by Ally Shields
She’d rescheduled today’s office appointments to allow plenty of time for an unhurried move. It was amazing how much stuff she had spread throughout the Victorian house. She’d taken over two entire shelves in the pantry for her herbs and potions. Her favorite CDs dotted the rec room and the basement gym; books on magic and spells had been added to the library. Ari sighed. Collecting her scattered belongings might be the most time-consuming part of her move.
Refilling her mug, she carried it up to the Chantilly Suite, stopping to pat Bella and Dona, who were snoozing in the morning sun that came through her bedroom window. Mother and daughter spent most of their day together. They’d need extra attention after the separation.
Ari entered the walk-in closet and pulled out the new luggage that Andreas had purchased for her when he’d seen the tattered bags she’d taken on their first joint trip to Toronto. The deep red and silver set, custom-made, carried the name of Henk. Designer, no doubt. There’d been nothing wrong with her old duffel.
She placed the smallest bag on the bed, unsnapped the closures, and began to pack her socks and underwear, smiling at the lacy additions Andreas had made. He could be such a typical guy.
Her cell phone rang from the top of the dresser, and she tripped over a pile of jeans as she scrambled to grab it.
Claris’s name was on the screen. “Hi, how are things in the plant world this morning?”
“Great! I mean, really good.” Ari heard suppressed excitement in her voice. “Brando’s home.”
Well, about time. “Do I hear the sounds of a reconciliation?”
“Oh, Ari, we talked all night. And, and…” Her voice trickled off on a choke of swallowed tears.
What the hell? “You’re crying again. What’s he done now? If he said something to hurt you—”
“He asked me to marry him.”
“What?” Ari reeled from the unexpected response. Then she wanted to jump up and down. “And you said?”
“I said yes.”
“Woo hoo! That’s wonderful. This calls for a celebration. Want to come to the club tonight? We’ll plan a party. Oh, I’m, so excited for you!”
Now Claris was laughing so hard she could hardly talk. “Yes, that would be lovely.”
“Stay right there. I’m coming over, and we’ll make plans.”
Abandoning the packing, Ari raced from the house and spent the rest of the morning with Claris. Brando appeared when they were still giggling over party plans and even participated in some of the details.
“Have you set a date?” Ari asked, looking at her two friends.
“Hey, give us time. I just got up the courage to ask her.” Brando acted very pleased with himself.
“About time you did, but the plans sound rather vague to me,” Ari teased. “You better get this done, Claris, before he changes his mind.”
“Oh, he’s not getting away.” Brando’s new fiancé smiled at him. “We’ve talked about the fall or even next spring, nothing definite yet. We have a lot of decisions to make.”
“In fact, I have to leave you two to your plotting while I start on a decision we’ve already made.” Brando leaned over to kiss Claris on the lips. “I’m paring down my schedule so I’ll only be away one week a month.”
“That is a big change. Think you can stick to it?” Ari watched his face. The success or failure of his marriage might well rest on how he handled this issue.
“I know I can. I’ve wanted to make the change for months, but something always came up. Now I have incentive. What guy could stay away when he has such a wife waiting at home?” He gave Claris a long, intimate look.
“Um, would you guys like some privacy?”
“Sorry.” Brando grinned. “I’ve really got to go.”
He left shortly afterward. Claris went to the front window to watch him walk down the street. “I can’t believe that I’m going to be Claris Seilmann. Mrs. Brando Seilmann.”
“It does have a nice ring to it.”
They continued to chat over new mugs of coffee and eventually got around to Claris’s hopes for her married life.
“Would you give up the shop?”
“Never. It’s part of who I am. In fact, we might live here for a while. At least until the babies come.” Claris blushed. “We want five.”
Ari burst out laughing. “Sounds to me like you got quite detailed in your planning last night.”
“Yes, I guess we did,” Claris said, still smiling, but serious now. “These last miserable days were a big wake-up call. We both realized what was really important. And that we wanted to be together.”
* * *
With Claris running back and forth between waiting on customers and searching the Internet for wedding dresses, Ari returned home to finish packing. She was thrilled for her friends, but their happiness made her wonder where her own life was going.
She opened her shirt drawer and transferred a stack to the second bag now open on her bed. She couldn’t get Claris’s words out of her head.
What was really important in Ari’s life?
The job, naturally. Fulfilling her destiny. But on a personal level, had Andreas taken on the same kind of significance? Or was she just on hold?
There were so many things about him she didn’t know, secrets he hadn’t shared, including a history that remained murky. How much of that would make a difference if she knew? Maybe none of it. After all, it was the past. Everyone had a past. It was who he was now that mattered. Maybe the only secrets she really needed to know were those that were part of Andreas’s present.
She slowly smiled. He’d actually been pretty open about his current life. And, what was more important, she knew him—his sense of fairness, the loyalty he earned. And the way his eyes lit up when he was excited, the lock of hair he couldn’t control. His touch.
One thing had escaped her. Not because he’d kept it secret, but because she’d refused, even dreaded, knowing. Only she could change that.
Ari dropped her last stack of clothes on the bed and walked into the hallway. Turning left, she stopped in front of the master bedroom and keyed in the code. Lights immediately flashed, and Samuel’s voice came over the intercom. “Ari, is there something I can help you with?”
She froze. Now was the time to change her mind.
“No, I just need to get something from Andreas’s room.”
“Do you want me to get it for you?”
The staff must be more aware than she’d realized. “No, I’ll only be a few minutes.”
“OK then. Sorry to interrupt.”
The release clicked. Ari stifled her doubts and slipped inside. She paused in the total darkness and flipped a switch on the wall, keeping her eyes averted from what she wasn’t ready to see. A dim light came on over the dressing area. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the anxiety to settle.
She’d been in his bedroom a few times, but only when caught up in sex play and never ever when he was sleeping. She’d avoided that, sworn it wouldn’t happen, horrified at the idea of seeing him look dead.
After a few seconds, she opened her eyes and scanned the room. It reflected the man and his tastes. Andreas’s love of cherrywood and leather was evident throughout. The furniture was solid wood, dark, masculine, and timeless, accented with rich burgundy and ivory leather. Heavy drapes covered the windows, totally blocking any light that might filter through the closed and locked steel shutters on the outside.
When she felt ready, Ari looked at the bed, letting out a breath she’d been unconsciously holding. From here, he seemed asleep. She was surprised Andreas was laying on his stomach, a black sheet partially wound around his lower body, one bare leg curled on top. His face was turned away from her. She choked down a laugh, realizing she’d had an irrational fear of finding him in a typical casket pose: on his back with his hands crossed over his stomach.
Instead, he was sleeping in the nude.
Ari stepped closer to the bed until she could see his features. Paler than usual, but
he didn’t really look dead. More relaxed, vulnerable. She wanted to touch him, brush the errant strand of hair off his forehead, but she held back. If his skin was cold to her fingers, the illusion of sleep would break. She studied the masculine figure that had become so familiar: the bare muscled shoulders, the sculptured contours of his cheekbones, the strong jawline. A raven lock curled over his ear. She thought it might tickle, and this time she reached out to carefully push it back.
Unexpected tears formed, blurring her vision and spilling onto her checks. She swallowed hard, as a wave of fierce protectiveness swept through her, leaving her barely able to breathe. For countless heartbeats, she stood absorbing him, absorbing her feelings.
Sometime later, she slipped out the door.
When Ari opened her bedroom door, Bella raised a sleepy head to blink at her from the windowsill. The luggage still stood open on the bed. She walked over and looked at the clothes inside, ran her fingers over the new, lacy lingerie.
She scooped up an armful of clothes and stuffed them back into the closets and drawers. Who was she kidding? She was right where she wanted to be.
~ About the Author ~
Ally Shields is the pseudonym for Janet L Buck, a writer born and raised in the Midwest along the Mississippi River, the setting for her urban fantasy series. A former lawyer and juvenile court officer, she now writes full time. Visit her official author website at www.allyshields.com.
Discover more about Ally Shields here
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~ Also by Ally Shields ~
Awakening the Fire
Guardian Witch Book One
Arianna Calin has sworn to keep the peace in Riverdale. Most of the Otherworlders prefer to haunt the Olde Town district--partying at vampire strip clubs, dining in elegant supper clubs, and inhabiting the cliffside caverns along the Mississippi. Being a cop is a tough job, but someone's gotta do it, and Ari's got her derringer, a sharp stiletto, and a few handy charms against things that hunt in the night. She's also a fire witch--a pedigree that comes in handy, since her partner's only human.
When a virtual reality drug hits the streets, people start to die, and an elusive pack of werewolves threatens the status quo. Ari and Ryan are drawn into a web of murder and evil that will lead sworn enemies to a confrontation. While the city simmers around them, Ari struggles to prevent an all-out supernatural war...
Buy Awakening the Fire here
http://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Fire-Guardian-Witch-Shields-ebook/dp/B0099ZDHO8/
Fire Within
Guardian Witch Book Two
A hidden evil stalks the city…
Ari Calin refuses to believe her human friend Eddie murdered a vampire—in spite of his confession. Her human partner Ryan thinks the case is a slam dunk, even though there’s no weapon and no witnesses, but Ari’s not about to let her friend take the rap without finding out more.
When Ari attends a charity event on the arm of a handsome werewolf, she finds someone she never expected to see again—Andreas De Luca, the charismatic vampire she used to date. When their eyes meet across the room, memories come rushing back. His kiss, his touch, a savage death…and a terrifying magical bond. A reconnection is the last thing she wants. Only by staying away and forgetting Andreas can she hope to avoid the Legend of Ramora.
But when vampires keep dying, one thing becomes clear: Riverdale has a serial killer on its hands, and Andreas could be next. Ari begins to fear there’s more to it, though. Something truly evil is stalking the city, waiting to take control…
Buy Fire Within here
http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Within-Guardian-Witch-Shields-ebook/dp/B00BQN1YUU/
Burning Both Ends
Guardian Witch Book Three
Friend or lover. Life or death…
Supernatural cop Ari Calin arrives at the hostile Toronto vampire court with an ultimatum from the Riverdale vampires: Sebastian, Toronto’s vampire prince, must stop his unprovoked attacks—or else. Ari wasn’t expecting a fight—the “or else” was typical vampire grandstanding. But even with vampire Andreas De Luca by her side for a show of strength, things get ugly fast. Toronto’s vampire world is in crisis, and surrounded by enemies, Ari and Andreas find themselves under attack.
That’s when Ari gets the call from the Magic Council ordering her home. Steffan, a good friend and leader of Riverdale's werewolves, has gone missing during top secret negotiations with the US government, and is believed to have been kidnapped—or killed.
Andreas can't abandon the Toronto vampires, and Ari can’t leave him to face impossible odds alone. But neither can she disobey her orders from the Council, or leave her friend Steffan to be tortured and killed. Ari's loyalties pull her in two directions—the closest thing to love she’s ever known on one side, and friendship and duty on the other. If she can stay alive long enough for the choice to matter…
Buy Burning Both Ends here
http://www.amazon.com/Burning-Both-Ends-Guardian-Witch-ebook/dp/B00E0LCE0O/
~ More Fantasy from Etopia Press ~
Symphony of Light and Winter
Renea Mason
Symphony of Light Book One
One woman. Seven men. All bound by one man’s undying devotion.
Fundraiser Linden Hill has a knack for reading people. She always knows which conversations will put a prospect at ease, which drink will loosen a patron’s lips—or his wallet, and how cleavage will make a donor sweeten the deal. She’s even foreseen her dateless weekends four hundred and sixty-four times in a row.
But ten years after watching life drain from her former mentor’s and first love’s eyes, her skills for divining the predictable are lost. When Cyril returns, he’s still gorgeous, but this time he’s beyond human, far less dead, and pissed. His lack of memory drives him to desperate acts, and his turbulent re-acquaintance with Linden pulls her into his war with a creature hell-bent on his destruction. His group of six supernatural men share a tantalizing secret, but despite the hunger, it’s love that leads her to sacrifice everything to save him…
Buy Symphony of Light and Winter here
http://www.amazon.com/Symphony-Light-Winter-Renea-Mason-ebook/dp/B00DI9DMN2/
Trust and Betrayal
Dani-Lyn Alexander
Realm of Light Book One
Trust is the ultimate weapon in the battle against evil.
Single mother Shay McKeon is no dummy—she’s intelligent as well as street-smart. But when she receives a phone call threatening her children, she rushes headlong into the hands of evil.
Saved from certain death by Mason Constanza, who calls himself a Guardian, Shay is taken to the Realm of Light, where she learns her husband never abandoned her as she’d thought, and that good and evil are nothing like she’d imagined. Learning to deal with her own existence as a Guardian, Shay’s attraction to Mason grows. But she has her own demons to battle, and when her daughter is abducted, she’ll have to trust Mason and his team. But Mason has his own ancient battles to fight…
Buy Trust and Betrayal here
http://www.amazon.com/Trust-Betrayal-Realm-Dani-Lyn-Alexander-ebook/dp/B009PA8JUE/
Blood of Isis
Elizabeth Otto
Passion isn’t the only thing that burns…
When a designer drug rocks the small town of New Brighton and makes junkies spontaneously combust, Paramedic Jayda Swenson suspects the worst. The super-methamphetamine her husband created before his death has resurfaced. She’s worked hard to create a safe, tidy life and put her meth-ravaged past—and her secrets—behind her. But when tourists start disappearing and charred body remains
crop up, Jayda learns the hard way that this drug doesn’t just fry people’s minds—it also fuels demons.
Sexy new medic Ben Tierney is a demon-hunter in disguise, but his demon-busting powers don’t work so well anymore…until he realizes Jayda’s touch can refuel the energy he’s lost—a touch she’s not so willing to dish out. Now Jayda finds herself wedged between an ancient demon that knows her past and her secret, and Ben, who has plenty of secrets of his own. He’s willing to help—for a price—but Jayda’s not sure if it’s a price she’s willing to pay…
Buy Blood of Isis here
http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Isis-Elizabeth-Otto-ebook/dp/B00C7CB7GA/
Truth and Deceit
Dani-Lyn Alexander
Realm of Light Book Two
A suspicious past, a daunting secret, a forbidden romance... How much does it take to tip the scales from good to evil?
When Lexie Davis wakes to find herself surrounded by luxury with no memory of who she is or how she got there, the fear all but suffocates her. But learning the truth about her circumstances will scare her even more. Desperate for a way to regain her life, Lexie tries to piece together the past. But ghosts from her childhood make it hard for her to let go of her secret—a secret that could force her to spend eternity in Darkness.