by Cecy Robson
Taran and I led her to the kitchen using the rubber gloves Hank had scrounged up. He assured us Shayna would be fine in another hour or so. His reassurance did little to ease my guilt. I never should have turned her over to Kuan Jang Nim Chang’s evil clutches.
“. . . and then heeeeeee jjjjussst laughed annnddd pppointed.”
“I know, Shayna. I know. I’m so sorry.”
“So what the hell are you going to do about the whole Misha situation?” Taran asked.
I shrugged. “Part of me wants to move back home and just commute to train.”
“So, damn it, why don’t you? Gemini texted me earlier to say Aric’s calling in a favor. The local witch bitches are supposed to place a new ward around our house in case anything nasty shows up. I think it’s similar to the one Ying-Ying put on your car—strong enough to keep things out until help arrives.”
Emme shook her head. “What if help is delayed like last time? Celia can’t take on a Tribemaster by herself.”
Taran rammed her fists on her hips. “She doesn’t have to, Emme. We’ll stay there with her and keep each other safe.”
“Wwweeee can’t—the wolves wannnt usss to stay at the Dennnn.”
Taran huffed. “Damn it, Shayna. I hate the Den. It’s not our home. The only reason I’m there is to be with Gemini, but now he’s gone. We’re not under the Elders’ rule. They can’t make us stay.”
I thought about it. “Why don’t we compromise? While the wolves are away, we’ll stay at the house. When they’re back, you guys return with them to the Den and I’ll stay with Misha.”
“Or Aric?” Taran asked smiling. “I bet that’s another reason he had Genevieve ward the house. So you two can have your own safe little love nest.”
I bit my bottom lip nervously. “So long as we don’t get caught.”
Taran’s smile turned wickedly curious. She circled me, very much in the way I did a steak. “Speaking of getting caught, where were you exactly when you got it on with him?”
I averted my eyes. “You know where we were. We were at the Den.”
Taran arched a brow. “Celia. You’ve been away from that wolf for months. Don’t play off your hot and beastly hump-hump like some kind of cute romantic interlude. Tell us exactly what happened!”
My cheeks instantly heated. “Taran, I told you what happened. I was upset and Aric found me. We kissed and got a little carried away.”
Taran smirked. “That’s not good enough. Spill deets, Celia.”
My jaw dropped open. “And why exactly should I do that?”
“Cannnnn IIIIII hhhhhhavvve ssssommme wa-water?”
“No, you’ll just electrocute yourself,” Taran said, then turned back to me. “Shit, Celia. You don’t know what you and Aric have put us through. The least you can do is give us a little dirt.”
“Celia doesn’t have to tell us anything,” Emme said quietly.
Although Emme had insinuated my privacy should be respected, the anticipation brightening her green irises and the flush to her fair skin told me she was dying to hear every last little detail. I groaned. “What do you want to know?”
Taran grabbed my arm and shook it. “For one, where the hell were you? Did you go back to his quarters?”
“Um, no. His dates were there.”
“Were yyyyouuu innnn his cccarrrr?”
“No.”
Taran shook me harder, her excitement building. “Did you go back to his office? Damn, that’s hot. I seduced Gemini in there once. Just don’t tell Aric.”
“Ah, no. We weren’t in his office.”
“Jjjusttt tttttellll usssss, ddduuuudddde.”
I let out a defeated sigh. “It was in a large garden a few blocks away from the main building.”
My already pink cheeks burned when I saw their stunned faces. Taran threw herself on top of me and hugged me warmly. “I’m so proud of you, Ceel.”
Emme seemed confused. “But there’s no place to sit or anything.”
“Emmmmeeee’s rrrright. Hhhow ddddid you . . . ?”
Taran gasped; being the adventurous sort, she had figured it out. “You, like, did it standing up, didn’t you, you little hussy?”
My face dropped into my hands and I nodded. When I glimpsed up, Emme’s face was redder than mine. “Oh, my,” she said. “You really did get carried away.”
“Can we talk about something else now?”
Taran continued to smile wickedly. “I can’t think of a damn thing I would like to discuss more.”
“I can,” Emme said quietly. Something in her demeanor had changed. And I could tell by the way her sadness seemed to overtake her petite stature that it had nothing to do with me or Aric. “I’m breaking up with Liam when he gets back.”
“Wwwhhhyyy?”
Tears streamed down her face. I put my arm around her, only to have her tears run faster. “Liam finally admitted to me that I’m not his mate.”
Emme swallowed hard as she took in our astonishment. “He’s the best man to ever come into my life. But I’ll never be the best thing in his.”
“Buttttttt he lovessss youuuuu.”
“It’s not enough,” Emme whispered through her sorrow. “Shayna, you and Koda are mates. No one else will ever mean what you mean to each other. Liam can’t make me that same promise.” She lowered her chin. “Just like he can’t promise he won’t leave me if he finds his destined match.”
I brushed her hair back from her face, struggling to find words that could comfort her. “Maybe you are and he just hasn’t realized your connection.”
“Don’t bullshit her, Celia.” Taran’s words were harsh, yet her tone carried a softness and a strong sense of comprehension. “Gemini knew I was his. Just like Koda realized what Shayna meant to him following their first night together.” She walked toward the door as if retreating, but turned back and faced me, her expression strangely bruised. “Aric is risking heaven and earth to be with you—regardless of how it affects the freaking world. Don’t you think Emme deserves that, too, rather than someone who can’t promise he won’t dump her? Weres need their mates, Ceel.” She rubbed her eyes. “Gem’s made that clear more than once.”
Emme wiped her cheeks and turned away when someone knocked on the door. Edith strutted in and froze upon taking in Shayna’s condition. She threw back her head and laughed. “What the hell have you freaks been up to?”
“Shut your hole before you end up the same way,” Taran snapped.
Edith ignored her and choked back another cackle. “The master would like you and your sisters to join him for dinner. This way, losers.”
Taran sent her flying out the door with one of her own bolts of lightning. I rushed out as she pushed herself up on her arms and hissed. The ends of her dark hair smoked. Taran hadn’t quite achieved Chang’s look, but she made a damn good effort. I blocked Edith’s path when she lunged at Taran. “Now may be a good time to remind you my family is under your master’s protection.” Emme sniffed behind me. “And that today is not a good day to piss me off.”
Edith retracted her fangs and angled her head. I usually ignored the vamps’ little digs. They typically didn’t bug me enough to retaliate. But where my family was concerned was a different matter. Edith nodded and motioned for me to follow. I didn’t know whether my threat or the knowledge that Misha would kill her gave her pause. Nor did I care. She needed to leave my sisters alone, especially given Emme’s fragile state. I stayed between Edith and my sisters the entire walk to the house.
When we entered the lavish dining room, an army of servants waited to tend to us. Misha was nowhere to be found. “Where is he?” I asked Maria.
“De master is in de library. It would please him if you joined him.”
I strolled down to the library and swung open the door. Misha was parked in a high-back leather chair with his hands cla
sped behind his head and his eyes closed. I would have thought he was sleeping, had it not been for the stiletto-clad feet sticking out from beneath the desk.
I jetted out of the library and smashed into Maria. “I thought you said he was available!”
Maria frowned as if I’d stolen her whip. “No. I said it would please him if you joined him.”
“You may enter, Celia,” Misha called from the room.
I poked my head in. Virginia stood next to him, pulling her dress back on. She stopped for a moment just to scowl at me. “I wanted to talk to you, but it can wait,” I told him.
“As I said, you may enter.” He gestured for Virginia to leave. I ignored the urge to snap her neck when she narrowed her eyes at me. I never understood how Misha could possibly be attracted to both her type and mine.
Misha gave me a small smile and motioned for me to sit. It was awkward. I sat in the same exact seat I’d been in when he went ape shit over Aric. “Is it still your plan to leave my residence?”
“I think it’s best if we distance ourselves, at least a little bit.” He watched me quietly but didn’t respond. “I’ll be staying in Dollar Point with my sisters when their wolves are away.” He nodded slightly, yet still said nothing. “If it’s okay, I’ll still continue to stay with you upon their return.”
He remained quiet, almost too quiet. Finally, he smiled. “Very well, if that is what pleases you.”
“It does. Thank you.” I stood to leave. I’m not sure why, but I gave him a quick peck on the cheek and hightailed it out of there, not bothering to see his reaction. And although I’d failed to mention that Emme would be staying as well, I didn’t think he’d mind.
Misha caught up to me easily and we entered the dining room together.
“Merde,” Chef hissed upon seeing me. I took my seat, well aware of his death glare. It was just loads of fun at Camp Fang and Bang. How could I have even considered walking away from all this? He raised his arms, signaling his band of waiters to unveil the silver platters in unison. Apparently my absence had stalled his big reveal.
My sisters glanced at their pretty salads briefly before digging in. I sniffed and grimaced at the sour stench of vinegar. My stomach churned. Misha paused in the middle of lifting his fork. “Something wrong, my darling?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can eat the salad.”
“Merde,” Chef hissed again before disappearing with my food in a huff. Virginia strode in a few minutes later and placed a bowl of seafood bisque in front of me. Chef must have been severely irate I’d passed on one of his creations.
Misha entertained us with stories of his youth. We’d almost finished eating when Shayna’s phone buzzed. She smiled. “The wolves are back.” Her smile faded as she scrolled down the screen. “The Elders want us to return.” She looked at me then and swallowed hard. “They’re requesting your presence.”
• • •
Emme was nervous the entire drive up. She hadn’t expected Liam to return so soon. Not to mention she and my other sisters were panicked over what awaited me at the Den. I tried to calm them, but, considering my nerves were shot to hell, I failed miserably. The Elders must have discovered Aric had disobeyed their orders by seeing me. Would he be punished? If so, they’d likely choose to do so in front of me. Well, screw that. No way would I let him endure anything alone. Whatever he faced, we’d do it together.
The wolves and the Elders met us in the foyer of the main building along with Tye. Makawee rushed toward me, only to stop and cock her head when I fell into a fighting stance with my claws out. “Something wrong, my dear?”
Aric’s eyes bulged. I’d never seen him so alarmed. I retracted my claws and fixed my posture. “Um. No.”
Tye winked at me, complete with another flash of that dimple of his. The dimple may have worked on other females, but my narrowed eyes made it clear it didn’t work on me. My reaction seemed to simultaneously surprise and offend him. He straightened. What did you expect, jerk?
Martin moved forward. He and Makawee engaged in polite conversation with my family and me and even discussed the details of the successful Tribe raid they’d returned from. It was only then that the rest of us relaxed. My tigress, though, continued to pace. The Elders had obviously not summoned me to say hello, so then what was up?
Liam approached Emme and gathered her in his arms. He stilled upon seeing her eyes shimmering with tears. He growled, “What’s wrong? Did one of those leeches hurt you?”
“No, Lee.” She looked to me. Her poignant expression told me she was going to break up with him. I wanted to stop her and talk her out of it. But it wasn’t my decision or my heart at stake. “Can we go somewhere?” she asked him. “I need to speak to you alone.”
Liam exchanged glances with Koda and then reluctantly led Emme through the large glass front doors. There was a brief moment of tension among our group until Makawee approached me smiling. The long strands of her white hair drifted like a sheet around her dark skin. “Celia, I would like to thank you for coming. Based on the occurrences of the night of the gala, the Elders and I wanted to extend an open invitation to you at our Den.”
Huh?
“We realize this might come as a shock,” Martin said when I stood there with my mouth open. “After all, we have not been as hospitable to you as we could have been.” He and Makawee both glanced at Anara.
I blinked back at the others, my face reddening when I thought of “the occurrences” between Aric and me in the garden. Aric beamed as if he’d spray painted our exploits on the damn garden wall we’d made love against. Tye—oddly enough—appeared as confused as I was.
Anara addressed me then with a stiff nod. It was strange not to have him scowl at me. Hell, I’d almost gotten used to it. “We realize we shouldn’t interfere with destiny,” he said.
“Destiny?”
The Elders laughed. I failed to get the joke.
“Yes, dear,” Makawee said. “You both are meant to be together. The very least we can do is facilitate the union by allowing you to visit.”
“You want me to visit him here,” I repeated slowly.
Makawee started to regard me the same way the Catholic schoolgirls did. “Yes, child. He’ll stay here while he continues to help train our young wolves. Eventually, though, we hope you will reside together and begin your family.”
My sisters and friends stood motionless, their eyes widening. “Son of a bitch,” Taran muttered. Still, it was more polite than what spewed from Bren’s lips.
I took in the Elders one by one. “Is this some kind of trick?”
“Celia, I assure you, this is not a trick. We don’t wish to toy with you or your emotions,” Martin added patiently.
“So you’re saying we—he and I”—I motioned to Aric—“should be together, and have babies?”
Anara threw what little patience he’d managed right out the window. “Who else would we be talking about?”
For some reason Tye blew up. “Now wait just a goddamn minute!”
“Silence,” Anara snapped.
Tye growled deeper. Aric ignored him to encase me in his arms. “So, dovie, what do you say?”
Tye lunged at us. The aroma of were magic sizzled against my skin as Anara threw out an arm, leaving Tye suspended above the wood floors, barely able to move. By calling upon the power of the pack, Anara had stopped him midair.
Tye struggled, his muscles twitching. In the distance a pack of wolves erupted in howls.
I returned my focus to Aric when he caressed my back, encouraged by Makawee and Martin’s smiles. I continued to stand there like an idiot while my brain whirled with confusion.
Aric grinned from ear to ear. “Well? Do you want me or not?”
My chest erupted with pure joy. I grabbed Aric and kissed him—something I never would have dreamed of doing before in the presence of the Elders.
He paused before responding with one hell of a deep kiss. My tigress rose inside me, but it wasn’t to meet Aric’s wolf. She insisted something was wrong; I ignored her. What could be wrong? Aric had found a way for us to be together.
The loud snarls from Tye forced Aric to break our kiss. The lion was absolutely out of his mind. I couldn’t comprehend his fury. Had something happened that I wasn’t aware of?
Aric held me tighter and smiled. “Damn, girl. That was one hot smooch. I wasn’t expecting that, especially after the other night.”
I angled my head. Aric’s manner of speaking was so unlike him, and his comment made no sense. “I would think you would,” I whispered.
Taran rammed her way between us, forcing us apart. “Celia, what the hell are you doing?”
“Hey, get away from her.” With her newfound strength, Shayna shoved Aric away past the granite fireplace and farther down through the entrance hall.
“What? No!” I tried to follow them. “Don’t take him away from me!”
Gemini and Koda stepped in front of me, blocking my view of Aric. I pushed my way through them.
“Gemini, Miakoda, stand down,” Anara commanded when they attempted to restrain me.
Taran clasped my wrist with both hands and dug her heels into the hardwood floor. I yanked my arm hard enough to send her sprawling across the floor. She screeched when her back hit the wall, but I didn’t care enough to look back. Aric was getting farther away the more Shayna continued to shove him.
Bren and Danny snagged my wrists when I charged after him. The desperation to be with Aric overwhelmed me. I struggled and fought to break free. Their tightening holds fueled my hostility. Instead of just trying to escape, I attacked, not caring whether I hurt them.
“Ow! Celia, calm down,” Danny said.
“Watch her hands and feet,” Bren snapped. “Her claws are out.”
“Let go of me, damn it. Let go of me now!” I hissed.
I could no longer see Aric, only hear him down the large expanse of space. I kicked Bren in the face and smashed Danny’s nose with a head butt. I lurched forward, my legs strangely weak, and ran for all I was worth.