by Cecy Robson
Aric lowered his eyelids and took a breath before looking Delilah square in the face. “How certain are you?”
Betty Sue edged closer, speaking for her. “The world is changing, Aric. With your kind decimated, earth no longer has guardians to protect it from evil. And with our kind taken to breed demon lords, nature is running out of witches to care for and harvest its magic. The balance has been disrupted. The world’s fighting to even the scales.” She motioned to me. “Spreading the evil that caused it to suffer would be counterproductive.”
Aric sighed. “So Celia’s safe.”
Betty Sue grimaced. “As safe as she can be considering how many evil creatures she’s pissed off.”
Yeah, well, they started it.
Aric loosened his hold so he could meet my face. “What did you feel when you touched Tura?”
I shrugged. “He didn’t feel like anything besides loose skin and bones.” My stomach twisted following my last comment. Shifter human forms were oddly thin and practically skeletal.
Danny stepped forward. “I didn’t sense anything in them at all after they died. Maybe Delilah’s right in that your tigress is more sentient than the rest of us.”
Yet another thing to add to the “what makes Celia Wird weird” list. “If that’s so, how come I didn’t feel it within Tura?” I shuddered. “I can still sense this female’s iniquity just like I did in the other female I killed a few months back.”
Danny considered it. “Female witches traditionally have to make more blood sacrifices than males in order to be granted shape-shifting power by their deity. They tend to be more vicious and the strength of hell within them more consuming. Perhaps their darkness lingers longer as a result.” He looked to Betty Sue and Delilah. “What do you think?”
Both witches nodded as did their small coven behind them. “That sounds about right,” Delilah agreed.
Although the witches agreed that I was safe for the time being, Aric pulled me away from where I’d buried the bodies. “Tura’s also been dead longer,” he added. “Tahoe could have started breaking down his power from the moment of his death.”
His reasoning concurred with the others’, yet his hold on me grew more shielding. I clutched his arm against mine. I didn’t want him to worry. He’d done enough of that.
Delilah motioned to the sand now clear of blood. “We did a nice job of cleanup and camouflaging, if I do say so myself. Maybe that’s another reason why you’re not feelin’ him, darlin’.”
“I guess.” The painful spasms from my brutalized womb started to build again. I’d been doing my best to hide them from Aric, but my energy was expelled from the fight and from my abrupt healing. I had to work not to clutch my belly. “Can we go home?” I asked him quietly. “I need to rest.”
Understanding flickered in Aric’s eyes. “Gem, take over.” He nodded to the group of weres and witches. “The Pack is indebted to you.”
He knew something was wrong and lifted me back into his arms, carrying me swiftly away from the group. I was hoping Aric would be more discreet, but he’d witnessed me suffer far too many times, and after losing our baby…
I huddled against him. It was something I knew I’d never truly heal from. Anara hadn’t wanted me to taint Aric’s sacred pureblood bloodline, and he’d succeeded.
One of Gemini’s wolves tore out of his human back and raced after us along the sand. Bren, Danny, and Heidi followed in their wolf forms. Bren sped ahead of us, Heidi and Danny flanked our sides. Gemini slowed to guard from behind.
Our leisurely stroll along the beach hadn’t taken us far. Within minutes, we were back to the section of beach closest to the trail that led into our neighborhood. More runners jogged toward us from further down the beach. “Will the camouflaging spell carry this far?”
Aric sensed my nervousness. “No, love. But we’re almost home and Bren is scouting for humans ahead.”
Bren tore across the street, disappearing into the path. We followed. At the speed Aric ran it didn’t take long to reach where the path ended and opened into our development. Aric ran behind the backyards. Our neighbors were few and mostly young professionals who worked late hours. With the exception of our crotchety old neighbor, Mrs. Mancuso, no one would be home at this early hour.
Aric hopped up the steps of our rear deck. The wolves stopped short by the door and sat in line. They weren’t leaving. “Aric, wait,” I said when he reached the door. “Please put me down.”
He lowered me carefully, his eyes scanning my face. The painful spasms had receded enough that I could at least pretend that there was nothing wrong with me. I clutched the quilt against me and bent to speak to Gemini’s wolf. I didn’t have to bend far. At more than four hundred pounds, the wolves had almost fifty pounds on my tigress and their heads almost reached my shoulder. “We’re okay, Gemini,” I said, knowing that his other human half could hear me. “The wards should be enough to guard us. Go back to Taran.”
At the sound of Taran’s name, the wolf averted his gaze toward the backwoods, the opposite direction from where my sister waited. “Gemini…”
Aric placed his hand on the small of my back. “Celia, let’s go inside and get cleaned up. You need to rest.”
He placed his hand on the knob and muttered, “Pace.” “Peace” in Italian was our new key that gave us access to the wards. Tahoe’s head witch, the unfairly attractive Genevieve, had also granted my sisters and their wolves the power word to allow us through the wards. Only our voices could open them. It was an expensive key, but seeing how easily Anara had acquired the last key, Aric didn’t mind shelling out the cash to keep us safe.
The wards buzzed then opened, allowing him through. He waited at the threshold and extended his hand, but I wasn’t ready to step through. “I want my sisters home.” My stare cut briefly to Gemini’s wolf.
Aric understood my request. “Gemini, tell them to head back now.”
The black wolf bowed his head, signaling that his human half had heard Aric’s order. I thought he’d leave except then Aric turned to address our snow-white wolf. “Heidi, help escort them to the house and keep them safe.”
Heidi took off like a bullet. Danny, our unique blue merle werewolf, watched her disappear.
“My apologies, Dan,” Aric said when Danny whined. “I don’t mean to separate you from your mate.”
He hadn’t given the same thought to Gemini and Taran. “Pace,” I muttered. I stepped into the house when the wards hummed and opened once more, permitting me access.
I waited until we were in our suite to speak quietly. “Why is he acting this way?”
Aric adjusted the temperature in the shower and pulled me in with him when I dropped the quilt away from my body. He knew I was referring to Gemini and took his time answering. “He’s having a rough time with what happened to Taran.” He rubbed his soapy hands over my body while I washed my hair.
Pink water swirled around the rust-colored tiles at my feet. I was bloodier than I thought. Aric leaned forward so I could scrub the muck from his thick dark hair. “Taran’s having a rough time, too. It was her limb.”
Aric squared his jaw as we rinsed off. When we stepped out of the shower he reached for a towel and dried off my body while I added leave-in conditioner to my curls and scrunched them with a smaller towel. “She’s his mate, and he was supposed to protect her,” he said quietly.
I watched him sweep the thick cotton towel along my skin as the steam from our hot shower dissipated. His touch wasn’t sexual. Not then. He meant to care for me. I knew him well enough to recognize his beast was still pacing within him, anticipating the next attack. Bathing me and showing me love through his gentle caress helped soothe his wolf. I didn’t mind. Too many circumstances had forced Aric and me apart. His affection meant he was here, and promised that he wouldn’t leave me. Not like before.
He reached for a bottle of lotion and warmed it with his hands before massaging it into my skin. I reached and did the same. My hands spread the lotio
n across his chest once I finished off his back. His supernatural skin didn’t need it, and was naturally soft and silky without it, but I liked feeling close to him, too.
The back door opened. Aric’s tense body relaxed when the voices of our loved ones filled the kitchen. “They’re back,” he said. “All of them. Even Taran and Gemini.”
“I know.” I heard Taran bark out a swearword before her footsteps stormed in the direction of her bedroom and the door slammed. Gemini said something about returning shortly before the front door opened and then closed almost inaudibly.
My gaze traveled up to meet Aric’s. He shook his head. The quiet that stretched between us demonstrated that he didn’t want to discuss the actions of his best friend and Beta. Problem was, Taran was my sister, and I didn’t like what was happening between them. “What happened to Taran wasn’t Gem’s fault.”
“He didn’t cause the harm. But he was at fault for allowing it to happen.” Aric knelt before me and kissed my lower belly where the scars were at their thickest. “No harm is to come to our mates.” His voice tightened. “Especially in our presence.”
I clutched his head against me. We weren’t talking about Taran and Gemini anymore. Aric’s sadness fueled mine, but I forced it back. We’d shared enough pain for the day. “We’re getting married,” I murmured.
He paused, and I sensed his mood lift slightly. He held tight to my hips as he glanced up at me, smiling. “You have any idea how happy that makes me?”
I was tired and hungry and sore. But I needed to show him how happy his proposal had made me. “Why don’t you show me?” I purred.
He rose slowly, keeping his eyes locked on mine as I led him into the bedroom and onto our bed.
Chapter 3
The scent of bacon stirred me from sleep the next day. Everyone has their alarm clock. Bacon’s mine. I smiled, picturing my inner beast bat her tail from side to side, but it was Aric’s caress that encouraged me to open my eyes.
He wrapped his arm around my waist and traced a line of kisses along the sweep of my neck while maintaining the spooning position we’d fallen asleep in. I purred softly, inciting his touch by sliding my backside against him. I startled when something very hard poked my very soft parts, laughing when he did. Yes, Aric was definitely awake and very happy to find me lying naked beside him.
His tongue teased and played, licking my skin until he reached the sweet spot behind my ear. He focused his attention there, nibbling, and knowing it drove me wild. My purrs deepened and grew more impassioned, stirring his beast and causing the scent of his arousal to gather around us.
Need claimed us both, making us eager to please. I kept our position and reached between our bodies, searching until I found what I was looking for. His breath hitched when I stroked, my grasp firm, my movements sure, exactly how Aric liked it.
I had his attention, and he most certainly had mine.
Voices wafting from the kitchen reminded me we weren’t the only ones awake. I struggled to stay quiet, but Aric reveled in the sounds of our lovemaking. He didn’t want me silent, he wanted me loud, and did his damnedest to entice me to scream.
I grunted when his hand slipped between my legs and rubbed, his fingers immediately hitting their mark. My head lolled to the side and my lids fluttered. I clenched my jaw, fighting to hush my growls, but it was useless. Aric knew where to touch me, how to touch me, always.
I arched against him, my body trembling with desire as he moved his fingers faster. “I want you,” he groaned against my ear. “God, I want you so much.”
He hooked his arm behind my knee, lifting it as I led him inside me. We both shuddered as he advanced. Aric was careful, pressing gently and taking his time not to hurt me. When he finished filling me, he withdrew, then pushed forward, gradually increasing his speed until the steady pump of his hips slapped against my back.
His hand clasped my jaw, turning it so my face angled to meet his. Lust glazed our stares as he moved faster. I worked not to cry out—not to thrash with my first and second orgasms—and I failed miserably.
Aric swore when I tightened around him and rocked my body harder. The fervor tensing his muscles spread along the tendons of his neck and shoulders, causing his head to snap backward when the brunt of release hit him hard. I took control, sliding him against me until he relaxed his hold and lowered his forehead to rest against my shoulder.
I watched as his fingertips grazed the spot between my breasts, slicking over the beads of sweat that had gathered. It took a moment for our breaths to slow, and when they did, it was Aric who spoke first. “Okay…that was one hell of a good morning,” he murmured.
I laughed and turned to meet his face, only to jump up and away from the bed when I sensed something on top of him. My claws extended and my tigress eyes replaced my own.
Aric jerked up and leapt to his feet, landing on the hardwood floor in a crouch. “What’s wrong?” he growled.
My eyes trailed over his massive bulging chest, then his powerful arms, expecting to see something more.
“Celia, what is it?”
My beast remained on high alert. She wanted to emerge, but I wouldn’t allow more than the presence of her eyes and claws just then. “I think something’s here.”
Koda banged on the door. He was growling, too. “You all right?”
Aric kept his focus on me. “Stay by the door, but don’t come in yet,” he told him. He approached me slowly. “What do you see?”
I searched his face, then his body once more.
“Celia,” he asked more cautiously. “Tell me what you see, love.”
“I thought something was on top of you.” As soon as I said it, I realized how stupid it sounded. My back had been pressed against his chest when we made love. Our close contact had allowed only minimal space between us, and certainly no room for anyone else.
Instead of easing Aric’s fears, my words only fueled them. “What did it look like?”
Another wolf growled behind the door. Gemini had arrived. I turned to glance at the closed door then used every one of my heightened senses to seek out the threat in our room.
I wasn’t sure what I expected to find. But we weren’t alone. Something else was here.
My eyes stopped dead center over Aric’s sternum. Smooth, unmarred golden skin met my gaze, but nothing more. My beast withdrew and my human eyes blinked back at Aric. My tigress pulled back, apparently confused, but assured that for the time being, we weren’t in danger.
I wasn’t so sure.
The anger straining Aric’s shoulders spread down his arms to clench his fists, yet his voice remained soft. “Celia. What did you see?”
My claws withdrew, except the action felt forced. I hadn’t been ready to lull my tigress back to sleep. My apprehension warned me that I still needed her there. Yet I could feel her curl inward and away from me.
I pushed my wild hair out of my face and tried to slow my rapid breaths, feeling foolish although I remained afraid. “I didn’t see or scent anything. I didn’t even feel it.”
Aric gently clasped my elbows. I didn’t realize I was trembling until I saw his arms shake beneath mine. “Shhh,” he said quietly. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t let anything hurt you.”
I took in his scent of water crashing over stones and allowed his presence to ease my fear. “I must have imagined it,” I reasoned although my instincts insisted I hadn’t.
My attention reverted back to Aric’s sternum, and I was reminded just how hard Tura had plowed into him. I skimmed the spot with my fingertips. “Are you all right. In here?” I asked.
Aric pulled me close and kissed my forehead. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, you’re the delicate one.”
He was trying to make a joke, but I wasn’t amused. “You could have died protecting me,” I added quietly.
He stroked the side of my cheek. “Celia, you are my love. I would do anything to keep you safe.”
I sighed and rested my cheek against his chest. There
wasn’t much I could’ve said, after all, I would have done the same for him. “I love you.” I closed my eyes tightly. “Don’t leave me, okay?”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “We’re forever, remember?”
“Forever,” I repeated quietly.
“Aric?” Gemini asked, his voice whip-sharp.
“Everything’s fine,” Aric said. “We’ll be down in a minute.”
They paused before retreating. “We sensed your anger,” Koda added. “And Celia’s fear.”
“We’re okay,” Aric assured them. “I’ll explain downstairs.”
I heard the wolves inch from the door until their bare feet padded against the thickly carpeted steps leading down to the kitchen. They were probably confused, but didn’t argue with their Alpha and trusted his judgment.
“They’re going to think I’m losing it when you tell them what I didn’t see and that it scared me.” Crap. It sounded ridiculous even to me.
“No,” Aric’s voice rumbled. “They’ll only care that you’re safe. Through our links as mates, and their connection to me as their Leader, they’re more in tune with your emotions and thoughts.”
“More than before?” Aric’s stiffening stance told me I was right. As his Warriors, Gemini, Koda, and Heidi were duty bound to protect Aric as their Leader and me as his mate, even at the expense of their lives. It had been that way since the night Aric had claimed me as his mate. Since then Bren and Danny had jumped on the “let’s save Celia” train. I’d rather everyone disembark. Enough people had died for me. I didn’t need any more blood on my hands.
“Their connection to you is stronger and their emotions more attuned since failing to save you,” Aric said.
I eased out of Aric’s hold, guilt adding bite to my tone. “No one failed me,” I insisted.