by Jasmine Walt
Chia stared at his smiling face. When he smiled, her insides lit up.
“When you do let someone in, you’ll find you’re much more efficient at your job.”
“There’s no one around.” She started to throw her hands into the air, but caught herself before stimulating any pain. “My last lover left me because I had to deal with you.”
“No one around, huh?” Hung’s eyes grew dark. His smile vanished.
“That’s not what I meant. I’m…I mean…I need to get to bed. I can barely stand.”
“Then let’s get you to bed. To rest. Because lord knows that’s the only thing you’ll be doing in there.” He followed her down the hall, placing his hand at her elbow to steady her, marching stiffly at her side. He peeled back the covers, assisting her in getting into her high bed, plumping the pillows for her.
“Don’t look,” she said. “I need to remove my pants.”
Hung grinned. “I can help with that.”
“No thank you,” she said, wanting his hands all over her. “Turn around.”
He sighed, but complied.
She tugged her boots off, unzipped her pants and flung them on the floor. “Okay, you can look.” She quickly tugged the covers up to her chin.
He spun quickly, trying, no doubt, to catch a glimpse. “Damn, woman. You’re far too fast.”
She smiled.
“Need anything? Water? Food?”
She closed her eyes. “No, thanks. My cupboards are pretty bare. I think I need to take my meds now. Ask Cecil to get my bag from the Jeep.”
She heard his trudging steps head down the hall. Heard him open the front door and shout orders to Cecil. She started to drift off when footsteps sounded in her bedroom. “Leave them on the side stand,” she said, eyes still closed.
“Nope, I’m going to make sure they go down the hatch,” Cecil said. “What did you do to piss off Hung?”
“Everything,” she said, opening her eyes, seeing her good friend, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. She took the pills and the water and washed them down her throat.
“You’re crazy, lil’ Summer. You’re one of the smartest women I know and you refuse to see what’s right in front of your face.”
“What’s that?” Her eyes darted to the window.
“Hung Durand is in love with you. Or wants to be.”
16
Left to herself, Chia dozed and roused, dosed and roused. Each time she became conscious, Cecil’s words hung in the room like a slow burning fuse, the blasted words waving in the air like a flag.
The sentiments seemed to accompany the ghosts around the room, as if they, too, were an apparition. Does he love me? A bounty hunter in love? The idea seemed preposterous. As to her feelings—hormonal raging more like it—for Hung Durand? She wasn’t inclined to give the topic another thought. Unwilling to deal with the situation in any shape or form, she closed her eyes and willed herself back to sleep.
When she awakened again, ready to stay awake for a while, darkness had fallen. She flicked on her side light, blinking, trying to orient herself to her surroundings. The ghosts whirled around her head, agitated, as if quarreling. She squinted at them, counting them like sheep. One, two, three, four, five, six…seven?
She blinked, furrowed her face and counted again. One, two, three, four, five, six…another blurry form swirled along behind them. It came in and out of focus, like it was trying to take shape, another newly hatched apparition in her world.
She recognized it instantly as the feelings Cecil had given name to…the ones she didn’t want to face. “Grrr. Another goddamned ghost. And I’ll call you, ‘he loves me, he loves me not,’” she said. “Although tossing around the L word might be a bit premature, I should think, unless you call it lust.”
She grimaced and rolled her eyes. “Dag nab it. What is it with me? I can’t make up my mind about something, I do something I feel ashamed about and wham! A baby energy blip is born.” If she could have, she’d have kicked something. In her condition, that seemed unwise. “Meanwhile, I create rules and ordinances and laws until the entire town can’t breathe. It’s like my practical self runs smoothly while my emotional self needs to learn how to tie its own shoelaces.”
She watched the ghosts for a few seconds, perplexed. They seemed to dislike the newcomer. They appeared as upset and angry as the shifters outside, circling it like a pack of wolves ready to attack. At intervals, glimmers of red and orange light burst from all but the hatchling. She wanted to protect the baby energy blip. It seemed like her most vulnerable ghost. “Stop it,” she called. “Stop it right now.” Of course, they didn’t listen.
Groaning, she gingerly sat up. Her shoulder ached with a throb only partially dulled by the pain meds. Her last dose had already disappeared from her system.
Knock, knock, knock. Delicate tapping came from the closed door. Hung? She straightened her attire, plumped the pillows and tried to put on a cheery face. It felt forced, however, like she had a coat hanger rammed in her mouth, so she let it fall, prepared to let him see her as is. “Come in.”
D’Raynged peeked his head around the door. “I brought your mail.” He waved a stack of envelopes. “I went to the post office today.”
“Put it on the dresser, please.”
“You don’t look so good.”
“Thanks, D.” She slumped into the pillows at the sight of her roommate and his snark.
“I’d have said you look like the dead but, then…well…I look fantastic and I’m the dead one.”
“Yeah, we neurotypicals might need to modify that statement. Come in, please.”
The vampire stepped in the room, placed the mail on the dresser, and leaned against it in casual indifference.
Chia knew better. “What can I do for you?”
He looked like a million bucks—flawless face, smooth skin, hair swept to the side. Ever the Southern gentleman, he always looked like a million bucks. “Nothing much. Except for the little problem with a growing menagerie we have outside, the world is great.”
Chia tensed, wondering where this was heading. “It’s a spell of some sort. Not being an expert in magic, I’m not sure what to do about it.”
“I see.” His lips snapped shut making his face look like an impassive piece in Madame Tussauds’s Wax Museum.
Dag nab it, he’s displeased again. Two words, loaded with meaning. He might has well have said, watch your back, watch your front, watch your step and watch where you go. A whole lot of watching. “I’m, uh…a little incapacitated, in case you hadn’t noticed. Not exactly peppy. It will get taken care of.”
“By the dog or the hunter?” A chilly smile crossed his face.
“Not sure,” she said, cautiously. “Which dog? We have a whole pack of them outside.”
“Your friend. The good natured male.”
“Yes, he might be coming up with a plan.”
“With the hunter, am I right? Sultana’s would-be killer?”
“Maybe.” She stretched out the word like taffy, cocking her head to study him.
“Ah. It’s in the maybe status. Shall I bring you anything? More cheese and crackers? I can see if anything’s left in your fridge.”
Her stomach rumbled in answer, while suspicion swirled in her mind. “Yes, please. I’d appreciate it.”
“Anything for you, pet.” The words emerged with crisp precision and icy calm.
Why, oh, why did I rent my basement to a vamp?
His eyes narrowed. “I pay rent on time, remember? More importantly, I actually pay. I don’t freeload. I clean up after myself, I never make a mess, I’m polite and courteous. And I like you.” He nodded curtly, like she should be used to the mind reading stuff.
She stretched her lips into a smile, not sure if his liking her was a good thing. And the whole town will be dead if Hung kills Sultana.
“I’m merely efficient,” he said, answering her unspoken statement again. “I do what I say. The only reason I’ve tolerated your mal
e hanging around the place is, one, Sultana is still alive and, two, he’s watching out on your behalf. You’re my landlady so it behooves me to wait to act.”
“He’s not my male. But thank you.”
“Please, child,” he said with a swish of his hand. “He’s pissing around the perimeter of the yard along with the other dogs and wolves.”
Chia choked back a laugh.
“That’s a territorial gesture used by a mate or protector. And you’re welcome. My fangs, however, are getting a mite twitchy. Besides him, there are a host of delicious beverages to choose from outside.” He swished his elegant hand into the air.
Chia groaned. “D, please, let me have one day of rest. Don’t kill any of the shifters. Or feed from them. Or whatever you do. Don’t.”
“I’m doing nothing to interfere with your rest. Merely thinking of my needs.”
She wanted to scream. Everyone and their damn needs.
“Let me prepare your repast.” He spun on his heel and exited the room.
Chia listened to the low growls, yips, and rumbles outside. The maniacal laughter of the hyena made her skin crawl. Everything outside seemed tense, poised for action but not knowing what to do. Like me. Occasionally, sounds of fighting or attack burst out.
“Knock it off,” a male commanded.
Hung? He’s outside keeping the peace? Warmth filled her chest and tugged at her loins. The new ghost seemed to sigh in contentment.
A while later, when footsteps fell on the hall again, she readied herself to face D’Raynged. Again, the knocks sounded. Again, she said, “Come in.”
Cecil popped his head in the doorway bearing a tray overflowing with food. His hair looked exceptionally messy as if he’d been rolling in the hay.
“What have you been doing?”
“I went to town.”
“What did you do there?”
“The thing you don’t want me to say. I’ve been without for hours. I have needs, you know.”
“Yeah, apparently everyone does.”
He held the tray out to her. “I didn’t know what you liked, so I got buffalo jerky, and fixed some bacon, eggs, and toast with jam. I can’t cook anything but breakfast kinds of things.”
Chia’s jaw dropped open. “Where’d you get the money for all this?”
“Where do you think, lil’ Summer? He sent me into town with plenty of cash. We can’t keep playing this game. The dude cares for you, whether you like it or not. Now, where do you want it?”
“On my lap.” She sat, stiffly, like a child.
Cecil placed the tray on her legs, handing her a soft, blue and white checked cloth napkin. He lifted the prescription bottle from the tray and shook it, making the pills rattle. “After you get some food in your gullet, it’s meds time. I refilled your prescription.”
“Thank you.”
Without being asked, Cecil walked to the other side of the bed, plumped up the pillows and stretched his lanky body beside her. “Where’s that new ghost come from?” he said, eyeing the ceiling.
“From my persistence in not dealing with things of the emotional kind. I’m a practical gal.”
“That one’s for Hung, huh?”
Her cheeks flushed hot. “Maybe.”
Cecil nodded, but thankfully didn’t comment. He reached for a slice of bacon from her plate. “Excuse my reach. I made extras, in case you didn’t notice.”
“I wondered why you brought so many strips.” She picked up a piece and chewed it thoughtfully, sitting in easy companionship with Cecil. Their friendship had surely been strengthened these last few crazy days. “Any plans or ideas yet?”
“We’ve thought of a couple.” Cecil’s foot began jiggling on the bed. “It’s getting worse outside. Your front yard looks like a barnyard.”
“So how is it that they can all get in the yard, let alone find me? The night I got shot I remember seeing lines of energy around the place. I thought they might be some sort of protection spell.”
“Finding the place was easy. Your house shows up on Google maps. Everyone knows where you live. There’s never been a reason to come out here.”
“That sucks. You realize most of this region isn’t catalogued by Google, right? So much for privacy in remote Alaska.” She forked a bite of eggs and shoved it in her mouth. It tasted delicious. She fell to devouring the plate of home-cooked food.
“As to the energy lines, they’re there for sure. But when the shifters have shifted, well…” He shrugged his large, strong shoulder. “They can slip right in. Unless one of them wants to do harm to you. Then, he wouldn’t be able to find the place.”
“Sounds like they all want me dead.”
“There’s unrest, to be certain. But they want help, not vengeance. Me and the vamp just switched on the news while I was cooking. It’s like a feeding frenzy out there. You know what it’s like when it’s herring season? Everyone, fishermen, sea mammals, birds and beast partake.”
He shook his head, his ever-messy hair flopping around his face. “You seem to be the herring. People have lost their minds. They’re acting irrationally, fear being their motivating emotion. Crazy.” He snagged another bacon strip. “Reporters say the bounty on Hung was increased. Red’s spinning a tale about you being dangerous. Said you hunted Dick while he slept in his home. Said you terrified his wife and kids.”
“What? This is like phone tag on crack. Stories are spinning in every direction and all I’m doing is being shot at and wallowing in indecision.” Again, Chia wanted to bang her head against the headboard, but chose to roll her eyes instead, a far less satisfying gesture. “All I’ve been trying to do for the past three years is to make Charming a safe and satisfying place to live for all. Now it seems it’s all going to hell. What did I do to deserve this?”
“I don’t think it has anything to do with deserving or not deserving, lil’ Summer. It’s more of an evolution. Hung’s been telling me you hold a lot of power in this town. People want it. It’s not as personal as you make it.” He shrugged.
“What, you and he are best buddies now?” Envy crawled in her gut like a worm eating a hole in an apple.
“Don’t start. Please.” Cecil shot her a look and patted her hand. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
“Is it? Is it really? Because I’m not so sure. Me, with all my so-called power…I’m powerless to do anything. I can’t exactly hike up the mountain and see if the shamans set the spell…or cast it…or however spells are made.”
“You’re not exactly powerless. You have your second in command.”
“Really? And who’s that?” Chia let the words drip from her tongue.
“Who do you think? Hung and I. We’re putting together a plan of attack.”
“I see. I rule you, do I?” She arched an eyebrow. It pulled against her stitches so she quickly made her face impassive. “And what might that plan be?”
Cecil’s foot began jiggling on the bed again.
Chia eyed it, eyed Cecil’s face and said, “What’s got you so riled?”
“Hung thinks…” He gulped and looked away. “He thinks…”
Chia saw, clear as day, the apprehension coloring Cecil’s features. She reached for his hand. “What is it?”
He turned his ice blue eyes on Chia’s silvery ones. “He wants us both to shift and climb the mountain. Check and see what the shamans are up to.”
“What? No. Absolutely not. I forbid it.” Releasing his hand, she started to lurch upright but pain got the best of her. “No, no, no, and no. You’re not shifting. I won’t lose you or…” She started to say Hung but stopped herself.
“It’s not the shifting I’m worried about. I’d be happy living life as a dog. Well, sort of. I’d sure miss my time with the ladies. I’d miss my time with you.” He gave her a moon-eyed gaze, filled with longing. “That would suck. It’s the climb I’m worried about. You were right. I’m terrified of heights.”
“Cecil, huskies are born adventurers.”
“No
t this dog. I experienced a fall from a mountain when I was only a pup. It’s the same as me and chia seeds. Once burned, lesson learned.”
Chia laced her fingers with his and gave his hand a squeeze.
Cecil’s eyes shot to hers, filled with hope and longing.
Watching his sudden, intense reaction to her affection, she tried to slide her hand away without hurting his feelings…or stirring her own interest into the damn need zone. “Don’t do it. We’ll find another way. Speaking of heights, how did you and your pack find that hideout in the first place? If you’re afraid of heights you wouldn’t have wanted to go up there.”
“I didn’t. I stayed on watchdog duty with the other dogs. Peaty found it. He’s always getting into mischief. He and a couple of the others were bored. They dared each other to see who’d be brave enough to climb up the side of Haunted Bear. They spied the cave, sniffed around and raced down the hill to report in.”
Chia let out a gasp. “Did you ever think about the animal traps? You could have been caught.”
“We didn’t know about them, no. That’s part of the danger of Hung’s idea. We both know there are traps out there. I’d be the dumb dog of the team putting my four legs at risk. He’d be a snow bird or something winged.”
The snowy owl. “Is that what he said? He’d be a snow bird?”
“Not exactly. He mentioned an albatross or something. I wasn’t listening. I’m too worried about climbing a mountain and staying a dog forever. No more fun with the ladies. Hung would simply fly away and change back when he gets to wherever he’s headed next.”
His foot wiggled so hard, Chia felt her insides shake. “Dawg-man, stop. It hurts with you wiggling the bed.”
“Sorry.” His foot ceased moving.
“Don’t do it. No shifting, no climbing. I don’t want you to do it. Town manager’s orders.”
“Nope, I’m doing it. There’s no other way. Hung thinks they’ll be on the lookout for humans, not a dog and a bird. It’s a done deal. I want to do it.” Again, his piercing blue eyes met hers. “I’m doing it for you, lil’ Summer. This dog is stepping up to the plate and facing his fears. For you…”