Gabe said nothing as he turned around and sat on the edge of the porch, his hands folding together.
Carly was impressed when he obeyed so immediately, but didn’t let it show as she followed Crystal inside the house.
“We’ll head up to my room,” Crystal said as they stepped through the foyer to the staircase.
“Are your parents home?” Carly questioned.
“They went to Duluth for the weekend, so no, but they won’t care if everyone stays over. Even the guys. Jeremy and I have them over all the time. Look, I know this all seems crazy, and it is, but Gabe’s going to keep you safe, Carly. You know that, don’t you?”
Carly followed her into a room with pink walls and a white four poster bed—a room reminiscent of the one she’d had back in the city. Except Carly wasn’t the same girl she’d been back then. No, she wasn’t the same at all.
“Go ahead and make yourself comfortable,” Crystal urged. “I’m sure the others will be here soon.”
Carly took off her heels before she dug a zip-up hooded sweatshirt from her messenger bag and slipped it over her dress. She flopped down on Crystal’s bed, closed her eyes, and allowed herself a moment to relax. But it didn’t last long as her night came crashing back. “Are we safe here, Crystal?”
“Yes, Carly, you’re safe.”
Carly rolled onto her side to face Crys, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. “Even with Gabe all the way outside?”
Crystal flashed a small smile. “It’s sweet that he’s so intent on protecting you, but he’s not the only one who wants you safe. I didn’t know if I’d ever meet another shifter, Carly, and then you showed up. You gave us all something to believe in, and that’s why we won’t let anything happen to you. You’re our family now.”
Carly sat up to face her, though had no reply for Crystal’s generous confession.
“Admittedly, we don’t know a lot about ruskahs,” Crys continued, kicking off her heels. “No one in our group of friends has ever seen one. But there is one significant piece of lore about them that’s pretty crucial to our location—the bark of a birch tree acts as their kryptonite. It’s nature’s silver bullet, and Sterling’s flooded with them. So, if the stories are true, we have our very own natural defense mechanism. That, and Gabe’s going to camp out on my front porch all night just to make sure you’re okay.”
“He is not,” Carly replied.
“You told him not to come in the house, and he’s going to respect that.”
“He lied to me, Crystal—about everything.”
“Because he had to—because we all did. Your father wanted to keep this from you, and all of our parents agreed, together, to honor that. Gabe isn’t any guiltier than anyone else.”
“Maybe,” Carly admitted. “But he…”
“He’s your best friend, so he should have known better?” Crystal guessed. “Cut him some slack, please. He really cares about you, and it’s killing him that you hate him right now.”
“I don’t… hate him, I just…”
“Need some time to process everything? I would, too.”
Carly heard someone on the stairs, and seconds later Jeremy, Esther, and Sharla spilled into the room.
“So?” Esther asked, staring down at Carly. “The secret’s out?”
Carly nodded in confirmation.
“Are you all right?” Jeremy questioned. “I’m sure it was a lot of information all at once.”
“Is there anything we can do for you?” Sharla asked.
“Why don’t you guys make some tea?” Crystal suggested, and turned to Carly. “I could run a bath for you. That might make you feel better. A bath always makes me feel better.”
“Sure, I guess,” Carly conceded. “Thanks.”
“We’ll head downstairs then,” Esther said. “I’ll bring up that tea when it’s done, Carly.”
“Come on, Carly,” Crystal said, heading out of the room. “The bathroom’s this way.”
Carly followed her, hopping up on the bathroom counter as Crystal started the bath. “How long have you known, Crys? I mean, how long have you known what you are?”
Crystal held her hand under the water, letting it flow over slender fingers. “I was five the first time I shifted, but I knew it was coming long before that.”
“Five? That’s so young.”
“Yeah, well, it’s different for everyone.”
“And what did you… shift into?”
“A bald eagle,” Crystal answered. “It’s maybe not as impressive as say, a wolf, but I still think it’s pretty cool.”
“A bald eagle is cool. If I had to pick something.”
“I know this is all new, but it’s really not that weird. Not once you get used to it.”
Carly wanted to believe that, even though she couldn’t right now. “Is that… all you can turn into?”
“No, well, it’s complicated,” Crystal said. “As a shifter, you fixate on an animal—with me, it started in my dreams—and that becomes the easiest form for you to change into. If I saw a cat and I really, truly wanted to turn into that cat, I could. But I couldn’t hold its form for nearly as long. An eagle’s always been easiest for me, so that’s the animal I usually go with.”
“Can you shift into anything other than an animal?”
“You mean a human?” Crystal chuckled. “No, Carly, none of us have ever been able to do that. Not even Gabe.”
Carly tucked her hair behind her ear as she concentrated on watching the bathtub fill. “Why is Gabe so special?”
“The same reason you are—your bloodline.”
“Having a pure bloodline makes me special?”
“It seems to,” Crystal verified. “How much did Gabe tell you?”
“Not enough,” Carly realized.
Esther peeked her head in and handed Carly a cup of tea. “It’s herbal. I always drink it when I can’t sleep.”
Carly took the cup, bringing it to her lips. “It’s good. Thank you.”
“No problem. I hope you had Carly check the water temperature, Crys. She’s had a rough enough night without getting burned on top of it.”
“Good point,” Crystal said, shutting off the water.
“Why do I have to check the temperature?” Carly wondered.
“We’re pretty insensitive to temperature,” Esther answered. “As in, we don’t really notice it at all.”
“It comes in handy in the winter,” Crystal added. “I hate bothering with a coat when I don’t have to.”
Carly hopped off the counter and stepped over to the bathtub. She plunged her fingers into the water, but yanked them out when they burned. “It’s a little warm.”
“Sorry,” Crystal apologized, and turned on the cold water. “Soon enough, you won’t notice things like water temperature, or the weather. Once you shift, I mean.”
“You say it like it’s going to happen,” Carly noted, leaning up against the wall. “Like I’m… one of you.”
“You are one of us, Carly,” Esther told her. “There’s no escaping that.”
“You’re not just one of us,” Crystal stressed. “Carly, the power of shapeshifter bloodlines grows with each generation. You’re full blood, which means you’re pretty much the royalty of our kind.”
“That’s why Gabe’s so drawn to you,” Esther pointed out, turning to primp in the mirror. She pulled a tube of red lipstick from her clutch, painting the color onto her lips. “He sees his own power in you and can’t help but to desire it. I suppose it’s not his fault then, that he likes you so much.”
Carly took a sip of tea, trying to stop the blush from reaching her cheeks. “But Gabe and I are just…”
“Friends?” Esther questioned. “Yeah, I know. Everyone knows. You can say you’re friends all you want, but there’s something you should know about Gabe—he gets his way. Always.”
“What she means is,” Crystal snapped, “you’re beautiful and powerful, and those two things are reason enough for any guy to like you.
”
Carly’s heart fluttered. “I’m not looking for that. All I want is to understand what I am, and why my parents have hidden it from me for so long.”
“Maybe you should start with the bath,” Crystal advised. “We can deal with the tough questions later. Go ahead and use my robe. It’s hanging on the back of the door. I’ll wait for you in my room, and make sure you’re safe tonight.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it, really.”
“I’m going to go check on Gabe,” Esther decided. “I’m sure he could use a cup of coffee, and something to eat.”
“Esther?” Carly asked.
“Yeah?”
“Will you tell Gabe to come inside? I can’t stand the thought of him sitting out there all night in the cold. I suppose he can’t feel the cold, but still, it’s not fair.”
Esther pursed her pretty lips. “Whatever you want, Carly.”
* * *
Carly sat up straight as she woke, the recurring dream fresh in her thoughts. Gabe had been there in his form as a wolf, and she had been right beside him as the white fox. White fox—was that what she would change into when she finally shifted?
She surveyed Crystal’s bedroom, noting that Crys was asleep in the bed next to her, and Esther and Sharla were both passed out in sleeping bags on the floor. How late had they been up? A quick glance at the clock revealed it was early, just after six.
Carly snuck out of the bed, grabbing her messenger bag before she tiptoed to the bathroom down the hall. She dressed in jeans and her hoodie and turned to stare over her reflection. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her sandy blonde mane was an absolute mess. She wrapped her hair up in a ponytail before brushing her teeth, ignoring her tired face as she crept downstairs.
Ruskahs only came out at night—Gabe had been clear about that—so she’d be safe on her own until twilight. Which was good, because she needed time to clear her head. Carly planned to grab a cup of coffee and drive down the shore. She hadn’t thought she’d grow to love the Great Lake so much, but right now, it was a welcome comfort.
Carly stepped outside, flinching when she found Gabe on the porch where she’d left him last night. He served as a constant reminder that her life would never be the same again. She couldn’t handle his intense stare and hurried past him.
“Carly, I am so sorry,” Gabe blurted out, his footsteps echoing behind her as she headed for the Jeep.
Carly paused by the driver’s door. Part of her wanted him to leave, but she was surprised by the part of her that didn’t. “I still need some time to think this over.”
“I understand, but I’d feel a lot better if you let me tag along. I won’t say a thing, I… I just need to know you’re safe. Please.”
She figured if she refused him, he’d probably follow her anyway. Perhaps having him look out for her wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. “It’s open.”
Gabe settled in the Jeep.
Carly hopped in next to him, her eyes on the road in front of her as she headed out of town. She’d hoped for a day to brood, to think things over, to somehow reconcile her bloodline. But the boy beside her changed all that. Now, for some reason, she was determined to have one last normal day before she faced her future as a shapeshifter.
Carly drove for more than twenty miles before either of them made a peep.
“Where are we headed?” Gabe finally dared.
“Duluth,” was her curt reply.
“That’s over an hour away, Carly.”
A smile hinted at her lips. “Exactly.”
eleven
“Here’s one I bet you don’t have,” Carly said as she held up a She & Him CD. “Well?”
Gabe snatched the album from her hands and looked it over. He and Carly had been in the Electric Fetus for over an hour now and had made a game of picking out music for one another. It was exactly the distraction Carly needed right now.
“This must be new, because I don’t have it yet,” Gabe confessed.
“Ha! That’s five to two. And you consider yourself a music aficionado. I am so winning this game.”
Gabe examined the stack of albums Carly had given him. “You’re not cheating, are you? The rules specifically state that the person picking out the music has to already own the CD. LPs count, but digital downloads don’t. So even if you bought it in iTunes—”
“I know the rules, Gabe,” Carly cut him off. “I made the rules. I’m winning, and you’re just going to have to deal with it.”
He rolled his eyes despite his smile. “Whatever.”
Carly couldn’t believe she was actually having fun. For some reason, once she’d left Sterling, she’d left all her problems there, too. She was glad Gabe had tagged along.
Her day would’ve turned out completely different if it weren’t for him.
“This one?” Gabe raised his eyebrows as he showed off a copy of Pedro the Lion’s Whole EP.
Carly shook her head. “Do you think I’m an amateur? Of course I have that.”
He shoved it back on the shelf, letting out a dramatic sigh. “Fine, Carly, you win, okay? Is that what you want to hear? You are my music superior.”
Carly looped her arm through his, ignoring the electricity between them. “Thank you for being man enough to admit it. We should probably check out before I make you spend any more money than you have to.”
Gabe grabbed the two CDs she was carrying. “Great idea.”
“I hope you don’t think you’re paying for those.”
“I hope you don’t think you’re going to argue with me when I do.”
Carly walked with him to the counter, where she caught sight of someone she hadn’t expected—her once best friend who was now dating her ex. “Jasmine? Hey. What are you doing here?”
“Carly,” Jasmine replied in a less than chipper voice. She gawked at Gabe, tearing her eyes from him as she asked, “What are you doing here?”
“Buying CDs. I had no idea you were in town.”
“I didn’t know you were in town either. I’m visiting my sister at college this weekend.” Jasmine looked to Gabe again. “Who’s this?”
“Oh,” Carly said, letting go of Gabe’s arm. Jasmine was staring at him the same way all the girls at school did—the way Carly refused to. “This is my friend, Gabe.”
“Your friend, huh?”
Jasmine’s sudden appearance didn’t exactly fit into what Carly had wanted out of today, and she wasn’t sure how to react. She didn’t mind that Jasmine and Ross were together, but it annoyed her that they’d hooked up pretty much right away. That, on top of the night she’d just had… “Yeah, he’s in my class in Sterling. Gabe, this is Jasmine—from the cities.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Gabe told her.
“Likewise,” Jasmine said, taking a step toward the door. “Well, I guess I should be going.”
“Sure,” Carly replied, and didn’t think as she added, “You wouldn’t want to keep Ross waiting.”
Jasmine snickered. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He told me you’re dating. I figured he’d move on, just not with you.”
“Well, what did you expect?” Jasmine spat. “He did everything he could to make you happy after your mother’s funeral, and you totally bailed on him. It’s not my fault I’m the person he chose to lean on. Besides, it’s not like you were in love with him, and it’s obvious you’ve moved on. Let us do the same. Have a nice life, Carly.”
With that, Jasmine spun on her heel and made a beeline for the exit.
“So, that’s the best friend,” Gabe said.
Carly tried to swallow down the lump in her throat. Jasmine was right, and Carly hated herself for it. But there was more reason than Ross to let Jasmine go. Carly wasn’t safe, and neither was anyone in her life. “Yeah, I… don’t really want to talk about it.”
“I get it. It’s just nice to finally meet the competition.”
It was at that exact moment when Carly really stopped to a
ppreciate how much Gabe’s friendship meant to her. “We’d better check out. Do you want to get coffee after this?”
“Starbucks twice in one day?” he teased. “I think I’d be up for it. And then we should probably head back.”
“But it’s still early.”
Gabe shuffled through the CDs in his hands. “I know you’re not in any hurry to go home, but we really should get back before dark.”
Legacy: Bloodline Book 1 Page 11