Surprisingly, she agreed with no complaint. He gazed up at the stars, filled with awe and humble for the second opportunity in life. A comfortable silence stretched between them.
He spoke at last. “I meant what I said earlier. Bayou La Siryna is my home. I’m not going anywhere.”
“But what about your pack?”
“They’re leaving this weekend. Without me.”
“Are you sure that’s what you want?”
“Very. I’ll always be grateful that Matt took me in when I was alone in the world. But I must have lived like an outcast for too long with my parents. All the rules of the pack and having to obey the alpha eventually became...oppressive.”
“But you’re the only wolf here in the bayou. You don’t think you’ll be lonely?”
“No. I can hunt shadow spirits with you and your people. Besides, I can always visit the pack out west from time to time.”
“I don’t want you staying because of some misguided sense of obligation. I mean—”
He kissed her. Kissed her until she moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You know what your problem is, don’t you?” he mumbled against her ear.
“I’m in love with a werewolf?” She giggled.
“No, you talk too much.”
She playfully bumped her knee against his and he hugged her close to his side. “That’s okay, I love talkative women.”
“And I love hairy guys.”
“Witch.”
“Wolf.”
She snuggled into his side and he picked up her hand and ran his fingers along her soft palm, tracing her lifeline, and then along the band of pale skin circled her right ring finger. “Do you miss wearing Bo’s ring?” he asked, touching the delicate skin.
“No. And I don’t even have it anymore. I returned it to Bo’s mother. It had belonged to her mother and I thought she should have it back in the family.”
“Can I ask you a question?” he said hesitantly.
“Anything you want.”
“Do you still grieve over Bo?”
“No. I’ll always have fond memories of him. But it’s time for me to move on. I realize I went overboard, obsessing over him and always visiting the place where he died.” She stopped and caressed his face. “Now I can seek my happiness with the living. With you.”
It wasn’t enough. It should be, but he needed more reassurance. Needed to feel that she wasn’t settling for him only because Bo was gone. Needed to know that she loved him with every bit of her heart. He hated feeling so insecure, but he had to ask.
“This is unfair, but I want to know. Is your love for me as strong as it was for him?”
Her sharp eyes blurred. “Yes. A million times yes. You said when we made love the first time that you knew I was your destined mate.” She traced his lips with her fingers. “We were meant for one another and I’ve never been so happy, so in love.”
He buried his face in her hair. Damn if he wasn’t the luckiest man in the world. “My sweet Lulu.”
Another kind of lethargy stole over him, but so different from the one in the lodge. This time, he felt drunk on happiness. He really should get up and take a shower, but he was loath to leave the sweet embrace of her arms. Apparently, she felt the same, as she lazily ran her fingers up and down his back. They sat a spell longer until she raised her hand and regarded him curiously.
“What happened in the sweat lodge?” she asked, her head canted to one side.
“Haven’t you ever been in one?”
“Never. I’ve always been healthy as a horse.”
“At first, it was miserable. Then you get used to it and...you completely relax and your mind fills with strange images and sounds. Hard to explain...”
She laid a finger on his lips. “Shhh, you don’t have to give me all the details. Especially about spirit animals visiting. That’s between you and the spirits. I was mainly curious about what you said in there.”
He furrowed his brow. “I don’t remember saying anything. I did hear other people talking though, some foreign language that was gibberish to me.”
“I don’t know what you mean by other people but we sure heard you talking.”
“Me? What did I say?”
“You kept repeating hold on.”
“I said that out loud? Well, I dreamed you were calling me. Right at the same time the eagle in my vision offered me the opportunity to keep flying with it.” He watched her face closely, but Tallulah didn’t laugh or express skepticism. “Somehow I knew that flying away meant going to the After Life. And then you were calling my name and I needed to get back to you. I was afraid you’d give up on me, but you continued saying my name.” He squeezed her hand. “If not for you...well, I owe you my life.”
She shook her head slowly. “How strange. I was calling your name from time to time, making sure you hadn’t passed out from the heat. But the really weird part? When you asked me to hold on, you spoke in Choctaw.”
He pulled back to stare at her. “What? That couldn’t have been me you heard. I don’t know any Choctaw.”
“I’d know your voice anywhere,” she insisted. “It was you.”
He shook his head in wonder. “I’ll be damned.”
Tallulah lifted his hand and kissed it, her lips soft and smooth on his calloused skin. “Thank you for coming back to me. You could have followed the eagle to the After Life. And thank you for not leaving with your pack, for staying here in Bayou La Siryna with me.”
He lifted her chin with a finger and stared deep into eyes as dark and mysterious and gentle as the night.
“I’d choose you every time.”
Chapter 20
“Our women are finally on the way over with sustenance,” Tombi announced. “We should cut out after lunch and all go for a ride.”
Payton looked down at the oil staining his hands, and the smear of grease on his work clothes. Normally, he didn’t care about the mess. Working at Chulah’s motorcycle shop was the best job he’d ever had. He’d been working there for nearly a month now and was used to oil stains. But today...well, he’d just have to wait until this evening and a good clean-up before he took action.
Yet the circle of gold in his uniform pocket nagged at him like a child with a few bucks to spend in the candy store.
Chulah handed them each a soft drink from the vending machine and they sat in his office, taking a break.
“Thanks for helping out today, Tombi,” Chulah said. “I’m game for a ride. We’re all caught up here.”
“Full moon tomorrow night,” Payton said. “Are we camping out tonight, too?”
“Let’s just wait until tomorrow. The shadow spirits have been quiet lately,” Tombi said.
Perfect. Much as he loved roaming as a wolf and hunting with them, this evening should be special. A kind of special that required privacy. A final bonding with his true mate.
But first things first. Chulah knew his game plan, so Payton shot a significant look at his friend, who nodded in understanding and got to his feet.
“Got to, um, check on something. Be back in a few minutes,” Chulah said.
Not the cleverest of exits, but it would do. He was alone with Tallulah’s brother. His palms dampened and his throat went dry. This shouldn’t be so hard. After all, they were great friends and he’d been living with the man’s twin for months.
“That night we captured Russell—” he began.
“Hell of a fight that guy put up,” Tombi interrupted. “I was worried he’d escape from your pack buddies that drove him to Montana.”
“Worried me, too,” he admitted. “But they arrived without incident. Russell’s getting the best care available.”
“Sorry if your friend’s health doesn’t matter to me,” Tombi said drily, taking a
swig of his drink. “My concern is that he’s in a secure facility where he can’t hurt anyone else again.”
Payton couldn’t blame him. Tombi had never met the Russell he once knew and had called friend before the lycanthropic fever destroyed his soul. “No telling how many of the pack might have died that night if not for you, Tallulah and the rest of the shadow hunters.”
Tombi waved a hand in dismissal. “Catching Jeb’s killer was the least we could do for our former neighbor. Besides, we’re sworn to protect the people of the bayou from all supernatural beings. I would say that a werewolf qualifies as such.”
Just the opening he needed. “Does it ever bother you that Tallulah is living with a werewolf?” he asked.
“I trust you. I do have a couple of concerns, though, now that you brought the subject up.”
“Spit it out.”
Tombi leaned forward. “It deals with the first part of your question. The one about living with my sister. Are you going to marry her or not? Our father’s dead, so I feel like I have the right to ask in his place.”
Payton pulled the ring from his pocket. “I’m proposing today.”
“Excellent.” Tombi nodded and smacked a fist down on the office desk. “About time, too.”
“I take it you approve then? Your blessing’s important to me, especially since you’re the only family she has left. Tallulah would be hurt if you opposed the marriage.”
“’Course I approve. Tallulah’s crazy about you. You’ll make her happy, without letting her strong personality run all over you.” He raised his soda can in a toast. “No easy feat. Kudos.”
One problem down. “You said you had two concerns. What’s the other?”
Tombi flushed. “Again, you might think this is none of my business, but remember that I’m acting like a surrogate father here.”
“Go on.”
“What if you two have kids? Are they going to be werewolf shapeshifters like you?”
Payton went still, preparing himself for the worst—human prejudices against their species was well-documented through history. Marriage and children always brought the issue to the forefront. “Yes. As half wolves, the urge to shift won’t be as strong, but it will be there. I’m hoping you and the rest of the shadow hunters would accept them as you have me. Is that a problem?”
“Tallulah know about that?”
“She does.”
“And she’s okay with it?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s not a problem for me, either.” Tombi extended his hand. “Welcome to our family.”
* * *
Their men were going to be thrilled with the impromptu picnic lunch. The scent of fried chicken, cheese biscuits and potato salad made Tallulah’s mouth water. “You sure they’re all going to be in the shop?” she asked.
“I just talked to Tombi,” Annie said.
“And Chulah’s always at the shop,” April said from the front seat of Annie’s car. “I swear if he didn’t own that shop, he’d pay someone for the chance to work there.”
“Payton loves working at the shop,” she said. “He’s always wanted to do something mechanical like this instead of working with that damn timber crew that destroyed land.”
“Does he miss the pack yet?” Annie asked. “I know they’ve only been gone a short while, but they all seemed so close.”
“A little. But we plan to visit out there occasionally.”
Privately, she still considered Matt a bit of a jerk, even after his apologies to Payton. But she’d learned she didn’t always have to share her opinion on his old buddies. Made life easier. And with them living hundreds of miles away, very doable.
April smiled at her. “I’m glad things worked out for you and Payton and that you’re so happy, Tallulah. I know it’s been rough for you the last couple of years.”
Annie winked. “Lulu mostly has a smile on her face these days.”
“Still hate that name,” she muttered. “I haven’t changed that much, have I?”
“Don’t worry. You’re still you, just a better version,” April said.
Annie pulled the car up to the front door of the shop and they each gathered supplies—food, drinks, paper plates and napkins.
The noise in the place came to a halt as the men watched them enter. Payton was the first one over. “You’re all angels of mercy. Do I smell chicken?”
“You do.”
Tallulah kissed his grease-smeared cheek, uncaring of the dirt or the knowing smiles of their friends. “All your favorites.”
He peeked in the wicker basket and rummaged through the containers. “What? No pecan pie? Or chocolate chip cookies?”
She put her hands on her hips. “Of all the ungrateful...” She sputtered. “I spent over an hour with Annie and April peeling potatoes and battering chicken and...”
She caught Payton’s wink at the others just as he bent down to cut off her complaints with a kiss. Geez, that man knew how to push her buttons. She shoved at his chest and gave a mock frown. “You’ll eat what we cooked and love it.”
“Yes, ma’am. But can I ask a question first?”
“Shoot.”
He dropped to one knee.
What the hell? He couldn’t be...not here in the most unromantic of settings... Not now...in front of everybody? How embarrassing. She leaned over to tug at his sleeve, signaling him to stop and stand up.
Undeterred, he reached into the pocket of his shop coveralls, producing a large diamond ring that shone with an incongruous purity in the greasy shop.
“Will you marry—”
To hell with what anyone else thought. Tallulah sank to her knees in front of him and threw her arms around his neck, almost sending them both toppling to the cement floor.
Payton grinned and raised a brow. “I take it that’s a yes?”
“Let’s hurry up and make this official,” Tombi said.
Everyone laughed, and she didn’t care a bit. Dignity be damned.
A sudden doubt assailed her and she leaned in, whispering in his ear. “Are you sure you won’t leave me to rejoin your pack one day?”
“Never.” He set her back a foot to gaze into her eyes. “My place is with you. Always. You and the shadow hunters are my family now.”
Holy spirits, she was going to totally disgrace herself and cry. Payton cleared his throat and glanced at Chulah, who gave him a slight nod. What was this about?
“Chi hollo li,” he said slowly and carefully.
A swelling of joy bubbled inside her. He’d taken the time to learn the Choctaw phrase.
“I love you, too.”
Payton rose to his feet and scooped her in his arms, swinging her a full three-hundred and sixty degrees.
“I still haven’t heard you say yes,” her brother called out.
She pretended annoyance and frowned at Tombi. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! There. Happy now?”
Because she was. Payton had come into her life and changed everything. She ran her fingers through his blond hair and stared into his pewter eyes.
“Kept me guessing there for a minute,” he joked, then his face sobered. “I’ll love you forever.”
“Same here,” she whispered around the hitch in her breath.
After a long, long darkness of the soul, Payton’s love was onnat minti—the coming of daylight.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from A VENETIAN VAMPIRE by Michele Hauf
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A Venetian Vampire
by Michele Hauf
Chapter 1
Dante D’Arcangelo insinuated himself into the Cannaregio Casa d’Aste with an ease that had come from more than 160 years of existing along the edge of the shadows. No one paid any mind to the tall stranger as he walked the Venetian auction house’s marble corridor to the back room, where key arrangements for the event were being performed. Tomorrow evening’s gala auction would feature dozens of valuable art items on the block. It was being hyped with celebrity fanfare. A media blitz.
The star of the show was a Fabergé Imperial egg called the Nécessaire. It had officially gone missing in 1952, after the last known buyer had been recorded only as: A Stranger. A month ago, it had suddenly reemerged in the art world. Dante intended to remove it from the auction house tonight. No hard feelings. It was just that the egg belonged to him. And the very fate of his kind—vampires—required he get it back.
Bayou Wolf Page 24