Legacy: Bloodline Book 1

by Michelle Bredeson

“That I’m hungry,” Gabe replied, and headed for the kitchen.

  Carly attempted to hide her frustration as she followed after him. “Why was I dreaming about a crystal skull? What do you think it means?”

  Gabe didn’t speak as he pulled out a loaf of bread, two containers of lunch meat, a block of cheddar cheese, a bag of Doritos, an open box of Twinkies, and half a dozen cans of Coke. “Sorry, Carly, I’ve kind of got a one-track mind when my stomach’s growling.”

  She didn’t give a damn whether or not he was hungry, but held her tongue. She watched as the four shifters threw together sandwiches while scarfing down Twinkies like it was their last meal. Carly opted for a can of Coke, cracking it open as she thought through the dream again.

  “Carly, do you want something?” Esther asked between bites of a triple-decker sandwich. “You’ve got to be starving.”

  “No, I’m not that hungry, but thanks.”

  “Oh, that’s right, you’re not shifting yet. Your appetite will change once you do.”

  Carly caught Gabe’s gaze as he bit off half a roast beef and cheddar sandwich. “What’s the significance of the crystal skull?”

  Gabe popped open a can of Coke and sucked down a few gulps before finally giving her an answer. “Crystal skulls are rare magical talismans, and supposedly hold untold amounts of power.”

  “What kind of power?” Carly pried, impatience showing in her drumming fingertips.

  “Well, the ability to see into the past, present, and future, for one. And more importantly, the power to will death onto anyone the bearer chooses—mortal or immortal.”

  Carly took a sip of Coke as Gabe finished off his sandwich. “It goes deeper than that, doesn’t it? I mean, you seem like you’re really working through something with this whole thing.”

  Gabe slapped together another sandwich and handed it to her. “I know you don’t need to eat as much as I do, but you’ve still got to be hungry.”

  “Thanks,” she said, taking the sandwich from him.

  “I’m with Carly,” Abel spoke, his gaze fixed on Gabe. “What the hell are you thinking, Hutchinson? Something’s going on in that brain of yours, even though I can’t figure out what it is.”

  Gabe grabbed a handful of Doritos, popping one in his mouth. “It’s complicated.”

  “I think we can keep up,” Esther groaned.

  He shot her a strange look. “I’ve read mention of a pure amethyst skull floating between our families. If that’s true, it’s got to be somewhere in Sterling. I don’t know where exactly, but it would explain why the ruskahs are here.”

  “You mean aside from craving Carly’s virgin blood?”

  “Esther,” Gabe snapped.

  “What?” she replied, grabbing the last of the Twinkies. “It’s the truth, isn’t it?”

  “I think what Gabe’s getting at is that we need to focus on the positives,” Sharla piped up. “And him figuring out the significance of the amethyst skull is a huge positive. Maybe it would be wise to listen to what he has to say and keep your snide comments to yourself.”

  “Sharla’s right,” Abel concurred, eyeing the blonde. “Even though she could have worded it better.”

  “What I’m really getting at,” Gabe told them, “is that I think the ruskahs are working with someone to retrieve the skull.”

  “But if someone wanted the skull, wouldn’t they just come for it themselves?” Sharla pointed out. “Why would they send ruskahs to do their dirty work?”

  “You asked the right question. This is all speculation, of course, but I think werewolves are somehow involved.”

  “Werewolves?” Carly choked. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “I told you they’re real, remember?” Gabe replied.

  “Okay, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but let’s assume werewolves are real. What motivation would they have to send ruskahs to hunt down the amethyst skull? Assuming that’s real, too.”

  “Well, from what I know of werewolves, they don’t like to get their hands dirty,” Gabe related. “Let’s say a werewolf has the ultimate motivation to find that skull but doesn’t want to come looking for it himself in case it ends bad.”

  “How would it end bad?” Sharla asked.

  “It would end bad for the werewolf, not for us.”

  “Why werewolves?” Carly questioned. “Why them as opposed to a vampire, or another shapeshifter? What do you know?”

  His eyes flicked away. “It’s a scenario I’ve imagined before—with my mother. She was a powerful full blood shapeshifter, and it’s always haunted me that she could have just disappeared. I know it’s a longshot, but I remember reading years ago about how pure crystal skulls are purported to have the same resilient pull as the tides have in relation to the moon. Meaning, in theory, a werewolf possessing a skull could phase at any time, not just during a full moon.”

  Gabe paused to take a drink. “I read that as a kid, and it morphed into this idea that maybe my mom was taken for a reason. I constructed this whole story about a crystal skull and a clan of werewolves looking for it, and somehow my mother got in the way. I know I was looking for something to blame, someone to blame other than myself, so I told myself it was a story. And I believed it was just that until you told me about your dream, Carly. Now… Now, I’ve got this aching feeling in my gut, and I can’t seem to shake the idea that the story I convinced myself of as a kid might not be a story at all.”

  Carly shivered with a chill. “That’s a lot to think about, Gabe.”

  He swallowed. “Tell me about it.”

  “Maybe we don’t have to figure it all out over one lunch break?” she suggested as she glanced at the clock. School was so mundane in the grand scheme of things. “We should head back soon. I don’t want to add a tardy to the list of things I’m already in trouble for.”

  * * *

  Carly and Gabe hadn’t come up with any more theories as Wednesday evening approached, but they had become more relaxed with their new living arrangement. Having Gabe in the house brought a new sense of safety that Carly had never known. She understood, of course, that her father would do anything in his power to protect her, but Gabe brought the notion of security to a whole new level.

  “What movie did you pick out for us tonight?” Gabe asked as Carly flopped down on her bed beside him.

  She picked up his trigonometry homework, studying the assignment. “I’d rework number six if I were you.”

  Gabe stared down at the problem. “What’s wrong with number… six?” He quickly erased his answer and scribbled in the correct value. “How do you know so much about math?”

  She shrugged. “We’re watching Scream.”

  “Scream, huh?” Gabe flung his homework aside, leaning his head up against one of the fluffy pillows. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

  Carly positioned herself next to him, resting her head on his shoulder as she pushed play on the remote.

  Gabe twisted his arm out from under her, repositioning it so her neck was resting on his biceps. “How many times have you seen this movie?”

  “More than you’ve seen Pulp Fiction. Come on, it’s a great movie. I thought you’d learned by now that you shouldn’t try to argue with me.”

  “I’m not arguing with you, but we did just watch it last weekend.”

  “So?”

  Gabe chuckled. “Did you finish your homework? I know your dad’s going to ask.”

  She looked up to meet his gaze. “Yes, I finished my homework. About half an hour before you did. Or have you forgotten how brilliant I am?”

  “You won’t let me forget how brilliant you are.”

  Carly moved her ear to his chest as she wrapped her arm around his torso. “You still think it was werewolves who sent the ruskahs, don’t you?”

  Gabe’s heartbeat sped up. “I don’t know, Carly. I think I’m so desperate for an answer that I’m trying to come up with anything that will satisfy my curiosity.”

  “I was reading abou
t crystal skulls yesterday, Gabe,” Carly told him. “Apparently, there are all kinds of crystal skulls out there with all kinds of legends attached to them. Why would ruskahs want this particular one?”

  “Because the amethyst skull has its own legend,” Gabe spoke, his deep voice radiating throughout his chest. “There’s been rumor of it in shapeshifter possession for over fifteen hundred years. If the skull holds anywhere near the power I speculate, it’s the kind of thing people go to war over.”

  “What makes you think the skull is here—somewhere in Sterling?”

  “Because you dreamt about it.”

  “So what? I dream about a lot of things.”

  “Because you dreamt about me, and you were right about that,” Gabe told her. “Because you dreamt about the white fox, and you’re right about that, too.”

  “You think a white fox will be my primary form?” she asked, peeking up to search his eyes.

  “I know it will be, Carly. I’ve seen the fox in my dreams, too.”

  His deliberate words made her nothing short of nervous. This was yet another intense moment that left Carly beside herself. They’d been living in the same house, had all the same classes at school, and were best friends, so she wasn’t surprised that they’d grown so close. But that didn’t mean she wanted anything to change between them. Right now, she could rely on Gabe in a way she couldn’t if he were more than a friend. Right now, she could trust him with her whole heart and not worry about him breaking it.

  “Carly, I made some brownies if you’d like—oh,” Howard spoke from the top of the staircase.

  Carly tore her eyes from Gabe’s just in time to see her father’s face fall. Howard looked like he was blushing as he turned around.

  “Dad!” she called because she didn’t know what else to say. Nothing had happened with Gabe, nothing was going to happen, but she couldn’t say it out loud. Carly jumped up from the bed and raced over to take the plate from her father. “Thank you. Your timing’s perfect. Gabe might have fainted if he’d had to go another ten minutes without a calorie fix.”

  Howard folded his hands together before finally resting them in his pockets. “Yes, well, have a good night.”

  “Are you, uh, off to bed so soon, Dad?”

  His blush deepened as he cleared his throat. “I, uh, yes. Good night.”

  Carly blinked as he walked away, her heart racing as she turned to Gabe. He was sitting up on the foot of the bed, his arms crossed over his chest as he gazed down at the floor. She wasn’t sure what to do to make things okay between them again, so she sat down on the bed beside him, holding out the plate. “Brownie?”

  Gabe stretched as he stood to his feet. “I should probably head outside for a little bit. Do a few laps to make sure everything’s quiet.”

  “Do you have to go right now? What about the movie?”

  He picked up a brownie and shoved it in his mouth. “The movie can live without me.”

  “Will you come back upstairs when you’re done?”

  Gabe glanced at the clock, and Carly noted it was close to nine. “No, I won’t want to disturb you. You have yourself a good night, Carly.”

  “Yeah,” she said, staring after him as he left the room. “You, too.”

  fourteen

  “I think we’re all doing something tonight at Crystal’s house,” Gabe told Carly as they walked out of their last class before lunch Friday afternoon. “Are you up for it?”

  “Yeah, sure,” Carly agreed, settling her messenger bag on her shoulder as they headed down the hallway together. “What exactly does something entail?”

  “Well—”

  “Carly,” Crystal interrupted from behind them, rushing up to grab her arm. “I need to steal you for lunch.”

  “We were heading over to my place,” Gabe said. “You can come with us if you want.”

  Crystal raised her eyebrows as she stared at him. “Gabriel, steal implies that you’re not invited.”

  “What’s so important that I can’t come?”

  “Don’t be so whiny. I’ll have Carly back to you in time for class. Bye now!”

  “Where are we going?” Carly asked, glancing back at Gabe as Crystal escorted her outside.

  “My house,” Crystal answered. “We need to talk.”

  “We need to talk about what?”

  “Girl stuff, but I need food first.”

  Carly was getting used to her friends’ outrageous caloric needs and didn’t ask any more questions as Crystal drove to her house. Something was definitely up, though Carly couldn’t put a finger on it.

  “I’m starving,” Crystal complained as they stepped into her kitchen. “Is meatloaf okay? My mom made it last night, and it’s kind of her specialty.”

  “Sure.”

  Crystal pulled a glass pan from the fridge and a couple of plates from the cupboard. She dished up a moderate piece and shoved the plate in the microwave. “So.”

  Carly shrugged in reply. “So?”

  “I don’t want to do this, but… My mom told me she’d give me her credit card when we go to Duluth on Saturday if I do, so…”

  “So?”

  “Look, your dad talked to my mom.”

  “Is that really a big deal? Your parents must know my situation, right? He’s probably just concerned about me.”

  “He is concerned about you, but not just because of the ruskahs,” Crystal clarified. “Apparently, he walked in on you and Gabe having quite an intimate moment?”

  Carly’s entire face burned with a blush. “W-what?”

  “He didn’t give any details, and I’m not asking for any—”

  “Nothing happened. We were just watching a movie, and…”

  “I believe you, okay?” Crystal said. “But I told my mom I’d… Look, if you do have sex, use a condom. There. I said it, and it’s out there, and we don’t have to talk about it ever again.”

  Carly buried her face in her hands. How the hell had this gotten so out of control? And more importantly, how was she supposed to face Gabe ever again?

  Crystal pulled the plate from the microwave, shoved it toward Carly, and put in another piece. “Believe me, this conversation’s just as embarrassing for me as it is for you. Gabe’s like my little brother, and… gross. But anyway, I won’t tell anyone we talked. You can trust me to keep a secret.”

  “But they can all hear your thoughts, can’t they? Which means Gabe can hear your thoughts.” Carly looked up to meet Crystal’s gaze, and asked, “Is it possible to die of humiliation?”

  “Gabe doesn’t know about any of this. This is between you and me, I swear.”

  That did little to bring Carly any consolation. “I can’t believe my father had the nerve to talk to your mom about this. Why not talk to me himself?”

  Crystal pulled her plate from the microwave and took a big bite of meatloaf. “Your dad’s just concerned, and he doesn’t know what to do with your mom gone. Cut him some slack, Carly. Besides, it’s not a big deal—whatever’s going on with you and Gabe. I mean, all of us girls have had a thing for him at one time or another. I liked him in sixth grade, got bit by a dog, and realized I couldn’t handle a relationship with one.”

  “But Gabe and I are just friends,” Carly insisted, although she realized how rehearsed it sounded as it came out.

  “Sure you are—and you’re also just a normal teenage girl. A lot of things have changed since you moved here, Carly. It’s not like there’s anything wrong with Gabe. I mean, he’s sexy as hell, and smart, and has great taste in music. He can be kind of a heartbreaker, I suppose, but that happens when most of the girls at school have a crush on you.”

  “Gabe’s my best friend right now,” Carly reasoned. “That would change if anything happened between us. I can’t risk losing him, not when I’ve already lost so much.”

  Crystal scarfed down another few bites and grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge. “If you don’t like him like that, it’s fine, but if you do, you should go for it. You s
hould definitely tell him, Carly. And hell, if having a best friend is your only concern, I’m up for the job.”

  “Thanks,” Carly told her. “But I really don’t want anything to change with Gabe. I don’t know if I’m ready for that with anyone right now.”

  “Either way, I’m glad we’re getting to hang out.”

  Carly managed a smile. “Yeah, me, too.”

  * * *

  Carly didn’t head to class when she and Crystal returned to school. Instead, she marched down the hallway to her dad’s office, ignoring his assistant as she snuck inside.