise. I was afraid something happened to you.”
“As you see,” I reply, willing my trembling hands to still, “no else is here.”
He surveys the room again. “I could’ve sworn I felt her.” He turns his attention on me. “You’re truly all right?”
“Perhaps I’m slightly more shook up than I imagined.”
“We should leave.”
“Not until I’ve finished what I need to do.”
His jaw tightens. “Sasha, I’m serious.”
“As am I. I’ve a job to do, Monroe. Let me complete what needs to be done.”
He follows me out of the room, then grabs my hand until we reach the Teachers’ Lounge.
“I’m just going to get my printout,” I protest as he enters the lounge after me.
“I’m not taking any chances,” he responds.
“Fine.”
After I pick up the printout, we wander back upstairs. Despite my brave words to Lily, my determination, and frustration with Monroe, I can’t help but admire his calm. Resolve radiates from him. With his lips press together, and his eyes steely, Lily better pray he doesn’t find her first.
Opening the classroom door, I attempt a smile. “I’ll be right back.” Inside, I waste no time grabbing my purse and laptop. I turn off the light and rejoin Monroe in the hallway.
He watches me lock the door, tension crackles around him. “Where’s the meeting?”
“In the library.”
“I’ll wait here,” he says, when we stop outside the library doors.
“Relax, Monroe. It’s a faculty meeting, not a confrontation.” Although, I’ve no doubt a confrontation with Lily isn’t too far away. However, I won’t risk Monroe getting even more protective and insisting we return home.
His intense gaze meets mine. “Be careful.”
“See you in a bit.” I duck into the library.
Marjorie begins talking about exams, second semester, and the upcoming events as I slip, hopefully unnoticed, into an empty chair.
Afterward, I say a brief goodbye to Carl, Jill, and the other faculty members.
My hand is on the door when Marjorie stops me. “Oh, Sasha?”
“Yes?”
“I haven’t much chance to see you since the wedding.” She smiles. “I hope you have a wonderful honeymoon.”
“Thanks, Marjorie. I’ll see you in January.”
“Merry Christmas, Sasha.”
Monroe turns from talking with Carl and strides over to me. “Are you ready?”
“Yes. What were you and Carl talking about?”
He shrugs. “This and that. It appears no one bothered you today.”
“Did you really rent the island from Cyndra for our honeymoon?”
“I did.” We head for the parking lot. “She’s a romantic. And, while she couldn’t make our wedding, she said she’d like someone was there to keep an eye on things while she’s away.”
At the car, we both freeze.
An ominous feeling creeps over me. A tinge in the air fills me with dread. Time slows. Monroe and I raise our heads at the same time. Will Lily risk appearing again? In front of human witnesses?
“You sense it?” I ask.
He throws open my door. “Something’s up.” He ushers me into the car. “Let’s go.”
I squeeze my eyes closed. There’s no time for fear. I reopen my eyes and remind myself I’ve become a lioness. I can be of use. I have a purpose.
He fastens his seatbelt and starts the car. “Hold on, love.”
I barely have time to click my own seatbelt into place before Monroe maneuvers the vehicle through traffic.
“Watch out!” I cry as he nearly hits another car. The driver blares his horn.
A string of curses flow easily from Monroe. He wrenches the steering wheel to the left. “Damn it! Lily’s coming.”
“Is she nearby?” I frantically search the pedestrians as we fly past.
“I don’t think so. I feel her, but not close. She must be in the Third Realm, waiting for us.” More curses. “You can’t fight her, Sasha.”
“We don’t have a choice.”
He swears under his breath. The car swings around the bend and roars into the apartment complex’s parking garage. I swallow a scream. He drives like a maniac. Never let him drive again. Shutting my eyes, my heart rate slowly returns to normal. After a moment, I reopen my eyes. We get out of the car and my whole body shakes. My temper flares. “What were you thinking? You could’ve killed someone! What about the police, hmm? What if we were pulled over?”
“I’m sorry,” he says, grabbing my things. “Those things just aren’t important at the moment.”
I jog after him. Relieving him of my bags, I say, “Monroe, you can’t do anything. She’s come for me.”
“She’s tortured me all my life. She’s toyed with and threatened you.” He clenches his fist, his jaw set. “No more. She’s finally showing herself. I will rid the world of her.”
“How?” I grab his arm. “We’ve been over this. She won’t accept your challenge when it’s me she wants.” I search his face. “If she kills you instead of me, she’ll never have you.”
He growls.
“She didn’t have a chance with me in the first place.”
“Yes, but look at it from her point of view. I’m the usurper.”
We enter the elevator, ignoring the other person inside. “I have to finish this, not you.”
“I won’t let you.”
“It’s not your decision.”
The stranger nods sympathetically. “Marital problems? Did you come home late? I did that the other night and my wife about hit the roof. She thinks I’m cheating.”
“Stay out of this,” Monroe snarls.
The man backs up, his hands lifted in surrender. “Sorry.”
“He’s stressed,” I explain. “And it’s not marital problems, either. Thank you for your concern.”
“Sure,” the stranger says. “I’ll stay out of your business.” He exits the elevator first. “Sheesh, no wonder nobody talks to their neighbors.”
“He meant no harm,” I protest as Monroe unlocks the apartment door.
“He should’ve stayed quiet. He has nothing to do with our situation.”
I enter the apartment. “Well, that’s no reason to be rude.”
“Sasha, forget it, please?” He presses me against him. “I can’t think straight. All I know is, I can’t allow you to walk right into Lily’s clutches.”
“Don’t you understand?” Anger and nerves swirl within me. “She’s making the rules whether we like it or not. At least I’ll have the opportunity to smack her for trying to steal my husband.”
“She can’t steal me from you.”
“Either way, she’s made enough trouble. Let’s get her.”
We step through the boundaries between the First and Third Realms and stumble out of Monroe’s den at a run. Passing through the drafty corridors, we burst into the courtyard.
Lily stands in the middle of the courtyard, her hands on her hips, her lips curled in a sneer. Hatred radiates from her. Monroe grips my hand.
Lily’s gaze narrows as we approach. “Ah, Sasha. I don’t believe I’ve congratulated you and Monroe.” Her voice drips with sarcasm. She flexes her fingers. Long nails resembling daggers glint in the sunlight. “Allow me to do so.”
Monroe steps forward, and I put a hand on his arm. “Stay back, this is my fight.”
Lily strides toward us, her green eyes flashing. “She’s right, you know. I’ve no quarrel with you, Monroe.” She turns her attention on me. “You little bitch. You dare to believe yourself the caliber man-beast I am?”
My body tenses into a defensive pose. “I’m sure Monroe prefers a woman who can support herself to a spoiled brat such as yourself. I don’t need an uncle to help me.”
She feigns a hurt expression. “You got me, there, haven’t you?” Her hand slaps against my cheek. “You are nowhere near worthy of him.”
“Lily, if you value your life, back off,” Monroe snarls.
She holds up her other hand. “Stay where you are, Monroe. Now’s not the time to play knight-in-shining armor.”
“Damn you, Lily, what have you done?” Monroe roars.
A spark shoots up when he tries to move forward.
“He’ll be safe and sound while I finish with you.” She laughs coldly.
Monroe and I lock gazes briefly, then I turn on Lily. “How come it took you so long to get to this point?”
“I had my reasons.” Disgust drips from her words. “I don’t owe you any explanations.” She tries to hit me again, but I grab her wrist. “Impressive,” she says, yanking her hand from my grasp.
“I guess you had to play your silly games.” I toss my head. “Did you enjoy yourself?”
“Immensely. I scared you, didn’t I? I felt your fear, human.” She smirks. “Every time I entered your mind or appeared, I sensed your terror. When I told you Alveron could close the rift, I knew you were in my power.”
“You were entering her mind, Lily? How dare you,” Monroe shouts from his prison. “When I get my hands on you, you’ll pay. Why didn’t you tell me she was coming to you, Sasha?”
“I couldn’t. This is between me and her.”
“I would’ve helped you!”
I shake my head. “We’ll talk about it, later.”
Lily sneers. “She’s right, Monroe. Stay out of this.”
I advance toward her. “Leave him alone and face me, you coward.”
“I’m no coward, you insignificant waste of time.”
“If I’m so insignificant, how come you exerted the effort to get at me? You didn’t save your strength and simply eliminate me. No, you had to play around. Did you come up with the strategy or did your uncle?”
She steps back and lowers herself to the ground. Her body grows and changes into a huge black and orange-striped tiger. “Take your form, human,” she growls.
I get down on the dirt and concentrate on the animal inside. My body melts smoothly from human into lioness. “Is this good enough for you?”
She circles me, the ground shaking each time her paws touch the earth. “I didn’t expect you to accomplish the transformation so easily.” She swishes her tail. “Now, prove you deserve it.”
A thunderous roar fills the air and she leaps at me. I jump aside, her claws grazing my flank. A sting stabs at me and red tinges my vision. I swipe at her, but she ducks her head and leaps once more.
This time her claws rip into me. Pain shoots from my shoulders. Her roar hurts my ears. I shake her off my back, relying on the instincts instilled in me from the potion. I tear into her, as we crash together over and over. Blood flows from both of us. Panting, I avoid another attack. She pounces me again, and I rip my claw across her flank.
She roars in pain. “You bitch!”
I make no comment as she lands on me. Desperately, I try to shield my face from her attacks. She slashes at my chest and I howl. Blood loss drains my energy and in spite of Monroe’s efforts and the man-beast instincts, I feel her getting the upper hand. I strike at her blindly, missing as she moves swiftly to the right.
“You’re not fit to be a Thirdling,” she mutters fiercely. “You’re merely a pretender.”
“No one asked you!” I spring forward, claws outstretched. I leave a long scratch down her face. Blood oozes from the wound. She backs up, wiping the gash against a foreleg. She recovers quickly and crouches down. A second later, she leaps into another attack.
The moment before her strike, I duck. She flies over my head and spins back around to charge at me. I dig my claws into her side. I lift my hind paws against her raining blows and throw her off me. Staggering to my feet, I attempt to clear my head. Before I can regain my equilibrium, she knocks me to the ground. Pinning me with a paw, she bites my shoulder near my neck. Agony blinds me as her fangs penetrate my skin.
“Die, human,” she snarls. She swipes a claw across my chest.
I hear a shout and everything goes black.
Chapter 35: Monroe
“No!” My roar echoes throughout the courtyard. I lunge forward. Electric shocks knock me to the ground. The urge to change floods me. I charge against the containment field only to be shocked again.
Dusting myself off, I glare at Lily. “Curse you, Lily Tygress, and your uncle!”
“If you had any power I might be afraid of your curses,” she says, scornfully. “I’m not worried. I’ll see you later, my mate.” She waves her hand, then disappears.
The containment field drops and I rush over to Sasha. Her body transforms back to human. I kneel down beside her bloody body and gently gather her close. Tears well up in my eyes. Through her torn blouse, angry wounds and scratch marks crisscross over her chest.
“Wake up,” I beg, lightly shaking her. In spite of my efforts, nothing happens. I wipe away the blood and rip off my shirt. The buttons bounce in the dirt. I tie the shirt around the dripping wound on her shoulder. Pressing against the once-white shirt, my heart cries out a prayer. “Please, wake up.”
She remains unresponsive. Her beautiful eyes closed, her mouth parted, more blood drips from her lower lip.
/>
I run my tongue over her lips. The rusty taste of her blood fills my mouth. “My poor, sweet love,” I moan. “Don’t die.” I struggle to my feet, her limp body in my arms.
I hear a gasp and whirl around, holding Sasha tight. Bast stands a few feet away. “What happened?”
I swallow. “Lily.”
Flashes of shock and anger flit over his face. “She fought Lily?”
“Alveron gave Lily magic. Sasha was no match for her.” Tears course down my cheeks. “I can’t lose her, Bast.”
He touches Sasha’s pale cheek. “Get her to Brinda and Clarine.” He sounds hoarse and choked. “They might be able to help her.”
My tears fall on Sasha’s cheek, washing away some of the blood. “You’re right.” I bury my face in Sasha’s hair. “Bast, would you do something for me?”
“Anything,” he answers.
I pin him with my stare. “If you see Lily, kill her.”
His eyes widen. “Monroe . . .”
“Do it!”
He sighs and nods.
I transport Sasha and me to the fairies’ palace. When I arrive there, I bang my fist on their gold and silver door.
A maid answers. “Lord Dubay, wh—”
“Where are Brinda and Clarine?” I demand, barging into the front hallway.
“Lady Brinda and Lady Clarine are in the balcony garden.” I hear the maid’s feet scurry after me. “But, Lord Dubay you shouldn’t go in unannounced.”
“Don’t tell me what I should and shouldn’t do. They’re the only ones who can save Sasha,” I growl.
“Lady Brinda mentioned Lady Dubay is from the First Realm. What about a doctor there?”
“Those doctors can’t treat wounds mixed with magic.” The white halls widen as I gain the balcony entrance. I increase my speed. “Brinda and Clarine are the highest level fairies in the Third Realm. They can help.”
I sprint into a spacious room covered in rainbows. Clarine rises from her hammock and peers at me through the long open windows. She makes a motion at her sister. Brinda turns around regarding me regally from behind a large Ambrosia Flower. I stifle a sneeze as the heavy fragrance fills my senses. She and Brinda approach me.
“Monroe,” Brinda says, her voice aloof, “what brings you here?”
All's Fair in Love and Lion Page 27