The Shifting Storm (Book 4)

by Jeff Hale

  “Aye. But it’s a wee bit complicated, lad. Neither she nor I want her tae be a normal vampire, an if I jus’ turn her, that’s what she’ll be.”

  “She needs to be a shifter first, and you can’t do that for her.”

  “Aye. Oh, I could go find some o’er shifter tae do the job, but she would prefer family, wants our Caitlín to be the one.”

  “That’s what she’s talking to Kat about?”

  He nodded. “So, what do ye think? Will Caitlín do it?”

  I thought about it for a few minutes, considered Kat’s intense dislike for violence even though Alex had warned me about her problems with thrall, the bloodlust of sorts that shifters got drawn into when they lost control of themselves. “I think she’ll want to, to please her mother, but I’m not sure she’ll be able to go through with it.”

  He nodded again. “Roslyn ‘as her heart set on getting’ it done on her birthday at the end of the month an’ she’s giving the lass ‘til then to decide. If Caitlín decides she cannna do it, or willna, I need ye tae be the one, Darien. Can ye do that fer me?”

  “You want me to change Roslyn if Kat refuses?” I was a little bit taken aback.

  “Aye.”

  “She understands what will happen, what I will have to do?”

  “Aye.” It was said softer this time. “I nae want her to get hurt, lad, but I don’t want her tae die either.”

  Would I change Kat, if she was fully human? Maybe, probably, but not until after she had another decade or so, had borne a living child so I wouldn’t have to watch her fret and worry over every pregnancy, comfort her as she put yet another stillborn baby into the ground. Fate had taken that choice out of my hands.

  “I’ll do it, if Kat won’t.”

  “Thank you, lad. It will make Roslyn happy tae know that everything has been set, one way or the o’er.”

  “Just do me a favor in return? Don’t tell Kat I agreed to this, however it works out. I’m not sure, if she doesn’t do it herself, that she’ll be too happy with me if I do.”

  “Agreed. Now,” and he stood, smoothing his slacks as he did so, “why don't we go downstairs an’ see what the lasses are up to?”

  They were all in the big kitchen when we got down there. The counter was covered with multiple plastic cups filled with brightly colored dyes. Kat was dipping an egg into one of them with a metal holder while Kris was carefully putting colored eggs back into a cardboard carton. Matt had taken a perch on one of the counters, watching Kris with a soft amusement that I hadn’t seen on the man since before he’d become a rakshasa.

  Roslyn was busy getting something out of the refrigerator and when she turned around with another carton of eggs in her hands, I saw Lochlan give her the briefest nod. A smile curved her lips and she inclined her head in my direction. Alex was sorting through crayons and stickers to further decorate the eggs.

  We spent the next couple hours dying eggs. Roslyn had probably boiled six dozen of them and I doubted they would last for more than a day with three shifters around. I hadn’t done anything like this in decades and it was nice to feel part of a full family, even if it was as strangely dichotomous as three shifters, two hybrids and two humans.

  I felt a little bit sorry for Alex. I had Kat, Kris and Matt weren’t being the least bit shy about how they felt about each other, and Lochlan and Roslyn looked on like beaming parents, despite Roslyn being the third youngest in the room. I saw the occasional wistful glances that Alex would throw mine and Kat’s way, and while I suspected that Alex might have slightly deeper feelings for Kat than just friendship, I trusted him with her implicitly; he was my best friend and I knew he’d never betray me like that.

  Matt had been my best friend once, probably would still be if he wasn’t undead. It wasn’t that I had anything against Matt for being what he was, but we didn’t run in the same circles anymore, even though we were still close. Matt and I had been pack, way back when, but when he’d joined up with Lochlan’s pack, we’d only seen each other sporadically. When he’d been turned into a vampire he’d flat out disappeared for decades, turning up again right after Sasha had died, but it had been Alex who had kept me sane through that time.

  Daylight hit soon enough and Kat, Kris, and Roslyn left to go spend the first part of Easter Day at church. After, they were going to Roslyn’s parents. Even though the world knew about supernaturals, Roslyn hadn’t told her parents about Lochlan still being around, nor had she explained about Kat’s change.

  Us menfolk, as Lochlan had started grouping us, did our best to catch up on sleep. Contrary to popular myth, vampires did not go suddenly comatose during daylight hours, quite able to function normally, but most chose to sleep those hours away anyway.

  At some point later on I felt Kat slide into the bed next to me, snuggling into my chest before she fell into sleep. I lay there and watched her sleep for several minutes before wrapping my arms around her and falling back into sleep myself.

  I was awakened some time later by the sound of footsteps coming very unstealthily into the room. I fought the urge to jump out of the bed and confront the intruder, already able to identify Kris by her smell and that invisible tie that marked her as being protected by my pack. I also didn’t think an actual intruder would be carrying a slice of freshly cooked bacon.

  “Wakey, wakey!” Kris sang, waving the slice of bacon back and forth in front of my nose. “It’s time for dinner!”

  “Jeezus, Kris, how can you be so cheery?” Kat muttered against my chest, rolling to glare up at her.

  “I’m always cheery when I’m getting presents and chocolate, you know that. Now, up!” She grabbed my arm, tugging at me. I had to respect Kris; human or not, she’d never let my being a werewolf intimidate her.

  “I’m naked under here, so unless you want a show, I’d quit dragging me out from under the covers,” I told her impishly.

  “Matt sleeps in the buff too, what is it with you guys anyway? Does Alex?” she asked in mock irritation.

  “Dunno. Why don’t you go drag him out of his bed and find out for yourself?” Kat grumbled.

  “Psshaw. I would, but he’s already up. Matt doesn’t mind if I look.” She stuck her tongue out. “Dining room, five minutes, or I get your Easter basket.” She bounced out of the room, munching the slice of bacon.

  “Presents? Easter baskets?” I asked Kat as we got dressed.

  “Yeah, Mom always does an Easter basket. Chocolate, those marshmallow chicks, jelly beans, that kind of thing. And a stuffed bunny. It’s tradition. But she likes to give us a present or two as well. Plus, she makes this huge Easter dinner, only she does breakfast stuff,” she explained.

  A couple hours later and we were all sitting in the living room, stuffed from dinner, while the girls made a mess of Easter grass and wrappers. Roslyn and Lochlan had also given each of the girls one of the new magic items that were cropping up as more AE run companies were springing up with magical merchandise for sale. In this case, it was something for school; a pair of what looked like glasses, but the girls could use them to view their classes from afar if they needed to, along with a notepad that would transmit whatever they wrote to the teacher. I knew that there were computers and webcams out there that could do the same thing. When I mentioned it, Roslyn just smiled and pointed out there was no need for batteries or internet with the gifts.

  The couple days after Easter were the best I had spent since before Sasha died. Even though I knew that my own parents cared about me, it was different to feel loved and wanted by people who had no blood obligation to do so. To feel worthwhile.

  The nightmares started at that point too, ones where I was back in Grimm’s compound, wanting so desperately to get to Kat. The ones where I saw her ravaged and torn on the arena floor below, while I was crucified in place, an evil witch in green leather whipping the blood from my flesh as Grimm watched on in wicked amusement. I woke up thrashing several times, falling back asleep only after Kat had calmed me.

  The n
ight before we left, to my surprise, Lochlan had actually acquired some Fae wine, the only alcohol that could affect shifters without having some other means to suppress our metabolism. Alex produced something for the two humans, something I had no clue when he’d been able to procure and smuggle out: a bottle of absinthe. We all, except for the two vampires, spent the night pleasantly drunk.

  We flew to Las Vegas the next day. Kat and Kris had done teary farewells with Roslyn and Lochlan, then all five us, Matt included, had headed to the airport to take the relatively short plane hop. Lochlan and I had spoken a few more times before I left, but he hadn’t divulged anything more to me except to say he was exploring his own avenue in regards to Aerick and reiterate the need to keep Aerick away from Kat and vice versa.

  I wasn’t sure what was going to happen in regards to the living situation, other than I wanted it to be near, or with, Kat. I still owned property in Florida with a home, but it had been mine and Sasha’s and still held difficult memories for me. I knew Kat needed to stay in Vegas since she was going to school there, but I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of living out of a hotel long-term. My job could be done from anywhere, so purchasing land in Vegas might be an idea.

  A cab took us from the airport in Las Vegas, one of those vehicles that was designed for AEs, with darkened windows and roomy interiors, painted purple and green to let the general public know that dangerous things might be inside. We heard some yelling of general obscenities while at a stop light, including the newest one for AEs that had been circling society for the last few months: Unpure.

  We ignored it, and so did the cabby, an AE himself, continuing on in the midafternoon Vegas sunlight, bright and warm already in the first half of April. We made it to the girls’ apartment and were finally all inside, luggage scattered across their living room, a very happy cat making the rounds of all of us except for Matt, whom she avoided with a hiss and a scowl.

  I dropped onto the couch, feeling extremely tired despite the fact that we had all taken the few hours on the plane to sleep. Immediately, there was a cat on my lap, meowrping at me and butting my hand for attention. I hadn’t seen Angel in almost a year, but the little animal seemed to remember me.

  “Do you have a phonebook, Kat?” I asked her, petting the small purring creature in my lap.

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “I figure I can find me and Alex some rooms back at the Treasure Island, but I don’t know the number.”

  Her brow furrowed. “I thought you’d just stay here, no need to get a hotel room.”

  Staying with her was what I wanted as well, but I didn’t want to press the issue, didn’t want her to feel crowded. “If that’s what you want, Kat, but it’s not necessary.”

  A brief moment of what I could have sworn was panic clouded her features. “Don’t you want to?”

  “Of course he does, you twit,” Kris spoke up, rolling her eyes and giving me a smile. “He just remembers what happened the last time he tried to force you into a commitment.”

  “Oh.” Kat looked sheepish. “Well, I want you to stay, Darien, if you want to.”

  “I do. But…” I glanced at Alex.

  “It’s okay, mate,” Alex said, shrugging. “I’ll be fine at a hotel.”

  “No, Alex. If it’s okay with them, you can have my room,” Kris told him. A chagrined look crossed Kris’s face. “I had meant to say something earlier, but I spaced it, Kat. Uhm, Matt and I got a place together. I would have had him just move in here, but he didn’t want you having to deal with the whole vampire thing for any, er, guests you might have. Plus, well, we kinda figured you and Darien would work things out.” Kris laughed.

  “You’re moving out?” Kat asked, frowning.

  “Yeah. You’re not mad, are you?”

  “Oh, no! Just surprised is all. But you’re staying in Vegas, right?”

  Kris nodded. “I want to finish school.”

  “I thought the Phoenix didn’t allow vampires here though,” I brought up, curious.

  “I have an… understanding… with him,” Matt supplied, mouth quirking up.

  “You behave and he doesn’t roast you?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Anyway,” Kris said, “we kinda already found a place, and everything but the bedroom furniture is there. Matt had all his stuff shipped up here so we don’t need it.”

  “I’m going to miss you, Kris!” Kat exclaimed, pulling Kris into a tight hug.

  Kris laughed. “No you won’t. We’ll still see each other in class, we have three out of four of them together this semester, plus our apartment isn’t too far from here. Then there’s parties, and hanging out. And Darien will keep you too busy to miss me anyway.” She winked at me.

  “So which room is yours, Kat?” Alex asked suddenly, reaching to grab up her luggage.

  Kat gave him an odd look, then pointed at the door that was on the right hand side of the living room. “That one.”

  Alex nodded and headed there with her bags, returning to grab mine and disappear into the room again.

  “So we’re going to take off,” Matt said, “I told the cabby down there to wait, but we brought our things just in case he didn’t. Here, Katelyn, this is the phone number at the apartment, and the address.” He pulled a piece of paper off a notepad that was on the counter between the kitchen and the living room and wrote the information down.

  They gathered up their bags again, heading for the door, where the two girls hugged each other again.

  “Hey, look, I’ll see you tomorrow at school,” Kris told Kat. “I’m still sorry to spring this on you so suddenly, but considering what all has happened, I think it will work out better this way.”

  “You’re probably right,” Kat replied, before turning a mock glare on Matt. “You take care of her, got it?”

  “I will. You guys get settled in.” Then the door closed behind them.

  Kat turned and leaned against the door and I could see that she was holding back tears.

  “She’ll be fine, Kat.” Angel jumped down to go twine herself around Kat’s legs.

  “I know she will, I do, and Matt will make sure nothing happens to her.” She bent to pick the cat up, held the animal against her chest while she stroked its fur. “So much has changed so quick, I’m just a little overwhelmed.”

  “We can get a hotel if it would be easier.”

  “No! I mean, no, I don’t want you to leave me, I’m fine with you staying here.” Her smile was nervous and she wiped her palms on her jeans.

  I understood then, or at least I thought I did. “First I left and didn’t come back, and then Aerick left you and didn’t come back. I’m not leaving you again, Kat, ever, no matter what.”

  Relief flooded her eyes and she came over to straddle my lap, facing me, the cat squashed between us. Angel made an irritated noise, dug her claws in and leapt free, regarding us both from the couch back with annoyance. Kat leaned in to kiss me, then snuggled in against my chest, her cheek against the dark fabric of my t-shirt.

  “Speaking of leaving…” I looked towards her bedroom door, just now noticing that Alex hadn’t come back out.

  “Hmm?”

  “Alex seems to have disappeared.”

  “Oh.” She glanced in the direction of her bedroom and for some reason a blush tinged her cheeks. She hopped off my lap, went to her door, then a small laugh broke from her. “Silly dog.”

  I moved up behind her, looked inside and saw Alex sound asleep in the middle of her bed, face buried between the two pillows as though he had tried to burrow into them, the covers wound up around him. Kat walked over to the side of the bed and poked him in the ribs, several times, before he moved.

  “Hey, Katie, your bed is comfortable,” he murmured.

  “Yeah, well Kris left you hers and I’m not up to having both of you in my bed tonight… today, whatever,” she complained.

  “Not like the three of us haven’t shared a bed before,” he said, sitting up, expression sly.
r />   “That was different and you know it.” She raised an eyebrow at him.

  We had all slept together before, operative word being slept, even though I only had fuzzy memories of it. Not long after I had first met Kat and had been hit with a load of silver buckshot, causing Kat and I to almost end up over the edge of a cliff, they had both loaned me their presence to help me heal, much as Kat had done in the backseat of the little car when they’d found me in the woods.

  “Up.” She pulled on his arm and he stood, but as he headed out the door, there was a warmth in his eyes when he looked at her that had me slightly confused. When I turned back to her, she was busy stripping the blankets and sheets off the bed, pillowcases too.

  I followed her as she took the armload out and across the living room, through a small archway in the opposite wall that led to another bedroom, a bathroom, and a tiny utility area with a washer and dryer. She stuffed the items in the washer, poured soap in and started it running, before returning to her room and pulling new bedding from the closet.

  “Sorry,” she said, remaking the bed. “Those sheets and blankets hadn’t been changed out since before I left, and now they smell like Alex, so I figured we could use clean ones.” Her laugh was light and short.

  I didn’t argue with her, preferring to not smell another man on her bed if I didn’t have to, even if it was just Alex. Now knowing that she and Aerick hadn’t been together for over six months, I would be stupid to think that she hadn’t slept with anyone else in the interim, and in fact I could smell just faintly another female and multiple males other than Alex in the room. The possessive part of me would have preferred to have been her first, but it was my own fault that hadn’t happened. I was just happy now to have her at all, even though logic and the knowledge of how cat shifters tended to be had me sadly knowing that I probably would not be her last.

  “You still tired?” she asked me. “I don’t know about you, but keeping those nighttime hours with Mom and Da just have me beat.”

  I was tired, very much so. “Shall we get the clean sheets dirty?” I joked.