A Paranormal Easter: 14 Paranormal & Fantasy Romance Novellas

by Tiffany Carby

  Peregrine’s bellowing woke Dylan from a dream he wished he could return to. Shaking his head, he stretched across Adelaide’s pillow immediately wincing. His leg was sore and incredibly stiff in the cool early morning. He watched her open the door and nearly shifted to stop her. Shit…shit shit shit! No, Dylan. Clothes, outside, now. Adelaide’s voice was muffled through the door; however he could tell she was being cornered again. Fucking leg, MOVE! He shook out his back leg and an involuntary cry of agony left his throat.

  He moved best he could to slip out Adelaide’s open window near her bed. His leg was on fire, however it was no match for the fury coursing through his veins. I am going to kill that man one of these days. He shifted human and located the set of clothes he had stashed the day before. “Fucking bastard thinks he can do whatever he wants,” he growled ignoring the shrieking of agony as he slipped on his clothing.

  Smoothing everything out, he limped towards the front door. “Good morning, Love!” He called to Adelaide in a successful attempt to draw Peregrine’s attention off of her.

  Peregrine stormed over to Dylan and stood nose to nose with him. Dylan smirked seeing the anger surge into the man’s eyes. “What is it Perry boy?” he teased. “Adelaide tell you what for again?” He flashed his signature smile while the man spoke.

  “She was just about to hear me out. My behavior yesterday was unacceptable and I came to apologize,” he sneered and turned his nose up.

  “From my perspective, it appeared that she wanted nothing to do with you,” Dylan squared his shoulders. He felt Adelaide’s eyes fall on him and knew she was worried about his leg; however nothing was stopping him from protecting her this go round. Peregrine had to be stopped.

  The man glowered at him, knowing he was right yet refusing to admit it. Dylan reached out and put his hand on Peregrine’s shoulder. “I think you need to leave Perry boy,” he chuckled nonchalant. Leaning in close, he pointed towards Adelaide. “If looks could kill, you would be six feet under right now. You may want to rethink your apology.” He clapped the man’s shoulder and hobbled his way towards Adelaide.

  “This isn’t over, Dylan!” Peregrine roared before storming away.

  Dylan sighed dramatically. “I told you it’s Mr. Reid to chauvinistic pigs such as yourself!” he called after the man. When he turned back around he was met with Adelaide running to him and throwing her arms around him. His heart stopped in his chest feeling her body against his and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. He knew that she would not thank him; however this feeling was all the thanks he needed.

  Slipping his knuckle under her chin, he tipped her face up towards him. “Are you alright, Love?” The glassed over look in her eyes caused his heart to lurch before she nodded in response. He pressed a kiss against her forehead before wrapping her back up.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” her voice was small when she spoke.

  “I am as well,” he murmured into her hair. Her fingernails bit into his back sending streaks of fire across his skin. “Let’s go inside, Addy,” he encouraged gently, keeping his voice low. She nodded and helped him to the chair he knew she had fallen asleep in last night. He collapsed into the chair, relief sweeping through his body. The trips he had made to and from town yesterday left him dumbfounded. He leaned his head back and grimaced at the screaming in his body.

  “You shouldn’t be walking on that,” she gently propped his leg up with her grandmother’s footstool.

  An involuntary gasp echoed off the walls at the movement and his nails bit into the arm rests. “I know, but I saw him leave towards your place and I knew he was up to no good,” he frowned. “I don’t like him, Adelaide. I wish you wouldn’t humor his antics.”

  She sighed heavily and stood. “It isn’t so much that I humor his antics. I worry about what he would do if I ignored him.”

  Her response broke his heart. He knew the man was brutal in every sense of the word; however his heart lurched in his chest at the thought of Peregrine hurting her. “Let me stay with you until he leaves you alone, Addy. Please,” he caught her hand and looked up at her while she passed. The heat that stole into her cheeks never ceased to take his breath away, and did so in this moment when she twisted her fingers into his.

  “I wish I could, Dylan. But wouldn’t that label me a harlot?” She smiled sadly at him. “If I am honest, I would love to have you here with me. But you aren’t my husband and the townsfolk would shun me.”

  His heart sank as she untangled her fingers from his and walked towards the fire behind him. Dylan rubbed his face cursing inwardly and wished he could figure out how to tell her how he felt without scaring her away or provoking her. She isn’t difficult, but I know Peregrine has been pursuing her since her parents passed. He hasn’t given her a day’s respite. The thought was sobering.

  “Well maybe you could stay with me,” he pondered aloud. “They wouldn’t even have to know if you are that worried about it.”

  The sigh behind him was ominous. “I wish I could, Dylan. I wish I could.”

  Silence fell between them and filled the room with its deafening thunder. He sat in the chair having never felt more helpless and it infuriated him. There is no reason for this. I wish she would just see me. Dylan stood and ignored the pain to limp over behind her. He watched her for a moment before she rose to her feet. The firelight caught her hair and it ignited into nearly every color imaginable. Unable to stop himself, he reached out and ran his fingers down a lock in wonder.

  “What are you doing, Dylan?” Her voice was unsure.

  “Admiring your hair, Love,” he smiled and wrapped her up in his arms again. “It reminds me of a summer sunset.”

  “Oh stop it you horrible flirt.”

  He chuckled as Adelaide smacked his chest before tucking herself against him. “Would it be so bad?” He said quietly knowing she was still raw from earlier.

  “Hmm? What do you mean?”

  Dylan felt his world narrow when she looked up to him. “Staying with me,” he paused and forced himself to say the next word. “Pretending….,” he felt his heart contract some, “to be together to offer you protection from that animal.” He could see the wheels turning behind her eyes and the sigh that followed was heartbreaking.

  “I just can’t Dylan,” she pulled away and turned back to her work.

  He nodded forcing the disappointment down. “I understand, Love,” he whispered. “My arms are always yours. I won’t let him hurt you.” His leg was unwilling to bear his weight any longer so he turned and limped back to the chair.

  “You really should stay off of it,” she admonished as she brought him some warmed stew from the night before. “I’m sorry it has meat in it,” she apologized and handed him the bowl. “I know you don’t eat meat.”

  He took it from her hands with a smile. “It’s alright, I can pick around it.” Eating slowly Dylan cursed the direction her chair was facing. He knew she would be looking for the rabbit and sighed to himself. I can’t maintain this ruse forever. She’s smart and will figure it out. After he finished his food Dylan forced a smile to his lips. “I best make my way back to town before they wonder why my shop is closed.” He rose to his feet and limped over to put the bowl where she kept her dishes. “Thank you for the food, Love. It was incredible.”

  “Even with the meat in it?” She asked, cocking her head.

  He nodded and smiled unable to help himself. “Yes, even with the meat in it. Now give me a hug and I’ll be out of your hair. I know you have things to do.” The smile that came to her lips made his more genuine.

  She wrapped her arms around him, her head coming to rest on his chest. “Thank you again for the flowers. I’m sorry you hurt yourself for them though.”

  He chuckled. “It was no problem, Love. I would be remiss in my duty to not bring them back for you.” Pressing a kiss to her hair he was reluctant to let her go. “If he gives you any more trouble, you come straight to me, alright?”

  She nodded. �
�I will.”

  “Take care, Love.” Before she could respond he made his way out of her door and back into the morning mist. Dylan took a deep breath as he rubbed his face and made his way back to the spot where he hid his clothes. He stripped down before folding the clothes and hid them again before shifting back. Hopping slowly he made his way to her front window and clambered up on the ledge back into the house.

  “There you are! You missed meeting Dylan,” Adelaide walked over and scooped him up. “You have to quit moving so much.”

  He rested his head on her chest simply wanting to be close. He hurt all over. His leg was on fire. Most of all his heart hurt, however for the next few weeks he simply took comfort in her embrace—despite the fact she had no idea it was him.

  5

  “You have to stay out of it, Son.”

  Dylan bristled. “Why is that, Father? I am a grown man. I can make my own choices.”

  His father looked up to him with the same chocolate brown eyes Dylan saw in the mirror every morning. “Because she isn’t yours, she never will be. You are in your twenties now, you need to find a woman and settle down. There are plenty of women who have been none too shy about their admiring. Why not choose one of them?”

  Dylan darted to his feet and his leg nearly refused to support his weight. “Because none of them are Adelaide. She is the only one I have ever wanted,” he paused in thought. “And if I am correct, I am the only one she’s wanted.”

  “Son!” his father called after him as he stormed out best he could into the daylight.

  Dylan’s family infuriated him. He knew they meant well, however he wanted none of what they were trying to push on him. I don’t want anyone but Adelaide. And if I’m wrong and she doesn’t want me, then so be it. He limped quickly towards the edge of town. He had to get away from the closed in quarters. He knew he was one of the few—if not the only one—in his family who had a true animal form and his body craved the freedom it allowed.

  When he arrived at their field he was surprised to find Adelaide already there. She lay among the flowers watching the clouds roll by, arms outstretched as if worshipping the sky. A soft smile came to his lips watching her a while longer before stripping down and hiding his clothes. The shifting was quick—albeit still painful—and before he knew it the growing grass was in his face. He hopped over towards her and paused beside her head.

  He frowned inwardly when he saw the salt lines down her cheeks. Moving to get a better view, he saw her chest rising and falling in the rhythmic pattern of sleep. I wonder what had her this upset. She rarely cries. He licked her cheek and the salt inundated his taste buds. Dylan ignored the salty sting as he licked her cheek again and nuzzled into it.

  Adelaide moaned groggily and turned her face towards him. Her eyes were puffy and he leaned in to lick her cheek a third time. “Hey you,” she whispered picking him up. A smile came to her lips when he situated himself under her chin. “How did you get out here, much less find me?”

  He closed his eyes while she stroked his head. It was a feeling he would never take for granted, and a sigh left his chest after he made himself comfortable.

  “You always seem to know exactly what I need,” she said with a smile coming to her lips. “Our,” she paused, “friend Peregrine stopped by again.”

  He sneezed his disgust. Fury rose in his chest at the mere mention of the man’s name. As soon as my leg heals, he’s mine. He rubbed the top of his head against her skin in an effort to comfort her.

  “I know, I know,” she sighed. “I’m going to tell Dylan next time I see him.” She fell silent for a moment or two. “I wish I could take him up on his offer. Although I’m not certain how much pretending it would be. I just don’t know if he feels the same way about me.”

  Of course I do, Love. It’s only ever been you. He lifted his head and placed his cheek against hers.

  She sighed again and gently squeezed him. “I know I’m being silly. It’s plain as day when he looks at me, but still. When he touches me, it feels like fire streaks across my skin and my stomach turns on its head.”

  He lifted his head to look at her with hope blossoming in his chest.

  “Like when he brushed Perry’s touch away the other day. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. And when he holds me, it feels like nothing in the world can get to me,” she murmured still stroking his fur. “Do you think that’s love? Or a school girl’s fantasy about her best friend? I don’t know, Bunny. I really don’t know.”

  Dylan longed to shift back. With no clothing nearby and her unaware of what you are that’s a bad idea. He sighed inwardly and leaned forward to nip her chin.

  “Hey!” she tapped his nose. “Don’t bite me goofball. That hurts.” She rubbed her chin and tapped the end of his nose.

  Truth be told, if he could smile he would be grinning from ear to ear. So I was right. His heart nearly leapt from his chest. He wished he could tell her what he was right then and there, however he knew that to do so now would likely scare her away. Instead he watched her let her head fall back and look towards the sky.

  Dylan nipped at her finger prompting another tap on the nose.

  “Would you stop that? You are in a mood today,” she frowned, but he saw the laughter she could not hide in her eyes. Even her voice was laced with the laugh that shortly emerged thereafter and satisfied his desire to only hear her laugh.

  Her hand moved over his head and over his ears while they lay in silence. It was not long before Dylan felt his eyelids grew heavy. The rhythmic rise and fall of her chest lulled him into a dream like state and he could nearly feel her skin against his. He woke up briefly and resituated himself to be more comfortable before quickly falling asleep on her chest with his head tucked under her chin.

  6

  He watched her bloom as the days warmed, not unlike the flowers he tended. Her light seemed to emerge from the inky darkness and she more often than not was smiling when she came into his shop.

  Today was no different when the shop bell rang prompted him to look up. “Hello, Adelaide. How is the bunny?” He rose to his feet, a smile adorning his lips. His heart still leapt in his chest when she held out her arms to him. Dylan swiftly closed the distance between them before he wrapped her up tight.

  “Not even going to ask how I am doing, are we?” She smiled up to him.

  “Of course I was going to, Love,” he pressed a kiss to her forehead before she pulled away. “So how are you today? We’ve been having a lot of the storms you love.”

  She smiled again and set about looking for the flowers she wanted. “I am doing alright. Just trying to figure out why this bunny keeps disappearing. I want you to meet him. He’s quite the character.”

  Dylan smiled and shook his head. “Maybe he has wander lust and simply can’t resist the arms of a beautiful woman at night.”

  She scoffed and sighed with a smile. “You keep saying that, but I don’t see it.”

  “I do, and that’s all that matters of course,” he grinned coming up behind her. She did not have to turn around for him to see her ears turn pink as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

  “May I ask you something?” Adelaide turned around and leaned back looking up to him.

  “Of course. What is it?” He brushed his fingertips down her cheek unable to help himself.

  “Why do you keep calling me beautiful?” She turned a deep crimson. “No one else does. Well…other than you know who, but he doesn’t count because he’s a pig.”

  Dylan laughed and shook his head. “Because it’s the truth, Love. You ARE beautiful. If anyone says otherwise, you just let me know and I’ll take care of them.” He tipped her face back up with a finger when she looked down. “Why do you ask that? Have I given you reason to doubt my word?” He frowned slightly.

  “No,” she glanced up to him uncharacteristically shy. “You’re the only one who says that, so I was wondering why you thought that.”

  Cupping her cheek he smiled and shook his head
. “Oh Addy, I love your curious mind.” The bell rang behind him and instantly Dylan’s hackles rose at the familiar footsteps. He turned while pulling Adelaide behind him. “What do you want, Perry boy?” He managed to growl as he felt her lean into him.

  “I saw her come in here,” Peregrine pointed behind Dylan with his healing hand. “I want to talk to her.”

  “She doesn’t want t…”

  “Are you her keeper? You aren’t even her boyfriend, back the fuck off Dylan,” Peregrine cut him off.

  Dylan stiffened and his spine went ram rod straight as rage consumed him. “You are in my shop, Peregrine. I suggest you remember that.”

  “You think I care?” Peregrine stormed over to Dylan looking him eye to eye. “You aren’t the one whose name she was calling last night.”

  Dylan saw red. “Get out,” he growled. “Get the fuck out of my shop now and if I see you step foot in here again, I will have your head on a platter.” Adrenaline poured into his veins and all he could feel was pure hatred for the man in front of him. The man had been the bane of his existence for as long as he could remember. She may not be mine, but I sure as fuck am not letting him have her.

  Peregrine shoved his finger into Dylan’s chest. “Or what, pretty boy? Everyone knows you are soft. She only tolerates you. She doesn’t want a passive boy like you. Adelaide needs man lik…”

  Dylan’s fist met Peregrine’s left temple and the man crumpled at his feet. “Get out of my shop,” he growled again. When the man did not move, he grabbed Peregrine’s shirt and dragged him out into the road. “If you EVER think to come into my shop and treat Adelaide or myself in such a manner again, I will have you jailed. Do you understand me?” He shouted at the stirring man.

  He felt all eyes on him as he turned before the man could answer and began to go back into his shop. Dylan looked to his right and Mrs. Mox was staring right at him and when he noticed, all she did was smile and nod in approval. He nodded back and paused. “How are you doing today?”