Red and Her Wolf

by Marie Hall

  Danika knuckled tears from her eyes. “Miriam did know how to contain the Black’s soul. Her sacrifice will not be in vain. I will plant her in the roses. It’s what she wanted.”

  Violet wasn’t sure, but when she closed her eyes, it felt like her Aunt’s voice filled her head with a bell like strain and the words: I love you too.

  Chapter 18

  Violet ran, bare feet kicking up stones. Her heart pounded. Snow fell in thick clusters. She couldn’t escape him. He was so close.

  Then she heard him.

  He was running, panting.

  “No,” she yelped, and then he was on her, tackling her to the ground.

  White light exploded off his body like flames, then Ewan was kissing her face, her nose, her chin. Growling as his hard erection drove into her thigh.

  “I won,” he snarled, voice more beast than man, and he nipped her chin.

  She laughed, blood singing, adrenaline pumping. “No fair. I told you to give me a ten second head start.”

  Golden eyes glowed in the deep twilight. “I lied.”

  “Oh, who cares,” she moaned, desire coiling down her stomach, making her toes curl.

  His body was warm, like a thermal blanket, heating her even as the snow drifted lazily around them.

  It’d been a year since that night, a year of laughs, sadness, and hope. Hope because Violet knew she was more than the darkness inside her. Ewan had showed her. Loved her.

  “I adore ye, Red,” he whispered in between trailing hot kisses along her throat.

  She thrust her hips up, excited by the friction of his skin rubbing along hers. Wet and ready, she moaned.

  “I love you too, Ewan. Always.”

  She bit him, just like he liked it. Marking the spot above his heart with her teeth. He hissed, and thrust harder.

  “You’re mine. All mine,” she said, pressing a kiss against the bite.

  He tugged on her nipple, and she arced, gently scraping her nails on his head.

  Desire flooded her, made her moan and groan. Her nails pierced the sensitive skin of his skull.

  He growled, white teeth bright in the liquid moonlight.

  She traced the curve of his lips. “My, what big teeth you have.”

  Ewan snapped them at her. “The better to eat ye with, my dear.”

  Violet laughed, a sound of pure unadulterated joy. “Then what are you waiting for? Need you now,” she mumbled, dizzy with pleasure.

  “Mmm, like this,” he rumbled, deep voice a hot caress against her breasts.

  Then his hot hard length slipped inside and Violet rocked on him, riding the spiraling staircase that would take her beyond the here, above the clouds.

  “Forever,” he whispered.

  And that’s just how she wanted it. In his arms, making love… forever.

  Epilogue

  Danika touched the large oak tree. A thicket of roses surrounded its gnarled black base. Galeta had been furious that Miriam had outwitted her. But it was a victory Danika could not rejoice in.

  It was a wound to know her friend was lost to her forever. All that remained was a gnarled old oak.

  “Thank you, Mir. Thank you for loving like you do, for protecting that girl. Ewan is madly in love and Violet feels the same. I planted more roses last week. Not sure if you noticed.” She sniffed. “They’re blacks, I thought they were appropriate.”

  She sighed, glancing at the wild abundance of roses. Every night since planting her best friend within the small rose garden, she’d returned and planted one new rose. There were whites, reds, yellows, orange, pinks, creams… an explosion of color that she knew Mir would have wanted.

  “I love you, sister. I’ll never forget. But I must return to the mortal realm, Jinni’s mate is in trouble. I know all will be well, but…” Danika stuttered as the fresh pain lanced through her heart. “I must go, dear. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  She stood, dusted off her spider silk skirt, and grabbed her pouch of fairy dust. Sprinkling the gold flecks liberally on the garden.

  The roses swiveled, blinking rose colored eyes gratefully back at her. They never talked here, as if they knew that were rooted on sacred ground.

  “You’re welcome,” she murmured to them, then patted the tree one last time.

  Heat infused her palm and in her heart, she knew Miriam had thanked her too.

  A word from the Author:

  Marie Hall has always had a dangerous fascination for creatures that go bump in the night. And mermaids. And of course fairies. Trolls. Unicorns. Shapeshifters. Vampires. Scottish brogues. Kilts. Beefy arms. Ummm... Bad boys! Especially the sexy ones.

  On top of that she’s a confirmed foodie, she nearly went to culinary school and then figured out she could save a ton of money if she just watched food shows religiously! She’s a self-proclaimed master chef, certified deep sea dolphin trainer, finder of leprechaun’s gold at the end of the rainbow, and rumor has it she keeps the Troll King locked away in her basement. All of which is untrue (except for the food shows!), however, she does have an incredibly active imagination and loves to share her crazy thoughts with the world!

  If you want to see what new creations she's got up her sleeves check out her blog:

  www.MarieHallWrites.blogspot.com.

  Also, if you loved this story please leave a review, reviews make her very, very happy!

  Stay tuned for a special sneak peek of Jinni’s Wish: Kingdom Book 4, due December of 2012.

  Sneak Peek: Jinni’s Wish

  Chapter 1

  “What kind of name is that?” Paz Lopez hopped on one bare foot, while simultaneously gripping the cell phone with her chin as she attempted to slip her blood red pump on; very nearly breaking her neck in the process when she stumbled over the corner of her cream shag rug. “Dang it,” she hissed.

  She could already picture Richard rolling his eyes on the other end of the line. “Diabolique.”

  This time, she was the one to roll her eyes. Plopping down on the edge of her unmade bed, doing what her father used to always say: work smarter, not harder. So much easier to put shoes on when sitting, instead of hopping around like a broken jack in the box.

  “I heard you the first time. But that doesn’t sound like any kind of carnival I’d want to visit. Sounds creepy.”

  “Aww, come on, chicken. Todd and I are going and it’s sorta lame that all you ever want to do on a Friday night is vegg in front of that dinosaur you call a t.v. and down 2.2 glasses of vino.”

  She loved her brother, she really did. But ugh… she rubbed her nose, stomach churning with nerves and irritation. Now was so not the time to be talking about carnivals, or whatever the hell this Diabolique place was. She had an art show in an hour, today was her make it or break it day. It’d taken months for the hottest gallery in town: Moderne, to even agree to potentially hosting an exhibit for her.

  Of course they hadn’t. She was too new. But she had a friend, who knew a friend, who knew a guy who had an exhibit scheduled and was in need of ten more paintings to fill the space. Fast forward several boxes of tissues, lots of chocolate, and probably two (okay three) bottles of champagne later, Paz was here. Ready to break out. Become a name. Finally.

  If only her stupid nerves would settle down and stop making her feel like she was totally going to puke all over her pearl gray goose down comforter. Pinching her nose, she counted slowly to ten. But only got to three before Richard starting acting obnoxious as usual.

  “I know you’re there. I hear you breathing.” He proceeded to pantomime harsh deep breaths. “Answer me, or I will stalk you. I know where you liiiiveee.”

  Giggling, she yanked her purple head pillow off the bed and shoved it against her stomach. Maybe pressure would ease the knee knocking nerves. “You’re really annoying.”

  He snorted. “Yeah, well Todd loves it. So tell me you’re coming.”

  Paz shoved about a week’s worth of bras underneath her bed and lifted the teal shirt off the lampshade she’d tossed asid
e carelessly last night. Jeez, she was really a slob. Maybe when she got filthy stinking rich she could afford a maid.

  “Are you coming to my show?” She plucked at her bejeweled skirt. Her first and only attempt at making clothes. Skirts were supposedly so easy to make.

  Lie.

  She’d had to undo the stitching four times before she felt certain she wouldn’t zip it up and have a wardrobe malfunction. Namely having the stupid thing fall down around her ankles when she stepped off her elevator into the lobby of her swank Chicago digs.

  Though swank was sorta stretching it. She wasn’t sure the 500 square foot broom closet she currently called home could ever be considered swank, but she had a great address in the hippest part of town and with any luck, she’d be moving to that penthouse suite after tonight.

  “We wouldn’t miss it.” His voice was warm, reassuring, and Paz couldn’t help but smile. She loved her brother. “But Todd told me to ask you now, because we both know how you get when you’re talking about your art.”

  “No I don’t.” She tossed the pillow away, fiddling with the large cream flower on her black cable knit sweater.

  “Pfft. I didn’t even have to tell you how you act and you’re already defending it. So answer, sis. I’m not growing any younger.”

  “Fine.” She stood, grabbing her purse and wallet off her green distressed thrift store night stand. “I’ll go butt face. But I won’t promise to like it, so there.”

  “You don’t have to like it, but you do have to visit Madam Pandora’s tent with me. Bye!”

  “What?” Her brows dipped, but all she heard was the buzz of an empty line.

  Rolling her eyes, she patted her flat blunt bangs and took a deep breath, ready to face her future. Her stomach nosedived. Well, unless she had to puke first.

  ***

  The Chicago fairgrounds were magical at night. Neon lights lit up the park like a fireworks display. Crowds clamored from one red and white pinstriped tent to the next. Buttery scent of popcorn wafted in the air, tickling her nose.

  “Mmm, I’m hungry,” Paz groaned when her stomach growled.

  Todd’s expressive light brown eyes twinkled merrily as he hugged her against his broad chest. A good foot taller than her, with chestnut brown hair, and tanned good looks. Gorgeous and so her type, if it wasn’t for the fact that he was totally off the market.

  “On me then,” he said, voice light and carefree. “A treat for my favorite artist…”

  Richard gripped Todd’s waist, dark brown eyes glowing merrily, rich mocha skin gleaming shades of bronze beneath the neon glow of the Ferris Wheel. Perpetual black cowlick shading the corner of his left eye. “The only artist you know,” he finished, digging into Todd’s chest.

  Todd clamped onto Richard’s hand and kissed the knuckle. A look passing between them that made Paz’s knees turn to jelly. What would it feel like to have someone look at her that way? Not that she was old, only 27, but still, long enough to crave what she’d never known.

  There’d been passion, maybe some toe curling moments with past boyfriends, but nothing that had ever stuck beyond month six. Maybe she was cursed.

  But she’d sold all ten of her paintings. She smiled, biting her bottom lip… well on her way toward that maid she’d always dreamed of. So maybe not that cursed.

  “Okay, I’m so gonna barf if you guys keep looking at each other like that.”

  Todd smirked, patting her head like she was a dog.

  So not cool.

  She gave him the evil eye. “Not a dog, Todd. Go get me my popcorn,” she clapped her hands, “and make it a large. With butter. Momma’s got a serious hankering from some greasy fat tonight.”

  Todd saluted and winked. “Anything for you, baby?”

  Richard shrugged. “Trying to watch my carbs. Whatever you have I’ll share.” Then he sighed, a silly mopey I’m-so-incredibly-happy kind of sound and again Paz couldn’t help feeling like the third wheel.

  “I love him,” Richard whispered, like he wasn’t even really saying it to her.

  She nodded, tucking his cowlick back. “I know. Aren’t you sure you’d rather me, yanno, be home and stuff tonight? I mean, this is your one year anniversary. Why in the world would you want me here? Shouldn’t you be bow-chica-wow…”

  Richard tugged on the end of her thick black hair.

  “Hey, ouch!” Paz slapped his hand away.

  “You’re disgusting. And no. He loves you as much as I do. Besides, Madam Pandora’s awaits.”

  A cool rush brushed against Paz’s legs. She was wearing thick stockings, and had traded in the killer pumps for a more ankle friendly pair of sparkling silver flats, but she probably should have grabbed a thicker jacket.

  Even with the sweater underneath, she was still starting to shiver.

  She grumped. “Why do you want me to go there so bad? What is it anyway?”

  Glancing around, Paz frowned. The carnival was definitely as creepy as she’d expected it to be from the sound of the name. Diabolique, made her think of devil. Coming from a strict Catholic upbringing, anything to do with Mr. Red, Bad, and Evil still made her skin get the creepy crawlies.

  Not to mention the carnival was just strange looking. Aside from the garish striped tents, and neon lights, the rides were all black. Thick, dark black. Blending into shadow if not for the lights affixed to the rides.

  At first she’d had a mini heart attack when they’d bought their tickets, thinking maybe this night wouldn’t suck so hard after all. The man selling them behind the booth had been hot. No scratch that, he was way hotter than hot. Which sounded really lame, but how else could she describe the panty melting smile of his straight white teeth. The artfully arranged blond surfer hair, like liquid gold the way it’d gleamed beneath the light. And his face, oh man… she couldn’t paint something so pretty. High cheekbones and hard square jaw, dimples when he’d grinned.

  But then she’d looked at his eyes--glowing green eyes--and something inside her had shrunk away from letting him touch her when he’d handed her the change. She’d been pretty sure those hadn’t been contacts.

  And what was even weirder about this carnival was that everyone one looked just like him. Well, not just like him. But everyone working here was hot. Uber, smokin’, ‘I’d sell my firstborn to have wild monkey sex with you’ kind of hot. And they all had strange glowing eyes.

  Which seemed to phase Todd and her brother not at all.

  “Hello!” Richard snapped his fingers, making her jerk. “Did you hear a word I said?”

  She grimaced. “Umm…”

  He gripped his forehead. “That’s a no. I said,” he stressed the ‘d’, “that I want you to go because Brody and Luke came here last night and they said they got their fortunes told and it came true.”

  Paz snorted. “Oh my gosh, that’s ridiculous. You do know that’s stupid, right? They’re all quacks out here.”

  He looked hurt, and then annoyed. Richard shoved his hands into his jean pockets. “You’re coming and I don’t want to hear boo about it.”

  “Boo about what?” Todd planted a peck on Richard’s cheek.

  The effect was instantaneous. Richard smiled, leaning back into Todd’s large chest.

  “Mmm, popcorn.” Paz reached with greedy fingers for the steaming brown paper sack Todd handed her. “Yummy, yummy, yummy. Love,” she plopped a warm, buttery kernel in her mouth and groaned, “love, love, popcorn.”

  Richard grabbed one out of her bag and tossed it at her nose. She swatted at it.

  “And you say I’m weird. At least I’ve never written an ode to my food before.”

  She stuck out her tongue.

  “So are we going?” Todd asked, taking a bite out of his fried twinkie.

  White cream oozed out the side and Richard moaned. “Fried twinkie, Todd? Cruel.”

  Todd laughed.

  Richard rolled his eyes. “My baby sister insists Madam Pandora is a quack.”

  “You know what,” Todd s
aid, and then took another bite, Richard swallowed hard, brown eyes wide as he stared at that twinkie like it was his lover.

  Paz knew her brother was drooling, twinkies were his kryptonite. Todd was cruel. Which was probably why she loved him so much, he made her brother suffer. As he should.

  “I totally thought so too, but then when Luke told me what she said, you can’t fake that.”